Chemo Round 5 and Other Various Tests

To say that each round of chemo builds on each other is a bit of an understatement! Round 5 put me down the hardest yet. Labs continue to look good so they keep shoving in the chemo. A lot more time spent in bed this round just resting. Body is definitely wiped out...haven't had a decent workout in a few weeks and that has led to 15+ pounds of weight gain. Oh well, one more round to go this Friday then hopefully I can get back in the gym and things a bit more to the normal side.

Last week I had a couple additional tests/examinations. I had a repeat echo of my heart to rule out any damage from the chemo. Results came back great...no changes or damage. I also went in to the surgeon for a repeat cystoscopy. Cystoscopy is a test that allows your doctor to look at the inside of your bladder and urethra. It's done using a thin, lighted tube called a cystoscope . The doctor inserts this tube into your urethra and on into the bladder. The surgeon was unable to find any visual signs of recurrence of tumors on the bladder wall. So far we are 3 for 3 on "best possible results" to date. 

Soooo...plan for now is to complete Round 6 of chemo this Friday, then on August 25th go back into surgery and have my bladder scraped for possible microscopic cancer cells unseen by the human eye. The bladder scrape is the next big result. If they find no evidence of cancer cells than we go into wait and watch mode. No major surgeries, just go in for a cystoscopy every three months and continue to monitor. If they do find something, we move to plan B which hasn't been planned yet.

If your still reading thanks!  Picture below was a day I was able to get out and spend some time downtown with friends.