Back on chemo

I had a CT scan last month in November, after being off chemo for 4 months, due to the Shingles. The scan was not good news. My four lung nodules have all grown, my prior radiated chest lymph node is showing activity again, and I have a new mass in my abdomen near my liver. That was the most shocking to me, a new mass. 
I met with Dr. Movva, my Emory Onc and she gave me the bad news. We talked about different chemo drugs and she thought Sutent would be a good one to start. By the time I had all the pre-tests to start the drug, I already had an appointment with my new oncologist, Dr. Gina D'Amato. (Dr. Movva has since moved on to Fox Chase in Philly). She spoke with Drew and I for ~ 1.5 hours going over all my history. We talked about the possible drugs to try also. Since I had previously been on Temodar + Avastin and it had showed shrinkage,  then stability, we decided to try that combo again. It was a matter of the known (side effects and results) and an unknown. I know I will try Sutent next, sooner than later if the Avastin/Temodar don't show strong results. 
So I'm back on the pills for a week, then the infusion on the 8th day, off a week, then back on. So far so good. I did get nauseous the first night on the meds despite all the anti nausea meds I also took. Oh well, just my body reacting I guess.
I've also been battling a cold/cough for ~ 2 weeks now. (Carter had croup and I couldn't avoid it) I think I'll be calling tomorrow for an antibiotic to get rid of this infection. 
The other strange health issue I've had is a systemic achy swollen joint, sore muscle pain. I went to an Internist to test for what it could be and my SED rate was 75, normal is 30. The tests came out inconclusive for anything specific, so she referred me to a Rheumatologist. I'll be seeing him late January, as that was the first available!
That's the health update for now! Back to Christmas prep and parties! xoxo

looking back to a year ago...

I was curious about my blog posts from last year at this time. I wanted to see what I was up to then since I've been so bad about keeping up with blogging lately. Here's my November 30th post "My Christmas wish". My wish is the same for this year... "to be cancer free and healthy". I've been sick with a sore throat, head cold and cough for the past week so I am really looking forward to feeling healthy and good again! My last few illnesses have hit me hard. I feel like I have no immune system to fight even a common cold. And, I'm still fighting that same cancer. On Wednesday I go to the Thoracic Surgeon, Thursday the Radiologist and Friday the Oncologist to discuss my latest treatment options since finding out about 3 new lung nodules and growing lymph nodes. All too similar to the past two Christmas seasons, my holiday preparations are overshadowed by my health. My year has been overshadowed by my health.
But starting today I'm pulling out the decorations and getting started on this holiday! It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

enough already!

I started with a post nasal drip on the 26th that has blown into a full head-splitting sinus infection. I had a fever of 100.3 this morning so I went to the Doctor for some help! How can one head produce so much fluid?! Everything hurts. They gave me Levaquin which is some pretty scary stuff if you read the side effects. I hope and pray it works quickly and I get some relief.
It's been a very long month for me... I spent the first few weeks of December in bed recovering from thoracic surgery and now I'm back in bed, again! If I sound whiny, I am. I just want to feel good again. Wah, wah,wah.
Okay there, I vented. sigh

Please Lord, let 2011 be a healthy year for all of us!

your emotional brain

Thank you Z-pack! Last week I was fighting off a sinus infection... a cold germ I thought I had beaten weeks ago but it came back and decided to reside in my head. It seems when your stress level is up your immune system is unfortunately down, just when you need it the most. I've been worried, anxious and stressed ever since my last scan. I know it's not good for me, not good for my defenses, so I'm trying to fight back. I'm reading a book called "Instinct to Heal" by David Servan-Schreiber, MD, PhD. It's about fighting anxiety, stress and depression by using diet, exercise, heart coherence (sort of like meditation) and even acupuncture. Hmm... not sure I'd go there, but I'm okay with needles so maybe someday. It's about keeping your "emotional brain" healthy and thereby boosting your overall health.

Did you know that 20 minutes of aerobic exercise, like running, swimming or tennis, three times a week actually lowers anxiety and stress and keeps your emotional brain and your immune system healthier. That's not much effort for the worthwhile benefit. My exercise yesterday was morning golf and my lunch was grilled salmon and salad... yummy, healthy and delicious.

There's a lot you need to know about our "western" diet. I for one need to do a bit more research on diet and Omega 3's vs. Omega 6's. While googling I came across this article in the Huffington Post (click the link) that puts food guidelines into simple and easy to follow "rules" for your everyday diet. Basically... don't eat anything white, but please read the link!

I'm golfing again this morning... good for my head to be with my Gal Pals and a bit of exercise to lower my stress level. My 3 month scan is scheduled for Monday. The big reveal. What's been going on in my lungs since April 19th? I've been praying for it all to just disappear...

Gotta go, can't be late for my tee time!

something we all have to do...

...clean our closets!

That's my chore for this weekend. I have so many clothes that I hang onto that I never wear. Having them in my limited space of a closet is making me disorganized and a bit crazy.

So get ready Consignment Store and Goodwill... donations are coming your way! It's another way of recycling stuff.
I watched a "clean your closet" video this morning, and the one thing that stuck with me was... get rid of your uncomfortable shoes. Smart right?! You know you have some, you never wear them, you just look at them because they're pretty, but then you remember they hurt your feet, so they never make it out of your closet. Well... today mine are getting out!

I'm ready, I have a plan... now... time to get started!

Sunday update:

Winter clothes have been relocated to the upstairs closet, and piles of clothes and shoes are ready to take to Goodwill in the morning. I feel liberated and ready to take on Summer!
ps... the reason I got to do this this weekend was because I was under the weather with a sore throat and now have a cold coming on.
Oh well, at least I made use of my time in between naps and cups of tea ;-)