3rd Treatment of Cisplatin

Just before my last treatment on July  22nd I met with the oncologist as we always do.  My CA 125 is now 150!  As you will recall this number was 597 back in May.  This is wonderful!  Cisplatin is doing the job of knocking down the cancer and we will go the full 6 rounds.  I should be finished up by end of September.

Treatment of Cisplatin is not easy as I have talked about in the the past.  I am admitted to hospital for a couple of days in order to get pre medications into me for 24 hours before we start chemo.  This is to prepare my body to accept (fool) the chemo otherwise I react severely and this is dangerous. I have been on this hyper sensitivity protocol for all 3 infusions.  I must comment that the medical personnel that take care of me while in hospital are fabulous.  They know me and know my situation.  I am under constant care and during my 6 hour infusion of chemo they are close by in case I react.  

It is now the 4th day after chemo with Cisplatin.  My constant headache has finally left me and I feel somewhat normal this morning.  The nausea has decreased considerably and I can manage to eat a regular meal.  Cisplatin has been the hardest chemo to deal with so far.  It may also be because of the pre meds as well.  I am very lucky to bounce back fairly quickly after my chemo treatments.  The tiredness and fatigue is very real but I am able to pace myself throughout the day with small rest periods so that I am not completely non functional.  Good nutrition and mild exercise is very helpful.

Barcelona, Spain

The last leg of our trip was to Barcelona.  Even though the strike action was still ongoing in France our train from Avignon to Barcelona was not cancelled.  The high speed train ride was great when you actually get to sit down!

We spent 8 days in Barcelona and it was unforgettable.

Cafe time with friends

Frank Gehry Whale Structure on Beach

One of the many beaches in Barcelona

Interior of Palau de Musica - Magnificient

Parc Guell

Exterior of Sagrada Familia

Sitges - an hour south of Barcelona

Portion of ceiling of Sagrada Familia

Palau de Musica in Barcelona

Parc Guell

Avignon in Provence France

After Paris we traveled to Avignon via high speed train.  During our stay in Paris we were concerned with our upcoming trip to Avignon due to strike action.  This is common in France but the work stoppages all over France were the worst in Paris and it has been years since it was this disruptive.  We found out the night before our trip that our train had been cancelled.  So we scrambled to arrange a car rental from the airport so that we could drive the 7 hours to Avignon.

As we arrived at the airport we discovered there was one train that afternoon to Avignon and we were determined to be on it.  It meant no seats though.  Others were in the same boat as us and we all crowded on to the train.  We were lucky to happen on to the dining car so we had some room to walk about and occasionally sit on our luggage.  That 3 1/2 hours trip felt much longer but we were glad to be on our way.

Avignon is a great base to travel around Provence.  We rented a van and for 3 days explored the many small towns in the area.

Avignon Bridge on the Rhone River

Pont du Gard - A Roman aquaduct

Papal Palace in Avignon

Roman Theatre in Orange

Seguret

View from Le Crestet

So Much to tell you.....

I know, I know, I have been really bad at keeping this blog up to date!  Well I have been living life and sometimes I just don't feel like writing!  :)

Since the last post I have had 2 chemo treatments and have been to Europe.  It has been a whirlwind of activity and now things are very quiet.

Just before leaving for France I was admitted to hospital on June 2nd for chemo.  I was given Cisplatin for at least 6 hours and prior to this I had 24 hours of pre treatment which consists of steroids, benedry, and cingulaire.  Because of my tendency of reacting to platinum drugs I need to be medicated to the hilt to receive chemo.  All went well and I had no reaction!  Thank goodness!  On June 4th I was released from hospital and went home to get ready for our June 6th flight to Paris!  Let me tell you my health was not the best.  After chemo I get some wicked headaches due to all the drugs and I generally feel poorly.

On June 6th we left for Paris and the flight was not comfortable at all for me.  After paracentesis the belly is tender and I still had some bloating which is uncomfortable.  My bowels are not at their best (to say the least) and I just was not feeling well.  However, we march on and try not to think about these things while on vacation!  We are in Paris! And what a great city it is!

The Iconic Eiffel Tower

From Arc de Triomphe

Arc de Triomphe

Notre Dame

Family members in Paris.  My Mom's Aunt and her family.

We met up with our friends, Jill and Michael.  We spent the rest of the week together in Paris and then moved on to Avignon in the south of France.