Day Twenty

 In Disappointment with God, Philip Yancey writes about a man named Douglas whose wife was battling metastatic breast cancer. During this period, a drunk driver permanently disabled Douglas, leaving him in pain and unable to work full-time. Instead of expressing disappointment in God, the husband told Yancey:
“I have learned to see beyond the physical reality in this world to the spiritual reality. We tend to think, ‘Life should be fair because God is fair.’ But God is not life. And if I confuse God with the physical reality of life -- by expecting constant good health, for example -- then I set myself up for crashing disappointment. If we develop a relationship with God apart from our life circumstances then we may be able to hang in there when the physical reality breaks down. We can learn to trust God despite all the unfairness of life.”

These emotions go up and down.  The nervousness starts a couple of days before the next event, lasts a couple of days after, then a few days of relief....repeat...and we are only 4% through the treatment plan. I've been through a large bottle of TUMS, and need to go get some more.  This Friday will be yet another new experience, as we are going into the oncologist's office (extension of the hospital) and they will draw blood, perform tests, and then administer Vincristine.  Based on my reading, I assume that they will do a complete blood count (CBC).  This includes the red blood cell count, hemoglobin (HgB),hematocrit (Hct), white blood cell count, blood platelet count, etc.
Here is a sample CBC that I found on the web:

Complete Blood Count (CBC) with differential Test Results Result Units Reference Interval White Blood Count 1.5 L x 103/mm3 5.0-10.0 Red Blood Count 3.50 L x 106/mm3 4.1-5.3 Hemoglobin 10.8 L g/dL 12.0-18.0 Hematocrit 31.1 L % 37.0-52.0 Platelets 302 x 103/mm3 150-400 Polys (neutrophils) 23 L % 45-76 Lymphs 68 H % 17-44 Monocytes 7 % 3-10 Eos 2 % 0-4 Basos 0.6 % 0.2 Polys (absolute) .34 L x 103/mm3 1.8-7.8 Lymphs (absolute) 1.0 x 103/mm3 0.7-4.5 Monocytes (absolute) 0.1 x 103/mm3 0.1-1.0 Eos (absolute) 0.1 x 103/mm3 0.0-0.4 Basos (absolute) 0.0 x 103/mm3 0.0-0.2

CBC and Related Side Effects

The CBC, or complete blood count, helps your doctor look for side effects of chemotherapy, which may include changes in the three types of cells in your blood. Because chemotherapy kills fast-growing blood cells as well as cancer cells, side effects involving your blood are an expected result of chemotherapy. Your first step in understanding blood-related side effects is knowing CBC, or your complete blood count.

Side effects involving blood include the following:

Neutropenia
Neutropenia (new-troh-PEE-nee-ah) is the scientific name for a low infection-fighting white blood cell count. A low white blood cell count may leave your body vulnerable to infection and too weak to receive chemotherapy according to your doctors' treatment schedule.11, 36, 37 This could lead your doctor to delay your current treatment or reduce your doses until your count reaches sufficient levels. Infection can lead to hospitalization. To help reduce the risk of treatment delays due to blood-related side effects, find out more about the risks associated with low white cell blood count.

Anemia
Anemia (ah-NEE-mee-ah) is the scientific name for a low red blood cell count. Because red blood cells carry oxygen, a low red blood cell count may mean there is not enough oxygen circulating in your body. This condition can be effectively managed with one of several treatments, including prescription medicines, and/or blood transfusions, if necessary.

Thrombocytopenia
Thrombocytopenia (throm-boh-sy-toh-PEE-nee-ah) is the scientific name for a low platelet count. A low platelet count may cause you to experience bruising or excessive bleeding. Learn more about the risks of low platelet count.

All of these side effects may be related to your chemotherapy. All are diagnosed through your CBC test. You can manage them to help reduce the possibility that they will compromise your treatment. A journal provides a place for you to keep track of your blood counts throughout your chemotherapy, and is one of the Tools for Organizing Your Cancer Information.

In addition to blood-related side effects, chemotherapy can result in other side effects that can interfere with treatment if not managed properly.
(The above from chemotherapy.com)


My vocabulary has increased significantly over the past two weeks, and I can now pronounce and understand quite a few medical terms.  I try throwing them into regular conversations, and people give that look like they understand what I'm saying.  Oh, well, at least I am starting to feel more comfortable with the terms.

The FMLA paperwork was completed.  The oncologist finished the other paperwork, which I'll pick up at the next appointment.  Now, I'm just thinking about Friday and what impact that will have on Ryan.  He's excited about going back to the place where he played the games, but he also mentioned that when they give him medicine his stomach hurts.  I've read several places and talked to one individual who is still undergoing treatment that the first treatment is the easiest and the second treatment is when you realize that this is going to be a difficult journey.

Father, fill me with strength for this journey to understand everything that I should, to ask the right questions, to watch over Ryan daily, to give Mirjan the love and support that she needs, and Davianna and Emma the love and attention that they deserve.  I know that you are in control, and I ask that you guide decisions that I must make along this journey.  Father, I ask that you watch over Ryan, keep him healthy and safe, and continue to heal him.  Everything is all for you and in your name.  Amen.