Poetry

Speaking of depressing poetry, (We were!) I came across a song today that so fit the bill, I decided to refrain from writing such a thing myself. I'm not at all depressed; someone else brought up this subject and I thought I would try to take it up!
Here goes: Better Than What? subtitled The Chemotherapy Song

So on to the next step, it's called chemotherapy
taken by mouth and IV
It lowers the chance of recurrence which
makes it sound pretty inviting to me
The word "Chemotherapy" sounds so benign
like a gentle and comforting mix
But chemo can best be described as a trip
to Chernobyl in late '86.

This song actually has six verses, all about the side effects of chemotherapy, but I think I might just spare you. It was written by a lady who had cancer and survived and thought she might like to try to encourage others. The next song on the CD is entitled "Radiation Therapy." It did help me quite a bit - it struck me funny and I've been laughing quite a bit today when I think of it.

I'm still feeling quite well, I just find that I stay worn out a lot longer than I did for the first few treatments. Only 2 left! Yahoo!

Home and Safe!

We just got home from Saskatoon, where I had my fourth chemo treatment, and Bruno, where we visited with Daniel at St. Therese, his school. Because of flu in the family, we spent our Saskatoon night at Riverside Bed and Breakfast, which is owned and operated by friends of ours. It was a lovely stay. Then, Thursday night, we drove to Bruno and spent three nights at St. Therese. It's always a slice of heaven staying there. Our boy is fitting right in and looking forward to getting to work on "A Man for all Seasons," this year's production. Casting will be announced next week, I think.
As usual, I had a lovely peaceful day receiving my chemo and visiting with Judy Catton, and also Janice Akerman on her lunch break. This evening I am getting tired and achey, but it's all worth it! Only two treatments left! Then I'll have to find something else to talk about!
God, as always, is good.

that pig thing!

We just got home from Saskatoon last evening. I had been just for blood work because next Wednesday, of course, is a holiday. My next chemo treatment is Thursday.
My doctor told me that my CA125 is now down to 13, well within the normal range. That means that the chemo seems to have dealt with all my cancer. She said I will finish off all the treatments as scheduled and then after that they will just keep an eye on me with regular blood tests to make sure I stay clear of cancer. Then, if it does not come back in the next five years, I will be declared "cancer-free."
I'm all happy about that. I would be even happier if Davy weren't sick with something swine-flu-ish. He came down with a sore throat and fever while we were in Saskatoon. He's quite miserable except when he's on Tylenol and then he seems to feel not too bad. We'll probably all get a turn now. I think I might be okay, even if I do get it, because this is my third week after chemo and my resistence will be improving rapidly. My hemoglobin level is good, and my white blood cell count is low, but improving. I haven't, thus far, had any trouble with having to postpone treatments because of my blood count. Diet helps the hemoglobin, of course, but the white blood cells have to do their own thing without much help from me. I think resting and exercising might help.
We would like our boys to get through this flu season relatively unscathed. We are praying for many of you who have asked for prayers for various reasons, and we thank you for your prayers, too. God is good!