Wednesday, February 19 (Chemo #3)

Chemo #3 is done. I'm halfway through my frontline (standard, first) treatment. The good news is that my CA-125 is down again as I'd prayed, 18 points lower this time! The downward trend continues. Now I can relax a little bit until the days before my next treatment.

The long day started off with an appointment with the PA and clinical study coordinator. I had a list of questions as usual. I asked if a steady decrease in the CA-125 means the chemo is having an effect, and she said that's what they like to think. I hope this is true and that the chemo is doing good, poisonous work. We rescheduled my March CT scan to more easily accommodate a hoped-for Spring Break trip, location TBD. We talked about my fear of an intestinal blockage, which I fear every time I have any sort of stomach discomfort at all, and she said if I had one I'd be vomiting, nauseaus, completely constipated, and not eating, and would be doubled over in pain. So. Obviously I have had none of that. This is my already active and paranoid cancer imagination fueled by what I read in cancer Facebook posts. I may need to delete that from my phone just as I deleted the NY Times to guard my mental health. 

Then we went to the cancer center for the chemo treatment. I had the same nurse as last time. Unfortunately it took two tries for a successful IV, one on each arm. But no issues after that, aside from being chilly for hours with the ice mittens and socks on my hands and feet, and of course the scalp cooling cap, which I've chosen to continue. Even if I decide to wear a wig, I'll still have a good amount of hair as a base when regrowth begins. Andrew and I watched two episodes of Prime Target and two of Hacks (season two)--which made us laugh out loud. Again: anything that can make me laugh during chemo is a win. Beth came down at lunchtime to give Andrew a break for a walk and Panera. 

A neighbor friend walked Farrah during the day. Mom and Dad came to the house to do school pickup for Greta, followed by an intense math workshop for Greta (with Dad) and dinner (by Mom). Lucia came home later from musical rehearsal and a run with a friend, and then Andrew took her to tutoring.

An all-hands-on-deck day. I'm tired, but otherwise feeling okay. I'm very happy to be halfway through. A lot lies ahead. I have a CT scan in both March and April, and hopefully a second opinion appointment at MD Anderson in April as well. And then maintenance treatment, which will hopefully keep me disease-free or disease-stable for many many years. Standing at the midpoint makes these things seem closer than before (a good thing).

Three more chemo treatments to go. They may get progressively more difficult, but the first three have given me the confidence that I can get through them.