A peanut butter and banana sandwich a day, keeps the chemotherapy side effects at bay

Apparently, some people have been worried about me since I haven’t posted in slightly over a week. Well, I am indeed alive and actually doing quite well.

This past chemo cycle (starting April 5) has left me with the least side effects yet. Here’s a quick rundown of the most harrowing days of this treatment cycle.

Day 1: Chemotherapy day. I was mostly symptom-free and full of energy (I’m sure the steroids had some small part in that…). I brought my laptop and got several hours of work done while I was hooked up to the chemo machine. I had a hyperthermia treatment at the naturopath afterwards and was so intent on squashing a “bug” that I had my laptop out again in the naturopath’s waiting room.

Day 2: Everyone deserted me! While Leanne attended the Kitchener-Waterloo Christian Home Educators Association conference, her parents took the kids to Jakeman’s Maple Farm for pancakes and a wagon ride and to pet the animals. I still felt well enough to make a peanut butter and banana sandwich and cook a box of expensive organic macaroni in between TV viewing and naps.

Day 3: As expected, this was my worst day. I experienced nausea most of the day, including some dry heaving. I managed to eat my daily PB&B but that was it in the food department. I also napped quite a bit.

Day 4: I felt better in the morning but not quite well enough to work. I had a smoothie while I watched Stargate and then went off to get my hyperthermia and Vitamin C infusion in the afternoon.

Day 5: Back to working full time (at home). I even felt well enough to continue my ongoing project of assembling the girls’ bedroom furniture.

I know I didn’t eat a lot on the weekend but somehow I lost 7.6 lbs. I went from weighing 151.8 lbs on the Friday to 144.2 lbs on Monday morning. I may need a new scale. As of today, I am 149.7 lbs.

Today is Day 11. Most surprisingly I haven’t had ANY diarrhea yet, which is really weird since diarrhea is a common side effect of my chemotherapy drugs, my antibiotics and my daily Grastofil injections. 

The only real side effects that I have been noticing are related to my skin. My rash looks like it may be coming back a bit and my skin is very dry. My throat feels a little odd as well, almost like it could use some hand cream. My expensive Lidocaine/Kool-Aid mouthwash is supposed to help with my throat as well. It only bothered me enough to use the mouthwash twice.

I am back to a single bowel movement a day. Praise the Lord! Seriously! I would hate to know the number of hours I have accumulated on my toilet… (Actually, that’s not true; I wouldn’t mind knowing the statistics. I have a graph of my daily weight and temperature readings, after all. Data is fun!)

I really am feeling good.  God has blessed us so much. I am happy and content with my life. My cancer just doesn’t bother me, or at least I don’t allow it to. I know it could get worse, but since I can’t do much about it, I figure it’s best just to let the Creator of the universe handle it.

Life feels normal again. I am thoroughly enjoying my work. Little Magnolia is a constant delight as she is beginning to talk and smiles and laughs at everything. Our Daisy Kate is nuts which is why I like her so much. She can be a nightmare one minute and a barrel of laughs the next. She seems to be quite the artist for a three-year-old. Harry is learning so much lately and I’m so glad I get to play a small part in it. Even today I had an opportunity to give him a spontaneous multiplication lesson. He is getting more fun to talk to as well; I could use a break from discussing Minecraft though.

Please continue to pray for us because it is working!

My next chemo treatment is on Thursday, April 18. Please pray that my symptoms continue to be as manageable as this past cycle.

Pray that the chemotherapy keeps working so that surgery will be an option.

 

 

5 Replies to “A peanut butter and banana sandwich a day, keeps the chemotherapy side effects at bay”

  1. Thanks for sharing your journey with us John. We are so in awe of your thankful and positive spirit and your trust in God.
    Great to see you in church too.
    We continue to pray for you daily as are so many. Prayer changes things!
    Have a great and blessed week.

    Marty and Janet Roberts

  2. God is so good , when we trust him he sees us through the bad and the good. Your faith is just amazing. I have learned something from you reading this blog. Even though I know I must leave it with God, I keep taking it back and the stress has gotten to me. You put it in God’s hands and go on with your day, I need to be more like you to trust in the Lord.
    My thoughts and prayers are with you and the family and have a wonderful Easter.
    God Bless

  3. hi. Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family always. Your comments today reminded my of my sister in law. your comment “since I can’t do much about it, I figure it’s best just to let the Creator of the universe handle it.”
    Her comments were ‘attitude is gratitude’.
    Have a good Easter and we are always waiting for the updates.

  4. Hello John and family. Trust you all have a victorious blessed Easter celebration. You encouraged us so much and we are so thankful how you respond and go through with your struggles and testing of our Faith in the Lord Jesus. Your response to this situation made us more stronger and will continue to make us not break us. You are in our prayers. Thank you John for great testimony.

  5. RE TURPENTINE
    USED SINCE 460BC
    EVEN A REFERENCE TO IT IN THE BIBLE HAS CLAIMS TO FIGHT AND EVEN BEAT CANCER
    MUST BE 100% PURE WITH NO
    ADDATIVES IN VERY LOW DOSE
    MAYBE 1/2 TSP WITH DOT OF HONEY
    ONLY 2X A WEEK
    RESEARCH AND ONLY THEN LET KNOW,,,,,JOE

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