Chemo #10

After a wonderful weekend in Victoria with Meghan - it was time for the 10th chemo session. I was fully relaxed and no cares in the world.......


What a beautiful day it is here - sun is shining, slight breeze........ So had the chemo this morning - relatively uneventful - except for the fact that the nurse I had, Julie, could not get the needle in.. she tried three different spots and yikes they hurt - one of them, she thought she had the needle in but when she let the saline flow - nope - skin started to rise up. I suggested she get Phil or Shelley to try as they are good at getting them in. Phil came and he is usually pretty good at getting the needles in the first time. He tried one spot and it didn't work and and it was an owie. So he tried one on my wrist - it is a tried and true spot. And he got it in no problem. From the way this session went, may talk to my oncologist about getting a pic-line put in, as the veins are failing which is to be expected. Not keen on 5 attempts each time thank you very much!

Colleen came with me today and we had a good time, though neither of us liked the nurse at all - just not at all friendly, didn't introduce herself. We were talking with Phil on the way out and he asked how my side effects were going and he said they would be getting worse as the treatments go along - such fun.... especially the fatigue - have enough of that now.

Then it was to Earl's for lunch - chicken wings - mmmmmmm and flat bread duo and to wash it all down a very good Margherietta!

Next lab work and visit with Dr. P is May 15 in the afternoon and my 11th chemo is Monday, May 18 - yes it is the long weekend - and don't know time yet. All for now.... hope to see some more comments..... love hearing from ya folks!!!

Roni

Update on Tests

Hi Everyone!

This will be just a brief update, as Meghan and I are in Victoria for a much needed break!

Got the results yesterday from Dr. P - the CT scan showed that there is some shrinkage - which is good to hear. My tumour markers are also down - which is good to hear - they were at one point 67 and the went up to 365 and yesterday the number was 285. The bone scan also didn't show anything that wasn't there before.

He is going to continue the chemo till session 6 and do the CT scan again and go from there. I told him that he gave me enough meds for 8 treatments! He also commented on me seeing Dr. Klimo and he had no problems with that - he knows the doctor and thinks quite highly of him.

He also gave me a Rx for more anti nausea meds - $130 for 3 - yikes!!! But he said if I want to get them, I could just take one at the same time that I take my other anti nausea meds on chemo day. I left the Rx at home, so will have to wait on getting it, if I want. I pay 30% of the cost. Terrible that we have to pay anything for a drug that will help ease the side effects of chemo. But guess we just need to change the government!!!

Ok,this is all for now... time to explore Antique Row and see what we can find - we saw a few things yesterday but we didn't go into the store and also want to go into the discounted china place and tea cups!!! Lots to see and do here and we plan on doing as much as our legs can carry us. We walked a lot yesterday - ahhhh - yes,this is preparing us for the Relay for Life in June!

More after chemo on Monday,

Roni

Round Two, Treatment Three

Well, had my ninth treatment this morning - bright and early at 8:30 - ok, so they don't take you right away!! Chantal came with me - which is always a lot of fun - lots of laughs!!! Thank you for coming with me - means a lot!!!

I had Shelley today (she always wears really nice shoes, but had her plain janers on today!) and we weren't able to get her picture as she was busy with a new patient and had to explain lots of stuff to him. But she sat with me, as I was her first patient, and explained some stuff. My white blood count number was below the minimum they normally do - which is 1.5 and mine was 1.4 therefore they had to get permission from Dr. P to proceed with treatment. So will have to be careful next weekend as that is when my count will be low again and seeing as it is as low as it is now, more prone for infections. So have to stay away from people who are sick.

I also had a student nurse - which had me worried - re putting in the IV, but Shelley put it in and has been the best so far, was just a wee poke and that was it. The Red Devil went in as usual, though she puts it in at 1cc then checks for back flow and then another 1cc - and checks - so in case the drug has escaped, not as much damage will have been done. When she started the other drug, she put it in over an hour - to reduce the chance of me getting the headache - and it worked! No headache.

We were in there just over two hours...... which is not bad. One of the other patients that was there was a woman who is 10 years younger than me, and has been given two years to live - makes me very thankful for the time that I have. She was a lot of fun and the three of us laughed and giggled - the black humour of cancer patients comes out when you have a couple of us together!!!

Got my requisition sheet for my blood work for he 24th of April - a full workup this time and then we were out of there! Next stop - the Guildford Station Pub for lunch.... sat on the patio with the warmth of the sunshine - and had a yummy lunch...... Chantal walked home as her and Rick live a block from the pub - we discussed that....LOL.

Just one pix of me today and one of my new garden in the front!! Till next time!!! The 24th of April when we get the results of the CT Scan, lung x-ray and the bone scan. And then I am off to Victoria for three days with Meghan.

Ciao for now
Roni

Just a wee update

A nice sunny day - what a change from the terrible weather we have had. Makes me want to go out and work on the new garden - oh yeah, have to wait for Brian to dig up the turf. But, I can go out and wash off the rocks that are full of mud!!

Saw Dr. P this morning after having my blood work done - which he said is just fine. Came away with a bunch of appointments - CT Scan and Lab work, at SMH, on April 20 at 1:30; Bone Scan at SMH on April 21 at 11:30; and then Blood work on April 24 at 8:am and Dr. P at 8:20. Needed this one early as I will be off to Victoria on the 11am ferry with Meghan.

When I go back and see Dr. P on the 24th, he will have the results of the CT scan and then Brian and I will have some questions for him and guess same goes with the Bone scan.

Dr. P. decided to do the bone scan because I am feeling some pain in the ribs, he thinks it is just the lungs shooting off some pain, but I am unable to distinguish the two apart, and my last bone scan was in September and there were a couple of spots that they wanted to monitor. So, might as well get it done.

He also went over all of the items I had on my list - nothing to worry about, just more side effects of the chemo - congestion, red spots on the head, sleep patterns, headaches, bruising, and the usual nausea and fatigue. He did give me a Rx for cold sore meds - and of course it is one drug that is not generic, so I will pay the 30% for it.

Chemo is on Monday at 8:30 and Chantal is coming with me - so we know we will have fun with the nurses! And then we are going out for lunch somewhere for a girl's day!

All for now...I do miss people wrting here - I know you are looking at the posts but no one writes - even to just say hi, how are ya, what is new or what is new with you as well. Doesn't even have to do with anything regarding the cancer. I miss talking to people - the phone never rings, even close friends don't phone. I am still me, and being home alone is boring - believe me.

Ciao for now

Roni

Second Chemo of Round Two

Jody doing the red devil push



Well it was chemo day this afternoon! Latest appointment I have had so far. We got out of the chemo room around 5:15ish.








Just relaxin....


Had different company this time! Patrick and Alicia came (though she did not come into the chemo room) and Sandy, one of my good friends from high school. So it was a bit of switching around, but that was ok. It was the first time for Patrick and Sandy in the chemo room - and both did well!



With Sandy








With Patrick

My chemo nurse was Jody and she is pregnant with her 2nd girl and is due end of June. She was a blast. Donna, Leslie and Darlene were all there and came by and chatted for a bit. Old home week! I hadn't seen Leslie since before Xmas as she had been off for surgery but she came over to thank me for the Christmas ornament that I gave her.

We were a bit late as poor Sandy got stuck in a "police incident" around Scott Road (and if anyone knows what it was, let me know), so I phoned the chemo room and let them know we would be late. As it turned out, it was good we were late as Jody was running a wee bit behind schedule, so worked out perfectly.

Jody had a wee bit of a problem with my veins, she landed having to put it in the vein that runs downwards from the thumb. But she got it in. Had to keep the heating pad on almost the entire time as the vein wanted to go away. It was a strong vein, just that mine are getting weak from repeated poking and also from the Red Devil.

Jody also gave me some tips on how to control the nausea - take my regular meds and in between them to take the gravol, said it should help it a bit. So we will try that and see what happens.

I also found out what the minimum my white blood cell count can be - 1.5 and mine was 1.8 so just got in under the wire.

And we got cake today!!!! One of the nurses is retiring so they had a party for her, and the left over cake came to the chemo room! It was wonderful - Patrick got some and loved it and so did I. Sandy unfortunately couldn't have it as it was not gluten free.

My next lab work is 9:20 on April 3 and my appointment with Dr. Pansegrau is at 10:20. Chemo is on April 6 but no time yet.

Just a short one today!

Roni

Visit with Dr. P

Well, today was another visit to the oncologist!

It was a good visit. He asked how I was feeling, as in the nausea - which I said lasted about 2 weeks and the fatigue which is still here. He said to try some Gravol with the meds I take now to see how that helps with the nausea and if it doesn't calm it down, then we can look at taking another medication along with the stuff I am on now. He said that the Echo cardiogram turned out good - that my heart was good and strong (nice to get good news once in a while!). He is going to book another CT scan to see how the tumours are doing and this will be after the third treatment, so probably end of April give or take a week or so.

I told him I had been doing some research and asked him about the booster meds to keep the white blood count up. He said it is an option - but it is more for early cancer rather than metastatic cancer, doesn't really work. If I had more fevers and infection it could be a possibility, but unfortunately it is very expensive - $2400 per cycle and it is not a generic drug so I would land paying for 30% of it. Though through the Victory program could probably get it at a lower rate.

I also asked about high doses of Vitamin C - he said that they are finding out that high doses of the supplement are not really good for you and they tend to stay around from them. Vitamin D he said is ok to take higher doses and I do this already, taking 2,000 IU daily. He said they are finding more good coming from the Vitamin D.

I asked him also, if I could do my blood work today rather than on the weekend. He said they normally like it taken within 48 hours, but I could do mine today, and if the count is low or off, he would call me and I would have to get it taken on Sunday. Guess the numbers are good, as I have not received a phone call!

Meghan and Ryan came with us, though not into the room. Meghan did after I had finished my stuff. She wanted to know if he would be interested in taking a practicum student for May. He gave her the name of the person in charge and she will call the secretary on Monday and see what will happen.

So, that is all for now. Have chemo on Monday at 3:15, latest I have had it and will give a further update and pictures. One of the gals from high school is coming with me, so a new experience for her.

Have a great weekend!

Roni

Visit with Dr. Klimo

Well, we decided to see what else is out there as far as treatment is concerned. So, this morning, Brian and I went to see Dr. Klimo on the North Shore. We both found him to be very pleasant, funny and up-front. And he did spend a fair amount of time with us explaining things. He does not necessarily believe all that the Cancer Clinic does - there are drugs out there that they should be using but the CC isn't using them.

He agreed with the type of treatment I was getting, though I think he would have done it differently for the first round. But he said that I should be taking a white blood cell booster so that my count doesn't drop like it did before and end up in hospital (did some research on this - self-injections at home). He said that Dr. P is doing what is he believes is the right course of action - he is hitting it head on and full blast. Think Dr. Klimo would have done a different regime but for the same end. Improve quality of life and extend it as long as possible.

He also thinks, that I should be back on the anti-hormonal drug I was on twice, each time I went on it, landed on chemo - and nothing to do with that drug - just the way things happened. So I will ask Dr. P when I see him on Friday as to when he believes I will back on the Exemestane.

He said if I have any more questions, feel free to come back and see him. And I just might - one never knows. I felt very comfortable with him.

So, Friday see Dr. P again and then my bloodwork done on the Saturday at SMH - and then on the 16th at 3:15, treatment 2 of the chemo. And I have been only really affected by a few of the side effects of the regime I am on now - nausea (lots of it from about day 4 to day 13,sore gums and the fatigue is far worse this time around - so, taking lots and lots of naps. The hair is just starting to come out again - so let's see what colour it comes back in the summer after this round is over!!!

Will update the blog again on Monday.

Ciao for now

Roni