Round 3

I really like to go be with my sister while she gets her chemo treatments for two reasons: I get to be with her for a while even though I don't live very close to her, and I get to know what is going on with her. It gives me comfort to know what is going on and know that she is reacting to the treatments pretty well. Anyone can come visit if you would like.

Thursday was her 3rd treatment. When she arrives at the hospital she meets with her doctor to see how things are going and if they need to change anything. They have told her that she is reacting well to her treatments. Then she goes and gets her port ready for her infusions. Then they head over to the infusion center. When I arrived around 1pm they had already started her on her fluids that she takes first thing. She had been resting when I got there. The fluids take about 30 minutes.
She woke up shortly after I arrived, and the genetic testing lady came to talk to Jenna about whether or not her colon cancer might be hereditary. She tested negative, but they are still going to do some more testing. Jenna's friend Kelly came to visit, and while they were visiting the genetic lady asked me all about my ancestors' health history to get more information.

Jenna is almost always awake and likes to chat during her treatments. She is always thinking about her kids and wanting to make sure they are okay. Since Kelly is helping with Kenzie's wedding, Jenna spent some time talking with her about flower arrangements and decorations for the wedding reception.

Darren, on the other hand, is always looking on his phone for motorcycles. He wants to get one so he can ride with his boys.

While Jenna was getting her treatment, Skyline high school boys choir came and sang a few songs. They were pretty good! They also handed out little gift bags to each patient that was receiving a chemo treatment. Jenna was really excited about the things that came in it: lotion, chapstick, crossword puzzle book were some of them. I also learned that Jenna really enjoys crossword puzzles.

While I was there this time, Darren and I looked up the drugs Jenna was taking, what they do, and their side effects because we were curious. They give her the first chemo drug, which is called bevacizumab, for about an hour. Then she gets oxaliplatin, which is specifically for colon cancer. This infusion is about 3 hours. Even though this one takes quite a while, I think time goes by pretty fast when Jenna has people to chat with. She said that they keep getting done earlier and earlier.
Her last one is 5FU (Fluorouracil). She takes this one home with her in a sweet fanny pack. It looks a lot like a little ball. The 5FU is going though her for 48 hours, and she has someone come to her home and take it out. This is Jenna's very least favorite one of all--she says she hates this one. I stayed until the very end this time because I had heard so much about the ball that she has to take home in a fanny pack. I was curious how it worked.

You can tell how excited Jenna is about taking this home ;)

She usually gets pretty wiped out from the chemo starting Friday evening until about Monday. She has some good and bad days, and when she starts to feel good, it is time to go back for another treatment. Jenna is a fighter and things seem to be going as well as could be. We love you, Jenna, and are cheering for you and praying for you every day!

Round 2

Round 2 of chemo. This time started out better. No fluid to drain this round. Hopefully the chemo will keep the fluid from coming back. The doctor could tell right away how much better I was feeling by the way I looked. So the only thing that changed on my chemo treatment this round was a dose of 5FU. This is because they really are watching my white blood count. So I will get my blood drawn before the next treatment to make sure I can continue with my 3rd round of treatment. So it begins again one day at a time. I am hopeful that this works. I am trusting and believing. I know that heaven is cheering me on! I can do this!!
-Jenna