May 29, 2009 - Last Chemo Treatment

Dear Family & Friends,

I had my last chemo treatment 2 days ago, Yahoo!

I went to the cabin for Memorial Day weekend and had a glorious 5 days before my last treatment. Some friends (John & Jean w/kids Tyler and Kyle), Vicki & Anthony (kids Sophia n Isaih) spent the night and others (Meoka & Chris, Mike & Annette and Mikes brother, Greg) came up for the Saturday night bbq. We bbq'd at the cabana along the river. It was a wonderful relaxing time! After the bbq we sat around the campfire at the cabin and ate smores. Everyone was gone by Monday, except Mark and I. We took morning and evening walks to the river hoping to see the elk and eagles. I think the wildlife fleed town due to the large influx of humans that attended the flea market. The small town of Packwood was packed.

I have been sleeping pretty well throughout the night since Friday,May 21st. Prior to that, I had been experiencing insomnia since the beginning of chemo treatment - I would wake up 3-4 times between the hours of 12-3am, 7 days a week. I finally told my ND and MD that my back was up against the wall and I needed sleep. I thought the lack of sleep could have contributed to my fatigue, lack of concentration, memory loss, depression, etc. Of course, chemo and steroids causes these effects, but I finally realized that sleep is so crucial to my healing. I called my ND first because I wanted to try naturopathic remedies first; Dr. Standish recommended that I take GABA (up to 2000mg) for two nights along with the melatonin which I have been taking since chemo began; if by the 2nd night, sleep still eluded me, then she strongly suggested that I take the Ambian that my oncologist prescribed. I tried the GABA for 3 nights which didn't solve the insomnia problem. I've never taken sleeping pills before, but I desperately needed to sleep, so I begin taking and sleep followed. In the next 2 wks, I will see if sleep helps with the side effects I have had for the last 4 months. I found that at the cabin I was had more energy (took some naps and rested if needed), and my spirits were good.

The next step for me is 6 weeks of radiation (5 days/week) which will begin in approx. 3 wks.
Again, the journey that I have made thus far could not have been possible, it is the love and support of my family and friends that has made this possible. The integration clinic at Bastyr has been HUGE for my healing process as well. I was listening to my favorite Chrisitan station (105.3) and a song came on that had encourgage words, "greater things are to come and greater things are to be done in the city." I am finally beginning to believe that God will use my situation to help others. I have been told this by my Dr's and friends, but I haven't felt it deep within my being until now. My days are filled with more hope than fear (which I experienced in the earlier days of chemo). My faith has been renewed - thank you from the bottom of my heart for all the prayers.

Don't get me wrong fear is still present, because I still have 25% of reoccurance, but my friend Tina (3 out of 4 year ND student) reminds me that that percentage does not include naturopathic medicine and Dr. Standish will use all naturopathic modalities to make sure that I don't get cancer again. Dr. Standish is an expert in this field and I trust her.

Mark took a picture of me at the river - bald head and all.