Since chemo on Tuesday, I have been feeling many of the normal side effects, but thankfully, there has been no reoccurrence of fever so far. Though I didn't like the delay between these last 2 cycles, I do think that it has helped me to build some strength back and to not feel as bad with this treatment. With the many bugs out there, I am trying to be pretty careful because my white blood cells did start out in the normal range, but definitely on the lower side this time.
This year has definitely been a struggle and had some complications, but I wanted to take a moment to count some of my many blessings.
1) I am so thankful for my family, both near & far, that have helped in so many ways. I know that it has taken a lot of time, energy, and adjustments on their parts, but they have been such rocks for me. Plus, I'm very excited about getting a new little niece sometime in February!
2) I have been blessed to have friends who somehow know just when things might be hard and somehow reach out to make me smile :)
3) The support that I have received from so many people and in so many ways is amazing! The cards, prayers, calls, texts, and facebook/blog posts have been so uplifting. Financially, the support of so many has been overwhelming and incredibly touching. While, I've had at last check about $20, 600 in medical bills this past year, that burden has been significantly lightened through the kindness of so many. I need to make sure to mention my appreciation for the 1213 Charitable Trust which did a $5,000 matching grant, and Chris Garrido who organized an amazing fundraiser. I couldn't possibly name every person who was so generous in this post, but I want you to know that I appreciate it more than you can even begin to imagine.
4) I appreciate so much the staff, nurses, and my doctor at Florida Cancer Specialists. I don't know how they do it, but they are always in good spirits with a smile and kind word. The atmosphere there is so calm which is something that I really need. Dr. Cogburn has that same calm and kind demeanor, and I've been so appreciative of how she really listens to me, addresses questions, and provides explanations while giving me the opportunity to determine the best option for me without pressure.
5) I am thankful that what we are doing in regards to chemo, etc. seems to be working and moving things in the right direction!
6) Most importantly, I am thankful that I can rest assured that I am never alone, and that I do not have to handle any of this own my own. It makes me think of the old Footsteps poem about how the two sets of footprints are when He is walking beside you, but the one set does not mean that He left your side....those are the times He carried you.
Christmas Card Update/ Apology: I had the best intentions of sending out christmas cards this year, but unfortunately, that just did not happen. I hope that you will know that you are in my thoughts and prayers, and that I wish you all the best things possible both at the holidays and for the New Year!
Friday, December 21, 2012
Tuesday, December 18, 2012
#4 of 6
A few weeks late, but I finally got my fourth treatment today. Hooray! (Or maybe I shouldn't be saying hooray about purposefully putting poison in my body? Such a weird thing to be happy about, but oh well, lol!) It is nice to feel like I'm back to fighting, and it was also really nice to record a temp of only 98.2 at the doctor's office this morning.
The surgery seems to be healing well, and it definitely did the trick with the fever. I didn't realize how much running that fever was affecting me, but I have felt so much better since it has been gone! Very thankful that the surgery does seem to have addressed the problem.
After 5 weeks, I felt like I was back to day one in getting the chemo. Since the infection kept flaring up throughout the first 3 cycles, I am curious/nervous about what will happen now as to whether the infection and/or fever will come back, etc. I also wonder if the side effects will be different now or what to expect, but hopefully, I will feel better overall.
Okay, nausea is kicking in more so I better stop writing and get some crackers. Hope everyone has a good week, and that you manage to avoid any last minute shopping craziness!
The surgery seems to be healing well, and it definitely did the trick with the fever. I didn't realize how much running that fever was affecting me, but I have felt so much better since it has been gone! Very thankful that the surgery does seem to have addressed the problem.
After 5 weeks, I felt like I was back to day one in getting the chemo. Since the infection kept flaring up throughout the first 3 cycles, I am curious/nervous about what will happen now as to whether the infection and/or fever will come back, etc. I also wonder if the side effects will be different now or what to expect, but hopefully, I will feel better overall.
Okay, nausea is kicking in more so I better stop writing and get some crackers. Hope everyone has a good week, and that you manage to avoid any last minute shopping craziness!
Sunday, December 9, 2012
Fever free!
The surgery on Thursday went well, and I was able to come home that afternoon. It has been so nice to be fever free since the surgery! I'll find out more about what was going on when I see the surgeon on Wednesday, but it seems to have worked. This week will be spent recovering, and hopefully, the following Tuesday (12/18) I'll be able to get back to chemo. I'm ready to get back to fighting!
Wednesday, December 5, 2012
Thanks & Surgery
Thank you so much to everyone who donated items, money, and/or time along with all of those who came out to Cold Stone last night. It was such a fabulous turnout, and it was wonderful to see everyone. Thanks again to Chris Garrido for organizing it!
Due to the infection that keeps recurring and the fever, I will be having surgery tomorrow morning. The reconstruction will have to be removed, and we may readdress that after chemotherapy is done, depending on how things are with the cancer. At this point, the most important thing is getting the rest of the chemotherapy treatments completed. I will have to have a little bit of time to recover from the surgery, but hopefully, chemo will be able to resume on December 18th. After 3 weeks of a fever and recurring infection, I am ready to do whatever is needed to get that taken care of and go back to fighting cancer.
Well, lots to do to get ready for being laid up and unable to lift more than 5 pounds again for a while, so I'm going to make this one short. Thanks again, and I would appreciate thoughts & prayers for a successful surgery & recovery!
Friday, November 30, 2012
Quick Update, Imerman Angels, & Ice Cream
A quick health update: The skin infection is much better according to the plastic surgeon. I have to call him on Monday to report on how things are doing to find out whether I'm actually cleared to have chemo on Tuesday, but he thinks it is likely. I'm waiting on word from my oncologist on the blood culture and the revised petscan as well, but I still have been running a low fever. In general, I don't feel bad, but the 12 days of a fever are starting to take a little bit of a toil on me. At this point, they are just wondering if that is how my body is responding to the chemo versus it being something to really worry about.
If you know anyone going through cancer or a family member/caregiver that is helping someone with cancer, please let them know about the non-profit organization called Imerman Angels, http://www.imermanangels.org. A friend told me about them about a month or so ago. (Thanks Jess!) They provide one on one support for both cancer patients and caregivers/family members by connecting them with a mentor in as close of a situation to theirs as possible. I was connected with a cancer survivor/mentor a couple of weeks ago, and it is really helpful to know that there is someone to talk to who has been through my same diagnosis and treatment. Having a support system is such an important part of fighting cancer, and I think this is such a great resource. Please pass the word on about this organization!
If you live in the Tampa area, please come out for some ice cream on Tuesday, 12/4 at the Carrollwood Cold Stone Creamery on North Dale Mabry between 4-8 pm. I am blessed to have some long term friends from middle school/ high school who have put together this fundraiser, and I appreciate it more than I can even begin to express. Some of the items donated include 2 tickets to Sea World, Derrick Brooks Autographed football, Phil Esposito autographed photo, Gator Golf set, over $1,000 in salon treatments and more. If you can make it, please come out and enjoy some ice cream!
If you know anyone going through cancer or a family member/caregiver that is helping someone with cancer, please let them know about the non-profit organization called Imerman Angels, http://www.imermanangels.org. A friend told me about them about a month or so ago. (Thanks Jess!) They provide one on one support for both cancer patients and caregivers/family members by connecting them with a mentor in as close of a situation to theirs as possible. I was connected with a cancer survivor/mentor a couple of weeks ago, and it is really helpful to know that there is someone to talk to who has been through my same diagnosis and treatment. Having a support system is such an important part of fighting cancer, and I think this is such a great resource. Please pass the word on about this organization!
If you live in the Tampa area, please come out for some ice cream on Tuesday, 12/4 at the Carrollwood Cold Stone Creamery on North Dale Mabry between 4-8 pm. I am blessed to have some long term friends from middle school/ high school who have put together this fundraiser, and I appreciate it more than I can even begin to express. Some of the items donated include 2 tickets to Sea World, Derrick Brooks Autographed football, Phil Esposito autographed photo, Gator Golf set, over $1,000 in salon treatments and more. If you can make it, please come out and enjoy some ice cream!
Tuesday, November 27, 2012
Partial results but promising
I was all prepared to get my petscan results today at the oncologist. When my oncologist came in, she had to share the news that we only had partial results right now. My original scan was done at a hospital, and yesterday's scan was done at one of my oncologist's offices. Unfortunately when the hospital sent over the disc of images so that they could be compared..... it was blank. (Yes, this is exactly my normal type of luck, I know!) Without the comparison, we don't know for sure how the number or sizing of lesions compare.
In a petscan, the oncologist said we are looking for 3 things that are positive signs: areas have disappeared, have shrunk, and/or the uptake value has reduced. The one thing that we do know is that the uptake has reduced which is at least promising. (For those with medical knowledge, I apologize in advance as I probably butcher this explanation). In a petscan, they inject you with a radioactive tracer that goes to areas of higher metabolic activity such as cancer, and then those areas get assigned an uptake value depending on how bright they are, etc. A normal liver has a standardized uptake value (suv) of 2-3. In my original scan, all of the lesions had an suv of between 6-13. In this scan, all of the lesions were between 4 - 6.1 which seems to indicate that things are promising and going the right direction. I'm just being cautiously optimistic until we know for sure how everything aligns with that original scan and that there are no new places, etc. Another disc was requested, and my oncologist will call me once she receives the amended report. Once we have the whole picture, I will feel a lot more comfortable!
I'm still dealing with the low fever and some signs of infection. I will see the plastic surgeon tomorrow late afternoon, and hopefully, the 3 days of the new antibiotic will have begun to work their magic. I am also waiting on a blood culture just to make sure that the infection we're dealing with isn't in the blood, but in general, the oncologist seems to think that I feel too "good" for that to be the case. I have to agree with her. I've got the fever headache/neck ache, but other than that I don't really feel bad. Please continue those prayers that the infection will go away quickly and without requiring any additional surgery or anything like that. I appreciate so much the prayers, cards, messages, and thoughts! They mean so much, and always brighten my day!
In a petscan, the oncologist said we are looking for 3 things that are positive signs: areas have disappeared, have shrunk, and/or the uptake value has reduced. The one thing that we do know is that the uptake has reduced which is at least promising. (For those with medical knowledge, I apologize in advance as I probably butcher this explanation). In a petscan, they inject you with a radioactive tracer that goes to areas of higher metabolic activity such as cancer, and then those areas get assigned an uptake value depending on how bright they are, etc. A normal liver has a standardized uptake value (suv) of 2-3. In my original scan, all of the lesions had an suv of between 6-13. In this scan, all of the lesions were between 4 - 6.1 which seems to indicate that things are promising and going the right direction. I'm just being cautiously optimistic until we know for sure how everything aligns with that original scan and that there are no new places, etc. Another disc was requested, and my oncologist will call me once she receives the amended report. Once we have the whole picture, I will feel a lot more comfortable!
I'm still dealing with the low fever and some signs of infection. I will see the plastic surgeon tomorrow late afternoon, and hopefully, the 3 days of the new antibiotic will have begun to work their magic. I am also waiting on a blood culture just to make sure that the infection we're dealing with isn't in the blood, but in general, the oncologist seems to think that I feel too "good" for that to be the case. I have to agree with her. I've got the fever headache/neck ache, but other than that I don't really feel bad. Please continue those prayers that the infection will go away quickly and without requiring any additional surgery or anything like that. I appreciate so much the prayers, cards, messages, and thoughts! They mean so much, and always brighten my day!
Sunday, November 25, 2012
Frustration & Infection
This past week, I've battled a fever that would come and go, primarily flaring up at night. On Tuesday night, I had an earache so it was assumed that it was the cause. It seems during chemo my body shows the fever, and then 24 hours or so after, I finally get some clue as to what may have caused it. The oncologist had given me antibiotics on Monday when the fever first began so we thought I was in pretty good shape. Though my temperature had gone high the night before, my temperature was controlled on Thanksgiving Day so I was able to still enjoy the day with family, even though it got worse again that night.
I got about a 36 hour reprieve with no fever, and then it came back again last night. This afternoon, I realized that I again was showing signs of a skin infection and having some problems at one of the surgery sites. The plastic surgeon changed my antibiotic, and hopefully, we can get this under control in the next 48 hours. If not, he is concerned that we may need to do surgery to remove the reconstruction as the concern is that the infection has gotten into that.
Besides the worry about a more serious problem, I am frustrated because it pushes back chemo for another week. That puts chemo going into the new year, and I had really hoped to be done with this part by then. I know that it is not safe to have chemo when things like this are going on, and so it is for the best, but I just really need that light at the end of the tunnel.
I have my PETscan tomorrow, and since it is at one of the offices of my oncologists, they will also be doing blood counts and a blood culture to ensure that the infection isn't in the blood. I know that infection is a normal part of the whole chemo process, and I won't be the first or last to go through all of this. I'd just really appreciate thoughts & prayers that the antibiotics work and the infection stops before we have to resort to surgery or anything like that. If you could also pray that the PETscan results would show that it has stopped growing and/or shrunk, I'd really appreciate it.
I got about a 36 hour reprieve with no fever, and then it came back again last night. This afternoon, I realized that I again was showing signs of a skin infection and having some problems at one of the surgery sites. The plastic surgeon changed my antibiotic, and hopefully, we can get this under control in the next 48 hours. If not, he is concerned that we may need to do surgery to remove the reconstruction as the concern is that the infection has gotten into that.
Besides the worry about a more serious problem, I am frustrated because it pushes back chemo for another week. That puts chemo going into the new year, and I had really hoped to be done with this part by then. I know that it is not safe to have chemo when things like this are going on, and so it is for the best, but I just really need that light at the end of the tunnel.
I have my PETscan tomorrow, and since it is at one of the offices of my oncologists, they will also be doing blood counts and a blood culture to ensure that the infection isn't in the blood. I know that infection is a normal part of the whole chemo process, and I won't be the first or last to go through all of this. I'd just really appreciate thoughts & prayers that the antibiotics work and the infection stops before we have to resort to surgery or anything like that. If you could also pray that the PETscan results would show that it has stopped growing and/or shrunk, I'd really appreciate it.
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