20 posts tagged “cancer”

Grandkidsandme

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I had a quick but great trip back home.  It is always amazing to see how big the grandkids are getting, but there has been some major growth spirts going on!  haha  Everybody was doing well, and even got to see a couple of old friends that I hadn't seen in forever!  Grannyj - you are lookin' good!  We didn't go anywhere or do much of anything other than one trip north to see a couple of my aunts and an uncle.  Sure felt good to visit through my eyelids on the couch.

The trip was supposed to have been over my dad's birthday, but due to treatments, needed to get back.  The day after getting back, it was back to the hospital for a CT Scan and the oncologist for my 8th different chemo - Xeloda by pill.  The cancer has continued to spread through the bones and there is now a possibility that it is in the liver. 

Dad had his birthday (Happy Birthday), then went in for a heart check today.  They put a stent in an artery and will be sending him home tomorrow.  He's doing great.

Barney was sure glad to see me - almost as glad as the better half was.  hehehe  The weather has been damp, windy and cold since I've been home.

Barney2 08122008

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I am now on my 6th new chemo cocktail.  The onc didn't like the reaction I had to the last one and didn't want to up the steroid take because of the problems steroids cause, so he changed one of the cocktail ingredients and put me on a weekly infusion.  I am now taking the combination Abraxane and Avastin.  Abraxane is another Taxol derivitative, but different from the other two Taxols, so it's not supposed to cause as many side effects.  I will still lose my hair, but that's fine.  Side effects incude hair loss, Low white cell count, neuropathy of the hands and feet, fatigue and weakness (nothing new), low red blood count, and sore mouth, along with others.  I also had the doc up my dosage of oxycontin, and so far that has been one of the best things - I have had no pain since yesterday morning.  That makes a big difference in my day.

I will be going out to lunch with the neighbor and really looking forward to it.  I have an appetite again and had not lost any more weight, but hadn't gained any either.  The onc was glad to see no more loss.

Tomorrow I will expect to see any side effects of the chemo.  It feels like it might not be so bad and will hopefully be the combo that puts these cancer cells in remission!

Graffitti

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I have already been up longer than I was at any one time yesterday.  So - I must be feeling better.  LOL  The scary part to me is that the onc is trying the chemos with the mildest side effects first.  If they get much worse than this, not sure that it is going to be worth doing.  Of course, if the side effects only last two or three days, then that makes a difference too.  The side effects of Doxil and Avastin, so far, have been: fever, sore throat, ear aches, swollen glands around the neck, bone pain in the back, ribs, neck, legs, and of course, the aches from the fever...and let's not forget itching.  When the pain meds did work, all I wanted to do was sleep.

Not much to say about the weather other than it is hot.  For us to have a stretch of more than two days or so of hot weather is unusual.  But, I hear that tomorrow is supposed to be the hottest day then we will be in for a cool down.  I can't even claim to be speeding through books with this round of side effects - can't stay awake long enough.  LOL

Waterlily

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After 5 hours at the cancer care center, I was ready to be home and in bed.  The first infusion of the Avastin was 1 1/2 hours.  It will be only an hour the rest of the infusions.  The Doxil was an hour.  So now I know, it will be 2 hours of infusion every three weeks.  Now that the chemo has started, I plan on getting my hair buzzed this weekend and start wearing my little coal boy caps to bed to catch the pricklies as they fall out. 

Talked to my youngest chick yesterday and he said that both he and my oldest chick were doing good.  I was glad to hear that since I haven't heard from the oldest in quite some time.

Facetree

Got to see the onc yesterday and get my infusion of Zometa.  Also found out that the tumor markers are still rising, so I am going to start a new chemo regiment tomorrow - Doxil and Avastin.  Doxil is the chemo, Avastin does something to the blood cells to kill the cancer.  I am already familiar with the side effects of the taxol drugs, so I don't expect too many surprises, but not looking forward to the combo.  Of course, one of the major side effects is fatigue...so, what's new right?  LOL  Thank goodness I don't have to run any marathons!  I will receive the infusions once every 3 weeks.  I will lose my hair (not a bad thing in the summer).  I will continue getting the monthly infusion of Zometa and see the onc once a month.

So, other than that, there has not been much going on.  I have not wanted to get out much and can't seem to get enough rest.  And that's without starting this chemo!  The good news was that as of yesterday, I no longer have to do the oral Cytoxan that I have been taking.  Unfortunately, there is no break - stopped the Cytoxan yesterday, on to the new cocktail tomorrow.  Ah - the joys of cancer....NOT!  LOL

Yellow flowers

Another infusion day.  The last one of this round.  I am going to be so glad.  There have been a couple of problems crop up that I will wait to see whether they are chemo related before talking to the onc about them.  He is quick to jump on tests and some things just clear up by themselves.

I do have to wonder how people can use drugs.  I take narcotics and antidepressants out of necessity - but I take them as prescribed pretty much.  I suffer from constipation for which I have to take laxatives and sofeteners daily, and still will get a bout of constipation.  When I finally get things to going again, then I have the blood.  So, knowing that constipation and blood are related, I figure that something gets aggravated up there.  I know it's not cancer, my colonoscopy said so.  So, knowing the problems I have while taking drugs as prescribed, the problems would be compounded with misuse.  People sure do put their bodies through the wringer for that bogus high.

I am loving this weather.  It is cool and comfortable.  Sunny, but that cool breeze blows almost constantly. 

We went to the lunch buffet at the local casino yesterday.  It was exceptionally good - corn on the cob, some of the best ham I've eaten, watermelon, grapes, orange slices...just an all around good buffet.  I didn't care for the shrimp or crab claws this time, so they either cooked or seasoned them different, or it was a kind that I hadn't tried before.

Red hot pokers

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The torch lilies - aka Red Hot Pokers beginning to bloom.  There are going to be a lot of them.

The effects of the chemo have continued to accumulate, and I am tired pretty much all the time.  However, I haven't been hit with the debilitating fatigue.  So, in that respect, the side effects of CMF are milder.

Side Effects of CMF:  Tired, nauseated all the time, hair loss (I haven't mentioned that much, have I? LOL), mild neuropathy (tingling and numbness in the fingertips and one toe feels like an ingrown toenail)

Things that I don't believe are side effects:  Bone pain in the lower back, ribs, legs and right shoulder and neck.  This I believe, is actually from the cancer itself.  If not, then the onc and I are going to have to talk.

All in all, this has been the easiest and the hardest chemo cocktail.  Easy because I missed out on that excrutiating leg pain, debillitating fatigue, total loss of hair, fingernails and toenails, and the mental disorientation of the 26 weeks of the first rounds of chemo.  It's been hard, because this is the first time throughout cancer treatment that I have experienced such nausea.  It wouldn't be so bad if the appetite left too - but I want to eat, it just makes me sick.  LOL

In light of this, it will be interesting if there is another chemo cocktail to follow, to see what side effects it will bring.  Being aware of why I feel like I do, makes it easier to handle. 

Rain!!!!!  We are finally getting some rain.  It has been sprinkling off and on this morning and things do look wet.  Barney, of course, does not like this - but the flowers sure do.

Clematis

I have to say Tuesday went very well.  I saw my oncologist for a visit and all my blood work came back good.  I now have enough white cells to fight infections (so the immune system has improved), red blood cell count was good, but the thing I was so glad to hear is that my liver function and kidney function are normal.  Two more infusions and 14 days more of Cytoxan, and I will be done with this round of chemo.  Hopefully there will be a break and everything will be in remission.

It was hot yesterday!  And it is supposed to be hotter today.  It's too hot to comfortably read in bed, too hot to be on the computer, too hot to want to go anywhere or do anything.  LOL  I am ready for some rain and a cold snap.

Went out to lunch with the neighbor and we once again had a good visit and pizza.  Today is looking like another do as little as possible day.

Weed

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Those steroids really make for a good day...just a very hungry one.  Felt good the biggest part of the day and only laid down for a couple of hours to read.  Had a Mac attack and had to get some quarter pounders to satisfy it.  The good news was the tumor markers are stable, I see the onc Tuesday, then have maybe two more infusions of chemo.  Woo Hoo - there is a light at the end of the tunnel!  I imagine there will be another scan to see where the mets are at, and then go from there.  Feels good to think that there may be another remission.

The news was good from my oldest chickie.  While she has not yet had her surgery, the biopsy on the cysts was benign.  That is a relief.  My youngest chickie is doing good as well.

Compliments of the steroids, I think I will drive to the office today, see about getting some documents notarized and getting a QCD recorded.  While there, I will visit with the coworkers and have lunch with a couple.  I do have a little shopping to do if I can manage it after lunch. 

It is looking like a beautiful day and since it will be too hot to leave Barney in the car, he will be left home - so the cameras will go with me and I may get some new pics.  I do need to get a shot of the Himilayan poppy.  I found out from the last one they don't last long. 

Little sailboat

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Enjoyed a beautiful day yesterday...again.  And it seems that I use 'yesterday' a lot, but considering I wait to do a post til the next day, it kind of figures in there all the time.  LOL  Anyway, it was a sunny, but cool, day and I was up for the biggest part of it.  Didn't do much - we did go to the casino for a good buffet.  It does feel good to feel hungry again, even though it is almost constant and I wonder if the mind is reacting in anticipation of the dose of steroids it will get today.

Another infusion of the two poisons - and I will be done for 2 weeks.  I still find it funny that they put on the hazmat gear to give me these infusions because the cocktail is so poisonous and damages skin - but that is what they put directly into the vein to the heart.  I am supposed to not touch the chemo pills - just shake them out into the cup - because, once again, they are poisonous.  But, I throw them down my throw 14 days a month.

The little sailboat at sea is a lot like me - a small fish in a big pond.  Defiantly, I plow my way through the waves in spite of listing now and again.