Today is May 6, 2014. The last time I updated my journey was on August 2013. Wow! Time travels so fast. Where does it go? Well really I have been dealing with hand and feet syndrome and so typing has really been a chore for me. This syndrome comes along with the chemotherapy I have been on (Xeloda and Ixempra). It's where your fingers are tender and sore to touch and so are your feet. They get all red and spongy in some spots, cracked and dry. Soft fluffy socks has been my friend lately and sometimes that's all I want to wear, even when I go places. Shoes are not very comfortable during those times. Along with that, I have also been dealing with neuropathy in the same areas. I recently started accupuncture to try to get some relief for that. I really can't tell if it's helping yet. I have only had four sessions and I will go for the fifth one tomorrow. Apparently you have to have several sessions before you can see results. Even though I have these complaints this particular chemotherapy has been keeping things stable. The last time I updated my journey I was just starting on these new drugs and they are keeping things in check. Even though they have their side effects, I am still grateful. Remember the progression on the liver I mentioned in the last post? Well it is stable and has been reduced in size. That was really good to hear.
April 3 was the last time I had a doctor's visit. March 31st were my last scans. They all came out well. My Numbers were not up or down and I didn't have any new issues. I was so happy to hear that news. So my doctor placed me on a chemo vacation for a while. First he took me off the chemo pills (Xeloda) for 3 weeks and reduced the time to take them from 2 weeks on and 1 week off to 1 week on and 1 week off. And he completely took me off the infusion (Ixempra) until I don't know when. We will see what the plan is when I see him in July. Yes I said July. I was doing so well he said not to come back for 3 months. So I will go in for more scans at the end of June and I will see him in July. Let's pray together that all will be well at that time.
I am truly enjoying the energy I have these days and enjoying my taste buds being back. Yes, and you can tell I'm enjoying eating I have even picked up a few pounds. It feels so good not to feel so bad. My hair is slowly growing back. I'm enjoying being able to do things and go places with the family. I do feel a bit out of shape though and trying to build my strength up by exercising. Thanks to mom who sent me her exercise bike. I try to ride it at least four times a week. With the weather being so beautiful I need to incorporate some outside walking...after I invest in some good walking shoes that don't hurt. I took my husband shoe shopping with me a few weeks ago. I bet I tried on ten pair of tennis shoes that evening. Have you ever see on TV where the shoe clerk is carrying a stack of shoe boxes for the customer to try on? Well that's the way my husband looked while helping me out. i had him weighted down with boxes and boxes. He was so patient. Needless to say I left the store without any shoes because none of them made my feet happy.
Thanks to all of you who continue to check on me, encourage me, send cards, flowers, food and most of all those that continue to pray for me. I have the best support system ever! And that's part of my healing and I have you all to thank for that.
I have a list of things I wanna do before summer is over, so if you try to contact me and I don't answer, I may be horseback riding, sailing, camping or maybe at an O'jays concert...LOL.
Love you much...until next time.
Tuesday, May 6, 2014
Tuesday, August 27, 2013
Update Time! Summer 2013
Hello!! Yes, I know it's been a while since I have visited and updated my blog. And I know you have been wondering how I am doing because I know you love me like that. Well, I had a round of testing in July and the CT scan revealed a lesion on my liver had increased in size. My doctor recommended a liver biopsy which was done as an MRI guided biopsy and the test came back showing some progression. Of course that brought about a change in my chemotherapy. New drugs were introduced. So as of today I am on 8 pills of Xeloda a day for two weeks and off 7 days and Ixempra which is given through an IV for 3 hours. This is still done every 3 weeks. And of course I get my healing juice delivered to me on a regular basis by my dear sister. The healing juice consist of lots of green healthy organic vegetables and delicious carrot juice. She delivers it and expects me to drink one of the little cute jars she so kindly package the juice in, every hour. One day she delivered 8 jars. So each hour I had a jar of juice to drink up until bedtime. It seem like those hours were coming every minute :o). The juice really gives me energy. It gives me so much pick me up to where I have even been getting in a little exercise this summer by doing some bike riding and doing some water aerobics when I feel like it. I really enjoy bike riding and plan to do more of that after my husband fix the flat tire. Not sure what's taking him so long.
I can't believe summer is almost over. It went so fast! We didn't go to Hawaii, Jamaica or anywhere like that. But, we got our pool up and running...it was a mess!! It look like Shrek and alligators lived in it. I have the best pool guy ever!! My husband! He got that pool so crystal clear and we couldn't wait to get in it. So we spent a lot of time in the back yard. And of course they had their share of movie watching. So now they are all back in school. I want to know when does the tears stop flowing?? Frederick left on Saturday headed back to Austin and I was all teary eyed once again watching him drive off. He forgot something and had to turn around and I was so glad to see him...like he was coming back to stay. I just got all teary eyed again when he drove off. When Monday morning came and Asa left to begin her Junior year, I got all teary eyed watching her leave. When the twins Alafia and Assata got all dressed and I dropped them off at school, I just shook my head and said, I don't have anymore babies. When Janee' got in her car I watched her drive off to school and yes, I got all teary eyed again even though she would be back in a few hours. That's just me! Before you know it, they will be grown and gone and I will miss them.
Ok, back to the new chemo...the new chemotherapy hits me right away, unlike the last chemo Kadcyla. But this one puts me on the couch a little longer. My dear friend Chris told me that when I'm feeling that way, the chemo is kicking those cancer cells to the curb. And I believe that is so true. My hair is growing back, but the doctor told me that it will all come out again. So we will see what happens. My head has a mind of it's own and it just might want to keep hair on it this time. This Friday will be my second round of the new chemo and I am looking forward to it because I want to get to those remission numbers. When the doctor told me they were changing my chemo again, I wanted to just quit and I mean quit. I was ready to stop it and just do my own thing. After a long conversation with my husband he convinced me to hang in there because I was to close to my numbers. And I agreed. I agreed to continue the fight. Even though I have achy feet along with the neuropathy and restless nights, I am still staying positive because I do know that this too shall pass.
Well, I am going to call it a night by drinking these last two jars of healing juice my sister made for me. Praying that it's restoring all those cells that need to be restored.
Goodnight!
I can't believe summer is almost over. It went so fast! We didn't go to Hawaii, Jamaica or anywhere like that. But, we got our pool up and running...it was a mess!! It look like Shrek and alligators lived in it. I have the best pool guy ever!! My husband! He got that pool so crystal clear and we couldn't wait to get in it. So we spent a lot of time in the back yard. And of course they had their share of movie watching. So now they are all back in school. I want to know when does the tears stop flowing?? Frederick left on Saturday headed back to Austin and I was all teary eyed once again watching him drive off. He forgot something and had to turn around and I was so glad to see him...like he was coming back to stay. I just got all teary eyed again when he drove off. When Monday morning came and Asa left to begin her Junior year, I got all teary eyed watching her leave. When the twins Alafia and Assata got all dressed and I dropped them off at school, I just shook my head and said, I don't have anymore babies. When Janee' got in her car I watched her drive off to school and yes, I got all teary eyed again even though she would be back in a few hours. That's just me! Before you know it, they will be grown and gone and I will miss them.
Ok, back to the new chemo...the new chemotherapy hits me right away, unlike the last chemo Kadcyla. But this one puts me on the couch a little longer. My dear friend Chris told me that when I'm feeling that way, the chemo is kicking those cancer cells to the curb. And I believe that is so true. My hair is growing back, but the doctor told me that it will all come out again. So we will see what happens. My head has a mind of it's own and it just might want to keep hair on it this time. This Friday will be my second round of the new chemo and I am looking forward to it because I want to get to those remission numbers. When the doctor told me they were changing my chemo again, I wanted to just quit and I mean quit. I was ready to stop it and just do my own thing. After a long conversation with my husband he convinced me to hang in there because I was to close to my numbers. And I agreed. I agreed to continue the fight. Even though I have achy feet along with the neuropathy and restless nights, I am still staying positive because I do know that this too shall pass.
Well, I am going to call it a night by drinking these last two jars of healing juice my sister made for me. Praying that it's restoring all those cells that need to be restored.
Goodnight!
Monday, July 8, 2013
Update!
Hi family and friends. Yes, it has been a while since I dropped in to post something along my journey. A lot has happened since I was here last. I have lost a few toenails along the way...now that took me by surprise. I actually cried when I looked down at my feet and they were missing in action. My acne and skin rashes are much better. The acne is leaving some not so cute marks. I will have to find me some kind of scar cream to cover those spots. I was blessed to see my 48th birthday on June 10th. And I am on a new chemo drug. My doctor recommended a new one because the other one stopped working so it was time for a change. I am now on a drug called Kadcyla (TDM1). So far it is working well. The side effects doesn't seem to be as harsh as the drug that I was on before. I seem to be tolerating this one fairly well. I do tend to run a low grade temperature along with some fatigue around the third day after I have received chemotherapy. I can see a little hair growing and my taste buds are much better. Don't know how good that is because I tend to eat a little more. My fingernails are looking better and my markers are back on the downward again. Praying this time I hit the remission mark.
It's summertime, it's hot and the kids are home in full force. Continued thanks to those of you who help by bringing food and goodies by to us. It sure does help out a lot. Fred is in Austin going to summer school and playing baseball with a summer league. Janee' is in summer school for both summer sessions. Asa just signed up for driver's ed. and she is also gearing up to teach swimming lessons to a couple of our church members children. Alafia, Assata and Ramsey are hanging out in the pool and playing video games. They need to get busy doing something else. Ramsey is our little extra six year old boy who loves to come spend time with us any chance he gets. He will be leaving us on the 15th of July. I think I want summer to slow down. I enjoy having the kids around. Fred is working with a few days off here and there.
Exercise is on my schedule. I really need to tone and I think that will help with the numbness in my feet and fingers.
The plan is to do water aerobics, walk and ride the bicycle once my husband air up the tires. Eating healthy is still on my list(sometimes I take a detour) but try to continue on path along with juicing...my goal is to totally be off chemo once I hit the remission mark. Keep on praying for me. Love yall!
It's summertime, it's hot and the kids are home in full force. Continued thanks to those of you who help by bringing food and goodies by to us. It sure does help out a lot. Fred is in Austin going to summer school and playing baseball with a summer league. Janee' is in summer school for both summer sessions. Asa just signed up for driver's ed. and she is also gearing up to teach swimming lessons to a couple of our church members children. Alafia, Assata and Ramsey are hanging out in the pool and playing video games. They need to get busy doing something else. Ramsey is our little extra six year old boy who loves to come spend time with us any chance he gets. He will be leaving us on the 15th of July. I think I want summer to slow down. I enjoy having the kids around. Fred is working with a few days off here and there.
Exercise is on my schedule. I really need to tone and I think that will help with the numbness in my feet and fingers.
The plan is to do water aerobics, walk and ride the bicycle once my husband air up the tires. Eating healthy is still on my list(sometimes I take a detour) but try to continue on path along with juicing...my goal is to totally be off chemo once I hit the remission mark. Keep on praying for me. Love yall!
Tuesday, April 2, 2013
Good News!
The Definition of tumor marker is a biochemical indicator of cancer presence: a substance in the blood or urine that indicates, either specifically or by its high level, the presence of a malignant tumor in the body.
I am so happy to report that my tumor went from 67.7 to 49.7. In October it was 147. God is soooo good.
I am so happy to report that my tumor went from 67.7 to 49.7. In October it was 147. God is soooo good.
Wednesday, March 13, 2013
Nails Gone!
Hi yall!
Well a couple of posts ago I mentioned my nails were looking not so pretty and I was having issues with them. Because chemotherapy is very drying to your tissues, your nails can become brittle and yellow. Dry nails will break and crack easily. This is all due to one of the meds I'm on called Taxotere or Docetaxel or Taxol. So to date I have lost the top half of my fingernails on two fingers and it doesn't look so cute. I think I need to go find me one of those back scratchers, because with these nails I can't scratch a good itch. From what I have read the fingernails will recover and so will the toenails, it will just take them a bit longer. But that's okay, this too shall pass. Right? Have a wonderful blessed day!
Well a couple of posts ago I mentioned my nails were looking not so pretty and I was having issues with them. Because chemotherapy is very drying to your tissues, your nails can become brittle and yellow. Dry nails will break and crack easily. This is all due to one of the meds I'm on called Taxotere or Docetaxel or Taxol. So to date I have lost the top half of my fingernails on two fingers and it doesn't look so cute. I think I need to go find me one of those back scratchers, because with these nails I can't scratch a good itch. From what I have read the fingernails will recover and so will the toenails, it will just take them a bit longer. But that's okay, this too shall pass. Right? Have a wonderful blessed day!
Spring Surprise!
On Saturday morning I was in the kitchen about to cook breakfast and heard a knock at the door. I went to the door and there stood my Ponderosa Family once again with a big surprise. They were here to beautify my yard!!! And to see this is the way their kids spend their time on spring break to help and bless others, were amazing. They were very hard at work. They cleaned flowerbeds, planted flowers, palm trees, and beautified two areas in the yard with a truck load of flowers! They even scheduled a professional lawn crew to come cut, edge and trim. They did a great job also. When I look out my kitchen window I see all these beautiful flowers and that puts a big smile on my face. Thanks so much to the Wyndham's, Reed's, Ransom's and the Schmidt's. Here is a photo of some of their beautiful hard work. Enjoy!
Thursday, March 7, 2013
Results
Hi yall! Today is a great day! Thanks for praying for me.
This past Tuesday was a long day. Sham and I arrived at MDA at 11:00 for my 11:20 visit to see Dr. Ibrahim. They called us right on back, surprisingly not a long wait at all. Guess he was anxious to deliver my good report he had for me. First of all I have this awesome nurse name Kris. She's a sweetie and she always encourage me to bring along my good luck charm, my sister...Shamarion. Yes she has earned that title, LOL. Anyway...my tumor marker numbers were stable this time around still hanging around the 60's. The Dr said that's nothing to be alarmed about as long as the numbers don't shoot up by ten points. The CT scan came out really good. No new areas were seen and my liver is looking good also. They did see some healing of lesions on my sternum which is good to know. Who knows all the lesions on my bones may all be gone one day. Let's pray about that too. The echo-cardiogram looks normal which is a good thing. One of the meds Herceptin sometimes affects the heart. I have been on that since the beginning and so far my heart still looks normal and is functioning well. I have a couple of nails that act like they want to lift, but are hanging on. The nurse said they looked really good, but not to me. She said she has seen worse. My feet are cracky, my skin is just really dry these days and the cold weather is not helping either. Well when it was time for my chemo, we didn't get so lucky to get right in. The IV team was backed up and the beds were all full, so we had to wait for a while for a room. Oh, I almost forgot...my magnesium was a little low, so Dr I put in orders to administer magnesium along with my chemo. Magnesium numbers should range from 1.8 to 2.6, mine was a little low hanging around 1.6. It was a 2 hour drip added to the already 3 hours of chemo and that took us to around 7 p.m. and we were home at around 8 p.m.
It's really weird how after my chemo I am in speed mode. It's the premed steroid that they give me before the chemo starts to help with side affects. Well yesterday I spent all day in the kitchen. For some reason I miss being in the kitchen. I miss chopping and stirring and whipping up stuff. So when I'm feeling like it, I go for it. So yesterday I whipped up this mexican dip with refried beans, avacados, sour cream, olives and cheese. I made enchiladas from a recipe I ran across in a magazine, I made my husband a pot of pinto beans and sausage which he has been wanting for a while. I baked cookies for the kids dessert. I didn't take a nap all day. I actually stayed up and finished my income taxes and before you know it, it was 2:30 in the morning. So I turned off the tv and the computer took a long 30 minute shower got in bed and I'm guessing I fell asleep around 3:30. Today the steroid affect is almost gone. I'm feeling a little sluggish and not much of an appetite. Assata is at home sick again today and I'm trying to stay upbeat for her to care for her. Hopefully she will feel better on tomorrow and she can head back to school.
Oh, almost forgot this bit of info...I did ask the question how much longer will I be on chemo. Well the answer I got was, "we will not put a number or time, just keep watching things as we go, it's important to keep the numbers from going up." The goal is for the numbers to be 35 or below. However, with my breast cancer being a Stage IV, I could always be on some type of medication for maintenance, being that it is labeled as a chronic disease. So let's pray that away too prayer warriors.
Thanks again and I will write to you soon. I will try to do better with updates. I know I'm a little slow.
Keep the prayers coming. Love yall!
This past Tuesday was a long day. Sham and I arrived at MDA at 11:00 for my 11:20 visit to see Dr. Ibrahim. They called us right on back, surprisingly not a long wait at all. Guess he was anxious to deliver my good report he had for me. First of all I have this awesome nurse name Kris. She's a sweetie and she always encourage me to bring along my good luck charm, my sister...Shamarion. Yes she has earned that title, LOL. Anyway...my tumor marker numbers were stable this time around still hanging around the 60's. The Dr said that's nothing to be alarmed about as long as the numbers don't shoot up by ten points. The CT scan came out really good. No new areas were seen and my liver is looking good also. They did see some healing of lesions on my sternum which is good to know. Who knows all the lesions on my bones may all be gone one day. Let's pray about that too. The echo-cardiogram looks normal which is a good thing. One of the meds Herceptin sometimes affects the heart. I have been on that since the beginning and so far my heart still looks normal and is functioning well. I have a couple of nails that act like they want to lift, but are hanging on. The nurse said they looked really good, but not to me. She said she has seen worse. My feet are cracky, my skin is just really dry these days and the cold weather is not helping either. Well when it was time for my chemo, we didn't get so lucky to get right in. The IV team was backed up and the beds were all full, so we had to wait for a while for a room. Oh, I almost forgot...my magnesium was a little low, so Dr I put in orders to administer magnesium along with my chemo. Magnesium numbers should range from 1.8 to 2.6, mine was a little low hanging around 1.6. It was a 2 hour drip added to the already 3 hours of chemo and that took us to around 7 p.m. and we were home at around 8 p.m.
It's really weird how after my chemo I am in speed mode. It's the premed steroid that they give me before the chemo starts to help with side affects. Well yesterday I spent all day in the kitchen. For some reason I miss being in the kitchen. I miss chopping and stirring and whipping up stuff. So when I'm feeling like it, I go for it. So yesterday I whipped up this mexican dip with refried beans, avacados, sour cream, olives and cheese. I made enchiladas from a recipe I ran across in a magazine, I made my husband a pot of pinto beans and sausage which he has been wanting for a while. I baked cookies for the kids dessert. I didn't take a nap all day. I actually stayed up and finished my income taxes and before you know it, it was 2:30 in the morning. So I turned off the tv and the computer took a long 30 minute shower got in bed and I'm guessing I fell asleep around 3:30. Today the steroid affect is almost gone. I'm feeling a little sluggish and not much of an appetite. Assata is at home sick again today and I'm trying to stay upbeat for her to care for her. Hopefully she will feel better on tomorrow and she can head back to school.
Oh, almost forgot this bit of info...I did ask the question how much longer will I be on chemo. Well the answer I got was, "we will not put a number or time, just keep watching things as we go, it's important to keep the numbers from going up." The goal is for the numbers to be 35 or below. However, with my breast cancer being a Stage IV, I could always be on some type of medication for maintenance, being that it is labeled as a chronic disease. So let's pray that away too prayer warriors.
Thanks again and I will write to you soon. I will try to do better with updates. I know I'm a little slow.
Keep the prayers coming. Love yall!
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