Sunday, January 22, 2012

Done with Taxol- FOREVER!!!

Yes, it's true!! I had my 12th and final treatment of Taxol. It is hard to believe that 13 weeks ago I was told that I had stage 3 cancer and I began chemo. Hearing that one chemo would take 12 weeks and another would be another 12 weeks seemed like an eternity, and I already have the first one done! Praise the Lord!! It really has seemed short and Taxol wasn't all that bad to me- in fact, it played a part in my cancer shrinking! So, thank God for Taxol:)

I went to Houston this week with 3 of my dear friends, Jodi, Jana, and Sarah. We had such a great time! We laughed, shopped, ate, and just enjoyed each other's company. Once again, I have the best friends in the world. They sat with me at my long chemo appt and drove the 12 hours! I am blessed.

My fingernails and toenails are continuing to hurt and I think my big toe nail is about to say goodbye:) My chemo nurse told me that the FAC does not affect the fingernails like the Taxol, so that's good! A new side effect currently is that my entire body is sore. It is almost like my skin is sore..to just barely touch- it's crazy. Once again, I would take these side effects to nausea, any day.

So, I start the new FAC chemo on Thursday. I am SO ready. I feel like every person has said every terrible thing/ side effect that could happen, but I am not afraid. God has not given me a spirit of fear, but of peace and a sound mind. I am happy to know that this chemo is the strongest and I know it will kill every last bit of this stupid cancer! It is 3 chemos in one and it will take an extra hour to administer. I will also be quadrupling my steroid intake before administering the chemo, so I have a better chance of not adversely reacting to the medicine. I am prepared to be miserable and sick, but I just don't believe it will be that bad. God shielded me thus far and I believe He will do it again. I may feel worse than I did on Taxol, but I just don't believe I will be one of those horror stories. However, I am willing to be as sick as I need to be if that is a part of my healing process. I am just fully trusting the One who has brought me this far. He who has started a good work in me will be faithful to complete it. He is so faithful.

I will also meet with my doctor on Thursday morning. I am SO looking forward to that. I have many questions to ask her and I mainly want answers concerning the shrinkage of my lymph nodes- what we are wanting them to look like, what good reports are, and just how she believes I am fairing overall. We were a little confused after the last ultrasound, so we are wanting some answers that are still hanging out there.

We will stay in Houston until Tuesday, Jan. 31, as I have ultrasounds, mammograms, an appt with my surgical oncologist and my radiation oncologist. This will be my next official check up on the cancer itself--please pray for this day and these tests to be great. We are hoping that when I meet with my surgeon on this day that we can at least get a tentative surgery date (we are estimating that surgery would be at the end of April). This will also be the first time for me to meet my radiation oncologist. I believe that will be the final member of my cancer team, so it will be good to meet him and see what all radiation will entail this summer. So, this week and the beginning of the next will be big weeks for me! I know they will be great weeks, in which God shows His mighty power through me once again.

It feels so good to have one big chunk of my treatment over with. I met with a girl named Donna, who is friends with some of my friends, and she is 32 and was diagnosed with breast cancer this past summer. She has done the same course of treatment that I have. She came by my house last week and it was great to talk to someone who literally has walked all of these steps before me. She just had a mastectomy on her cancer breast and was willing to show me and answer any questions I had- she was so amazing to be willing to do this for me. She looks great and was given paperwork this past week that she was cancer-free! That will be me so very soon!!! I am looking forward to helping someone behind me so that I can be as helpful to someone as Donna has been to me.

Thank you for your fervent prayers as I begin a new treatment journey this Thursday. We will of course keep you updated  as much will be happening these next couple of weeks.

Love you guys!! Here are some pics from this weekend!!! # 12!!!!!!


7 comments:

Emily Jones said...

So thankful that you are getting that much closer to the end of this journey!! Praise God for His healing!! Love you, friend!

Anonymous said...

AlyCat,
You continue to amaze me with your strong spirit and peaceful attitude. I know the good Lord is working through you, and I have been praying for you every step of the way. There is, literally, not a day that goes by that I don't think of you. Your smile and your laughter. I am so blessed to have you as a part of my life. And I know that God is working miracles through you as we speak! I miss you, and I pray that your pain will subside, and that you'll beat this cancer and be a walking testimony for others. I love you, my sweet sweet friend.
All the best,
D-Dawg ;)

Emily said...

Aly-you had know idea, but you were sitting directly behind my daughter in church Sunday. I didn't know it until after(I was sitting elsewhere) or I would have made sure you met her. She herself has had a brain tumor for 8 years now and she is only 13. She came up to me after church and said "Mom, there was this girl sitting behing me and she was bald(she knows all about hair loss herself) and she was GORGEOUS!" She just kept saying over and over how pretty you were. The other crazy connection is that she is a student of your friend Sam Jones at Sterlington Middle. I would love for you to meet her one day-she is quite to fighter and my daily inspiration. Check out her website: www.caringbridge.org/visit/shelbimae
-Emily Wingfield

Gretchen said...

Aly,
You and I haven't met but I learned of you through a mutual friend, Nell McCurry. I have enjoyed reading your blog. Your courage and faith in God have been an inspiration to me. The scriptures you quote are always so timely. Just wanted you to know there's one more person praying for your healing. (well there's actually two, because my mom is praying for you as well!)

Ashley Kent said...

You are just as GORGEOUS as ever Mrs. Aly! Love ya girly and still praying for your full 100% recovery <3 God Bless and cant wait to be able to talk to you face to face; after all these years; soon :D

xo Ashley Kent

Rhonda said...

Hi Aly,
Wow! What a beautiful and amazing young woman you are! Although we just met yesterday (at the Pottery Barn of all places), as soon as I looked in to your face, I could literally see God's Holy Spirit alive and radiantly gleaming in you; your eyes and smile were evidence of His Spirit working through you. I usually say something trite like, 'it's such a small world,' when I meet people in random places and then find we have shared some past thread on this journey of life... But, I firmly believe it's more than that -- I know that God places people in our lives daily, and moment to moment, to encourage us; to reassure us that HE IS ACTIVELY working in and through us. Just wanted you to know that I will now be lifting you in prayers to God, in the powerful name of Jesus Christ, for your complete and pain free recovery. Aly, may God continue to bless you with renewed and abundant health. Rhonda

Unknown said...

Hi Aly,
Wow!You are really an amaging lady!You look so beautiful so strong!God bless you and me and my family will always pray for you from India.