Brian and I both had some vague ideas in our heads of what the new tumor marker number might be today. We were both overly (unrealistically) optimistic in our guesses. We both knew that going in. Really, we just wanted the number to have gone down and would have been pleased with whatever lower number we saw. What we got was a DROP of 115 points!!
The initial larger drops are not unusual. Now things will perhaps be less dramatic, but should hopefully continue on that downward trend as long as the meds continue to do their thing. My bloodwork wasn't too bad today, so we did get the first dose of Taxotere in. I'll let you know how I feel as the days go by. Hopefully more good days than I experienced last week!
I wish all of you a very good week! Stay warm out there!! Brrrrr...
Monday, January 29, 2007
Sunday, January 28, 2007
What will be?
I'm supposed to try and have chemo again tomorrow. If the bloodwork allows it, we may switch to a new drug called Taxotere. There should be fewer neuropathies with this one. I hope he's right about that. My sense of touch and temperature and the tingling in my extremities and in my face have become most annoying. Of course, then what's the trade-off? Fewer neuropathies, but more of some other discomfort? What will it be?
After feeling mostly like crud all week I finally broke down and had myself a good cry this morning. I think I was long overdue and I feel somewhat better now, at least emotionally. I'm sick and tired of being sick and tired!!
It's blustery cold and windy here today. My mind and body long for the warm, sunny beaches of Mexico. Alas, it is not to be this year. Although we reached that conclusion some time ago already, I think it's just now starting to sink in as others come and go on their trips. I am looking forward to a weekend away in the Dells in March with my sisters, however. No matter how I feel I will make that work because the change of scenery can only do me good---not to mention the time well-spent with sisters well-loved!
All I have for now. Just wanted to check in. I'll try to get back to you with details of how the Taxotere works out.
After feeling mostly like crud all week I finally broke down and had myself a good cry this morning. I think I was long overdue and I feel somewhat better now, at least emotionally. I'm sick and tired of being sick and tired!!
It's blustery cold and windy here today. My mind and body long for the warm, sunny beaches of Mexico. Alas, it is not to be this year. Although we reached that conclusion some time ago already, I think it's just now starting to sink in as others come and go on their trips. I am looking forward to a weekend away in the Dells in March with my sisters, however. No matter how I feel I will make that work because the change of scenery can only do me good---not to mention the time well-spent with sisters well-loved!
All I have for now. Just wanted to check in. I'll try to get back to you with details of how the Taxotere works out.
Wednesday, January 24, 2007
Never Gamble on my Blood
No one was more shocked than I when Brenda came out to the front waiting room at the clinic yesterday and did the "happy platelet dance!" For no apparent reason, my platelets were up and we did a round of Taxol yesterday. It's just too bizarre. I was totally unprepared.
Today I've been feeling very up and down. Feeling like I'm heading in a mostly 'down' direction at the moment, though, and I'm off to bed. We shall see what tomorrow may bring. I'm continuing with daily injections for the platelets in order to keep them where they need to be.
Today I've been feeling very up and down. Feeling like I'm heading in a mostly 'down' direction at the moment, though, and I'm off to bed. We shall see what tomorrow may bring. I'm continuing with daily injections for the platelets in order to keep them where they need to be.
Friday, January 19, 2007
Impractical
I guess I failed to make it clear on here last week that I did proceed with a Taxol treatment last Friday, prior to the blood transfusion on Saturday. For some reason, folks around the clinic seemed to think I could have more Taxol today. I went in feeling that was not very realistic, given my history of whacky blood. Sure enough, we were able to get the Avastin going, but not the Taxol. My platelets were too low---AGAIN!
Not sure why anyone was surprised or disappointed. I think they think that the lower dose was the answer, but I knew better. No surprises for me. It went the way I thought it would. And we'll try again next week.
My now 16-year-old son drove me to today's appointment and hung out with me, since he had no school today. He's been to the clinic before, but not since I've had the port in place. He watched the entire access process and I'm sure was fascinated.
Feeling queasy tonight, but it's too early to take any more anti-nausea meds just yet. Bed time won't come soon enough!
Not sure why anyone was surprised or disappointed. I think they think that the lower dose was the answer, but I knew better. No surprises for me. It went the way I thought it would. And we'll try again next week.
My now 16-year-old son drove me to today's appointment and hung out with me, since he had no school today. He's been to the clinic before, but not since I've had the port in place. He watched the entire access process and I'm sure was fascinated.
Feeling queasy tonight, but it's too early to take any more anti-nausea meds just yet. Bed time won't come soon enough!
Saturday, January 13, 2007
Telling Time
Sue, just to let you know, in case you were looking for any part of our shared brain on Thursday, according to the MRI, I had the whole thing! And the good news is that it showed up clean for cancer!! Can I get another "Whoopee Doopee!"?!
The "eyes" have it and I am leaving in a few minutes for, you guessed it, another blood transfusion. So that's where I'll be spending my Saturday again. I sure hope they give me a room with a view this time. I always end up looking out at a brick wall.
There's always something unusual that comes up during these appointments of mine, yes? Have you noticed this as well? This time around it came when I asked about how many more rounds of chemo we would be doing and Dr K said "don't think we're ending any time soon. We could easily be looking at another six months." We need to not only get that tumor marker down, but we need to maintain the number once it is down, and the way to do that is with continuing treatment. Both Brian and I were slightly taken aback, and yet it makes perfect sense. We have reduced the dosage again though, so maybe it will be more tolerable and we'll get more treatments in on a timely basis.
It wasn't until I was crawling into bed Thurs night and looked at my bedside clock that also gives the date that I realized it was the 6-year anniversary of my original breast cancer diagnosis. Wow! Keep those years a rolling by!
Yesterday was Dr K's birthday, but I didn't know until I got there and was all hooked up. May have to do something belated for this great doctor of mine. Just need to come up with a clever/original idea. Anyone?
Better run. I've got a date with a reverse vampire.
The "eyes" have it and I am leaving in a few minutes for, you guessed it, another blood transfusion. So that's where I'll be spending my Saturday again. I sure hope they give me a room with a view this time. I always end up looking out at a brick wall.
There's always something unusual that comes up during these appointments of mine, yes? Have you noticed this as well? This time around it came when I asked about how many more rounds of chemo we would be doing and Dr K said "don't think we're ending any time soon. We could easily be looking at another six months." We need to not only get that tumor marker down, but we need to maintain the number once it is down, and the way to do that is with continuing treatment. Both Brian and I were slightly taken aback, and yet it makes perfect sense. We have reduced the dosage again though, so maybe it will be more tolerable and we'll get more treatments in on a timely basis.
It wasn't until I was crawling into bed Thurs night and looked at my bedside clock that also gives the date that I realized it was the 6-year anniversary of my original breast cancer diagnosis. Wow! Keep those years a rolling by!
Yesterday was Dr K's birthday, but I didn't know until I got there and was all hooked up. May have to do something belated for this great doctor of mine. Just need to come up with a clever/original idea. Anyone?
Better run. I've got a date with a reverse vampire.
Friday, January 12, 2007
What will the day bring?
All this week I have gone in for Neumega shots to try and boost my platelets. Yesterday I mentioned that I had been feeling light-headed. Dr K came out and spoke with us briefly and decided we would do a brain MRI...so we did, yesterday afternoon already. I should have results today. Dr K doesn't really expect to see anything (cancer-wise, that is...hah, hah, he's a funny guy when he wants to be). This is more precautionary and will give us a new baseline, since we haven't done a scan in about a year.
Today will also be a blood draw to see where my numbers are at and find out if we can proceed with a treatment. My hunch is that I could possibly be looking at another transfusion because it seems like my vision is 'goofy' again.
Time will tell...and then I'll tell all of you what time had to say...
Today will also be a blood draw to see where my numbers are at and find out if we can proceed with a treatment. My hunch is that I could possibly be looking at another transfusion because it seems like my vision is 'goofy' again.
Time will tell...and then I'll tell all of you what time had to say...
Friday, January 05, 2007
Whoopee Doopee
We've learned over time to take the good with the bad. I am most pleased to be able to report the very good news that my tumor marker has dropped substantially again and I am now at 511! My heart definitely skipped a beat when they gave me the news today. At this rate I'll be back in a "safe" range before we know it!
The bad news is that my blood numbers dropped just since Wednesday so we couldn't do the Taxol again today. I did receive the Avastin, however. Both my platelets and my hemoglobin dropped. I opted to hold off on a transfusion until I really feel like I need it. I received the Aranesp today to boost those red blood cells so we'll see how that works for me. Neumega shots will start up daily on Monday for the platelets. Mine is just such an odd case all the way around. But they think the radiation beat up my bone marrow pretty badly and that's why the numbers just don't cooperate the way we'd like them to.
I shouldn't even say this, for fear of jinxing myself, but I have high hopes of getting my butt back in my chair at work by February. That's my new prayer request. It will truly be a sign that we have things fairly well under control.
Have a great weekend!
The bad news is that my blood numbers dropped just since Wednesday so we couldn't do the Taxol again today. I did receive the Avastin, however. Both my platelets and my hemoglobin dropped. I opted to hold off on a transfusion until I really feel like I need it. I received the Aranesp today to boost those red blood cells so we'll see how that works for me. Neumega shots will start up daily on Monday for the platelets. Mine is just such an odd case all the way around. But they think the radiation beat up my bone marrow pretty badly and that's why the numbers just don't cooperate the way we'd like them to.
I shouldn't even say this, for fear of jinxing myself, but I have high hopes of getting my butt back in my chair at work by February. That's my new prayer request. It will truly be a sign that we have things fairly well under control.
Have a great weekend!
Thursday, January 04, 2007
Here We Go Again
I saw Dr K yesterday and, while my numbers are all pretty borderline, we are going to proceed with treatment tomorrow anyway. Dr K feels it's important to stay on track as much as possible. That is why he thinks we should also resume the daily Neumega shots next week. Unfortunately, it's the only drug that's really out there to boost the platelets. We'll just monitor all of the side effects very closely.
I hope to have an updated tumor marker number tomorrow. That way, if I feel especially crummy after treatment, I can at least focus on that positive drop in number. We want to continue to see things moving in the right direction!
I also received the results of my stomach biopsies and everything was clean. Whew! I have a mammogram scheduled for the end of January, but we're so far past those concerns that it's not a big deal at all any more.
My crazy husband is out golfing today! Yes, the weather is unseasonably warm, but it's not THAT warm!! To each his own, I suppose. He'll probably come home with wind burn.
Happy New Year! Now going to move to a more comfortable chair. If you don't hear from me for a while, you can probably assume that the chemo and Avastin knocked me out for a bit.
I hope to have an updated tumor marker number tomorrow. That way, if I feel especially crummy after treatment, I can at least focus on that positive drop in number. We want to continue to see things moving in the right direction!
I also received the results of my stomach biopsies and everything was clean. Whew! I have a mammogram scheduled for the end of January, but we're so far past those concerns that it's not a big deal at all any more.
My crazy husband is out golfing today! Yes, the weather is unseasonably warm, but it's not THAT warm!! To each his own, I suppose. He'll probably come home with wind burn.
Happy New Year! Now going to move to a more comfortable chair. If you don't hear from me for a while, you can probably assume that the chemo and Avastin knocked me out for a bit.
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