The Fourth Treatment

March 17, 2023

During the fourth treatment, I learned some things from my fellow treatment chair roommate. She had on these nifty socks and mittens with cold gel packs in them. She was on her second to last treatment and her feet looked perfect! Mine are better, the rash has continued to fade. They are a bit swollen and get itchy in the evening.

So yes. I now have my own cold gel pack socks and mittens. They look easier to use than the ankle wraps I’d been using and like they will be more effective. Normally this would be torture but my feet have been running hot along with the swelling. The socks feel good on my tootsies at this very moment!

Cold gel pack socks and mittens on my feet and hands

This is a good idea, right?

She also said that I could get a wig—or free. There’s a volunteer cancer resource center. I’ve gotten a couple things from there. People donate handmade hats, knit blankets, scarves, books and other kind things. I guess there is another room with the wigs!

I’m on the fence about getting a wig. My hair is definitely evaporating from my head. Maybe for fun I’ll get one.

I also learned that Gabapentin, taken for the neuropathy, makes me feel dizzy. I think it’s eased up a bit in the last day. I also take magnesium supplements. They both use the same receptors in the body so it is important to take the magnesium two hours prior to taking the Gabapentin.

Overall I am faring well. My spirits are up, (thank you for all the kindness, inquiries, and caring) the rash is fading, the neuropathy is at a low murmur, and the tumors continue to shrink!

Love,
D’Arcy

14 Comments

  1. Hello dear one,

    I’m just two weeks post-eye surgery and one week after a face-down recovery. All is well with me and now I am thinking about you. I’m glad you are holding up your spirits and finding the tools to function with chemotherapy. I think a fun wig is just the right thing and since it’s free, go for it. I wore sparkly things to lift my spirits and I got my toes painted with sparkles before my last surgery.

    I’m thinking about you and sending lots of healing love in your direction.

    • Sparkly things are fun! Thank you Tonia. My heart sends wishes for complete and rapid healing for your eyes and the continued ability to see and experience more sparkling ✨ things. Love, D’Arcy

  2. D’Arcy-
    I finally had a chance to read your posts since starting treatments. Yay! It sounds extremely promising and wildly successful ( minus the side effects, which always seem the hard tradeoffs one negotiates in working with a heavy duty treatment program).

    Kudos to you. I think your determination to remain open-hearted and embracing things just as they are is the biggest boon you could give yourself. I believe your superpowers are holding you up in this time fraught with surprises around every corner you turn.
    It is astonishing to bear witness to your strength and power as you navigate this new world of healing, hope, and true happiness.

    Deep bows and respect,
    Carmen
    PS your wisdom to allow family and friends to keep you buoyant and blessed will continue to reap so many benefits for yourself and all sentient beings. May blessings unfold in all the secret ways we never ever imagined…

    • ✨💕🪷💕✨ Carmen! I’ve been thinking about you. Thank you so much for sharing your kind heart and insightful words. You are right about all of it! I was attempting to articulate to someone recently, essentially what you just wrote, and it crumbled out of my mouth like a dry cookie. 😆 Love, love, love, D’Arcy

  3. Just caught up on the third and fourth treatments. What a trip! I am fascinated by all the drug names and side effects! You must feel like Job at this point, wondering what will be thrown at you next! Not surprised to see you’re handling it all with Grace and aplomb😎❤️. My friend who went through all this had several wigs and they all looked great on her. Of course you also look great in hats. So glad you’re seeing measurable results. So encouraging!

    • That is good to know. Maybe I’ll do that. Keep everyone guessing, myself included, about my hair. 👩‍🦲 👩‍🦳🧑‍🎤🧑‍🦰👱‍♀️
      😄 Thank you, Ellen.

  4. Dear D’Arcy–I am not so good with words, but I am thinking of you and sending good thoughts your way. You are handling this so much better than I would be able to! Am looking forward to seeing what kind of wig you choose!
    Love, Karen

    • Thank you, kind Karen! I got one! Now I need to figure out how to wrangle it on top of my head. 😄

  5. We are no longer twins… I still have the Christoper Walken look, while you, on the other hand, have the billiard ball look! Keep that head warm! Glad the rash is almost gone, and the feet are doing better. I’m going to drag out my wigs, I have blonde, reddish brown, gray, and a Cleopatra black, along with the outfit to go with it. Oh, yes, and the vampire black one for Matt! ❤️❤️❤️

    • Excellent! 🧛 😁

  6. I so admire your spirit and sense of humor. Glad to hear some progress is being made. You keep hanging in there can’t wait to see what wig you pick. Hugs and prayers

    • I think there many wigs in my future! 👩‍🦲👩‍🦳👩‍🦰🧑‍🦰👱‍♀️👩‍🦱

  7. D’Arcy, sending to you strong rivers of love and healing energy full of positive visualizations for best outcomes with a fully lived and creative life ! 😘 😘

    • ☺️ Thank you, Nancy for the fantastic visualizations!