And another...

Say hello to Reese and Cara. Reese was on surveillance but recently started 3xBEP after a CT showed activity in his retroperitoneal lymph nodes.

And another blogger...

Meet Ted, who had his orchiectomy in February 2008 and has just started chemo for a mass found on a CT.

Good luck Ted!

Another member of the club!

Please welcome David, from Atlanta, to the TC family! He starts 4xBEP on Monday.

Please Support me in the ACS Walk & Roll

Hey all - I've signed up to take part in the American Cancer Society's Walk and Roll fundraiser in Chicago next month. I'm trying to raise $5,000 for cancer research, advocacy, and patient support. It's very easy - no gift is too small! You can donate online with a credit card by visiting my fundraising page and clicking on the "Click Here to Sponsor Me" button above the thermometer. Or you can go straight to the donation page by simply clicking here.

Thanks for your support!

Author! Author!

Some of you may remember my escapade in the clouds shortly after I was able to start flying post-chemo. Well, I did some editing and submitted the story to AOPA (Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association), and the editors there said they would look at it. Many months later, I hadn't heard anything, so I figured they decided not to use my submission, but I asked anyway. Much to my surprise, I was told that AOPA intended to publish my story.

I was slightly disappointed that it wouldn't be published in their print magazine, but it was featured in this week's email newsletter to members. Here's the published version of the story. For the record, I was paid, so I guess that technically makes me a professional published author. That and three bucks can buy me a latte at Starbucks.

Not-so-fond memories

Yesterday evening I had an unpleasant reminder that the side-effects of my treatment aren't quite dead yet. With the sudden change in temperature, I was treated to a sneak attack of Raynaud's Phenomenon. Basically, my fingertips get cold, change colors (to white, blue, or red), then throb and tingle. In fact, I'm having another attack as I write this.

Meanwhile, combined with peripheral neuropathy - which I still have although it doesn't usually bother me - I can't even feel my fingertips. If I rub them against parts of my hand that have feeling, it's like I have the pads of a dog's paw touching me. Very odd.

Hopefully this won't be a constant problem all winter, but I'll ask Dr. V. next month when I go for my next CT & labs. Maybe some electric hand-warmers are in the cards for me.

Keep on truckin'

Had my first post-RPLND CT today, as well as labs. Sarah started freaking out last night, "What if there are spots in the pictures? I told her, "Well, then I guess I'd be a leopard." She stopped talking about it after that.

As for today's pictures, they look good now that the "cancer leftovers" have been removed. Everything looks stable, including that one-time potential trouble spot in the lower lobe of my left lung.

Honestly we did more chit-chat w/ Dr. V. and nurse G. about life in general than talking about cancer; nice to feel mostly back to normal...There was of course that damn bump on my head that showed up about 5 minutes after they started pumping the contrast dye into my veins. So wonderful feeling like I'm wetting myself while my head sprouts a horn. They both chuckled at Sarah's comment regarding the cruel nature of removing a man's testicle and then surgically placing an arrow (the scars) on his body to point out the fact that it is gone. This is quickly becoming her favorite TC joke, but it makes me a little “testy” (which is her second favorite TC joke).

We did talk Dr. V about getting "Harry the Bastard" (the port-a-cath) out and he agreed it would be OK, so that'll be the next exciting thing. The best part about getting Harry out is that I can finally quit the coumadin I've been taking daily for the last 6+ months.

But, of course, I couldn't just give up one medicine without starting another now, could I? The neuropathy has been causing me problems at night, especially when trying to sleep, so I'm starting on Neurontin, which won't do anything about the numbness but will stop the pain receptors in my extremities from firing at random like they do presently. Hopefully this will help, and hopefully the neuropathy will eventually ride off into the sunset. The drug isn't cheap, even as a generic ($75 for this round, but I'll go the mail order route after since it's quite a bit cheaper), but if it helps it will definitely be worth it.

It's over! (For now)

Can't sleep, so might as well blog.

The last day of chemo went so smoothly, it was almost anticlimactic. I drew nurse Julie, who knows how to get things done quickly. She knew she didn't have to wait for lab results to order my Bleo, so not nearly as much down time this time. We were in at 8:30 and out by 10:00. Julie even circulated a special "purple heart" end-of-chemo certificate for all the docs, nurses, and staff to sign. I even got a round of applause from the chemo nurses when I was done. I'm sure Sarah will post pics in the next day or so.

My last hat certainly drew rave reviews. Again, pics are coming. Let me just say that I never thought I would have used the hat I wore in my brother's wedding ever again! Sarah made quite the creation.

The only downer is that I didn't get my Aranesp shot for anemia after all. It wasn't enough (for the insurance folks, I'm guessing) that my hemoglobin was below 10 and my hematocrit below 28% - they had to test something else called serum EPO (erythropoietin), and it wasn't low enough (i.e., below 500 ). I think it's because Aranesp is very similar to EPO, which is what stimluates red blood cell growth. So long story short (too late, I know), my body seems to be returning to the point where it can produce RBC on its own. Since my anemia is generally connected with cisplatin chemotherapy, and I'm two weeks out from my last dose of cisplatin, no Aranesp. Oh, well.

Now the waiting game begins. My CT scan is scheduled for next Tuesday, at which time a decision will probably be made (in consultation with IU) regarding surgery and surgery scheduled (4-6 weeks out) if necessary.

Meanwhile, I'll return slowly to normal, probably just in time to have surgery and start the recovery process all over again. Ain't life grand?

One down, one to go

Almost there.

Almost done.

I had my second-to-last chemo treatment (Bleomycin push) yesterday. Hard to believe that it's almost over.

My stomach is starting to make its way back to normal. Not sure how long I'll need to stay on the Nexium for acid reflux...

I may have said it before, but I don't recommend chemo for anyone, unless it's to save your life. Here's a few things I won't miss when I'm done with chemo:

- Having a gag reflex every time I try to spit after brushing my teeth
- The nauseating smell of microwave buttered popcorn in the chemo room
- Having to manage 7-10 meds at once (practice for growing old, I suppose)
- Reporting on the state of my bowel movements
- Waiting for chemo orders from the doctor 2 hours after my blood draw is finished
- Taking an IV pole to the bathroom
- Taking two benadryl (diphenhydramine) capsules at once before the Bleo push (I would make a poor drug addict)
- Looking like the Sta-Puff Marshmallow Man from all the steroids
- Not being able to drink water because my taste buds are burned up (at least I didn't get the mouth sores that were predicted)
- Narcoleptic tendencies (4 hour naps, anyone?)
- Running the lint roller over my scalp after showering to catch the hair follicles that are falling out
- Nurse Sarah, the Human Hovercraft :)
- Tiring out after working a half day at a desk job
- Sitting around the house when you're too tired to work but can't sleep either
- Sitting in a vinyl barcolounger with an IV drip for 5 hours at a time
- Seeing how much modern medicine costs (from the insurance forms)
- Having bad gas (worse than usual, I mean)
- Avoiding the sun like Dracula
- Having to mop my head after eating anything remotely spicy
- The drive to the "Cancer Box" (Missouri Cancer Associates building)

I'm sure I'll think of some more things later.

Ugh - almost done

Survived (but just barely) the last day of etoposide and cisplatinum in cycle 4. Wasn't able to miss out on a visit to the porcelain god, unfortunately, but after getting some food in me, I felt better. I'm also taking Emend this weekend to help with the nausea. Small steps. Small steps.

Again, I wouldn't recommend this for anyone (unless you have TC, and even then, with some reluctance). I am getting tired. But it will be over soon.

Round 4

The fourth day of round four is now done.
Four of four, something poetic there, but I'll spare you.
Only one more day of EP. Then day 8 and 15 or B and it's done!
True to form, this round is harder on Frank's system. The "seal was broken" last night. In other words Frank will not be getting a certificate for keeping his stomach from turning inside out. On the good side, once he prayed to the porcelain god he did feel better.
What was life like before cancer?
My mom was here at the beginning of the week and did chemo chair duty for me so I was able to spend two mornings in the office getting some work for an upcoming meeting accomplished. Last week Frank's dad (recently retired) was here to help his mom (still teaching school) know that he's doing ok. We appreciate their presence.
The dog begs to be fed and I need to not spend time hunched over this computer.
Peace,
Sarah

Round 3 week 3..... 

Not a crouching tiger, nor a hidden dragon.... 

Round 3 week 2 (ok it was Monday, March 14, but it was the week of St. Pat's)  

A reminder shot. This is from the first day of the frist round of chemo. I don't want to spend the time to see if I can get two pics side by side, but I put it here for comparison to yesterday's nana hat pic. In this one he's feeling pretty crappy, on this day the tumor markers were well over 11,000. (they are supposed to be <8). In the nana pic, at the begining of the week they were down to 86. So chemo is working, not only on the way he looks, but also on the cancer.  

Round 3 Day 5. What to say about this hat? Sarah purchased it during the Atlanta Olympics from the trunk of a car. It's label says that it is "Afrique Nana" made in Ghana. What else can be said...? 

Except that it can also do this and many other combinations that are not caught on film.  

Round 3 Day 4. Is he a flower pot or Cindy Loo Who?  

The bonus of this hat is that it is reversable! Two, two, two hats in one.  

Round 3 Day 3 found him in a tye die: hat and shirt and wait for it.....