Surprises this Week

     Two of the reasons that I am surprised this week are:  Tumor marker has gone from 435 on Nov. 12 down to 57 on Nov. 27.  I have learned over time that tumor markers just give a judgment about the cancer but don't tell everything.   
      The other surprise this week is that I have had no real side effects from the chemo treatment I had on Tuesday "yet".  (Just check back and read my entry from Oct. 25!:) I say that because I have had some hard times in the last couple weeks of the new treatment.  So what does this mean?   I don't really know but am very thankful to God, to chemistry, to the doctor's choices, and for my own body's immune system.   I even went shopping yesterday and was able to drive there as well as drive to the cancer center today for a liter of fluid which maybe I didn't really need but I had already scheduled it, so why not?:)   I have always had extra fluid after the chemo treatments because of pending dehydration.
      Now, there are some down parts of this.  With the treatments, I have gained a lot of weight which doesn't bother my cancer center people as much as me but it would bother my cardiology center folks as well as me because I think that too much weight is hard on your heart.  In fact, I am given something in the chemo to help with  weight gain!  Ha!
      I have not really had the time or energy to exercise and that is also the down side of this "new" life's journey.  I love to swim but in the weather transition now from summer to cold weather, no outside swimming can take place, only indoor where I think a lot of germs can be around if I am having too much chemo.  So, maybe now that I get into another schedule, I can start that up again with a week off of recuperation between treatments.  Just dreaming here:)
      Eating has been a challenge ever since I started treatment and had to deal with the pancreas and digestion.   Diarrhea can come very easily with too much fiber but at the same time, with the chemo comes  constipation.  I find that not eating raw veggies helps my digestion.  So, unfortunately, salad is out.   I still take a prescribed pancreatic enzyme three times a day which really helps my pancreas digest food.
       I think also that eating snacks put on the weight.  It is recommended to eat about 6 small meals day which was easy at first but now I have gained the weight from eating 3 larger meals plus those snack meals:):)
      When I used to be on Weight Watchers, I would calculate my intake which was not a lot of carbs but plenty of salad, etc.   Now it seems the opposite.  I find that easily digested carbs, very little or no beef or pork, very little acidic food, etc, goes better with me.    I have even cut out orange juice.   I can eat fresh fruit without the skin or seeds.  I can eat some dairy and now drink lactose free fat-free milk which goes much better on the digestion.   I also  drink high alkaline water although my doctor seems to think that once anything arrives in the stomach it turns to acid anyway:)
       Well, these are my thoughts for today.   Last week, I was not sure of anything except side effects that I would have to face and wondering if the tumor marker would be staying the same or going up, but, hey, all these surprises this week make this season even more special!   
        God gives us the gifts of life and learning and we must be thankful to Him first for His grace to us.