well..
I did not get the 12th round of chemo. My Oncologist said that I had enough. Even though all I felt was weakness, I guess it was a serious event that sent me to the hospital. Getting dehyrated from the chemo was the tip of the iceberg because the chemo stays in you for a while and it would have continued to dehydrate me unless I was receiving fluids and being monitored 24/7. I found out that my White blood cell count was only 500, where 4,300 is the very bottom of the normal range. I also lost weight until I was only 118 pounds.
While in the hospital I had some tests done. An ultrasound of the liver came back totally clean. Also a chest x-ray and blood test came back saying there was no evidence of disease. Further examinations also came back great.
Three weeks later, I was at my primary physician's office and got another chest x-ray because I had a bad chest cold and was coughing a lot. That is all gone now..
My schedule now will be to meet with my Oncologist every month for the next 6 months, then every two months for the first year, then every three months, etc. to be evaluated. I will have a yearly colonoscopy now for the next 5 years.
Other than that I am free to walk the planet. I am to limit my alcohol intake to only 2 drinks a day and should avoid red meat, and should eat a lot fish, and fruits & vegetables and other nutritious foods. I should really cut back on sugars too.
I have been building my strength slowly and feeling better.
