Fall is a favorite season

Blogger has changed its way to sign in and I don't seem to have easy access to loading new photographs. Hence no photos added recently. New technology is sometimes crap. However, my life is doing well. New chemo, Cytoxan, really an old drug, appears to be holding cancer nodes stable, per latest CT scan. Cancer numbers are zig zagging up and down the same 26+/- points every three weeks. Kicks my white blood cells so have to be careful of possible infections. Campbells and kids flew to TN this weekend for Florida-TN game with friends who are TN alumns. Ruby is at Chez Jones ever hopeful of catchingg squirrels. Both dogs chased one this a.m. which is the closest they have gotten in recent memory. Squirrel quickly had to scoot up tree near deck spot he was on. Too bad Ruby can't climb trees. .

Olympics overload

Took a respite from the Olympics to have lunch with the Campbells at Adam's Ribs in Severna Park this past Saturday. It's been a rough couple of weeks as our Publications Office was ordered to move to another building at USNA. This involved recycling thousands of pounds of files and old publications and packing remains in boxes. Major move during "black flag" (Plebes can't be outside because of heat) days and in midst of creating publcations for Plebe Parents Weekend this weekend. Had chemo and a CT scan 7/26/12 but other than having my cancer numbers go down 26.9 point to 123.9, I haven't gotten the scan results yet.

Still hanging in there

Sorry not to have posted recently, but turns out internet explorer no longer supports the blogger site so had to realize that I can only get to it from Google Chrome. Yes, an old dog can learn new tricks with help of IT guy. 
Cardiologist said my recent nuclear stress test revealed my heart is OK. And lipid panel testing shows that my cholesterol is 148 and good lipid profiles: normal sugar, kidney function normal, liver function normal and normal thyroid. In fact, my oncology nurse was jealous. Said it was better than hers! 
And first CA125 after first treatment of Cytoxan dropped cancer numbers 55.6 points to 145.4. Always a good sign. 

Mother's Day field trip

Megan and I took Jenna to the American Girl Doll store in Tysons Corner, VA, on Mother's Day to buy her a McKenna doll and accessories. Jenna also fell in love with the painted filly horse so "Bob" came home with her too. What a fun day just prior to her 3rd birthday on May 15. We ate at their Bistro where McKenna sat next to Jenna in her own table seat. More fun!

Bad reaction to carboplatin #2

Crashed big time on 2nd round of carboplatin..So carbo is off the table for further use. One less chemo in my doctor's bag of tricks. After experiencing what I can only surmise would have been a bad LSD trip including dayglo colors, red skin, lungs and heart spasms, I had at least 6 nurses, 2 techs and 1 doctor working on me. Got me back to normal (yes, that's questionable) but Megan and troops had to come to the rescue to drive me home. Megan had to remember how to drive my stick shift and Alex and the kids followed us home. Alex and troops had brought me macademia nut cookies. Jenna was thrilled to be able to run in the middle of my dead-end street when she, Tyler and Alex walked Ditto. Both Dylan and Megan offered to spend the night but allowed me to dismiss their offers in lieu of making sure my retired hospice nurse neighbor was on-call. Just lucky timing it happened before Mother's Day. How to make sure I'm appreciated. Dylan didn't understand when I told him I had thought "I'd bought the farm." Wonder where that term became synonymous with "pushing up daisies." It should be a very happy Mother's Day: Megan, Jenna and I have a field trip planned to the American Doll Store in Virginia to get Jenna a doll and a horse for her birthday May 15.

started carboplatin chemo

Had forgotten what all has to precede getting actual IV chemo. The biological avastin I'd been on for two years (which held me steady but was denied payment by BCBS) required no pre-meds or anti-nausea pills. With carbo, I had a bag of dexamethasone & zofran followed by another anti-nausea bag of emend. Nurse Linda said they each deal with different receptors in the brain to prevent nausea. Think steroids. Was I wired last night!

After driving to OPC this afternoon to get a neulasta shot to boost my white blood cells, will stock up on anti-constipation pills as well as Immodium to be able to counteract whichever way the new chemo affects me.

Good news is that my CA125 only went up 1.5 pts to 207.2 since 3/23. Am hoping carbo will put numbers in a downward spiral and get rid of recent new very small pleural effusion near my left lung.

Spring has sprung

Jenna and Tyler have broken out their spring duds. And are enjoying the lovely weather albeit without much in the way of April showers this month.

Back on carboplatin chemo

Since my CT scan on 3/23/12 showed some good stuff but CA125 had risen to 205+, I had an appointment to see Dr. Rosenshein. Dr. R said CT scan showed new pleural effusion near lung. He inferred this might be causing the CA125 to rise. Etoposide chemo pills are NOT doing the trick so I start on chemo Carboplatin by IV 4/19/12. I’ll have to go to Weinberg every three weeks for an IV infusion.

Oct. 19, 2006 my first chemo treatment was a combination of taxotere and carboplatin. In 12 treatments the combo dropped my CA125 from 1535.2 down to 13.7. I haven’t had either of those drugs since 6/28/07. Since they worked then and it’s been a while, Dr. R reasoned they might work again. But I only have to take one of them.

Common side effects of carboplatin are constipation; diarrhea; hair loss; loss of appetite; nausea; stomach pain or upset; vomiting; weakness. Nothing I haven’t had to deal with. I was joking about holding a zofran (anti-nausea pill) between my knees when I have to give a 5-minute speech at the National Cancer Survivor’s meeting June 3. I may have to swallow it so I can make the speech.

Never a dull moment when you have chronic cancer.

Megan with hair

Yes my daughter has enough to provide me a wig.

I once had similar locks.

CT scan good, CA125 bad

Terri Rowley returned from hot tubbing with her sisters in western Maryland to send me the results of my latest (3/23/12) CT scan.

New very small left pleural effusion (small amount of fluid between the outer wall of the left lung and the sac membrane that surrounds the lungs). "An oblong density adjacent to the right pericardium (near the heart) measures 1.8 cm as before; however, density is decreased significantly since prior exam, suggesting that it may be a necrotic (dead) node at this time. The small nodule previously noted at the right base has also decreased significantly in density." Nothing in abdomen or pelvis. This sounds good, right?

But CA125 (measure of cancer activity) was 155.2 in January and up to 205.7 on 3/23/12. Not good.

I'm a dichotomy. Dr. Im is having me continue on etoposide (oral chemo) but am supposed to see Dr. Rosenshein about future treatment. It's a good news, bad news type of thing.

Asked to speak at Nat'l Cancer Survivor's Day

Reverend Dedera Baker, the minister at Weinberg's OPC and a long-time friend, called to ask if I'd speak at Mercy's National Cancer Survivor's Day event, Sunday, June 3, at 2:30 p.m. in the hospital's new Bunting Center. I just laughed and asked what made her think I'd still be around in June? When I asked why they wanted me to speak she said it was because of my sense of humor. That and, I bet, because I'm one of the few patients whose paperwork has filled seven folders in Dr. Neil Rosenshein's office. Fortunately I'll be one of three speakers and only have to talk about 5 minutes. You know me, that should be a piece of cake.

Jenna is a love

The joys of my weekend are my grandchildren. Jenna is very loving. Of course, she really wanted bites of my bagel with cream cheese and rubarb/strawberry jam. Horses are her passion du jour as Legos are Tyler's. Megan took them to the Columbia library to get library cards. Tyler signed the back of his card and the librarian was impressed that Jenna could spell her first name at 2. And yes, while Jenna's hair is getting in her eyes, I don't have to worry about that. The new chemo I'm on is taking my hair again.

CA125 went up 20.4 points

After second month on etoposide, I went to Outpatient Clinic yesterday and had bloodwork. Of course, my port decided to once again not to cooperate. After putting TPA in both and getting no blood, we went to Plan B which is now a go-to vein inside my left elbow. Didn't need magnesium or blood booster shots, despite both white and red cells being considered low. But CA125 went up 20.4 points to 175.6. Am scheduled for another month of oral etoposide pills, then more blood work labs and a CT Scan on March 23. We'll see what that shows. If the cancerous nodes have begun to grow Dr. Im may have to alter my chemo. I'll think about that tomorrow, Scarlet.

February is flying by

Moderate weather has been great. Love not having to shovel snow. Am into second month of etoposide oral chemo. Been experiencing a lot of stomach gas but not sure if that's from chemo or old age. Valentine's Day had my teeth cleaned (it felt so good when it was over) and then next day a vaginal check-up with gynecological oncologist. Both heads and tails are fine. Campbells are headed to Deep Creek in western Maryland for the President's Day holiday with two other families so Ruby is coming to stay at Chez Jones. Birds are emptying my feeders as fast as I fill them. Always something. But better than nothing.

Made it to another birthday

OK. Succeeded in reaching another birthday. Am eating my way thru the day. Lunch with office mate, kids/grandkids are taking me out for Mexican tonight. Have also received lotsa chocolate which I hope to make last for a while. Winning card shows women's water polo team at USNA. Caption is quote from Gypsy Rose Lee, "I've got everything I always had, only it's six inches lower." LOL.

Genentech has denied to help with avastin

With avastin pulled from my insurance coverage, Dr. Im had me begin the oral chemo etopsoside on Jan. 1, 2012. After a month's treatment my CA125 went down 26.8 pts from the spike to 182 (up 33.3 pts) at the end of December. I take 30 etoposide capsules over 20 days and keep the capsules in my fridge. Then have to go to OPC for blood work to see how my counts are. Received word today Genentech, the parent company that makes avastin, has denied that I meet the financial or medical criteria to have the avastin replaced, thus covered by their program. Seems denials are SOP for more companies than BC/BS. Advice is to try to enlist the aide of a lawyer but have yet to find someone with expertise or interest.