Thursday, March 31, 2011

Hi - Time is sure flying by quickly. I hadn't realized I haven't posted for a month. One reason is that there wasn't much to report. Chemo changed yesterday - they have now added a new drug to my regiment which is more aggressive on bone tumors. They name escapes me so I'll have to report on it in my next posting. So far the only reaction I have seen is more tired then usual (if that's possible) and a slight rash on both of my hands. I have found that when a new drug is introduced it takes a few weeks for my body to adjust and then it kind of settles in and I'm back to normal. Big news is that I'm scheduled for and ECHO (just a check on my heart to make sure its strong from all the crap they have been pumping into me) and a PET scan (to check tumors) on April 13. As you can imagine I'm starting to get a little nervous. Part of me wants to see whats going on and the other just wants to stick its head in the sand like business as usual. I'm of course hoping for the best but preparing (if that's possible) for the worst. Keep me in your thoughts and prayers - I need all your super powers to get me through this. I've been pretty depressed this week. My good friend of 30 yrs, Phil Venticinque, passed away last week Saturday of small cell lung cancer. He fought for almost 8 months and his body just couldn't take it anymore. Phil and I had many adventures over the years in both Mexico and China and I have many good memories. He will be missed. Until I have more news - Doreen

Friday, February 25, 2011

I'm sorry for the long lapse in making a post. My life is out of control with too much to do. Chemo has been rolling right along. Not much to report. We seem to have the IV/needle situation under control with several nurses I now trust. I can't believe its been almost 10 months since I started this journey. I asked one of the nurses if I have a record yet for how long I've been coming. I was told that they have patients who have been coming ten years (although not weekly). My reply - I wouldn't mind coming for ten years considering the alternative!

All and all I have no complaints. I'm still very tired by the end of the day and weekends are filled with catching up on rest. My friend Debby from Colorado sent me info on an organization "Cleaning for a Reason". They offer FREE housecleaning services for women currently undergoing chemo - once a month for four months. The service is provided by local cleaning services across the country. I registered but haven't used the service yet. If you know anyone who can benefit the website is www.cleaningforareason.org

I hope to post more in the next few weeks. My last scans were Jan 5 so I expect to be sent for more the end of March or sooner. I'll keep you updated so you can send me all that positive energy you all have going.

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

Just wanted to write a short blurb letting you all know I'm doing well. Tomorrow will be my 36th week of treatments. I actually am feeling pretty good. I'm sure a lot of it is mental knowing the treatments are working.

I find myself being able to stand for longer periods of time. Believe it or not there was a time a few months back that I had to sit to brush my teeth! I now find it's getting easier in the morning to get ready and I'm getting faster. My legs are still bothering me and ache in the evening but I see a light at the end of the tunnel.

I actually find myself planning to do things in the future where as before I hated to plan anything because I never knew how I would feel. This is a good thing.

Surprisingly the only issues I am having (health wise) is this darn gallbladder. Seems no matter what I eat (or don't eat) I have a stabbing feeling. It's not all the time but enough to be an annoyance. Per the doctors instructions I'm taking Advil which seems to help.

Until I have more to report I hope you all are doing well.

Thursday, January 6, 2011

It was a long day yesterday. Left for the hospital at 8AM and got home at 7PM. Most of the day was spent waiting. Arrived in Infusion Therapy at 9AM to have them insert the IV for test, etc. Unfortunately the tests require a larger gauge needle then I usually get for chemo. Took two nurses and two tries but we finally got it placed. Part of the problem is that they don't want you to eat or drink before tests and I was dehydrated so it was even harder to get the needle in my arm. Needless to say my arm still hurts.

Once the needle was inserted headed down to nuclear medicine for PET scan. They inject you with a radio active substance and then you have to sit for 1.5 hours while it circulates through your body. Mark was able to be in the same room but was behind a lead screen to protect him (so what does that mean for me???). Then its on to the scanning room where you lie on the table for about 45 minutes while they insert you into a tube (similar to a CAT scan) and take pictures.

Then on to Radiology for the Brain MRI. Had to wait 1.5 hours because they were backed up so by the time they were ready for me I was in rare form. Fortunately the Tech was really nice and funny so I calmed down quickly. 45 minutes of being shoved into a tube and I was done and ready for chemo.

Back up to Infusion Therapy where we waited another 60 minutes before a chair opened up. Chemo went well (even the two injections in my butt). Talked them into letting me have the Zometa (bone strengthener) next week. I had too much stuff running through my system already!

By the time I was done with chemo the doctor came in with my results. Nice thing about U of C is that they get the reports almost instantly so no waiting. The PET Scan showed "significant reduced activity" from the last scan. Looks like the cancer is shrinking and the treatments are working!!! Brain Scan showed nothing up there (ha ha). Actually showed "evidence of medical treatment" i.e. scare tissue, but no active cancer cells!!!! This good news however brings the fact that I will continue the current chemo regiment for the next 12 weeks when they will do more testing to see if any progress.

All and all I am excited about the results. I'm trying not to get too excited as I know how quickly things could change. I credit the progress in part to my great doctors but more importantly to my family and friends who have stood besides me and sent me tons of positive energy, prayers and good thoughts. I thank you all! I couldn't do this without all of your support.

Monday January 3, 2011

Happy New Year! Hope you had a good holiday. Christmas weekend was spent in bed with a terrible head/chest cold, cough, sore throat, etc. Still have a little bit let in my chest.

This week Wednesday is the BIG day! I will be at the hospital all day for a PET scan, Brain MRI, chemo and doctors appt. A little nervous about results of scans. I hope after 9 months of chemo we will see positive results. I'll let you all know as soon as I get the results. PLEASE send me positive energy on Wednesday to get me through this.

Beside that feeling OK - just tired and have this pain in my side that won't go away. I'm hoping its a muscle pull but will know more this week.

Thursday, December 23, 2010

I can't believe Christmas is almost here. It seems like yesterday I started this journey and I look back and see it was in April!! Time flies when your having fun! LOL

Chemo yesterday brought some new changes. Besides the IV they will also be giving me two injections. The serum is pretty thick so I get them in both in the butt. It takes about 2 minutes for each to be injected - not fun! Hurts a little but is bearable.

Looks like I'll have a CAT Scan the beginning of January to see the progress of the chemo. Keep your fingers crossed.

Hoping yesterdays treatments won't take their toll later this week and Christmas I will be full of energy.

Thanks to all of you for your prayers, love and support! I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and Happy and HEALTHY New Year!!!

Friday, December 3, 2010

A lot has happened since my last post. It all started the weekend of Nov 20. You know how you just don't feel right but you can't put you finger on it? Well, we had a family holiday party Saturday evening which I went to and just didn't feel like myself. Got through it but the next day was a bust. Mostly sat around resting. Monday got up as usual and started the work week. By noon I thought I had the stomach flu and by 2PM I was sure of it so I headed home to take a nap. When I woke up from the nap I knew it wasn't the flu since I had that telltale backache that screamed GALLBLADDER!!! Contacted my doctor and we were on the way to the hospital ER. Of course it was packed with those in my opinion were using it as a warm place to sit and watch TV. So we sat and played the waiting game. Poor Mark had to stand next to me since there were no seats. All of a sudden I turned to him and said you better ask them for something because I'm going to throw up. Well he no sooner got me a basin when I started vomiting. Want to see a lot of people move quickly - start throwing up. I of course turned to Mark and said "see, I got you a seat". Two minutes later they had a wheel chair and were bringing me into a room in the ER (note to self: good way to get a head of the line). Then started the fun of getting in an IV. I laid there for almost 4 hours while they screwed around trying to get one started. This is so frustrating to me why a hospital does not have trained people to put IV's in patients. Once they finally got one in it was off for a CAT scan which showed inflammation of my pancreas. Attending Doc noticed I also looked a little yellow (must be all the time I've spent in China) and decided I needed to be admitted much to my dismay. So about 4AM I finally was brought up to a room. Doc's started to flow in about 7AM evaluating me and deciding what to do. While they were powwowing a volunteer came in and asked if we needed anything. After saying no 3 times she decided it was too bright in the room and proceeded to turn down the lights. Unfortunately as she backed away from the bed she got tangles in my IV line and pulled it. It still showed it was still in but I had a bad feeling. I fell asleep and about an hour later I woke up to my arm and hand swollen from the fluid going under my skin. Nurse came in immediately and removed it giving my arm a rest for a few hours to let it go down (did I mention they had to use ultrasound to get the IV in my arm in the first place). Next thing I know the nurse comes in and wants to try putting in a new line because I had a "test". She couldn't get it so they sent me down without one saying I didn't need one for the test. When I got down they were all upset because of course you need one - we are putting you asleep for this surgical procedure" - HUH???? What surgical procedure - I'm down here for a test??? (HELP) So I had a discussion with the anesthesiologist and then the doctor who was performing the procedure. They had me until they disclosed all the risks including possible death. So I'm laying down there thinking no one knows I'm here having this done and I don't have a phone to let Mark know. Well, the procedure thankfully went well. They found the main bile duct between the gallbladder and pancreas was blocked and infected and they had to go in and clean it out (with a roto-router???). Next step is to talk to a surgeon on Dec 14 to see if I'm a candidate to have my gallbladder removed since it seems to be the root of all this evil.

The doctors finally agreed (after much badgering) to release me just in time for Thanksgiving. Unfortunately I was on a clear liquid diet and not able to enjoy and food that day. Little by little the soreness is easing and I'm getting back to normal.

As soon as I get more new I'll let you know. Until then enjoy the holiday season.