Catching Up (May 23, 2006)
Turn around, blink once or twice, and before you know it, almost five weeks have passed since Laurie's last chemo treatment. Jim had good intentions of updating the blog sooner, and he can't say he forgot, since Laurie regularly reminded him that it needed to be done. But with year-end activities, not the least of which was Dallas Seminary's commencement, the blog seemed to play second to life. Fortunately, this has been a case of "no news is good news."
Laurie finished her last chemo treatment on Thursday, April 20. Those joining her for the climactic event were her mom and dad; her sister, Michelle; her good friend, Ann; and, of course, husband, Jim, the not so up-to-date blog writer. This was the last, and by far the easiest, of Laurie's treatments. She stayed awake and mostly coherent during the entire treatment. Even though she drifted once or twice, she was able to interact much better than previous treatments. At last the final drip of Cytoxan fell from the bag into the IV line. Moments later, Laurie was finished.
What happened next was reminiscent of celebrating a birthday at Don Pablo’s. Just before her nurse unhooked her from the equipment, she and a host of her compatriots surrounded Laurie for the "last-chemo" celebration. The next thing we knew, confetti was flying through the air and all over Laurie. We discovered at that moment the benefit of a wig. Instead of hanging her head upside down to shake the confetti out of her hair, Laurie just took her hair off and shook it! One can find small blessings anywhere!
It's hard to describe the feeling knowing you don't have to go through anymore chemo. Laurie was clearly relieved to have that part of her cancer treatment behind her. The nurses didn't even seem to mind when we told them we hoped not to ever see them again . . . in Christian love of course. So off we went, Laurie home with Ann, her parents and sister to their own homes, and Jim, back to the office, where, by the way, he meant to get started on the blog. Oh well . . . he did remember to pick up the pizza later on the way home. Priorities you know.
The next day saw the last of the Neulasta shots as well. A running tally of the cost for those three shots plus the chemo, revealed that enough money was spent (mostly by insurance), to have bought first a Kia, then a Chevy, then a Honda, and finally a Lexus! And yet, what a blessing to live in a time when medical advancement can do so much! It hasn't escaped our notice that fifty years ago, this disease would likely have killed Laurie. Now we're looking at a ninety-six percent cure rate! We have at times questioned God's plan in all this, but we certainly can't quit thanking Him for providing the medical expertise to give Laurie such a good prognosis.
Eleven days later on May Day, Laurie went in for a consultation with her radiation oncologist and to undergo what is called radiation mapping. This is when the doctor and technicians set Laurie up for the actual radiation treatments she would be starting on May 8. The mapping is designed to ensure that Laurie would be given each of her thirty-three radiation doses in exactly the same way and directed at the same location each time. The plan was to schedule the treatments so that Laurie would be completely finished with her radiation before we left for Colorado on July 1. Everything looked on track for that.
Laurie began her radiation on May 8. So far she has completed twelve of her thirty-three radiation treatments. She goes in at 2:30 each afternoon, Monday through Friday, for about twenty minutes. The actual radiation treatment lasts just a couple minutes. The only side effects so far (besides glowing in the dark :-) ), are some irritation and tenderness from the radiation and a little fatigue. Other than that, she's doing great. Her hair has even started to grow back! Still a little fuzzy, but not nearly as shiny!
On Tuesday, May 9, the day after her first radiation treatment, Laurie went in for a checkup with Dr. O'Shaughnessy. We were pleased that everything checked out OK. Laurie had handled her chemo regimen well. Dr. O' also gave Laurie her first prescription for Tamoxifen. She will take a pill a day for the next three years, but, according to Dr. O', this is probably the best treatment for her type of cancer. Tamoxifen is a hormone blocker, and Laurie's particular cancer is highly receptive to hormones, so this treatment basically starves the cancer cells and kills them. If any do remain after the chemo and radiation, the Tamoxifen should keep them from growing.
Again, we are so thankful for what God has allowed medical science to accomplish. We are reminded of the verse in Genesis 11:6, where God, at the Tower of Babel, made this most astounding comment, "once man has banded together there will be nothing that is impossible for him to do." What a marvelous statement of God's creative design of man! We should not be surprised at the things men and women have been able to accomplish. We are made in God's image, and we have tremendous potential, even though marred by sin. Laurie has been the beneficiary of what God created man to do. It all comes back to Him, doesn't it!
Thanks to all of you for your continued love, prayers, and support. God has used each of you to encourage us in special and needed ways. We are truly blessed!
Laurie finished her last chemo treatment on Thursday, April 20. Those joining her for the climactic event were her mom and dad; her sister, Michelle; her good friend, Ann; and, of course, husband, Jim, the not so up-to-date blog writer. This was the last, and by far the easiest, of Laurie's treatments. She stayed awake and mostly coherent during the entire treatment. Even though she drifted once or twice, she was able to interact much better than previous treatments. At last the final drip of Cytoxan fell from the bag into the IV line. Moments later, Laurie was finished.
What happened next was reminiscent of celebrating a birthday at Don Pablo’s. Just before her nurse unhooked her from the equipment, she and a host of her compatriots surrounded Laurie for the "last-chemo" celebration. The next thing we knew, confetti was flying through the air and all over Laurie. We discovered at that moment the benefit of a wig. Instead of hanging her head upside down to shake the confetti out of her hair, Laurie just took her hair off and shook it! One can find small blessings anywhere!
It's hard to describe the feeling knowing you don't have to go through anymore chemo. Laurie was clearly relieved to have that part of her cancer treatment behind her. The nurses didn't even seem to mind when we told them we hoped not to ever see them again . . . in Christian love of course. So off we went, Laurie home with Ann, her parents and sister to their own homes, and Jim, back to the office, where, by the way, he meant to get started on the blog. Oh well . . . he did remember to pick up the pizza later on the way home. Priorities you know.
The next day saw the last of the Neulasta shots as well. A running tally of the cost for those three shots plus the chemo, revealed that enough money was spent (mostly by insurance), to have bought first a Kia, then a Chevy, then a Honda, and finally a Lexus! And yet, what a blessing to live in a time when medical advancement can do so much! It hasn't escaped our notice that fifty years ago, this disease would likely have killed Laurie. Now we're looking at a ninety-six percent cure rate! We have at times questioned God's plan in all this, but we certainly can't quit thanking Him for providing the medical expertise to give Laurie such a good prognosis.
Eleven days later on May Day, Laurie went in for a consultation with her radiation oncologist and to undergo what is called radiation mapping. This is when the doctor and technicians set Laurie up for the actual radiation treatments she would be starting on May 8. The mapping is designed to ensure that Laurie would be given each of her thirty-three radiation doses in exactly the same way and directed at the same location each time. The plan was to schedule the treatments so that Laurie would be completely finished with her radiation before we left for Colorado on July 1. Everything looked on track for that.
Laurie began her radiation on May 8. So far she has completed twelve of her thirty-three radiation treatments. She goes in at 2:30 each afternoon, Monday through Friday, for about twenty minutes. The actual radiation treatment lasts just a couple minutes. The only side effects so far (besides glowing in the dark :-) ), are some irritation and tenderness from the radiation and a little fatigue. Other than that, she's doing great. Her hair has even started to grow back! Still a little fuzzy, but not nearly as shiny!
On Tuesday, May 9, the day after her first radiation treatment, Laurie went in for a checkup with Dr. O'Shaughnessy. We were pleased that everything checked out OK. Laurie had handled her chemo regimen well. Dr. O' also gave Laurie her first prescription for Tamoxifen. She will take a pill a day for the next three years, but, according to Dr. O', this is probably the best treatment for her type of cancer. Tamoxifen is a hormone blocker, and Laurie's particular cancer is highly receptive to hormones, so this treatment basically starves the cancer cells and kills them. If any do remain after the chemo and radiation, the Tamoxifen should keep them from growing.
Again, we are so thankful for what God has allowed medical science to accomplish. We are reminded of the verse in Genesis 11:6, where God, at the Tower of Babel, made this most astounding comment, "once man has banded together there will be nothing that is impossible for him to do." What a marvelous statement of God's creative design of man! We should not be surprised at the things men and women have been able to accomplish. We are made in God's image, and we have tremendous potential, even though marred by sin. Laurie has been the beneficiary of what God created man to do. It all comes back to Him, doesn't it!
Thanks to all of you for your continued love, prayers, and support. God has used each of you to encourage us in special and needed ways. We are truly blessed!
posted by Laurie Thames | 7:47 PM
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1 comments
