Friday, April 22, 2011

Will spring ever get here??? I'm trying very hard not to wish the days away. It's funny how time is passing by so fast and all I want it to do is slow down. Next week is one year since I started this journey and it seems like yesterday in a way. Last year a year seemed so far away and its here already. I just want to take each day at a time and enjoy it to its best and not try to rush my way through it if that makes sense.

So far I've been tolerating the new chemo pills pretty well. Not found of swallowing 8 of them a day but you do what you have to do. Better then getting stuck daily so no complaints here. One of the side effects is very dry hands and feet so I bought two large containers (thank you Costco) of Cetaphil lotion and probably apply it 20 times a day. The only issue I have been having is a soreness in my right shoulder joint. Not all the time but if I'm in one position for too long a time and then try to reach for something I have a sharp pain. I think this may be from the new bone chemo I started several weeks ago because I've had it before the new chemo pills.

All and all no complaints. Just trying to keep busy and not think of the "bad" stuff.

Hope you all are doing well.

Friday, April 15, 2011

It's taken me a few days to get my head in order before I could sit down and write. As many of you know the results weren't what we expected nor wanted to see. Not only have the existing tumors increased in size on my liver and bones but there are more of them. I could tell the doctor was very disappointed in the results. She immediately started me on a chemo pill (Xeloda) which I take 8 (YES 8!) a day. Thank God for (good) insurance. She was a little hesitant in prescribing this med due to the cost and even offered the assistance of her nurse to help me get it through a pharmacy broker if my co-payment was too high. I was a little nervous at the pharmacy and asked what my co-pay was and it turned out to be only $50. HOWEVER, the prescription retail cost is $3,440 for a month supply. Unbelievable. How do people without insurance do it???? Side effects are what I would call typical - nausea, diarrhea, tiredness. Another problem is very dry hands and feet - so bad that there is a lot of cracking of the skin. I've already started rubbing lotion on my hands and feet to ward it off. Today is my second day and so far so good. I would expect in a week once I get a few doses down that I may see some changes but I tolerated the other chemo's so well I'm not that worried. This by the way this is in addition to the IV chemo I've been getting so no getting away from the hospital. I did ask why she wouldn't put me back on the Taxol since it seemed to do so well but her protocol is not to go back to something that she has used in the past until she tries something new first. I have trust in her so we'll see what happens. I am of course trying to keep my life as normal as possible. It helps that work is busy and I get to talk to a lot of people who don't know whats going on so I can act "normal" and pretend all is good. I really don't feel that bad to be honest with you. I do have some aches and pains but who at this age doesn't. My biggest complaint is my left ankle which some days feels fine and others I could hardly walk on it. I'll try to check in more often and let you all know whats going on. Until then - Thanks for listening! Doreen

Monday, April 11, 2011

What a wonderful weekend in Chicago. The weather was unbelievable - sunny and warm. It felt renewing to get outside and soak up some of the warm from the sun. This is the week..... I keep telling myself that I can't get all bent out of shape when I know a scan is coming but its hard not to worry. It's hard to explain but things in the past I took for granted and didn't think twice about, like twinges, aches and pains, are now amplified because I don't know if its the cancer growing and spreading. My left ankle hurt so bad Saturday night I could hardly walk on it. Even when I was off it it throbbed. Thankfully by mid-morning Sunday it was better. However, this morning my left knee was bothering me and it was hard to get up the stairs. Of course this could all be caused by the added chemo they put me on two weeks ago. Wednesday morning is my PET scan to see is the chemo is working. Please keep me in your thoughts. I'm hoping that by the time I have my chemo Wednesday afternoon that they will have the results. I'll let you know as soon as I know. Until then - Doreen