Cuddled up with my soft blanket Jane made .... It's perfect for chemo treatment as the room is SO cold, even the waiting room is cold. Today, I had Nurse Regina tend to me. I feel "calm" in the familiar setting of the treatment clinic. They take their duties seriously, yet they can tease one another. (I'm sure in their intense day, it relieves the stress). Watching them collect all the syringes, platex gloves, IV bags, etc ... the usual devices for taking vitals ... the laptops on their rolling table to go from patient to patient .... not to mention the chatter from nurse to nurse as they verify numbers and patient information for one another. The chemo drug is based on patient's weight and other factors, and they whip out their calculators to figure out the cocktail. The pharmacist makes the batch specially made for the individual. That process gives me peace.
Herceptin ~ the estrogen blocker
I asked to talk to the pharmacist, Nicole and she popped over to answer the questions that I had regarding
Anastrozole, the pill I have to take for 5 years. By the way, she mentioned how some patients stop taking the pill after 3 years or even a few weeks.
Don't stop
She said that science shows that it should be taken for "at least" 5 years, if not longer. I'll take her word for it. I really, really, don't want to go through this again and if it helps, I'm doing it.
I shared with her
the article I found and the
side effect page. She said that the news media can hype things to the extreme, so to not get overly stressed about the information. It is a good idea to exercise and to make healthy food choices, but hormones that might be in meat products are not enough to cause the cancer to reoccur .... hmmmm. The side effect page lists ALL possible side effects, but not all of them may come into play. The most prevalent will be the sore joints and muscles and loss of hand grip. If I do have problems with
Anastrozole, I should call the doctor as there are other "sister" drugs that can be tried. She told me to get supplemental calcium and Vitamin D. And I am currently doing that ~
Just bringing my brain and emotions full circle. You might not like to hear it but, 'none of us are getting out of here alive.' So, deal with it (at least that is what I'm telling myself) by ways that are important to you.
- Change the things that I can change
- Live your life to the fullest (wish I would have done that a long time ago)
- Prioritize ~ what is important?
- Oh my gosh, I really do need to declutter. It is out of control, which makes me feel out of control
- Make that bucket list and actually check things off that list
There is HOPE for each day.
I was recently reminded of Paul, when he was in prison. And even though his surroundings were unbearable, he had JOY deep in his heart. I sense that as the ultimate calm. There are many times that I feel this as well. Sorry you see the other side of me at times ~ you get to be on my roller coaster ride of emotions .... well, I'm an imperfect human.... But one that is full of HOPE.
My hope is not for myself, say like in a cure for my body. A hope that is so much more than that. Sadly, many get their happiness only from those things around them in their circle of circumstances. But once those circumstances changes to illness, or loss or (fill in the blank), our happiness disappears.
We yearn for peace ... and such is the peace Jesus promises to all who trust in Him.
I am with you always,
even to the end of the age.
Matthew 28:20
This is the hope,
This is the joy,
This is the peace that passes all understanding
It is only through God's grace and His mercy
that we can behold these blessings!
