Hello to all ( if anyone is still out there). I have been remiss in keeping this blog updated.
Today I met with my oncologist Dr. Calvo and got the results from the PET scan done Monday at 7 AM. He said it was clear and used the words "complete remission." We will continue with the Avastin and Alimta as maintenance which he says is the latest recommendation from research. He says we are in "uncharted territory" because we are beyond the time length of clinical trials. My blood counts were good and he said if they were being done to get a life insurance policy, I would get the policy. I hope I am quoting acurately or at least close.
We were not blown away in the storm Sept. 14, and have been very busy working, doing Optimist work, and traveling to Chicago to see and hear Jim in Buddy, The Buddy Holly Story. Jim's movie, The Express, has been released but we have not seen it yet.
This past week, Roy and I ran the 10K at the Minster Oktoberfest, I ran the 5K Walk Wiggle and Wobble at the Paragon (Fairfield, OH)Optimist Club. It is a breast cancer benefit. Sunday we biked from Xenia to Yellow Springs and back with some Presby Pair friends. This fall weather has been great.
Last Thursday, I completed my year as President of the Dayton Presidents Club with the Legion of Honor Luncheon and tomorrow I drive to St. Louis to assume my new duties on the Optimist International JOOI committee. With the report I got today, I am going to try to worry less and get more accomplished.
Thanks for all of the good wishes and prayers. I hope all is well with you.
Margaret
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
PET results
Hello to all,
Dr. Calvo's report on the PET scan taken a week ago was good. He said the results were even better than the the last one six months ago. He thinks the maintenance chemo I have been having since January is the best way to go right now and that without treatment, he thought the cancer would be back in three months. I have learned to live with the fatigue and bad taste which makes me be more creative in managing my schedule and food intake. Last week, I worked as Stand Leader at the Dragons game concessions on Monday, Thursday and Sunday and yesterday walked 18 at Sugar Valley and felt good. I go out to run everyday, but to most people it looks like walking. I just can't let myself give in and be lazy.
For now, the treatment schedule will continue once every four weeks. The next test will be an MRI sometime in August. Keeping my brain condition under control seems to be a priority. That has never been easy!
Thanks for your continuing good thoughts and prayers. They really help.
Margaret
Dr. Calvo's report on the PET scan taken a week ago was good. He said the results were even better than the the last one six months ago. He thinks the maintenance chemo I have been having since January is the best way to go right now and that without treatment, he thought the cancer would be back in three months. I have learned to live with the fatigue and bad taste which makes me be more creative in managing my schedule and food intake. Last week, I worked as Stand Leader at the Dragons game concessions on Monday, Thursday and Sunday and yesterday walked 18 at Sugar Valley and felt good. I go out to run everyday, but to most people it looks like walking. I just can't let myself give in and be lazy.
For now, the treatment schedule will continue once every four weeks. The next test will be an MRI sometime in August. Keeping my brain condition under control seems to be a priority. That has never been easy!
Thanks for your continuing good thoughts and prayers. They really help.
Margaret
Thursday, May 29, 2008
I am still here!
Hello everyone,
Thanks for sticking with me. Most of you are wondering why I haven't updated this blog for a long time and most of it is just being very busy and procrastinating. Medically, I feel as if I am in a holding pattern. Some of the effects of the whole brain radiation are still around - bad taste and no hair - and the chemo effects are bothersome. I am finally finding out what the chemo fatigue is all about and I don't like it. I am learning to deal with the bad taste thing, and am not complaining. These things are minor compared to what a lot of people are going through.
The results of the MRI taken two months after the brain radiation were good. Dr. Calvo said the spots were either gone and greatly reduced. When I asked if the ones that were greatly reduced would start growing again, he said, "We think they are dead." I hope so. There will be another MRI in about three months according to Dr. Calvo.
The big question mark is what the PET scan will show. The last one was six months ago and was good, but who knows? It is scheduled for next Wednesday, June 4, and I will get the results from Dr. Calvo a week later on the 11th of June and have the 6th chemo treatment of this series that day also. If I stay busy enough, I won't have time to worry about it.
Today is the official press opening of Jim's musical in Chicago - Buddy - The Buddy Holly Story and we will be driving there today.
Thanks for all of your continued good thoughts and prayers. I promise to do better with the blog.
Margaret
Thanks for sticking with me. Most of you are wondering why I haven't updated this blog for a long time and most of it is just being very busy and procrastinating. Medically, I feel as if I am in a holding pattern. Some of the effects of the whole brain radiation are still around - bad taste and no hair - and the chemo effects are bothersome. I am finally finding out what the chemo fatigue is all about and I don't like it. I am learning to deal with the bad taste thing, and am not complaining. These things are minor compared to what a lot of people are going through.
The results of the MRI taken two months after the brain radiation were good. Dr. Calvo said the spots were either gone and greatly reduced. When I asked if the ones that were greatly reduced would start growing again, he said, "We think they are dead." I hope so. There will be another MRI in about three months according to Dr. Calvo.
The big question mark is what the PET scan will show. The last one was six months ago and was good, but who knows? It is scheduled for next Wednesday, June 4, and I will get the results from Dr. Calvo a week later on the 11th of June and have the 6th chemo treatment of this series that day also. If I stay busy enough, I won't have time to worry about it.
Today is the official press opening of Jim's musical in Chicago - Buddy - The Buddy Holly Story and we will be driving there today.
Thanks for all of your continued good thoughts and prayers. I promise to do better with the blog.
Margaret
Sunday, March 2, 2008
Got through it!
Hello everyone,
Radiation ended Thursday morning and the new chemo, 2nd treatment happened Thursday afternoon. Contrary to my expectations of feeling terrible Thursday night, I actually felt very good. Could there have been a steroid in one of those IV bags? I went to Beef's for the mixer with the Centerville Noon and UD Flyers Optimist clubs, and the food tasted good.
After that came choir practice that lasted until about 9:30 P.M. and I still felt good. Amazing!
For as much as I enjoyed seeing the staff at Radiation Oncology at KMC everyday, it was a relief to not have to get up and go there on Friday morning. It was fun to see everyone at Dr. Calvo's office on Thursday. I am really lucky to have such great crews of doctors, nurses and technicians for all of the treatments.
We received some great news from our son Jim in Chicago. He auditioned and got the part of the drummer in the Buddy Holly stage musical. He is really going to work hard being a real estate agent, a dad and now a drummer/actor, but he seems excited about it.
Tomorrow after my Presidents Club meeting at lunch, Roy and I are driving to Boyne Mountain, Michigan for three days of skiing. We had to give up Utah in February, but just hated the idea of getting in only 5 days of skiing the whole year. The weather forecast looks very good, so we are very optimistic about 3 more days of good skiing in one of our favorite places.
Thanks for your continuing prayers and good wishes. They are definitely helping and most appreciated.
Love to all,
Margaret
Radiation ended Thursday morning and the new chemo, 2nd treatment happened Thursday afternoon. Contrary to my expectations of feeling terrible Thursday night, I actually felt very good. Could there have been a steroid in one of those IV bags? I went to Beef's for the mixer with the Centerville Noon and UD Flyers Optimist clubs, and the food tasted good.
After that came choir practice that lasted until about 9:30 P.M. and I still felt good. Amazing!
For as much as I enjoyed seeing the staff at Radiation Oncology at KMC everyday, it was a relief to not have to get up and go there on Friday morning. It was fun to see everyone at Dr. Calvo's office on Thursday. I am really lucky to have such great crews of doctors, nurses and technicians for all of the treatments.
We received some great news from our son Jim in Chicago. He auditioned and got the part of the drummer in the Buddy Holly stage musical. He is really going to work hard being a real estate agent, a dad and now a drummer/actor, but he seems excited about it.
Tomorrow after my Presidents Club meeting at lunch, Roy and I are driving to Boyne Mountain, Michigan for three days of skiing. We had to give up Utah in February, but just hated the idea of getting in only 5 days of skiing the whole year. The weather forecast looks very good, so we are very optimistic about 3 more days of good skiing in one of our favorite places.
Thanks for your continuing prayers and good wishes. They are definitely helping and most appreciated.
Love to all,
Margaret
Sunday, February 24, 2008
Four Days to go!
Hello to all,
Four days to go on whole brain radiation, but who's counting? You can bet that I am.
It really hasn't been so bad - just tiredness, bad taste and I think my hair is beginning to come out today. The good news is that the side effects seem to let up on the weekends when I don't have treatments. The other good side is the wonderful ladies at Kettering who treat me. They are all friendly and very efficient - make going there as pleasant as possible.
Thursday morning is the last radiation scheduled and in the afternoon, I plan to see Dr. Calvo and have a chemo treatment. Thursday night will probably not be my finest hour.
Not to let it get us down, Roy and I have scheduled a ski trip to Boyne, MI, leaving right after Presidents Club on Monday, March 3, skiing three days and heading to Chicago on Friday to celebrate Jim's 35th birthday and have fun with Annabelle.
I hope all of you are managing the weather challenges well. Someone said it will be spring in less than a month.
Be safe and warm and thanks, again, for your continuing good wishes and prayers.
Margaret
Four days to go on whole brain radiation, but who's counting? You can bet that I am.
It really hasn't been so bad - just tiredness, bad taste and I think my hair is beginning to come out today. The good news is that the side effects seem to let up on the weekends when I don't have treatments. The other good side is the wonderful ladies at Kettering who treat me. They are all friendly and very efficient - make going there as pleasant as possible.
Thursday morning is the last radiation scheduled and in the afternoon, I plan to see Dr. Calvo and have a chemo treatment. Thursday night will probably not be my finest hour.
Not to let it get us down, Roy and I have scheduled a ski trip to Boyne, MI, leaving right after Presidents Club on Monday, March 3, skiing three days and heading to Chicago on Friday to celebrate Jim's 35th birthday and have fun with Annabelle.
I hope all of you are managing the weather challenges well. Someone said it will be spring in less than a month.
Be safe and warm and thanks, again, for your continuing good wishes and prayers.
Margaret
Sunday, February 10, 2008
Belated Happy New Year to all!
Hello everyone,
I took a two month break from chemo and all things related so it seems.
Christmas was very good - went to Chicago for severals days and spent time with Jim and Annabelle and Jim's girlfriend, Dina. Christmas Eve we spent at Dina's parents' home and enjoyed their traditional Italian fish/seafood dinner. Lobster for dinner is a pretty good tradition and was delicious. Annabelle who is 5 and in kindergarten was probably the most excited we have seen her on Christmas morning.
The only downside to our holiday was losing our lion kitty Chloe on December 22. That was really tough, but she had lived a good life and we have good memories and pictures.
The third week of January is our ski week in Big Sky, Montana, and this year was especially exciting. First, the airlines lost my big suitcase and our skiis and ski clothes. They delivered my suitcase about midnight, but still hadn't located our skiis and gear. We finally got them about 8:30 the next evening, but had lost that day of skiing. Second, we got up the next morning ready to ski only to find out the actual temperature was 23 degrees below zero and the lifts couldn't run until it warmed up to 15 below. The high we saw that day was minus 8, but we did get in a half day of skiing non-stop. The rest of the week gradually warmed to as high as 10 t0 15 degrees above zero. Snow conditions were outstanding and I didn't see a patch of ice all week. Our trip home included an overnight stay in Seattle and it was great. Neither of us had been to Seattle before.
Now we are back to reality. January 28, I started back on chemo - just Avastin and Alimta once every four weeks - probably for six months. It only took an hour and a half and didn't have any annoying side effects yet. That same day, I had the MRI follow-up to the Gamma knife I had in December. Unfortunately, several more spots are showing up in my brain and I am scheduled to start 14 treatments of Whole Brain Radiation tomorrow. It certainly isn't what I want to do, but the preparation was fascinating. I will probably have some other words for the actual treatments.
I will let you know how the WBR goes and continue to appreciate your good thoughts and prayers.
Margaret
I took a two month break from chemo and all things related so it seems.
Christmas was very good - went to Chicago for severals days and spent time with Jim and Annabelle and Jim's girlfriend, Dina. Christmas Eve we spent at Dina's parents' home and enjoyed their traditional Italian fish/seafood dinner. Lobster for dinner is a pretty good tradition and was delicious. Annabelle who is 5 and in kindergarten was probably the most excited we have seen her on Christmas morning.
The only downside to our holiday was losing our lion kitty Chloe on December 22. That was really tough, but she had lived a good life and we have good memories and pictures.
The third week of January is our ski week in Big Sky, Montana, and this year was especially exciting. First, the airlines lost my big suitcase and our skiis and ski clothes. They delivered my suitcase about midnight, but still hadn't located our skiis and gear. We finally got them about 8:30 the next evening, but had lost that day of skiing. Second, we got up the next morning ready to ski only to find out the actual temperature was 23 degrees below zero and the lifts couldn't run until it warmed up to 15 below. The high we saw that day was minus 8, but we did get in a half day of skiing non-stop. The rest of the week gradually warmed to as high as 10 t0 15 degrees above zero. Snow conditions were outstanding and I didn't see a patch of ice all week. Our trip home included an overnight stay in Seattle and it was great. Neither of us had been to Seattle before.
Now we are back to reality. January 28, I started back on chemo - just Avastin and Alimta once every four weeks - probably for six months. It only took an hour and a half and didn't have any annoying side effects yet. That same day, I had the MRI follow-up to the Gamma knife I had in December. Unfortunately, several more spots are showing up in my brain and I am scheduled to start 14 treatments of Whole Brain Radiation tomorrow. It certainly isn't what I want to do, but the preparation was fascinating. I will probably have some other words for the actual treatments.
I will let you know how the WBR goes and continue to appreciate your good thoughts and prayers.
Margaret
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