Last one for this round, next week rest:)

Today was treatment#3 of this round, #12  overall, since the beginning.  I'm a pro now; so funny, i get a different nurse almost every time and i always have to state my case for why i want/need a liter of fluids while I'm waiting.  It's not standard protocol, standard seems to be to hang a 250ml bag of saline and have that drip in through my port whenever there's nothing else like pre-meds or chemo or just waiting for the lab to release my meds.  But, I learned a long time ago that i am chronically dehydrated, and my Zometa treatment dehydrates me further, and chemo dries out everything (my eyes, my nose) so i always ask the nurse to hang 1 liter of saline instead.  It's always an issue.  Not their fault, they just want to follow protocol, but part of me is screaming inside, "It's just saline!!  it's probably almost free!! it helps to hydrate me and helps me feel better!! just do it!!!" ah well, held my tongue and let them go thru proper channels to get it approved, and got my fluids  woohoo!!

I saw the nurse practitioner today too, they sent my blood in to test my markers, so next week we might see another drop if the chemo is still doing  kick-ass job:) The swelling in my left ankle is down, now I'm just generally puffy which makes everyone happy cuz that's expected with taxol and steroids.

Last week I didn't post - Christmas and all:) I had chemo, Ann-Marie was my angel and even brought me a present:) she's a doll and i'm so thankful to her and all my friends who make this weekly poison a little bit fun! I ran into my friend G who was diagnosed approximately the same time as me with similar diagnosis, so we are good for each other ...she knows my journey better than most because she's on a similar path.  It's awesome to talk with her and feel the support she sends my way, and to be able to give it right back:)  It's always fun to focus on someone else...I bore myself!!

Hope everyone had a great holiday, and have a wonderful new year.  RIT knows how to make the yule tide gay; I have 3 weeks off over the holidays and it's like heaven to be off, sleeping and watching tv:), doing marathon movie days at the $2 theater with Alex- doesn't get any better:)

New round of chemo; same old same old:)

Started my new round of Taxol on Friday, feel like an old pro by now! My left foot is still swollen, a little heartburn, but nothing major.  Worst is that my eyebrows are thinning:( I can't imagine that I'll be the only person ever who could draw them on and make them look natural...but I'll probably try!!

Girls' trip to NYC leaves Tuesday; Leanne and Natty with Edie, Alex and me. A little shopping, a lot of eating and some good girl time in a fancy hotel with warm cookies.  Perfect reminder of the reason we are fighting so hard against this disease. Just wish Jill were going with us:( Miss you already, sissy!!

Coming to you LIVE, from Strong hospital:)

Yep, back again, this week for just my monthly Zometa treatment, but wishing I didn't have to be here at all. Especially since, starting next Friday, I'm back on chemo. I met with my oncologist today, and overall, my PET scan results were good. All of the "old" lesions that were identified in August were less metabolic. That, combined with my CEA and cancer antigen numbers which are very good, means the chemo is working. The PET also showed some "new" lesions, but Dr Shayne feels those probably developed between the last PET and the beginning of chemo, but will keep a close eye on my numbers to make sure the chemo continues to work.

So, more chemo, but how can I complain? It's working, and the side effects so far are minimal, so bring it:). Plus, it doesnt interfere with work or my holiday plans for NYC with my sissy and girlies. I had Will shave my head this morning- the longer grays were depressing me;) and it looks better and more uniform now, just shaved to even out to the shorter parts.

Thanks to everyone who contributed to HTI in my honor after receiving a letter or through the ROC event yesterday- the more massages for more people with cancer the better! Thanks especially for all the hugs-they're an important part of my therapy!

Last chemo! :) (well, for now!)

Friday was my final chemo treatment for this third round of taxol, so "done" for now! Ann-Marie, my faithful friend and chemo fairy was there for my dr appt and my treatment, keeping me company and keeping my spirits up...sometimes just being in the hospital is so disheartening.  It's always good to have someone there to provide a shoulder to cry on:) thanks a-m, you're a jewel. My oncologist and NP both reiterated that my numbers are down, hopefully indicating that my cancer is under control - will find out more after my PET scan on Tuesday, so fingers crossed.

The pics are of a wonderful, generous gift i received in complete surprise on Saturday, from friends and colleagues of Will's in Arkansas! Just adorable, hand made little cupcakes filled with little prezzies like candy and earrings and a pill box! So, so sweet of them to think of me:) They made them for Breast Cancer awareness month, and who's more aware than I? :))) Thank you!!!

Camp Good Days and Special Times

I had a great day with some of my favorite girlies in the world today:) First Alexandra and I met Jill, Leanne and Natalie for lunch, then we did a little shopping, and then we volunteered for my favorite charity, Camp Good Days and Special Times, accepting donations at Eastview Mall in exchange for a kazoo or two. Leanne's kids and my kids have spent a week at "cancer camp" for the past few summers, and it is. bar none, the best week of their summer every year.  Their goal is to give the kids a week free of thinking about cancer, while at the same time providing a safe place to talk about their experiences if they need it.  They've made great friends and pranked them, too! Plus it gives Will and I a kid-free week, so we can escape just the 2 of us to Cape Cod, or the Adirondacks or wherever.  We are ever grateful to this wonderful organization, so a couple hours hawking kazoos? You bet! Look for the table every weekend til Christmas outside of JCPenney.

My week off chemo last week was fabulous, went to Florida for the holiday, now back to work and school tomorrow, back to chemo this Friday for my last treatment. Woohoo!!:)

Chemo #8, Cycle 3

Almost done! :) Just one more treatment to go in this, my hopefully last, round.  The plan is to take next week off for Thanksgiving (I hope cancer respects our time out for a holiday!), then back Dec 2 for the final treatment in this cycle and then on to the PET scan to see how I'm doing.

My chemo buddies this week were my mom and Mindy. Thanks for keeping me company!!  Ann Marie is all signed up for my final treatment, the final fairy:) I'm looking forward to the snacks already!!

My numbers at least look good, my Cancer antigen has now gone from (high of 1233 pre chemo) then 513 and now down to 126! And my CEA is down from (high of 73 before chemo) then 30 and now down to 10.1 :) woohooo! Both of those numbers had been climbing steadily since February of 2011, and are now back to early 2011 lows.  Makes me very happy - i hope the PET scan bears out my optimism and I'll be saying an extra special prayer of thanks for medicine and chemotherapy this thanksgiving.

I've been thinking a lot lately about statistics...I am one lucky girl when you look at the numbers.  Some stats say that the 5 year survival rate for stage IV initial diagnosis is 5%.  5 percent.  And I'm at year 4 now, not planning on going anywhere anytime soon!! Happy Thanksgiving everyone, I'll be counting my blessings.

Chemo #7, Cycle 3

Friday was my most recent chemo treatment, and I also had my regular infusion of Zometa and a painful shot of Lupron just for fun:) Plus, because my leg is still hurting, I had an X-ray with negative results :) and because my left foot is grotesquely swollen (no pic included, i decided i couldn't offend you that much!) I had a doppler ultrasound of my leg to make sure no blood clots, also, thankfully, negative.  Apparently, lots of people swell up as a reaction to chemo, plus the lovely steroids, and I've been lucky enough to avoid this side effect til now.  Leanne thinks i should get an echocardiogram just to make sure my heart hasn't been damaged by the chemo, which could also cause the swelling I'm experiencing...I'm hoping to wake up tomorrow morning and have it resolved:) This morning, I was finally able to try on my new boots to make sure they fit before it swelled up again, which made me very happy!!

ShellyB was my chemo fairy this week, and she and Will kept me company for the very long day we spent at Strong.  She brought me pumpkin seeds and chocolate dusted almonds - she knows the way to my heart:) She also knows the way to my funny bone - no one makes Will or me laugh like she does:) Love you!! XOXO