Two years have flown by, 4th Wedding, a visit with Samantha, Terry Fox Run, and Chemo again

It is hard to believe that it has been two years since we got the horrible news that my cancer had returned with a vengeance. Lots happened – lost my hair – and didn’t really care and still don’t. Tried multiple drugs through my original oncologist but to no avail. In March, was told nothing more they could do for me – well, I wasn’t having any of that. I changed doctors and it has changed my life! One lung is behaving itself and well the other one isn’t – but in time with the drugs this doctor has me on, I believe there will be a change. There is the possibility of another surgery to drain the right chest cavity and to add more of the talc which was put in in 2008, seems the stuff can dry up – how it does that with all the fluid is beyond me! That is fine with me, means Hopefully I will get Dr. James Bond again, and what woman wouldn’t want that! Will have more on this in the next blog. I have my appointment for the CT scan of my lower spine for the 3rd of September. This is just to check that there are no slipped or crushed discs and just the sciatic nerve acting up. It is still bothering me quite a bit but with the meds and the hot tub, it calms down.

Our fourth wedding of the year was held in Harrison Mills on the 14th of August. Leah and Colin had a beautiful wedding on the hottest day of the year. It was 38c! Yikes! But the venue made up for the heat – it was stunning for sure. I managed to get soaked – and not by falling in the pool or going into the river. No – I had a full glass of champagne dumped accidentally by the waiter down my dress – right from the top to the bottom. Poor guy had the look of I am going to be so fired! He stayed away from me the rest of the evening! It was a good thing it was not red wine – that would have just ruined the day and also good thing it was a light coloured dress! But it was sticky. So I wandered down to the pool and got my legs cleaned off – and the water felt so good too. My ex-husband picked on me off and on throughout the evening – asking if I had dried off yet!! Leah was such a beautiful bride and Colin a handsome groom.

Tuesday, Meghan and I went to visit Samantha and her Mom, Cathy! What a lovely home they have and the food was great and the wine was pretty good too. We didn’t know how Ryan would react to Sam only having one leg, but he didn’t care – she actually has three if you count the crutches!!! Cathy brought out some bubbles and that made Ryan such a happy little boy - he had bubbles going everywhere! My directions got me lost but not too badly – I was only a block or two off. Samantha is going through a pretty rough time right now and we were giving her lots of love and support. She is an amazing young lady for sure. We got to meet her brother Jeremy and her Dad, Shawn. We would have stayed longer, but Samantha was winding down and was in need of a nap. Can't wait to have them over for lunch to give Cathy a break and for Samantha to have a visit here - when she is up to it!

Wednesday evening, it was the first meeting of the Coquitlam committee for the Terry Fox Run. Coquitlam is a little behind the rest of the cities that have been having the run. This is actually the 30th year for it. Amazing what that young man did for cancer research. There were 11 members and 5 of us were from the Relay for Life. Time for a change! I will be speaking briefly at the opening of the run on September 19, so looking forward to that. This means I need to get in gear and write my speech. This run will be small this year, with it being the first, but we know that once it gets going, other years will have more participants. Port Coquitlam, which was the home of Terry Fox, has the Home Town run, and thousands come out to that one.

And another chemo day!! Sandy came with me this time – she has come with me several times to the Surrey clinic. First time for Lions Gate. Got my blood work done fairly quickly and then off to lunch we went to White Spot up the street. Both decided to eat healthy – salads and they were both really good! Got back to the clinic and waited and waited for Mandy, my nurse, to come and hook up the drugs I needed. They were so busy this Friday; the nurses were flying all over the place. I went down an entire 4 ounces! But once we got hooked up it went fairly quickly. My red count went up to 113 from 104, so I didn’t have to take the injection of Eprex - long as it is over 110 I am ok. I have to go back this Friday and get my blood taken and numbers checked and if under 110, then I will give myself the injection. I still have the mark from the first injection of the drug!

Our weather for the most part has been great – though we did have a hot spell and our temperatures were in the high 30’s and when you are not used to those numbers, you melt! The poor flowers sure didn’t like it in the least! The province is going through another bad fire season, but thankfully no homes have been lost to date and that is the most important thing!

The PNE has started and it is the 100th Anniversary. I plan on going at least once or twice; gotta get those mini donuts and get in on some of the free shows. Terry Clark is on tonight. Loverboy is coming up soon too. And all part of your admission of $15. A friend of Meghan’s is playing on the 24th so will try and see if I can make it to see him play!

Well, that is about all there is to tell. Looking forward to lots of comments. I really do like getting them. Hope you enjoyed the blog and the pictures!

Love
Roni

Heat, E3 Wedding, EPO + Y&R

HEAT, #3 WEDDING, EOP AND Y&R


Atasha and Brandon were married last weekend and she was such a beautiful bride. Loved watching her walk down the aisle on the arm of her Dad and carrying her little baby Emery – all dressed up in his tux. They even had his soother matching the flowers – was so cute! Patrick as well as Meghan, Corey and Madelynn were there. Ryan got to spend the day and night with Auntie Shannon and Uncle Dwayne!

Doc appts on Thursday went great. Dr. Klimo had me get another lung xray to compare with the one in June. Left lung clear - wahooo!! Right lung - damn pleural fluid is building up again, so it is a wait and see what happens. There is still a good sized mass in the front of the lung. My shortness of breath is getting worse. He will wait and see how I am the next time I see him. He is also putting me on another drug - erythropoietin aka EPO - the drug that Lance Armstrong was accused of using when he was charged with doping during his races. It adds oxygen to the red cells. Also saw the neurologist Dr. Cameron - and he agrees with the emerg doc and Klimo. I have done something to the sciatic nerve. He is sending me for a ct scan of my back and then will see what happens. When he was examining me, I had a back spasm - at least it did it when seeing a doctor! No heavy lifting, no vacuuming, now twisting or turning. Go easy on the back - I can do that :). Should have the scan in the next few weeks and will see Dr. Cameron afterwards to get the results.

Chemo on Friday went fine, though down another kilo in weight. They are getting worried on that - I am happy with it....LOL but I do understand where they are coming from. Colleen came with me, so didn't have to worry about driving. And my chemo has been extended till Oct 29. And it is helping me so that is ok with me. I have been told to drink more fluids - hell, I drink a ton of it now. And eat more - but it is hard to eat when you are not hungry, ya know what I mean. I went to talk to the System Management nurse, Laura, but she had taken her son for x-rays, - so I will phone her on Monday so that we can discuss the drug further. You take it 3 times a week and it is self injection and comes prefilled. Colleen and I then went out to the pub for some libation! It was nice to have some girl time. She doesn't get to drive me often so nice when we can do it.

Saturday I was at a Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation - Tea with the Stars - some of the cast members from the Young and the Restless. Held at the Marriott Pinnacle in Vancouver. I was down for only working about 90 minutes, the rest I got to smooze, eat and enjoy the show. It was a riot! Kate Linder (who has played Esther, the maid, for 28 years) started coming to Vancouver 12 years ago. Along with her were Christian LeBlanc (Michael Baldwin), Stacey (Patti/Mary Ellen) and Michael (Adam Newman). The live auction was so much fun to watch! Over $25,000 raised I think – so that was awesome. I was one of the few lucky volunteers who got to sit with the guests - nice to have a “reserved” sign as to where to sit! And a great bunch of people at the table. What was even better, was hearing from the president of the CBCF, that there is a joint imitative with the CBCF, BCCA and provincial government to be announced that, by 2020 – Breast Cancer will no longer be a terminal illness, no more deaths from it but rather a
chronic illness that is treatable. That was fantastic news to hear for sure. The room exploded with applause!!!

Our weather has been fantastic!!!!! Today is our first day of rain in weeks! It is much needed for both the lower mainland but more so for the rest of the province where a large number of forest fires are burning. It can rain all day today and then stop! I much prefer the sun and warmth. But guess beggars can’t be choosers!!

Well, that is about all for now. More after my next chemo treatment.

Hope to hear from lots of you - missing your comments and of course your stories.... guess with smummer still hanging round, some folks may be away!
Hugz and love
Roni