Book Titles- Septermber 3, 2010

Hello Everyone!

One of the games that Jim and I like to play is about made up titles for books we "plan" to write.  For example, the last couple of years we've been thinking about a book called Presumed Republican.  If you are the middle-aged/senior-aged, chief financial officer in the local hospital who is a member of Rotary, you are ...presumed Republican.  Since just about everybody knows exactly where we live, imagine the surprise and confusion when Obama and No on Prop 8 signs appeared on our "Republican" (not) lawn a year ago.  It got most interesting when we received feedback from the K  - 8 school down the street from us that teachers were concerned about the effect of the Prop 8 sign on the children. 

Anyhow, my latest book title is Chemo Sucks (Or 50 Things to Remember Even After Chemo Fog Does Its Best).  This week's top entry for the list of 50 is "don't believe everything you're told."  Yes folks, it's been one lousy week since the Taxol.  Very close to as bad as the first round of A/C.

Remember when I asked "easier than what?" when my docs said that "most women" do better with Taxol?  Less nausea, more energy, generally feeling better I was told. "In my experience, if you had a hard time with A/C, the Taxol will be easier."  (a quote from my doc).  "My friend was jogging on the 6th day after her infusion." (a quote from infusion RN).  Hah!

In the rush to be optimistic, it is important to remember one really key thing - Taxol is chemotherapy, poison to cells.  How much fun can it be? Bottomline for me this past week...it hasn't been any fun at all! 

I was infused on Tuesday last, got home Tuesday night, felt good until Wednesday at about noon.  From then on, you name the symptom and I've had it - bone aches all over (a Taxol specialty- you feel like your bones want to crawl out of your skin and no position is comfortable except asleep), low grade nausea which of course eliminates the appetite, dizziness, no energy, diarrhea, and more.  Am at my computer for the first time in almost a week. Actually went for a ride in the car yesterday to get out of the house for a little while.  Thank goodness the trial was cancelled; I was supposed to show up for jury duty this morning!  I totally forgot to get my medical excuse taken care of and I slept til almost 10:00 this morning.  Don't think the judge would have been too excited by my disregard of the legal system.

That's the news from Crescent City today.  BTW: if you'd like to contribute to the list for Chemo Sucks, send me your items.  We can probably come up with some fun stuff!

Have a great week, you all!  Much love!

Heading to San Mateo - Again September 6, 2010

Happy Labor Day Everyone!  I hope you've all had relaxing, fun weekends...maybe with a little sun and outdoor time involved?!

Here in Crescent City, we've been lucky enough to have sun and relatively warm weather (60s - which is really nice here).  Jim went crazy yesterday in his garden and brought in handfuls of tomatoes (yellow babies, various red heirlooms - so good!) and actually canned five quarts of pickled beets.  He just loves having those veggies from his childhood in the pantry for winter-time surprises.  For me, the pickling brine smelled good, but frankly, I couldn't imagine actually eating the final product.  Maybe later.

So we're about to join the traffic as we head to San Mateo for my chemo (#5) tomorrow.  Again, not looking forward to it...though it will be a new drug and a new experience.  The AC kicked my butt again this time during the first week - but relented a bit last week.  I was able to be up and about for some hours everyday Monday - Friday...got some work done, saw some friends.  Yeah!  Have been a couch potato for Saturday/Sunday, but the US Open Tennis tournament is on...

The big news for me was getting in an airplane and flying to the Bay Area for my doctor's appointment on Friday.  I haven't been in the air since before the first surgery in April - a long time, given my business - but finally saw a physical therapist about potential lymphedema in my right arm and was told what to do.  Turns out that every mastectomy patients has about a 2% chance of getting lymphedema (swelling) in the arm/s where the lymph nodes have been removed.  That risk continues, apparently, into the future and prevention activities help to avoid it. 

I don't have lymphedema now and have a pressure sleeve for my arm which I wear, especially when flying.  Turns out that the pressure gradients while in an airplane can drive lymph fluid into the arm cells and make things worse.  The long and short for this trip?  No problems...except for getting diverted from Arcata Airport to Redding because of fog (first time for me since living up here), staying overnight there and then being bussed back on Saturday.  Nothing related to my wonderful medical issues...just another adventure!  Thank goodness our friend Rick drove Jim to Arcata to pick me up and drive me home on Saturday afternoon - I would have made it, but I was tired!

You can tell, I'm sure, that I feel better this week.  I am anxious about tomorrow, but trying hard to use my semi-Zen breathing and meditation techniquest to calm down and stay focused on good things.  Thanks to everyone for all your support and for letting me be a princess-sized whiner!  Randy, am thinking of you everyday - hope your first week has gone well.

Cross your fingers for chemo tomorrow and the week afterward!  Should have less/no nausea and an "easier" time - that's how it's advertised.  Love to you all!

Another Cycle August 15, 2010

Three down and five to go.

The good news is that I have one more round of AC (Adriamycin/Cytoxan) and then I start on Taxol. Why good news? Finishing the AC means I'm halfway through the chemo - and my doc says that Taxol is "easier." I think this means less nausea/appetite issues, less exhaustion. It comes with its own set of wonderfulness, however, including, for some, peripheral neuropathy. Peripheral neuropathy is numbness and tingling of toes/fingers, etc. I'll be happy to pass on this side effect, thank you. Its other main side effect is hair loss...been there, done that.

Speaking of hair loss, there are two new events this week. First - and in spite of my pleas not to do it - Jim shaved his head in support of my baldness. He hasn't yet given me a picture, though we'll hopefully have one soon to show the world. You know Jim...it's all about him! (This is actually a joke reference to his facebook page, where he says this cancer is all about me! Go figure!). Suffice it to say, we both look much better with feathers - and Jim has not only shaved his head, but his mustache too. I put in an immediate request for both back...to no avail so far. This is the first time I've seen him bald and mustache-less...ever!

And, I've actually put my wig on. Am determined to wear it when I go out in public, as I'm told it looks better than scarves or hats. Around the house (where I've been most of this past week), it's too hard to wear it. Just try napping all day with a wig on! Light weight buffs/scarves are much easier to deal with. However, the wig is a new look and maybe the folks that do a big double take when I'm actually out in the world will not give me a second glance with it on.

Our huge thanks to Joy (one of my fabulous sisters (in-law)). She volunteered to drive me home from chemo last week - and if something could go wrong, it did. She had an accident in her newish car ($7,700 damage to car, none to Joy) on her way to San Mateo, had all flights cancelled out of Crescent City due to San Francisco fog when she was supposed to head home, couldn't rent a car here (everyone else wanted to drive away too after their flights were cancelled), had to coordinate all insurance/rental car/body work/etc. details remotely and more! Do I feel bad? Yes! Do I feel guilty? Oh yes! But, many thanks Joy! It was great to spend time with you...we do talk, don't we?

Next week, Jim's up for driving and we're going to take the birds for their semi annual feathers/nails trimming. They will like the ride, though not the boarding at the vets. I'll be happy to have them with, but not the extra driving to get them to the vet (another hour beyond San Mateo). We live a crazy life, I know.

Sending puppy thoughts to Jazmin.