A lot of people have been wondering how I’m doing and what’s up next for us, so I thought I’d just jump on with a bit of a medical update.   On a wonderful note, Caleb is doing great.   He’s crawling all over the place like an overgrown grub... he fills his time with eating, laughing, and finding things to get into.   He doesn’t like baby toys, he likes vacuums, and shoes, and big people stuff.   They’re so much more interesting!   I am daily grateful for those who prayed for him as he struggled in those first weeks.   What a gift and delight he is to our family!   Yesterday he hit the nine month mark.   His little life runs parallel to the process of my cancer, and it’s hard to believe that it’s only been nine months in some ways.   It feels long, until I look at him, and then I wonder how the time has passed so fast.  He is the rose that sits atop our little thorny trials.

I am done, Done, DONE with radiation!   Hurray!   I feel like I’m out of prison!   It wasn’t so bad .   The people there were great, it is just that I am no longer tethered to that daily hospital gown, daily awkward pose, and daily hour or so of being a “sick person.”

With the end of radiation also comes the end of Xeloda, the sensitizing chemo I was taking.   Three cheers and a run through the Hallelujah Chorus on that one!   No more nausea pills and other measly miserable side effects I won’t bore or disgust you with.   Done!

Herceptin, the antibody I take by infusion every three weeks will continue until my one year anniversary of starting.   I don’t know what I’ll do when it’s all done, the thought of it makes me cry.   I can’t imagine the freedom of not planning towards the next infusion!

The Tykerb is the other chemo I am supposed to take with Herceptin till the end.  It has had terrific results, up to 51% reduction rate in cancer recurrence.   That is HUGE when you consider the horrific things some people do just to get a 5 - 10% reduction.   Unfortunately I have had a really sever reaction to it.   I take it at night because it makes me rather sick but I can sleep it off and fell better in the morning.

Last week I had Herceptin, and it usually makes me tired, but I hit a wall this round.   The next few days I was in bed, not always coherent, had fainting spells, just plain miserable.    I am still finding things that I “thought” happened, but were just part of the crazy imagining of those days!

Then the rash started.   It was a drive you crazy, walk the halls through the night, I wish I were dead sort of rash.   It traveled up my legs, arms, and across my face.   It’s a Tykerb rash, and by the time I stopped taking it, I was in bad shape.   It would hit worse at night, and freezing my legs in cold water was the only way to deal with it.

Today seems to be relief... the itch is less obsessive.   Percocet in stronger doses is the only way I’ve been able to get sleep, and I’ll be glad when this is over.   I think it is lessening at last, and I actually slept pretty well last night.

I am supposed to try the Tykerb again, once the reaction is under control, but in lesser doses.   I really would like to be able to finish the last three months with this med... I really like the studies I’ve read about with this one.  I’m just praying my body will adjust!

We had been praying about taking Adriamycin, a first-line, heavy hitting sort of chemo at the end of my radiation.   We really didn’t know how to make this decision, and God mercifully gave us the direction we sought.   Through the counsel of several good docs and Scripture, we have made the decision to not take that route.  

There were a lot of pieces to the puzzle, but the most special one to me is that Nathan had been reading in Ephesians.   He was reading, I think in chapter 5, where it refers to building up the body of Christ and strengthening it that no place would be weak or unable to function.   I know that is referring to the Church, but when Nathan was reading it he clearly felt like that was God’s direction for ME right now.   It’s not time to be torn down anymore, but now we need to focus on building strength back in my body... rest, supplements, exercise, it all is part of the picture.   Sounds good to me!

So, the plan is that Nathan will return for a week long visit here in Ohio on the 24th.   We had hoped that we would be heading home then, but the truth is that I am not well or strong enough to make the trip or run a house, especially one with so many wee folks!   Dad and Mom have so graciously offered, even asked us to stay until I am stronger.   I am not sure how long that will be... a month or perhaps more.    We are so grateful to be here, but surely love the thought of going HOME!

The side effects of the radiation (fatigue and burning) will continue to intensify even up until two weeks after my last round.   I see it even since Wednesday, my skin continues to break down and has begun to do a lot more bleeding and oozing.   I guess the biggest prayer requests now are for the rash to go away, for the radiation effects to not be too severe in this next week or so, and for my strength to increase.  

Wow, if you made it to the last paragraph you must really love me!   Sorry, I said a “bit” of an update and have rattled on far too long!   Thanks for praying, for caring, and for bearing this burden with us.   Pray for us to not miss God’s purposes or loose sight of our ultimate goal... His glory.   Thank you!