Post-cataract surgery

Yesterday I had the cataract surgery on my left eye. Dr M corrected it to 20/25 for distance. I still can't read or see up close without "cheater" glasses but having mid-range and distance vision without glasses or contact lenses is amazing!

I first started wearing glasses at a young age. Neither my mother nor I can remember how young, but definitely before third grade, when we left New York for Cincinnati. My whole life I have wanted to see the alarm clock without first reaching for my glasses, and now I can!

The right eye surgery is scheduled for five weeks from now. I need to have another round of Xeloda (that's two weeks), plus three weeks off chemo, making five weeks total. I am supposed to start the Xeloda again on Sunday but will know for certain after I speak to Dr G at this week's appointment.

Meanwhile I have cheaters, I am cleared to drive while wearing the right contact lens, and I love not having to wear glasses again!

Chemo-cation

I finished cycle 12 of Xeloda with an increase in Hand-Foot Syndrome but only at the very end of the cycle. I lost three layers of skin on my thumbs and first fingers but they're healing nicely. My tumor markers are still stable!

Dr G said, Oh, I'm hurting you! I reassured him that I was coping but really I think I am getting close to the end of my Xeloda tolerance. 

The dentist says my sore tongue comes from the same side effect. Basically the skin covering my tongue has Hand-Foot Syndrome (!). She could hardly believe that I still have taste buds. 

My new opthalmalogist/surgeon says that 18 months of Abraxane likely caused the cataracts in both eyes. I am having the surgery in January, so I get a three week chemo-cation (plus the week recovering from the first surgery). 

Between eye surgeries I'll have one more Xeloda (round 13) and then we will re-evaluate during my second three week chemo-cation. Dr G wants to add Afinitor to the mix (Xeloda, Avaston, Aromasin, Aredia). I had Afinitor before without much luck and plenty of side effects, but I may be close to the end of what I can tolerate from Xeloda. However, Xeloda has me stable and I do tolerate pain well. (I am sad that I had to learn this about myself, but it's one of the things cancer taught me.) There are plenty more drugs out there plus anything new that comes out of the recent ASCO conference.