Well folks my 7th treatment has been delayed and messed up my schedule for the holidays. My white blood counts were a little low, so my treatment has been delayed for a week. My 7th treatment is now scheduled for Dec. 7th.
The best laid plans always go awry!
"And this too shall pass......"
Cindy
Monday, November 30, 2009
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Holidays are over and back to reality
Hi All - well it's back to reality tomorrow. The Thanksgiving holiday is now over. I am feeling pretty good and was able to go all the way to East TN to visit with my parents and my siblings (along with their spouses and all my nieces and nephew). We had a wonderful and busy visit - always seems to happen when 16 people are all in one house. Abby had a wonderful time roaming free in the fields at my parents - she roused a rabbit from its morning slumber and saw two deer running in the back woods. She slept the entire 7.5 hour trip home and will most likely sleep all of tomorrow as well.
Now we are back in Memphis and have to return to our "normal" life. My 7th treatment is scheduled for just after 8 AM tomorrow and I'm not really looking forward to this week as I will feel under the weather until around Friday or Saturday.
Have a wonderful and safe week.
Cindy
Now we are back in Memphis and have to return to our "normal" life. My 7th treatment is scheduled for just after 8 AM tomorrow and I'm not really looking forward to this week as I will feel under the weather until around Friday or Saturday.
Have a wonderful and safe week.
Cindy
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Another one bites the dust
To all my friends and family,
My 6th treatment was yesterday (Wed. Nov. 11th) and I only have 2 more to go.
I was able to have my port-a-cath (2nd one - other one had to be removed because it never healed correctly) put in yesterday as well and have the Hickman line removed - Yeah!!
I have also qualified for a drup called Aranesp which helps with the production of red blood cells - this will help eliminate some of the fatigue and light-headedness as well as help me become more ready for my next treatment. My next treatments are scheduled for Monday, November 30th and Thursday December 17th. I moved them so I wouldn't feel quite so bad for Christmas and New Year's.
We are having beautiful, sunny and warm days here in Memphis which lets me get out and move around with Abby as well as run errands without having to wear duck shoes. No rain for at least the last week - yeah our yard has finally dried out and Abby isn't constantly covering my kitchen floor with mud.
Wishing everyone a very Happy Thanksgiving and safe to all those that are traveling.
"And this too shall pass......"
Cindy
My 6th treatment was yesterday (Wed. Nov. 11th) and I only have 2 more to go.
I was able to have my port-a-cath (2nd one - other one had to be removed because it never healed correctly) put in yesterday as well and have the Hickman line removed - Yeah!!
I have also qualified for a drup called Aranesp which helps with the production of red blood cells - this will help eliminate some of the fatigue and light-headedness as well as help me become more ready for my next treatment. My next treatments are scheduled for Monday, November 30th and Thursday December 17th. I moved them so I wouldn't feel quite so bad for Christmas and New Year's.
We are having beautiful, sunny and warm days here in Memphis which lets me get out and move around with Abby as well as run errands without having to wear duck shoes. No rain for at least the last week - yeah our yard has finally dried out and Abby isn't constantly covering my kitchen floor with mud.
Wishing everyone a very Happy Thanksgiving and safe to all those that are traveling.
"And this too shall pass......"
Cindy
Friday, November 6, 2009
Week 17 & Alls Well
We are off to Knoxville for the weekend. I'm feeling pretty good, just a
little tired. My hematocrit is a little low but not low enough for a
transfusion.
little tired. My hematocrit is a little low but not low enough for a
transfusion.
We heard back from the geneticist this week. The good news is that I
do not have the BRCA 1 or BRCA 2 mutation (breast cancer genes). We
are now waiting to hear from the insurance to see if they will cover
one other test - looking for Lynch Syndrome. I should hear more in
another week or so.
My 6th chemo treatment is next Wednesday.
"And this too shall pass......"
Cindy
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Rain, Rain Go Away!!
Treatment 5 is down and I'm on the upswing to feeling better already. Mom has been here for the last 5 days or so to help out since Kyle had to go out of town. Abby has been loving it since my Mom spoils her worse than we do. She's had more treats and playtime than ever before and will no doubt drive us crazy for several days after my Mom leaves.
I'm ready to start exercising again and get my energy level back up so I can do things around the house. My hemoglobin levels were a little lower again just before the last treatment, so they are talking about me having to have another transfusion. With any luck we will be able to talk the insurance company into paying for a drug to help with the stimulation of red blood cells instead of the transfusion. Should know more about this sometime this week. My catheter that they put in last week instead of another port-a-cath is healing slowly. The incision from my initial port-a-cath still has not healed completely, so they will leave the catheter in until then. At least they can use that instead of having to stick me everytime they need blood or I get chemo.
On the genetics front, we have yet to hear from the genetics lab with the results of my blood work. We hope to know something by the end of the week.
Happy Halloween Everyone!!
"And this too shall pass....."
I'm ready to start exercising again and get my energy level back up so I can do things around the house. My hemoglobin levels were a little lower again just before the last treatment, so they are talking about me having to have another transfusion. With any luck we will be able to talk the insurance company into paying for a drug to help with the stimulation of red blood cells instead of the transfusion. Should know more about this sometime this week. My catheter that they put in last week instead of another port-a-cath is healing slowly. The incision from my initial port-a-cath still has not healed completely, so they will leave the catheter in until then. At least they can use that instead of having to stick me everytime they need blood or I get chemo.
On the genetics front, we have yet to hear from the genetics lab with the results of my blood work. We hope to know something by the end of the week.
Happy Halloween Everyone!!
"And this too shall pass....."
Monday, October 19, 2009
Treatment 5
Well, I'm off tomorrow to spend the day getting treatment. I am now on the backside of my treatments (only 3 more after this) and I'm feeling better than I have in the last 5 months. I'm able to exercise on a more regular basis and I'm not getting light-headed nearly as much as I used to.
Mom comes in town this week to keep me company and play with Abby while Kyle is in and out of town. Supposed to be beautiful weather so I'm sure Abby will have Mom playing with the soccer ball alot in the backyard.
Thanks to everyone for their thoughts and prayers.
"And this too shall pass......"
Mom comes in town this week to keep me company and play with Abby while Kyle is in and out of town. Supposed to be beautiful weather so I'm sure Abby will have Mom playing with the soccer ball alot in the backyard.
Thanks to everyone for their thoughts and prayers.
"And this too shall pass......"
Friday, October 9, 2009
Oh No - I'll be 42
Well, tomorrow I turn 42 and I'm verry happy to be able to celebrate turning 42. We will be in Knoxville watching the VOLS play against Georgia. I'm hoping that the fall leaves have turned and will be able to enjoy the beauty of the mountains.
My nausea and pain showed up a little early after treatment 4, but it also went away about a day earlier than it has. I've been able to enjoy most of this week - minus the rain of course - and I have big plans for next week ...... cleaning a room upstairs and some flower beds out front before it gets cold.
Remember, October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and even though you may not think that you know someone who is affected you would be surprised at how many truly are. So remind everyone to be more diligent in screening not only for female breast cancer but for male breast cancer, ovarian cancer, colon cancer and prostate cancer. These can all related genetically and can be traced to some of the same gene mutations. Doesn't hurt to be proactive in ones own health.
"And this too shall pass......"
My nausea and pain showed up a little early after treatment 4, but it also went away about a day earlier than it has. I've been able to enjoy most of this week - minus the rain of course - and I have big plans for next week ...... cleaning a room upstairs and some flower beds out front before it gets cold.
Remember, October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and even though you may not think that you know someone who is affected you would be surprised at how many truly are. So remind everyone to be more diligent in screening not only for female breast cancer but for male breast cancer, ovarian cancer, colon cancer and prostate cancer. These can all related genetically and can be traced to some of the same gene mutations. Doesn't hurt to be proactive in ones own health.
"And this too shall pass......"
Thursday, October 1, 2009
4th Treatment Down - 4 to Go
Well, I had my 4th chemo treatment yesterday and only have 4 more to go. Yeah, halfway done!!!
I did get a chance to speak to a genetic counselor yesterday. My doctor has suggested genetic testing due to my age and the type of cancer that I have (unusual to have ovarian cancer in your early 40s). They suspect a family history and want to delve further into my family tree. This should be interesting. If something is found, at least my siblings and their kids will be better informed and be a little more closely watched in the future.
Its another beautiful fall day. I'm going to be a couch potato for the next several days as I am anticipating not feeling all that great. I should be back up and feeling much better by mid next week.
"And this too shall pass......"
I did get a chance to speak to a genetic counselor yesterday. My doctor has suggested genetic testing due to my age and the type of cancer that I have (unusual to have ovarian cancer in your early 40s). They suspect a family history and want to delve further into my family tree. This should be interesting. If something is found, at least my siblings and their kids will be better informed and be a little more closely watched in the future.
Its another beautiful fall day. I'm going to be a couch potato for the next several days as I am anticipating not feeling all that great. I should be back up and feeling much better by mid next week.
"And this too shall pass......"
Monday, September 28, 2009
What a Beautiful Fall Day
Not a cloud in the sky......temperature in the mid-seventies....wow, what beautiful day!! I'm sitting outside enjoying the sunshine on a fall day with my Lab, Abby. Kyle and I had a wonderful (but rainy) weekend in Knoxville watching the UT football game. How I wish we could have stayed an extra few days and gone hiking in the Smokey Mountains...not that I would have had the energy to go on a hike longer than 100 feet!! When we left, the sun was shining and mild temperatures were expected for the day.
Another couple of days and another treatment....just another bump in the road to a full recovery.
"And this too shall pass......"
Another couple of days and another treatment....just another bump in the road to a full recovery.
"And this too shall pass......"
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
It's Now Week 11 since my surgery
It's now week 11 since my abdominal surgery and I'm moving right along.
My 4th chemo treatment is scheduled for next week and I will be half way thru the treatments. The past week or so has not been quite as expected.....a lot more fatigued than I was expecting. Before I've been able to feel almost normal after about day 8 following a treatment but this past week has been a little different. I'm bored and restless but when I try to get up to do things I'm out of breath and easily tired. I've been told that this is just part of the process and it will continue to slowly get worse until its all over and I'm thru with all my treatments. I'm just not used to sitting around watching TV and reading ALL the time. I've never been one to sit around and just "surf then net" either.
Kyle and I are going to get out of town again this weekend and go see the VOLS play in Knoxville. It will be a tiring trip but well worth it for a change in scenery.
Abby is doing great and still growing .... she's up to 70 lbs. now and still only 9 months.....she's going to be a big girl.
All your thoughts and prayers are greatly appreciated. "And this too shall pass......."
My 4th chemo treatment is scheduled for next week and I will be half way thru the treatments. The past week or so has not been quite as expected.....a lot more fatigued than I was expecting. Before I've been able to feel almost normal after about day 8 following a treatment but this past week has been a little different. I'm bored and restless but when I try to get up to do things I'm out of breath and easily tired. I've been told that this is just part of the process and it will continue to slowly get worse until its all over and I'm thru with all my treatments. I'm just not used to sitting around watching TV and reading ALL the time. I've never been one to sit around and just "surf then net" either.
Kyle and I are going to get out of town again this weekend and go see the VOLS play in Knoxville. It will be a tiring trip but well worth it for a change in scenery.
Abby is doing great and still growing .... she's up to 70 lbs. now and still only 9 months.....she's going to be a big girl.
All your thoughts and prayers are greatly appreciated. "And this too shall pass......."
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