Another day of Chemo It is Thursday and that means chemotherapy treatment for Dori Johnson. I have been at this so long I am on my fourth medical folder at the doctors office. Chapter four in the on-going mystery! Things went well today. Counts are a bit low so i am in for Nuepogen and Procrit shots to raise my white and red cell count. You may have seen the commercials for Procrit, you know the one where the lady says "I went to the grocery store today." and she is really excited about it. That may sound really crazy to some people but that is how some days are when you are on chemo. I have just recently had a blood transfusion because I was anemic and not recovering on my own. You see, chemo anemia is not the same as non-chemo anemia. It is very difficult to recover on your own even with iron and good diet. Anyway.....I was feeling so good after my recent transfusion that today I unloaded two loads of dirt for our flower bed. It is nice to be able to do some of the old chores I love doing. I was actually useful today. I bet I am going to be sore tomarrow. I have the start of a sore throat so I am on antibiotics. A person with my immune system must be very careful or it can grow into a full blown dangerous infection and hospital stays are not my favorite!
Gotta run and soak my fingernails in icewater in hopes they won't hurt so bad and if i am lucky, not fall off. They are such a lovely shade of purple, I think i may miss them if do they go!
posted by Dori at 08:04 PM | bookmark this | (22)
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Wednesday, March 13, 2002
spring break Whew! I don't know who looks forward to Spring Break more, my high school students or the teachers! Though spring break brings happy thoughts it also reminds me of two years ago when tests proved my breast cancer had moved to my liver. Since then I have been living on chemotherapy much like people need insulin or dialysis. For 18 months we had great success. We saw reduction of lesion sizes and no new growth. Then in September of this year, we found new growth in the liver and heart failure due to the drug I was on. Time to change gears! These new chemo drugs are kicking my behind. My blood counts roller coaster, my hair has fallen out, (at least it cuts down on time it takes to get ready) I can't taste any food, (I love to cook and eat!) and now to top it off, my fingernails are turning black and hurt like crazy. Oh, i have no feeling on my fingertips and my skin sheds like a snake. Oh, the joys of chemo.
posted by Dori at 06:13 PM | bookmark this | (159)
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Adoption Update We sent our completed paperwork (and there were 14 documents total) to China last Sept. It was accepted by China on Sept. 19, 2001 (this is our "DTC" date in adoption lingo). There is normally a 12-13 month wait from DTC to referral (when they actually send a picture of our daughter and give us permission to come pick her up). So.....we have waited for almost 6 months and we are half way there! Considering that she will be 6 months to 1 year old at referral this means that she COULD very well be born any day now..maybe even today.
posted by Dori at 07:26 AM | bookmark this | (141)
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Tuesday, March 12, 2002
Hello! Hey everyone! I guess I have finally arrived, I have a blog now! I will be sharing the ups and downs of my weekly chemo sessions, our pending adoption, and just what it is like to be a 37 year-old Mom/Wife/Teacher while fighting breast cancer. There are very high highs and some really low lows, so hang on this will be fun!
posted by Dori at 07:27 PM | bookmark this | (117)
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