FOLFOX

Hello everyone, thanks for reading my blog and for letting me update you all this way with my journey. Today was the day we met with my oncologist Dr. Brett Brinker to find out what my chemo road will look like. First off I was very impressed with Dr. Brinker and the time he took to answer every possible question we had and to explain the process completely without any pressure. He explained the standard care  for colon cancer is a form of chemotherapy regimen called FOLFOX. FOLFOX is made up of 3 drugs, which I won't get into, but they will be administered for 12 cycles over 6 months.  The schedule would be something like going in on a Thursday for 4 hours for chemo in the office and then going home with an infusion pump connected to the port which I will leave in for 2 days and go back on Saturday to have taken out. There are a few common side effects that all patients on FOLFOX experience, including fatigue, sensitive to cold, and nueropathy (numbness of fingers and toes). Other side effects vary per person, but they will be watching especially for dehydration because of my ileostomy.
So overall I am feeling encouraged it looks like I will be starting the chemotherapy the first week of May. It will be a 14 day cycle where I really only have to go in every two weeks for four hours and the treatment is aimed at a cure of long term remission. I should feel good overall, obviously tired and side effects vary but the long term prognosis looks good.  This is such a relief to know what the next six months of my life will look like and also that things are not as bad as they could have been. I know there will be hard days, but I now feel more confidant then ever that I will get through this. I have a great team of doctors and nurses that's goal is to get me cancer free and feel good during the process, and my amazing family and friends that are letting me relax, heal and standing by me the entire way.
I will continue to use this blog to update you as to how I am feeling throughout the chemo and my take down surgery. Thank you again to everyone who is reading this and I hope in some way I am able to touch at least one person through my personal journey through cancer. I know there is no guarantee in this method or the road I am taking but I trust in the name of the Lord our God (Psalm 20:7). My future is in God's hands, I want to seek Him fully in this time with all my heart and trust Him completely.

Prayer Requests
1. That we make wise choices regarding my medical treatments
2. That I will feel healthy of mind, body and spirit.
3. Continued prayer for my family as we get through this together.