Today is Thursday, May 26th. It’s been about a month since my last post, not for a lack of activity. As I write this, I’m getting treatment #5, a week after when I was supposed to get it. I had the pleasure of spending last weekend in the hospital because of a neutropenic fever (a fever accompanied by a low count of neutrophils, a type of white blood cell). Eventually, my fever came down and more importantly, my neutrophils count came up (well maybe less importantly from a medical perspective, but it allowed me to get out of the hospital once my fever got to a more reasonable level). It meant that my body could fight for itself again.
Here’s the thing about this treatment I’m receiving. It’s supposed to destroy my cancer cells, yes, but also any other rapidly dividing cells. That means it impacts my hair, my mouth and taste buds, my digestive system, and my bone marrow which produces rapidly-growing white blood cells. Low WBC = inability to fight off infection. So when I came in on Thursday the 19th expecting to knock out chemo treatment #5, I was denied because of my low-grade fever. Anyway, here I am 1 week later. New completion target date is September 1st, but clearly highly subject to change.
What I’ll need to figure out is how to manage not getting infections with 2 little kids. They are little germ factories at the ages of 10 months and 3. It’s probably impossible unless I quarantine myself in the guest room. Not to mention I don’t think I’m capable of staying away from them. Interestingly, I’ve noticed that Rayan is much more clingy to me over the last couple months. He hugs me more and climbs on top of me more, which I ordinarily love. It kills me to have to tell him to get off. It also kills me when I leave the house and he says, “Daddy go hospital?” Smart little cookie. Anyway, I suppose it’s a balancing act. We’ll be pulling Rayan out of summer school which I think will help.
On to the good news – I had my petscan done after #4. The results were awesome. The cancer cells have cleared out of my lower lymph nodes around my spleen and abdomen, cleared out in my left neck area, and are nearly gone in my right neck where it all started. The cancer that remains has a very low metabolic rate – so it’s not multiplying and spreading. Having gotten nothing but bad news really for the last few months, I finally got a dose of good news. And I desperately needed it 
Other rapid fire updates – I saw a nutritionist a few weeks ago. He’s this awesomely crazy German who grows wine grapes (in Texas, mind you) in his spare time and came highly recommended. Now I’m taking a bunch of additional pills too like garlic pills and B-12 supplements. Family Feud aired last Thursday! I’ve been anxiously waiting for this day – turns out we still lose. Got another haircut – getting more used to this Daughtry look. And luckily my beard is still in tact.
I’m getting the Red Woman’s Elixir right now. God I hate this thing. Why is it red? Can’t they dye it a more normal color? I’ve definitely created a mental block for myself. Oh well…7 more to go after this one!