One Chemo Down!

Hi Friends

First, thank you for all of your support, texts, calls, notes, volunteering to help us out and for bringing food and sending gift cards for food. Your love and support has been amazing.

To say the least, I think I am still in shock about this diagnosis, however, it's real, so I am getting used to the idea of it.

Chemo went as well as could be expected, I guess. I did get a horrible allergic reaction to the chemo and have been on three different steroids to calm the rash that was all over my body. Oatmeal baths have been my best friend. The next chemo will be adjusted to something I am not allergic too. 

I made a decision this week to switch my treatment to the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville. Currently I am with HCA NF. While they have been great, Mayo offers a different protocol that is not offered here.

I will have two more rounds of chemo, one next week and one three weeks after, and then, three weeks after that I will have a complete hysterectomy. I will also get Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy (HIPEC). This is a two-step process to surgically remove the cancerous tumors in my abdominal (peritoneal) cavity and then heated chemo drugs are applied directly in my abdomen to eliminate remaining cancerous cells. I will be in the hospital for 3-7 days. After that, I will resume chem every 3 weeks for 3 to4 more cycles. 

I know that's a lot, but I thought it was time for an update. Oh, and I had to shave my head yesterday. My hair was coming out in clumps, and I couldn't stand that, so shaved it is. Bald is Beautiful :) 

Again, thank you so much. We don't need a lot right now, but as things progress, we might. Greg loves to cook, but it's nice when friends bring food over and he doesn't have to.

Stay tuned and please keep the prayers coming our way.

Love you all, Suzanne (and Greg)