Date: November 19, 2024
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The next chapter, the night before my first radiation appointment and starting my new chemo

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Facing another cycle of chemo and radiation can be overwhelming, but it’s a journey of resilience and hope.

A person with short hair and blue eyes, dressed in a red top, sits on a dark couch partially covered by a gray blanket. They look directly at the camera with a neutral expression, perhaps contemplating their new chemo journey. The background showcases a wooden door and kitchen items.

Now, it is also my turn, as I lay here tonight wondering what tomorrow and the next day will bring, I am doing so knowing that I am not just helping myself, but I am helping the next generation and all those that follow. Am I scared, no. Am I nervous, hell yes! I wonder what I will feel, hear, and mostly, what I will look like when this is done. They say radiation can change your skin and possibly the shape of the area it is radiating, I can accept that if it does, but the unknown is always the scariest part!

Chemo and radiation are a lot to do together or treatment, but we can do hard things

When I teared up during the appointment with my radiation oncologist he told me that since they know so much about my specific type of cancer it has allowed them to know what will hopefully prevent a reoccurrence in 20, 30, or 40 years.

Once I heard that, I was reminded, that I was blessed. I am thankful for those who have walked this road before me so that I can have the best chance at a life without ever having to deal with this again, but it is still hard.

Thursday begins the next chapter of chemo for me, 12 more rounds seem like so much, but they have told me that this chemo is not as harsh as the previous, so I am crossing my fingers and toes that they are right. I hope I blaze through this and come out on the other side with minimal side effects.

If you have been following along, you know I firmly believe that sometimes hope is all we have, so tonight, I am sending a lot of hope out for the days to come.

Get Social With Purple Iris Everywhere!
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