The Next Phase

Hello all!!
Thought I would just update everyone on the next part of this long process. Got a few comments that I hadn't "blogged" in a while, so here it goes!!

The family and I just returned from Vermont. My kids, my parents and my sister and her family spent 5 days in Vermont for a little family vacation before I start radiation. It was a lot of fun, although 5 days with 10 people in one condo is a bit overwhelming! It was definitely chaotic at times, but was a lot of fun and I enjoyed spending time with my nieces and nephew that I don't usually get to see more than once a week if I am lucky!!

My good friend Maura and I are going to Hartford, CT tonight to see Tim McGraw tonight. Looking forward to it!! Then four of us are heading to the Comcast Center in Mansfield, MA tomorrow night to see him again!! My country bumpkin' weekend!! Yippee!!! I LOVE TIM!!!!

Tuesday starts the next part of my treatment. I have bloodwork in the morning and then will receive my first of the low dose chemo that I will be getting throughout the radiation treatments. They are using three different drugs to help "boost" the effects of the radiation treatments. They said that the side effects from this type of chemo should not be too bad. Then I have a "dry run" for my radiation at 2pm. The actual treatments start on Wednesday. These will continue for 5 days a week for about 6-6 1/2 weeks. Because radiation can effect my throat and swallowing, the doctors have decided that it would be best for me to get a feeding tube put in again. This was not the most comfortable thing, but definitely helped me to get through the treatments the last time. This will help me to stay hydrated and keep up my nutrition throughout the course of my treatments. It will be put in the end of my second week or beginning of the third week.

So I will be putting on my happy face at the beginning of the week and hold my chin up high and battle the next phase of treatments. This is not going to be easy as it is my third course of radiation and they are not sure what to expect. It is very unusual for someone to have three rounds of radiation to relatively the same area. But I am not giving up now!! The treatments are working and God willing this will work, too, and I will be on my way to being cured for good!

Hope everyone is having a wonderful summer and enjoying this heat!!
Stay cool!!