I’m Beth and I am 4 years and 4 lines into this journey with the tough stuff still ahead. I am writing today to share a bit as some here have been kind enough to ask how things are going for me knowing I was having a therapy change. What a memorable month it’s been since having a small progression in my spine which has led me to have to return to the dreaded red devil IV chemo after a 20 year break since early BC.
Luckily my daughter and I had a long planned trip to Washington DC just days before that first trip for chemo. We enjoyed using those city bike rentals all around those gorgeous monuments and had brunch with dear friends but my favorite thing was that lovely hotel room.. so full of fun that I didn’t have time to fret about going back onto IV chemo the day after arriving back home.
When the day finally arrived, it was a real treat to be driven into Boston by my best friend Cindy. Funnily enough, we by accident dressed exactly alike… as our both our style typically runs toward zookeeper crossed with a yogi instructor. Sneakers, yoga pants even both of us choosing to wear thin down vests….. the nurses would be forgiven for repeatedly referring to us as “a nice couple”. When they hooked me up and let the premeds drip, ivfound it was so intense. By that I mean that The Benadryl hit me like a rocket going up with G forces-the drug felt like it caused my head to push back onto that vinyl recliner and I couldn’t lift my arms while my jaw slacked not very attractively. . “Not to worry” I was told…” the dexamethamethazone (speed) will perk you up”. Oh ya… I remember that stuff from 20 years ago…
Not very fun-this time it also kept me awake for the next 36 hrs. Note to self- please remember to tell them that I am very sensitive to that stuff.. “ya da ya da ya da”… I sure don’t need to go into the gory details as you all prob can imagine… but the N&V was worse than I remembered. I think it was perhaps because Doxil had been so built up as the kinder gentler version of Doxirubicin but not for me… after the N&V cleared, then the mouth sores started plus the HFS has not abated from my previous 18 months on xeloda…. But No worries as kept repeating “this too shall pass…” and soon it was Father’s Day and I was well enough to have a fantastic week e-biking around Acadia National Park before they hit me again on June25th,
This 2nd cycle I had an easier time of it with written instructions for rescue meds ready to take.
I was happy that this cycle had very little nausea! This allowed me to completely enjoy helping my sisters host my mothers 90th bday in my sisters 200 year old barn. My mumwas delighted with her small luncheon-both of her best friends from 3rd and 7th grade came!.. this of course was a huge effort for them as they are also 90years old. Good bless them for making the effort!
Speaking of making an effort for best friends.. on July 1st it was my turn to make a huge effort in order to be with my Best friends… I was so happy to be well enough to fly to Chicago to hang out with
My very best friend from kindergarten David who now lives in Stockholm…. I asked another BFF Claire (who was the maid of honor from my wedding)…if she would come with me to help achieve this bucket list treat. We had an absolute blast! Yes It is getting harder to travel for sure.. but I can be sore at home and then miss out…or I can keep moving. This is Just my perspective right now but I hope it is helpful for some. And if travel has Become too much for you, I hope that you are giving yourself the grace that I know you would wish for others! Happy 4th of July!
I’m going to post some pic below.. if you care to see.
Laughter is the best medicine - let the fun Be-gin
FYI about my booster vaccine
next treatment Doxil 
