It's a celebration! I completed my final chemo treatment on Tuesday, April 21. Now I just have to make it though my last weekend of feeling somewhat yucky and that will be that. I will have a follow-up appointment with Dr. Bridges on May 21 where they will draw blood to make sure all my blood cells are building back up the way they should.
Everything went like normal for my infusion. Juan and Beth kept me company and I even got a surprise visit from my friend Autumn. It was great having friends there with me to celebrate getting through this! I was surprised by how emotional I felt when it was all over and even had to wipe back a couple tears as Beth and I walked out the door. They were definitely happy tears, or tears of relief to have this behind me... something like that. I will NOT miss chemo, that is for sure!
I wanted to let the chemo nurses and staff know how much I appreciated all their good advice, kindness, and understanding and so I made a batch of cookies to take in with me. They were a hit so it was worth it. Plus the steroid had me pumped up the night before so I had plenty of energy for baking.
I went back yesterday for my final shot of Neulasta... glad to be done with those, too! Luckily the Claritin has really helped (well, I assume it has) because I haven't had the "intense" bone pain that I was told could happen and did not sound fun at all.
I was pretty tired last night. I haven't slept very well the last few nights because I've been pounding the water, which is good, but leads to frequent trips to the bathroom, and also I've been having these hot flashes which are getting pretty annoying and wake me up. Plus, Carlo the annoying cat is not all that helpful either. I'm feeling a little "off" today and sure by tonight I'll just want to sleep more. I thought maybe I was having some neuropathy in my fingers but I think they are just cold. I just feel like I can't concentrate all that well right now so I think I should stop typing and move on to the photographic evidence of this momentous event.
Claire and pink piggy wishing me well before my final treatment. Claire's cousin Harkin gave her this piggy and he said I could take it to commemorate my final chemo, too.
Cookies for the MSTI nurses and staff. Can you believe I didn't even taste one? Juan did the QC for me and they were good to go.
I'm not really going to miss my box of meds on the kitchen counter! I suppose I'll keep all this stuff around for a while but maybe not in such a conspicuous spot.
I was happy to have the pink piggy to with me. He got many compliments (p.s. even though he's pink and I think the name tag said "Vivi" we've all determined it is a he). Harkin said, "Piggy is a super hero of love here to take all your cancer away forever." Amen to that!!!
I'm so lucky to have this guy by my side through all this crap. I don't know what I would do without him! Do you like our nearly matching heads?
I'm also so blessed to have had this kind and generous lady by my side every step of the way.
My last bag of chemo drugs! We tried to get a picture of the monitor saying "COMPLETE" but the way it scrolls we couldn't get the whole things. COMPLETE = HOORAY!!!
Back at home Claire got to color in the final quarter of our chemo pie chart. She also drew some pictures for me... there is one of me with my little tiny stubbly hair and an arrow to another head with more hair. I think someone (besides me) is ready for me to have some hair again!
And so with that, one more step of this whole cancer crap is over. Chemo was insurance policy #1 for cancer not returning in my body... check! Now I move on to policy #2 which is my radiation treatment. After that, I plan to do the hormone therapy (tamoxifen) and continue to pray it all works and remember to be thankful for each and every day I am blessed to be alive and healthy!
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