Cycle Three - Yippee!!

I finally got to begin Cycle 3 of chemo yesterday!  That's the good news!  The "other news" is that my white count had gone back down, so the Dr. cut my dosage again - this time to 66%. Also as part of my treatment I will have to get four injections each week to boost my white count.  The Dr. seemed to be perplexed about what would be the best route to go with my treatment plan and this was the one he chose.  He said sometimes people don't respond like the textbook says, so we have to just "step up to the plate and take a swing"!  So, this is the swing.  I'm praying that it's a home run, not a strike! :-)

I am SO thankful to have begun Cycle 3!!  That means that at the end of this cycle I will be halfway finished!!  I continue to feel amazingly well!  I thank God every day.  My prayer is that my platelets don't go back down, following this treatment - like they did last time.  That could mean another delay with my treatment schedule.  I assume the Dr. thinks that by lowering my dose, it will minimize the risk of the platelets going down.  I guess we'll find out next Tuesday (April 19) when I go back for the next one-drug treatment which is part of Cycle 3.  I would appreciate your helping me pray that my platelet count will stay high.

The Dr. is checking to see if insurance will allow me to give the injections to myself at home.  It would be more convenient than going in four days a week to have someone else give it to me.  However, there is a reason I didn't become a nurse!  I'm going to try to learn this new skill, but Steve has said he will be my back-up.  He has a strong background of experience in giving injections - to our dog, Sam!  I told him at least I won't bite and I'll hold still!  My experience with giving injections does not bode well for my proposed new task.  I tried to give an injection to Sam one time.  When I looked into those puppy dog eyes, I just knew I was going to hurt him.  I ended up squirting the medicine all over his back!  None went under his skin. Then he looked at me with his puppy dog eyes again as if to say, "What was that all about?"  It was not a successful venture.  So....I'm hoping that someone at the Dr. office can teach me how to do this.  If I don't succeed, I know I can trust Steve.  I've seen him give injections. :-)

I will confess that after not having chemo for 3 weeks, I did not look forward to getting "doused" again.  But, as before, the Lord's presence was with me, giving me a calm spirit and peace.  I thank Him that the symptoms I am living with are so minimal compared to what some people deal with.  I am still able to carry on with daily activities - which include a nap or two!  I have learned to be thankful for many of the little things that I have often taken for granted.  I am learning to "Rejoice in the Lord always..." (Philippians 4:4).  As always, thank you for your prayers.  They are what give me the courage to face each day!  "I do not cease to give thanks for you..." (Ephesians 1:16)!