Hi, Again

Well, I thought that healing from surgery was boring to write about, but that at least I had day-to-day changes. Living through the weeks of chemo treatments is a bit of a wasteland. I generally have enough energy on any given day to take a walk usually with Charley (the poodle) and Marcia (the best friend), doing some household chore, preparing simple meals and maybe going on one errand. Then it's a nap and reading or calling friends who will still listen to me talk without having many interesting topics. But I can't say that I miss running around to meetings of various committees. I'll get back to some of that but never as much as I've done in years past. Instead of admitting I want to just sit in a chair and read, I'll say that I'm resting on my laurels. How long do you think I can get away with that?

I went for the third (of eight) chemo infusions on Thursday and so far I'm doing fine. I think I mentioned before that the first day after treatment the steroids are still working and I feel great. I begin to understand why athletes like them, but, alas, by day two I start to drag. After a couple of days things improve though. A symptom I have not experienced so far is loss of appetite. I want to eat all the time especially anything with carbohydrates. I have managed to give up the numerous Oreos and glasses of milk I indulged in for the ten day that my hair was falling out. Fat is not a good substitute for hair. Speaking of hair, I didn't lose all of mine, and I discovered the other day that if I part what's left down the middle and pull the little tuft at the back straight up I can look a lot like Alfalfa from the Lil' Rascals. I have a nice wig, but around the house I mostly wear scarves and hats, and here again I realize that wrapping a bandana to tie in front, I can look like someone who could join Lucy and Ethel on the line at the candy factory. Anything for a laugh!

My doctor visit yesterday brought more good news on the CA125 levels. I have gone from 364 to 29 and now to 15. Anything below 10 is good, and I fully expect to get there soon. I feel very fortunate that the treatments are working as they are suppose to. When I spend a day in the chemo room, I come away so greatful for my ongoing improvement that I should not complain about anything.

I know that you all are continuing the send your thoughts and prayers because I feel the good effects. If anyone would like to send me an email message rather than post something to the blog, my address is mebking@aol.com, and I'll be happy to respond. And don't hesitate to call either (574-232-3401).

Thanks you all for all your support.

Back Home Again in Indiana

I'll start with a salute to a beautiful day. The sun is shining, the temperature is near perfect, and best of all for me is that I suffered no nausea from last Thursday's chemotherapy treatment. I'm feeling quite well except for being tired, so I just take lots of naps and feel very fortunate that I can.

We had a fine and restful trip to Wisconsin. I can sum it up briefly by saying that Karl caught lots of fish and I lost lots of hair. Having had my hair cut quite short just before going to the cabin in the woods, I thought that was a great place to have it fall out. I had taken my wig and several baseball caps and there was no one there that I knew to see me. However Karl reminded me that I should vacuum well or we might be fined for violating the "No Pets Allowed" policy. Humor helps.

We had a very easy drive back home on Tuesday, and I have nearly caught up with laundry.

Marcia accompanied me to therapy on Thursday. It is so good to have fun company for the six hour session. And the best news came from the doctor's visit where I learned that my CA-125 (tumor marker) number that had been 364.4 prior to my first treatment was 29.8 before the second. The goal is to have it below 10, and that should certainly happen before I finish the series of eight treatments.

As we experienced the variable weather at Lake Owen in north central Wisconsin, I couldn't help but start having unhappy thoughts about the cold, gray days that we have in our not too distant future. But I was saved by a quote in a news story about the changing seasons. This comes from 19th century poet Celia Thaxter and she writes, "There shall be eternal summer in the grateful heart." I hope you all know by now how grateful I am for your thoughts and prayers and for staying with me as this drags on. You all are just the best of family and friends, and my grateful heart will work at staying sunny with your continued help.

Love you all!

Vacation is Coming

As I take a break from packing boxes and deciding which books to take to Wisconsin, I think a pre-vacation update is in order.

First of all I am feeling just fine, and if I take frequent breaks I can do most anything except drive and lift heavy things. It's been five weeks since surgery, so next Monday (how fitting that's Labor Day) I'll really be back to doing whatever I feel like. Then it will just be a matter of getting my strength back up and recovering from future chemo treatments.

Today though I'm only thinking about feeling good and getting ready to go. Current weather forecast for next week predicts highs in the 60's and lows in the 40's. What a change that will be, so I'll take "woolies" for sitting and looking at the beautiful lake.

I'll leave all you wonderful readers with a quote from a long letter from my college roommate. She wrote, "It's great that you can take your usual vacation! May the fish bite well for Karl and may the lapping of the water reach down deep and nourish you!" I can't think of a better hope for the trip.

You will next hear from me sometime after Sept. 12 when we're home. But with chemo on the 13th, it may be a while. Please continue to keep me in your thoughts and prayers.

I Hit the Wall

So much for the power of positive thinking, in my case it was no match for the power of chemo's toxic chemicals. By Saturday afternoon the steroids had worn off, and a sort of fog was rolling in. Sunday morning I headed for the stuffed folder and all the information sheets.

So side effects listed and my experience:
• Mild nausea and vomiting – rare. HA! It was more like SEVERE and FREQUENT on Sunday and Monday
• Generalized achiness of muscles and joints that is not relieved with Tylenol or interferes with your activity level – check
• Extreme fatigue – yep, had that
• Diarrhea – check
• Metallic taste in mouth – yucky

The good news is that I've turned the corner and feel just fine this morning. I just couldn't resist sharing my pain with all my wonderful family and friends who have been so supportive. You know, if I can't whine now, when can I?

I do think that after future treatments, I'll be a little more aggressive in treating these days 3 and 4 unpleasantries by starting medications before the symptoms

My continued thanks to you all for staying with me through the ups and downs of cancer treatment. I expect to feel better each day now, and will be busy getting ready for our trip to Lake Owen in Cable, WI. We leave on Thursday, August 30, but I'll write again before we go.

So Far, So Good

It's so good to have the first chemotherapy session behind me. Marcia kept me company for the entire six and a half hours. We spent this time listening to the nurse who gave us more information than we could absorb, but there are many handouts to go over as needed.

We also laughed a lot and caught up on catalogues, pictures of Marcia's precious grandson and the house she and Dan are building in Charlotte, NC. The general atmosphere in the Chemo Room is upbeat and the nurses are wonderful, so I don't think we were too disruptive.

When one is told about every possible side effect and how to handle it, it's very overwhelming. So my approach is to block it all out, and figure that if and when something bad comes along, I'll find the appropriate response in the bulging folder I came away with.

Right now I have my fingers crossed because I feel just a little queasy from time to time, however no big side effects have surfaced. But I know that I could have more fatigue or aches and pains in the days to come, so I'll try to be prepared.

Now to report on previous complaints – I have lost all 20 pounds of the fluid weight, my feet are nearly back to normal (just a little sore), and my incision is healed. I'm not in any pain to speak of so I'm trying to do more of the house chores each day. But I don't hesitate to claim being knackered as the Brits say and letting Karl take over when it seems too much.

For those who want details on the chemo – the drugs I received are Taxol and Carboplatin. Before these came various premeds to help prevent nausea and allergic reactions, plus steroids and blood cell builders. Then the day after (yesterday) I went back for an injection of Aranesp to further stimulate red blood cell production. I will return on August 29 for blood work and another injection of Aranesp if needed.

So that's the update for now. I continue to be showered with cards, calls, meals, flowers and other gifts. Thanks to all of you for your caring and support. I know I would not be doing this well without you.

I forgot one very important thing from this past week, which is that Karl and I celebrated our 42nd anniversary. We are definitely in this for the long run, and the "in sickness and in health" vow means more every day.

At Last a Busy Day

Finally a day that was fairly busy, at least enough to write about. I spent Thursday morning selecting the wig that will be at the ready when needed. Having Marcia with me to make this momentous decision helped tremendously. We concluded that I just wasn't meant to be blond or a redhead, so alas, I chose one that looks pretty much like my own hair – on a really good day. I figure this way I can use it forever on those days mine isn't so great.

With that done we went on a few errands, leaving Karl to actually get something other than housework or shopping accomplished.

Much of the afternoon was spent waiting to get in to see the doctor. I had a 3:30PM appointment, but it was one of those days when apparently everything that could go wrong did. I finally saw Dr. Michael Method at 5:30PM, but it was worth the wait. He is the Gynecologic Oncologist in Dr. Ansari's group and will be managing my chemotherapy.

Dr. Method is a great guy and had all sorts of encouraging things to say. I especially liked, "We are here to make this process as comfortable as possible." So I begin next Thursday with a five hour session, and I'm actually anxious to start and see how my body reacts. He said that whatever I experience this first time is likely to repeat with subsequent treatments.

Because Dr. Method believes one should lead as normal a life as possible while receiving chemo, my second treatment will be four weeks later and this will allow us to take the usual trip to Wisconsin for late summer fishing. I am so glad this worked out because we're staying at a new resort that promises much better catches than Karl has had the last few years.

Thanks you all for your continued caring. Comments and cards have been so fun to get, and just knowing that you're all with me through this really keeps my spirits up.

Next Steps

Oh, the things that give a cause for joy – I no longer have a fifteen inch line of staples marching up my stomach. Hooray!

Karl and I made the longest trip in our history of driving to Chicago. Leaving South Bend at 1:30PM to allow more than enough time to travel 100 miles or so and be at Dr. Lurain's office for a 5:00PM appointment. But by the time we parked and got to the office it was 4:50PM – just in time. Heavy traffic and a 45 minute stop-and-barely-go stretch for bridge repair really ate up the time.

But we made it and Dr. Lurain had mostly good things to tell me. Everything is healing as it should, and he was very pleased at that. I do have a mild infection at the bottom of the incision so am now taking an antibiotic. It should clear up soon.

Other good news is that I'll do all the chemotherapy in South Bend with Dr. Bilal Ansari whom I know and like very much. Dr. Lurain set up the plan of which drugs and the timing, and Dr. Ansari will decide when I start. I'll talk to him on Monday to determine the first session and then they will be at three week intervals. The regimen is six sessions in all.

On a lighter note, we decided to wait out the worst of the rush hour by having dinner. We ate fish and chips at a fun place called the Elephant and Castle where Karl discovered all the British beers he loved on his many trips to the UK. So we'll be returning and staying overnight sometime in the future.

Please remember that I still need more of the wonderful support you've given up until now. So stick with me – I won't like losing my hair.