All side effects present and accounted for...

Wow, my last chemo treatment really wants to make it memorable!  It seems that 95% of the side effects are in play this go-around.  Two that haven't made an appearance yet are the continuing hair loss and the frog-in-throat issue (makes for very difficult swallowing).  But fatigue, muscle weakness, chemo brain (feel like I'm in la-la land, at least I don't feel angry), super-duper cold sensitivity, numb fingertips, millions of nails stabbing my jaws, stinging tears (I mean the kind that you immediately stop crying because the stinging registers a 10 on the pain scale), and chemo flatulence that can clear a room (thankfully it's just been me and the dog the last few days and I blame it all on him!) are all present and accounted for, reluctantly. 

It would have been nice if number 12 could have been like a long, luxurious massage from a well-tanned, bare-chested, non-English speaking, prime specimen of a man that leaves you breathless for days, even weeks.  But no, instead, it's like a visit from the makers of torture chambers who need to try out their latest pain-maker on an unwilling-but-realize-it's-necessary-to-be-cured victim.

Anyway, I'm simply continuing to incorporate all my 'healing' methods and drinking as much water as possible to flush the Oxiliplantin, the Leucoverin, and the 5-FU from my body.  It's been 7 days since my last infusion and 5 since disconnect and they've been tough.  But, I am done.  So that keeps me focused on recovery and hopeful for the days ahead.

Some very good news that I wanted to share.  Yesterday, I had a follow up colonoscopy because I had experienced some bleeding again.  Yes, talk about freaking the fuck out that day and the days that followed!  I felt like I was going back to the scene of the crime (otherwise known as "diagnosis day").  I was put in the same preparation bay as before and had the same doctor as before. That was the extent of the 'sameness'.  This time I was in a different operating room, (I call it the "good news" room).  And everything came out GREAT!!!  I've got a nice, clean, cancer-free colon, & no hemorrhoids either.  Doctor thinks that the bleeding may have come from the surgical site (where they resected my colon) because it looked a little inflamed, said it wasn't anything to worry about. She wants me to have another one in six months.  We were both very pleased with the outcome of this colonoscopy.  Very.

I have a follow-up PET scan on May 22 and a follow-up visit with my oncologist May 29.  Feeling pretty good at my chances.  Looking forward to being able to call myself a 'cancer survivor'...

One of the beautiful bouquets I received on my last chemo day