Had my visit with Rush today that included blood work and vitals, MRI for the brain, Dr. Bonomi consultation and maintenance chemotherapy.
Although some of the blood levels were too high and others too low in the acceptable range, none of them were significantly out of range and Dr. B was not at all concerned. The tumor markers remain stable.
The report about my MRI scan showed no new lesions or growth so things remain clear in the brain. The headaches are less frequent and severe.
Everything went well except for a lot of extra needle sticks since my veins have a tendency to roll and they were especially bad today. But I'm still willing to suffer through more missed needle insertions than succumb to having a port put in my chest.
Things definitely do seem to be getting better!
Monday, January 19, 2015
Sunday, January 11, 2015
Good Riddance to 2014 and Good Things to Come in 2015
Happy New Year!
Let's sure hope it is. I am looking forward to a new and improved year over 2014, which I am very happy to have behind me. The end of January, 2014 is when my cancer made a comeback that required IV chemotherapy which brought on all kinds of miserable side effects like mouth sores, hair loss, fatigue and weakness. I've lost hearing in my right ear (thankfully it returned); had daily migraine headaches; an ugly red rash on my face and tingling and/or numbness in my left hand. In mid-July I found myself at the hospital for four days with meningeal inflammation in the lining of my brain and in terrible pain with every little movement of my body. In the fall, I had to switch to a new chemo treatment because the one I was on was not holding the cancer at bay.
Also in September, my dog Sundance was diagnosed with Discoid Lupus on her nose, which also made her susceptible to mucocutaneous pyoderma (a fancy term for deep skin infection) on her nose and on her rectum. (The good news is that the lupus on the nose is under control and her nose looks great. As for the other end, we have to take more aggressive steps to address the vet's concerns about an underlying digestive allergy with a very strict diet. Hopefully, this approach will make her feel better overall.)
My other dog Cassidy suddenly and permanently went blind at the end of September. (She is adjusting pretty well to her loss and is still a generally happy dog.)
In addition to the good news that my hearing returned in November, my last several MRI's of the brain reveal no signs of cancer and the last few CAT scans show fewer lesions, with many lesions shrinking in size. I've recently started to turn the corner with the headaches now reducing in both severity and frequency. I have finished my treatment with the nasty chemo that was causing so many miserable side effects and now am on a maintenance chemo that is milder - I am looking forward to having a lot less discomfort and pain in future weeks and months.
Knowing I would be losing my hair, when the time was right I had Doug shave my head and then arranged to have a henna artist make a henna crown tattoo on my scalp, as you can see in the picture. I think it is a great way to take a symbol of illness and transform it into a beautiful work of art.
Here's to a kinder, gentler 2015 for all of us!
Hopefully the next posting will continue the trend of better and better news!
Let's sure hope it is. I am looking forward to a new and improved year over 2014, which I am very happy to have behind me. The end of January, 2014 is when my cancer made a comeback that required IV chemotherapy which brought on all kinds of miserable side effects like mouth sores, hair loss, fatigue and weakness. I've lost hearing in my right ear (thankfully it returned); had daily migraine headaches; an ugly red rash on my face and tingling and/or numbness in my left hand. In mid-July I found myself at the hospital for four days with meningeal inflammation in the lining of my brain and in terrible pain with every little movement of my body. In the fall, I had to switch to a new chemo treatment because the one I was on was not holding the cancer at bay.
Also in September, my dog Sundance was diagnosed with Discoid Lupus on her nose, which also made her susceptible to mucocutaneous pyoderma (a fancy term for deep skin infection) on her nose and on her rectum. (The good news is that the lupus on the nose is under control and her nose looks great. As for the other end, we have to take more aggressive steps to address the vet's concerns about an underlying digestive allergy with a very strict diet. Hopefully, this approach will make her feel better overall.)
My other dog Cassidy suddenly and permanently went blind at the end of September. (She is adjusting pretty well to her loss and is still a generally happy dog.)
In addition to the good news that my hearing returned in November, my last several MRI's of the brain reveal no signs of cancer and the last few CAT scans show fewer lesions, with many lesions shrinking in size. I've recently started to turn the corner with the headaches now reducing in both severity and frequency. I have finished my treatment with the nasty chemo that was causing so many miserable side effects and now am on a maintenance chemo that is milder - I am looking forward to having a lot less discomfort and pain in future weeks and months.
Knowing I would be losing my hair, when the time was right I had Doug shave my head and then arranged to have a henna artist make a henna crown tattoo on my scalp, as you can see in the picture. I think it is a great way to take a symbol of illness and transform it into a beautiful work of art.
Here's to a kinder, gentler 2015 for all of us!
Hopefully the next posting will continue the trend of better and better news!
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| Picture taken by Nadine Rozowsky of Best Dog Photography |
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