You never know

Monday was a long treatment day. First to radiation and then to chemo treatment. As always, mom carries around a little fanny pack that administers chemo therapy treatment directly into her pic line. Every Monday she goes in to have it refilled. Every other Monday (and this last Monday was one of those) she gets a 4 hour infusion of a different type of chemo therapy. This one really wears on her. Monday, she was tired, but seemed OK. Tuesday morning she was a little tired, but not doing too bad. By afternoon she wasn't feeling well and Wednesday, she was just sick most of the day. Of course, it doesn't help that her sleep patterns are off. Either she doesn't sleep at all, or she sleeps really well for a couple of hours and then wakes up and can't go back to sleep, Her pain levels go up and down and since we're nearing the end of her treatment, the radiation is really taking it's toll. Even though heating pads help with discomfort in her lower back, the radiation has made adding heat to that area really uncomfortable. So, she just has to endure it. Of course, taking medication can help, but as in all medications, there are undesirable side effects. So, she has to chose which is worse, the discomfort or the side effect.
The good news is, her radiation doc said she can stop her radiation at 29 treatments instead of 30. That means she will end on Friday the 17th instead of Monday the 20th. Even though it's really only on treatment day, it means treatment ends 3 days early! She's really ready to have this over. It's just so hard to make plans if you never know how you're going to feel from one day to the next. Of course, as always, she's a trooper and willing to do what ever it takes to make herself well.

Such a difference from the last round

Another week has past. Mom seems to be tolerating everything fairly well. Of course some days are better than others, but for the most part, she is doing well. As we think about where she was last time with these treatments, she is doing remarkably well. She isn't sick all the time; Her energy level is way better than the last round, and she seems to be remaining healthy. Of course, she has those days one in a while where it's difficult to leave the house and sitting for long periods of time is not the best thing, especially on hard surfaces.
While her pain seems to come and go, she can usually keep it at bay with tylenol. Once in a while she needs something a little stronger, but not often. Another difference about this round of treatment is her weight. We were all worried that she would have to go on a feeding tube again just to maintain her weight thru all of this. But, she has been able to eat well and her food seems to digest better these days so she has actually gained a pound or two instead of losing like we feared. All in all, she is doing great in comparison.