I have a sister with Stage IV cancer. Huh. I just never thought I’d hear those words. Did I think my sisters and I were immune from major illness? Well, no, not really. It’s just that it’s up there with ‘get your pizza away from my butt’ in that it’s words I just never thought I’d hear. Of course ‘get your pizza away from my butt’ just elicits mild curiosity…..these words illicit pain.
So Judi saw her oncologist yesterday. She will start chemo on Monday. She goes in today to get the catheter put in for the chemo. She will lose her hair which seems particularly unfair as it looks great and is the longest it has been since kindergarten. She’ll have three days of chemo a week and one day of fluids and anti-nausea medication. She’ll have Thanksgiving week off when we are there however. After awhile they will add radiation on top of the chemo. He told her that she can survive this but she will never be consider cured due to level of lymph node involvement. He also told her that this is one of the fastest rising types of cancers. She liked her oncologist—and he laughed at her jokes. You gotta like an oncologist with a sense of humor—both of Ernie’s do. Maybe they have to.
I worry a bit about writing about it here because Judi spends time worrying about me. However if I didn’t write about this I’d just have to stop the blog because given that Judi is a big part of my life, so is anything that happens to her and this blog is just my life spilling over onto the internet. So Judi, you stop worrying about me and focus and getting through this and healing.
Oh boy. Judi, we’ve never met, but I love your sister and her family. My thoughts are with you all, wishing you strength and calm.
Indeed, prayers of healing for your soul and body, Judi.
My brother-in-law is also in Stage IV cancer. It is hard to support him and my sister when they are so far away and subsequently to support myself. Please call upon the blogging community for support when you feel the need. I am really just a phone call away.
Oncologists try to keep things optomistic and must have a sense of humor to deal with what they do every day. Your visit with Judi will mean more to you and her than you’ll every realize now. Cherish every single day and don’t worry about what might come weeks or months down the road.
I love you! Stage IV cancer…..never words I thought I would use to describe some condition I have. But we will go forward and I now have a little leopard skin print fleece hat that was given to me by the oncology nurse this morning as well as a beautiful knit scarf. There a group of women with a church in Anderson that make things for women with cancer. The nurses were very funny – they picked out the color and prints that wanted me to have. I can not wait to see all of you! And I so appreciate your friends good wishes for you and for me! Love, Judi
I’m thinking about you and Judi. It is hard to see someone you love endure this disease, but your bond is so strong that I know you will help one another threw it.
Praying for you.
So sorry to hear this. It’s so shocking the way things can change in seemingly an instant. I’m glad to hear that the oncologist is optimistic; I’m sure she will come through the treatment and that you will have many more good times together.