PET Scan

I had my PET scan on Monday, March 9th. I just received a call from my oncologist and the news was not the best. It seems that the cancer is still active in one of my lymph nodes. He said there was no change to my lungs and a slight change to my breast. I will be meeting with him on the 23rd. More later.

Appointment with Oncologist

I saw my oncologist on the 24th and he was very pleased that I was doing so well. He has ordered another PET scan. Since he knows my wishes about future treatment he wanted to know if I wanted to know the results or just wait it out to see what happens - if the cancer is growing - if it has localized to one area, etc. He is a little concerned about my lungs since I have an unexplained cough, but he said they sound okay. I told him that I want to know what is going on each step of the way. He said that if I changed my mind about chemo or radiation - or not - he would support my decision.

He was very pleased that I am losing weight and that I go to the Y four times a week. My blood pressure was really low and I asked him about it. He wanted to know if I was light-headed or tired - yes to both! He said that it looked like my new program was working (the Y and WW) and that I may need to alter my BP medication. He wanted to do 1/2 a pill/day and then said not to take them at all. Each day that I did not take my BP pill my blood pressure went up a little. On the third day it was obvious that I cannot go off my medication. I don't think I need the full strength but I do need something. I just have to get it figured out. It is a good thing that I told him that I would monitor it at home - I have a BP kit. So far it is all over the place.

The next step will be the PET scan. I am feeling very positive about it and a little nervous at the same time. I still need lots of prayer.

A Little Inconvenience

I wish I had some really fun stuff to put on my blog - life is just too serious right now.

My PCP's nurse called me week before last. She wanted to know when I was going to do more mammograms, etc. I told her the story and later that day my PCP called me. I have really not seen her since this whole thing started because all I see now are specialist. So, I explained to her what I had decided about the breast biopsy, etc. I told her that I would be seeing my oncologist soon and he was going to order another PET scan at that time. She was okay with that but asked if I had any other problems going on right now in light of all that I have been through. Well, yes, but I hesitated to tell her. I have been smelling smoke for awhile now. She was very concerned about it. She called my oncologist and then called me back a couple of days later. After talking for a bit she decided to treat me aggressively for a sinus infection first - I had a few symptoms but nothing major and that morning did wake up with a sore throat and a deep cough. I am taking 6 pills a day - two different antibiotics plus Sudafed, the one you get from the pharmacy now, a nasal spray (I cannot pronounce it) that is prescription and sinus wash twice a day, for 14 days. I would say that is aggressive.

The alternative, if this does not clear up, is an MRI to see if there is something going on in the frontal lobe with the nerve that controls smell. I have always heard that when someone smells smoke that it had something to do with the pituitary gland - not sure if that is true or not. Apparently what they would be looking for here would not show up on the PET scan so that would be - MRI.

Yes, the antibiotics are helping even though they are doing a number on me. I still smell a little smoke at different times. I will be through with the regimen on Friday and we will just have to wait and see what happens.

Happiness Is A Journey ~by Father Alfred D'Souza

Happiness is a journey, not a destination.

Dance as though no one is watching you.

Love as though you have never been hurt before.

Sing as though no one can hear you.

Live as though heaven is on earth.

~~~

For a long time it seemed to me that life was about to begin -- real life.

But there was always some obstacle in the way,

something to be gotten through first,

some unfinished business,

time still to be served, a debt to be paid.

At last it dawned on me that these obstacles were my life.

This perspective has helped me to see there is no way to happiness.

Happiness is the way.

So treasure every moment you have and remember that

time waits for no one.

Happiness is a journey, not a destination.

It's In The Valley I Grow

Sometimes life seems hard to bear,
Full of sorrow, trouble and woe
It's then I have to remember,
That it's in the valley I grow,

If I always stayed on the mountain top,
And never experienced pain,
I would never appreciate God's love,
And would be living in vain.

I have so much to learn,
And my growth is very slow,
Sometimes I need the mountain tops,
But it's in the valley I grow.

I do not always understand,
Why things happen as they do,
But I am very sure of one thing.
My Lord will see me through.

My little valleys are nothing,
When I picture Christ on the cross
He went through the valley of death;
His victory was Satan's loss.

Forgive me Lord, for complaining,
When I'm feeling so very low.
Just give me a gentle reminder,
That it's in the valleys I grow.

Continue to strengthen me,Lord,
And use my life each day
To share your love with others,
And help them find their way.

Thank you for valleys, Lord,
For this one thing I know
The mountain tops are glorious,
But it's in the valleys I grow!

~by Jane Eggleston

Trip to the Chiropracter

I have been having problems with my left hip and decided I needed to see a Chiropracter. This is probably another side effect of the chemo treatments because I spent so much time in bed. It seems to be the muscles and they need to be strengthened. He has given me several suggestions of how to handle the pain and eventually delete the pain all together. It only hurts when I am standing for any period of time and the hip compacts.

He gave me quite the compliment. He had read some of my medical history before I arrived and he was expecting to see a sickly old woman because of all that I had been through. He said that I looked really good and not sick at all - and I don't feel sick.

This is only my 3rd week at the Y and already I am feeling much stronger. In fact, I walked a mile, at my favorite lake, twice this week and I did a mile on the exercise bike at the Y. I was not sure that I could do the walking because of the neuropathy in my feet, but I think I am getting used to it now - I knew I would eventually.

For those of you not in CO it has been in the 60's this week - absolutely beautiful for the middle of January.

Appointment with Oncologist

My appointment with the oncologist has been changed to February 24th. It is just a follow-up appointment and since I am feeling pretty good I can wait another month to see him.

My CA125 was 154 after my surgery. The standard range is <=34- u/ml. On November 17th it had gone down to 16 - this was after 5 chemo therapy treatments. On January 8th it is down to 14. This is such exciting news. My oncology nurse was also excited when she called. She said that her calls so often involve bad news that this made her day to be able to deliver good news.

If God willing, it will be even lower the next time I get it tested. I will keep praying for a miracle.

Appointment with Pelvic Surgeon

I met with my surgeon today, January 8th, and he said that I was healing well. He also said that I responded (the cancer) to the chemo better than expected. He mentioned the radiation and that he knew I had turned it down, I agreed and he made no further comments about it.

He wanted to know about my energy level and was pleased to hear how well I am actually feeling and getting back into the swing of things. I told him that since I cannot walk with my feet in this condition I had joined the Y, and that I do aqua-aerobics and silver-sneekers (low impact exercise) at least four times a week. I am sure that this will help with my stamina as well as my balance - which is not great because of neuropathy in my feet.

With a smile on his face he asked if my hair was coming back in yet. Yes it is, but this is going to be a very slow process. They say 1/4 inch per month and that is true so far. I have two wigs and I always wear one of them when going out in public, however at home - I take it off. My eyebrows and eyelashes are coming back also.

He was very pleased that my CA125 had gone from 154 to 16 the last time it was tested in October. He said that it was not a sure-fire test but that it was a good indicator about what was going on. He ordered another one and the results should be back by the time I meet with my oncologist on Monday.

I will be seen by him every three months and have my next appointment in April. He suggested six months for a PET scan.

I may have "gone green" but I'm still thinkin' chocolate!