Thankful

My favorite husband is fully recovered from his accident, except he still has stitches, and two black eyes. I think its sexy - in a goth sort of way. :)

I'm doing ok. I was just really really exhausted this week. Friday is my last chemo though - so next week will be my last week of exhaustion. Yay! Something to look forward to!

I am thankful this year that I am able to work and live despite the chemotherapy and surgery. I can breathe and walk. I am a tired, but participating member of society.

I am thankful for the love that surrounds me everyday. The love of my husband, family, in-laws, friends, and even those at work who have been so supportive.

I am lucky! I am loved! I am alive! (I am tired...) :)

Happy Thanksgiving!

ER Visit

For once though, this is not all about me. My favorite husband was rear ended on the expressway today, and was hauled off to the emergency room with a three inch laceration to his forehead.

I walked in to the room, and his face was covered with blood- both dried and fresh. He had a huge knot on his head, as well as a "U" shaped wound. They put in 12 stitches.

I am so very grateful that he was not seriously injured. I know that he would have rather not had this injury, but at least it is something fixable. I am also glad that I was around, so I got there minutes after his ambulance arrived.

Tomorrow is chemo number 3 - two hospital visits in two days! We know how to live life on the edge!

'Roid Rage

OK - not 'rage', but the steroids that they gave me prior to chemo yesterday really helped perk me up today! I was able to go shopping for my favorite husbands birthday on Monday, and also did some grocery shopping. I figure that I need to enjoy the energy while I can! It felt good not to be so tired.

My blood results were fine. My CA125 was in the 300's after surgery. Now it is at 140. I hope it keeps dropping - that is the highest that it has been since my original diagnosis.

Chemo went fine. They had the 'right' tubing this time for the gravity feed of Taxotere (it didn't have to go through the IV slow drip into the abdomen). That cut a few hours off of my stay.

Also, a public relations person from Cancer Treatment Centers of America came to talk to me. Of course, she came right after they gave me the anti-nausea, benadryl, and other pre-chemo drugs that knocked me right out! She said that some newspapers had voiced an interest in interviewing me about this vaccine trial. Yikes! I told her yes - but I am nervous. I am not really a good speaker (like my blog friend Samantha - who speaks about her cancer experience in front of large crowds - or Kia who also talks to people all over about ovarian cancer).

We'll see what happens. All I know, is that I will have to do the interview BEFORE the pre-meds knock me out. As soon as she left, I was sound asleep. I slept through the whole chemo again too.

Thanks for the kind comments for the last blog entry. I know that all of you are right - I just need to be reminded every now and again. ;)

Tired

I have been so tired this week. Just exhausted. I've been back to work, but I can't blame the exhaustion on that. They have allowed me to work at my own pace, and have understood my short days and limited mental capacity. I am just so very tired. It must be this chemo.

It frustrates me, because I think that I should be doing so much better. I feel that my - usually fast healing and recuperating body - has failed me miserably.

It will get better, but not anytime soon. I have chemo again tomorrow. They will also check my blood - maybe my RBCs are low or something. I hope that there is something wrong that is 'fixable', but won't delay my treatment. I don't want any delays in this ovarian cancer treatment.

I just have to hang on a few more weeks.

One very good thing happened this week though! On my first day back at work, my boss told me he was taking my company car from me, and gave me a different one. I am now driving a 2007 Prius! Of course all of that generosity makes me feel that I should be a better employee - not a tired one. Sigh.

One down...

Well, the treatment wasn't too bad. It took a very long time (3.5 hours for infusion and 2 hours of 'rolling around' after to swish it through the abdomen), and was a bit uncomfortable (two liters pumped into the abdomen- super bloat!).

I started feeling a bit "flu-like" last night, and have that awful metal taste in my mouth which is a typical side effect :( My favorite husband bought me some life-savers candy, and that helps when the taste gets bad. He also bought lemons for me to squeeze into my water, and anti-bacterial soap for keeping germs away. He remembered a lot from last year! I do feel better today, and I hope I am on the downswing from the effects.

This will be a weekly treatment - so I go back in next Friday (we switched the day) for my next one.

My CT scan was ok. The doctor said all of the cancer on the previous scan was removed, but there was a small spot noted on this new scan. She believes it is the remnants of a 'clotting' medication or something that she put in during surgery - but said we would keep our eyes on it.

The good news is that they were able to harvest enough cancer cells from my tumor, to start the vaccine (I knew I had plenty of cancer cells!). She thinks it will be ready in four weeks or so. She anticipates my last IP Taxotere treatment to be the day after Thanksgiving.

I'm hoping to feel well enough to go back into work on Monday. I should be ok, as long as these side effects continue to fade.

Have a great weekend!

Yes we can!! Yes I can!!

First, I am so very thrilled that Obama is now our president elect! I know a lot of people have their reservations about him. However, I believe that he will win the doubters over, as they see his sincerity and his true desire to be a great leader and to bring people together. So long Bush/Cheney regime! No more ruling with fear and intimidation! Don't let the door hit you in the butt on the way out. :)

I laughed and cried last night, while watching a hugely historic moment. It gives me faith in humankind again.

I start chemo tomorrow. I am a bit nervous, as this will be my first time with the interperitoneal (IP) chemotherapy - where taxotere will be injected into my new abdominal port to wash throughout my abdomen. First I meet with the doctor, and she will review the CT scans I had taken today. Then I'll have chemo in the late afternoon. There is a chance they may admit me overnight, if there is a reason to. I don't know much about this treatment - I didn't spend as much time researching it, and there was not as much info about IP Taxotere on-line, as there was about my previous chemo drugs. I trust my doctor though. Also, I can't worry about what I don't know about.

I'll let you all know the gruesome details later.

'Yes I can' get through this. :)