I have finally started treatment and can now begin to visualize those tumors shrinking instead of growing! Yay!

The "port" was implanted yesterday at the local hospital by the same surgeon who did the original operation. I felt very well cared for by him and by the nursing staff. It's amazing how comforting it is to have a nurse tuck a warm blanket around you! I was in and out of the hospital in about 3 hours and have had no problems other than a sore chest and shoulder, but I have meds to deal with the pain.

Today I went for my first chemo treatment, also at MDI Hospital. The clinician, Melanie, just attached the liquid meds to the tubes of my port, and there was not a single needle stick required. After the first round of the infusion was finished, about 2.5 hours, she attached a portable pump which will continue to infuse chemo drugs for the next 46 hours. Friday afternoon I will return briefly to the treatment room to be disconnected from the pump.

I'll have to wait and see what side effects I experience, if any. I took anti-nausea pills before the IV was started, and I am armed with more to take at home. Other common side effects with these drugs are diarrhea, fatigue, and mouth sores. Hopefully these will not be a big problem, but I am assured that we can deal with them if they occur. Time will tell.

So, this big new challenge has finally been met and the fight has begun. With all y'all's help, I will put up the best fight possible! Thank you all for being there for me, in so many ways!