January 16, 2022

Yesterday was my 5th Taxol Chemo Treatment and like the last treatments, it went well. (Praises!) It does help that they give you a dose of Dexamethasone beforehand which is a wonderful steroid and makes you feel great for about 2 days after the injection.  Of course, for me, it also comes with the wonderful side effect of not being able to sleep very well, but on the other hand, I get a lot accomplished in those two days.  For instance last night I think I was able to get to sleep around 1 am and that was with 20 mg of Melatonin and two tablets of Nature’s Sleep Aid which also has melatonin in it but still this morning I was awake at 5:30 am and out of bed by 6 am.  

I did accomplish a lot today though – I read my book some, talked to a friend on the phone for a bit, went to the farmers market and bought some fresh veggies, bought Mano and I some breakfast tacos and Starbucks coffee, and came home let the dogs out, made the bed, then went to acupuncture, picked up lunch, watched some tv, blogged a bit, helped Christian sign up for his ACC account and fill out some paperwork for dual credit classes for summer, etc.  As I said, I get a lot done these days.  It’s good times!  Although – the other part of this is when the steroid wears off, usually Monday and Tuesdays and those are the days that I pay the price for the energy part.  Those are the days when I am in bed by 7 pm and EXHAUSTED!  But you take the good with the bad, right?  

The good news is next Friday is Taxol #6 and you know what that means right?  It means that Bradi, y’all know by now she’s my chemo nurse, and I will celebrate that I am 1/2 way through my Taxol Chemo treatment.  (Praises!)

So for PRAISES this week:

• Thus far I have no symptoms of neuropathy, just some muscle and joint aches – which I can live with
• I am still receiving excellent healthcare 
• My uveitis in my eye was no worse this week, no better, but I will take no worse
• I am still working between doctors appointments and chemo treatments
• I have an amazing support system at home, work, and with all of you my wonderful friends (my village)
• My faith is strong and my prayers are stronger
• I have been blessed with wonderful guidance for my care team:  MD Anderson Doctors, My Oncologist, my nutritionist, my acupuncturist, my eye doctor, etc.  So many things to be thankful for.

As for the next steps – and continued PRAYERS:

• 01/18 – Eye Check-Up (hoping to see progress in my healing)
• 01/21 – Taxol #6 – the 1/2 way point!!!!
• 01/28 – Taxol #7
• 02/04 – Taxol #8
• 02/07 – MD Anderson visit:  Consult with my breast reconstruction doctor, new ultra-sound to check the progress of the tumor (prayers for shrinking and even less mass than before), meeting with my oncologist.
• 02/09 – MD Anderson visit:  Consult with my surgeon – prayers to secure surgery date tentative scheduled for 04/08, consult with Radiation Doctor.  Prayers that these will provide all details for me to make a decision for my surgical path 
• 02/11 – Taxol #9 – Down to the last 1/4 of the race!!!
• 02/18 – Taxol #10
• 02/25 – Taxol #11
• 03/04 – Taxol #12 – LAST DAY OF CHEMO!!!!

I will have lots to post about in the coming few weeks once I have the meetings with the doctors at MD Anderson.  My prayers are that God will provide clarity to me on which is the best surgical path for me.  I can say that I am no longer experiencing anxiety like I was over making the decision (Praises and answered prayers) therefore I know that he’s with me and guiding me in the right direction for me and the plan that he has laid out for me.  In due time, I know that he will reveal it all to me when the time is right.

Thank you all for continuing on this journey with me – trust me when I say that the road may be long but one day we will celebrate that we walked it together and we did it one day at a time.  Hugs to my village – you guys are the BEST!

Xo,

Tracy