Whooah, we're half way there.

Living on a Prayer - Bon Jovi

Yeah!   My treatment number 4 finished.   I'm half way through the 8 treatments of chemo.   I should say that 'we' are half way through the treatments.   I am very pleased that the side effects that I have experienced have not been severe.  Well, I guess total hair loss may be considered severe but I have been able to be active and feeling somewhat normal.   Actually at times it seems a bit surreal to think that I am going through cancer treatment.  I guess I expected a bit more.  Hey but I'm not complaining.   I lose a day or so of energy each treatment but since I'm used to that I ramp things down the first week so let my body heal.

So now it's Time for a bit of celebrating.   A good dinner out with the kids or my 'houseslaves' as I foundly refer to them.   I have to wait until my interest in food returns.  Well, my interest in the good stuff like chocolate and wine.  Right now my body just wants simple fresh stuff...none of the fun stuff.

The next set of treatments are different drugs, one that will be given for 4 rounds and the other for a year.   Yup, a year- every 3 weeks.   This drug is specific to the chemical make up or the markers in my tumor.   I look at it as a good thing - getting a drug that has successful results for this tumor marker means my treatment itself will be more successful.    With every drug comes some sort of side effects - just watch an hour of American TV and you'll get a good 15 minutes listening to commercials filled with side effects of all the new trendy medications.  Everything will be monitored so no worries.  Continued exercise helps to ward off the side effects of the drugs.  Does that mean that if I spent more time hiking in the bush after my first treatment that I would not have lost my hair but looked more like a Yeti?

These next four treatments are also longer.  Instead of 2.5-3.0 hours in the chemo centre, I'll be there for 7-8 hours.    That means my Kobo, a bit of company; maybe a few naps.   The people in the clinic are fantastic and most are pretty chatty and quite open to sharing their stories.    The centre also has portable DVD players and a library for movies.  So, lots of options there.

Right now I will focus on the next 2.5 weeks, building energy, getting through my to do list, getting some project work done, hammock time, a few medical tests and enjoying what I hope will be lots of sunshine and warm.   Yes Franny - I'll be wearing sunscreen and a hat!!  :)

Thank you to each one of you for carrying me through these past 4+ months of treatment.  It would have been a rougher road without you.