Happy Valentines Day to you all. Sorry about not being very current with the blog updates. It's been a pretty crummie week health wise. Last Monday was the start of Chemo week. New drugs, really bad side effects. Have been sick all week, with little or no energy. Have lost another five pounds do to not eating. Read somewhere that 25% of cancer deaths are due to malnoutrision. I can beleive it. Even with the anti nausea drugs , nothing but water stays down. and I'm not sure of that. It was Wed nite befor I could get some juice to stay down. I'm still not back to normal, so hope this week improves. Go in in the morning for a "finger poke" as they call it. They are doing a marvelous job of keeping me alive, and are monitoring my blood very carefully. White cell count is still in the basement, so may get to skip a week, but Dr is aggressive in his attack on the tumours. Otherwise, for the many of you who I don't see, I still have most of my hair, and am becoming slim and sevelt. My opinion, not necessarily shared by all. If you have pictures to share send them to my email yahoo acount. Seems this blog has sent my email address to all the spammers in the world. If I don't regognize your email address or name there is the possibility I will delete your email without reading. So if you sent me soemthing and I don't respond, try again with a form of recognition. I'm not getting out much, waiting for the weather to warm. The cold air intensifies some of the side effects, so pics are appreciated. Received a great short video of the dance weekend a few weeks ago at trollhaugen, and their greetings to me. That was a morale lifter. I think there is a how we doing session coming after a few more sessions. The cat scan a few weeks ago was to quick and with out contrast so not helpful re the chemo's effect. It was mostly a chek on the status of the blood clots in my arm vein and heart.
John
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Wed Jan 26, 2011
Hi all,
Another session of chemo behind me. The white cell count was slightly improved but not signicificately in my view. But the Dr was happy, so we forged ahead. The good news was the Tumour marker in the blood continues to fall. For this I'm very happy. A very good chance that we have indeed stopped the spread and are now focusing on getting rid of the entrenched. The two weeks off was great. But think I am paying for it now. The side effects continue to be different each time. Nausea much more severe this time around. I lost Tuesday to sleep. I'm amazed how much I sleep after the chemo sessions. Susan, hope you have a great time in Norway. Please give my regards to Karin and Oolaf, and the rest of the gang. It will soon be time for another luncheon at the Swedish Postal museum Eh! Big thanks to Shirley and Lynn for keeping the dancing going at Greig lodge. Looking forward to spring.
John
Another session of chemo behind me. The white cell count was slightly improved but not signicificately in my view. But the Dr was happy, so we forged ahead. The good news was the Tumour marker in the blood continues to fall. For this I'm very happy. A very good chance that we have indeed stopped the spread and are now focusing on getting rid of the entrenched. The two weeks off was great. But think I am paying for it now. The side effects continue to be different each time. Nausea much more severe this time around. I lost Tuesday to sleep. I'm amazed how much I sleep after the chemo sessions. Susan, hope you have a great time in Norway. Please give my regards to Karin and Oolaf, and the rest of the gang. It will soon be time for another luncheon at the Swedish Postal museum Eh! Big thanks to Shirley and Lynn for keeping the dancing going at Greig lodge. Looking forward to spring.
John
Monday, January 17, 2011
Monday Jan 17, 2011
Good evening all,
Another interesting day. It was suppose to be the start of chemo number six. However, we did the usual lab work prior to seeing the Oncologist. His reveiw of the lab work indicated a need to stop for a week and take a break. The blood cells were pretty low, near the saftey margin, so we will skip a week this week's chemo and restart next Monday. Ended up going to the hospital for a lung/heart cat scan. There was some indication of a blood clot at the end of the PICC line where it terminates inside the heart. Not a good thing. Fortunately, the clot is very small, but there.
On to the good news. The tumour marker in the blood has been declining for five weeks which is really really good. also the Dr.s physical exam indicates the same change. He said that on my first visit he could feel the tumours on the liver. He says they have receded and can no longer be felt. And!! because the nausea side effect was far less last week, I stuffed my face with as much food as possible-results is I've gained back 5 pounds. Looks like my hair is thinning.
Possibly in a few months I'll be a Yul Brenner look alike-just more handsome??
John
Another interesting day. It was suppose to be the start of chemo number six. However, we did the usual lab work prior to seeing the Oncologist. His reveiw of the lab work indicated a need to stop for a week and take a break. The blood cells were pretty low, near the saftey margin, so we will skip a week this week's chemo and restart next Monday. Ended up going to the hospital for a lung/heart cat scan. There was some indication of a blood clot at the end of the PICC line where it terminates inside the heart. Not a good thing. Fortunately, the clot is very small, but there.
On to the good news. The tumour marker in the blood has been declining for five weeks which is really really good. also the Dr.s physical exam indicates the same change. He said that on my first visit he could feel the tumours on the liver. He says they have receded and can no longer be felt. And!! because the nausea side effect was far less last week, I stuffed my face with as much food as possible-results is I've gained back 5 pounds. Looks like my hair is thinning.
Possibly in a few months I'll be a Yul Brenner look alike-just more handsome??
John
Sunday, January 9, 2011
Sunday Jan 9 2010
Well, as you can see the Chemo side effects are finally being reflected in physical appearence. I kind of thought this wopuld eventually happen-one can only wipe ones nose for so long before it begins to move. Other wise I'm feeling pretty good
John
John
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Tuesday Jan 4,2011
Hi all,
sorry to have been so lax in my blog updates. Yes I'm still alive. Yesterday was the first day of the fourth Chemo session. Blood clots are still a problem. Took nearly an hour to get the pick line cleared enough so that the chemicals could be delivered. I think the chemicals are a little more powerful in that the side affects were far more intense this time around. Had a very sleepless night last night because of them. A difficult day today. The good news is I think we have hit on away to stop the nose bleeds. Today is the first day with out one. Tomorrow I will be rid of the portable chemo pack, so hopefully the side effects will decrease over the next two or three days. Last week was a quiet week. I tried eating everything in sight to get my weight back. Alas not to successful. Looked at some lab details testing the liver function for the last eight weeks. So far we are getting some pretty darn good improvement in the liver function. Still have a ways to go. now estimating that we will do another "PET" scan to make sure there is no new tumors showing up else where, and , to see if we have been successful in reducing the size of the existing tumors. so enough about me.
Hope you all had a great new years eve. I personally am happy to have 2010 behind me.
John
sorry to have been so lax in my blog updates. Yes I'm still alive. Yesterday was the first day of the fourth Chemo session. Blood clots are still a problem. Took nearly an hour to get the pick line cleared enough so that the chemicals could be delivered. I think the chemicals are a little more powerful in that the side affects were far more intense this time around. Had a very sleepless night last night because of them. A difficult day today. The good news is I think we have hit on away to stop the nose bleeds. Today is the first day with out one. Tomorrow I will be rid of the portable chemo pack, so hopefully the side effects will decrease over the next two or three days. Last week was a quiet week. I tried eating everything in sight to get my weight back. Alas not to successful. Looked at some lab details testing the liver function for the last eight weeks. So far we are getting some pretty darn good improvement in the liver function. Still have a ways to go. now estimating that we will do another "PET" scan to make sure there is no new tumors showing up else where, and , to see if we have been successful in reducing the size of the existing tumors. so enough about me.
Hope you all had a great new years eve. I personally am happy to have 2010 behind me.
John
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
Wed evening 12/22/10
Greetings to you all. I am so happy to have this last chemo behind me. Finished this afternoon with one more return visit to the infusion center tomorrow morning. The side effects this time around were the worst so far. I totally lost Tuesday to sleep all day and night. The physical side effects are I hope going to fade soon. Forced myself to eat some pancakes sometime in the early hours this morning, then back to sleep for awhile before my last session today. I originally thought I was going to have this week off, so was surprised Monday morning with the chemo news.
Anyway, I will have my first how we doing results in mid January. Dr is optimistic, and I admit it's easy to get into that mode. On the other hand to get to enthusiastic could lead to a real downer in January, so am trying to stay rather neutral about it. Still have all of my hair, though am trying out various head coverings. May ask for votes on your part. I think I can add pictures to the blog. Suggestions so far range from the Scottish bonnet to the biker head scarf/bandana. Now would be a good time to add your comments regarding head gear in the event I need to keep my head warm. Right now it's a struggle to keep my fingers, toes, mouth and nose warm. I wear socks all the time, gloves most of the time and am suppose to wear a scarf outside to cover my mouth and nose. reminds me of being dressed by my mother when I was a child.
The good news is my clot factor has returned to a pleasant range(no more bloody noses for awhile). Hoping to have dumped enough of the side effects to be able to enjoy Christmas with my grandson.
John
Anyway, I will have my first how we doing results in mid January. Dr is optimistic, and I admit it's easy to get into that mode. On the other hand to get to enthusiastic could lead to a real downer in January, so am trying to stay rather neutral about it. Still have all of my hair, though am trying out various head coverings. May ask for votes on your part. I think I can add pictures to the blog. Suggestions so far range from the Scottish bonnet to the biker head scarf/bandana. Now would be a good time to add your comments regarding head gear in the event I need to keep my head warm. Right now it's a struggle to keep my fingers, toes, mouth and nose warm. I wear socks all the time, gloves most of the time and am suppose to wear a scarf outside to cover my mouth and nose. reminds me of being dressed by my mother when I was a child.
The good news is my clot factor has returned to a pleasant range(no more bloody noses for awhile). Hoping to have dumped enough of the side effects to be able to enjoy Christmas with my grandson.
John
Monday, December 20, 2010
monday dec 20, 2010
Hi all,
O.K. today was the first day in session three of chemo. have two days of chemo with the pump pack. then two days of side effects. We're adjusting downward the amount of daily intake of the snake venom. Guess the initial level was to much. My clotting factor is up to 4.9 today. needs to be down in the three plus. We're approaching on of my how are we doing deadlines. (mid Jan). However, must say That I am feeling soooo much better. Interesting, my clot factor is very high, yet I'm still having a problem with the PICC line blood clot. Hopefully over time the snake venom will prevent any additional clots adding to the one that's already there and hopefully reduce the size of the clot over time.
I wish you all seasons greetings. and many thanks for the positive thoughts, prayers, food, rides to and from chemo sessions, and emergency room runs when necessary. I am going to lick this thing!!
John
O.K. today was the first day in session three of chemo. have two days of chemo with the pump pack. then two days of side effects. We're adjusting downward the amount of daily intake of the snake venom. Guess the initial level was to much. My clotting factor is up to 4.9 today. needs to be down in the three plus. We're approaching on of my how are we doing deadlines. (mid Jan). However, must say That I am feeling soooo much better. Interesting, my clot factor is very high, yet I'm still having a problem with the PICC line blood clot. Hopefully over time the snake venom will prevent any additional clots adding to the one that's already there and hopefully reduce the size of the clot over time.
I wish you all seasons greetings. and many thanks for the positive thoughts, prayers, food, rides to and from chemo sessions, and emergency room runs when necessary. I am going to lick this thing!!
John
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