Chemo Day

There are lots of repeat customers here today.  One of them is the very loquatious gentleman from two weeks ago.  Jane and I thought his loquatiousness was due to his massive anxiety about his treatment.  Chatting about ANYTHING kept his mind occupied.

Today, our regular area was usurped by snowbirds, so he ended up alone, with noone around him with which to chat.  The occupants on either side of him were fast asleep.  He began to panic; hyperventilating and requiring several of the docs to come and make sure he wasn't experiencing a reaction to his treatment.

He has calmed down, and I think he'll be fine, but he is definitely the kind of person that NEEDS interaction to stave off his fears.  And he is a prime example to teach us the importance of acknowledging our fears, and in the process, taking the power away from those fears.

In fact, he is asleep, and I wonder if one of those doctors popped a sedative in amongst all his meds.

Speaking of meds, Dr. Ramaswamy has scripted me with Percocet and Zofran.  We haven't gotten them filled yet, but we will today.  Dr. Fastenberg wants my next CT scheduled for 27 December.  It will be the normal chest and abdomen, and this time, my left thigh as well.  He wants to rule out ...bone cancer.  I hope he does! ;)

Ok, my main course, Camptosar, is about half way through.  I'm going to end this post.

Hugs to all.

A Catch-22

I'm still not an active employee, yet, although Dr. Fastenberg, who got the paperwork to fill in on Monday, had it back to Medical by Monday afternoon!  He's an angel!

So, I had called Medical yesterday, and Nurse Maureen said, yep, I should be an active employee again, as of the 28th.  But I didn't do too much yesterday, as it was chemo day.  What I did do, was plot out all the things that needed doing, so I made lists, and tried to decide if I needed more equipment here at the house, and how I was going to get myself more office space in the library if say, I needed to have a printer and a fax.  I think that was pretty productive.

I got up this morning, all ready to log in and get cracking, but alas, no luck.  So I called our Help Desk, and got a really fantastic tech.  We tried everything, and at least I got to the time-keeping system so I could log my hours, but that was it.  He sent me up to tier II, and we discovered that during the 4 months of my leave of absence, the company had issued new badges.  Alas, I had no clue of this, since I hadn't been getting e-mail.

Well, that meant I had to go into the plant, and you know what a production that is.  But the last time I did it wasn't the day AFTER my chemo infusion (Camptosar).  I was sick as the proverbial dog, but I had to take care of this.  Headed into Security, got my new badge, which I assumed would be activated by them, but alas, I was told I had to get my activation code from... my e-mail account.  Which I can't access... because....my badge is not activated.  Yeah.  Ok.

I call the Help Desk again, and he says ... wait, they show you still on Leave of Absence, so I can't help you.  So, I call leave services, and the lady I get says, "I'll leave a message for your Leave manager, and tell them to make you active."  Um, and that would happen when?

Anywho, I'm starting to think Dr. Fastenberg was right and I am nuts to want to go back to work, but I'll have a new set of responsibilities, essentially a new job, and I'll be permanently virtual, except to someday get my badge activated so I can access what I need to do my job.  In any event, I was so exhausted when I got home that I took a nap.  And when it does all get fixed, and I know it will, I'll be happy and productive and not nuts at all. :)

Love to all!

Chemo Week begins Anew

I went to see my oncologist, Dr. Fastenberg, today.  I so appreciate all the time he takes with me, answering my questions, and analyzing test results with me.  He's worried about blood clots, since of course, I had the pulmonary embolism.  I may not be so lucky next time.  He's decided to ditch the coumadin in favor of an inject-able  but first he has to get it approved by my health insurance.

If we can go that route, I won't have to get blood draws twice a week and subject my neutropenic self to hanging about with sick people.  Dr. F says my lung disease is a very limiting factor in my ability to fight cancer of any kind. He was also quite appalled by my battered right arm, which makes me look like a junkie.  And of course, he was dismayed that I'd had another exacerbation.  Well, it is Fall and Winter, if I have to be a regular patron of the blood lab, will be quite a challenge.  So anyway, let's hope he can get that inject-able anticoagulant approved.  My money is on him... :)  Oooh, quite literally. :P

Then I told him I would like to go back to work, and he said I was nuts.  However, he said, I could telecommute.  It's hard to explain, but I love my job; I love analysis and people and numbers... I never knew I wanted to do this, but when they put me there, I was so happy.  It was my niche; I was good at it, and it's fun and challenging and makes my brain feel good. :)

I've already spoken to my manager, and he's good with it all, and so I got my "Return to Work/Functional Capacities Form" all filled out by Dr. F, with a return to work of 28 November.  YAY!  This will be a very THANKFUL Thanksgiving, for sure.

I have to go back next Tuesday and get my Aranesp shot.  Oh, and I got lots of mail from my insurance company; they have approved the shots and are covering them.  I love my oncologist and every single person at Ironwood Cancer and Research Center.

Of course, I had my Camptosar infusion today, so I'm feeling a bit blecchy right now.  Must drink lots of fluids and get this stuff to run its course.

Love to all, and hugs as well.

I Want to Go Back to Work

On Tuesday, when I see my oncologist, I am going to ask him if I can return to work earlier than scheduled.  I know he thinks I should just go out on disability, but just because my body doesn't function all that well, my mind is still in decent shape. :)  I'd like to return on the 28th of November, if I can.  That's despite the fact that the 29th begins another chemo week. :P

My company has always been very accommodating of my disabilities, so I don't think that will change.  Maybe I won't be able to start out at 40 hours a week, but I can come close, I think.  Yes, I still have to have my Camptosar infusion every other Tuesday, and have a week on the Xeloda, but my PCP is trying to get my insurance to cover a home PT/INR test kit so that I don't have to keep running to the phlebotomist every Monday and Thursday.  And frankly, my veins are giving out.

I'll call the Leave Services people on Monday and see what I need to go back to work early.  I'm guessing my oncologist will have to fill out more exciting paperwork... like the ever-popular physical abilities assessment sheet.  I'll have to go download one from the Boeing Intranet.

Anywho, a return to work will do wonders for my mental state.  I've said before that the connections to other humans are something that really lifts my spirits, and gods know I could use that.  Not that I'm depressed or anything, but I think I am feeling rather useless, and I'd rather be doing something constructive with my time and energy.  And I miss my numbers!  Keeping my checkbook balanced just isn't enough challenge. :D

So, that's my plan for Monday and Tuesday.  Yeah, Tuesday begins another chemo week.  But I can handle it... yeah. :)

Have a great weekend, everyone.  Love, hugs and kisses to all.

Did My Camptosar

Happily I was able to have my camptosar infusion today, although with the bronchitis and asthma flare up, it's left me a lot more lethargic than usual.  I got my four Xeloda pills down with my dinner.  They are always a joy. :)

I saw my Primary Care yesterday, and he put me on some doxycyline because my sputum was starting to become colorful, and we just can't afford a bacterial pneumonia.  Better to be safe than dead, I say. :D

Of course, tonight will see the Dreaded Decadron Insomnia, but I have books to read, and I reloaded Diablo II, so I can play that for a bit. 

Finally confessed my self-proclaimed "behavioural issue" with Dr. Ramaswamy.  I told him that I have major problems knowing when to complain about symptomatic issues.  It's really, really a difficult issue for me.  Mostly, I told him, I feel like a whiner because that's how I was brought up between my ever-stoic parents and the even more stoic nuns.  He told me to call him if there was any doubt in my mind; any niggle of suspicion that something isn't right.  If we can just deal with it over the phone, then that is what we will do.  He listened to me, and he had an answer for me that makes sense, and so I shall try very hard to stick with this plan.  Dr. Ramaswamy is truly the best.

He says, too, that the swelling of my ankle and foot looks alot better than it did in the hospital, and that the INR rates are very challenging on me because of my chemo drugs, and being on prednisone at the moment.  So we're sticking to Monday and Thursday blood tests.  He did say he was going to have his assistant contact my insurance company and ask about home testing for PT/INR's.  I would do that in a heartbeat.

So, you know, I'm not feeling great, but I'm not back in the hospital, and THAT makes me happy as a clam.  And on that note, I think it's time to hit the hookah.

Love to all, peace on Earth and hugs all 'round!

I Love Fall

I think Fall is by far my favorite season.  Even here, we have leaves changing colors; certainly not as showy and impressive as over in New England, but it's here, nonetheless.


Today, I'll be heading off to see the oncologist at 1PM, then if all is well with my labs, I can have my Camptosar infusion.  How amazing that after being so skittish in the beginning of this treatment regimen, now, I WANT it!  Doesn't matter that it makes me nauseated; it's saving my life, and I want it.  Oooh, that sounds like a three-year-old, doesn't it?  I WANT IT!  :D


On the other hand, this means the beginning of my Xeloda cycle, too.  You know, I'm exceedingly lucky, because other than the nausea, I'm not getting the more harsh side effects from these two chemo drugs.  Oh well, yes, there IS that little problem with blood clots, but I was lucky there, too!  That Pulmonary Embolism was found before it killed me.  That's luck!


But perhaps, luck has nothing to do with it.  I know I have so many supporters out there; family, friends, even strangers I have never physically met.  With all those prayers, good mojo, best wishes and love, you know that HAS to play a part in my so-called 'luck.'  And I am most appreciative of every bit of support that comes my way.


Our house is now decorated for Halloween.  We have a HORRIBLE giant spider on the front porch, and his web is full of plastic cockroaches.  I kinda helped out yesterday, putting cockroaches in the web, but frankly, they kept sliding and looked FAR too real for my taste, but in the spirit of the season, they are perfect.


Jane made another batch of cupcakes yesterday with my favorite Chocolate Cream Cheese frosting, but instead of cocoa powder, which we didn't have, we used Mexican Chocolate... with cinnamon.  Holy carp, these cupcakes are to die for.  And if I eat too many, I will. :)  The cake part is spice cake, too, so believe me, the Mexican in us is VERY happy with these cupcakes.


So that's it for this post.  All is well, and if anything comes up at the oncologist today, I'll let you all know.


Love, hugs and kisses, too!

AC's Back On

And the reason this is?  We want to sleep.  It was just not cooling down enough last night, but I wasn't about to go around the house at 2AM shutting windows, so I didn't turn the Air Conditioning back on until this morning.  Oh, and yes, it was a bit warm today. :)


Jane and Nancy have soccer tomorrow, so Cathy and I are going to do something in the crock pot.  I got the recipe from "Not Your Mother's Slow Cooker Cookbook."  A rather unwieldy title, but it does have some freaking awesome recipes.  Any book that includes SEVERAL recipes with Hominy has GOT to be good! ;)


I can't remember exactly what the recipe was but it definitely involved turkey smoked sausage and a jar of good salsa.  We're going to slap it over whole-wheat pasta; whichever type we have in the pantry is fine.


Today, I decided to get up and put on my compression socks.  Holy carp, what a workout.  I guess they wouldn't work well if they were not a job to don.  Did they work?  The jury is out, only because I didn't put them on right out of bed. I think my ankles had already started swelling before I put them on my lotion-slathered feet.  Don't forget, I'm still trying to stave off the nasty Hand-Foot Syndrome from my chemo.  


On the agenda for this week?  Monday, a plethora of blood tests; my PT/INR, and some exciting pre-chemo checks...CBC, platelets with differentials and something called a D-Dimer to check my clottiness, so to speak.  Thankfully there is no test to check my snottiness.  I think the results might be pretty fascinating, though, if there were.


Then, Tuesday, it's Camptosar infusion time, followed by the start up of my week of Xeloda, and of course, the Dreaded Decadron Insomnia.  After that, the remainder of the week will be filled with me trying not to be nauseated.  Although, on Thursday, it'll be back to the phlebotamist for another PT/INR.  


But on the happy side, my sisters and I will be attending BlizzCon, virtually of course.  Wouldn't want to barf all over an actual convention, and I think the airlines would charge me a fortune to pack up my scooter, Darth Vader (my oxygen concentrator), and my CPAP.  


And now, it's time to take my night time bevy of pills and read a bit before I head off to slumber land.  I hope you all have a great upcoming week full of peace, sleep, and much happiness.

Sleepy... so sleepy!

Here I am, in the fifth round of my Camptosar/Xeloda clinical trial.  Apparently, this is the sleeeeepy phase.  All I want to do is sleep.  And believe me, if I lie down, I sleep.  I can sleep 20 hours a day right now.  But, I am trying to stay upright more than 4 hours at a time. :)


Dr. Fastenberg did warn me that the fatigue would be a cumulative effect of this regimen.  Because it's Saturday, I only have a few more days of the Xeloda then I get my week off.  YAY for the week off!


Outside, the sun is shining brightly and my bougainvillea and hibiscus are spreading colorful cheer all over the place.  We have some parts of the back garden that need a good clean up after the past week of storms, hail, lightning, and dust storms.  The gazebo over the spa needs to come down.  Besides, the Indian Rosewood tree is now providing ample shade, and looks glorious, too!


Jane's going to make one of my favorite dinners tonight: chicken, rice and spinach.  I don't know why I love rice and spinach so much, but of course, it has to be the RIGHT rice; whole grain red, brown, some rye, some barley.  I guess it's more of a rice and grain mixture, rather than plain rice.  


Tomorrow, my Chicago family, Jon and Michelle, are going to join us in a dungeon run.  I may not make it, if I am very tired, but we have enough of us to make it doable.  Wendy will be there; if there is one thing that playing World of Warcraft does for us, it helps keep our family members connected, even though they are across the country.  Where it's cold.  I want some cold!  :D


So, fatigue is the explanation for why I haven't posted on the blog in a while.  But I am doing well, so no worries.  Everyone tells me I look great, that I don't look sick... well, except for the weird hair.  And that reminds me.... NANCY!  Get out the dog clippers!


Hugs and love to all!

Hair... Kinda

 Looking a tad woozy, aren't I?  Yes, I'm well into my infusions in this picture.  But LOOK!  I spy peach fuzz hair growth.  The only problem is there are still some bald spots, so I am thinking of having my sister take the dog clippers to me to kind of even things out again.


I have the feeling that the two main bald spots will never grow hair again.  No worries, I'm thinking I'll keep my hair very, very short from now on.

To the right there is my bag of Camptosar.  My oncology nurse today was Anne, and she's been there since the beginning, back a year ago.  She's pretty concerned about how I'm doing since this is the most difficult regimen I have had.  I told her it was getting a bit more trying with each round, but this was round five, and I have very few of the major worrisome side effects.  One more to go...one more to go!


My asthma was a bit problematic this morning, due to the high humidity from all the recent storm activity.  People kept commenting on my breathing; the nurses and even a couple of other chemo patients.  Oy!


Well, I'm still a bit blecchy, so I'm off to have a little rest.  But I did eat a nice salad for lunch.  Isn't it nice to have cravings, for a change, that are GOOD for you? :D

Love to all, keep safe, be well and drink lots of water. :)

I'm at Ironwood

After consulting with Dr. Fastenberg, it was decided that we'd do another round of the Camptosar and Xeloda before we do the next scan.  This is fine with me because I am illogically hoping that FIVE treatments will show positive progress MUCH more than a measley four treatments.  Yes, I *am* a loon.

Other than the above, there is not much new to report.  I shall resume the Xeloda pills with dinner and get back to the chemo week ON routine.

Hugs to all!

Edit...
Oooh, now that I have my calendar, I see I'll be having SIX rounds of this before the scan.  EVEN better, I say.  :)

And a New Week Begins...

...thus, tomorrow, I have to go have vials of blood siphoned from my poor arm.  I guess I had better start drinking lots of water as soon as I get up.  It helps the blood flow, you know. ;)


Tuesday is chemo infusion day with the Camptosar, and then the Xeloda tablets start Tuesday afternoon.  This is round four for this iteration of chemotherapy.  But I had a great weekend.  We ran World of Warcraft dungeons out the wazoo today, and two of my sisters got a cool dragon mount.  If I had gotten one, I'd have taken a picture so I could show you.  Maybe next weekend.  But I do love having an all-sister dungeon party. :)

Actually, the dragon they got today looks a bit like the one I am riding above.  Well, my Tauren Druid is riding it.  I'd be too scared, myself. :D  This one is an Albino Drake, and they got a Bronze Drake.


I've been tired, so I've been reading a lot because that just taxes my eyes and not the rest of me.  I do love to read.  Plus it makes me forget how much I dread my chemo week ON. :P  Oh well, as my dentist and I talked about, as long as I still have fun, and have good days, I'm happy.  But you know, in the back of my mind, no matter how much I try to keep it out of there, I still know another scan is coming and I'm running out of options.  Ugh, I hate those scans... well, not the scans themselves, but the waiting for the results.  I could surely use some good results for a change. :)


Alrighty, I'm off to bed.  Don't worry about me, I still have tons of red in my health bar; not ready to head out of this world just yet. I'm still hanging in, hoping against hope that I get an invite to the Diablo III beta.  Come on, Blizzard, make my day!

I Hate The Weakness

Yesterday, I was so weak I almost fell, so I'm using my walker around the house again.  And today, I fell asleep after lunch.  I hardly EVER sleep during the day, but I guess my body knows what it needs better than I.


Other than feeling pretty nasty, I've been spared many of the Xeolda and Camptosar side effects, at least so far.  Dr. F said we should do this regimen for four months and then get scanned again.  It's just so weird that this is my life; tons of drugs, days of not being well, then days of feeling great, and a vague disbelief that I'm even sick... until the cycle starts again.  Yeah, when the weakness hits, I feel like it's a precursor of the end of my days.  I can't do a damned thing.  Must be why I slept.


Is it strange that I think it's hilarious that I was so worried about the Esophageal Cancer, which is pretty much stabilized, and what's really going to get me is the Adrenal Gland Cancer?  Hey, but at least it has NOT metastasized yet.  Yes, see, you can tell when I'm not feeling very well, because I start to accept that mortality isn't all that bad.  When I feel good, I know I can fight for quite a while more.  It's normal; you feel physically bad, you feel mentally bad, and vice versa.


Anywho, the cycle of good days is about to come around any day now, and I'll be back to my old self.  Hopefully, I'll be good enough to run a dungeon with my sisters tomorrow. :)  Yes, we're making it a weekend ritual.  It's good for us; keeps us all connected, and works our brains, and I get to be the healer!  Maybe I can get some of that good healing juju to transfer from the PC to my poor cancer-riddled body. :D  I should try to get a good screen shot during a boss fight, so I can show you how we have fun.


Ok, hugs and kisses to all.  I'm going to go use up an Amazon gift certificate.  I think I hear something chocolate calling to me.....

Infusion Time Again

I've had three different rounds of chemotherapy; the first in November-December of 2010, then another beginning in May of 2011, and now this one.  I had no problems getting myself in to Ironwood for every infusion in each round.  It just had to be done, and so I did it.


Why, then, is THIS round causing me so much anxiety?  Seriously, the day of my infusion, I have to take a Xanax or go bonkers.  Maybe it IS time to see a therapist.


And maybe I just am so scared of that Aranesp, it's the real cause of my anxiety.  So, I told Dr. F that I was really leery of that shot, and he talked it out with me, told me some interesting facts, and generally allayed my fears about it.  I can't remember what I said, but he smiled, and told me that he found me charming and that he really liked me. :)  Well, of course, I adore him, because he pulls no punches, he's direct, and he understands that I have a brain and treats me accordingly.  (That, people, is a rare gift in doctors, but thank gods all my doctors have that gift.)


Oh yeah, and speaking of Xanax, they called in another bottle of it for me.  It's a crutch, yeah, and I don't frankly care.  I'm not going to become addicted to it, and if I do, well, such is life... I'm not going to be around forever.


Yep, definitely having some issues today.  And of course, I get to start up the Xeloda tablets with my dinner tonight.  Yum. :P

And here is the aforementioned PINK version of my favorite fedora.  If you notice, I have a pin on my blouse....my oncology nurse uses it to pin up my IV line, so that when I wander, as I tend to do because I get bored, it won't pull, or get caught on my IV pole.


Well, I'm getting hungry, believe it or not, so, I guess it's time to think about dinner.


Love to all, and don't worry about me, the weird funk will pass as it always does. :)

Thinking of Pico

My middle brother died in 2004, in January.  I'm thinking of him quite a bit lately, since August 3rd is his birthday.  Yes, his name was Pico Sepulveda, and if you are into Dr. Demento, you may know why that name brings a smile to people's faces.


But it wasn't just his name; it was everything about him.  Pico loved people.  He loved interacting with them, entertaining them, making them happy.  He adored his family, every single one of us, and gods know there are plenty of us. :)  Yeah, we have our odd ones, but I won't name names.  You know who you are. :D


Pico had been in the Navy.  He decided that it was probably better to enlist in the Navy than it would be to be drafted into the Army.  I think it was a good decision.  My sisters, his son... we have lots of former Navy members in my family.  My dad used to drive us down to San Diego, from Los Angeles, at least once a month to visit Pico.  He worked as a reporter for "The Periscope," which I believe was the newspaper of Point Loma's submarine base.  He was stationed on the USS Nereus, which is a submarine tender.  It was always an adventure to go aboard the Nereus during its open houses.  It was so big; at least to my child's eyes.  Big is really an aircraft carrier, which I have never had the pleasure to board.


After the Navy, following in the footsteps of the rest of our aircraft crazy family, Pico went to work for Flying Tiger.  It's gone now, but it was a cargo flying company.  They flew 747's.  


When I came out to Arizona in 1985, Pico brought his family out to visit.  I think he fell in love with it, as had I, at first sight.  It wasn't long before he moved his family out here.  I was so happy to have family here!  Next, my older sister and her family moved here.  I guess I had started a trend.  Eventually, I'd be joined by my mom and her sister, my Aunt Lorraine, and my oldest sister and her husband, the wonderful Bud, moved to Lake Havasu.  I'd like to think it was my magnetic personality that drew them all out here, but... yeah, Arizona is the best. :D


I miss Pico very much, but I see him in his sons, and in his grandsons, and I am very thankful for that.  He knows how much he is loved.


Well, tomorrow is camptosar infusion day... blech.  But I was feeling pretty well today, and my phlebotomist was a GEM!  Tomorrow I'll find out how my labs were.  I'm kind of hoping we don't have to have a shot of that creepy Aranesp.  But, you know, I'll do what I have to do. :P


Have sweet dreams, people.  Give someone you love a big hug.

And a PINK Fedora

Nancy and Jane came home with a Pink Fedora today.  It's exactly the same as the purple, yet in a very fetching shade of pink.  Thank heavens that opens up many more fashion options for all those exciting chemos and doctors visits. :D


We had a great time today, doing an all-sister run of World of Warcraft dungeons.  Today we did one we hadn't done before, and it was such fun figuring out how to take down one of the bosses.


I was the healer today.  :)  I started playing healer classes way back in City of Heroes.  That was when I had breast cancer.  I found it very therapeutic to run around healing people, even as I was counting on my doctors to heal me.  But, I hadn't played my priest as a healer in quite a while, so I was a bit rusty at the outset, but settled right down into a decent rhythm.  Yes there were a few deaths, especially on that one boss, but once we got him squared away, the rest of the dungeon went swimmingly.  The main thing is, we had fun!  And, Wendy was with us, which made it even better.  I think we should make Saturday dungeon-running day.  ;)


Monday I have to go get my pre-chemo blood work done, and then Tuesday I go in for my Camptosar infusion, and start up the Xeloda pills again.  That was a fast week off!


Now off to bed for me.  Enjoy your Sunday, my friends. :)

Tortilla Soup

There is nothing better guaranteed to produce an appetite in me more than my sister Jane's Tortilla Soup.  I can smell the aromatics even back here in my bedroom.  She makes machaca chicken first, and then at the last moment assembles the actual soup.  It's an all-day venture, very soulful and full of love.   The link up at machaca is actually a recipe for machaca beef, but Jane's is similar for chicken.


I wonder why I always get bone pain with chemo?  I took a Naprosyn, and that took the edge off it.  It makes walking very uncomfortable, but I don't want to become a lump, either.  Happily, I have no symptoms of Hand-Foot Syndrome as yet, nor do I have the warned about Diarrhea. I do have the beginnings of one mouth sore, but even that's feeling alright at the moment.  I wonder how it will enjoy Tortilla Soup? :D


Yesterday I asked for something I normally NEVER want:  I wanted a slice of a very decadent chocolate cake.  Of course, Jane went right out and found me one from AJ's.  I only have a couple of bites of it at a time, so this could last for a week. :D  And it is OH so decadent, rich, moist, bringing great happiness to my taster.


So, for the week upcoming, I have to do the eight Xeloda pills until Monday, and then Tuesday, I only take the four with breakfast, then I get a week off.  But Monday the 1st of August, I have to go get my labs done, and Tuesday the 2nd of August it's back to Ironwood for my next infusion of Camptosar again and more than likely, a shot of Aranesp, which is the one I had to sign paperwork to acknowledge that they had warned me of all the risks.  Well, duh.  I die if I don't get it, pretty much, so if it kills me... c'est la vie.


Anywho, next week should be a piece of cake... hmmm... ummmm... cake.  Stop that!  So, I shall rest up and get my strength back so that I can go into round two of this regimen able to deal with the side effects. 


Love to all, hugs, kisses and stay healthy!

And We're Off!

I told Dr. F about the pain, and he said both were common referral pains from esophageal cancer.  He also said he's changed up my new chemo regimen.  Now, I shall be doing the Camptosar  every two weeks, and take the Xeloda pills for one week, with a week off.  This would be an easier regimen on me.


For my pre-meds, we have once again decadron, but now also atropine and zofran.  No more Herceptin, since it wasn't actually making inroads in the control of the cancer.  And it's not approved for use with Camptosar, anyway.


Atropine makes me a bit woozy, or at least I'm attributing my wooziness to it. :)  I just wish I didn't get so darned anxious about new chemos.  I mean, so far, so good on this one.


Here's a shot of Jane working on the most vicious jigsaw puzzle ever.  By the time we were done with my infusions, there was a volunteer and another chemo patient helping her.

Look at that concentration!


So, now I am home, and I was told to take my first four Xeloda pills with tonight's dinner.  Oh joy. :)


And that means, before I go to bed, I must slather on the emu oil onto both hands and feet.  I predict much sheet washing in my future.


Love to all!

CT Results are In

So it wasn't all bad news, but it wasn't what I was hoping for, either.  The adrenal tumor is now at 5 cm. That's about 2 inches.  Dr. Fastenberg was disappointed that the chemo regimen we had been on wasn't helping.


On the esophageal cancer front, all seems to be stable.  The main tumor has not changed, the one lymph node behind my trachea enlarged minimally, and one located near my shoulder was unchanged.  But the good news there is that there was NOTHING NEW!!!! :)


Starting next week, I will be part of a stage II clinical trial of CPT-11, which is already approved and in use for breast cancer and colon/rectal cancer.  It's known as Camptosar.  That will be an IV infusion every three weeks, but additionally, I will be taking Xeloda pills.  It will be a trial in more ways than one, and so I will be taking three months of short term disability and see how that goes. 


I asked Dr. Fastenberg point blank if I should be considering hospice and he said not at all; we still have options, and I'm still doing pretty well.  I can still walk, kinda, I can still eat, kinda, and I've still got hope.


I was so stressed out this morning, I had an ocular migraine during my consult with Dr. F.  That was... kinda creepy, and because my hemoglobin was down to 8, I had to have a shot of Procrit.  Let us hope that works well, otherwise next time, it's a transfusion and I have to go to the hospital for that. 


I'm exhausted.  It's a lot of information to digest; but I still believe that I have a chance.  Dr. F says that this trial has a 47% success rate so far.  By success, 15% have eliminated their cancer and the other 32% have their cancer under control.  I will happily take control if that's as good as I can get.  There are only 29 people in this trial.  I will be number 30.  I like that number. :)  Why so few in the trial? Because both of my cancers are relatively rare, our numbers are few.


I will start the trial on the 19th, so I get a week to rest up get strong.  And generate some red and white blood cells!  And try not to get sick.


And so I'm hanging in here, and sending love and hugs to all. :)