My last cat scan wasn't good. It showed growth in the tumors that are in my liver. We counted a dozen tumors and stopped there. Liver re-section is out of the question because of the amount of tumors I have and their location. So basically unless there is a miracle, I will just continually be on chemotherapy.
Once the chemo stops working I am a candidate for Y-90 radiation (I think I explained this in an earlier post. But if you are interested you can look up the information on it here: http://www.sirtex.com/us/.
When I first started chemo I brought home a fanny pack full of chemo that pumped into my body for 48 hours. This time I am going that again, except it is in pill form. I still go in every other tuesday and get an infusion of avastin. Then the pills (called xeloda) are 7 days on, 7 days off. My insurance (whole story in itself) was being a pain in the butt, but I finally got them (can we say expensive?). They aren't too bad. I take 3 pills in the morning and 3 with dinner. They make me tired and nauseated but that's it. I can take anti-nausea pills and usually I'm fine. (I did get sick once.)
So my insurance was Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Oregon. Awesome insurance. Premiums were $520 a month, but they paid 100% after I met my deductible (which I did after my first appointment in January). Then come July 1st I got forced to switch to some federal pre-existing condition insurance. My premium dropped to $417 a month, but this insurance sucks. They only cover 70%. When your medical bills are over $10,000 a month this leaves a mighty chunk left for us to pay. Not gonna happen. We would starve. So I do my best to ignore the bills. (Not the best way to deal with it, but at this point I don't know what else to do.) Plus I had to re-pay the deductible. It's total crap. Luckily the insurance stuff changes come October 1st. I'm hoping to get back with BCBS. But that also means re-paying my deductible. (That will be 3 times I've paid my deductible in 2013 if you've lost count.) It's just crap that people with cancer have to worry about all this financial BS when we should just be focusing on fighting this nasty disease.
On a better note, I am going to Washington D.C. and Florida in October. Mostly paid for! (Colon Cancer stuff, more info later) I am so excited! I will need a little money.
I am thinking about selling a few quilts to help out with the costs. I have a blog, where I have pictures of some of the quilts I have made/sold in the past. (You can see them here :http://raggedyanniequilts.blogspot.com/ If anyone is interested get ahold of me through facebook, or emailing me: lisaanniepants@gmail.com, or you can send me a text (541) 212-0606. They make great Christmas presents!
I'd like to thank everyone for your continued thoughts and prayers.
Thursday, September 5, 2013
Thursday, May 30, 2013
I'm a slacker...
So I've really been slacking with my blog. I'm going to try and be better about it because I know that quite a few people use this to keep up with what is going on with me.
Right now I'm still doing the "every 3 weeks treatment". My schedule for June is chemo on the 3rd, CAT scan on the 17th and chemo/CAT scan results June 25th.
I'd been not feeling too well. I have had 4 episodes of bad upper stomach pain that would last for a couple days, accompanied by nausea and an all around feeling of yuck. The first time it happened was March 30th (Saturday before Easter). I was sick all day Easter and finally went to the ER Monday April 1st after getting the kids all in bed (didn't want to worry them). I had bloodwork done, and an EKG. Chemo can wreak havoc on your heart so that had me concerned. It can also cause blood clots, but all that was ruled out. They gave me strong IV heartburn medication which did nothing and sent me home.
We attended the NNU cancer awareness baseball game on April 20th. I got sick half way through the game with the same pain. It went away on it's own after a few days. When I went in for Chemo I was dehydrated and had protein and bilirubin in my urine. I got two bags of fluids along with my Avastin and was told to come back if my pain didn't go away.
To make a long story short, after several episodes of this pain, nausea and feeling like crap I did a lot of research because I knew it wasn't heartburn and I was getting scared and frustrated. When reading the side effects of all the medication I am on I came across Cymbalta (which I am taking daily for peripheral neuropathy, and one of the most common side effects is "Upper stomach pain, and gastritis". UGG. I hate the fact that I take one thing to help combat something and it seems to cause another issue which leads to another medication to help that issue etc. It's a vicious circle. So even though I knew from reading that there would be not-so-nice withdrawal symptoms from stopping Cymbalta cold turkey (mostly because it is also used for depression and anxiety) I quit taking it. I have a little more numbness in my hands and feet but I haven't seemed to lose any motor function. I felt like I was losing my mind for a few days, but now....what a difference. No more chest/stomach pains! No more constipation. I feel like a new woman and things are looking up! Now as long as my scan results come back good I feel like I have a renewed hope. I was beginning to get really worried that something was just not right with my body and I thought something horrible was going on. I feel so much relief now, physically and emotionally. :)
My mom and sister came to visit for a week in April. We had a really good visit, but it is really hard to see my mom in the physical/mental state that she is in. She's in her 80's so I guess it is to be expected to some extent, but none the less I wish that she were in better health and it is hard to see a parent in that condition.
Right now I'm still doing the "every 3 weeks treatment". My schedule for June is chemo on the 3rd, CAT scan on the 17th and chemo/CAT scan results June 25th.
I'd been not feeling too well. I have had 4 episodes of bad upper stomach pain that would last for a couple days, accompanied by nausea and an all around feeling of yuck. The first time it happened was March 30th (Saturday before Easter). I was sick all day Easter and finally went to the ER Monday April 1st after getting the kids all in bed (didn't want to worry them). I had bloodwork done, and an EKG. Chemo can wreak havoc on your heart so that had me concerned. It can also cause blood clots, but all that was ruled out. They gave me strong IV heartburn medication which did nothing and sent me home.
We attended the NNU cancer awareness baseball game on April 20th. I got sick half way through the game with the same pain. It went away on it's own after a few days. When I went in for Chemo I was dehydrated and had protein and bilirubin in my urine. I got two bags of fluids along with my Avastin and was told to come back if my pain didn't go away.
To make a long story short, after several episodes of this pain, nausea and feeling like crap I did a lot of research because I knew it wasn't heartburn and I was getting scared and frustrated. When reading the side effects of all the medication I am on I came across Cymbalta (which I am taking daily for peripheral neuropathy, and one of the most common side effects is "Upper stomach pain, and gastritis". UGG. I hate the fact that I take one thing to help combat something and it seems to cause another issue which leads to another medication to help that issue etc. It's a vicious circle. So even though I knew from reading that there would be not-so-nice withdrawal symptoms from stopping Cymbalta cold turkey (mostly because it is also used for depression and anxiety) I quit taking it. I have a little more numbness in my hands and feet but I haven't seemed to lose any motor function. I felt like I was losing my mind for a few days, but now....what a difference. No more chest/stomach pains! No more constipation. I feel like a new woman and things are looking up! Now as long as my scan results come back good I feel like I have a renewed hope. I was beginning to get really worried that something was just not right with my body and I thought something horrible was going on. I feel so much relief now, physically and emotionally. :)
My mom and sister came to visit for a week in April. We had a really good visit, but it is really hard to see my mom in the physical/mental state that she is in. She's in her 80's so I guess it is to be expected to some extent, but none the less I wish that she were in better health and it is hard to see a parent in that condition.
Tuesday, April 2, 2013
Not sure what to think.....
Heard news I hadn't heard before. Everything is stable. No shrinkage, no growth. The same. The Dr. seemed happy. The nurses seemed happy. It wasn't what I wanted to hear but it wasn't the worst I could have heard. Keeping up the same regimen for the next 3 months then scan again. My red blood cells are almost normal (yay!) but my white blood cell counts were up a bit. Just going to keep a eye on things. My kidneys were hurting after my CT scan, so he thinks I probably had a small kidney infection that is clearing up on its own. (From the contrast stuff they have you drink before the procedure).
I've been asked to give an interview for MSTI (Mountain State Tumor Institute) which is associated with St.Lukes. I think it's an on camera thing to promote the new hospital they are building in Fruitland Idaho where MSTI will be located in.
Also they invited my family to a Northwest Nazarene University Baseball game on the 20th. It's a cancer awareness game. They will have activities for the kids, and a balloon release to honor those who have been touched by cancer. They are getting us t-shirts and hats to wear :) It should be an awesome experience.
I've been asked to give an interview for MSTI (Mountain State Tumor Institute) which is associated with St.Lukes. I think it's an on camera thing to promote the new hospital they are building in Fruitland Idaho where MSTI will be located in.
Also they invited my family to a Northwest Nazarene University Baseball game on the 20th. It's a cancer awareness game. They will have activities for the kids, and a balloon release to honor those who have been touched by cancer. They are getting us t-shirts and hats to wear :) It should be an awesome experience.
Wednesday, March 13, 2013
Chemo #21
Twenty One! Unless I have miscounted. ( Which knowing me I very well could have.) This week things went very well. When I went in for treatment three weeks ago, I had a lot of trouble with my port. They had need doing a lot of moves which made me look like I was doing Jane Fonda's workout. The moves did nothing but make me look like an idiot, and entertain my fellow chemo getters. :) They put in some blood clot medicine, and after about 45 minutes in started working. It made me a little nervous, because if it didn't start working right I would have had to have a surgery done to put in a new port.
In less than two weeks I have cat scan number five. And then on April 2, I will go over the cat scan results with my oncologist. I am still only on avastin which makes me really nervous for the cat scan results. Avastin is really easy on me.
The most common side effects of Avastin are:
Nosebleeds
Headache
High blood pressure
Inflammation of the nose
Too much protein in the urine
Taste change
Dry skin
Rectal bleeding
Tear production disorder
Back pain
Inflammation of the skin
I haven't had any nosebleeds in a few weeks now. My nose still hurts occasionally, which must be the "inflammation". I get tired easily, and get headaches on occasion. But other than that, I don't have any other side effects. Knock on wood. In my head I think because I don't feel like crap maybe the medicine isn't working. But my last cat scan I was "only on avastin", and it showed that my tumors in my liver were still shrinking.
The neuropathy in my hands and feet seems to be getting better with the cymbalta. The negative side to getting the feeling back is that I have pain. The doctors are helping me manage it pretty well.
One thing that scares me a little bit, Is the pain that I get occasionally in my upper right abdominal area. I'm sure it's my liver. I can only hope it's the pain of the cancer shrinking away.
Anyone want to fork over a Hawaiian Vacation for Two in June? Jared and I will be having our 20th wedding anniversary!?!
In less than two weeks I have cat scan number five. And then on April 2, I will go over the cat scan results with my oncologist. I am still only on avastin which makes me really nervous for the cat scan results. Avastin is really easy on me.
The most common side effects of Avastin are:
Nosebleeds
Headache
High blood pressure
Inflammation of the nose
Too much protein in the urine
Taste change
Dry skin
Rectal bleeding
Tear production disorder
Back pain
Inflammation of the skin
I haven't had any nosebleeds in a few weeks now. My nose still hurts occasionally, which must be the "inflammation". I get tired easily, and get headaches on occasion. But other than that, I don't have any other side effects. Knock on wood. In my head I think because I don't feel like crap maybe the medicine isn't working. But my last cat scan I was "only on avastin", and it showed that my tumors in my liver were still shrinking.
The neuropathy in my hands and feet seems to be getting better with the cymbalta. The negative side to getting the feeling back is that I have pain. The doctors are helping me manage it pretty well.
One thing that scares me a little bit, Is the pain that I get occasionally in my upper right abdominal area. I'm sure it's my liver. I can only hope it's the pain of the cancer shrinking away.
Anyone want to fork over a Hawaiian Vacation for Two in June? Jared and I will be having our 20th wedding anniversary!?!
Thursday, January 10, 2013
The results..........
I was happily surprised when the Dr. went over my CAT scan with me. The tumors are still shrinking!
So relieved :)
I had another infusion of avastin. I will do just that for another 3 months, and then scan again.
Another little bit of good news: I think the cymbalta is working (knock on wood). I can actually make a
fist, and I haven't had to take as much pain medication.
Thanks for all the prayers/positive thoughts!
So relieved :)
I had another infusion of avastin. I will do just that for another 3 months, and then scan again.
Another little bit of good news: I think the cymbalta is working (knock on wood). I can actually make a
fist, and I haven't had to take as much pain medication.
Thanks for all the prayers/positive thoughts!
Thursday, January 3, 2013
Another scan....
So now I have had 16 chemo treatments. I will go for my 17th on Tuesday.
Tomorrow morning I have a cat scan. I am a little more anxious than usual, because I have only been on avastin since October instead of the cocktail of chemotherapy that I had been getting. I'm hoping that it is doing a good job at keeping the tumors shrunk .
If the tumors have stayed the same size or have shrunk I think that I should be able to just keep on doing the avastin. Avastin is very gentle on me. It would be such a blessing. I am not sure what they will do to me if the tumors have gotten larger or if I have any new cancer.
I will find out what the results of my cat scan when I go in for chemo on Tuesday. Until then I am sure that I will be filled with anxiety.
Keep up the prayers, please. I am doing my part and I hope that God is doing his.
Tomorrow morning I have a cat scan. I am a little more anxious than usual, because I have only been on avastin since October instead of the cocktail of chemotherapy that I had been getting. I'm hoping that it is doing a good job at keeping the tumors shrunk .
If the tumors have stayed the same size or have shrunk I think that I should be able to just keep on doing the avastin. Avastin is very gentle on me. It would be such a blessing. I am not sure what they will do to me if the tumors have gotten larger or if I have any new cancer.
I will find out what the results of my cat scan when I go in for chemo on Tuesday. Until then I am sure that I will be filled with anxiety.
Keep up the prayers, please. I am doing my part and I hope that God is doing his.
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