C-R2-D6

Yes, I had a somewhat ragged stomach over the weekend, similar to KU's ability to play basketball on Sunday.  My stomach discontent will pass, however, I'm. not sure how long it will take KU fans to get over this loss.  I haven't seen so many missed baskets since my nephew played basketball in third grade.  No offense, Kyle.   My stomach at least feels better for a while after I eat.  I think it's just trying to recover after all of the Pac troop skirmishes on Days 1, 2, and 3 and that just takes some time.  At least I know what's happening now and just need to move on with my daily routines.  I spent a couple of hours on Sunday working through my federal taxes using the online fillable forms.  I must stay it wasn't too bad, actually very well set up and easy to navigate.  I think I even got a better refund than my first run through with trying Turbo Tax.   Yeah!!!  Now if I can wade through my three state forms over the next few days, I can use my federal refund to pay Kansas and Missouri and still have some left over.  Good plan....yes?  I didn't quite get in my usual hour of exercise over the weekend but did today.....inside though not outside.  Later in the week I hear we might get some warmth back.  Lots to look forward to.  Don't forget to get your "movement" in today.....yes it all counts. :)

C-R2-D3

Yes indeed, another crummy day 3 of chemo.  It didin't seem as bad as the first round but then I don't have to be as nervous as the first round since I can kind of anticipate the reaction.  The stomach was a little rocky and I just didn't feel like moving around much this morning.  I was trying to have a headache, but that came and went.  I rarely, almost never, have headaches, so that was a little different.  I've decided that the third day must be when the Pac troops have to start major damage control after the drugs leave my system so you can't blame them for being a little rambunctious.   I pretty much slept around until about 2:00 and then rallied for a short walk outside which actually helped.  Not the balmiest of weather today but it was okay for a short loop around the block.  I fixed myself some eggs and they seem to be doing okay and iced tea tastes good as well.  I have one of my online grading jobs this evening so coming to life is probably a good idea.  However, no KU basketball for me as this game hits right in my working zone.  I'm sure they'll be fine without me.   I finished digging out my new patio area yesterday which was my goal for the week and hope to start laying in some paving stones maybe later next week.   The back yard also got a "quick cut" to keep it from being knee high by next week.  The front yard however has a way to go before cutting is necessary.  Looks like a short wave of winter weather tomorrow so a good day to stay in and take it easy.  Don't forget to stand up and do the wave a few times during each b-ball game.  Get your exercise whenever you can. 

C-R2-D2

Two down, six to go.  Another hurdel cleared.  I had an afternoon chemo session yesterday and all is well.  According to my doctor, I am above the normal curve for chemo symptons and my reaction to them so that is good.  My blood count numbers were all in great shape with an actual increase in white count from my base number.  That explains the fact that I did not have a decrease in energy levels.  Another question answered is that the symptom reactions don't usually worsen as you have more treatments. The first week is apparently a good indicator of how things will go and symptoms can often improve as you progress.  I  feel better this morning than I did the first morning after my first treatment....anyway I think I do at least mentally if not physically.  I am going to take it easier on food these next two days to try to keep the rocky third day from reappearing.  I am still enjoying my hair, though some strands are beginning to fall as I brush my hair.  The doctor said another week would probably take it's toll on my hair.  I have wondered about how long the drugs are in my system and they are apparently gone withing two to three days, so it is just their effects of destroyed "normal" cells that are left for my body to deal with.  So lets keep up the good work Pac troops and have another good two weeks.  I am going strong on my patio project and would like to be finished by the next treatment.  Goals are good.  Looks like rain is coming for the next 3 or 4 days so basketball it is and maybe some good tv reruns of shows I missed the first time around.  I'm also reading a new Stephen King book, Fulll Dark, No Stars....good imagery as always.  Have a good weekend and don't forget to work in some exercise. 

C1-R1-D14

Great weekend, great weather, some good to great basketball.  Fired up the grill, good food, good company.  My Pac troops must be in stealth mode.  They're doing a great job while keeping a low profile.  Energy levels are good, being able to jog outside is great.  I did a little yard work, even washed some windows.  Yes, I do windows.  I especially like the kind that just release, fold out for easy cleaning, and back they go.  I have a great cleaning product from the company that built my sunroom and newspapers keep them streakfree.  Now if I could just get as enthused about doing my taxes.  I was hoping to get to go to watch a baseball game tomorrow of one of my favorite young baseball players, but it appears that thunderstorms may take that off the agenda.  I don't have my next treatment until Wednesday due to a change in the doctor's schedule.  I am actually looking foward to it so that I can say "two down, six to go". 
Enjoy the weather and take a walk. 

C1-R1-D12

Still doing well, no energy letdowns, no huge mouth issues, still got my hair. :)  Go Pac team!  However, I don't get to say go MU Tiger Team.  After the first five minutes, it was pretty much all over.  Maybe, just maybe, they need to slow down a little bit and think about who's going to get the good shot.  Anyway, guess I'll just have to stick with K-State and KU through the next few rounds.  K-State can probably use a few more cheers.   I'm headed out to exercise and maybe measure out my patio project before the rains come. 
Hopefully I will run these next few days right into round two chemo with no ill effects.  Have a good weekend out there. 

C1-R1-D9

It's been a great three days to week number two of chemo.  The pac-er's and pac-ettes have been doing a great job (at least in my mind) and very unobtrusively at that.  Good job, gang.  I haven't had any big let down in energy levels at this point, still jogging and throwing in some toning and weight-band exercises as well.  Slight soreness means is good.  I was a whirling dervish of spring cleaning on Monday.  Boxed up unused stuff for charity, rearranged a couple of areas and generally "uncluttered". Tuesday, I recovered and Wednesday helped a friend unclutter some of her "stuff" as well.  With the weather warming up I have a patio project in mind and plan to work and hour or two on that during the good days.  With the lowering of my white blood count yet to hit, I am noticing some tenderness in my mouth along the gum line and a back wisdom tooth.  Yes, I have yet to surrender my widsome teeth even though my dentist has tried to move me down that road more than once.  I hope I don't regret that decision during this chemo journey.  Here's my salute to a great St. Patrick's day for those of you who celebrate and hope the rest of my week is uneventful .  I hope that I can watch the Missouri Tigers progress through the first round of the NCAA tournament.  I won't mind a bit if KU and K-State do as well.    

C1-R1-D6

Ah-ha, three good days in a row.  I have the inside scoop now.  "All things in moderation" isn't really such a bad philosophy.  I am also figuring out the parameters of my new intestinal paradigm.  It turns out that a few times over the last three days I've just been hungry.  How about that?  I had a partial burger and fries Friday evening.....so good. (Notice the "partial" versus moderation philosophy).  I got released by my surgeon on Friday for exercise of my preference so I went for my first "moderate" jog in about six weeks on Saturday.  It lasted 28 minutes, a little over two miles probably, then I walked for another 22 minutes or so.  I had a great deli sandwich for dinner with some cake for dessert.  That also went well.  I went for a 42 minute, still moderate, jog this morning (but then again that's probably close to my regular speed) with a 10 minute walk cool down maybe 3.5 to 4 miles all together.  It does feel good at this point.  I'm off to meet some dear friends this evening to have some catch-up conversation and good fellowship.  I hear snow is on the way...glad I don't have to go anywhere important in the morning.  I think I will work on some spring house cleaning this week.  According to a variety of sources my next hurdle will be the white blood count let down which could occur about the 7 - 10 day mark with the onset of some mouth issues.  We shall see.  If you are a teacher and on spring break, do give yourself a break and enjoy time away from the kiddos.  Those last 10 weeks are a long haul.  And by the way.....all of you out there following my journey...thanks for the good vibrations coming my way. 

C-R1-D4

Bummer!  Yesterday was crummmmmmmmy!  I woke up in the middle of the night with a rolling stomach and decided to "gut" it out, probably a poor decision on my part since I have medication for this.  It was nothing big on the scale of possibilities but just queasiness.  I stumbled out of bed about 7:00 and took the medication, but had no desire to do anything but huddle under my blanket in my faithful recliner. (I am not a go-back-to-bed-during-the-day kind of person.) I'm not sure what the medication did, but I didn't actually throw up which is probably good.  I think I probably over did it with my Wednesday night meal since I was feeling good, so now I have internalized that lesson.  :)  There seemed to be an over-abundance of food commercials on TV Wednesday which made me wonder if I would ever want to eat real food again.  Toast and juice were my close companions during the day and I actually had some scrambled eggs for supper which wasn't bad.  I just referred to my Excel spreadsheet of dietary choices for a rocky stomach.  Decision easy. 
I'm off to see my surgeon this afternoon to get an after-surgery check to make sure incisions are healing well.  It's been six weeks so I am hoping for an exercise update so that maybe I can start jogging again instead of just walking when I feel up to it or maybe some light weight exercises.  I'm sure some sit up exercises wouldn't hurt either.  I want to stay involved in weight-bearing exercises since my mom had osteoporosis
and seems like chemo can contribute to bone-loss as well.  So get out there and take a walk this afternoon and enjoy the sunshine.  I plan to.  Have a good weekend and if you are on spring break next week here's a tip for those of you who want to come back to work with a little glow of sun on your cheeks.....just get a steroid injection and you will have pink cheeks for a couple of days.  Yes, I got first hand experience on that one since one of my drugs is a steroid.  I wonder if all of those athletes who said that they didn't take steroids had overly pink cheeks? 

C-R1-D2

For all you texters out there that's Chemo-Round 1-Day2.  I hope it doesn't catch on. :)  I woke up this morning after a more sleepless than sleeping night, but the nurse said that that might be likely.  However, I do have medical advice to take naps as needed though I've never really had trouble justifying naps over the last few years. In fact I'm a firm believer in naps.  Rolling around in bed did give me more time to think since I still haven't been able to follow researched advice that getting up and moving to another room to read for awhile would make you sleepy again. So here's a thought.  If the PET scan showed no other detectable cancer in my body, then are all of my little Pac troops out there eating more healthy cells than they normally would thereby making my chemo symptoms potentially worse. Or will my symptoms progress more quickly since the normal cells are destroyed more quickly.  My visual image will therefore have to have my Pac-ers and Pac-ettes being very slim and trim little troopers without the rounded stomach but nice tone muscles instead.
I won't see my doctor again for two weeks so I guess I will have to hang on to that question.  I guess that helps explain the medical advice again to eat a high protein and high calorie diet thereby making more new normal cells to replaced the lost ones.  A common misconception is that you will lose weight on chemo due to the various side effects but just as many patients gain weight if they handle the diet correctly.  It also apparently depends on the cancer you are treating and the type of chemo drugs you are getting.  My hope is to hang in there at my current weight and still due diligence with the diet plan.  My normal daily wardrobe of sweats and tee-shirts probably won't be noticably punished but my jeans fit really well right now and holding my breath or keeping the snap open is not an option.  Oh well, time will tell.  Ladies out there get a mammogram if you are over 40 and haven't had one in a while.  Fifteen minutes and you're good to go.

Chemo-Round 1

I got to the office at 10:00 for blood work and walked out at 1:00 feeling surprisingly normal and upbeat despite all of the precautions and negative "possibilities" floating around in my brain.  I got a one-on-one walk-through with the most important paper work and then two pieces of literature to peruse at my leisure with basically the same stuff but not quite as terse.  Can you believe the nurse used the term "an easy read"?  By the way I have a great oncology nurse.  Experienced, knowledgeable, direct and practical.....my kind of medical personnel.  Once I was hooked up and left with my own thoughts I decided that some positive imagery couldn't hurt.  I imagined that those drugs were sending out "pacman" troops to gobble up any stray cancer cells that might be out there.  I know pac-man dates me but what can I say?  That image really works for me.  My troops will also be known as "pac-ers" and "pac-ettes".....Go Team!   I haven't experienced any nausea yet (and don't plan to) but just in case I will imagine that it is just the troops all stopping to do "the wave" at the same time causing a little bit of  upheaval in the gastric area.  One of the questions I asked was that other than 100% chance of hair loss are there chemo patients who don't experience any of the other symptoms and she said "Why yes there are."  So I plan to take that route whenever possible and opt out of most side effects.  The other thing I asked about was exercise and she said go for it every chance you get, do what you would normally do as often as you can.  Fatigue does not have to run the show.  So once I got home I did my usual hour on the elliptical and hope I can get outside to walk the rest of the week.  My surgeon still hasn't released me to do more exercise than that, but I'm hoping for the best on Friday when I see him for my almost 6-week check-in.  I go back to the chemo unit tomorrow morning for an injection that will help keep up my white blood count. This leaves me alone with my thoughts for the next two weeks.  I am ordinarily not a person who pays much attention to small aches and pains, but it's kind of weird now paying such close attention to how I am feeling.  I am resisting the urge to make an Excel spreadsheet to try and keep track of everything.  Those who know me are no doubt smiling at that one.  Keep smiling kids, I need those vibes.  By the way, I have to change chemo to Wednesdays because of my doctor not being there on Tuesdays to check me out, so I don't know if I should change my blog title or not or if I can.  I've kind of gotten attached to this one.  What do you think?

It Starts Tomorrow

Chemotherapy that is.  January was not a good month and February was not much better.  I had a bout with breast cancer five years ago and I was signed off with my doctors as cured.  Yeah!!!  Then my January mammogram indicated that I should make other plans....a cancerous lump or two on the other side.  A biopsy verified the news.  A lumpectomy would not do the job this time.  Surgery claimed the date for January 31.  The surgery was not that daunting, but thinking about the possibility of cancer spreading was.  The surgeon took care of the two lumps which turned out to be one big one, Stage IIIA, and also a third lump almost undiscovered under my arm.  This cancer was a rather nasty villain, not easy to contain.  However, a PET scan on February 21st brought good news....no cancer present anywhere else.  Now we have a place to start.  Hence the chemo.  Chemically zap any little microscopic cancer cells floating around out there in my blood stream looking for a place to grow roots and then radiate the chest wall and underarm to create a safe zone for the good cells and a cemetary for cancer cells.  At least that's the way I'm choosing to look at it.  I can write that with a smile on my face rather than that the frown created in trying to create the scientific representation for what my doctors are proposing.  So the battle begins tomorrow and new troups will be sent in every other Tuesday for eight rounds of chemo.  Should you wish to wage war with me using the weapons of  encouraging comments and laughable observations about life's twists and turns, please do.