The Beginning of Chemo

Last weekend we had some terrible news through Eddie's family. One of his sweet sisters passed .Not what we wanted to hear. Claudia brings sweet memories to me and Eddie. When we graduated from Grade School, she let Eddie and I cruise up and down main street in Potter Valley in her car before the dance. She of course rode with us and my parents stood on the sidewalk watching until we returned. We will miss her for sure. The last time I saw her she was in my hospital room at Mercy giving me a scalp massage while her sister Joan gave me a foot massage. All of Eddie's sisters are a healing part of my lifescycle as are you all. Tomorrow May 29, 2008 is my first chemo. Up until this morning I have been scared to death. The difference is that this morning we called the oncology nurse and asked her again to explain what I am to expect. Not going to be fun but I think I can do this. Last Friday Eddie took me in to MD Nuclear and they inserted what is called a porta cath high in my chest . This small disk is inserted just under the skin and has a small tube inserted into the jugular vein, this then goes through the heart and into a vein. For chemo a needle of sorts is inserted into the cath and the chemo in administered through it. Tranfusions can be done this way as well as many other procedures. As my veins are very fragile this will be a saving grace for me. The chemo is administered every 21 days and takes about six hours each time. The day after chemo, each time I return to Cancer Care for a shot that will boost my bone marrow to help make white blood cells that will play a large part in helping me stay free of infection. A big part of the time envolved in the six hours is concentrating on hydration. I am very anxious now to get the first one over with and see how many of the side effects I can avoid. Most of them I hope. The worst thing possibe happened to us today. We ran into a very dear friend that has been so supportive to us and they think she may have the same thing as I do. I am just sick for her and us. We are praying for her and her family as well as ourselves. I love you all and will let you know how the chemo goes.K

Well I'm back again. Since my last entry I've spent the most of my time in bed with nausea and what {I think) was a deep depression. I didn't sleep, just laid thinking about what lay ahead.The nausea was (I think) what the books call anticipatory nausea. Dr. Fig. said I am going to have it from the chemo so I just decided to start early just from thinking about it. Thanks to those of you that call just to listen to me cry and feel sorry for myself. Don't know what I would do without all of you and Eddie helping me make my way through the maze of emotions that engulf me daily. I have never in my life spent so much time crying. I am though, out of bed as of yesterday afternoon. It feels so good to think I might be on my way back.

I love you all K

Chemo and more!

It has been so long since I've been on here . The last few weeks I've been in and out of doctor's offices and Trinity Hospital. Started haveing nasea and vomiting, stomach pains etc. that turned out to be pancreatitis. It became inflamed from the trama of the surgery. I spent three days in the hospital doing tests, then another day in ER. Dr. said I just had to "cowgirl up" (my words, not his) until it got better. It is much better now.

Today was our first visit with an oncologist. Dr. Figueroa. He is in the Cancer Care Consultants at Mercy Hospital. I don't know how we have gotten so lucky with our doctors but he is wonderful.

As we already knew :I have stage 3A cancer.I've had cancer for a couple of years already. Having symptoms that I was blamming on my emphysema. Lack of energy when working outside. A cough. No strength in my legs etc.

What we didn't know: While in the hospital after surgery I did have a SMALL heart attack. Two lymph nodes were malignant not one. The cancer has probably already spread to other parcts of my body.

CHEMO: What a choice. I spent half the time we were in Dr. Figs. office in tears. In the end though I have chosen to take the chemo It is either that or sit around and see where the cancer will pop up next and know I will probably dye within the next couple of years.

Next week we will go to an education class on chemo, (on the 21st)then (on the 22nd)have a porta-cath inserted into my upper chest for the injections. Don't know yet when my first treament will be.

Chemo is injected once every 21 days for a series of 4 times. Because of my emphysema Dr. Fig. is worried about pneumonia, and there is also the chance of anemia requiring transfusions.Another possible side effect that can be permanant is peripheral neuropathy, causing multiple symptoms in the finger tips. I'll most deffinitely have nasea, and become very fatigued. OH YEAH! I WILL also loose my hair. The good thing about chemo is that it could buy us time and knock out the microscopic cancer cells.

Well all it has been a long day so I am going to bed and get some rest.
Once again I love you all. K.