April 9th

I have been scanned now there is a plan! I had a PET scan and MRI on Thursday and met with the oncologist on Friday. These new drugs are doing a good job. I was super relieved to hear that. It was funny (not really) when we first met with the oncologist there were computer issues and he was not able to go through most of the scan results with us and based most of the drug reactions to the measure of a tumor marker (that is a measure from a blood test, I believe it is a measure of enzymes to see how active the cancer is) anyway, it went way down which was super positive, but I am one who likes to actually see that the actual cancer has diminished. That is probably part of my personality and enhanced somewhat by my job with things being very definitive and measurable. He also said initially that some of the areas had not changed which I was also disappointed by. Anyway, when the computers came back on line I was getting some medicine in the infusion room and the physician's assistant for the oncologist came to see us, and was able to tell us good news. There were places in just two treatments that had their activity measured as less than half. That made me very happy.

But this is the plan, when we met with the oncologist we decided to do something called chemoembolization. That is the procedure I was hoping not to have to do, except for it is very effective, and super fast acting. Chemo can gain the same results but it may take longer so this will get us to where we want to be faster. This is a procedure which will target the liver. I will have to have this surgery twice because I have issues on both lobes of the liver. I am not excited about this (medicial people will probably think this is cool, but I hate health things, lucky me). The procedure will be threading a catheder up into my arterie and putting intense chemo into the liver, three different kinds, that I don't remember. I do remember one I have heard of and patients call it the red death. Sounds pretty awesome huh? And then they put in some other agent to keep it all stuck in there by blocking blood flows to the liver on that side. So it is not a long procedure 2ish hours. I have to be in the hospital one day as long as I am able to pass all their tests to leave the hospital. I will be sick. It will be like a flu-y thing, and I guess there could be some pain. There is a small risk for liver failure so that is the small worrisome risk, but we all do the things that we need to do. The first procedure is scheduled for April 9th. It is possible that I will be able to get the next procedure in four weeks after as long as the blood tests and healing show I am healthy and ready for round 2. Oncology and the surgeon that is doing this procedure think this procedure is super cool because they can do it a bunch of times. That is sort of cool unless you are the patient, so lets hope two times is the charm in this case. The oncologist is always so super positive, he talks like it will just take care of the issue, and says it is like 85% effective. The homeopathic doctor has said it is not as toxic to the body because chemo is not floating through all of the body systems. So here we go. And ps, the icing on the cake will be more chemo when I am able to take it. There is always more chemo, so at least we know that these drugs are doing it.

We chose the 9th because I want to go home and be with family at Easter. It will be the Friday after Easter we return to the CTCA. Last year at this time we had to stay home at Easter, which dissapointed me, so that we could fly out so I could have a lumpectomy. I am not super cool with Easter/springtime turning into an annual surgery event. I do have to say, I am relieved to get a break from the chemo until I get the surgery and then end up not feeling too awesome, but right now it is nice to feel relief from being a germophob and some side effects.

The worst hair ever!!!!!!

No really, and it has nothing to do with it falling out, well except for I got the worst haircut ever. Ok, today I was having a bad hair day (surprise). I had that last haircut and told the haircut lady at best cuts (sure) to cut the sides with a guard and keep the top longer, she seemed to be going for a 80's shaved sides long top for a minute (gasp) and I guided her out of that mess into another one! Today if you would give me a little slimy hair goo, and a little square mustache, hmmm, Hitler hair! No joke! I had my hair dyed dark a while ago which didn't really help matters! I came home and told Craig that I had named my hairstyle, and to guess what it was. He was going to, then panicked as a good husband would, and then confirmed that is exactly what he thought of when I brought it up! What an incredible mess! Thank goodness for the lady at work tomorrow who is going to help me fix this debacle!

My hair, my hair, my hair is falling out

At least it is not so cold. It is crappy to have to wear scarves and a winter hat. I am not bald yet, but it is falling out like nobody's business. I got it cut short. It is so messy when it falls out. Oh well. It gives the impression I have some hair yet, but maybe when I wash it I will wash it all off! I have had it much longer than I expected so it could be worse.

Soon comes a moment of truth

I have finished two whole chemos (3 treatments equal a whole treatment) - thank goodness! Last Friday went very smoothly, my mom went with me. I had a few less platelets than they would like so they gave me a 75% dose, now for those of you who mentally calculated 25% less effective, that is exactly what I thought, but the physician's assistant said that is not the case. So it had better be working hard! It also turns out that I am prone to blasted thrush on this chemo. Oh I hate it. At least it wasn't as bad as last time. Anyway because of being on the chemo they don't want to give me magic pills to make it go away, but instead I get these lozenges that are like the white tums and you have to suck on them till they are gone. Gross. I am so hoping that this will be the last time and not be a chronic thing.

But this will be the week with the moment of truth. I get a PET scan on Thursday and and MRI. At least I don't have to drink anything. I am nervous. I will probably be all crazy my Friday, I don't even like to eat if I think they are going to tell me bad news, I tell Craig I am going to toss my cookies right in the waiting room on the doctor. A couple of times Craig has encouraged that. This week will decide the big plan for the rest of treatment. I am sure there will be more chemo, but there could be super chemo in there too, which this is the time they are going to be deciding that. Let's hope I can be a good enough patient for that.

On a positive note, we did learn that our friend that has breast cancer as well, and has taken the same drugs (I have one extra) her whole primary tumor went away with six treatments, and there were no issues found in her lymph nodes! This is very good news. I am not sure how common it is for chemotherapy alone to kill an entire tumor. We are super happy for our friend, but at the same time that has encouraged me too. It makes me hope for a dramatic change as well.

Treatment 2, round 2.

In case that title sounds confusing, don't worry, there is some sort of system that the hospital uses to count the chemos and I don't get it. When I think I do, it always leads to some sort of confusion with the oncologist, nurse, nurse practitioner, or maybe just everyone.

Everything when super extra smoothly yesterday. SO, so nice. My sister Jenny went with me to the treatment to "watch" me. The planes were on time, there were no lasting side effect issues to talk about, the schedule went pretty much on time, so I was so happy. Plus we learned something very important. The patient has their own tv (see how important) and they recently changed the format which has been nice, but we discovered that they have movies on there that you can choose and watch. Well neither of us got into that Twilight craze, but were interested because of the amount of people who said how awesome it was, so that is what we did for a bit of the time. It was pretty good. Now they need to get the sequels on there so we can watch those. :) It really is nice to be in a routine.

The only thing that is sort of weird is that I was taking a drug that I am not taking anymore because I have had a lasting side effect from that. It is to do with the kidneys. Nothing seems to be breaking down, nothing hurts, everything works, but I wish it would get better. It may be a time taking thing. Oh well. Plus I am trying to help that mess out with some homeopathic supports.

So things are well. I am getting well-er. One more treatment in this round. A week off, then the moment of truth! It will be here in a minute!

And Jenny and I are going to breakfast this morning and a little shopping! That is going to be awesome!