The day after chemo

Part of the reason Monday's chemo was so lengthy is that my standard of treatment is all over the map. As I understand it, the protocol is Abraxane on days 1, 8, and 15; Avastin on days 1 and 15. I think day 28 is supposed to be no treatment. But look at what actually happened!

May's cycle was close to as planned, except that my counts were too low on day 8.
2 Abraxane 1 and Avastin
9 Abraxane cancelled (low counts)
16 Abraxane 2 and Avastin
23 Abraxane 3
30 Abraxane 4 and Avastin

At the end of May/beginning of June, I was diagnosed with shingles and didn't have treatment that entire month. I had the gamma knife procedure on June 21.

July
6 Abraxane 5 (I don't have Avastin marked)
18 Abraxane 6 and Avastin
25 Abraxane 7 (again, I didn't note Avastin)

August
8 Abraxane 8 and Avastin
15 Abraxane 9 and Avastin

No wonder the nurses had trouble understanding why I questioned getting Avastin two weeks in a row! Especially since first thing I asked the lab if I needed to give a urine sample for the Avastin and they told me no, it wasn't necessary. Still, Dr G knows his stuff and he wouldn't have ordered it this way if he thought it would be a problem.

The upshot is that we had a longer day than expected. I indeed had to give a urine sample; we had to wait until the lab finished their work on it; then more waiting for the pharmacy to mix the drugs. Yesterday's chemo nurse was good about giving me the drugs out of protocol order. It was foolish for me to take up a chair while waiting for the Avastin to be prepared when the Abraxane was ready.

I still cannot get used to a 90 minute treatment taking 4.5 hours.

Chemo #9

We are just back from chemo Abraxane #9 plus Avastin. I am hoping for a nap but wanted to post that all is well, it just took 4.5 hours!

Brain MRI results

The results of today's brain MRI were good! The three tiny brain mets appear to have scarred over. However, because scar tissue remains visible, something will always show up on future scans. The protocol will have me return every three months for follow up scans for one year. I'll probably do that with Dr G and he will coordinate with Dr Vermeulen, the specialist.

It's good to have good news to share!

One of the 50 best

I was checking out my blog stats just now and via a lead from another blogger, learned that my blog was deemed one of "50 Terrific Blogs for Cancer Support." Actually, mine is number three on the list by and for patients. Thank you, nursingschools.net!

Follow up to gamma knife

Tomorrow I go for my follow up brain MRI. It's been seven weeks since I had the gamma knife procedure and the doctors follow up with a repeat brain scan to see how things are progressing (or hopefully, not progressing). Mine is scheduled for 8:15 AM (uggh - I hate getting up early). The good news is that I see the neurologist later that same morning to get the results. Watch this space for news, we hope good news. 

The thing about a brain MRI is that you have to go all the way into the MRI tube. I don't think of myself as particularly claustrophobic, but there's something about being completely inside the MRI tube that makes me more than uncomfortable. I wear an eye mask (one of the best cancer-related gifts I've received!); the machine blows cool air over my face and torso; the technicians give me ear plugs to cut down on the clanging and banging; and of course, I take some Ativan to take the edge off my anxiety. The downside on Ativan is that it is sedating. I have to take enough to be relaxed but not so much that I fall asleep for hours afterward. I sure wouldn't mind falling asleep in the MRI tube but I want to be alert for the report!

More beach photos

Here are some more highlights of our beach trip:

It's cold walking on a Washington state beach, even in  August

But it's warm indoors

We have a hot game of Scrabble

Ready to head home

Chemo Monday

Today's chemo went smoothly from start to end. My lab orders were awaiting me at the desk; the nurses were on top of everything. On;y one problem -- there was a nurses' meeting at 8 AM and so the one poor woman at the lab, accessing ports, was overwhelmed from the get-go. Then the lab took more than two hours to get all my results up to the infusion center. All in all, we were there about four and a half hours. At least I had good company. A friend from my dancing days in Radost had been in contact and came for a visit on her one day off. We talked nonstop and passed the time beautifully. So despite the long day, I wasn't frustrated.

After another stupendous lunch at Cafe Presse (me: zucchini curry soup garnished with fresh dill and green olive tapenade followed by chocolat chaud with freshly whipped cream; Rik: one egg sunny side up and spinach salad with frites; both of us sharing a baguette), we came home to a little sunshine. I sat outdoors with a blanket over my legs and caught up on Sunday's newspaper and a good book, then went indoors to take a late afternoon nap.

We were both so full from lunch that we could nosh only a little dinner at 8 PM. Now I plan to relax for the rest of the evening.

Quick update on side effects: My eyelashes are mostly still hanging in there, but some have vanished and I don't know how long the rest will last. And I haven't written about lymphedema in a long time. Big Blue, my nighttime arm wrap, continues to do the trick and keep my lymphedema under control.

At the beach

We go to the beach at a tiny town on the Olympic Peninsula called Moclips, just north of Ocean Shores, WA. There's not much to do except walk along the beach, read, play Scrabble, nap and eat. And eat. Maybe watch a DVD. Basically it's a quiet escape from the press of daily life. We love it, as you can see.

It's cold and windy on a Washington state beach, even in August!

Bob needs love.

Okay, Bob needs more love.

Bob really doesn't care for the water.

But he'll follow me anywhere!

Too busy, too tired

I tried to schedule too many things into the days after our return form the beach, and am completely pooped. All those good beach vibes disappeared with the meetings, dinner with friends, and more meetings. I am going to try to nap before the next meeting this afternoon. Dinner tonight at friends and then hopefully folk dancing to live music. I will try to post some photos and the Yemenite food recipes tomorrow, but also need to take some time away from the computer. Please be patient with me while I am being good to myself for a couple of hours.

Back from the beach

We spent a few days at our favorite beach in Moclips WA. I promise to post with photos and highlights just as soon as the laundry is done. You wouldn't believe how much sand get in everything!