so much for normal

I should know better by now. My latest blood tests show the chemical markers are higher than ever, even after getting back on the chemo. One of the specific catecholamines that are tested are norepinephrines. Normal ranges are 80 - 520. My latest level was about 7900. 3 months ago it was 1600, and 6 months ago it was 750.

This last chemo cycle was a lower dose than I've ever been on, so this time we'll up the dose a little. Hopefully the side effects won't be too bad. Last time I could eat normally almost to the end, but my hands and feet were super sore, so some things weren't as bad. I guess it's a trade off. More meds, more side effects, better results. It's so frustrating. I wouldn't even feel bad if it wasn't for the chemo. I've been praying that the meds will start working again, but I think I'm going to switch it up and pray for better treatment. My only other choice right now is traditional chemotherapy, which only works for 30-40% of people with my kind of tumors. And those side effects are way worse than what I have now, so I don't really want to resort to that. So after going to Maui for our 10th anniversary with the kids, I have started a new chemo cycle on a higher dose every other day to kind of ease into it. I should get another body scan in about 5 or 6 weeks. That will be the real test since we'll be able to actually see the tumor activity.

That's all I have for now. I'll write about Maui after this with some pics.

God is love