Monday, October 27, 2014

The Best Laid Plans of Mice and Men...

I headed down to the "day spa" to start week two of chemo and was told that I had to meet with the physician's assistant before I could start treatment.  I thought we were going to discuss the plethora of prescriptions I had received, but was floored when she told me that I wouldn't be having chemo today nor any other day this week.  The average adult has platelet levels in the 200,000 to 400,000 range.  As of Wednesday, my platelet levels were around 50,000.  They refuse to give chemotherapy to anyone whose platelet levels are under 100,000.  She felt that if they gave me the 24 hour infusion my platelet levels would drop dramatically leading to internal bleeding.  Not good.

I have mixed feelings about delaying treatment a week.  On one hand it'll be nice to have another week to get stronger and enjoy feeling almost normal again.  Plus I can go trick-or-treating with the kids.  On the other hand, it extends the treatment schedule out, likely by several weeks.  Also, I understand that delaying treatment can lessen the efficacy of the treatment.  There's nothing to be done though. 

Good news is my tumor markers have dropped from 36 to 12!  I wasn't expecting any decrease in the marker level until after round 2.  We'll take early progress. 

A very heartfelt thank you to everyone who has brought meals, arranged for lawn care, sent cards, emailed, called, and sent care packages.  The outpouring of love and support has been overwhelming and means so much to us.

Fun mustaches and googely eyes delivered with a dinner made for a special treat!
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8 comments:

  1. CarleenOctober 28, 2014 at 3:10 PM

    What boogely mustaches and glasses! I am sorry about the postponement. It is no fun delaying the inevitable. We are praying for you!
    Ashley Justensen

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    1. TC ConquererNovember 4, 2014 at 5:13 PM

      Ashley, so good to hear from you. The postponement was probably a good thing. I felt so much better a week later. Thank you for your thoughts and prayers. We loved the Halloween lanterns you sent. We placed them in out living room windows so they could be seen from the outside too!

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  2. TannersOctober 28, 2014 at 6:16 PM

    No fun to have a change in plans. But it seems like you've found all the silver linings in it. Love the googly eyes!

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    1. TC ConquererNovember 4, 2014 at 5:14 PM

      The delay was a good thing to allow my body time to get stronger. I think I could have done it on schedule, but it would have been a struggle. Now I feel like, "bring it on, baby!" Aren't the googly eyes fun?

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  3. CarleenNovember 3, 2014 at 4:08 PM

    So glad you could enjoy Halloween with the kids. I know they loved it. Today, Monday, is probably the start of round two. Hope it goes well and you stay out of the hospital. You are constantly in our prayers. We love you all mom

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    1. TC ConquererNovember 4, 2014 at 5:18 PM

      MomI am sure Jana told you about the plague that hit our house. Only E and I were able to get out and trick or treat. O was so sick he didn't care about missing Hallowwen, but G was feeling better and was a little disappointed. She wore her Shirley Temple costume all day Saturday so she could get some use from it.

      So far, so good this week. The side effects should hit tonight or tomorrow. I feel much better prepared for them this time. I need to post a picture of my arsenal of drugs that I have! Thank you so much for your prayers. They mean the world to us!

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  4. kittyNovember 4, 2014 at 6:22 AM

    Christian, I am amazed by your good attitude. You really are an inspiration to me. How you managed to get through the last few weeks and still come out smiling - I'll never understand. But I love you for being so courageous! You manage to make the best of every situation and you have a way of keeping things "real" without complaining. Thank you for documenting your experiences. I don't live close enough to you to witness first hand this battle you are fighting, but I am grateful for your honest postings and the perspective it gives me. Oh how I wish you didn't have to go through this. I love you.
    joce

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    1. TC ConquererNovember 4, 2014 at 5:33 PM

      Joce, thank you for your kind comments. There is this great post by a woman fighting breast cancer and she talks (tongue in cheek perhaps) about how cancer patients aren't courageous and how we'd push women, children and puppies ahead of us to get cancer instead, if we could. It made me smile. To be honest though, I am so glad that I have this rather than Jana or the kids. I cannot imagine having to have a child go through this, and I know many people do. I wish we lived closer so we could see you guys more often. We hope to make it up to you, maybe this Summer. Thank you again for the honey and soaps you sent last time. I used one of your soaps yesterday morning and thought of you! We love you guys so much!

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