Port removal tomorrow...

So it's been a while... a very busy semester has come to an end, and we got good news on Friday, Dec 6th when I went in for a checkup with my oncologist. She cleared me to have my central port removed! It's happening tomorrow morning at 8am and I can hardly believe it. We were so relieved after that appointment- I was laughing/crying for a while and still don't feel like I've had enough time to digest the fact that I won't be getting more chemotherapy any time soon. Sounds great to me! It's also been about three days since I have had a hot flash, which could be a sign that my body is getting back closer to normal operations. I caught an end-of-the-semester cold and have lost my voice, but am otherwise feeling strong and healthy. On Thanksgiving I reflected on how much support we've had this year from friends and family... I'm so grateful and convinced that we couldn't have made it through this time alone. Thank you, everyone! I don't think I'll ever be able to truly express what it's meant to me... I feel loved and cared for. I hope to be able to be as helpful to others in the future. It's been snowing like crazy here for a few days... more than we've seen in December the since our first winter in 2009-2010. We shoveled the driveway together this morning and I was aware that I wouldn't have had the strength or stamina to help with something like that just six months ago. I'm also thankful for the talented acupuncturist I've been working with since August, who has almost completely purged the neuropathy I was having in my hands. I hardly notice it at all now, and I imagine that my whole body benefits from that treatment. If only acupuncture was covered by insurance! I may try to petition to be reimbursed since neuropathy is a known side effect of chemotherapy. We have an appointment at U of M later this month to learn more about the next steps towards using our frozen embryos, which is quite exciting and hope-inspiring. My oncologist and acupuncturist both suggest that I wait a while longer before we start that adventure so that my body is recovered enough from treatment to provide us with the best chance of success. We'll see what U of M has to say about that. We don't want to put it off much longer, but we also want it to go well the first time. We're looking forward to a fresh start in 2014, and are hopeful that we won't have another year like 2013 ever again. It is pretty incredible that this whole process could start and end within one calendar year... I was diagnosed on January 23 and given the closest thing I'll get to a clear bill of health on December 6. My white blood cell count is still pretty low, but that's to be expected. When I got my hormone levels checked in October, I was producing less estrogen than my husband does. Hopefully that is going to improve so that I don't have to start hormone replacement therapy. My oncologist feels pretty confident that my period will return because of my age, and my acupuncturist agrees- so I'm keeping the hope alive.