Final and Last - Chemo # 8

In a few minutes it will officially be Monday, the day of my last chemo! Chemo #8!

I have awaited this day for what seems like forever. The end of this portion of the journey is now so close I can feel it. I know I will be sick for over the next week to week and a half and will have nasty stabbing, deep set bone pain and fatigue. But at least I know this will be the LAST time for these things. Also, the horrible taste in my mouth that makes most foods and beverages non-appealing will now disappear in a few weeks (I hope!).

There will be some foods that I will probably never want to come near again. The foods that became the only food I could tolerate during this time. These foods will bring back far too many memories.

I am looking forward to being able to address the cleaning of my house and getting things back in order. Both have suffered tremendously during and since the beginning of my surgeries and treatments.

I am looking forward to getting the feeling back in my fingers and toes/feet. I am really frustrated with the chemo brain issue (problems with memory) that started to occur about two months ago, so here again, I am very much looking forward to that disappearing too. And the intense hot flashes and night sweats.....oh, I won't miss those! I am hoping they will go back to the way they were prior to chemo. They were there, but nothing on this level!

Oh, and of course hair growth. And needing to use deodorant again! Not that I don't like not having to use deodorant, but at the same time, there is a comfort of normal involved to need to use it! And my hair is now fuzzy enough that others are noticing it is coming back in, too. Mostly white and I don't care. I'll take it!

There were a few times that I wondered if I would ever get to chemo #8, for various reasons. But here I am. And I am glad to be here. There are some deep feelings that come with this point in the journey. Accompishment. Relief. Anticipation of the future. Renewed priorities in life. A new set of goals to address. The wariness of knowing I always be afraid of the cancer returning. The always wondering if this or that is a "sign" of cancer.

I am eager to keep moving on. I embrace the start of the next portion of my journey. I am scared of the next portion of my journey.

I will post again, as there are some things I would like to mention that I haven't. In fact there will probably be a number of posts over the next couple of months. But after that I hope to be able to concentrate on my new blog sunnyside2morrow.blogspot.com. And of course, everyone is welcome to visit me there too!

Four more minutes to Monday! Yep, the date in time that means so much! Talk to you again soon!

Chemo #7

Chemo #7 was administered today. I still have the remains of the cold and am still being treated for the superinfection, so I don't know if that may have had some affects on why things went differently today. I'm doing ok so far, but the steriods have already worn off and the benadryl didn't knock me out like it normally does. My feet, hands and stomach are swelling up and I have a sore throat. My hot flashes are going nuts. My blood pressure is on the rise again. Last take (6:30 tonight) 167/104, pulse 100.

I guess all I can do is keep an eye on things. I am hoping to get through this one with absolute minimum, perferably none.....pain and sickness.

Only one more to go! I can hardly wait. I sure hope these two weeks actually go quickly!

I have fuzz on my head again.......might even have some hair again sometime first quarter of next year! Oh, how I am looking forward to it!