More Treatments

This past Tuesday was my sixth infusion. As usual, we (me and Cheryl and Jason, our driver and encourager for this visit) checked in at the reception area and they gave me a badge and the traditional plastic band to wear around my wrist. The badge is a tracking device that lets my caregivers know where I am.

We proceeded to the reception area on the 10th floor and shortly a nurse came to escort us to our assigned patient room, but on the way she had me get on the scales. I weighed 171pounds. When I started these infusions, I weighed 192.

After I got comfortable in my lounge chair, the nurse began taking my blood pressure and oxygen level. As the nurse and I were talking about what large veins I had, the port was anchored on the top of my left wrist.  Blood was drawn through the port.

Originally when I met with my medical team at Emory, the coordinator for the clinical trial stated that I would get six infusions on three week cycles. I asked why only six, and I did not get a good response.

I am sure that my medical team explained to me a lot of things that did not soak into my mind. In that first meeting we were in shock after hearing that this cancer, Round 3, was going to take my life. There were very different opinions about the prognosis. The radiation oncologist said a few weeks. Another suggested months and possibly a year. Doctors today just do not want to give any info about their thoughts on a patient’s prognosis.

I am telling you this: No matter how close to the Lord you may be, when a group of physicians tell you that you have terminal cancer, you are probably going to react in a similar manner. My eyes filled with tears at the thought of leaving my family. My first thoughts were about Cheryl. Who was going to help her? Who is going to sit with her in church? Do we have enough in our savings and investments to take care of her? In the big scope of things these all seem so trivial now. I know that the Lord is going to take care of Cheryl and our family. That is not something that I need to worry about. That is a good feeling, and it gives me comfort in my soul to understand these things.

Last Tuesday was my sixth infusion, and my coordinator had told me at my fifth infusion that it was possible for me to have more treatments. There was no excitement or enthusiasm in the way she said this, so I decided not to get excited about more infusions. I thought that after the sixth one that they would put me on the infusion that the other group was taking. I did not fully understand the importance of what she was saying during my sixth infusion.

The coordinator stated during my appointment that I could have 24 cycles if I remained healthy, and my body did not react to produce more side effects. Twenty-four cycles! That means that I could be in the trial for 72 weeks.

Nothing has changed in my routines. I still am in awe of the Lord’s ability to do so many things at one time. With all the lives that He has to take care of, He has chosen to work with my sicknesses. Thank you. Lord, for walking with me during this time.