Shame on me!

Following my treatment on the 19th, I forgot to post my thanks to Laura for so enthusiastically celebrating my one year anniversary at the NJ chemo facility. I made cupcakes, and Laura brought in veggies and dip and fresh fruit. She also presented me with a lovely bunch of pink daisies. She and Kathleen both sang part of the Flintstone version of the anniversary song ("Happy anniversary, happy anniversary, happy anniversary, haaaaaappy anniversary!") and invited everyone in the room to enjoy the treats. As previously mentioned, in a way it is sad to know I've been going there for treatment for a year now (and that I've been taking some sort of chemo for 18 months), but being here and enjoying life is a good reason to celebrate.

So, thanks, Laura, for making my day. I celebrated afterward by taking a three hour nap!!

Summer??

The weather people have been predicting the arrival of real summer weather all week, but it has yet to arrive. We woke up to another cloudy day after another endless period of daily rain. According to the weather people, it has rained 22 out of the past 26 days. I think I'm rusty. Anyway, today summer is supposed to arrive with sunny skies and 85 degrees (chance of thunderstorms tonight). The sun is peeking in and out, but the temperature is only 73 and it's 10 a.m. We'll have to see how this day pans out.

I have been feeling well this week and am so glad I have a two week "vacation" from chemo. Last week was doctor week, so this week I have been taking a break. Monday I had to go into the office for part of the day, but otherwise I've been working on my to do list and doing some counted cross stitch. Lydia G and I used to work on crafts often, but my health and crazy schedule got in the way. I decided to break out my latest project (which I have been working on sporadically for three years) and get back to work on it during my chemo sessions -- since that seemed to be the only time I would sit for a period of time without doing anything else. Since I've been home, I've been working on it as I watch television. It will probably take another three years to complete (it's a large piece), but I'm feeling a sense of accomplishment as I get each small section done.

The result of my endoscopy was no acid reflux and nothing else to be concerned about. Dr. Grabowsky recommended I see a pulmonologist, but that doctor has no openings until August 19. I have contacted Dr. G's office to ask for another referral, but haven't heard back yet. I'll keep you informed. Otherwise, the cough continues.

There is nothing else new to report from here. Next week will begin the summer cleaning project, where I tackle each room one by one and clean it from top to bottom including windows. I'm looking forward to a really clean house, which will last about a week before the dust reappears.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Almost done!

What a crazy week it's been. Tuesday started with an appointment with Dr. "Gout" who pronounced me in excellent health as far as he's concerned (except for that cancer thing...). Then it was off to the dentist for a cleaning after a year and a half wait. When I tried to get my teeth cleaned last year, the oncologist wanted bloodwork within 3 days of my visit, which is a pain since the office is a 45-minute drive away. This year, my white cell and baby white cell counts have been so good that I asked the oncologist if I could PLEASE have my teeth cleaned without the need for bloodwork, and he gave me the thumbs up. I had to go on a waiting list, of course, because everyone and their sister had made appointments for the summer, but I got the first cancellation of my time home. I'm pleased to report that my gums are in excellent shape and I have no cavities.

Wednesday morning went off without a hitch once I found out the nurse could access my port for the IV. I spent more time answering medical questions and have my vital signs taken than I did in the room! The procedure was over in 5 minutes and the doctor said everything looked good. He took some samples to biopsy and I'll have those results next week. He suggested that I see a pulmonary specialist, which is what my oncologist had suggested as well, so I guess that's our next step. I also discovered that I was talking with him and the nurses before I was fully conscious. Ed told me all about the discussions I had, and I don't remember a thing about them. It's a little scary and interesting to wrap your mind around the idea that you could have your eyes open and have a rational conversation without being conscious of doing so. I told Ed the point at which I recall being awake, and that was 15 minutes after I "woke up." At least I didn't embarass myself!

Yesterday was s l o w. According to the nurses, the doctors were very busy and weren't releasing orders for medications. I waited at least 35 minutes to have my blood drawn and it was an hour and 10 minutes before I received my Zometa infusion. I asked the doctor, when he stopped in, to release my Gemzar orders ahead of time so I don't have to wait so long today. I hope he listened. My blood counts were down, with the hemoglobin just squeaking by again at 10. Laura is thwarted once again in her attempts to give me a shot. Guess she'll have to wait a little longer.

So today is treatment and then I'm taking two weeks off. Ed's birthday is the 2nd and we have a long July 4th weekend, and I didn't want to be feeling tired and miserable for his birthday. With any luck we'll have good weather, spend some time with friends, and just relax. Maybe I'll even get in the pool. After all, the temperatures are finally supposed to reach 80 next week. Looks like summer weather might arrive with the summer solstice.

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend. Happy Father's Day to all our dads!!!

Monday, Monday...

Treatment on Friday went fine. My counts were all good, including 10.5 for my hemoglobin. Even with the hit it will take following treatment, I should remain above 10 for my treatment this coming Friday. I made my appointments for July, and then I'll have my scans. In late July, I'll be seeing my orthopedic surgeon for a follow up, and I'll see the thoracic surgeon (in lieu of seeing Dr. K) to discuss the possibilty of surgery on my lung. My follow up with the radiation oncologist is scheduled for late August.

My sty is almost gone. The NJ oncologist took a look at it and declared it "crusty." It is significantly smaller than it was. I hope the crusty part falls off in the next day or so.

Tomorrow is both the beginning of my summer working from home and my week of doctors. Tomorrow morning is my annual physical with Dr. "Gout." Along with the bloodwork I know he will order, I'm going to ask to have my blood checked for signs of hyperthyroidism. I have several symptoms and Dr. Yamada had mentioned we would need to keep an eye on the thyroid because the radiation was very close to my pituitary gland, which helps control the thyroid. I will report back what we find out. Wednesday morning I have to be at the hospital at 7 a.m. for my endoscopy at 8. Oh joy. Thursday is my Zometa infusion and Friday is Gemzar. Mom arrives Tuesday afternoon and will stay until late afternoon on Thursday, joining me for my Thursday infusion so she can see where I go for treatment and meet the nurses. Then we will go for lunch.

Thursday is my one year anniversary having chemo at the NJ facility. We are "celebrating" on Friday with cupcakes and other treats. I'm glad I was able to find a facility in-network with caring nurses and a doctor I have grown to like, but it's a little sad to be chalking up a year's worth of visits. I wish I were one of those cancer patients who have an end date for their treatment, but I'm just not one of the "lucky" ones. It's been 18 months since I started chemo, and it's become a fact of life -- like taking the bus to and from the city every day. It's not necessarily pleasant, but it's what I have to do and I try to make the best of it. Kathleen and Laura, the nurses, make it much more tolerable and, as with the nurses I dealt with at Memorial Sloan-Kettering, I've very grateful for their caring and compassion. Plus, they bust my chops a lot and that actually allows me to laugh at what could be a very depressing situation.

So it's going to be a busy week and I'll be glad when Saturday comes along. Now, if any of you have some warm, sunny weather you could send our way, I would be eternally grateful. We've been in a rainy pattern for two weeks now, and although we are saving money on heating/air conditioning and certainly don't have to water anything, it's getting ridiculous. At least Ed made it into the pool for two minutes two weeks ago. It's looking like July before I'll get in!

Done!

I have posted our Paris photos: http://travel.webshots.com/album/572802199GRbrVc?vhost=travel Ed took a lot less photos than I realized. I guess since I was always rolling the video camera, he thought I covered everything. Anyway, I hope you enjoy them!

Have a wonderful weekend!

Gastroenterologist update

First, I want to wish Lydia A. and her family a bon voyage as they had to Europe for a land and cruise vacation. Have a wonderful time and I can't wait to hear about the trip when you return.

Second, my friend Kay is headed to Dana Farber in Boston today to discuss her potential participation in a clinical trial for her specific type of breast cancer. I am thinking of you and hope all goes well.

Yesterday we met with the gastroenterologist and, at the risk of making a quick (and inaccurate) first impression, we liked him. He practices internal medicine as well as gastroenterology, and he was quite thorough in his discussion of the potential causes of my cough. One thing he is almost certain of is that it is NOT acid reflux. For one, I don't have and have never experienced the usual burning sensation that affects those with acid reflux and contrary to the ENT's information, I should be coughing more when I lay down rather than less. Because of my cancer history, he's decided to perform an endoscopy and biopsy to check for any tumors (that will take place on June 17), but doesn't think he will find evidence of acid reflux. He suggested that he could place a pH monitor in my esophagus that would wirelessly monitor any stomach acid for two days (I don't know what happens to the monitor after two days), but he indicated it would have to be placed during an endoscopy, and I doubt he will get approval from Oxford to do that.

If he finds there is no acid reflux, he has recommended an ENT at NYU Medical Center who he said is at the top of the field. He thinks perhaps it's a spasm at the top of my esophagus, but said there could be other causes as well. He'll call me after the endoscopy to discuss the next step.

While we were talking, he noticed a red spot on my lower right eyelid. (As background, I had experienced this on my upper right eyelid while we were in Paris. I thought I had slept on my hand and my ring had irritated my eyelid, but then realized it might be a sty. Whatever it was, it went away of its own accord in about three days. When this one popped up on Sunday, I thought it would also disappear in a few days.) He examined it, promptly wrote me a few prescriptions, and recommended hot compresses. I started the hot compresses last night and today it is still there but now feels hard rather than soft. I'm going to continue with them tonight and Friday, and will fill the prescriptions if it's not gone by the weekend.

I appreciated that he took the time to examine my eye when I was there for my cough. I would really like to see him as my primary physician, although he doesn't accept my insurance for that part of his practice any longer. I could see him out of network, though. We'll see if our impression changes after my endoscopy. We originally liked the ENT, and you know how that worked out.

So, the week of June 15 will be a busy one for the first four days of working from home for the summer. On the 16th, I have my annual exam with Dr. "Gout," on the 17th at 8 a.m. is my endoscopy, on the 18th I have my Zometa infusion and on the 19th I have chemo. What a way to start my "summer."

I know, still no photos

I had good intentions and believe I may have promised to get the Paris photos up on Webshots this weekend. Unfortunately, I didn't feel very well Friday after treatment. Usually I'm tired but my stomach was upset as well. No nausea, just upset. Saturday morning I worked in the gardens and planted some herbs, another tomato plant, some cucumbers, and a few flowers that we had picked up, and that did me in for the day -- actually for the weekend. I'm feeling better now, but it wasn't the weekend I had been hoping for.

Tomorrow is the appointment with the gastroenterologist. I've about given up hope that anyone is going to figure out what is causing this cough, but we'll give this guy a shot. I'll let you know what we find out.