SEVEN!

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7 down!  ONE more to go!! 💃💃💃💃💃

Mom had the first ultrasound that she's had since before she started chemotherapy.  They don't see any reason to be concerned that it's reached the lymph nodes, so that's great news! 🎉 They also located the known tumor and measured it.  The chemo appears to have shrunk it in half! 🙌  Dr. Alvarez is hoping that the last 2 treatments will shrink it further.  He said best case scenario is obviously that there's nothing left after the last treatment, and they just scoop out where the tumor once was.  Then still do the planned radiation for 6 weeks.

Her levels and blood counts looked much better than last time (we assume it's thanks to the neulasta shot that was distributed in the little patch that she wore home).  She has it again so that's staying the same.  The only level that they said wasn't great was her iron, but it wasn't enough to warrant a blood transfusion.  So, basically all good news!  She received chemo this morning and we are heading back to Wilmington on a 7pm flight. 

Her nausea is still the biggest concern.  The body aches and pains aren't nearly as bad, and neither is the neuropathy.  She has less energy though, and the nausea is on and off basically all the time.  She is able to take nausea medications, which will cause it to subside long enough to be able to get something to eat, but it always comes back.  We missed her at Thanksgiving, but she was still able to go with Grandmama to Aunt Claudia's house and be with some of the family since she wasn't able to come to Raleigh.  She liked having the option to be able to just drive 5 minutes home in case she didn't feel good.  We offered to come to her house and have the dinner there, but I know that would've been a house full with nowhere to really retreat to if she didn't feel well.  Plus, my kids are like bloodhounds when it comes to AnnaAnna and would have a hard time understanding why they couldn't crawl all over her like they normally do. 👦👧

All in all, it has been a pretty smooth trip.  No surprises, no problems.  She didn't feel well yesterday, but she rebounded today.  Hopefully once we get home, the chemo doesn't make her feel too awful.  She is certainly dreading when it "hits".  Until next time... (and thanks for reading, and for all the thoughts and prayers!) 🙏💞