Today was lab day, the day we go to the Health East Cancer Center and get a line put into my port so they can draw blood for various blood tests.  Then an appointment with the nurse practitioner who works with my med oncologist, where we got the surprising (and VERY welcome) news that tomorrow morning I will begin chemo.

The regime that I’ll be on is, basically, the same one that Mayo wanted to put me on.  I’ll be in the hospital for 5 days, during which I’ll be receiving pretty strong, high-dose chemo which they will be monitoring (hence my 5 days in the hospital.)  I plan on bringing my own fan (it gets REALLY HOT in the hospital, I’ll need some fresh air.)

I’m eager to get started, and I’m also terrified, but definitely more eager than terrified.

In so many ways, this is the best of all worlds.

No, it’s not Mayo.  But I WILL be given the strong CODOX=M/IVAC chemo that Dr. T. was proposing, which should work better for my specific cancer and the way that it’s manifesting itself.  I’ll be in the hospital just 6 miles from my house, and when I’m out of the hospital I’ll be HOME (which is lovely!)

I don’t know if we’d even be talking about this stronger chemo if I hadn’t gone to Mayo for a second opinion, so even with the stress and heartache last week, it seems that going down to Rochester was, ultimately, a very positive move.

The stress of the travel and the stress of the insurance snafu last week have left me exhausted, though.  Absolutely shattered, just SO tired that I feel as though I’m sleepwalking.  My body and my soul need rest, so perhaps these five days in the hospital will be a bit of a respite for me?

I had signed up for a class at the Textile Center that’s due to start tomorrow; Wearable Art.  It’s a class for women over 55, but I know they were working to fill up the class, so I’m not certain how strict they’re being with the age limit.  If it’s possible, I’m going to see if Andy might be able to take the class in lieu of me.  Every Tuesday for the foreseeable future will have me undergoing some kind of medical appointment; chemo or testing or something along those lines.

And, of course, the most important thing is to get the chemo GOING, and to do well with my recover weeks between the chemo.  Time to stock up on salmon and spinach!