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!!!!!!