hello again

I hope my entry finds everyone enjoying the holiday season.  We are having a wonderful holiday.  Since my last post, a lot has happened.  After my 2nd round of chemo I underwent more CT scans and a bone scan to see what work the chemo had been doing.  The scans showed improvement!!  My tumors in my brain and lungs had shrunk.  The other metastases throughout my body were stable with no new growth.  What great news.  The only down side to this news, I would have to continue taking these two chemo drugs that are, literally, killing me at the same time they are killing the cancer.  The good days I have had in the last two months are few and far between.  I have been experiencing intense fatigue, face swelling, dizzy spells, appetite loss.....  I feel like the list could go on and on.  Most of these symptoms-minus the face swelling and appetite loss-can be attributed to my "profound anemia."  This is what they label you when your hemoglobin has dropped to a dangerously low number.  When hemoglobin drops, my body is not making enough red blood cells which means there is not enough oxygen circulating throughout my body.  We all know that oxygen is essential to life and healing.  So, this last Wednesday, when I received the last treatment of round 4, I was informed that in order to continue treatment I would have to sign up for a blood transfusion to receive to pints of blood.  For those who know me well, this is not something I want to hear much less do!  I consulted with a few people who can put me at ease in these situations and decided to get the blood.  Without it my treatments would stop allowing the cancer to grow.  To let my body catch-up would take up to 120 days.  At this point 120 days without cancer fighting drugs does not seem like a good option.  My hemoglobin is the only part of my blood in trouble.  My white blood cells  (WBC) are also dangerously low putting me at a higher risk of infection.  Never fear though, there is a drug to combat this--Nuelasta!  It is a drug that stimulates the bone marrow to make more WBC.  This shot is quite unpleasant to receive.  It can not be administered trough my port.  It is subcutaneous.  It is given really slowly to keep the irritation down; and while going in, it stings--A LOT!  I do not look forward to this shot.  I have had two shots and am scheduled to get a shot every two weeks while on treatment.  As far as receiving more blood, there is no way to know.  It may be enough to allow my body to catch-up and it may not.  This will be monitored weekly.  In the meantime, I am going to employ all the natural remedies, that I know of, to stimulate red blood cell production and combat anemia.  The face swelling I mentioned is disconcerting.  We don't know what is causing it.  My guess is allergies since chemo intensfies them.  When I wake some mornings, it looks like someone has hit both my eyes.  As the day goes, the swelling goes too.  Not only have my eyes been swelling but my ears, especially my right, is so congested that I can barely hear.  Many people have been suggesting that I take a Clariton.  I've been ignoring this advice until today.  I took a Clariton this morning.  It is 3:00 in the afternoon and I still have no relief!  I will stick to my remedies, and know they will eventually cut through the congestion.  Despite all these unwelcome symptoms, I feel most days remain positive.  I know I have to fight harder than ever now as the affects of chemo are cumulative and are taking a toll on my body.  It's up to me to keep my spirits up.  This is where all the support comes in as well.  I know all the positivity you all project is like gas in the tank!  Thank you all!  I will try not to wait so long to post.  Next week I will have more scans to see what the last two rounds of chemo have accomplished.  Let's hope for REALLY good news.  I'm meditating on:  IT'S ALL GONE!!!!  Love to you all.  Be what you love and love what you Be!