The day after returning from Rome I was in the doctor's office at 11:30 am for my scheduled appointment. Since we were away my regular appointment should have been 3 weeks after 1st treatment. It was now 4 weeks. Since my next treatment was imminent she found me a hospital bed and I was admitted within the hour. (check my last post regarding the reasons for admittance)
Having done my paperwork they gave me a pass to return home as long as I was back by 10:00 pm. The night nurse kindly was informed me my CA 125 count was at 65, down from 125. This is good news in that it means the treatment is doing the job.
So on Tuesday, June 25th my Carboplatin chemo started and as you will recall it is a long infusion. My first treatment back in May went without a hitch but within the hour I started experiencing a reaction. What a f**king drag.... Some of the symptoms were headache, red and itchy hands and red and itchy feet. I also starting breaking out with some hives. Usual course of action is to stop everything and give me more benedryl and steriods. They have also starting using something called Singulair.
Instead of finishing up by 9:00 pm it was well past 10:00 pm and the on call doctor wanted me to spend the second night. What can you do? Suck it up and read. Up by 4:00 am though..... All the steriods in my system have me wired and I found a computer in the family lounge. What luck!
In other news we are unhappy to report that my Dad has been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Had a visit with the surgeon while we were away but my Mom and Dad came away very unhappy with his negative prognosis and his lack of empathy. So my brother has arranged meetings with several oncologists and radiologists to get second opinions and hopefully a treatment plan. So at this point we do not know much. This on top of his stroke in March is not great but we all pulling together as a family. We have much strength!
Here are some pictures from our trip that I culled from the internet. Just wanted to give you a taste of what we saw. Michelangelo's Pieta is breathtaking in terms of the subject matter and the beautiful work. It is made of marble and a fun fact... Mary is represented very youthful when she was probably a woman in her 50's with her 33 year old son. Michelangelo was 23 when he sculpted this piece for a cardinal funeral monument. Amazing.
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| La Pieta, St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City |
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Coleseum in Rome  |
