A new twist for treatment

Well........... this seems to be good news............ I have just finished my last Cisplatin treatment (I will not have any more of that drug due to possbile toxicities). I had thought that the Gemzar (Gemcitibane) would continue for a while longer, to ensure stability or further fight back the disease.

My oncologist now feels that the August scan results were good enough to warrant a complete "vacation" from chemo for awhile. Her plan is to follow me with scans and keep a close eye on how things are.... she seems confident that we can get several months of "chemo free" time without compromising my overall state, just be watching whatever is going on right now.... of course, if things go downhill.... then it will be a swift return to another set of drugs....

Until I see the next scan, I think I'm going to be a bit nervous about this turn of events, however, she has great faith in this being the correct thing to do and I have a high level of faith in her... I may do a bit of checking around (this being my nature), possibly a second opinion as well........ For now though, once I finish the rest of this "set" it might be time to enjoy myself for awhile..... since my quality of life is good, it will be time to regenerate my reserves, regain my strength and do a bit of travelling. Note that we are not at a disease free state, so it is a "given" that a return to chemo will be inevitable..... she is hoping for 3-6 months of a break.

That's the latest news and while it has me nervous, it also makes good sense...... treating Stage IV breast cancer as a chronic disease is a delicate dance of finding chemo drugs that will work for me and keeping your body as healthy as possible to tolerate the onslaught.

It's time for me to pull out a dose of hope again.....

Hope is patience with the lamp lit..........Tertullian

or:

A handful of patience is worth more than a bushel of brains..... Dutch proverb

Feeling better

Well, it's now my official "week off" and I guess I am feeling better and stronger than I was last week... it's very easy to lose perspective about these things. I thought I felt fine then, but I d feel better now !!!! I do get "winded" and short of breath relatively easily, but if I slow down, then I'm fine..... I think we will have to do something about my low hemoglobin (anemia) fairly soon though as it has been an issue for awhile. I don't really want a blood transfusion, but I am getting used to the idea!

I'm keeping a fairly low profile, doing lots of resting, and reading, a few social outings (Yippeeeee), bit of shopping, stuff most of the world can fit into a day but I kind of spread out over several !!!

One bit of "non-news" is that I will continue having treatments in Winnipeg for the next several weeks.... there have been some delays in getting things organized to have my cancer care here in Saskatchewan..... so that is also what I will be focusing on.... the travel back and forth.....

At any rate, we are all doing fine, Brian is adjusting to Regina, Craig & Michelle to living on their own/University life...and to living on Kraft dinner...... and Gord to his new job (which he really likes). For the moment, all is calm !!!

Blood counts too low for chemo today

Round 5, Day 15....... and my blood counts were all low, too low to have my treatment today.... it is weird to be disappointed to NOT have chemotherapy, but missing a treatment is always a worry.

Anyway..... I've had a little visit with Michelle and Craig here in Winnipeg and fly back to Regina Wednesday. The extra week 'off' treatment will help to boost up all my counts and I guess I'll rest up and hope that helps.

Onward......

Joanne's Stingray Adventure....

Given the "crocodile hunter's" unfortunate demise, it occured to me that my own adventure factor just upped a notch........

Yes, I was in the ocean on a sandbar with hundreds of Stingrays. They are very fast little devils, they feel like you would imagine a dolphin would feel, quite smooth actually...... but their tail bit, (which they flick around as they race around for food) feels like velcro when it smacks you........

AND... it was my idea ....... Grand Cayman Islands, 2004..... The tour operators take a bunch of gullible tourists out to a sandbar, dump you out into the ocean, bring out a pail of squid, and BOOM...... all of a sudden the stingrays are all over the place, racing around, and bashing into your legs.......

Brave (????) people feed them, hold them up, take photos, etc.... Sadly, the truth of my adventurous nature rises to the top and the photo here pretty well shows what I thought of the whole thing.......I pretty much stood there and screamed every time one bashed into me, and then got the heck back into the boat and watched the festivities from a safe and reasonable distance....

The "Stingray Beer" (brewed in Grand Cayman) on the other hand, was very enjoyable!!!

Finish Line at Vancouver Weekend

I'm not sure why this photo is teeny tiny, but maybe you can see the Vancouver walkers crossing the finish line. We are amazed and proud of them.

As for me: It's Day 9, of Cycle 5, I just returned from Winnipeg where I had Day 1 and Day 8 of chemo..... My bloodwork remains good enough, and although i certainly am getting increasingly fatigued, I am doing well.

First week(s) of school......Brian is settling in at Leboldus in Regina..... Craig has been at Engineering Orientation, learning to sign loudly and irritate/offend any non-engineer on campus.... Michelle is very, very busy with her sorority chapter, and all their classes begin Thursday... New beginnings for all.