Hives, Chemo #6

Last Saturday, Teresa came down with a case of hives – the nasty red, itchy body rash that progresses into significant swelling of different body parts. Teresa's hands, lips, and eyelids swelled to twice their normal size. Doctors were concerned about her throat swelling shut, which would be very dangerous in her weakened condition. However, Benadryl (antihistamine) resolved the problem by Monday evening.

The Hives - but not the type Teresa had

This week’s chemo treatment (#6) went quite well. Teresa’s blood hemoglobin was so good that a transfusion wasn’t necessary. Instead of the expected post-chemo “crash”, Teresa’s been feeling pretty good. The anti-nausea drugs work wonderfully, and Mom’s appetite is returning. She’s enjoying applesauce again, something that’s been off the menu for months. Teresa also raved about John’s turkey pot pie, which was a smash hit all around. Many thanks to Lori Molendyk for the recipe!

Teresa is getting strong enough to do the dishes now and then, or sew on a button. These might seem like small things, but recall the massive impact of these powerful drugs on the system. The cells in our bodies are always dividing to create new hair, renew the skin, and produce new blood cells. Chemo drugs are constantly on the hunt to attack dividing cells. These drugs don’t discriminate between “good” and cancerous cells – they are all caught in the same purge. No wonder you feel lousy.

Please keep those e-mails and phone calls coming, since Teresa enjoys them tremendously. For Susan and John it’s like having a young teenager in the house again – now when the phone rings it’s very often not for us! It’s important for Teresa to have contact with others, since prolonged isolation from people has a detrimental effect on patients. Personally, I know Mom to be a highly social person who greatly values her relationships with family and friends. There’s nothing like some good laughs over the phone to lift a person’s spirits.

Teresa - looking good, and ready for your call

Special thanks to Mom’s church community for sending along a bouquet of flowers and a lovely card, which contained approximately 30 small personal messages. It means the world to Teresa, to know that people are thinking about her and praying for her recovery. And thanks to Eveline Sloan (daughter #3) who sent along a lovely white chemo hat. Teresa’s got stylin’ headgear for every occasion!

There are two more chemo treatments to go, and then Teresa gets a breather before the radiation therapy starts. There’s light at the end of the tunnel.