Happy New Year!

Hello everyone!

Hope that everyone had a wonderful Christmas and that the new year will bring health, happiness and success to everyone!

It has been a while since I have posted anything - and when I was at my office today for a visit, several people commented on the fact that there haven't been any updates!

So here you go!!

Brian and I had a fairly quiet Christmas and New Year's. The snow didn't help matters either. But on Christmas Eve we went to Rick and Chantal's for an open house and had a wonderful visit. Then Christmas - small group this year - well for us - 14! Brian and I, my three children and their counterparts and one grandbaby - Ryan, Rick and Chantal were there (he made the turkey and stuffings - yummy - and for those of you who do not know these two - Rick is my ex-husband and Chantal is his wife and one of my very, very best friends!), we had four friends as well who would otherwise been alone on Christmas and that just isn't right! So great food, laughter and great company all round!

Boxing Day was with Brian's two sons - CW and Matt - and a great dinner made by them both! We had a great visit with them and their better halfs - Leina and Britt. And of course the two little granddaughters - Brooke and Ayla. A snowy drive there and back, but when you have great company and family, it doesn't matter!

New Year's we just stayed home and watched movies - too much snow outside to want to travel anywhere! So we brought in the New Year with just us - and that was very special.

Healthwise, I am doing ok. I still get tired and the swelling in my legs is still here - it can go away any time it wants. I spend a lot of time in the hot tub when this happens - it helps with the pain and the swelling. I managed to get all of the side effects after the chemo on Christmas Eve but you know - I will take those - if it is helping to shrink the tumours!! The hair on the head - is peach fuzz... not that colour though!!! Not sure what it is going to come back as - looks darker to me with a lot of grey popping up!!! I still get winded when I walk up stairs or walk for any length of time - cure for that - sit down!

As mentioned in the last post, have the CT scan and x-rays on Feb 3 and then go and see Dr. P on the 13th of February - and yes, it is Friday the 13th - so I expect good news!!! I start back on the medication I was taking just prior to finding out the cancer was back - and will be on that till the doctor thinks I need to or if I need to go off of it and then back into chemo. It is a wait and see time for us.

I am keeping in mind, the oncologist who works on the North Shore. He thinks outside the box and from what I have heard is excellent. This will depend on the news we get on the 13th of next month.

That is about all for now. Will update once we get the news from Dr. P - and we are thinking positive and hoping for good news - cuz we don't want bad news and the cancer knows enough now who it is dealing with! The tough Irish broad!!!

I miss seeing comments on here - seems people will read and then leave. I would love to hear from people - even if it has nothing to do with cancer - anything!! And I would love also to have some visitors - I get bored with me.... and bored being at home.

Thank you all for your love and support these past 7 months - it has meant the world to me! And thank you Brian for being there and supporting me and loving me through all of this - couldn't have done it without you!!! Shannon, Meghan and Patrick - you have been wonderful and loving and supportive - and I thank you too for this!!!

Hugz

Roni

Me on Boxing Day

This was the exposed part of our deck - and more snow came after this was taken!

WAHOO - last chemo done!

Hi Everyone

Well, I thought I would do this blog!

Had chemo 6 today - last one!!

We left the house at 7 as it is snowing like crazy here - and has for the last 4 days (we have a white Christmas - stop snowing! - over 2 feet don't want anymore!) and wanted to make sure we got to the hospital and clinic on time - no problem, only took 30 minutes. So got my blood work done - I was the first patient. Then breakfast in the cafeteria and wait and wait. My chemo appt was for 9am and we meandered to the clinic at 8:30, hoping they would take me early - no such luck - took me late instead!

My chemo nurse was Phil - not quite as organized at the gals I have had - but nice nonetheless. He asked me how I had been feeling and how I was feeling today. I said ok, the usual aches and pains. He he said my white cell blood count was up (16.5) and he was concerned. He had to phone Dr. Johal (my oncologist is off this week) to see if it was ok to proceed with the chemo and it was. He said it was probably because of the steroids that are in the Docetaxel and in the Hydrocortisone. But we were out of there at a decent time!

I gave gifts to the chemo nurses I had previously - ornaments for their trees and they loved them. Got hugz from Donna - as she was the only one there.

I have a CT scan booked for Feb 3 to see how the tumours are doing and then see Dr. Pansegrau on Feb 13 (a Friday). And then we will go from there.

Brian and I wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and hope that 2009 is a much better year health wise for me and that 2009 brings much luck and happiness to everyone!!

Hugz

Roni

- Last chemo!

Just to give an idea on the snow!

Last pre-chemo of 2008 & Baby News!!!

This past Friday, Mom and Brian went to go see Dr. Pansegrau for a check-up before her chemo. Everything went well and the chemo is scheduled for 9am on Christmas Eve. Mom will have to go in at 7:50am on Christmas Eve to go get her blood work done as well.

Dr. Pansegrau wants Mom to go back on the drug she was on prior to the cancer diagnosis. The drug is called Exemestane, and is an anti-hormonal drug. The Dr. will be booking another CT scan for the end of January and then Mom and Brian will be going to see him a week later to get the results from that. Basically at this point it is a wait and see kind of situation.

I know some people have asked why Mom has only done 6 chemo treatments and here is the reason. Cancer cells can build up immunity to the chemo drug and will in-turn stop working. Mom was on Docetaxel, which is one of the stronger chemo drugs out there and it does a number on the body, thus the reason for only 6 treatments. Mom is still having some swelling in her left leg and her face due to fluid retention-a side effect of the drug.

Some exciting family news now!!!

Mom and Brian have a new grand-daughter!!!!!

Ayla Helena-Mae was born on Dec 17 at 11:02pm. She weighed in at 7lbs 14oz and was 21” long. Leina, CW and big sister, Brooke, are all adjusting well to having a new baby in the house!!!! Big congratulations to them. Here are a couple pictures of Mom and Brian meeting her for the first time!!

We would like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!!!

Chemo 5 done and one to go!

Meghan is busy studying for exams, so I will do the blog today!!! One more to go!!!!!!


I got the results of the ultrasound that I had on my left leg before I left the room. Jane, my technician, said she could not see anything that was of concern. If she has seen anything that looked like I clot, she would have sent me immediately to emergency via gurney - so that was very good news.


I still have swelling - which is painful at times - in both of the legs now - though the left is worse than the right. This is fluid retention - another one of the lovely side effects. So keep the legs up when I can, and take the meds that I have.

I had Chemo 5 this morning - went fairly smoothly - except twit me - forgot how to take my meds - I am supposed to take two dexamethasone twice daily for three days.... well, I took 1 twice daily on Tuesday and 1 this morning - that is three, not six! When my chemo nurse, Lesley asked when I took my meds - I told her that I took 1 at three different times and then went crap! This could have stalled me having my chemo today! But she called the oncologist and I got the go ahead and was given the dexamethasone via IV, then the allergy preventatives -and eventually my docetaxal. So landed being at the chemo clinic for three hours! At least the others in my pod were a lot of fun!


I see Dr. Pansegrau on Dec 19. The blood work will be done an hour before the chemo on Dec 24 (great Xmas present, huh!). And that will be it - hopefully. I will have a CT scan in mid January to see how the tumours are shrinking and then will go from there. When we saw Dr. P on Monday, I asked how often I would have to come back for follow-ups. About every 4-6 weeks for blood work and there would be scans as well. We asked about further chemo or if chemo gets to the point where the cancer just ignores it. And he said yes, this can happen - so again we shall wait and see. If after the CT in January further chemo is needed then will go for it. If he thinks not, I may go and see an oncologist on the north shore who looks outside the box - my surgeons can refer me to him. But we shall take it one day at a time and see what the scan says.


Till then, I am going to enjoy December and the Christmas holidays with my family and close friends - this indeed will be a very special Christmas to both Brian and myself!


Ciao for now and if I don't get to write again, Merry Christmas everyone and a very Happy New Year!


Roni





Just between the anti-allergy drugs and the docetaxal






My chemo nurse Lesley

Pre-chemo # 5

Mom went in for her usual blood work and oncologist appointment this morning. Her blood counts all came back normal, which is always a good thing. She then went and saw Dr. Pansegrau, who is sending Mom for an ultrasound of her leg. Mom has been having some swelling and pain in her (left-I think) leg and the Dr just wants to make sure it isn't a clot or anything like that. So Mom should be going to get that done in the next couple of days, although with that happening, it does push her chemo date back a little bit. Will let you all know when that date is and how the ultrasound goes...

On a bit of a different note, Dr. Pansegrau told Mom that if all keeps going the way it has been, she could be back at work as early as March. Of course, this would be done slowly to make sure her body can handle it. Mom was pretty happy about that!!! :)

More to come later when we have dates set for the ultrasound and chemo.

Some Wisdom

I am in the midst of reading a dear friend's journal - it is astounding - but I found some words in it, that I am going to put here - give full credit to H. for them - they are perfect! There are days that I am home and the phone never rings. I have had people say they are coming by for a visit - and they don't show. My email inbox is just full of jokes (not that this is a bad thing).


To our friends:

1. We want to know that you care. Tell us, phone write us, hug us.

2. Cards and flowers are visible symbols of your caring. Cards especially are keepers. We relish them.

3. We are living with cancer, not dying from it. Treat us the same as you always did.

4. Don't be afraid to talk to us about the disease and the treatment. We're not. We will be honest. Honesty comes with the territory. Then, lets get past it and be ourselves.

5. Please don't drop by unannounced. By calling first,we will have the option as to whether or not we feel up to seeing you. We may have had a bad day or we may be dealing with a really serious matter and need to work through it. I may be tired.

6. If you have problems and want to talk about them, don't think that they are insignificant next to ours. We care about you too. We need to be helpful in order to be worthy of your friendship. There is no need to deny us the opportunity to demonstrate our love for you. It will make us feel good to help. It will also allow us to see that we are not the only people in the world with problems.

7. Listen to our cues. If we tell you that we don't want to talk about something, please stop.

8. We need lots of hugs and squeezes.

So, there it is.... I know this has been said before, but we really do miss people calling and coming to visit. I may have cancer, but I am still me and that is not going to change!

Roni and Brian

Something Fun!

As many of your know, it was my birthday on the 24th. Brian decided to take me out for dinner to the Saint St. Grill on Saturday - much to me grumbling, "but it's not my birthday". Oh well, we went and a wonderful dinner - and of course ate too much! And we had such a wonderful time!

I was too stuffed for dessert and Brian kept looking at his watch more than normal! So off we went and he said let's have a drink at the pub - we were to have gone to a movie after the drink.


When I got into the pub - Brian snuck to my left side so that I couldn't see people! But when I turned the corner, I saw my coo-worker Tina there - that is when he got smacked on the arm!

He and Meghan had arranged all of this! I was so totally blown away from the number of people who came out for me - on a rather cool night! I had my morning train friends (Wendy. Mike, Robin) my afternoon train gang (Lisa and Suzanne - and Gary whom I hadn't seen in months). Some earlier morning train friends (Stephen and Annette) - all complete with spouses (those that have them). All three of my kids were there plus my two special adopted kids, both of Brian's boys where there. A set of our neighbours, co-workers, my ex-hubby and his wife (Rick and Chantal) Colleen, Rae, Jasmin and Jorge and so many others, too many to mention!!


Suzanne and Lisa brought the cake - it was sooooooo yummy - and we are still eating it (it is for dessert, girls on Saturday - LOL).


I was totally amazed and loved by the showing of these very special people! You all did so well in keeping the secret - I was had big time!


There are a few pictures below to show the fun time had by all!! (f you want to see more and you are on Facebook, they are there under My 55th).

Thanks again to all of you who made this a special 55th birthday!

Roni




Me, jut prior to leaving the house for dinner



Shannon, Dwayne, Me and Sarah



Eleanor and Robin



Chantal


With Lindsay and Shannon

Shannon, Me, Lindsay and Corey in the background

Meghan and I

Brian and I at the restaurant