The journey continues. Yesterday was my thirteenth Chemo Infusion since March, and based on the schedule, it will continue through the last week of November – every other week. The good news is that the chemo is working, and my Oncologist has a PET scan scheduled for October 27. The scan will give her and my surgeons a very good idea of what comes next, and we will have those discussions. Yesterday’s session started at 9:30 and we were on the road headed home by 3 – a little shorter, but it means that my drivers (Tim yesterday) have to come up the night before so they don’t get stuck in any early morning bridge closures. No, we don’t live on an island, but one of the roads to Rio Vista crosses the Sacramento River via a draw bridge. And that so happens to be the easiest way for Tim and Kevin to get to Rio Vista.
There have been lots of things that have gone on in my treatment. Still have some acne like rash on my nose, eye brows and upper lip. The chemo that causes the rash was reduced, and I’m applying the creams, but it’s like those areas aren’t getting the message. After surgery last December, one of the foods on the list that was “good” for my ilistomy was Cream of Wheat. Very low on my list of what people call edible. Over the months, I have discovered that it is available in flavors, but they are hard to get from the stores unless you by the variety pack. I have managed to find boxes of Maple & Brown Sugar which is tolerable. Prefer instant oatmeal in the flavors that don’t have any seeds.
Thankful for how my Oncologist is very pleased with how the chemo is progressing. She is so pleased that she said that in my current condition, we could stop the chemo until they see the PET scan – my choice. I chose to continue the chemo just to make sure nothing regressed. I want to get ready for the surgery so I can start eating regular food early in 2027. With my CEA at 2.1, they all know chemo is working, since with colorectal cancer 5 is about normal.
Stay tuned.