They're Back!

I woke up with pain in my big toes early Friday a.m. and knew at once that the feet side effect was back. I felt discouraged when I turned on the lights and saw the swollen toes. At least the timing was good. The Oncologist's RN was due to call me for an assessment that day. The assessment calls save me from having to drive to Scottsdale but yet keep them apprised of any changes that happened during the two weeks since they saw me.

When she called I told her about the toes and everything else she needed to know. She said she would call the Oncologist who was in clinic not at the Scottsdale office and would call me back with his instructions. She called later in the afternoon and said that he wanted me to stop taking the drug and I should call when my feet are healed.

I had already taken the Friday dose not knowing he would want me off the drug so I started no drug on Saturday. Today is Sunday and my entire foot is red and swollen so I don't think I'll be healing quite as fast as I hoped. Again I would have to give up golf which I played the day before the bad news. The exercise classes will also have to end and they were helping me feel strong.

I didn't give up any of the plans I had made: lunch with the Yoga ladies, a movie with the grand kids and lunch with the Sun City gals. Sitting at home doesn't make any sense. Laughing and trading stories with grand kids and friends keep me happy and hopeful.

October 5 I'll have my next CT Scan and I hope starting and stopping the meds will not affect the good news I had from the last CT at the end of August. Please remember I won't get the results till I meet with the Oncologist at the end of the week.

Another Trip to Scottsdale

I saw my Oncologist yesterday. He checked my feet and decided they were healed enough to go back on the mystery drug at a lower dose. This time I received only one bottle of 25 pills which should last me until I see him after my CT Scan next month. He also checked over my newest blood test and all is good there too.

It still amazes me that the drive to Scottsdale and waiting at the Oncologist's office wear me out. I came home from there and had to fight to keep myself from falling asleep.

Tomorrow I'll get back to my exercise classes and hopefully sign up to play golf next week. The temperature is back above 100 after a week of 90 plus and some cooler mornings. It was just a teaser because the cooler temperatures usually make their debut in October.

I need to be home today because the gardener will arrive at noon and that's a good reason to clean some closets. I usually put it off until we have a rainy day but we don't have enough of those to get all the closets cleaned.

The Feet Got Worse

Just before September rolled in I couldn't walk or sleep because of the excruciating foot pain and could hardly swallow water so I called the Oncologist and he took me off the mystery drug till my feet and thoat heal. The next day Gary made it possible for me to have a wheel chair which helped me a lot getting from one room to another. Right now which is a week later I still have the sores on the bottom of my feet but there's just a spot of pain near one of my heels. I'll call the Oncologist when my feet are healed and he may lower the dosage of the mystery pill I'm taking.

At first I was kind of housebound but for the last few days I've been able to attend Sophie's family birthday celebration, a couple of movies, and some meals at restaurants. At my worst it took forever to get from one room to another and there was quite a lot of pain involved. I would wake up in the night from having my feet touch the mattress.

What I really would like to add to that list is play golf. I am so eager to get on that golf course and hit some balls.

I'm so happy about how well this drug is doing in other ways. Now they just have to find the dosage that shrinks the tumors but doesn't cause the side effects.