Nothing surprising, just basically the same as the summary I was given last week. No new cancer anywhere (YAY!) And the cancer in my liver is smaller. We compared the scan from March with the new one, and the tumors are definitely shrinking.
The Dr is sending my scans to a surgeon in Boise to see if I am a candidate for a procedure called Yttrium-90 Radioembolization. Y-90 for short. You can google it, Or watch a video about it here : Y-90
I will know more about whether or not I will have this done in two weeks. I will also continue Chemo for 3 more months.
This time the Dr totally cut out the Oxylaplatin (this is the chemo that makes my hands numb, and makes it painful to eat or touch cold stuff.) The side effects are still with me even though he halved my dose last time. He does not want it to become permanent. I still got my 5FU + Leucovorin (IV+ 46 hours pump) and my avastin.
My iron level went up to 9.8...which is an awesome improvement. All my other blood levels are fine.
I am nervous for what is to come, but I am hoping that the Y-90 and the chemo will change my prognosis from non-curable to curable.
So things so far are going good. I thank everyone for their prayers :)
Wednesday, July 25, 2012
Friday, July 20, 2012
My first "Let's see what's going on" CAT scan...
My appointment was a 8am Tuesday the 17th. I met with the CAT scan lady, she gave me a nice drink (ick) of orange soda mixed with contrast dye. The dye makes structures and organs easier to see on the CT pictures. That was unpleasant. After a while they took me back to the room with the machine. Jackie was there from MSTI (Mountain State Tumor Institute) which is practically right next door to access my chest port so that I wouldn't have to have an IV (for more dye which is put right into the vein). She tried to access it twice. It wouldn't work. She left the second try in my chest so that I could get a chest xray to see why it wasn't working. So I had to get an IV :( but it wasn't too bad. The scan itself only took 10 minutes max. The IV dye makes you feel hot, weird and like you peed your pants. Luckily they warn you ahead of time so you don't freak out..LOL
I went and had a chest xray, and walked over to MSTI to wait for the results. I didn't have to wait long. It was in the right place. Now I was facing another surgery to have another port placed. The Chemo that I am on cannot be given with just a normal IV. I have to have a port. I was getting pretty bummed and nervous. One of the nurses, Mandy suggested that we try a new box of port needles. She had heard about some defective ones. As much as I didn't want to get jabbed again, I wanted to try. Anything to avoid surgery. Jackie took out the second needle and put in the 3rd out of the new box and TADA! It worked! I was so relieved, and so ready to go home.
So then the waiting started. Jackie said I could call MSTI the next day and they would have my results. I stalled and didn't call until Wednesday afternoon. The lady I talked to said I needed to wait until Tuesday when I had my next Chemo and my next appointment with my oncologist so he could review the results with me. Ugg. So then I started thinking the worst. Jared knew I was freaking out a little and called MSTI and asked to talk with Jackie. She pulled the results and read the summary to Jared. He handed the phone to me, and Jackie read the summary to me. The only things I remember and that actually made sense to me were "No new Mets" ( so no new cancer ) and the words "Significantly smaller". YAY! Not exactly the "we can't see any cancer anywhere" answer that I wanted. But very good news.
Tuesday I will get to get more detailed results from my doctor. But I happy with what I know so far. I hope that Tuesday will bring more good news :)
Thank you for all the prayers and positive thoughts. They are working!
I went and had a chest xray, and walked over to MSTI to wait for the results. I didn't have to wait long. It was in the right place. Now I was facing another surgery to have another port placed. The Chemo that I am on cannot be given with just a normal IV. I have to have a port. I was getting pretty bummed and nervous. One of the nurses, Mandy suggested that we try a new box of port needles. She had heard about some defective ones. As much as I didn't want to get jabbed again, I wanted to try. Anything to avoid surgery. Jackie took out the second needle and put in the 3rd out of the new box and TADA! It worked! I was so relieved, and so ready to go home.
So then the waiting started. Jackie said I could call MSTI the next day and they would have my results. I stalled and didn't call until Wednesday afternoon. The lady I talked to said I needed to wait until Tuesday when I had my next Chemo and my next appointment with my oncologist so he could review the results with me. Ugg. So then I started thinking the worst. Jared knew I was freaking out a little and called MSTI and asked to talk with Jackie. She pulled the results and read the summary to Jared. He handed the phone to me, and Jackie read the summary to me. The only things I remember and that actually made sense to me were "No new Mets" ( so no new cancer ) and the words "Significantly smaller". YAY! Not exactly the "we can't see any cancer anywhere" answer that I wanted. But very good news.
Tuesday I will get to get more detailed results from my doctor. But I happy with what I know so far. I hope that Tuesday will bring more good news :)
Thank you for all the prayers and positive thoughts. They are working!
Wednesday, July 11, 2012
I need to learn not to assume....
So I assumed because I was scheduled for a CAT scan that that meant the end of Chemotherapy for a while. I assumed wrong. I have 3 more months of Chemo. I was really bummed when I heard this, but oh well. I have no choice.
My neuropathy didn't fully go away in between treatments this time so they cut my dose of oxaliplatin. They also had me get Glutamine. It's a powder that I have to take 3 times a day. It should help with the neuropathy and possibly with the heart burn.
My CAT scan is scheduled for next Tuesday (the 17th). Then I have Chemo again on the 24th. Then again every two weeks until I have 12 completed.
Chemo hasn't been too bad this time. Probably because of the lower dose. But the last few times I haven't felt the effects fully until Friday. So we will see.
I will continue with what the doctor wants me to do. All I can do is put my trust in the people at MSTI (Mountain State Tumor Institute).
My neuropathy didn't fully go away in between treatments this time so they cut my dose of oxaliplatin. They also had me get Glutamine. It's a powder that I have to take 3 times a day. It should help with the neuropathy and possibly with the heart burn.
My CAT scan is scheduled for next Tuesday (the 17th). Then I have Chemo again on the 24th. Then again every two weeks until I have 12 completed.
Chemo hasn't been too bad this time. Probably because of the lower dose. But the last few times I haven't felt the effects fully until Friday. So we will see.
I will continue with what the doctor wants me to do. All I can do is put my trust in the people at MSTI (Mountain State Tumor Institute).
Tuesday, July 3, 2012
Sort of Normal Today....
I am finally feeling better today, except for chest pains brought on by acid re-flux. The chemo effects my stomach, and my intestines along with just about everything else in my body. So instead of the throwing up (which I am sooooo glad I haven't done, yet) I have chest pains whenever I swallow. It feels like I am having a heart attack. But I know I'm not. I went to the MSTI clinic yesterday and got a prescription for prilosec and zantac. It helps a little. Within a few days it is supposed to help quite a bit. I hope so, because I would love to eat without having a "coronary" every time I swallow something.
My neuropathy is still bothering me, but it is getting a little better every day. I'm sipping on a cold pop right now, and as long as I just sip... it doesn't bother me much except a little tingling in my lips and tongue. I should be able to eat ice cream, maybe by tomorrow.
I am so glad I only have one more treatment. I'm not sure my body could take many more doses of this potent stuff. But really I have nothing to complain about. It could be so much worse. And in 3 weeks I am going to have my CAT scan, where they miraculously won't be able to find a single cancer cell in my body :). Because my Father in Heaven knows that it isn't time for me to be with him yet. I have sporting events to attend for the next 10 years (at least).I have sons who are going to need me to tell them whether they have picked the right girl. I have daughters that need me there to help them get ready for Prom, and weddings, and make sure their husbands are treating them like queens. I have lots of grand babies in the future that are going to need a grandma. And I have a husband who would be lost without me. I can't go anywhere. Not for at least 40 more years. No negotiations.
My neuropathy is still bothering me, but it is getting a little better every day. I'm sipping on a cold pop right now, and as long as I just sip... it doesn't bother me much except a little tingling in my lips and tongue. I should be able to eat ice cream, maybe by tomorrow.
I am so glad I only have one more treatment. I'm not sure my body could take many more doses of this potent stuff. But really I have nothing to complain about. It could be so much worse. And in 3 weeks I am going to have my CAT scan, where they miraculously won't be able to find a single cancer cell in my body :). Because my Father in Heaven knows that it isn't time for me to be with him yet. I have sporting events to attend for the next 10 years (at least).I have sons who are going to need me to tell them whether they have picked the right girl. I have daughters that need me there to help them get ready for Prom, and weddings, and make sure their husbands are treating them like queens. I have lots of grand babies in the future that are going to need a grandma. And I have a husband who would be lost without me. I can't go anywhere. Not for at least 40 more years. No negotiations.
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