A Hug from Dr. Im

Went to Weinberg OPC yesterday to get the results of my CT scan and find out whether Dr. Im would continue Avastin treatments (I've had 12 so far) or do some other protocol. Nurse Joanne Vendetti drew my blood for labs and sent it off. Told me my magnesium count was 1.2 which is low so I needed 4 grams of mag (2 hours by IV). So she got me started on that. Dr. Im came by about 11:30 am, hugged me and said my CA125 had gone down. It was 46.5 which was down 17.2 points. (0-35 is normal) Yeah! My 4/19 CT scan results were: "Stable findings in chest, abdomen and pelvis since January 2010." Double yeah! Avastin appears to be holding the cancer in 3 nodes steady at 2 centimeters or less. Good news going into Mother's Day (5/9) and Jenna's first birthday (5/15).

Krisko-Campbell-Jones Dinner

Hugh's Dad, who is buried at Arlington, was honored in a D.C. ceremony along with some other veterans who died in Vietnam prior to qualifying to be on the Wall. Hugh's mom, Claudette, Deborah, Hugh and Andrew were among the family to attend. Afterwards they flew to the Bahamas for a vacation and then spent the night at the Campbells when they returned. Tyler and Jenna enjoyed seeing Andrew and we went out to dinner to have a chance to visit.

Completed Avastin #12, due for CT scan

Thursday (4/8) completed Avastin treatment #12. CA125 went down 7.9 pts to 63.7. Nurse Holly Freeman labeled the zigzag pattern it's been doing since the beginning of 2010 as "stable." Still above the 0-35 normal range. ONC Nurse Terri Rowley set me up with a CT scan on 4/19 so the results will be back before Dr. Im needs to determine orders for my next scheduled treatment on 4/29.

Am feeling pretty good. Sometimes painful neuropathy in my feet is annoying and makes me gimpy. Hair still recuperating but not the texture or thickness it once was. But enough so that I don't wear my wig. Fortunately I don't have to look at myself. Longer daylight hours have lifted my seratonin level so I feel happier. Took Ditto to the groomer today for his summer cut. After 80+ weather it's dropped to the 60s but buds are popping and colorful foliage is appearing. Yeah!

Oma with grandchildren

Saturday Megan and Alex asked me to join them when they had photos taken in Columbia. I posed with Tyler (3 1/2) and Jenna (10 months). Tyler got to ride on the Merry-go-round. Jenna slept while we went to Red Robin for lunch. We had a fun day.

Avastin continued

Saw Dr. Rosenshein on Monday morning and mentioned my CA125 had gone up nearly 20 pts last time it was measured. He said he'd talk to Dr. Im about future treatments. At Weinberg yesterday (Thursday) Dr. Im asks me what Dr. R said to do. I told him Dr. R had said it was up to Dr. Im. Then Terri stops by. What did Dr. R say? I told her he said it was up to Dr. Im. Talk about pass the hot potato. Blood work came back showing I needed magnesium so while I was hooked up getting 2 hours of mag, I told Terri I wasn't going anywhere and to let me know what was decided. Turns out my CA125 went down 8.9 points so Dr. Im ordered another 3 treatments of Avastin. I keep hoping Avastin is working as I tolerate it well and it allows my hair to slooowwwly grow back. I celebrated by going to the Hair Cuttery and asked the gal to trim my hair so I don't look like a homeless person. Not much to style, but at least it is more shaped.

Have been taking care of Daisy this week while Megan and Alex were in Las Vegas. Their caregiver kept the kids from Monday morning until tonight. I think I got the better deal. Dylan and Christine left today for a weekend skiboarding trip to western Maryland with friends. Not sure if I'll see snow in Severna Park, but C&D should have fresh powder to enjoy in the mountains.

CA125 up 19.9 pts

OK. On 2/4/10 CA125 came back 19.9 points up since 1/14/10. And CT scan on 1/6/10 said the 3 nodes have been stable. What's going on? Not sure. I'll think about it tomorrow, said Scarlett. Will go back to the Out Patient Clinic 2/25 and find out just what Dr. Im has planned for me. Went for a blood test yesterday (2/15) and nurse Karin said she'd read where a spike in the CA125 might show a large cell kill. Not sure I'm so optimistic. I tend to be an optimistic pessimist.

Good news is that I'm finally back at work after not being able to get out of my house for a week because of deep snow. Dylan and Christine trekked in twice to shovel out the driveway. Wise neighbors high-tailed it to Florida before the recent combo Obama labeled Snowmagedon. I was lucky to not lose power. Happy Valentine's Day.

Another birthday

When my children held a celebration last January 31 for my birthday, perhaps we all wondered whether it might be my last. Well, I made it to another birthday and spent much of the last two weeks of January in celebration. Thanks to everyone who provided cards, singing messages on my cell and opportunities to eat together in the days surrounding my big day. After a predicted less than an inch snowfall turned into nearly 8 inches the day before my birthday, the 31st dawned sunny and bright with roads clear enough to allow Dylan and me to go to brunch at our favorite local breakfast shop. In the p.m. Ellen and I went to movie followed by a great dinner at a nearby French bistro. I watched Jane Austen's "Emma" conclusion on PBS that evening with dog Ditto curled next to me on the couch. A trurly lovely day. Thanks to all my loved ones for making my life so sweet.