Cheers!

This my friends is the Barium I'm required to drink before my CT and PET scans (1 of several glasses).  It's a contrast agent used to highlight specific parts of the body and make them easier to see... it temporarily changes the way x-rays or other imaging tools interact with your body.  I can't say it's pleasant to drink, but I guess I've had enough scans that I'm used to it.  Of course I think the umbrella helps... makes me feel like I'm drinking a pina colada on a beach somewhere.  I left the package of umbrella's w/ the receptionist at Tx Oncology hoping I'd get a smile out of the next person that came in dreading the milky white substance.  Fingers crossed it did!  I tell ya... it's the little things! 

 

So Cheers!  Cheers to kickin' cancer's ass! 

Finally!!

It's about damn time!  I had to revise what I was calling "Feeling Better February" to "Feeling Better March!"  Hmmmm, doesn't have as nice of a ring to it, but you now what, I'll take it!  I'm off antibiotics and my MRSA sores are healing the way they should be.  I don't want to jinx myself, but it's looking like I'm infection free!  Woohoo!!  

 

The last few months haven't been fun, but through it all, my CA 27-29 tumor marker has surprisingly shown a downward trend.  Now, before I get too excited, I have to remind myself that this is a marker that isn't 100% reliable... used more as guide that "should" (in theory) correlate to what's going on.  It's a blood test that is drawn w/ the rest of my labs that I can get more often than the much more reliable images of a CT or PET scan.  "If" my tumor marker is going down, I "should" expect to see positive results from a PET scan.  However back in Oct, before I started that drug trial down in San Antonio, even though my tumor marker was steadily increasing, a PET scan at the time showed an overall improvement.  Ya, doesn't make sense.  When I received the good news of that PET scan I was of course relieved and excited, but at the same time I was pissed for getting so worked up over the tumor marker increasing week after week... I had obviously been expecting bad news from the PET.  So for awhile there I have to say I lost faith in the tumor marker b/c I couldn't trust it. 

 

BUT now that the tumor marker is going down (moving in the right direction)... maybe I'll give it one more chance to redeem itself.  I have a PET scan on Wednesday and I just KNOW it's going to show good results!   I mean come on, the CA 27-29 tumor marker doesn't lie!!!!  Oh wait!  It does... Well, at least I can accept my love/hate relationship w/ my tumor marker!!  This time will be different!  You'll see!!

 

Lets take a closer look at what my CA 27-29 tumor marker has been up to! 

(Note: Normal range is less than 35)

 

"A day in the life of my CA 27-29 tumor marker"

08/01/11  160

08/17/11  244.9

08/29/11  315.4

09/07/11  278.8

09/15/11  271.1

09/20/11  304.5

10/04/11  320.6

10/17/11  412.6  (At this time, even though PET showed improvement, I decided to participate in the drug trial in S.A.)

November (I was not tested for this tumor marker while on the study)

12/05/11  (Results from CT showed more cancer on my liver so I was pulled from the trial... Back to the drawing board!) 

12/07/11  (New chemo cocktail begins.  Unfortunately I was not tested to see what my tumor marker was at this time)

12/28/11  714.6  (Yowzers!  That's high!  Wish I knew what the marker was when I started this cocktail)

01/05/12  343.7

01/18/12  210

02/01/12  132.8

02/08/12  201.3

02/15/12  127.7

02/29/12  92  (Woohoo!  Double digits!!)

 

My next PET scan is this Wednesday... so we'll see how accurate the tumor marker is this go around.  I'm hoping to get the results of the PET by the end of this week.  I'll keep you posted with the good news!!  ;)

MRSA MRSA Me!!!

Because 2 infections this year just wasn't enough...

It's mid February (what was supposed to be "Feeling Better February" I might add), and I'm taking my 4th antibiotic for my 3rd infection of the year.  SHESH!!  After recovering from the digestive system & upper respiratory infection, I had some other "minor" side effects going on that I was juggling with.  First of all, ever since I started chemo I've been having issues with my finger and toe nails.  They're not quite as strong as they used to be and they're not growing back as cooperatively as they used to either.  Weird, but if anything annoying!  About a week or 2 ago I had an ingrown toe nail removed and the root deadened.  First of all, who knew an ingrown nail could be so painful?!  Anywho, I got it taken care of and started all the procedures to avoid infection (soaking in epsom salt, treating it with antibacterial lotion, etc).  I mean come on, the last thing I need is another infection... I'm all over this toe!!  On top of that I started getting that "rash" I had not long after the holidays (thought to be caused by one of the drugs I'm taking)... several spots/"sores" all over my body.  There were quite a few, but there were 5 in particular that were bigger then the rest... 2 on my upper back (right on the bra line conveniently), 1 in the lower middle of my back and 2 on the upper back side of both legs.  I began treating them like I did previously and was looking forward to "Feeling Better February."  During all of this I got the approval from Dr. H to hold off on one of my IV drugs (Navelbine) and one of my oral drugs (Tykerb) to give my body a break.  Thank God!  I had reached my breaking point... enough is enough!  The month of January is not one I'd like to repeat!  Talk about being pretty darn uncomfortable!  

So this brings us up to last Friday... Overnight the "sores" got worse.  They had almost swollen up into welts, like I was stung by a bee.  Talk about EXTREMELY painful!  I could barely put any pressure on them so you could imagine me trying to sit down with so many of them on my back side.  Not fun!  So yes, I played the Cancer Card and got into my Dermatologist's office that afternoon.  Dr. Derm decided to numb one of the areas (OUCH) and take a biopsy and culture of the sore that looked the angriest... just so happened to be the one in the lower middle of my back.  She gave me some topical lotion, antibiotics and an Rx for pain pills to take "if" they started to get worse over the weekend.  Otherwise, we just needed to sit tight a couple of days and wait for the results to come in and hopefully find out what these things are and what's causing them.  So I start heading home.  Thinking I could swing by HEB to pick up a Rx or 2.  OH MY GOD!  OH MY GOD!  OH MY GOD!!  The numbing on my back started to wear off.  My back was on F-I-R-E!!  You should have seen the way I was driving!!  I was pulled up as close to the steering wheel as possible... irritating the hell out of the sores on my leg, but my back was just killing me.  And I was uncontrollably balling!!!  (Not to be confused with "a Baller").  How I made it home without getting into an accident is beyond me!!  That should have been the first clue that it was going to be a long weekend!

Saturday... HOLY CRAP!!  They got worse!!!  They got worse!!!  They were bigger, swollen and to be quite honest, PISSED OFF!!!  I can't really describe how uncomfortable I was.  Remember the movie Spaceballs?  Of course you do!  Then you'll remember the scene where the alien pops out of the guy's stomach and dances down the bar with the hat and cane.  Come on!!  Tell me you remember this!!  Well, that's what I was fully expecting to pop out of one of these sores!  To make it worse, I had to cancel my plans that night.  Seriously, I had a girls night out (a little rodeo and concert action down in S.A.) on my calendar for weeks.  I swear, I'm jinxed if I put anything fun on my calendar!  This cancer is REALLY pissing me off!!  So needless to say, I had a pretty rough weekend.  

Monday... back to Dr. Derm.  The sores, which I began to call "boils" (yes, a pretty disgusting, ugly word if you ask me), were just too painful!  Dr. Derm just had to do something.  This entailed more numbing and "expressing" the sites.  BLEEEEEEEHHHHHHHHHH!!  I'm not quite sure how much fluid she "expressed" from these "boils," but I could instantly tell that it relieved some of the pressure around them.  Thankfully J was my chauffeur that day so I didn't have to worry about driving.  I'm sure I looked pretty ridiculous w/ the way I was sitting, but at least I wouldn't be causing any accidents!

Tuesday... Well, at this point, J and I decided that we needed some help since I've been completely useless up to this point (more so than usual... just to clarify).  J had been waiting on me hand and foot.  So what a great excuse to fly in my mom!!  And what do you know... the biopsy and culture results are in!  Turns out I have a MRSA Staph Infection. (Insert: Debbie Downer Music).  

So what did YOU do for YOUR Valentine's Day???

After getting out of a nice long, hot shower on Tuesday night, I was standing in my bathroom, half naked, facing the wall, I noticed that I was tightly gripping (white knuckles and all) my towel rack to keep myself steady.  (Side note: If you think there is going to be anything sexy or erotic to follow... you're reading the wrong, damn blog).  I glanced into the mirror, saw my reflection and thought to myself... never in a million years did I expect to have my husband AND my mom standing behind me, cleansing, expressing and treating boils on my back side!  UGH!  What has my life come to?!?  Again, not something I was hoping to check off of my things to do in life list!!  I just knew I'd be able to laugh about it one day and was looking forward to the first person to ask me, "so what did you do for Valentine's Day?"  

So this week I'm back on Tykerb, but we decided to hold off on Navelbine another week since that infusion suppresses my immune system.  At this point we really need to get over this staph infection.  So yes, I'm on antibiotics for ANOTHER 10 days.  We've also added a weekly dose of Iron to my chemo regime due to a recent iron deficiency.  In the meantime, I'm going to enjoy my mom being in town and helping out and looking forward to my dad coming into town this weekend.  Oh look... a fun weekend that WASN'T on my calendar!  Ah ha!  Didn't see that one coming did you Mr. Cancer!!

For those of you who missed the alien scene... "Oh No! Not again!"

Come On!!!

After receiving the AMAZING and drastic results we were so hopefully wishing for, wanting and NEEDING from my CT scan last week, you would think I would be out and about, living it up, partying like a rock star and celebrating the good news.  Well, I can't say partying like a rock star was on our agenda... starting over MLK weekend and slowly working it's way to last week I became sick as a dog.  I'll elaborate on that in a sec, but we did manage to make it down to the 956 to visit my family and make up for the trip we canceled during the Christmas break.  First of all, you can't beat the direct, less than an hour SWA flight from Austin to Harlingen!  Always a restroom in sight!  I tell ya, the things I have to worry about these days... (eye roll)!  Anyway, it was great seeing my family and a few of our family friends (although I pretty much consider them family) while we were down there... the rest of the time I spent sleeping.  Not quite the lively, event filled weekend we normally have down there, but all I could focus on was sleep.  It might have been a combination of not letting myself fully recover from chemo the week before, being exhausted from traveling or maybe from this pesky "cold" that was brewing (again, we'll get to that later).  I would have loved to have spent more time on the island, but my exhaustion kept me happy as a clam sitting on my parents back porch... I had palm trees near by (I don't know why I find the rustling of palm tree leaves in the wind so relaxing), pelicans diving for fish in the Harbor and flocks of ducks flying overhead.  It was peaceful, relaxing and just nice to get out of town.  Since the beginning of December (and now that I think about it, back to November when I was traveling back and forth to San Antonio during the week for the study trial), I've had to cancel or bail on any and all of my weekend plans.  Which sucks!  I think that was so frustrating over the last month or so... feeling like crap and not even knowing if this cocktail is working.  It's amazing how much of a mental/emotional toll cancer can play on you.  BUT we got good results, so at least I now know that this cocktail is not only working, but it's kicking some ass!  AND I know I need to just hang in there and hopefully reschedule all the things I was supposed to do when I start feeling better.  So I feel pretty lucky to have felt good enough to make it to the Valley this last weekend.  Although I'm still in shock that I made it to Arturo's and didn't have one of their famous and oh so delicious margaritas!  UGH!!!  DAMN YOU CANCER (insert: fist pumping in the air)!!!  

As for this "cold" I started coming down with... I started out thinking it was the usual allergies.  Well, then came the fever.  That wasn't a good sign!  So when I went in for my infusion last week, several "samples" were taken to rule out any kind of infection.  Blood samples, urine sample and... well... ummm... and...  a stool sample.

COME ON!!!

It makes me cringe just thinking about it... a stool sample!  UGH!  The things I've had to do since being diagnosed!!!  Seriously?!  A stool sample?!  And get this... as Chemo Nurse Andrea was explaining "the procedure" on how to collect the stool sample, she must have noticed the look of utter disgust on my face (if you're disgusted reading this, imagine how I felt)... so Chemo Nurse Andrea then willingly volunteers to collect the sample for me.  She told me to just leave the "specimen" in the urine hat and let her know when I was done.  WHAT?!?  Who is this woman?!?  My new favorite nurse, that's who (sorry Jeffrey RN).  But really, there was no way I would have or could have let someone else do that.  Seriously!  Disgusting!  So yes, for the first time in my life I had to collect a stool sample.  Not necessarily what I was wanting to cross off of my "things to do in life list."  Well, what do you know, the stool sample came back positive for something called Clostridium Difficile, also known as C Diff.  My interpretation of what that is... an infection in my digestive system possibly caused by one of the drugs I've been taking which killed the good bacteria in my digestive system, leaving the bad bacteria to take over.  Symptoms include diarrhea & flu like symptoms.  Well, that explains a lot!!  This just adds another pill to take for the next 10 days and hopefully won't interfere with my weekly infusions.  And yes, this is all on top of the head cold I'm battling.  When it rains it pours!  

BUT... 

The cocktail is working!!  Woohoo!!!  

And yes, I do apologize for this week's blog entry topic.  As much as I'd rather be blogging about something fun and exciting, this is after all a blog about my ups and downs with cancer and EVERYTHING that comes with it.  Besides...

Stool Happens!!!

Today's Going to be a Good Day!!!

I woke up this morning thinking to myself, "it's going to be a good day."  When I was growing up I remember spending the night at my grandparents house with my red "going to grandmas" suitcase in tote of course.  When it was time for me to go to school, I was clearly dragging my feet and making it as obvious as possible that I was not excited about going to school.  I remember my grandma sitting me down and telling me that it helped to start each day by telling yourself "it's going to be a good day."  I not only remember her telling me this, but it's something I've continued to do over the years.  Now, I can't say I've had a good day EVERY day I've told myself this, but I tell ya what, it surprisingly works!  It's amazing how a positive attitude first thing in the morning can effect the rest of your day.  I can't thank my Mawmaw enough... Not only for this piece of advice, but for contributing to what has become the positive/kick ass kind of attitude I have to kicking this cancer's ass!!

 

So yes, I woke up this morning, Friday the 13th w/ a CT scan scheduled and all, telling myself "it's going to be a good day, dammit!"  Sorry Mawmaw, I thought it needed a little umph!  ;)  After the scan I headed to the infusion room to get fluids and another Neulasta injection... yes, my WBC dipped below the normal range again this week.  I was still able to get my infusion this week, so thankfully we're still on schedule!  So, as I'm sitting in the infusion room I heard a very distinct "click click click" approaching me... the sound of 4 inch heels walking at a brisk pace... yep, it was Dr. Hellerstedt.  In case you don't know Dr. H, she has a love for and rocks the most impressive, fashionable high heels!  So before I know it, there is Dr. H standing in front of me with Nurse Prac Lisa, both of them grinning ridiculously at me.  Dr. H is holding the results from my CT scan and telling me to read it.  What?!  As I'm looking at it, it was a blur!  Not sure what happened, but in these few moments I completely forgot how to read.  I'm glancing over the report not comprehending a thing!  Dr. H finally took the hint and grabbed the report, pointing to the section concerning my liver and read, "Hepatic metastatic disease has significantly improved.  There is a decrease in size of the individual lesions.  For example a lesion in the dome of the liver measures 2.2 x 2.8 cm is compared to 4.5 x 4.6 cm.  A lesion more purely measured 1.4 x 1.8 cm is compared to 2.2 x 2.7 cm.  A large lesion inferiorly measures 1.2 x 0.9 cm is compared a 2.3 x 3.6 cm.  Multiple central lesions have significantly decreased in size."  (Compared to abdomen and pelvis CT scan on 12/2/11 & PET/CT scan on 10/7/11).  WOOOHOOOOOO!!!  That's what I'm talking about!  This isn't just a good day, it's a GREAT day!!  After dealing with the side effects I've been experiencing over the last couple of weeks, this is exactly what I needed to hear!  At least the cocktail is working!  YAY!!

 

As my friend B says, "on a side note,"... as I'm in the infusion room this woman complimented my hair.  I graciously say thanks and then she asks, "where did you get it."  Oh, for the love!  I can't help it that my real hair looks like a wig.  I should have just told her it was a wig because then she wanted to touch it.  As her hand was slowly reaching for my hair and as I'm backing away with what I'm sure was a disgusted "please don't touch my hair look on my face"... thank God we were interrupted by the chemo nurse who needed to take my blood pressure.  I've never been so happy to have my blood pressure taken! 

 

Happy Friday the 13th!!  It's going to be a GREAT day!! 

Happy New Year!

Woohoo!  My white blood cell count (WBC) is back up!  It's still "in the red" coming in at 4.5 (normal range is 4.8 - 10.8), but at least it didn't dip down as low as it did 2 weeks ago. Oooh, that's right, I havent blogged in awhile so you didn't know that tid bit of info. Well, let me catch you up to speed... 2 weeks ago my WBC dropped to 2.9.  This is typical and was somewhat expected to happen... Not just with my new drug, but with taking Chemo in general.  

To refresh...

Chemo works by killing fast-growing cancer cells. Unfortunately, chemo can’t tell the difference between cancer cells and fast-growing healthy cells, including white blood cells which help to fight infection.  As a result, one of the most serious potential side effects of some types of chemotherapy is a low WBC.

I've been fortunate enough this last year that I haven't had any major problems with this.  2 weeks ago when it was as low as it was, I ran the risk of NOT being able to receive my infusion, causing an unwanted interruption in my treatment schedule. To stay on track and continue with treatment, I was given a WBC booster, an injection called Neulasta.  Neulasta works by helping the body make more neutrophils (a type of blood cell needed to fight infection).

Boom!!  The Neulasta worked!  I received my treatment last week and again this week.  The WBC is "in the red," but at least it's high enough to continue on w/ treatment!  So now I'm supposed to be cautious of being around anyone who is sick and I probably need to avoid shaking hands and giving hugs... do you know how hard this is going to be?!  I'm a hugger!  I love a good 'ol hug!  Although this is probably the perfect excuse and chance to break what has become the awkward, uncomfortable and frequent hug I've been giving the guy who takes out my trash at work.  What?!?  Is that weird?!  But it's Joe!  He's sweet as can be and is old enough to be my grandpa.  Okay, okay, no more hugs... even w/ Janitor Joe.  

Other than my WBC, the last couple of weeks haven't been what I call fun.  I've had a difficult time dealing with some side effects, but I guess that comes with the territory.  If this cocktail is working... Bring it on!  I just hope things aren't quite as uncomfortable.  Don't worry, I'm not going to bore or disgust you w/ the side effects I've been encountering, but don't think you get off that easy!  By now you've learned I like to bitch about something or other!  Today's bitch session... it's something we all know and love... acne!!  Awe, let's take a second to recall those prepubescent years.  Ugh!  I know!  I've developed a rash that "resembles acne."  It sucks! I don't remember puberty being this bad, but I tell ya, I feel gross, dirty, ugly, embarrassed... and not too mention it flat out hurts!  You know, I actually had a pimple on my eye lid... MY EYELID!!!  I mean who gets a pimple on their eyelid?!  I'll tell you who... Woogie!!  That's who! You heard me!  Dom “Woogie” Woganowski!  You know who I'm talking about... you know how I love a good 'ol 90's movie!  ;)

I've said this before and I'll say it again... Bring It!  I said... brrrrr, it's cold in here.  There must be some Clovers in the atmosphere!  Okay, okay, Bring it On was made in 2000, but it might as well have been made in the 90's!  For those of you who HAVE seen this movie... try getting that cheer out of your head the rest of the day!!  Goooooood Luuuuuuuuuck!!! 

Anyway, I have a lucky CT scan scheduled for Friday the 13th and I'm excited to see what this new cocktail is doing!

Until then, here's to a happy AND HEALTHY new year!!  

CHEERS (Insert Spirit Fingers)!!!!!!  

Another Day... Another Drug

Well, it's looking like we have some catching up to do... 

I'll start by saying that I have officially been pulled from the clinical trial.  (Insert gasp)  I know, I know, but it's not what you're thinking... I swear I didn't harm the gentleman blaring Christmas music.  What?!  Not what you were thinking??  Lets move on... the week before last (4th week of the clinical trial which was also the last week of the 1st cycle), my right side started hurting.  And if I were to describe the pain, and I know this is going to sound weird, but I could actually feel my liver quiver.  For whatever reason, my liver was twitching/spasming.  And it wasn't a "holy crap I had so much fun partying last night" kind of quiver.  Not that I know what that feels like.  Again, lets move on... So we know from past experience that that's not a great sign.  Thankfully Dr. H was able to squeeze me into her already busy, booked day.  She thought it would be best to order a CT scan to see what was going on.  During our visit I was given the slightest bit of hope that this could actually be a good thing.  My liver could be reacting to cell or tumor DESTRUCTION (man, that has a nice ring to it).  Unfortunately that wasn't the case this time.  The CT showed even more cancer on my liver compared to when I started the trial.  (Insert Debbie Downer music)  Thankfully my lab work showed great numbers and everything else is functioning the way it should... except of course the cancer. 

So where do we go from here?!  Well, like I said before starting this clinical trial, at least we have a backup plan.  We know that the meds I was on prior to the trial were working, so lets go back to what we know with a minor tweak here and there to get things back under control.  So for those of you keeping track of my drugs, this is what my chemo cocktail is looking like...

Herceptin (infusion every 3 weeks)

Zometa (infusion every 4 - 6 weeks)

Tykerb (oral daily)

Femara (oral daily)

And introducing the new drug to the cocktail... drum roll please... 

Navelbine (infusion weekly)

I started this new concoction last week.  With it of course came all the the anticipation and worrisome of how I'm going to react to this new drug and it's side effects.  To list a few of the side effects...

• Allergic reactions like skin rash, itching or hives, swelling of the face, lips or tongue
• Low blood counts (you may be at increased risk for infections and bleeding)
• Signs of infection - fever or chills, cough, sore throat, pain or difficulty passing urine
• Signs of decreased platelets or bleeding - bruising, pinpoint red spots on the skin, nosebleeds
• Signs of decreased red blood cells - unusually weak or tired, fainting spells, lightheadedness
• Breathing problems
• Chest pain
• Constipation
• Cough
• Mouth sores (Nooooooooooooo, not "Can-sores"!!!!!)
• Nausea and vomiting
• Pain, swelling, redness or irritation at the injection site
• Pain, tingling, numbness in the hands or feet
• Stomach pain
• Trouble passing urine or change in the amount of urine
• Diarrhea (cha cha cha)
• Hair loss
• Jaw pain
• Loss of appetite

Hmmm, good times!!

Yes, I experienced a few of these side effects, but the one we were most concerned about was a fever I received the day after my infusion.  Dr. H was out of the office this day, but thankfully the Nurse Prac was able to squeeze me into her busy, booked day.  The main concern was an infection.  Thankfully the fever passed and the lab work showed no signs of an infection.  (Insert sigh of relief).  So ya, last week wasn't much fun, but I'm feeling better and excited about getting this ball rolling.  It's hard not to think that we wasted 2 months on this clinical trial, but I'm glad we gave it a shot.  It might not have been the "miracle drug" for me, but hopefully it will be for someone else.