Round 12

7.21.25
Round 12!!!! When I was initially diagnosed and the doctors were determining the best plan for me- it was to do 12 rounds of chemo. Like I assume most people would- I was counting down the rounds- ready to check it off the list. After my ctDNA started showing detected during the 6ish week break for liver surgery everything changed. I am so thankful that technology allows us to pick up these detections before any scans but it definitely came as a shock to all of us. So, as I approach the end of the initial rounds my medical team has decided to extend my treatment another 4 months (about 8 more rounds) meaning chemo every 14 days. My understanding is that I will soon max out on the amount of Oxaliplatin you are allowed to get so the chemo will be Irinotecan and 5FU (the little fanny pack). Leading up to my appointment on the 21st I had anticipated there would be some kind of extension but the news still bummed me out. As strange as it is- I do feel some sort of relief not being off chemo because I know that it is helping me and my body needs it to heal and after having that little blip, the unknown terrifies me with what will happen if/when I am off chemo again. For now- I focus on taking it a day at a time and not getting ahead of myself. 

Back to round 12! My bloodwork came back within range to be able to do treatment and my white blood cells had gotten back to where they were supposed to be. Once up at the infusion center- since I now have the HAI pump that that have to access (poke) each time- they put me in a room with a bed instead of the rooms they use to put me in with a view. To access the pump, they take something that looks like a sewing needle and stick it through the skin into the chamber that has been implanted in my skin. First they pull out whatever liquid the previously filled it with (either Heparin or chemo (FUDR) then they flush it (inject it) with some saline- pull that out with a syringe- and then refill it with either heparin or chemo. This repeats each time. 

The infusion went smooth and I got Oxaliplatin, Irinotecan, and 5Fu. They also did the 3rd treatment of FuDR in my pump. I didnt feel as horrible as the last round walking out after my appointment but I can definitely tell that the toxicity is re-building and I had to lay down as soon as I got home.

I didnt get as much cold sensitivity in my hands/feet this round but I am also starting to get more "chemo brain" and will forget what I go into a cabinet to get. I am typically nauseous from the day of infusion for about 4-5 days so I take zofran around the clock (morning, mid day, and at night). Taking that along with making it a  point to eat- even if just some broth and toast- really helps with some of the side effects. 

On Friday- I was able to sneak away to Vegas for the weekend courtesy of my amazing Aunt Marilyn and meet up with my sister Jennifer and cousin Alison. The trip was incredible- we went to Backstreet Boys and a magic show. I brought all of my medicine and thankfully didn't have any crazy tummy troubles while out there but it was great to get away and forget about all my health stuff. ​