I guess I am behind updating everyone, It has been a busy time.
The cancer has returned to my brain and Dr. Calvo decided the best approach was to install a port in my head s0 chemo can be applied directly. Saturday AM (6 AM) I reported to Kettering MC for surgery to install a port directly to the brain. The surgery seems to have gone well. I stayed overnight Saturday - got home about noon Sunday.
I feel OK - although I believe there might be some swelling in the brain. When I checked out yesterday, the doctor said some air did get into the place where the port was installed. Now I am a true airhead!
I am hoping the treatments will go well and I willl begin to feel normal soon.
My sister has gone to the Peace Corps in SouthAfrica and we have acquired her Tiger cat. Thie has been wonderful to have him with us - a touch of Barbara every day.
I will try to be more faithful in reporting progress and hope it will continue to be that.
My job as a Vice President of Optimist International, Middle America Region is official on October 1, and my Parallel District Conference is to be held in Branson, MO, on October 8 & 9. I am really running late on prep for that and then this cancer return put another hit on that preparation, but I think I can move forward now with a lot of help from my colleagues in Optimist Internation.
Thanks for keeping with me. I still need prayers and good wishes. Thank you so much for keeping in touch.
Love,
Margaret
Monday, September 6, 2010
Friday, June 4, 2010
Very Important happening
Hello again,
In going on about my health, I didn't mention one of the most exciting messages we received via Skype and Facebook.
Our former German exchange student Harald, currently working as a mining engineer in Australia, has become engaged to a wonderful woman who lives in the Phillipines. We have had several conversations via Facebook and Skype, have seen over 100 pictures and also "talked" to her mother, sister and Harald's mom. I get so excited, Roy thinks I am goofy. Well!
The couple is going through all of the struggles to get the VISA/Immigration details worked out for them to live the Perth. I am optimistic they will be able to be married November or December.
There is a lot to live for.
Margaret
Catch-up
Hello to all,
I know I haven't updated this blog since last October, but healthwise there hasn't been much to report. Christmas with Jim and Annabelle was great. My first conference as a Optimist International VP Elect was the Gov/Gov-elect conference the first week of January in Orlando. It SNOWED! We made our ski trip to Montana in January and had good weather and great ski conditions. Results of the PET Scan and MRI done the last week of January were very good.
Local Optimist and International Optimist activities have dominated my activities along with trips to Chicago to see Jim and Annabelle and a trip to Bloomsburg, PA to visit my sister Barbara who is going to the Peace Corps - South Africa - July, 12, - have made for a full schedule.
The Dragons opened their schedule on April 8 which keeps Roy very busy and I try to work in the concession stand 1 or 2 times each homestand. I also "celebrated" tax day by having cataract surgery on my left eye. As my friend Jan's license plate reads 1MOTHIN.
Last week, I had a PET scan and got the results from Dr. Calvo on Wednesday, June 2. While not time to panic, the scan did show uptakes in the left rib and a small nodule in the right lung. Dr. Calvo said the nodule was very tiny, might be an infection, and we would just wait until the next PET scan in three months to see what happens. For the rib uptake, I started back to IV chemo Zometa once a month, started immediately after the appointment. I took Zometa for six months back in 2007 with good results so we hope it works again.
If the PET scan in three months shows further problems and/or indicates the TARCEVA is not working, Dr. Calvo says we will need to "scratch our heads - Ohio State, clinical trials" ???
Hoping and praying for the best.
Margaret
I know I haven't updated this blog since last October, but healthwise there hasn't been much to report. Christmas with Jim and Annabelle was great. My first conference as a Optimist International VP Elect was the Gov/Gov-elect conference the first week of January in Orlando. It SNOWED! We made our ski trip to Montana in January and had good weather and great ski conditions. Results of the PET Scan and MRI done the last week of January were very good.
Local Optimist and International Optimist activities have dominated my activities along with trips to Chicago to see Jim and Annabelle and a trip to Bloomsburg, PA to visit my sister Barbara who is going to the Peace Corps - South Africa - July, 12, - have made for a full schedule.
The Dragons opened their schedule on April 8 which keeps Roy very busy and I try to work in the concession stand 1 or 2 times each homestand. I also "celebrated" tax day by having cataract surgery on my left eye. As my friend Jan's license plate reads 1MOTHIN.
Last week, I had a PET scan and got the results from Dr. Calvo on Wednesday, June 2. While not time to panic, the scan did show uptakes in the left rib and a small nodule in the right lung. Dr. Calvo said the nodule was very tiny, might be an infection, and we would just wait until the next PET scan in three months to see what happens. For the rib uptake, I started back to IV chemo Zometa once a month, started immediately after the appointment. I took Zometa for six months back in 2007 with good results so we hope it works again.
If the PET scan in three months shows further problems and/or indicates the TARCEVA is not working, Dr. Calvo says we will need to "scratch our heads - Ohio State, clinical trials" ???
Hoping and praying for the best.
Margaret
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
REMISSION! The PET scan results are very good.
These are the best words I heard today at Dr. Calvo's office. The Tarceva seems to be working fantastically well. ( Those pesky little side effects aren't so bad after all.) Dr. Calvo says when Tarceva works it keeps on working as long as I take the pill. Thanks for the prayers and good wishes from all of you. They help soooo much.
Roy and I ran the Minster 10K last Sunday. He finished very well. and I finished and felt good. After today's news, I played to run harder - will try to get a running stride back.
Tomorrow is a "get up at 6 AM" day and it is already after midnight so I am signing off.
Love and thanks to all,
Margaret
Roy and I ran the Minster 10K last Sunday. He finished very well. and I finished and felt good. After today's news, I played to run harder - will try to get a running stride back.
Tomorrow is a "get up at 6 AM" day and it is already after midnight so I am signing off.
Love and thanks to all,
Margaret
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Still running (rather slowly)
Since my last post, several significant events have occurred.
1. On Saturday August 22, we returned home from Chicago with our granddaughter Annabelle who planned to stay through the 27th. Her dad Jim was to come to Centerville on Monday and would be here to celebrate my birthday on Wednesday. I quickly learned that at age (almost) 70, there must have been a lot of clues I missed. When we walked through the gate to our backyard with Annabelle, we were greeted by 50 or so friends shouting surprise. My friend Laura had planned and coordinated the whole party with some help from a lot of other friends, particularly Charlie and Jerry. Even 7 yr. old Annabelle knew about the party and kept it a secret. She and her grandfather had secret signs for communicating on the way home. My sister had flown in from PA, my cousins and friends from Piqua were there and my cousin Marilyn whom I had not seen for eleven years was there. Just writing about this homecoming brings tears to my eyes. I am so thankful for all of these friends and relatives.
2. I continue to have little problems, but when the eye doctor sent me to a specialist who thought I needed to have a surgical biopsy of fluid in my eye to look for infection or the possibility of cancer cells-- that was scary. At my next appointment, the doctor noted good improvement as a result of the eyedrops prescribed and decided there was not a reason to do the surgery. Wow! That was a tense week and a half.
3. On Saturday, Sept. 19, I actually "ran" a 5K organized by Beef O'Brady's and an Optimist friend Dave. Even though I seldom miss a day of "going out to run," most people call it a walk. Getting ready for the 5K, I started to "push" a bit and felt I was getting closer to a real run. After the race, Roy and I decided we would sign up and go to Minster, OH, and do the 10K on Oct. 4th!
Thank you one and all for continued prayers and good thoughts.
Margaret
1. On Saturday August 22, we returned home from Chicago with our granddaughter Annabelle who planned to stay through the 27th. Her dad Jim was to come to Centerville on Monday and would be here to celebrate my birthday on Wednesday. I quickly learned that at age (almost) 70, there must have been a lot of clues I missed. When we walked through the gate to our backyard with Annabelle, we were greeted by 50 or so friends shouting surprise. My friend Laura had planned and coordinated the whole party with some help from a lot of other friends, particularly Charlie and Jerry. Even 7 yr. old Annabelle knew about the party and kept it a secret. She and her grandfather had secret signs for communicating on the way home. My sister had flown in from PA, my cousins and friends from Piqua were there and my cousin Marilyn whom I had not seen for eleven years was there. Just writing about this homecoming brings tears to my eyes. I am so thankful for all of these friends and relatives.
2. I continue to have little problems, but when the eye doctor sent me to a specialist who thought I needed to have a surgical biopsy of fluid in my eye to look for infection or the possibility of cancer cells-- that was scary. At my next appointment, the doctor noted good improvement as a result of the eyedrops prescribed and decided there was not a reason to do the surgery. Wow! That was a tense week and a half.
3. On Saturday, Sept. 19, I actually "ran" a 5K organized by Beef O'Brady's and an Optimist friend Dave. Even though I seldom miss a day of "going out to run," most people call it a walk. Getting ready for the 5K, I started to "push" a bit and felt I was getting closer to a real run. After the race, Roy and I decided we would sign up and go to Minster, OH, and do the 10K on Oct. 4th!
Thank you one and all for continued prayers and good thoughts.
Margaret
Monday, August 10, 2009
Good News
Hello to all,
Thanks for continuing to pray and encourage me. On July 29, when I saw Dr. Calvo, I told him about my trials and tribulations with the new chemo, Tarceva. I also mentioned I was very wobbly and dizzy. He immediately did a blood test for potassium level and sent me to Kettering MC the next day for an MRI of the brain. He said we would let me know if any problems showed up. Today I talked to his nurse who told me the MRI showed no more cancer spots in the brain, just sinusitus,and the potassium test was normal. This was a big relief. Now I must figure out what to do about the sinus problem without interfering with the Tarceva. But I can work on that!
At the Optimist Convention in July, I was elected to be an International VP Elect for 2009-10 and VP for 2010-2011. This is going to be exciting. That Tarceva had better work.
Again, thanks for your good thoughts and prayers.
Margaret
Thanks for continuing to pray and encourage me. On July 29, when I saw Dr. Calvo, I told him about my trials and tribulations with the new chemo, Tarceva. I also mentioned I was very wobbly and dizzy. He immediately did a blood test for potassium level and sent me to Kettering MC the next day for an MRI of the brain. He said we would let me know if any problems showed up. Today I talked to his nurse who told me the MRI showed no more cancer spots in the brain, just sinusitus,and the potassium test was normal. This was a big relief. Now I must figure out what to do about the sinus problem without interfering with the Tarceva. But I can work on that!
At the Optimist Convention in July, I was elected to be an International VP Elect for 2009-10 and VP for 2010-2011. This is going to be exciting. That Tarceva had better work.
Again, thanks for your good thoughts and prayers.
Margaret
Thursday, June 18, 2009
OK, Here is the latest:
Yesterday, Dr. Calvo gave me the results of the PET scan done last Friday. It confirmed some of his concerns from the March PET scan that some nodules in the chest are showing increased metabolic activity from Dec. to March to June. He believes it is time to try another treatment which is a tablet taken daily. It is called Tarceva. The most common side effect is skin rash and diarrhea. That certainly doesn't sound good, but the drug is recommended as a second line in the fight. It has been ordered and will be delivered to my house in time to start using it next Monday.
In the meantime, we are really busy getting ready for the Optimist Conventions - JOOI and Adult - in Orlando starting July 3.
I spent a great weekend plus in Chicago where I saw Jim perform in "Hedwig and the Angry Inch" and two performances of "Million Dollar Quartet" with Annabelle. She has seen the "quartet" four times now and loves it. Not to be forgotten, a highlight of the time in Chicago was seeing Annabelle in her first dance recital videotaped, of course, by proud dad and grandmother - my camera, his camera work.
Today, I have signed up to be a standleader in the concession stand at the Dragons game. As I look out and see drops of water landing on our pool, I am wondering about that decision, but will live with it. I am sure it will clear!!
Thanks for you good thoughts and prayers. Keep them coming.
Margaret
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