Chemo Day

Yesterday was Chemo day. It went quite well and I tolerated even the most potent drugs, SO FAR, that is. We don't know what tomorrow will bring. Hopefully the repercussions will be mild. So far, so good though.
Want to thank you all once again for your blogs, you can't imagine how important they are!
Next will be shopping for a wig. I'm open to ideas as to color and welcome any ideas.
Love you All,
Fran

Thanks again for the kind and encouraging comments you all have sent. I treasure them.
This week has been almost normal. No doctors, no tests and no hospitals! Yahoo!
The surgery sites are mending well and not so uncomfortable now.
I spend time reading, emailing and researching on the computer. I also try to spend some time with the kids each day. They are pretty amazing. Emma MUST see Grandma's booboo every day when she gets home from school. She seems quite fascinated with the port in particular. Jim and I go shopping some days and went to a movie this week. We saw Slumdog Millionaire, a super movie.
I start the Chemo treatments tomorrow. We shall see how it goes.
Love and Thanks to you all,
Fran

I've been ported

Hey, I'm still here!
All went well. Dr. Kontos, the surgeon, did his usual excellent job. I was in and out of the operating room in a couple of hours. He and I have a special relationship and he always kisses me, which shocked everyone in the room, but we didn't care. We are probably the talk of the Quad Cities by now!!
I was pretty sore when the meds wore off but they gave me some vicodin to take home and that got me through the night. I've been taking it easy today and starting to feel pretty good. Still taking the vicodin however.
I was instructed not to take a shower until the needle is taken out though, and that won't be until a week from tomorrow! Uck.
Thanks again all you wonderful friends for your great support. Keep on blogging!
Love you all

The Port

Hello once again,
Today is the day a port will be placed under the skin on my chest through which the chemical injections will be made once every three weeks. There will be about 8 injections.
It looks like Jim and Anne will be able to claim us on their income tax for 2009. They have been very generous and insist that we stay here for the entire treatment. It is comforting to have two doctors caring so closely for you at a time like this. We are very thankful!
The actual chemo will be started a week from Thursday in Davenport where Dr. Constantinou's office is located. It will take 6 hours a session to get the job done. This particular treatment is called CHOP. The letters stand for each type of medicine that will be used in my treatment.
The Yorkies are adjusting and May, the family dog on the premises, is adjusting too. Maggie still thinks she's top dog, however.
Wish me luck today gang, I'm going to need it. I hate the thought of getting on that table at the hospital again so soon.
Love you all.

RX All Week

Hi Again,
I posted a new blog a few hours ago and lo and behold when I checked it a few minutes ago it ended up on the Petre Family Blog site! So, we'll try again.
We returned to Moline on Monday afternoon. Tuesday was the Pet scan which took about two hours, followed by a trip to the hospital lab for another blood draw. Wednesday was a return visit to the surgeon's office to check out another lump under my arm. It turned out to be just a hemotoma, nothing to worry about and will disappear in a couple of months. Tomorrow, Thursday, we go for the stress test to make sure the ole heart is tough enough to handle the chemicals that will be injected into my body by a port to be installed in my chest by the surgeon on another day.
As you can see, they are keeping us busy.RX
I see the oncologist on Friday and will find out when and how often I will be receiving the chemo treatments.
I want to take a .moment to thank you all for your blogs to my site. It's good to hear from you all and helps me keep centered and keep my sense of humor, so keep 'em coming!
Love to All

Hi Ya'll,
We are home in Howell for the weekend. The visit to the Oncologist was interesting. He said I have two kinds of Lymphoma and after a couple of more tests to see if my little ole heart will tolerate the chemo, we should be able to start a chemo program the following week.
We came home to arrange things like mail, bank, taxes, etc, and to pack a few more things for the longer stay. We should know after the tests this week how long the treatment will be, perhaps something like 30 to 40 days, but chemo everyday! Oh boy!
We are taking Maggie and Molly back to Moline with us. Jamie and Lea and Carlee have taken very good care of them so far, but we miss them and they miss us. Jim and Anne said it would be ok to bring them along.
Gotta go, lots to do before my chemo buzz.
Love you all,
Mom

Still Running!

Just a note to let you all know this is the day we see the oncologist. Hopefully he will tell us about treatments, what kind and when they will start. In the mean time we are hoping to make a quick trip back to Howell this weekend to prepare for the longer stay in Moline.
We will get back to you with the info from the doctor next.

The Grim Reaper is on my ass but I'm still running as fast as I can!

Hello Everyone,

This blog has been set up to keep everyone informed of my recovery. When new information is available, I will post it on this site.

We hope to return to Michigan in a few days to get some household things taken care of then I will return to Moline for treatment.

I will be checking my e-mail as well as this blog on a regular basis.

My address in Moline is:
c/o Jim & Anne Petre
7810 35th Ave.
Moline, IL 61265

Feel free to keep in touch.

Love,
Fran