CT Results

I went to the Oncologist yesterday and received some good results. Most of my cancer sites are shrinking a little after only six weeks on the mystery drug. The testing must be going well. I do have some side effects (what drug doesn't have those). For instance the "blisters" on the bottom of my feet are not from wearing the wrong shoes, they are from the drug as well as the constant sore throat. I'm certainly willing to put up with that as long as my results are so good. Most of the staff that work with me at the Oncologist's office congratulated me on my wonderful results.

Later that day, when I was back home, my childhood friend who lives in Tucson came to visit me with her wonderful cousin and his wife. She and her cousin by marriage had a fantastic trip to Africa and would go back in a heartbeat they loved it that much. It was so wonderful to see them and catch up on everything.

Charlie is at my mother's house. He's keeping her so active that she sleeps through the night, a first for her. He'll soon have to travel home to start his new teaching jobs. Beau, his partner, is in Phoenix right now and we're having breakfast with him before his flight back to DC. It'll be so great to see him since it's been some months since he traveled here.

Don is still enjoying the good life on the island and starting to feel the first signs of fall coming to the island. We in AZ are just hoping for a temperature below 100 degrees but we have another month to wait for that.

I'm Back...

Since I started the cancer drug trial I've had some (what I call) severe side effects. I even considered dropping out of the panel but then my sons made me realize that I shouldn't be too hasty. It's not like there's another cancer drug available to fit my needs. And I'm having a CT Scan on Tuesday which should tell us if the drug is working on me. They said then I could make a better decision. It's always easier to come up with all that logic when you aren't the ones having those severe side effects. Gary just mentioned yesterday that it's up to me to find a solution to the side effect symptoms and the Oncologist's job to do the cancer.

Back to a week before this conversation I was at the new gym excited about doing my first two cycle (spinning) classes in 6 years. I did one class on Tuesday and one on Thursday. By the weekend by feet had large dollar size blisters on the bottom although not with any liquid I could see. The thing is I could hardly walk and when I did walk it was like a snail. What had I done? I spoke to one of the cycle intructors who told me you have to wear stiff soles to do cycling or cross trainers. I had worn a running shoe which can fold itself in half. I was heartbroken because I knew my trip to Colorado was coming up and the importance of feet in the golf swing.

Dennis arrived in Colorado first from Minnesota and met me at the Denver airport. Since we arrived at the motel in Lakewood (very nice) at late afternoon we spent the rest of the evening just getting settled. The next day we met Bert & Karen (who have a home here in AZ and also in Colorado) at one of the golf courses they enjoy. It was so beautiful that we were ohhhing and ahhing throughout the round. Then we followed them to their beautiful home and they prepared a delicious lunch with lots of conversation and laughter. It was a wonderful day and it was so heartwarming for me to see our friends. We stayed in Colorado Springs that night at the Doubletree.

On Monday we had a morning tee time at the Broadmoor of which I had great memories. We golfed the East course that day, the Mountain course the next day and had an upgraded room for 2 nights loving every minute. It was exactly the getaway I needed and even though I was only able to golf some holes it did its magic and revived my spirit.

We met some lovely people who we were lucky to have in our foursome. It's easy to see how you can start a lifetime friendship with a few things in common and some great conversation. Dennis and I were both thinking that it would be great to do this once a year, and he said it out loud first. We'll spend the year researching where to go next.

Now we're back home feeling much better about staying in the cancer drug trial and having resolved a few of those awful side effects but also resolved to take myself out of town when the 4 walls start closing in. The mini vacation just picked me up and helped me see things differently.

Our son, Charlie, and his partner, Beau, are visiting Don on Washington Island for a week and have some unusual good weather suitable for swimming in Lake Michigan. They've been hiking and having their vacation fun. I guess we're all getting a pick me up after some unusual hot weather all over the country.

Two Week Checkup

Dennis arrived Thursday in the wee hours of the night. He was scheduled to be in Phoenix by 10:30 p.m. but with a 2 hour delay it became 12:30 a.m. I had asked Gary to ride to the airport with me and it's a good thing because I wouldn't have been comfortable driving that late. I'm sure it wasn't a picnic for Dennis either.

Thursday we treated the grand kids to a G movie called Ramona and Beezus but except for Sophie we didn't enjoy it. Ben was very good because he didn't fuss about being bored. He wriggled a lot in his seat trying to find a spot to nap I think. After the movie we went to P.F.Chang for dinner and the kids were very good and ate their dinners.

Friday I had my two week checkup. I was surprised that the only test I had was a blood test and had fasted to be able to take my pill there. My handler gave me my calendar so now I can see what days I'll be tested in the office. It doesn't say what day I'll have a CT scan but it does say when someone from the doctor's office will call to schedule one. In the evening we went to dinner with Gary, Diane, Sophie and Ben.

I have a couple minor side effects from the pills but all in all I feel good. I still have nausea most days but it's unpredictable when I'll wake up with it. I wonder if this is a result of having radiation on my esophagus. The cough is much better and I'm staying off sugar hoping it goes away completely.

This week I'll start working out in the new Fitness Center halfway to Gary's house. They offer cycling and many different classes mornings and evenings so there won't be any reason to miss a day of working out. I'm excited about trying some new classes although I'll stay with the Weight Training classes on Fridays at our fitness center when I don't have a checkup.

Monday after Friday

The first thing I noticed was there was hardly any rush hour traffic. I think I stopped once for 30 seconds but other than that it was pretty smooth all the way to Scottsdale. I arrived 30 minutes early and spent the rest of the day waiting. The handler quizzed me about any things that are wrong with me right now and also reviewed the supplements I'm taking. Then I waited 45 minutes in that examination room for the doctor. There was no reading material there except a big book of cancers. I read it three or four times and can answer any questions you may have.

The doctor finally came and did my physical and asked me to go to the infusion room. I thought he was coming with me but when I turned around I was alone. I stood there for a half hour constantly reassuring the nurses that work in that room that I wasn't waiting for them to do medical things to me. The handler came later to say that the reason I was waiting was the company who's drug is on trial had asked her to fax my CT test because they hadn't agreed to my being in the drug trial.

Two hours later I had another EKG (I'm surprised I passed because I was agitated) and a blood test. Then it was noon and they finally got the okay from the company and gave me my first dose of the medication. The rules on taking this pill is: take on empty stomach and wait 1 hour to eat.

I had been up since 5 a.m. so I was a little hungry. On the way back to home I passed many restaurants where I could have had a great meal but I couldn't eat till I was home because of the one hour wait.

Now I've taken the dose every day and keep a diary showing when I take the drug and what time I eat after I take it and if there are any side effects.

I worked out on Saturday with a cardio class and today I did Kickboxing. I'm not used to sweating but with the humidity we were all sweating in class. Rather than just humidity it would be nice to have some rain.

It's A GO

Monday I had my Brain MRI and CT scans at one facility and my blood, urine, and EKG at the Oncologist's office. They called a little after 5 p.m. to tell me that I'll be starting the cancer drug trial on Friday morning. I'll get more information once I meet with my handler. I hope so because I would like to make plans with friends and family for the days that I'm not testing.

Today I'm going to try to play 9 holes of golf with 2 friends. We're teeing off about noon so it'll also be testing how I withstand the heat. I haven't played in 9 weeks. I wonder if I still have a swing.

I'll be able to tell you more after Friday.

The New Oncologist's Office Called

They called but it wasn't on Tuesday when I almost stayed home all day waiting for their call. I had a chance to have lunch with 2 friends I haven't seen for a while. So I called the Oncologist's office and left a message on the phone of my "handler" or my "scheduler" that I would be away from home from 11:30 till 1:00 but they could reach me by my cell phone. No call came that day either before, during or after lunch. So then I worried which is something I majored in that maybe I had missed my call window. But in the back of my mind I remembered that nurse telling me a few days before that Tuesday they would have double the appointments because of the Monday holiday. That was also what the caller mentioned at 4:30 p.m. She was calling for my handler who had been too busy with patients to make the appointments. Anyway she called the next day and my appointment for a Brain MRI and CT Scan have a check in time at noon on Monday in Scottsdale. Now I don't know my way in Scottsdale so I am forever grateful to Gary and Diane for giving me a Tom Tom to find my way around. I think they came up with the idea when I went to Tucson a couple of years ago and came close to the Mexican border. Diane has a head for directions so she helped me get back on track to Tucson.

After my two tests I'll be going to the new Oncologist's office for blood work and other tests. Hopefully I'll get my calendar of when I have to be in their office on a weekly basis. Right now my life is in limbo because I don't know what days will be open and what days I'll be in Scottsdale.

Now it's for sure my cough is no better since they drained my lung. This is 5 months of hacking. I'm surprised I haven't been barred from most restaurants and other public places. I think hacking coughs are annoying for everyone in the room and lately I understand if you cough around some people they pull out a mask and put it on their faces. It also affects my sleeping because I can only sleep on my back not on the sides or my stomach. Those positions cause more coughing.

I wasn't able to get to two of my workout classes: one because the class was canceled because of the holiday and the other because the nausea came back for a day. I did get to David's weight training class and Julie's cardio class.

This week I may be able to go to Kickboxing on Monday before I go to Scottsdale. I'll definitely try because the more classes I do the better I feel.

New Oncologist Appointment Results

I don't post for months and then I post nearly every other day. Well, I guess it's cause it's easier when you have some news to relate.

Gary and I saw my new Oncologist yesterday afternoon. He spent a long time reading, explaining, and answering questions on the 29 page consent form. It also explains how often I'll be driving to Scottsdale to be checked or tested. I signed and initialed the pages and now I'm in. Tuesday they'll call me and set up all the testing I need to have done before the drug trial starts which is very soon.

I thought my cough would get better now that the liter of fluid is out of my lung space. Things still are not what they were 5 months ago. I don't know how long it's supposed to take for that lung to go back into place. The coughing is as annoying for everyone around me as it is for me. Well maybe more annoying and painful for me.

This morning I went to the Weight Training class and I wouldn't miss that. It's so great and even though I enjoy it more when it's over than while I'm doing it, I'm hoping it'll strengthen those muscles that have been sitting around for over a month.

During the testing I won't be seeing my first Oncologist or my Radiation Doctor. Hopefully this testing will bring about a drug that will help a lot of cancer patients. I like to think that.