Ryan is officially done with chemotherapy!! His 3rd (and final) treatment was last Wednesday. He has been feeling rather crummy the past 5 days, but it's much easier to deal with the symptoms when you know the end is near. We will still be going to the Cancer Center for the next 3 weeks so the doctors can check his blood levels, health, etc. Then radiation therapy begins the end of July, so we will be going to the Cancer Center every day for a month. The radiation treatments are very quick - they only take a few minutes - so the most time consuming part will be the drive and check-in process. Radiation has it's own side effects, including extreme exhaustion, loss of saliva, and complete loss of taste buds for up to 7 months.
But we are seeing the light at the end of a long cancer tunnel!
Ryan has been dealing with a terrible case of poison ivy, which his body could not fight off due to his WBC count being very low. The week before this last chemo treatment, his WBC count was at 0.9 (normal is at least 4.0). He had to visit the Cancer Center a couple extra times that week to get help with the poison ivy issue. By the time I took this picture, the rash was mostly gone, except the areas on his arm near the dressing. I didn't take a picture when the poison ivy was oozing and ravishing his body, because it was not a pretty sight!
Roy and Bonnie extended their vacation so they could be with Ryan at his last chemo treatment. I took this picture right after we arrived at the Cancer Center. Ryan always tries to pick a seat next to the large windows so the day is a little less depressing.
Ryan slept for almost 4 hours of this last procedure. We arrived at 8:30 and were able to leave by 5:00. I won't miss the constant beeping from this IV pole.
This is my view while I watch over my Superman. I love the beautiful fountain and flowers out the windows.
The view of the rest of the room isn't quite so exciting.
Bonnie took a picture of Wonder Woman with her Superman. I've worn this shirt to every chemo treatment.
Brevan's work showed their support again by wearing the Superman shirts. What an awesome group of co-workers!
Brevan sent me this picture of the IT Team supporting Ryan. Leave it to Brevan to have his eyes closed outside because he hates the sun!
When the last of the drugs were administered, Ryan was able to have his PICC line taken out! No more wrapping him in Saran Wrap to shower! He is allowed to go swimming now, and does not run the risk of infection that he did when the PICC line was still inserted. Hurray!
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