Chemo - Day 3

So far, so good (still)! No bad side effects, but my experience in administering chemo tells me that the bad effects may start tomorrow or the next day. My body is still operating off of the cells it made last week, and once they start dying off and no new cells can be created, that's when the mouth ulcers, the nausea/vomiting, etc., will begin. But those same side effects should be short-term because I'm now getting two units of blood per day to help things along.

Still no news on the genetic coding of my cancer. The genetic coding will determine my final prognosis. Apparently this testing takes several weeks.

Things I've learned:
1. Don't wait to go to the bathroom; since you're hooked to three or four IV pumps 24-hrs of the day, make sure all electrical cords are long enough to reach the potty. Otherwise, you have to take the time to unplug everything, and those few precious seconds can be vital to your dignity.
2. Also, bring enough clothes so your family doesn't have to go shopping at the last minute. God only knows what your children will bring back to you (I trust them, but I am nervously awaiting the delivery of some clothes that Michael is out shopping for right now).
3. Keep your sense of humor. Hate to say it, but even with my diagnosis, there are truly funny things that happen, and I fully intend to keep laughing.
4. Cry when you feel like crying. Sounds cliche, but a good cry always feels good.
5. Tell the people you love -- that you love them. You never know what tomorrow will bring, or if you'll see them again, so like they say: “Dance as though no one is watching you. Love as though you have never been hurt before. Sing as though no one can hear you. Live as though heaven is on earth.”