OWWWWWWWWWWWWW

That's from the pain in my hips! Only a few people kknow this, but the cancer had spread to my hip bones (the inner part). The pain is out of this world. I really don't know how else to describe it. To tell you the truth, I am quite surprised to be having this pain because it seems that the tumors are shrinking. So what's the deal? My dr has offered radiation as an option, but I've been holding out to see if it improves on its own. I am reluctant to do radiation, because as I understand it you can only radiate an area once. Therefore, I think that it should absolutely be the last resort.

That's all I have to report for the moment. I am hopeful that when I awake tomorrow the hip pain will either be gone or hardly noticeable. :)

Here I am

Oh dear! I can not believe how long it's been since my last post, but anyway HERE I AM right now. :)

Rather than bore you with a bunch of details from the days past, I'll simply state how I'm doing right now. Right now, I am doing wonderfully! Physically I feel a little tired. I had kind of a whirlwind day of giving yesterday, so that is understandable. Other than that, everything is OK. My pains are under control (I am still using the 75mcg patch + some pills). The nausea thing is also mild today. I haven't even had to take the anti-nausea pill yet! This is the first time since my last chemotherapy that this has been the case. So that's pretty cool!

So that's it. Nothing else really to report. Oh I have an appt to see the Dr on Monday for a follow-up. The next treatment will be the 6th, and that's the amount prescribed for this round. So I would like to know definitively "what now?" I mean, we've sort of covered it, but I am still not quite clear so I think another discussion is in order, and I know that the hubs has some questions of his own so...

OK. I think that about does it for now. I will be conscious to let a significantly less amount of time pass before I post again! :)

I see the light, not THAT light! :)

I mean the light at the end of the tunnel. I have gotten over the hump, that first week or so after the main chemo. It was really bad for a few days, but it has gotten better and better each day. I went in for the Avastin yesterday(Thurs). That went well. I learned that my white counts were WAY down. They were at 0.3 (a low-normal is 4.0-5.0), and I have to be vigilant the next few days as the wbcs go down to their lowest in the 7-10 window. Today is day 8. If I venture out, especially amongst a group I have to wear a mask. Fun!

I am feeling pretty good right now, and I plan to make the most of it. I have some OSF stuff to work on, and it's so nice to have my energy back to do it! I'm not sure yet, what we'll be doing for Father's day, but I think if I get plenty of rest I'll be able to hang with the guys with no problem. :)

The side effects are in full effect!

I am posting this at 4:00a.m so it counts as a Sunday post. That means it's been 3 days since my last chemo. Boy oh boy am I feeling it! The nausea, sore throat, overall fatigue, they are all keeping me company these days. So, I am just rolling with it and doing what I can, when I can. Naps are a MUST during this time period, as the fatigue is enormous. There is also the effects of the Neulasta (shot to promote white blood cell production), which is aches and pain in the bones and joints. I know, I really picnic right? LOL

Wednesday June 9th, 2010

I am so sorry that I have neglected to post in the last several days. Well, I guess could go with that old adage "no news is good news" right? LOL. I know I know. That won't cut for you "need know" types. The good thing is that I have been happily spending my time, and good health, on doing what I love - making people smile! That's really been the focus of my attention as this month my OSF blog/mission turns 1!

OK, so let's get to it. How am I feeling? Pretty good actually! I was supposed to go in to the Dr's office for blood tests today, but after I thought about it, I didn't want to make a trip to the hospital just for that. Especially if I can do it tomorrow, when I'll be there anyway for my chemotherapy appointment. So I called and one of the nurse technicians said that it would be OK to do that. Awesome! That freed up my afternoon to get some of other things done. :)

Now the big question is what to have for dinner today? We always to try to either go out, or eat something that I really like, the day before my chemo since that's the last meal I'll be able to really taste and enjoy for the next two weeks. But to tell you the truth, my mouth is still not quite right from the last chemo 3 weeks ago! Hmmm, I don't think I care too much about what to eat for dinner, but I can definitely go for some Krispy Creme donuts. That's for sure. :)

Still feeling good. :)

Toady is the "day after" the Avastin. Usually that's when the side effects of chemo start to kick in, but so far so good. The only thing I can report is feeling bit more tired than usual and just a little bit queasy, but nothing a half tab of Phrenegan (anti nausea med) can't take care of. :)

A real brief update

Had Avastin administered today. The whole thing with the "pre-meds" (anti nausea drugs etc) took about 2 hours, give or take a few minutes. I got through it with no complications. Something that I am grateful for as their was a patient there that had a seizure (or some type of shaking episode) while I was there. All in all I am feeling pretty good at the moment. I had a nice long name when we got home (after stopping for a nice lunch at Golden Corral). I am not sleepy right now, so I will try to get some OSF work done until I am. :)

The fever is back :(

Just when I thought all was well... I awoke from a nap to a fever of almost 102. I am supposed to call the Dr or Oncology Nurse (or even go to the ER) when it's around 100.3, but since I am supposed to be in contact with the Dr's office tomorrow anyway, I'll just wait til then. I did however, take a couple of Tylenol, and they seem to be doing the trick. I haven't taken my temp again yet, but I am feeling a lot less feverish. I hope this is just a minor hiccup. Fevers make me nervous because something is causing them!

I see the light (at the end of the tunnel)

Today is Wed ( well Thursday really, 2 something a.m. ) and I am happy to report that I am really feeling so much better! Thank God.

Don't get me wrong I'm not at 100 percent BUT from where I was to where I am - there is a pretty big difference! First off I think the fever, that kept creeping around, is finally broken (yay!). That gives us a sigh of relief, and it probably means that my immune system is coming back online, and my white counts are going up ("aka" the Neulasta shot is working! Yeah!)

The biggest problem I have right now is PAIN. That issue is so difficult to resolve because it keeps changing, and is based on so many different factors. Unfortunately I have been dealing with a recurrence of the Shingles (due to the compromised immune system no doubt) and it's been really hard BUT at least we know what we're dealing with and that helps a lot! I am still on the pain patch, (which by the way I think I may have to seek a replacement treatment for as I heard about a recall of it etc. More on that after I do some research), and it is pretty effective BUT, its effectiveness changes when other factors change. Like MORE PAIN than usual for example. I've been having to up my pain PILL usage to compensate. Thankfully it hasn't taken a lot of pills to do the trick. Basically instead of every 6 hours I am at every 4 1/2 - 5, which is still in my prescribed range of 1 pill every 4-6 hours. So that's good.

OK, I think that's it for now so I'll be going. Timing is perfect too, because it's time for that all important pain pill! :)

Sunday May 23, 2010 A Very Bad Day

I will make this brief. Today was a very difficult day for me, filled with pain and discomfort. I also had a fever of 100.6 at one point and that's always scary when my counts are already down. I spent most of the day in or around the bed, which was about all I could do. I did manage to stitch some which helps calms my nerves and relaxes me.

I will call the dr. in the a.m. to see what I should do next. I will post when I know something.

Chemo on Thursday and beyond...

OK, so I had chemotherapy on Thursday as scheduled. It was a little touch-and-go there for awhile because by WBCs (white blood cell count for those that don't know) were really low 1.2. The lowest that the Dr likes them to be is 1.5, but at this point with the rate of my tumors growth putting off the treatment is probably a bigger risk than doing it.

Friday was not totally horrible even though it was the "day after". I was a little more tired than usual, but that's understandable. I went in to the office in the late afternoon for my Neulasta shot. That was fun. NOT! No, but seriously, it's not bad. Just a quick jab and press and we're done. The part when the meds are going in hurts more than the poke itself, but it's all good, it doesn't last more than a few seconds or so.

Today is Saturday, and I am here (alone) chillin'. The boys are out for some daddy/son time and I get to enjoy some peace. Ahhh a win win situation. Today my town is having their Wine and Art Stroll. It's an event where artists come out and create their works in public, and walkers by can sip win and watch/or chat with them as they create. I want to go, but if I do I will probably have to wear a mask to protect myself from the germies out there. It would be worth it though, because I just want to get out of the house! :)

CT Results

Since my last chemo treatment, I've had a CT scan done of the brain, chest, and abdomen. That was followed up by a dr's visit on Monday of this week to get the results of said scan. The good news is that there is no new progression. On the "not-so-good" side there is some fluid in my lungs (both) again, and I am hoping that that won't mean another lung-draining session. For now though, everything is pretty stable for the most part, and I am still on track for chemo tomorrow.

Speaking of chemo, we (my doc) is adding a new drug to my treatment. It's called Avastin. From what I understand it is supposed to cut the blood flow to the tumors which will cause them to shrink. This new addition will add an additional hour to chemo therapy session the first time it is administered, then a half hour after that. I don't know how long it will take before we know if it did anything or not, but I am hopeful that it will do it's job. :)

Hello

I am so blessed to have wonderful family and friends that are interested, and want to be engaged with what is going on with me, as I go through my journey with cancer. I have created this blog so that I can give updates on my condition, as well as just blog about how I'm doing/feeling etc. I hope that this will help those of you that "need to know" to feel informed and up-to-date.

It's late right now, 2:16 a.m. so I will do my first "real" entry tomorrow. :)