I'm in remission!

1/20/11 – What a day!  “What a great day!” is what I really should say.  Today has been tiring but awesome!

I received a call this morning from my new oncologist’s office saying that they still had not received my file from the other oncologist though they contacted them last Friday.  I immediately started to panic – not again, this can’t happen to me again!  The lady was calling to confirm their phone number and she said she would let me know the outcome regardless.  The whole time I’m thinking “They can’t do this to me again.  Sherry took the day off work just to go with me.  Why haven’t they sent the files? Why?”  The lady from the new office called back and said that she had some problems with the office staff and had to talk to 2 people.  I asked if I need to call them because I have had several issues with them in the past and that is the whole reason for my change.  She told me that they said they should be able to get my information to them in time but she can understand why I would have had so many problems with them.  All of this just confirms my decision to change offices. 

The appointment is still on.  Yes!  Sherry picked me up and we headed to the metropolis of Gainsville – LOL.  I think it is funny that most people head into the city for their treatments, but me?  Nope.  I head even further out of town!  As soon as I got there I felt good about the appointment.  I had a ton of paperwork to fill out.  I had Sherry there so she and I talked and had a good time throughout the appointment.  I was worried that we were talking so much that I wouldn’t hear my name called – not a bad problem to have, right?  When I was called back they (of course) weighed me.  The funniest part was that the scale wasn’t like a normal scale.  It was like one of those scales that vets have.  You know the big ones that don’t have the piece in front that tells the weight, it’s over to the side.  I thought that was hilarious!  I was on a dog scale!  After that I got to meet the doctor.  He was very nice and took a lot of time to explain my cancer.  He didn’t have my PET scan results but I did mention that the PET scan showed that there were no tumors in my body.  He said “Oh, that means you’re in remission.”  What?!  I’m in remission!  How cool is that?  No more cancer in me – hooah!  I could still have cancer cells in me because a PET scan can only pick up small tumors but cancer cells themselves are too small.  That is why we do the chemo and continue with follow ups.

My treatment is going to be a little different with the new oncologist.  I will no longer take pills for 14 days.  My schedule goes something like this:

-          Go in on a Tuesday and have chemo for 6 – 7 hours – OMG!  That is a long time.

-          When I leave I will have a pump that will be connected to my port (Pixie the Port) for 46 hours.   – Now this is where things get troublesome.  I will have to keep the pump in a fanny pack!  Aaahhh!  Did you hear me?  A FANNY PACK! I can’t wear a fanny pack.  I can’t.  I just can’t.  I’m going to have to find some other alternative.  A diva does NOT wear a fanny pack. 

-          I will go back in to the office on a Thursday and turn in the pump and they will de-access my port.

-          I will have a week and a half before I start over.  I will get chemo every 2 weeks.

I’m having a hard time with the pump part – mostly because of the fanny pack.  Does anyone own a bedazzler?  The upside to doing the pump as opposed to the pills for 14 days is that the side effects should be much milder.  The doctor said that he finds the pills are more toxic.  I think this will be a good thing for me.  I’m ready to get going.  I am supposed to start my chemo this coming Tuesday, the 25^th.

I had to go to chemo class before I start chemo.  I thought that it would be a little annoying that they couldn’t just do it when I came for my appointment.  But, when I came to the class it was really good.  We each got a binder that had tabs to easily find questions.  They walked us through random information about chemo and cancer and then talked about the side effects of chemo.  The number 1 side effect of chemo is fatigue.  Fatigue…. I am already completely worn out.  I yawn at 10:25 in the morning.  What is it going to be like when I’m going through chemo?  Oh, goodness.  I forgot to mention, I’m supposed to avoid hair dyes.  What?!  I love to color my hair.  My hair appointments are like therapy for me.  How am I not going to color my hair for 6 months? 6 months!  Carie!  Help!  Honestly, I heard the words “Will I get in trouble if I color my hair?” come out of my mouth.  I’m just being honest.  The lady said my hair might turn out a different color than intended.  That’s all?  Purple hair, here I come!

That really was my entire day.  Consult, Chick-fil-A, fun time at La-tee-da, and then back to Gainsville for my chemo class.  Whew!  I am so tired.  It was a full day for me.  I got my Chick-fil-A sandwich with extra pickles today.  It was awesome.  I would love some ice cream.  I think I’m gonna go get some out of the fridge.  My song of the day is Kutless and “What Faith Can Do”.  Sherry and I were listening to this in the car.  I really like that song.  “Impossible is not a word”  My neighbor/fellow cancer fighter/close friend has proven that statement.  He’s still in serious condition.  We have to realize there is something bigger than us and even doctors.  Faith is a powerful thing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7elxC8LXfzE

Tomorrow I plan to work some and take it easy.  Hopefully Todd and I can head to Alabama tomorrow night.  We’re playing it by ear.  Night y’all!