Hope everyone is doing great. Sorry, it's been so long for the most part it's been non-eventful. Doing "ok", blood counts were a little low for about a month but have now bounced back up to normal. I'm a little concerned with my last tumor marker blood test showing an increase from 41 to 54 but of course my doctor tells me not to worry. Easy for him to say. :) He said this can happen sometimes and go right back down again. The important thing to focus on is my scans.
I have my final set of CAT scans, MRIs tomorrow with a doctor's appt. next Thursday to review the results. If the results look good I will be done with chemo for a while and start taking daily medicine and schedule my surgeries most likely for the end of June. If they don't look as good as he'd like I will do two more cycles of chemo (another month and a half) and decide from there what is next. I'm doing my best to stay positive but pretty nervous, I want so badly to be done and not to have to go thru this again!!! But what I want and reality may not be the same.
Kids are doing great and anxious for school to be over. The girls just started softball again so that will keep us busy.
oxoxo
Lynn
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Week 23
So spring is officially here and my tulips are starting to come up - thankfully the weekend snow didn't kill 'em. :)
We're all doing well, the kids just finished 3rd quarter in school and the girls are doing fantastic -honor roll again! Nicholas is doing much better and on track for a great 4th quarter. They're all so excited that winter is over and school will be done in May. Just two more months.
At my doctor appt. last Thursday we discussed again the possibility to be off chemo by May - this will be pending scans that will be done the end of April. I'm feeling pretty good in general. Anxious to get outside and try to get some of this weight off before chemo is finished. I must be part of a select few that have gained weight on treatment, thanks to weekly steroids. Ugh! We also briefly discussed the next step which will be surgery to remove the primary tumor in my breast. The good news is he sees no reason for a full mastectomy only lumpectomy, the reason for this is since the cancer has already spread it doesn't improve my survival rate now to go thru a full removal. He is much more concerned about my liver so apparently once the primary tumor is removed that is where the focus will remain. Hysterectomy will then follow and so will early menopause - yeah!!! Still all better then chemo in my eyes so have to keep praying nothing starts growing back as soon as treatment ends. :)
Hope everyone enjoys all the sunshine this week!!!
Love and hugs,
Lynn
We're all doing well, the kids just finished 3rd quarter in school and the girls are doing fantastic -honor roll again! Nicholas is doing much better and on track for a great 4th quarter. They're all so excited that winter is over and school will be done in May. Just two more months.
At my doctor appt. last Thursday we discussed again the possibility to be off chemo by May - this will be pending scans that will be done the end of April. I'm feeling pretty good in general. Anxious to get outside and try to get some of this weight off before chemo is finished. I must be part of a select few that have gained weight on treatment, thanks to weekly steroids. Ugh! We also briefly discussed the next step which will be surgery to remove the primary tumor in my breast. The good news is he sees no reason for a full mastectomy only lumpectomy, the reason for this is since the cancer has already spread it doesn't improve my survival rate now to go thru a full removal. He is much more concerned about my liver so apparently once the primary tumor is removed that is where the focus will remain. Hysterectomy will then follow and so will early menopause - yeah!!! Still all better then chemo in my eyes so have to keep praying nothing starts growing back as soon as treatment ends. :)
Hope everyone enjoys all the sunshine this week!!!
Love and hugs,
Lynn
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Week 20
Hello - hope everyone is doing good!
3 More weeks to Spring - yeah!!!!!
I've had a very busy couple of weeks between work, kids, doctors and surgery but hopefully this week will start to slow down.
My Port was put in last Monday and everything went very well, still a little sore but really not too bad. They used the Port on Thursday for bloodwork and it worked great so I'm looking forward to it being completely healed. It is nice not to have the PICC line anymore.
I finally met with my doctor to discuss the scan results in more detail and he explained that everything is shrinking and looking great but he wants me to stay on treatment until the tumors in my liver are gone. :( While I understand and know this is what is best - I really want to be done with this part. I'm so tired of being tired. He said I can "pencil" in May for being my last few rounds but he cannot confirm that will be it. Some of the tumors in the liver are already gone but the majority are still there just getting smaller. He didn't look at the bones right now, concentrating on the liver because that is the largest concern. If the primary tumor is decreasing (which it is) and the liver tumors are decreasing it is safe to assume the bones are too.
Also had a meeting with the Genetics department at St. Anthony and started the process for genetic testing to determine if I or my mom carry either of the "cancer" genes to better understand how this might have happened and the potential for any risk to my kids or my nieces. We should have the results of my moms test on April 1st.
Enjoyed being "off" this weekend and managed a little get away with Nicholas. It was fun and nice to have some alone time. I've gone away with the girls but never just me and Nicholas.
Hope everyone has a great week, enjoy the sunshine and warmer temperatures coming this weekend!!!! I'll be sleeping but enjoy it for me! :)
3 More weeks to Spring - yeah!!!!!
I've had a very busy couple of weeks between work, kids, doctors and surgery but hopefully this week will start to slow down.
My Port was put in last Monday and everything went very well, still a little sore but really not too bad. They used the Port on Thursday for bloodwork and it worked great so I'm looking forward to it being completely healed. It is nice not to have the PICC line anymore.
I finally met with my doctor to discuss the scan results in more detail and he explained that everything is shrinking and looking great but he wants me to stay on treatment until the tumors in my liver are gone. :( While I understand and know this is what is best - I really want to be done with this part. I'm so tired of being tired. He said I can "pencil" in May for being my last few rounds but he cannot confirm that will be it. Some of the tumors in the liver are already gone but the majority are still there just getting smaller. He didn't look at the bones right now, concentrating on the liver because that is the largest concern. If the primary tumor is decreasing (which it is) and the liver tumors are decreasing it is safe to assume the bones are too.
Also had a meeting with the Genetics department at St. Anthony and started the process for genetic testing to determine if I or my mom carry either of the "cancer" genes to better understand how this might have happened and the potential for any risk to my kids or my nieces. We should have the results of my moms test on April 1st.
Enjoyed being "off" this weekend and managed a little get away with Nicholas. It was fun and nice to have some alone time. I've gone away with the girls but never just me and Nicholas.
Hope everyone has a great week, enjoy the sunshine and warmer temperatures coming this weekend!!!! I'll be sleeping but enjoy it for me! :)
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Week 17
Hello all!
Well, I had my scans last week which turned out not too be so much fun the barium I had to drink did not agree with my system at all but I was feeling much better after replenishing fluids all day Friday.
Due to the weather, I didn't go in for my doctor appt and was hoping to review all results and questions over the phone but that hasn't happened to my satisfaction. I have talked to the nurses who let me know the scans looked really good and the tumors on my liver are shrinking too so treatment IS working and they are all very happy. The tumor indicator blood tests that have been run monthly are only a preliminary indication and do not confirm on their own the treatment is working. After having these scans, they can visually confirm it is working. I'm very happy but I would like answers to how much longer I will be on this treatment, what's next, etc.
I have another appt with my doctor next Thursday to answer my questions and do an exam. :) I also meet with the surgeon next Tuesday for my "pre-op" blood work for surgery to install the Port on Monday, 02/22/10.
Hope everyone has a great weekend!!!
Well, I had my scans last week which turned out not too be so much fun the barium I had to drink did not agree with my system at all but I was feeling much better after replenishing fluids all day Friday.
Due to the weather, I didn't go in for my doctor appt and was hoping to review all results and questions over the phone but that hasn't happened to my satisfaction. I have talked to the nurses who let me know the scans looked really good and the tumors on my liver are shrinking too so treatment IS working and they are all very happy. The tumor indicator blood tests that have been run monthly are only a preliminary indication and do not confirm on their own the treatment is working. After having these scans, they can visually confirm it is working. I'm very happy but I would like answers to how much longer I will be on this treatment, what's next, etc.
I have another appt with my doctor next Thursday to answer my questions and do an exam. :) I also meet with the surgeon next Tuesday for my "pre-op" blood work for surgery to install the Port on Monday, 02/22/10.
Hope everyone has a great weekend!!!
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Week 16
6 More weeks of winter according to the ground hog! Yuck
It's been a good couple of weeks, knock on wood - I feel really good, all the aches and pains have subsided for the moment and I am enjoying it!!!!
The fogginess or chemo brain as it is affectionately known as is somewhat worse this week but I'll take that over pain for right now.
This Thursday is my scan day and they will finally be looking at everything to determine if in fact the treatments have been working as well as the blood tests have lead us to believe. I will have CT scans of my chest, abdomen and spine. With my next doctor appoint scheduled for February 9th to discuss the results so I still need the prayers and support for a VERY positive outcome. These tests should determine how much longer I will be on this type of treatment and what will be next.
I met with the surgeon last week regarding the Port being put in and the Picc line taken out, he will most likely be the same surgeon for future surgeries if all turns out good.
Love to all!!!!! Let's hope the ground hog is wrong!!!! Positive thoughts for warmer weather!
Lynn
It's been a good couple of weeks, knock on wood - I feel really good, all the aches and pains have subsided for the moment and I am enjoying it!!!!
The fogginess or chemo brain as it is affectionately known as is somewhat worse this week but I'll take that over pain for right now.
This Thursday is my scan day and they will finally be looking at everything to determine if in fact the treatments have been working as well as the blood tests have lead us to believe. I will have CT scans of my chest, abdomen and spine. With my next doctor appoint scheduled for February 9th to discuss the results so I still need the prayers and support for a VERY positive outcome. These tests should determine how much longer I will be on this type of treatment and what will be next.
I met with the surgeon last week regarding the Port being put in and the Picc line taken out, he will most likely be the same surgeon for future surgeries if all turns out good.
Love to all!!!!! Let's hope the ground hog is wrong!!!! Positive thoughts for warmer weather!
Lynn
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Week 14
Hello all - hope everyone is staying warm and safe!! Only half way thru winter.
I've had a busy couple of weeks lots going on.
Good News: Cold is finally gone!!!, Blood counts have stayed good, I've been off treatment for 2 weeks this time around instead of 1 so I've been awake for 2 weekends in a row and got to take Kyla to tumbling this past Saturday - yeahhhh!
Best News: My tumor markers for this month have gone down again - from 86 last month to 49 this month. Normal according to Rockford is 0-38 so I'm going for zero. Different hospitals use a different number scale apparently - Loyola for example is 0 - 32 ( I think).
Bad News: The reason I've had two weeks off instead of one is my newest issue is my gums, teeth and throat are hurting so badly I couldn't eat solid or spicy foods at all. Since being off two weeks in a row I do feel better and can eat more but I just had another treatment today so it will likely get worse again. In reaction to this my doctor has changed my schedule from 3 weeks on/1 week off to 2 weeks on/1 week off and lowered my medicine by about 15%.
I'm also having trouble with my PICC line because my skin is so sensitive and now he wants me to have a PORT put in my chest instead to avoid any possibility of infection. This will be a surgery I am not looking forward to but in the long run it will probably be better. The PICC is in my arm and a pain - I was just hoping to stick it out and take it OUT!
That's the bulk of my two weeks - really starting to feel good but I know that is going to change now that I'm starting my 4 month. Have to keep remembering how lucky I am and keep plowing ahead.
Love to all - have a great weekend!
Lynn
I've had a busy couple of weeks lots going on.
Good News: Cold is finally gone!!!, Blood counts have stayed good, I've been off treatment for 2 weeks this time around instead of 1 so I've been awake for 2 weekends in a row and got to take Kyla to tumbling this past Saturday - yeahhhh!
Best News: My tumor markers for this month have gone down again - from 86 last month to 49 this month. Normal according to Rockford is 0-38 so I'm going for zero. Different hospitals use a different number scale apparently - Loyola for example is 0 - 32 ( I think).
Bad News: The reason I've had two weeks off instead of one is my newest issue is my gums, teeth and throat are hurting so badly I couldn't eat solid or spicy foods at all. Since being off two weeks in a row I do feel better and can eat more but I just had another treatment today so it will likely get worse again. In reaction to this my doctor has changed my schedule from 3 weeks on/1 week off to 2 weeks on/1 week off and lowered my medicine by about 15%.
I'm also having trouble with my PICC line because my skin is so sensitive and now he wants me to have a PORT put in my chest instead to avoid any possibility of infection. This will be a surgery I am not looking forward to but in the long run it will probably be better. The PICC is in my arm and a pain - I was just hoping to stick it out and take it OUT!
That's the bulk of my two weeks - really starting to feel good but I know that is going to change now that I'm starting my 4 month. Have to keep remembering how lucky I am and keep plowing ahead.
Love to all - have a great weekend!
Lynn
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Week 12
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Hope everyone had a safe and happy New Year! Not too much new. Still fighting this cold but as of last week blood work still good, still no fever so hopefully with some extra fruits and veggies I can get rid of it! Feeling pretty good aside from the cold and looking forward again to this week OFF from treatment. This last month has been a lot harder than the two previous but I'm hoping next month without the added stress of the holidays will be better again.
Pretty frustrated with being sick and tired. Again, I have to remind myself how lucky I am to be doing this well - I know there are many that aren't as lucky.
Kids went back to school yesterday and so far are still happy about it. That will last till about Friday I figure. It's been so cold they can't even play outside. I can't wait for spring!!!!!! I know winter just started but I'm done. :)
Well, back to work. Wishing everyone a happy and healthy New Year!! I'll try to figure out how to post some picture from Christmas.
Love to All!!!
Lynn
Pretty frustrated with being sick and tired. Again, I have to remind myself how lucky I am to be doing this well - I know there are many that aren't as lucky.
Kids went back to school yesterday and so far are still happy about it. That will last till about Friday I figure. It's been so cold they can't even play outside. I can't wait for spring!!!!!! I know winter just started but I'm done. :)
Well, back to work. Wishing everyone a happy and healthy New Year!! I'll try to figure out how to post some picture from Christmas.
Love to All!!!
Lynn
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