Recurrance treatment update......

Hi all,

I have not posted as often as usual lately but wanted to let you all know I am doing fairly well.

After being diagnosed in January with a recurrance (4 yrs post protocall treatment for Stage 3b anal ca) in my lung (3.5cm yikes!), I had my left lower lobe removed, margins were clean, and I am now half way through my following chemo treatment, considered adjuvant to catch any rogue cells.

I go in for cisplatin infusion and come home with the 5FU pump for 5 days and re-do every 21 days for 3-4 months.

The chemo week kicks my butt by day 4 and for a couple days after being disconnected. I am queasy, dizzy, and tired and generally feel like ****! The diarrhea is constant (assuming I am able to eat anything and am drinking) and having an ostomy is actually very helpful in that regard as it holds a lot, is not painful, and allows me to be free NOT to live in the bathroom! Then, a few days after chemo I steadily rebound to my normal self! Any weight I loose that week is usually back by the next cycle. My hair has thinned but it is/was so thick that most people don't even notice. One of the hardest things is that when I rebound to feeling mostly well it is so difficult to go back for more chemo now knowing how awful it will make me feel....I am really sick of  the rollercoaster rides but so very thankful that we all have tickets to the same carnival so we can ride together!!

I was able to manage a fun 3day trip to Chicago with my daughter and 2 grandsons just before my last treatment. We stayed right downtown and these "country" boys were in awe of the city lights and people! We packed museums, the aquarium, Navy Pier, Legoland, a trolley ride, and The Rainforest Cafe among other touristy sights into our stay. It was wonderful!!!

I think of you all often and pray everyday that we are all able to move forward in health.

katheryn