The Blue Battle - a stage IV rectal cancer journey

Since I am nearing the half way point in my chemo rounds, I practically begged my oncologist to give me a scan.  I needed to know that the chemo was doing something, that all these side effects were worth it.  On Tuesday I had a PET scan.  In the cancer world we refer to scanxiety as the severe anxiety a cancer patient experiences before a scan.  My scanxiety was high!  Late yesterday afternoon I received my PET scan results in my online patient portal.  Unfortunately, I had just gone to the eye doctor and my eyes were dilated. One of my friends/colleagues was kind enough to offer to read the results to me.  The news: liver lesion has shrunk, a lymph node that had previously lit up on a scan was no where to be seen, and the lung nodules have not changed in size!  Yes I still have cancer in my body but now I know the chemo is doing something!  It mildly helps in the mental battle of sitting through chemo infusions and wearing the chemo pump for 48 hours. I won't have another scan un

This past week has been chemo #4.  Each chemo session is a new experience with new symptoms.  Frustratingly I still continue to have an allergic reaction during the infusion.  Even with trying new premeds and meds during the infusion, I still experience an out of body trippy feeling and inability to speak correctly.  I have a big appreciation for my chemo nurses who have to deal with people who are 100% sick every day.  This past chemo left me with over 24 hours of diahrrea, vomiting, and nausea.  Nothing stays in so tomorrow I will go back to the cancer center for IV fluids and hopefully stronger anti nausea meds since nothing seems to be effective.  The cats have been very happy to have me in bed today.  I had all four on the bed with me; I think they know if don't feel well.  Please continue to pray for overall healing but also specifically for healing for this current inability to eat or drink and get the nutrients I need.