Hello again,
War weary from the last chemo, but still running!
This last chemo took a greater toll than the others, much more weakness and fatigue, more serious lesions in the mouth, nausea, etc. etc. BUT I'm finally climbing out of the hole and starting to feel human again.
I had a PET scan done on the 19th. We got the results on the 21st, the date of my next chemo, and I am happy to say the results were good! There was no further growth of cancer cells and Dr. Constantinou informed us that the chemo treatments can be reduced to 6 instead of 8 or 9. That means my last one will be 11th of June! Big Lake here we come! We hope to spend July there, at least.
I will need to return to Quad cities for a check in 4 months and continue those checks on a 4 to 6 month basis.
I was relieved that I won't have to have the last two or three chemos as they seem to get harder on your body, the more you have.
Lynne and Jamie and girls will be visiting the last of June as well as granddaughter Tiffany who is coming from Switzerland to visit. We will be making the trek home after that.
Because I have two kinds of Lymphoma, follicular lymphoma which transformed into diffuse (fast growing) B cell lymphoma I will need to continually do follow up physicals and tests as the follicular lymphoma cells could transform once again, but we can deal with that!
Sooo, things are finally looking up here in the Quad Cities and we are looking forward to grandson Nick's high school graduation this next week.
Thanks for being patient with my lack of postings. It is difficult for me to get my head together and the energy to do the posts after the chemo treatments. Once I start feeling better it's much easier.
Bless you all!
Fran
Saturday, May 30, 2009
Saturday, May 9, 2009
Back Again
I'm finally getting back to (sort of) normal after my last chemo on the 30th of April. All of you who will read this, thanks for sticking with me!
I have another PET scan scheduled for the 19th. It should show whether the Chemo is working or at least how well it is working. We are hoping for the best, but must accept and deal with whatever happens.
The weather here in Moline is getting warm which makes me long for a visit to Big Lake. We miss the lake and all our friends there. Hopefully we will be able to travel there before the snow flies again.
We are still contemplating finding a place to winter here in Moline near our doctors. Not a good time to sell but maybe a good time to buy?
Jim is busy working on another solar heating device. It keeps him busy, which as you all know, he needs to be.
The household here is preparing for Nick's graduation in June. He'll be off to college in August.
Happy Mother's Day to all you Mothers and happy birthday to my special Mother's Day gift 52 years ago, Dr. Jim.
Thanks again for all your patience and kind attention and cards and phone calls and books. All are SO appreciated.
Love, Fran
I have another PET scan scheduled for the 19th. It should show whether the Chemo is working or at least how well it is working. We are hoping for the best, but must accept and deal with whatever happens.
The weather here in Moline is getting warm which makes me long for a visit to Big Lake. We miss the lake and all our friends there. Hopefully we will be able to travel there before the snow flies again.
We are still contemplating finding a place to winter here in Moline near our doctors. Not a good time to sell but maybe a good time to buy?
Jim is busy working on another solar heating device. It keeps him busy, which as you all know, he needs to be.
The household here is preparing for Nick's graduation in June. He'll be off to college in August.
Happy Mother's Day to all you Mothers and happy birthday to my special Mother's Day gift 52 years ago, Dr. Jim.
Thanks again for all your patience and kind attention and cards and phone calls and books. All are SO appreciated.
Love, Fran
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Spring!
It's Spring and I'm still running!
I finished my third Chemo session on the ninth. Lynne and family were visiting here in Moline and Lynne came along to view the process. It was nice having her there. All went well, but of course with the usual repercussions for the next ten days.
We have had lots of visitors this month, children and grandchildren came in from all over the country. It was great to see everyone, a great get-together.
My fourth Chemo is the 30th of April. Sometimes they do another PET scan, if the insurance company agrees, to see how the therapy is working. If all is going well that means my treatments MAY be shorter, that is 6 instead of the 8 that are scheduled. We are hopeful.
I still have a very small amount of hair and it seems to have stopped falling out so I'm not totally bald yet at least. I am wearing the wig that I got from Jim and Anne for my birthday, on special occasions and my cute little hairy caps most other times. I am looking forward to wearing the straw hats that I received from Jen and Joe, when the sun gets really hot this summer.
Much thanks to all of you who took the time to send flowers and cards for my birthday, they were very much appreciated.
I am feeling well, although not as strong, most of the time except for the 10 days following the chemo. I kind of crawl into a hole for that period of time but things get gradually better after that.
Love to all
I finished my third Chemo session on the ninth. Lynne and family were visiting here in Moline and Lynne came along to view the process. It was nice having her there. All went well, but of course with the usual repercussions for the next ten days.
We have had lots of visitors this month, children and grandchildren came in from all over the country. It was great to see everyone, a great get-together.
My fourth Chemo is the 30th of April. Sometimes they do another PET scan, if the insurance company agrees, to see how the therapy is working. If all is going well that means my treatments MAY be shorter, that is 6 instead of the 8 that are scheduled. We are hopeful.
I still have a very small amount of hair and it seems to have stopped falling out so I'm not totally bald yet at least. I am wearing the wig that I got from Jim and Anne for my birthday, on special occasions and my cute little hairy caps most other times. I am looking forward to wearing the straw hats that I received from Jen and Joe, when the sun gets really hot this summer.
Much thanks to all of you who took the time to send flowers and cards for my birthday, they were very much appreciated.
I am feeling well, although not as strong, most of the time except for the 10 days following the chemo. I kind of crawl into a hole for that period of time but things get gradually better after that.
Love to all
Monday, March 30, 2009
Hello Again,
The real me is back and ready to blog again.
My last chemo was the 19th of March. The treatment went well. Had the usual repercussions but the exhaustion and weakness seem to get more intense as we go, however it lasts about 10 days and then I start feeling better.
I had a little side trip to hospital on the 23rd. I was having some unstable angina so Dr. Jim advised a trip to hospital where he had a cardiac doctor friend of his waiting. They whisked me into the catherization lab pronto but before Dr. Boba did the procedure, he had all attending sing happy birthday for me. Well, it really was my 75th you know!
All went well and I just need a change in medication. We came home that evening and had cake and ice cream for the old gal.
Well, the hair is just about all gone and Anne and I picked up my wig just in time. I still wear my little fuzzy caps from Linda and Bev most of the time though. I'm going to have to order a white one for summer I think.
We have guests coming to visit In April. Philipp and Claire from Germany will be here the first week and the Morrises, et al, will spend the week before Easter with us. Ben is coming around the ninth and Joe around the 18th.
It should be a busy and fun month.
Thank you all for your patience with my lack of blogging spells but I hope you do still keep in touch. It means a lot.
Love you all
Fran
The real me is back and ready to blog again.
My last chemo was the 19th of March. The treatment went well. Had the usual repercussions but the exhaustion and weakness seem to get more intense as we go, however it lasts about 10 days and then I start feeling better.
I had a little side trip to hospital on the 23rd. I was having some unstable angina so Dr. Jim advised a trip to hospital where he had a cardiac doctor friend of his waiting. They whisked me into the catherization lab pronto but before Dr. Boba did the procedure, he had all attending sing happy birthday for me. Well, it really was my 75th you know!
All went well and I just need a change in medication. We came home that evening and had cake and ice cream for the old gal.
Well, the hair is just about all gone and Anne and I picked up my wig just in time. I still wear my little fuzzy caps from Linda and Bev most of the time though. I'm going to have to order a white one for summer I think.
We have guests coming to visit In April. Philipp and Claire from Germany will be here the first week and the Morrises, et al, will spend the week before Easter with us. Ben is coming around the ninth and Joe around the 18th.
It should be a busy and fun month.
Thank you all for your patience with my lack of blogging spells but I hope you do still keep in touch. It means a lot.
Love you all
Fran
Saturday, March 14, 2009
Hello again,
It's been a good week! Been feeling great. Tummy issues under control, thanks to Jim and Anne's good care.
Anne took me to a wig salon Thursday. We had great fun. I tried on all shapes and colors and Anne laughed and gave a thumbs up or thumbs down sign. We ended up picking out two that looked pretty good and the other customers in the salon voted on the one they liked best. We should be taking possession in a couple of days.
Jim took a trip home today. He just called and said he found a flying squirrel in the toilet when he got home! There's probably 20 more of them just waiting to take over my house when he leaves.
Chemo on Thursday coming up next week. I hope it goes as well as the last one.
Love you All
It's been a good week! Been feeling great. Tummy issues under control, thanks to Jim and Anne's good care.
Anne took me to a wig salon Thursday. We had great fun. I tried on all shapes and colors and Anne laughed and gave a thumbs up or thumbs down sign. We ended up picking out two that looked pretty good and the other customers in the salon voted on the one they liked best. We should be taking possession in a couple of days.
Jim took a trip home today. He just called and said he found a flying squirrel in the toilet when he got home! There's probably 20 more of them just waiting to take over my house when he leaves.
Chemo on Thursday coming up next week. I hope it goes as well as the last one.
Love you All
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Hair
Hey gang,
It's been a pretty good week. Still have a little problem with the tummy but believe me , I'm NOT complaining. I feel very lucky so far.
I finally got my hair cut by a very talkative Vietnamese lady. She really took it OFF. I look like a boy now. That gal just kept on talking. The faster she talked the more she cut. Oh well, it's all coming off anyway. I sure don't have to worry about my doo now.
Anne and I will try to go wigging tomorrow.
More Chemo next week. Mmmm, can't wait.
Thanks for all the comments, they mean a lot.
Fran
It's been a pretty good week. Still have a little problem with the tummy but believe me , I'm NOT complaining. I feel very lucky so far.
I finally got my hair cut by a very talkative Vietnamese lady. She really took it OFF. I look like a boy now. That gal just kept on talking. The faster she talked the more she cut. Oh well, it's all coming off anyway. I sure don't have to worry about my doo now.
Anne and I will try to go wigging tomorrow.
More Chemo next week. Mmmm, can't wait.
Thanks for all the comments, they mean a lot.
Fran
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)