As my appointment was scheduled for 12 PM, yersterday made for a very long day. I didn’t get back into my chair on the infusion floor until about 10 after 12 and had to wait to have my portacath tapped, blood drawn for testing, receive my anti-emetics, and for my chemotherapy medicines to be prepared. It was 2:17 PM when I began my actual chemotherapy. As I had predicted in my Facebook status yesterday, we did not leave UNC Hospital until after 5 PM. As dad and I had not eaten anything, we had to forgo lunch and just eat dinner. We drove to Sanford instead of my usual country route so that we could run some errands. I got gasoline from Murphy’s at Walmart for $2.44 a gallon. That is the cheapest price I have found in North Carolina as we have the highest state gas tax in the region. Our dinner was at Wendy’s. Fortunately, calorieking.com lists the calories in food items from most fast food and casual dining restaurants. So, I was able to plan out my meal. I had lost about 2 more pounds. I was certainly happy about that. Only about 100 more pounds to go. 
At the current rate, I should reach my goal in about 100 more weeks. LOL. Of course, when the chemotherapy is completed and I am no longer suffering with the edema or taking the equivalent of 120 mg of Prednisone every two weeks and can begin walking more each day, I should be able to shave off at least a few of those weeks. *fingers crossed*
The neuropathy continues to worsen with each treatment, but I still show no signs of toxicity. The fatigue has not worsened, though, since I am taking more blood pressure medicine to better regulate my heart rate and blood pressure. I had also been told to drink my electrolye beverages again and not worry about their sodium content. However, I still have moments where I will fall asleep suddenly when I get comfortable. This usually doesn’t take place now until later in the day. When getting out of the chair at the conclusion of the chemotherapy, I’ve been having the weird sensation of my legs wanting to give out from under me. The nurse teased me that I had to get my “sea legs” back. We theorize that it is caused by a sudden rush of the fluorouracil througout my system. This is because I am getting out of the chair almost immediately after being hooked up to the pump I take home with me. It is a bit unsettling but it goes away quickly. I also have been having more sinus problems and sinus headaches from the fluorouracil. The chemotherapy pharmacist advised me to take glutamine powder in an over the counter preparation. She said it should help even if it is really migraines instead of sinus headaches. This latter side effect has been a recent development and apparently is not usually reported as occurring with the chemotherapy I’m takling. (It figures that I would develop a rare or unheard of side effect from my chemotherapy.)
I know I have likely confused some of you concerning how many chemotharpy treatments that I have left. I am a little confused about this myself. My oncologist called the seventh round the half-way point which would lead me to conclude that I had seven more to take. But he also said that I had six more to go as well as stating that the chemotherapy would end in November. As I have chemotherapy every two weeks, things do not exactly “add up” as one would expect. To top it off, the chemotherpay pharmacist told me yesterday that colon cancer chemotherapy usally only lasts 12 rounds. She did say, though, that I was only receiving 80% strength chemotherapy treatments, that Dr. Bernard may have decided to tack on a couple of more infusions. Thus, I think I will just say that it ends in November and should it end sooner, that will just be a treat.
In the long term, I may experience permanent neuropathic symptoms. 
I will also have to see the oncologist every three months until he is satisfied that I can go six months between follow-ups. After he is sastisfied with my follow-ups that will occur every six months, I will then be released for a year between visits. At some point, too, I expect to have a CT Scan to ensure that there is no evidence of cancer anywhere in my body.
Overall, so far so good. As I’ve always said, God is so good. I thank you for your continued prayers and positive thoughts. They have made my treatments much more bearable. God bless you all.
