Heritage Keepsakes Posted May 27, 2013 Report Share Posted May 27, 2013 Continued thoughts and best wishes for you Sandra, from over the other side of the 'pond'. Stay strong, knowing your forum buddies no matter where we are geographically, are cheering you on from the sidelines and are here supporting you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sandra Darlington Posted May 28, 2013 Author Report Share Posted May 28, 2013 Ardelle, that is beautiful. Thank you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kloar Posted May 28, 2013 Report Share Posted May 28, 2013 You are in my thoughts and prayers Sandra. Stay strong and hang in there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RitaR Posted May 31, 2013 Report Share Posted May 31, 2013 Sandra how did or should I say how are the treatments going? Should you get skin burn from the radiation, get some 99% pure aloe vera GEL it is thicker than the juice, and soothes the burn and promotes quick healing! Please let me know?? I continue prayers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sandra Darlington Posted June 11, 2013 Author Report Share Posted June 11, 2013 Hi everyone, I finished my radiation treatments last Wednesday. Today I met with my surgical oncologist and it looks like I will start chemo the last week in August. Just before I was diagnosed with cancer in February, I booked a trip to Ireland and England for 19 days with a few friends - August 2 to August 21. The doctor said I can go on the trip as long as I start the chemo within 12 weeks after my last radiation treatment and it will be between the 11th and the 12th weeks when I get back. He actually wanted to start this week and have it done just before I left for vacation. He said I should take a good book and plan to just relax everyday and have my husband tend to me and wait on me and I should be just fine. When I told him (AGAIN) about the hiking in Ireland and England with friends - no husband - he said I would not be able to do it. That's when he said I could start the chemo as soon as I got back, but I am pushing it to the limit according to the effective time schedule. Urghhh!!! I explained this to him twice before, as I could have cancelled up till June 4th and just lost my air fare and a $400 deposit. He told me I could go, so I paid the balance (now all of it is non-refundable). So, I plan to go on this vacation . He said with the type of cancer I have/had, a recurrence anywhere in my body will be incurable. It would mean being on chemo on-going until my body rejected it. But, with the chemo there is still no guarantee that it will even help. I decided to do the chemo and hope that it helps, rather than have a re-occurance and look back and say I should have at least done the chemo and given myself a possible advantage. The plan is for 3 rounds of chemo at 21 day intervals. It would be administered by IV and each treatment would last about 5 hours, then I would come home. The plan is for a hospital about 15 minutes from my house. My husband can drive me there in the morning, go home, then return to pick me up after the treatment. At least that part will be easy. The surgeon said I would be back to normal about 6 months after the last treatment. Thanks for your continued prayers and words of encouragement. Rita, thanks for the aloe information. As it turns out, I am OK after the radiation, other than some fatigue. Hugs, Sandra Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cblevins Posted June 11, 2013 Report Share Posted June 11, 2013 Take that trip and have a ball Sandra!!! I believe it will do you a world of good. You will still be inside the 12 week timeline so go and don't worry. I honestly think that Elmer's frame of mind and outlook is what helped him stay ahead of the cancer. You can worry yourself sick but it doesn't change the outcome....it only adds stress to your body. You should embrace life and enjoy every minute of it. This trip is a once in a lifetime opportunity and you deserve a break from "cancer life". You will be back in plenty of time to deal with the rest of your treatments and you will have lots of wonderful memories of Ireland and England to entertain yourself with during the chemo. Go and have a blast for EVERY cancer patient that ever wanted to travel and couldn't!!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sandra Darlington Posted June 11, 2013 Author Report Share Posted June 11, 2013 Oh Cheri, your message just brought tears to my eyes. Good tears. Thank you!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sandra Darlington Posted June 11, 2013 Author Report Share Posted June 11, 2013 At dinner tonight, my husband said we could go out on Halloween as twins - BOTH BALD! I didn't know whether to laugh, cry or throw the chicken at him. Well, we ate the chicken and had a laugh along with a tear or two. I told our kids that story and my 2nd son said that he would go with us and we could be triplets. LOL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
srichardson Posted June 11, 2013 Report Share Posted June 11, 2013 Pleased to hear that you are finished with the radiation treatments and did OK with them. Your trip sounds wonderful and a good distraction from being at home worrying. What fun to see new places with good friends and create new memories. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anniquilter Posted June 12, 2013 Report Share Posted June 12, 2013 Sandra, think of you often and keep you in my prayers. I think it is the right decision to go ahead and enjoy that trip. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RoseCity Quilter Posted June 12, 2013 Report Share Posted June 12, 2013 Yes, go on the trip! There is a lot to be said for the frame of our mind during our treatment process! Continuing to hold you in my thoughts and prayers...... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LFQuilts Posted June 12, 2013 Report Share Posted June 12, 2013 Sandra, So glad to read that the family sense of humor is still in tact. I like the Halloween plan:) Go on the trip with your friends!!!!!! Your happy memories will help you through your next treatments. Lynn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
appr216 Posted June 12, 2013 Report Share Posted June 12, 2013 I love the Halloween plan also. Have fun on your trip. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IBQLTN2 Posted June 12, 2013 Report Share Posted June 12, 2013 Sandra I am also of the opinion that the trip will do you a world of good. If you took the chemo before you would likely not be up to the strenuous task of mountain climbing etc. So go and do what you have planned and then deal with the chemo. I am praying for you and that you have a wonderful trip. My sister is a breast cancer survivor of almost 8 years now and she had both the radiation and chemo treatments with a similar prognosis. Attitude is everything , stay positive and think positive. It really does make a difference, We kidded her about having major attitude, and that is what got her through it . Lots of love and prayers. Jeanne Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
belquilt Posted June 13, 2013 Report Share Posted June 13, 2013 Hi Sandy, TAKE THE TRIP!!! You will have a blast and this is something you have been looking forward too! XOXOBeth Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.