Post #78: Last chemo treatment completed!

Dear Everyone,

I'm happy to report that Anita's latest blood test showed that the levels of various factors in her blood (e.g. red blood cell count, white blood cell count, etc.) had all risen enough to pass the cut-off level below which they will not administer chemotherapy. So Friday she had her final chemo session!

The session took a little longer than normal. She at first got an inexperienced nurse who didn't insert the IV needle correctly and subsequently caused Mama some pain in her arm. This was the first time she has felt pain during a chemo therapy session. Well, as you can imagine, Mama let her feelings about that be known! No shrinking violet this one!! As it happens, Anita's favorite nurse happened to be there that day as well, and he (yes, a male nurse) came over to see what was going on and insisted that the needle be removed and the whole process started over! At that point, Anita insisted that she would only allow him to administer her treatment! Good for her!

So her appointment had been for 10:00 a.m., they didn't get started until 10:40 and because of the mess-up with the needle, Anita didn't get out of there until after 1:00 p.m. Last night she didn't sleep too well, but she says that's normal for her after a treatment. However, today she is feeling pretty good. She still has a "palpable thing" on her neck (it's in the hollow part above the clavicle on her left side). It still has a pulse beat when she touches it which she describes as a "boom-boom . . boom-boom-boom." But there is no pain. In fact, the pain she was feeling in the past couple of weeks has gone away! That's wonderful news. However, next stop will be the dentist. Chemo therapy affects the teeth and she has apparently developed some toothache. I think Mama probably dreads the dentist more than the chemo therapy!

She is a little disappointed in that she has lost another pound. So she's now at 134. Her oncologist's nurse put in the request for the contrast cat scan yesterday. So Anita should be getting the go-ahead shortly from her HMO and then will arrange an appointment to have the scan taken. Hopefully the results from that will be back in time for her next scheduled appointment with the oncologist which is on October 30.

Anyhow, talking with her today, she was upbeat, in a great mood and we laughed and chatted and had a great talk. Sounds like my wonderful, normal Mama to me! And that's a beautiful thing.

Until next time, wishing all of you all the best,
Melissa