Last Chemo!!!!

Update I posted on Facebook after my last chemo last Friday…
Once again must say I am truly blessed to have such wonderful family, friends, and caretakers in my life as I continue my journey towards “cancer survivorship.” Thank you one and all: you’ll never know how much the “like”’s, “comment”’s on facebook, phone calls, emails, messages, the blogs on BFAC and other expressions of caring and thoughtfulness have made my days brighter and my life all the sweeter! Was so anxious to get this last chemo treatment behind me and was the first one through the door at the cancer center @ 7:20 am. My appts were for lab’s @ &7:30, doc @ 8:00, then back to the chemo infusion room for my bags of meds. Was really starting to get perturbed when after having my blood drawn I sat in the waiting room until 9:15 watching them call person after person back to the exam rooms for their doc appt. I had never experienced this before, they always seemed so efficient. My hubby saw how upset I was starting to get and got up and said something to a few of the nurses about how I’d been there for 2 hrs and was wanting to get my treatment going. Well with no explanation for the delay, they said they’d see what they could do and five minutes later I was in with the doc. Doc remarked my blood pressure seemed kind of high today, which is not usually the case and we chalked it up to the anxiety of my wait. She also remarked on how my hemoglobin levels have continuously fallen below normal levels as the treatments have progressed which is to be expected with the drugs I am being given. So, effectively, I am experiencing anemia, along with its symptoms of fatique, weakness, shortness of breath on exertion, but with the knowledge that as this is my last treatment, once the chemo has worked its way out of my system I should begin to improve and I am so excited about that. Into the chemo chair I went, first came the usual 4 bags of different side effect meds, then the 2 magic chemo drug bags. Good friend Nancy showed up about noon with a celebratory flower arrangement! Her visits and the presence of my hubby by my side on my chemo days have been so cheery and uplifting! Finally, at 2:20 the needle and tubes were removed and I could say this chapter of my life is finished! I have a CT scan scheduled for May 15th and am hoping for NED (no evidence of disease), and I have no indications from my docs, my bloodwork, or any symptoms to believe that it should be otherwise. So hopefully will be sharing this diagnosis soon with everyone. Then it was celebration time. Nancy took us out to eat. She asked where I wanted to go and I said the Tilted Kilt was close by – a fairly new pub & eatery in the area, and I was curious about it. What fun! Whilst knowing alcoholic beverages can be a bit dehydrating, I thought celebrating with one would not set me back too dramatically and ordered a Caribbean Kilt (rum and fruit juices). Our drinks arrived and we offered a toast up to the completion of my chemo, and to a cure for cancer sufferers everywhere! The Tilted Kilt was a hit. The atmosphere was sports barish but with some side rooms where we could have a conversation and be heard. The food was delish…I had the cheesesteak…yum! The waitress was a breath of fresh air, and was excellent eye candy for the hubby (think Hooters but with short pleated kilts). We told her we were having a celebration and she asked what for…and we told her the last of my chemo treatments. Instead of getting morose or apologetic…she was so cheerful and full of congratulations and best wishes. And…she surprisds us and brought us out a big ice cream sundae with three spoons and said this is on me! Delightful! Receiving phone calls from the kids and my brother Paul…so great to get their congratulations as well! What a wonderful day! Life is great! Thanks again, everyone! —
You can find me on facebook as Carol Shabowski Sheedy.

Congratulations on your last chemo day. I am glad you went and had a real cocktail. Much better than those chemo ones. I hope you get your NED news on the 15th.
Be Well
Bill

Posted on April 26, 2012 at 4:27:34 AM by Private User