Finally spring has arrived. The birds woke me up this morning chirping outside my window as the sun bellowed through the glass. It was good to rest in bed after a week of chemo. Since only some chemo drugs can be taken with the radiation, they've changed my schedule to every other week of chemo and radiation until the radiation is done. So this past week I had chemo, then radiation, then chemo & radiation, then radiation, etc.
This week wasn't so bad. The reports the doctor hoped would be ready Monday morning from my CAT scan and MRI were not done. This delayed whether I should have chemo that day and eventually I did, but not till 11:00 a.m. which delayed my prelims for radiation that afternoon at 2:00. So we rescheduled the prelims (making the boot for the radiation) until Wednesday.
The remnants of the Nor'Easter dampened everyone's spirits around the chemo unit. The window seats weren't in great demand as they usually are and people seem a little sullen when no sunshine brightens the room.
The prelims for radiation were simple. I got a "tattoo" on my foot to specifically pinpoint the tumor. They pour this warm liquid in a bag and then mold it around your foot. The radiologist then takes computer images where they are going to shoot the radiation on the foot. All very fascinating and scientific. I am scheduled for radiation starting on Tuesday everyday for 15 minutes, 5 days a week.
I proved to myself that I hadn't forgotten how to drive. With my temporary driver on Senior Class Trip this week, I drove myself into Phila. for my chemo. You're allowed free valet parking for treatments. I am usually tired by the end of the day and its always nice to sit back and not have to pay attention to the traffic. I made sure I had napped before I left so I could be wide awake. Made it home accident-free all three days.
This upcoming week I also have to have shots to up my white blood cells along with the radiation. Another busy week.
Take care everyone and enjoy this beautiful sunshine and warm weather.
Saturday, April 21, 2007
Sunday, April 15, 2007
April 15, 2007
My, I have been a naughty girl. I haven't posted anything for two weeks. The week of April 1-8 was hectic not to any medical reasons, but my Living Stations of the Cross play that I have been co-director of for 9 years was performed 3 times that week. My co-director this year was Michael, whom the 7th and 8th graders rather enjoyed more than me. While I was a little tired from the chemo, he was able to direct the students how to fall, placement on the stage, and to carry Jesus at the end of the play. I did have an assistant mother to help with other things. All went well and we had over 200 people on Good Friday to see the play.
The week of April 9-13 did got go so well. Michael and I went to Phila. for 1 day of chemo on Monday, but my hemoglobins (red blood cells) were way down (too anemic). We waited around for them to decide what to do. No chemo that day. Told me I have to have a blood transfusion on Friday. The doctor also said since the nurses were having trouble accessing my port, that a new one would have to be put in. That was scheduled for Tuesday. Went home, made lunch for Mike and I (he was on Easter vacation), he got a movie for us, and we settled in for the afternoon.
Tuesday Mike and I headed over to PA Hosp. for the port replacement operation. What was suppose to be 1.5 hours turned into 3. And I was supposed to be asleep for the operation, turns out I was awake, only numbed on my right side. Before the operation I asked the nurses, "I'm going to be asleep for this again, right?" "Of course, we're just waiting for the doctor." Well, the doctor came in with a resident or student and started talking. I thought OK any minute now I'm going to sleep. Then I kept hearing him telling the resident what he was doing, but I wasn't in pain. Part way through, I yelled "ouch" and then the doctor said, "Give her 20 cc's more of something" and continued on with the operation. I did feel some of the stitches at the end as he described them to his resident. The nurses in the recovery room were amazed how soon I was awake after the operation. I told them I never went to sleep.
When we came home from the port operation, the message on the machine said I was scheduled for a CAT scan on Wednesday at 4:00. Again Mike and I traveled over the Ben Franklin Bridge to yet another test. Mike laughed at me when I had to drink that chalky barium tasting like bananas, so the nurse let him try it. "That's nasty" was his reply. This test, as some of you know isn't that long; you just have to wait for the barium to stay in your body for an hour. But the bad part about this test, was the three times the nurse tried to put an IV in my arm so she could deliver the "contrast" for the test. Finally, another nurse got it on the 4th try. My veins are bad due to genetics, they tell me. Mike and I were on our way home by 5:45 p.m.
Thursday was a good day. No tests but Paul, Michael and I travelled to Phila. for Michael to accept an award from the prestigious Union League of Philadelphia for an essay contest in which he was one of 2 winners. There was supposed to be a copy of his essay on the podium, but someone forgot, and he had to recite it from memory. Thank heavens I asked him to read it minutes before at home so I could see how fast he was going to read it. When we were in the car, he said he forgot his copy but we didn't go back because the gentleman said it would be on the podium. Well, he got more compliments from students and adults on how well he kept his cool and did it off the cuff. This award came with $250 cash. It was worth the trip.
Friday Lauren and I arose early to get my MRI test at 7:15 a.m. in the morning at PA Hospital. That was an easy test just to lie there and this loud machine do its thing. No problem with the contrast. The technologist got it right the first time.
After this test, I met with the radiation onocologist. Seems the chemo doctor and the orthopedic onocologist feel its the right time to start radiation. So after the prelims are taken care of on Monday after my full day of chemo, I will be starting radiation for 15 minutes a day, 5 days a week for 5-6 weeks. Thank heaven for our hi-speedline mode of transportation from NJ to PA. This train will drop me off 1 block from the hospital for the radiation, and only costs $4.25 round trip. This last week when I've had to park each time, the parking fees were $10-15 each time. I look at this radiation as being closer to the end, which I am trying to find out when that will be.
After this consultation, Lauren and I were off to the 4th floor for the blood transfusion. Again a nurse tried 3 times to get some blood to take it to the lab to find my blood type for transfusion. A nurse tried my port, but it was too swollen. They called interventional radiation (the port people) to see if they could access it. They throught it was too bruised to even go there. So finally another nurse was able to get an IV in my hand for the blood sample and the transfusion. After 2 pints of blood, Lauren and I left the hospital at 5:15 p.m. I was just glad the week was over.
This upcoming week I will be getting chemo everyday plus the radiation. I will be speaking to the doctor to determine my upcoming schedule. There is good news, however, to this week. I had told the family that if I have to go through all of this for 6 months, then we're going to have a good family vacation. So, on Wednesday before the CAT scan, I booked a 5 day cruise out of Cape Liberty to Bermuda. Paul and I haven't been there since 1976. So that's something good to look forward to.
Thanks for your cards. Thanks to my neighbor Pat for the beautiful Easter egg cake. It was delicious. Take care everyone and be safe.
The week of April 9-13 did got go so well. Michael and I went to Phila. for 1 day of chemo on Monday, but my hemoglobins (red blood cells) were way down (too anemic). We waited around for them to decide what to do. No chemo that day. Told me I have to have a blood transfusion on Friday. The doctor also said since the nurses were having trouble accessing my port, that a new one would have to be put in. That was scheduled for Tuesday. Went home, made lunch for Mike and I (he was on Easter vacation), he got a movie for us, and we settled in for the afternoon.
Tuesday Mike and I headed over to PA Hosp. for the port replacement operation. What was suppose to be 1.5 hours turned into 3. And I was supposed to be asleep for the operation, turns out I was awake, only numbed on my right side. Before the operation I asked the nurses, "I'm going to be asleep for this again, right?" "Of course, we're just waiting for the doctor." Well, the doctor came in with a resident or student and started talking. I thought OK any minute now I'm going to sleep. Then I kept hearing him telling the resident what he was doing, but I wasn't in pain. Part way through, I yelled "ouch" and then the doctor said, "Give her 20 cc's more of something" and continued on with the operation. I did feel some of the stitches at the end as he described them to his resident. The nurses in the recovery room were amazed how soon I was awake after the operation. I told them I never went to sleep.
When we came home from the port operation, the message on the machine said I was scheduled for a CAT scan on Wednesday at 4:00. Again Mike and I traveled over the Ben Franklin Bridge to yet another test. Mike laughed at me when I had to drink that chalky barium tasting like bananas, so the nurse let him try it. "That's nasty" was his reply. This test, as some of you know isn't that long; you just have to wait for the barium to stay in your body for an hour. But the bad part about this test, was the three times the nurse tried to put an IV in my arm so she could deliver the "contrast" for the test. Finally, another nurse got it on the 4th try. My veins are bad due to genetics, they tell me. Mike and I were on our way home by 5:45 p.m.
Thursday was a good day. No tests but Paul, Michael and I travelled to Phila. for Michael to accept an award from the prestigious Union League of Philadelphia for an essay contest in which he was one of 2 winners. There was supposed to be a copy of his essay on the podium, but someone forgot, and he had to recite it from memory. Thank heavens I asked him to read it minutes before at home so I could see how fast he was going to read it. When we were in the car, he said he forgot his copy but we didn't go back because the gentleman said it would be on the podium. Well, he got more compliments from students and adults on how well he kept his cool and did it off the cuff. This award came with $250 cash. It was worth the trip.
Friday Lauren and I arose early to get my MRI test at 7:15 a.m. in the morning at PA Hospital. That was an easy test just to lie there and this loud machine do its thing. No problem with the contrast. The technologist got it right the first time.
After this test, I met with the radiation onocologist. Seems the chemo doctor and the orthopedic onocologist feel its the right time to start radiation. So after the prelims are taken care of on Monday after my full day of chemo, I will be starting radiation for 15 minutes a day, 5 days a week for 5-6 weeks. Thank heaven for our hi-speedline mode of transportation from NJ to PA. This train will drop me off 1 block from the hospital for the radiation, and only costs $4.25 round trip. This last week when I've had to park each time, the parking fees were $10-15 each time. I look at this radiation as being closer to the end, which I am trying to find out when that will be.
After this consultation, Lauren and I were off to the 4th floor for the blood transfusion. Again a nurse tried 3 times to get some blood to take it to the lab to find my blood type for transfusion. A nurse tried my port, but it was too swollen. They called interventional radiation (the port people) to see if they could access it. They throught it was too bruised to even go there. So finally another nurse was able to get an IV in my hand for the blood sample and the transfusion. After 2 pints of blood, Lauren and I left the hospital at 5:15 p.m. I was just glad the week was over.
This upcoming week I will be getting chemo everyday plus the radiation. I will be speaking to the doctor to determine my upcoming schedule. There is good news, however, to this week. I had told the family that if I have to go through all of this for 6 months, then we're going to have a good family vacation. So, on Wednesday before the CAT scan, I booked a 5 day cruise out of Cape Liberty to Bermuda. Paul and I haven't been there since 1976. So that's something good to look forward to.
Thanks for your cards. Thanks to my neighbor Pat for the beautiful Easter egg cake. It was delicious. Take care everyone and be safe.
Tuesday, April 3, 2007
April 1, 2007
Oh where have I been? I've been to Japan on a porch of a tea house overlooking the hazy hills that fall below me abundant with cherry blossoms and other exotic flowers. April fool. But this is what I imagined when I had my shiastu massage last week when I had another full round of the powerful chemo. I relaxed to the point that I was tired for two days. Or maybe this round was more extensive than I thought.
This time I was more aware of the aches and pains attributed to the chemo and not me. I ate a more balanced meal, salads, fruit, and bran cereals to ward off the pains of constipation. I even went to see Peter Nero in Philadelphia on Saturday with my friend Karen, and wore regular SHOES.
Then I collapsed for the rest of the night. Went to PA Hosp. Sunday morning for a white blood cell shot and Paul and I headed over to Aunt Charlotte's Candy Shoppe in Merchantville to do our annual Easter candy shopping. Will be going for shots everyday this week until Saturday. Hopefully as the doctor ordered on March 26th, I will be able to get an MRI and CAT Scan this week to see the progress of the chemo and to determine how much longer I will have to do this regimen. But as hospitals and insurance companies go, I'm not holding my breath for it to happen this week.
All in all, this second round of power chemo has left me more tired or weakened. I have still been directing the middle school children at St. Rose of Lima for their annual Living Stations of the Cross which Michael and I are co-directors. Our presentations end this week with Good Friday. Michael has been by my side throughout these rehearsals and assists me at a moment's notice to give direction to the children. Of course, the girls just love having a Senior talk to them also.
Thank you to Linda, Carol & Mary for the dinners last week. It was wonderful to have one less thing to worry about after a tiring day.
If you read this blog, try to leave me a note so that I know somebody's reading it. Have a wonderful, healthy and happy Easter.
Fondly, Betsy
This time I was more aware of the aches and pains attributed to the chemo and not me. I ate a more balanced meal, salads, fruit, and bran cereals to ward off the pains of constipation. I even went to see Peter Nero in Philadelphia on Saturday with my friend Karen, and wore regular SHOES.
Then I collapsed for the rest of the night. Went to PA Hosp. Sunday morning for a white blood cell shot and Paul and I headed over to Aunt Charlotte's Candy Shoppe in Merchantville to do our annual Easter candy shopping. Will be going for shots everyday this week until Saturday. Hopefully as the doctor ordered on March 26th, I will be able to get an MRI and CAT Scan this week to see the progress of the chemo and to determine how much longer I will have to do this regimen. But as hospitals and insurance companies go, I'm not holding my breath for it to happen this week.
All in all, this second round of power chemo has left me more tired or weakened. I have still been directing the middle school children at St. Rose of Lima for their annual Living Stations of the Cross which Michael and I are co-directors. Our presentations end this week with Good Friday. Michael has been by my side throughout these rehearsals and assists me at a moment's notice to give direction to the children. Of course, the girls just love having a Senior talk to them also.
Thank you to Linda, Carol & Mary for the dinners last week. It was wonderful to have one less thing to worry about after a tiring day.
If you read this blog, try to leave me a note so that I know somebody's reading it. Have a wonderful, healthy and happy Easter.
Fondly, Betsy
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