The November 7th scan is showing stable disease which means the visible disease has not changed significantly since the September 29th scan.  This is good news.  The only problem at this point is the development of ascites.  As usual this fluid accumulated very rapidly.  I know my clothes started to feel tight on November 7th and by the November 17th appointment at Princess Margaret I could not wear my regular clothes.  Elastic waist bands are the fashion of the day.  

At the meeting on November 17th we discussed the CT Scan results which were favourable but we needed to deal with the ascites and talk about start of trial.  Starting the trial right away would help with the ascites but would interfere with our holiday in December.  Once I start the trial I have to adhere to the protocols and appointments which means frequent travel to Toronto.  If we just treat the ascites then I can wait until the new year to begin trial and focus on that.  I chose to wait to start the trial and my best option right now is to start weekly chemo of Taxol for 3 weeks.  The usual protocol is one infusion every 3 weeks so I will be getting a third of the infusion every week for 3 weeks.  You get the picture.  This is a stop gap measure and I should hopefully experience minimal side effects.  The best part is I can have this done at Grand River Cancer Centre and I do not need to travel to Toronto until the new year.

I met with my oncologist at Grand River on the 19th (appointment previously booked) and we discussed the more immediate treatment plan.  She is in agreement and started the ball rolling to get the chemo scheduled this week.  We discussed potential issues such as low blood counts and maybe some hair loss.  We will deal with issues as they come up.  She also wants to schedule a paracentesis.  A paracentesis will be a relief I can tell you!  I look about 7 months pregnant and it is not very comfortable.  Walking any distance is physically taxing.

So far my chemo is scheduled for this Friday on the 21st.  Still waiting to hear about the paracentesis.  Hoping it might be today!

We are getting dumped on with snow and it is cold.........

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.

We Have Remission

Sorry for the long absence.....  This post has been in draft since November 2012.  I have not been able to put together the words to relay what my life is all about until now.

After my 6th chemo treatment on September 26th I went for a CT Scan on October 12th to determine if there was any visible cancer left.  This would determine whether I would need another chemo treatment at this time.  I returned to the hospital on October 16th to consult with my oncologist.  This meeting set off a major turning point to my life.

The oncologist, Dr. Califaretti, delivered the news that the CT Scan did not show any visible cancer which is great.  This is technically a remission.  So the series of treatments from June to September did the job they were supposed to do.  All good.  I forgot to mention that during my last treatment on September 26th and in receipt of the last chemo drug, Carboplatin, I had an allergic reaction.  After receiving it 11 times in the last couple of years my body decided it did not want it.  After easing off the dosage and giving me some drugs to help me along I finally finished treatment that day.  Can you imagine that my doctor reminded me that I had experienced this?  I had totally forgotten between September 26th and October 16th.  The mind does some crazy things in times of anxiety.

Back to our discussion on October 16th.  During our discussion my doctor, in a no-nonsense way, strongly suggested that I not return to work.  This startled me as I was fully expecting to go back.  But life has a way of reminding you of your immortality.......

This cancer is unrelenting and she fully expects it will come back within the next 15 months or so.  This is because my last recurrence came within this timeframe.  Medically speaking recurrence does not generally extend itself beyond this.  Is she correct?  Only time will tell.

So my decision not to return to work was a difficult one.  On the one hand I like working and it provides satisfaction in getting things done and having clients who are happy with my work. There is also the social aspect of the workplace which I always value.  But on the other hand work can be stressful and demanding.  Client commitments, sales targets, professional development and other business demands can be challenging.  The demands on your personal time is a given and I have always been of the opinion, required, if promotion and success is your ambition.  Alas these things are not quite as important to me any more......

So now I am a lady of leisure.  I have all the time in the world to do what I want!  Well my days are full and I wonder now how I fit a career in there.....  Strange.  I spend most of my time with the family naturally.

Here is a picture from last October when Hurricane Sandy hit the New York area.  This is right in front of my sister's apartment.  A huge tree just toppled over and luckily landed on the side walk and not the house.  Even though her home is inland Hurricane Sandy did much damage to the neighbourhood.  The area closer to the shore was very badly damaged and the clean up continues still.  The area of New York City near the shoreline in pictures.

Let's hope these lives can be put back together.

3rd Chemo Session

On Friday November 12th we went to hospital for the last round of chemo before my surgery which is scheduled for December 8th in London.  Dylan accompanied us as well so he missed a couple of periods of school that day.  He wanted to see what happens in chemotherapy.  I am sure it was mostly boring for him but it is now less mysterious. 

I am given a cocktail of drugs before the actual chemo and they make me quite drowsy.  I will sleep for short periods and then wake up a bit groggy and incoherent.  At one point I had been dreaming and woke up laughing about something.  Dylan found this quite amusing. 

Since chemo I have been feeling the usual flu like symptoms but I also have been prescribed a higher dosage of Gabapentin to relieve the inevitable pain in the leg muscles and joints.  It seems to be working. Doctor also suggested Ibuprofen and as a back up a prescription of Tylenol 3 just in case.

On November 16th I went to hospital for a CT Scan.  This is in preparation of the surgery. What a zoo.  They were backed up due to emergencies so the wait was excruciating.  I wasn't feeling well due to chemo and for CT Scan you must drink 2 big glasses of contrasting liquid in one hour.  To me it tastes like pool water.  They certainly don't dress it up or anything.  At least at St. Mary's hospital it was a flavoured smoothie that was at least drinkable.  They also inject iodine via an IV during the procedure.  While in the apparatus this gives you a metal taste in your mouth (which I already have), makes you feel hot and you feel like you are peeing yourself (which you are not).  Eventually it was all over - actual scan procedure takes only 5 minutes.  The whole thing was 3 1/2 hours and I was finally out of there.  One final comment.... the nurses who were very busy did a great job of getting patients organized and ready for procedure while being very gracious and conscious of the delays.  They did they best to hurry things along.  It is a difficult job.

Appointment in London at Victoria Hospital

Appointment with Dr. Bertrand on Tuesday, November 2nd went very well.  She is quite pleased with the results from the first 2 chemo treatments.  The tumour is smaller and the ascites is all gone.  Did I tell you I can fit into my jeans again?  Yay!

We discussed the surgery which is tentatively scheduled for Thursday, December 8th.  It will be performed approximately 4 weeks after my 3rd chemo treatment which has, unfortunately, not been scheduled yet.  My normal date would have been November 11th but this is Rememberance Day and the Chemo Lounge is closed.  So they are rejigging the schedule and I hope to hear that my appointment will be either the 10th or 12th of November. 

The surgery consists of a total hysterectomy and removal of the omentum.  Sounds extensive and it is....  Here is a link if you are interested in the details. 

On the one hand I am very glad to hear that the chemo is doing its job and then on the other hand I am not looking forward to the surgery.  But who would be?  Best to learn those relaxation techniques and take care of myself to be as strong as physically possible to recover from the surgery.

Healing Journey

Today David and I attended the first session of a program offered through Hope Spring.  This is a 6 week program for people who want to help themselves as they deal with cancer.  The objective is to relieve much of the anxiety and depression, confusion, pain, fatigue and other forms of distress through the use of deep relaxation, using imagery and visualization, goal setting and healthy communication.   Healing Journey program was designed by Dr. Alistair Cunningham of Princess Margaret Hospital.

In our sesson today we went through a deep muscle relaxation exercise which takes about 1/2 hour.  We were lying on the floor while doing this and David fell asleep.  Obviously relaxing for David!  Good exercise though and we are supposed to practice every day.  I think I can handle that.

Healthwise I am feeling good.  The swelling in my abdomen is greatly reduced and so I am more mobile.   I have started going out in the evenings with David when walking our dog Cyrus.  I haven't been able to do this for several months. 

Tomorrow I have an appointment in London with Dr. Bertrand.  She is checking me out after 2 chemo treatments to ensure the chemo is doing the job it's supposed to be doing.  She will also discuss the surgery which may occur about 4 weeks after the third chemo treatment.  The timing for this may be the 2nd week of December or so.  We'll know better tomorrow.

My Adventures with Percocet

Tuesday was my very worst day yet.  In order to get relief from the pain in my legs, feet and hands Dr. Califaretti prescribed Percocet.  As some of you know this is a combination narcotic Oxycodone and non narcotic pain reliever Acetaminophen.  My first pill on Monday night seemed to work immediately in the pain department but I knew something was up when I lost all my dinner.  David cooked a lovely piece of salmon - what a shame it ended up in the toilet.  I still managed to keep fluids down.  At bedtime I took another pill and loaded up on Senokot and Colace (narcotics give you constipation - who knew?) No pain all night - that was great. By 6 am the pain was back so I popped another pill and some more who know what.....At 9 am I got out of bed and decided to have some breakfast.  I was feeling rather nauseous and my Italian background dictates that I need to eat and soon.  I also took some of my nausea pills which are to be used when the feeling hits.  After my first round of chemo I didn't need any of these.  I gobbled down bowl of something nearby - Apple Cinnamon Cheerios.  Not the best choice but I needed something cold and sweet.  That didn't stay long.  Rest of the day was spent on the couch feeling very poorly and any attempt to drink fluid or eat something did not work out.

By the mid afternoon and feeling out done by medication I put in a call to Pat, my nurse coordinator.  After she got the story she consulted with Dr. and got back to me within the half hour.  I knew they could feel my pain.

They felt I was experiencing a side effect of the Percocet - nausea and vomiting.  My most favourite of all the side effects.  Rather than give me another prescription for either nausea or pain she asked me to just keep taking sips of water to stay hydrated and see what tomorrow will bring.  I was all for that.  I decided I could live with some pain instead of taking another Percocet.

By dinner time I could keep down some mashed potatoes and a bit of chicken.  No more bouts of vomiting and I didn't feel so nauseous.  However, the pain was back but I felt could persevere. 

By this morning I am feeling my old self and the pain in the legs is decreasing all on its own anyway.  No more Percocets!

First Chemotherapy Treatment

Thursday, September 30th, 2010

Oh joy...not....

Day started at hospital at 8:30. I had already taken some steroid prescription pills 12 hours and 6 hours before. Plus I had to take an anti nausea pill that morning. More nausea pills for home. They work well. No nausea yet. (fingers crossed)

Hooked me up to IV in a lazy boy type chair. I was given some pre-chemo drugs for nausea and Benadryl. Within minutes I started to feel drowsy from the huge dose of Benadryl. I also started to get ants in my pants and dancing legs. I couldn't close my eyes to doze and I felt like I had the spins from too much booze. Chemo wouldn't be started for another 30 minutes and I did not complain. I just thought ...ok this will subside....

Pharmacist came to explain my chemo drugs and talk about side effects etc. (more on this later) She went into great detail which just confused me but they are pretty accustomed to this so there is lots of paper. She said there are drugs to combat this jitteriness if I wanted. (she noticed by dancing feet) I said no. I am so tough.

Well the first chemo drug started and it takes generally 3 hours for the full dose. Within minutes my chest got heavy and I couldn't breathe. David said my face was starting to turn red. I felt a searing heat rise from my shoulders to the top of my heard. This was no hot flash. More like a f&%*ing volcano. Well thank God there are nurses all over the place (David was already running to get one) and they know this could happen to a percentage of first timers..... well one of them ran over and took the line off and gave me oxygen. Emergency call went out and within a minute they administered another steroid. The steroids help the body accept Taxol (chemo drug). Body doesn’t want it because Taxol kills cells. Obviously the pills were not enough. Now they know and adjustments will be made by the doctor. Doctor by the way (another woman) is great and explained a lot to us on Wednesday.

Anyway I had to wait another 1/2 hour to begin the Taxol and they started with small dosage working the way up to full. My mother was coming by at 11:15 to relieve David and I was so glad she didn't witness this.

All went well after this and no more funny stuff. The heebee geebees went away with the Taxol reaction. Imagine that.  I was also no longer drowsy.

Second drug (Carboplatin) was piece of cake and only took 1/2 hour. Went home at 3:00 pm and felt pretty good. Just a little tired.  Having a needle in your arm for that long is just freaky.