Went in for my pre-chemo blood tests this morning. The good news is that my white cell count was very good and my red cell count was “low, but acceptable.” Apparently all that spinach and red meat I’ve been eating has done the job.

But here’s the bad news: My platelet count was low, which means they are delaying my chemo a week.

Crap.

I was looking forward to marking “Chemo Round #4” off my calendar tomorrow night. I had a bunch of stuff scheduled for the end of next week, knowing that by then, the leg cramps and fatigue would be in my rear-view mirror and I’d be able to resume my normal activities.

Instead, I’m pushed back a week.

I go back to the GHS Cancer Center AGAIN next Wednesday (April 4) to do another round of blood tests. If they are OK, I will proceed with Round #4 on April 5th. If not…well, I’m unclear whether they would delay another week or give me a platelet transfusion. I guess I will cross that bridge when I come to it.

I will confess that I was not happy with this news. In addition to throwing my early April schedule into total disarray, and pushing back my projected chemo end date another week, I was concerned that this one week delay would mean that Round #5 would fall on the week I’m scheduled to go to my guild’s quilting retreat up in the mountains of North Carolina.

Double ugh.

But I spoke with the PA about my concerns and it doesn’t look as if it will be a problem to delay Round #5 a week so I can go away. Of course, that then pushes my chemo end date into late May…but at least I can still go to the retreat.

So it looks like I’ve got an open weekend now. Hope the weather warms up a bit — I can use that “found time” working on our garden. Now I just have to make about a dozen calls to reschedule appointments on the calendar for late next week…

Oh, well. If this is the worst thing that happens to me today, I really can’t complain.