Merry Christmas

Mom put up our tree in our sunroom this year, and it is perfect... this is where most of the Schweitzers are hanging out this holiday season! And for me, it is perfect, as I lie in my bed I get to have the tree 24/7, just lovely!

Well, the first round of Taxotere this time was really, really tough, and it really took the wind out of my sails..... I had all manner of nasty side effects and the worst was that it made me exceptionally weak and unable to do much of anything. It was not pleasant, PLUS I ended up with fevers, on antibiotics and with some kind of fungus thing in my mouth, also treated with meds.....

However, good thing our memories fade, as this week has brought gradual improvement..... I was pleased to make it to mom's for the family gathering with Maloneys on the 22, for Christmas eve and Christmas day..... granted, my visits were short due to my fatigue, but still, I was able to enjoy everything very much.

Gord has been working through most of the season, but since the kids are home from Winnipeg, there is plenty of activity in our home. And, thanks to the generosity of many, our fridge is full and we have wonderful selections of baking and treats. My sincere thanks to all of you who helped make our Christmas "normal" it is greatly appreciated.

We'll continue with a low-key version of events - lots of movie watching, game playing and quite stuff - reading, etc.... all things I can participate in from my bed. I'm having a great time with the family here, and am very grateful for the wonderful season.

Cheers to all !! Joanne

Scan Results: Stable - "More or Less"

"Stable - more or less" - I'm not making that up, that is what my oncologist pronounced! The CT scan showed mostly good news. Compared to October 31, 2007, there are no new areas of cancer, no new fluid, and mostly what is there is stable. However, two of the existing nodules (one in the lower left lung, and one of the mediastinel ones - hilar region) are each a little bit larger.

Bottom line, it would not be officially called "progression" due to the smallness of the increase, HOWEVER, it certainly an indication of which direction things are headed! So, I will be switching to Taxotere, and hopefully we will maintain good control with this strategy.

For about 20 minutes I even had a Christmas break - with the new chemo to start AFTER Christmas. I was pretty jubilent, however, due to the chemo bookings, it was impossible and I had to start mid-January or today. Since my oncologist did not feel it was wise to wait until January, I went ahead and had the treatment today. So, no Christmas break from chemo!!!!!

However, the scan news is still pretty good and we are grateful for that.

I hope you are all enjoying the season, with all the good times spent with family and friends and, of course, all of the good food!

Joanne

"Tis the Season

Hello all!

Not much is new with me, which in my world, counts as GOOD NEWS! Today is a day that I would usually be back at the cancer clinic, getting more chemo, but as you already know, I have had my lifetime limit of Adriamycin related drugs, and so I must switch to a different chemo. And, we've just had a little delay getting a CT scan, I guess they are very backed up.... so I am having a few days chemo "Vacation" .......

I will be having the CT on December 12, and then I see my oncologist Dec. 14. Based on the CT results we will decide which drug to try next and also when to begin the new regime. Of course I would love to have the Christmas holidays off and chemo free, but the truth is, that I am content to do whatever I must do, so if that means more chemo immediately, so be it.....

I'm feeling a little better - I've finally had that massage therapy and it worked miracles for my shoulder and back pain. I will definitely keep that up and hope for a good resolution to the muscle pain. I am about the same in the breathing department (which means that I continue to be fine while I am sedentary, but very short of breath when I try to do even modest activity, like walk across the room.).

Believe it or not, I am really enjoying the Christmas season. I am so blessed because so many people are looking out for us..... My friend Anne and my mom decorated our house and put up the tree..... Mom and my aunt (and friend) Peggy have been baking Christmas cookies for us (and I find this a huge gift and relief since I do still want to make Christmas as "usual" as possible for my kids. The internet has been my "mall" for Xmas shopping, and between Gord and mail order we are doing well there......Our tree is in my sunroom this year, and so my surroundings are very very pleasant. I wish I could be more active in the preparations as it is somethign I've always enjoyed, however, when I remove that from my worry list, I'm having a fairly perfect Christmas season. One great thing about this time of year is that it is EASY to find joy in something on every single day....... these "todays" are indeed "sweet".........

I will keep you posted with the results of the tests and the next plan for chemo. In the meantime, I certainly wish everyone a joy filled holiday season.

Joanne

Grey Cup

Good thing Darryl and Dad were on hand in Toronto to guard the cup before it's fate was sealed and it heads BACK TO SASKATCHEWAN!

It wasn't a pretty game, but the Riders won, and all of Saskatchewan has gone nuts. It is very fun to be around all the excitement.

Go Riders Go !!!

This child is no relation to me, but rest assured, I have photos (similar) of all of my kids in Rider Gear, sadly, they were all taken in the dinosaur age of FILM, and PAPER...... hence I'm not sure how to get them posted.....

Anyway, you get the point, this is kinda how we do it here in Saskatchewan.... we are crazy for our pro football team, even when they are not winning (which is usual), but we really go nuts when they, say get in the play-offs (you should know that 3/4 teams get into the play-offs)...... Glory of all Glories, we won the west this year, and on Sunday will play for the National title, the Grey Cup......

It's exciting to be in Regina right now (really, I'm not kidding), the entire city (well, I'm guessing it is the entire province) is on fire with Rider Green........ The game is in Toronto...... my dad and Darryl are actually THERE (Hello boys, hope you are having fun!) It's a BIG DEAL around here.

Joanne

P.S. on me..... I'm doing OK, I won't be attending any Grey Cup parties, but I am recovering from the last round of chemo, which kind of knocked me back a bit. Still working with the back and shoulder pain .... I begin massage therapy Monday and am hoping that will help. I think I spend too much time in bed, although that is just the reality at the moment. Anyway, I'm hanging in there.........

Beauty

I received this beautiful orchid plant back for my birthday October 19 (which is when this photo was taken). Amazingly, it is still alive, fresh, unwilted, and every one of those little buds you see has blossomed into another beautiful bloom. Just amazing. I received it from my Aunt Lorna Mae and Uncle Tom, and I am especially thinking of them and all of their family this weekend.

It is a cold, snowy, grey day here, not what could really be consdered beautiful, but I find that these days, when I wake up, almost every day looks beautiful to me, maybe that is one good thing about being in somewhat rough conditions.

I did have chemo on Friday (good news, I recovered from the pnuemonia enough to go ahead)..... it was my 8th of that drug mix, and likely the last, as a body can only stand so much of the one drug. It's a little scary for me as I am at least staying stable on this one..... fear of the unknown is always hard to cope with. However, I always know that no matter what, there will be beauty to see in every circumstances.

Best wishes to all of you - I'll be laying low for awhile, just the usual post-chemo recovery, and I am sad to report that I am still trying to manage a very painful back and shoulder. I begin massage therapy on Monday, and am hoping that will help or at least find what might be exaggerating the pain I've been having in that area all along.

Here's to the beauty all around us, and in each of us. Joanne

Doing Well

This was me, from several weeks ago, when Mom and I were making pesto from the basil we grew in our front yard! I was all delighted to be up "cooking", but unfortunately, the trend did not continue, as you all know, I've had a few challenging weeks lately.

Anyway, I am doing pretty well now, recovering from the pneumonia. I am still quite tired but mostly I feel pretty OK, and the pain I was having is now under much better control, I'm taking more morphine now, and it seems to be doing the trick !

Good news from the whole pneumonia/hospitalization thing - the scans showed that the disease is still stable! Also, when I was sent to ultrasound to drain the fluid in my lungs (to see if it was infected), there was not even enough fluid there for them to drain! Considering that a few months ago I had a massive pleural effusion going on there, it really shows the success of the chemo I have been on. I'd be even happier if I was able to be up and around more, doing more "normal" things, but I must say that once I accept the limits of my fatigue and breathing, life is really very good.

Michelle and Craig are coming home this weekend for the long weekend, and we are excited to be seeing them again, looking forward to a nice family weekend.

Best wishes to all of you, and thank you for your continued interest in me and my well-being!

Joanne

Happy 16th Birthday Brian

Gord and Brian are headed out to the last "Riders" game of the season. It's a "Brisk" prairie day today, hence the numerous layers of clothing!

And yes, it is hard to believe that my "baby" turns 16 today. I am so proud and grateful to see what a really wonderful young man he is turning into. He is intelligent and thoughtful and he is coping very very well with the stressful circumstances life has already thrown his way. He also has a very quiet and almost dignified way about him, which he definitely did NOT get from me, but it is very rewarding to observe anyway!

I'm very grateful to be home from the hospital on his birthday, an unexpected gift for me !!!

Cheers to all, and thanks for all the good wishes!

Joanne

Home From the Hospital

I wasn't expecting to be discharged before the weekend, however, my blood counts rebounded and my fever has been eliminated, so here I am back at home! While in hosptial I received a couple more units of blood, as well as the IV antibiotic, and I will continue with oral antibiotics for several days.

My next chemo will be pushed back by a week to give me extra recovery time, so I get a little bonus "break" from the chemo grind.

Not much else..... I'll be resting lots and laying low while I recover from this latest little bump in the road !!!

Joanne

November 1, 2007

Hacker Gord is back with a new message from Joanne.

Joanne went back to hospital on Tuesday night with an elevated temperature. After a night of waiting in an isolation room she was admitted to the Cancer ward at Pasqua Hospital on Halloween morning. After several tests and several more hours of anxious waiting, we finally found out that she has pneumonia. Luckily it was caught and treated early (even before it was known exactly what it was). There are only a couple of small spots so things aren't as bad as they could be. She is resting well and hopes to be home soon. Unfortunately she will have to stay in hospital for at least a few days.

Thanks to Eileen for all her help.

Hacker Gord

Every once in awhile there is a tiny snag.....

Hello to all, and thanks to all of you for your continued support. I always get a thrill when I realize how many of you are out there checking in on me !!!!

I'm just now getting through the "worst" days post chemo (I had Myocet/Cytoxin #7 last Friday). I've begun the GSCF shots (Neupogen) and generally the remainder of the cycle goes smoothly.

However, I have hit a bit of a snag this week. For the past week or so I have been struggling with extra pain in the area of my collapsed lung. I've been trying various things to get it under control, but it hasn't really been working, and unfortunately, I was not aggresssive enough with my morphine. So I had a little pain crisis of sorts this week, and have really had to get back on track to get on top of that pain.

There is nothing (additionally) wrong with me, and in fact, my scans and physical exam in my lungs are good. But I still have pain, and so I have been getting help from my homecare nurse and my doctor. Hence, you may have noticed (both on this blog and in "person") that I have been sort of quiet. (Pain really sucks) But, I am getting on track - this basically means that I have to take more morphine. I am improving, and I'm hoping that we'll have this all sorted out in the next week or two...... At any rate, it is NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT....... Every day of living and managing a dynamic and life threatening diseasae can bring new challenges, that's all..... sometimes it's easy to forget that!

Otherwise, my family is also "stable" !!! Michelle and Craig are thick into mid-terms and assignments.... Brian continues to do well in Grade 11. Gord is taking some courses for the next little while, but he also continues to enjoy his job here in Regina. And my mom and dad help keep our operation running, I'm not just sure what things would be like without them, but since we do have that amazing level of support and love, we are able to just keep on living, and living pretty darn well too!

Cheers to all! Joanne

Stable !!

Well, the results from my most recent CT scan (Tuesday) show that there has been no significant change since the previous scan. Given it was only a 6-week interval, rather than the usual 3 months, my oncologist considers this a very good result. Also, my lungs are sounding improved and there is some evidence of functional improvement. He was very happy with this results.

So, while of course I would rather see continued shrinkage, "stable" is also very good news. In fact, my oncologist suggests that we may not see further shrinkage from this drug, and that continued stability is a good outcome. I am also glad that the cancer continues to be limited to my lungs and internal lymph nodes, there is no evidence of any further spread. I'm not sure how significant that really is, but it makes ME happy.

My heart is also still in good shape and so I will have two more treatments of the Myocet + Cytoxin and then there will be a discussion as to what to do next. It will likely be a switch to a different chemo drug (Navelbine was mentioned), but we will know more at that time....

The chemo room was full today, and since I did not have a treatment booked (pending results of scans) I have a day or two "off" and will return for my next treatment as soon as they can fit me in.

Thank you so much to all my friends and family, and acquaintances and colleagues who continue to check in on me through this blog. And for all of you who continue to think about and pray for me and my family, your warm thoughts are appreciated and it helps me to stay strong and to keep my hope strong.

Cheers to all - Joanne

Thanksgiving

Well, I hope that everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend. We certainly did. Both Michelle and Craig were home for the weekend, and we had a wonderful time together as a family again. My mom cooked a spectacular meal, which was enjoyed by us as well as my Aunt, Peggy and 3 of her kids. My grandfather was also well enough to attend, which was really amazing and wonderful. Unfortunately, I am the one who didn't make it to thanksgiving dinner.... that day I had a lot of bone pain (side effect of the Neupogen shots) and I just wasn't able to get enough morphine in me to be able to move comfortably AND be lucid. Anyway, that was small detail, I still enjoyed the entire weekend.

We are all very saddened to hear of the death of my cousin Patricia's husband, John Sinclair. One of Patricia's aunt's also died recently (as it happens this is also the mother of one of my friends and fellow book club member, Michelle) My heart goes out to Pat, Michelle and their families as they cope with these deaths.

Things are stable with me. On Thursday I have the MUGA (heart) scan, next week is the CT. The worst of the "chemo" crap side effects are mostly over, and I feel pretty decent.

Scans coming up

Well, I just found out about the upcoming appointments, so I thought I would share them here....

MUGA (Heart) Scan - October 11

CT Scan - October 16

The results of these scans will determine my next treatments......

I'm hanging in at the moment, feeling OK as long as I don't try to do too much. Althought forward progress is slow, I am NOT GETTING WORSE, which is actually quite a good feeling! I am passing the time by reading, needlework, "Emailing", and keeping in touch on the computer. And, my great family helps me pass the time with movies, other TV shows, lattes and other treats. All in all, I am doing OK, and I will check in as soon as I can with any other news!

Chemo today .....

Well, I went in for my 6th treatment of Myocet + Cytoxin, and I have a couple of hours before the side effects start setting in. I have been on chemo now for most of the past 18 months. What this means is that my body takes a little longer each time to recover from the "assault" ... it isn't that each treatment makes me sicker, just that my body isn't as able to respond and it takes longer and longer each round..... So, based on my other cycles, I would predict that I will not be back at the computer for awhile !!!! I will try not to let it go 2 weeks again, like i did last time..........

I had a good check-up. My oncologist says my lungs sound excellent (his exact words), and there is no additional fluid that he can detect. I was delighted to hear this, since I've actually been coughing quite a bit lately, of course I was worrying a little.... but it appears that my lungs still sound to be in good shape.

After this chemo cycle, I will have more scans - a CT scan to check the disease progression, and a MUGA scan (to check for heart damage, a possible side effect of the type of chemo I am on). After these scans he will decide what is next, but it will likely be another 2 rounds before switching to a different drug....

That's all the news for now. Otherwise, everyone in the family is well and coping pretty well right now. Cheers to all.

Joanne

Not much new !

No news is good news - I've just gotten through the tougher parts of my 5th cycle of this newest round of chemo (Myocet + Cytoxin), and am back to feeling OK. I had a blood transfusion on Monday as my hemoglobin had again dropped too low (common with chemo), and so my blood counts should now be in good shape for the next little while.

I still seem to need the oxygen, the morphine, the wheelchair and the bedrest, but as long as I do all of these I actually manage very well, and feel quite well on a day-to-day basis. Thank goodness for my mom and my family, because they manage to see that I have the best life I can from my little world !!!!!! My mom continues to be here with me whenever Gord or Brian are away from the house.

So, all in all, things are stable and that is great !!!!

CT Scan Results

Well, it is pretty good news. The CT scan showed an excellent partial result - what this means is that the cancer is not gone (that would be in the miracle category), but it is reduced from what it was back in June. Some of the spots have disappeared completely. And most of the rest of them are smaller than they were. The largest nodule in my lungs was 1.3 cm x 1.4 cm....it is now 0.9 cm x 0.8 cm. Also the mediastinel nodes are reduced in size. And, finally, there is no new cancer, no further spread. My liver, abdomen and bones (in that area) are clean.

I still have fluid surrounding my lungs, but it is greatly reduced. And my lower right lung is still collapsed.

So, today I am filled with gratitude. Chemo has been successful, and it will continue, likely for four more treatments with this particular drug combo, then perhaps with a new combo. Of course, with this disease, things can change on a dime, and there are no guarantees, but for today, the result is very good, and we are very happy and very grateful.

I had a chemo treatment today, so will now hunker down to get through the next few days. But it is all worth it when the treatment is working and giving me more time. What a great gift.

Thanks to all for your continued love and support. Maybe those prayers are working, so keep those up too. if it is not too much trouble !!!!!!

Joanne

Checking In.....

Happy days are here in Regina. For the non-Canadians, our long suffering football team (Saskatchewan Roughriders) are having a #1 season for the first time in about 30 years........ Above are my niece and nephew, Kate and Niall when they attended Sunday's football game here in Regina.

No news yet for me. I had the CT scan yesterday and it went very smoothly actually. I will find out the results tomorrow when I go in for my next chemo treatment. I will post about it as soon as I can.

Cheers to all. Go Riders Go....... Joanne

Another "weekend" moment

The above photo is from the opening ceremonies... my sister Kelly (middle) and niece Heather (right) represented 2/3 generations participating in the walk..... the flag they carried has the names of all of the people who walked the 60 km.

I continue to be the same - recovering from chemo, with CT scan next week, Sept. 4.

And here is my team (and their fans!)...... emotions are high for me as I think about what they have done in my name.

Weekend to End Breast Cancer

This is my mom and I and these are the same T-shirts that the walkers are wearing right now as they walk in Vancouver's rainy weather. The front says "Her Courage gives us strength" and the back says "I am on Joanne's Team 2007" I guess we are the honorary walkers.....

I am on Day 3 of Chemo (Cytoxin, Myocet), and feel the typical crappy chemo feeling, but nothing unusual, so all is well. The good news is that there is slow improvement in my lungs. My oncologist says my lungs sound much better, that much of the fluid surrounding my lungs is gone. The right lower lung is still collapsed, and I am still on bedrest, oxygen and morphine 24/7, but I also notice an improvement in my breathing, so really, it is good news.

I guess I won't be scanned for a couple of weeks yet..... I will let you know.

Joanne

"Chapters" outing

Well, I made it, thanks to my mom, and a good time was had by all! Although it certainly tired me out, I enjoyed at least an hour wheeling around Chapters, and of course, refreshments via Starbucks.

This week leads up to my next chemo treatment (Thursday) and I am feeling relatively stable. Unfortunately, I still need the oxygen, and I am unable to walk any distance without distress, even with the oxygen. HOWEVER, as long as I use the oxygen, and either stay in my lovely hospital bed, or wheelchair, then I am comfortable and I enjoy my time.

I haven't yet heard about the CT scan, although it should be coming up soon! I'll let you know.

Thanks to all of you faithful blogger responders, it really is a treat for me to see all of you who follow along with my journey. It makes me feel very fortunate to have so many of you in my life.

Joanne

RCMP kids

This is my son (Craig) and my nieces Heather, Laurel and Holly at the RCMP Heritage Centre here in Regina. Kelly and the girls were here in July. They had lots of fun touring around Regina, believe it or not.... went to all kinds of places that a person who lives here never does!

I am doing OK..... am now in the second half (the good half) of the chemo cycle. Some days are better than others, but for the most part I am breathing comfortably. Still have not made it to Chapters or anywhere else..... good thing my bed is in my sunroom.... makes it tolerable to be in bed 24/7 as it is a very lovely space and I might be driven crazy if I was off in some dark bedroom........

Thanks all for your continued support

Joanne

Happy 50th Anniversary to Arnie and Jenny Schweitzer

Last weekend, Gord's sister Laurelle, his brother Bret and he held a tea honoring his parents' 50th wedding anniversary. I was sorry that I was unable to attend, but the photos look wonderful and I think that all their hard work paid off with a nice event. They also had extra special help from their cousin Martha and their aunt Lorraine.

The actual anniversary date is July 26. What an achievement - 50 years of marriage!

RE: Me - I am fine, the blood transfusion worked it's magic and I am breathing easier. Just recovering now from the chemo; it is my goal this week to actually go somewhere on an outing, maybe even just to Chapters. Have wheelchair, will travel. So far I really don't have the energy for it, but I am HOPING !!!

This last photo is of Gord and the kids with their grandparents, they all look beautiful, in my humble opinion!

Blood Transfusion Today

Being a permanent cancer patient means there is always something on the go. Well, my hemoglobin levels took a dive this week, and so I had a very unplanned blood transfusion today. Although it took all day at the cancer clinic, it is really not a difficult procedure, and I am assured that I will be breathing much better virtually immediately.

It was a long day though, so right now, I'm very tired and I can't really tell - hopefully I will wake up tomorrow full of beans and ready for another day. Otherwise, all is well, I feel pretty OK, and the Neupogen is keeping my white blood cells in good shape.

Thanks to all for your continuing support...... Joanne

Weekend to end breast cancer 2007

This is not a pitch for donations.... I know that many of you here have already donated, or you have many other worthy causes which you support.

I just want to honor my "team", the 2006 version is shown above - my sister in law, Karen, my brother Darry, neice Heather Sherlock (then age 12) and my sister Kelly. This year, they are joined by my brother-in-law Gary and by my neice Holly.

I am humbled and astounded that they are willing to make the effort both to raise the large sum of donations required ($2000/pp) as well as making that long long walk, rain or shine.

Please read their stories at the Joanne's team pages of the walk...... http://www.endcancer.ca/site/TR?team_id=24796&pg=team&fr_id=1203 I know they inspire and touch me.... and if by chance you have not made a donation, I think the grown-ups are doing fine, but the girls are a little behind.

Thanks you to Holly, Heather, Kelly, Gary, Darryl, Karen. You are heroes to me.

Joanne

P.S. Day #3, Round #3 of chemo, a feel lousy, but sentimental and sappy sort of day!

To the birds

About a month ago, Dad and Brian put up this bird feeder just outside the window beside my bed in the sunroom. Mom keeps it stocked and because this particular window does not see any direct sunlight, I can watch the birds all day. Brian made this bird feeder several years ago, a primitive, but very enjoyable result. And I have enjoyed this, and we've tried to identify a few birds, etc.....

But of late, the bird feeder has become a big source of stress. The squirrels (whom I previously admired) are really just little scavenger piglets, who have no fear of anything, animal, human or otherwise. They make their way up that skinny pole, wedge their "pleasantly plump" carcas onto the shelf of the house, and commence to stuff their little faces with as much bird seed as possible until we manage to chase them off, no small feat. And while the little birds scrap with each other, it's at least a fair fight, not so with Mr. Squirrel, nothing can stop him. AND, we now have a larger black bird who spend a few days perched on top, but has since figured out how to hunch on the lower shelf and help himself, also scaring all the little birdies.

Sheesh, and I imagined a peaceful nature scene, I think I am really more suited to indoor nature, the realities of the out-of-doors never cease to raise my blood pressure.

Anyway...... it's Day 1 of Cycle 3 of chemo. Time for me to hunker down and get through, and this usually lasts through to about Day 5 - at which time I start getting Neupogen shots for my white counts, causing a bit more pain, etc.... Anyway, I will not likely be available. My usual survival strategy is to nap in between eating and sleeping. However, I will emerge, after a few days, hopefully unscathed, and I will check in next week.

My continued thanks for your lovely and thoughtful and beautiful responses on my blog, I hope no one feels obliged to leave a comment. However, I must tell you how much it lifts my spirits and my heart to read your kind thoughts.

Love to all, Joanne

Summer at 26 Selkirk Crescent

You can't really see much of the new (Beautiful) aggragate concrete driveway in this photo, but you can see the beautiful flowers that my mom planted for us, and although the yard is still recovering from the sewer line damage last fall, it looks pretty inviting out there!

Not much to report for me. I have been having pesky fevers that hover around the "threshold fever" and this creates stress and uncertainty and a lot of calls to my medical team, but so far, I have remained out of hospital and doing OK. I am still fairly weak, and my energy level is so low it is hard to describe. Even short phone calls tire me out, but I am managing those not too bad, so if anyone would like to talk for a short time, I think I can manage that (depending on the day). Visits are still mostly not an option, although a few family members visit, that is my limit at the moment.

Still very happy to hear from everyone either through email, this blog or by snail mail. I appreciate your continued good thoughts and prayers.

Joanne - Look (below) at our "crop"!!!

Michelle's favourite friends........

Well, if any of you have been around Michelle in the past couple of months, it is a fair bet to guess that you have heard about Adam. So, here is a photo.... above are Adam, Michelle and Heidi, sitting in our sunroom here in Regina.

Things are pretty calm right now around here. Everyone is back from California, and they all had a great time. Michelle was a little sick, and she had a bit of a rough journey home, but otherwise, they are all so glad they got to go to the wedding.

I am about the same... The first (and worst) week of chemo round #2 is over, and I'm heading into the "good week", so that is very good, from my perspective. My breathing is roughly the same, the right lung is still collapsed and still surrounded with fluid, so I continue to manage the pain with morphine and the breathing with oxygen and by a very sedentary lifestyle. (this translates easily as I am basically spending 24/7 in my hospital bed.... what a gift that is.... is is adjustable so I can always get it into a comfortable position. My temperature has been normal (yippeeeeeeee) and my appetite and overall "how do I feel" is good.

That's it! The news this week is very "ordinary" and that is very WELCOME.

Joanne

Here is my lovely family enjoying my cousin Sean and Molly's beautiful wedding at Carmel-by-the-sea, California. Darryl has been sending Mom and I photos, and we have been enjoying watching events unfold by photo! It looks like it was a truly happy and wonderful event. They were married on 7-7-07, but it doesn't look like they need extra luck to enjoy a long and happy life together, I think they have what it takes right now!

Michelle flies back to Winnipeg to get back to her job (lifeguard at Fun Mountain water park). Gord and the boys are headed with Peggy and her kids to spend a couple of days in San Francisco. My boys will then head straight back to Regina. I'm so glad that they've had this wonderful holiday and were able to spend more family time together with the extended family. We all feel a tremendous amount of support from these loving relatives.

As for me, it is Day #4 of my second chemo cycle of Myocet and Cytoxin. I should feel less of the effects of that in a day or two.... Starting Monday, I will be receiving shots of "Neupogen" to stimulate my white blood cell production..... this should prevent me landing in the hopsital again with low blood counts.... and it will make me less susceptible to every little germ or bug around. Good news.

I feel about the same, the shortness of breath and pain from my collapsed lung is about the same, but my homecare team is really helping me get my medication schedule sorted out so that it is as best it can be. I do not feel worse, which I choose to take as a good sign, but I am still not mobile, need to use the oxygen, my wheelchair, and my hospital bed to keep me breathing in comfort.

However, I am getting used to this new reality. It really is a miracle how adaptive we all are, when circumstances leave us no choice. This has been a very difficult transition to make for me, physically and emotionally, and I am grateful to all of you for being so supportive, and respecting my needs at this time.

Cheers for now - Joanne

"What can we do to help? "

It has most certainly been the most stressful, trying month of my life. And a great big thank you to all of you wonderful supporters who have been asking "What can I do?". For the most part you have been given a non-answer. We were so caught up in trying to get through each day, that I, for my myself, could not concentrate or imagine what another day might be like, and what might help.

Just so you know, I am completely grateful for all the support we have received; we need no other "thing". For those that wish, please know that everything you have done is "good enough"... we feel blessed and lucky and loved.

However, we keep being asked, So.......... I thought I'd give a little status update.

Gord and the kids have gone to a family wedding in California. And, in case that seems strange or selfish to you, please be generous in your thoughts about Gord and the kids. They are under tremendous stress, and it was my request that they go, enjoy and learn to be a strong family unit in a happy setting, even when times are difficult, while I can still enjoy from my comfortable bed.

My wonderful mother is for all intents and purposes my main caretaker. She is now with me virtually 24/7 and she helps me with all the day to day things I can't manage as well as being a huge emotional support that I just lean on shamelessly. My dad keeps the homefires burning, and also runs all manner of errands, and he sits with me when my mom is not around. That is going well, and at the moment, my mother does not want help for herself or anyone. Not just yet anyway.

At the moment, the truth is, that I am not physically or emotionally able for real visiting. The best I can offer anyone who wants to come to Regina anyway, is short (i.e. 30 minutes) of visiting me lying in a bed. And we are not in any way able extend the hospitality that we orinarily enjoy sharing with you, our friends and family. We cannot have anyone staying at our home. I hope this improves, but right now, it is the truth.

Anyway, thanks to my Aunt Lorna Mae who had this excellent suggestion: If you want to do something for me, please go and donate some blood. I had 2 units given to me this past hospitalization and they have helped me to feel so much better. I expect I will need it again. If you would like to do something concrete, please consider this. It will help me and many other people. And since, at this exact time, there is nothing physical that I need, it would be an ideal way to help in this way.

Especially all you B+ types (that is me)...... a rarer kind (just like me)............

Thanks friends, for considering this unique way to show support of me.

At home again

I am back at home again, and hopefully it "sticks".

After my kudos to our health care system, I can safely give my one current big beef, which is the entire ER system. Doesn't matter where I live or which one I go to, they are all a big nightmare, and at all costs I would like to stay out of them. Hopefully my temperature cooperates.

I will write more as I am able. Right now my fatigue level is high, my pain is managed, and my breathing is much better managed as well. I am quite comfortable, but I am also emotional and overwhelmed, and I still feel like I don't know what will happen next.

My next chemo treatment is this Thursday and so I will be gathering my emotional and physical resources to get through that. Right now I am not very capable of doing much by way of visiting or talking to people. I hope that I find that that energy returns to me, but in the meantime, I'd like to express my appreciation for your continued warm and loving responses here on this blog. I will appreciate it if you continue to communicate in that way.

For a more private message, my email address is jschweitzer@sasktel.net. I am not at the computer regularly, but will do my best to keep up.

Joanne Update...

Hello,

Gord is back in Winnipeg today, helping Craig move out of his apartment and return back to Regina for the summer. In his place, Joanne asked me to post a message on her blog. For those of you that don’t know me, I am Joanne’s brother, Darryl.

Joanne is still in the hospital but I am glad to report that she is stable and improving. She has had a tough few days but her blood counts are improving, her pain is being managed and her fever is under control. Assuming that she remains stable, she will likely be able to return home in the next few days.

Her spirit and determination are as remarkable as ever!

She says the food is fine and she is kept well stocked with dark chocolate, not to mention her daily venti, extra hot, no foam, 2% latte.

On behalf of her family, thanks to all of you for your ongoing support.

Hacker Darryl

Joanne moved to hospital

June 25, 2007

Hi I've hacked into this blog to provide an update on Joanne's condition.

Today Joanne was admitted to the oncology ward at Pasqua Hospital. She is having some problems with intermittent fever and to be safe she has been admitted and is on I.V. antibiotics.

She is still in pain as the plural effusion has increased again but they are medicating the pain. She is resting comfortably in a private room but visiting privileges are limited.

Joanne's hemoglobin is very low so she is getting a blood transfusion either later today or tomorrow.

For now we will both be away from the house during the day and at the hospital in the evening so we won't be answering the phone. Please correspond with us using this blog.

Hacker Gord.

A week of changes can change your life!

This is my new view, and I am lucky that I have such a beautiful sunroom to have such a good view in!

Well, I will try to keep this brief, but it has been a very incredible sort of week. Surreal, really,

So, at last post I had a pleural effusion drained and was recovering.

Well, something went sour with the pleural effusion drainage and a small part of my right lung collapsed. The drainage was malignant, which is just means that there is now an easy vechicle fo the spread of cancer elsewhere as fluid tends to move around. I still have fluid on my lungs but the prioirity was to do chemo immediately to try to improve the situation in the lungs.

Due to the pain of the lung collapse, I have been started on a morphine program. And due to the shortness of breath increasing and becoming worse (lung collaspse), I am now on Oxygen all the time and at home.

Today a hospital bed arrived, so I can sleep in a better position for my lungs. Also, we received a shower chair and a wheelchair. Oh and Homecare is providing me with anything we need.

I have suddenly moved from being independent to being not terrible mobile. And I am supposed to view this reduced mobility as saving my energy for things I really want to do. So, that's the view I am trying to take.

My fellow cruisers - Karen and Kelly, came here this week, and they are helping to get all this equipment settled and to make it as nice as possible for me. Mom has been here 24/7 since Gord is out of town at a course. I feel very supported as I travel this challenging path.

This has all been very unexpected and so it is actually difficult to comment on with any form of wisdom. We just keep getting through each day and are not looking too far ahead. My friend

Janice is bringing Michelle home for a visit next week, and Gord will get Craig after exams, it will be quite an adjustment for them to see me too.

THE one reflection I do have this week is the excellent care we have received from our much maligned "system". We have been treated with dignity and respect and with kindness... and SPEED.... I cannot imagine getting better service than we have had this week. It has been unbelievable and true cause for thanks.

Best wishes to all..... Joanne

"Progression" and "Pleural Effusion"... two bad news words for a gal with Stage IV cancer.

As I mentioned last week, I was not expecting great news from my CT scan based on the fact that I have been having increased symptoms. The only bit of good (?) news this week is that I was correct!

In fact, my CT scan showed some new spots of cancer in my lungs. Although the drug was holding the existing spots at bay, and no new areas have been affected, this is still NOT GOOD ENOUGH, and a treatment change is in order.

I will begin a new regime tomorrow, Myocet and Cyclophosphmaide. Myocet is an encaspulated version of Adriamycin, a very powerful drug I had way back in 2001. It is a tough chemo, but the encaspulated version is designed to stay in the body longer, and seek out cancer cells, leaving fewer 'normal" cells damaged. We will see. I expect a bit of a tough ride.

Pleural Effusion: fluid has now built up in the pleural cavity (which surrounds the lungs). This is not uncommon with advanced cancer in the lungs. Yesterday I had quite a bit of that fluid drained in a procedure called "thoracentesis". Unfortunately, my procedure did not go as planned, and they were unable to remove all of the fluid, which means I will likely have to have another one sometime soon.

So, it was quite a long, sad day yesterday. We have cancelled our mother daughter cruise which we were to take this weekend, and I will have a DIFFERENT kind of weekend ahead.

SO, that is the update, I wish I had better news to report. As always, we draw strength from the love, good wishes and prayers of our family and friends. The love and kindness shown to us really does help lift us back to our feet so that we can keep moving forward. Thanks you to all our wonderful supportive family and friends.

Joanne

A great photo from Montreal

Isn't this a great photo of my cousins and aunt? Peggy is the beautiful bride.

Lovely Montreal

I just returned from my cousin Peggy and Johnny's wedding in Montreal. And I am ashamed to say I do not have one picture to post, although I did have my handy and compact camera with me. Thank you to my brother Darryl who sent this amazing photo of one of the beautiful stained glass windows in the lovely Montreal Church where my cousin was married.

At any rate, it was a beautiful event, a beautiful couple, and I and my family rejoice with this latest marriage. It was especially gratifying for me to be able physically to attend the event. Although I missed some major action, belly dancing included, I feel lucky to have been present to share in the day and to see so many of my amazing family members.

For me, it is action week.... tomorrow (Wednesday) I have the CT scan that will determine how I am actually doing. Given my own assessment of my physical state, I am pretty sure that the best I can hope for will be a stable situation. I fear I am too symptomatic right now to enjoy any reduction in disease. However, the CT will tell the story, and I meet with my oncologist Monday to determine next steps.....

The reduced dosage of Xeloda has provided relief from pain in my feet, although the skin is cracked and peeling, I think it is improving. So that is a good thing! And, today was my last day of Cycle 6 of the drug, so the next week "off" chemo is a welcome thing too.

As the saying goes, I am "hanging in there".......

Cheers Joanne

ALthough I look bored and morose........

I actually was quite excited about this beautiful flowering plum tree in our front yard. It's exciting for us to be in a more developed yard, I am enjoying the squirrels and birds who also share our yard. However, we have considerable work to do, removing an overgrown elm tree, lifting up the deck, etc....etc..

Right now the major project is the driveway which does NOT look like the photo above...... it has been completely removed and the entire thing is being redone. Thanks to my dad (Jim Condon) he has lined up reliable contractors and is the chief superintendent of the project. If not for my dad we'd probably be living with the crappy temporary stuff for longer than we should, so we are VERY grateful. Our house will look stunning with it's new concrete!

Michelle was home this weekend and we had a quiet and lovely time.

For me, same old, same old.... Round 6 of Xeloda, the side effects do accumulate so I have more challenges than before. I also have a nasty cough which either lingers from my viral infection, or is the cancer raising it's ugly head again. I honestly cannot tell which it is, but my functional ability is quite limited at the moment.

However, as I may have mentioned, I live a life filled with love, and I have many loving family and friends who make it possible for me to enjoy every day as normally as possible. It makes me realize just how lucky I am, although I realize that is going to sound like a ridiculous idea, given my overall circumstances, but it is honestly what I feel.

So cheers to all and I hope you are enjoying spring, my favourite season! Joanne

Me in my sunroom

This is pretty much where I hang out these days.... we have a lovely sunroom, and recently added "real" (translated = comfortable) furniture to it, and it is pleasant and lovely. Ideal spot for reading or my current activity, needlework. I am still recovering from that darn virus and my activity level is very low. Staying in one spot quietly, helps me to easy breathing, so, the sunroom is a real "gift".

I see my doctor on Tuesday (May 22), so I will add the results after I have them. I expect no changes. I am not better or worse, so my guess is that I continue to be "stable".... but I will be scanned sometime soon to see what is really going on.

Medical Update: things appear stable. I continue on Xeloda at a reduced dosage, since I have developed Hand-Foot Syndrome, one of the common side effects of the drug. Next CT scan will be in about 3 weeks.

J

Woo Hoooooooooooo the "girls" are cruising

This was me within half an hour of boarding our Carribean cruise last December. And I am so lucky because I am going again in June!

Kelly and I got set on going on a "scrapbooking cruise" after we created Dad's birthday book, we got 'bitten' by the croppin' bug..... at any rate, we were all set to do a scrapbook cruise - with Mom, Karen Kelly and Joanne...... Sails from L.A. port and just 3 nights.... includes a day stop at Ensenata and cruising the rest of the time. Yippeee....

(OK, small detour, we couldn't make it on the scrapbooking cruise, but we are cruising anyway! We got a fantastic bargain on the fare, airfare, etc.... and we are GOOD TO GO.... Kelly is now the scrapbooking instructor, I am the cruise director, mom is the ultimate decision maker and queen poo-bah.... Karen will make sure we don't get arrested.... uh, Karen, of note in photo above, no glass bottles in the pool, could you keep control of your group, please!!!!

My health has been a bit of a disappointment, no change from last Monday. Side effects from Xeloda are accumulating, making some challenges.....

Anyway........ Get ready to cruise wity us!

Spring in Regina

The boys are ready for the football season!

Well, I am recovering from the viral infection although the cold part seems to be hanging on, which is yucky, but managable.

I saw my oncologist today, and things appear stable, and I continue with the same treatment, same dosage of Xeloda. I will be rescanned later in May to see if it is still working to keep me stable.

Cheers to all, and thanks for looking in on me!

A New Week Ahead

Well it was a tough week for me. A nasty viral infection certainly took hold and had me out for the count for several days. Likely it doesn't help that I continue to take my chemo, which also increases fatigue and general crapitis feeling.

I ended up on two antibiotics and the blasted fever continued on into Friday, causing me much angst, phone calls to cancer clinic, and some negotiating to save me an even more dreaded trip back to ER..... I should have gone Friday night, but in reality I could not face the Friday night crowd, so I packed up ready to go, then I stayed home, watched my temp, monitored myself and decided every hour what to do... and then near morning, the temperature just improved! Spent the rest of the weekend in bed, and finally today, I think I am on the mend!

So, this week is looking up! It's a new week, hence the spring like floral photo......And the good news? Well, despite tremendous amounts of hacking, coughing and nose blowing, I was able to breath relatively well.... So I think that is a good sign of things to come, at least that is my determination.

Cheers to all for a peaceful, virus free week. Wash your hands like maniacs, this last one hit all of us Schweitzers despite our OCD-like behaviors around the hand-washing.

Joanne

Detour - another blasted trip to ER

Well, a very slight setback. I developed a fever the other night, and when you are on chemo, a fever is never ignored.

The above picture, of course, is generous, the actual number of medical personnel I came into contact with after 6 hours was actually very scanty and they weren't smiling either. Actually, the lab and x-ray techs were very cheerful, the rest, not so.

So.... a lousy night was spent in ER, while they checked me up and down for infection, x-rays, blood tests, and blood cultures, urine tests, etc.... All my tests came back perfectly good, but since I obviously have picked up something, I am on anti-biotics as prevention. ER is a terrible place for cancer patients, because you are not exactly an emergency, you are a "Maybe" emergency, and immune suppressed at that, so in danger of picking up all the crap floating around the emergency room. But that is the system and so that is how it goes!

We've all had a nasty cold and cough.... and the combination of cough with my lung problems has been particularly nasty. But, hopefully it will improve soon, and I am thankful it was nothing serious. The coughing is interupting my sleep tonight (that's why I'm up and on here!), but otherwise I "feel" very well.

My good friend Janice is here visiting me fromWinnipeg, what a treat....

And, Mom and Dad arrive home from the USA tomorrow! It will be great to see them back at

"home"...

Monday Update

Seems like Monday might be a good day to try and update my blog and my "book of the week" (see link to the right of the page). I'll do my best..... that way you don't have to keep checking in....

So, on this Monday, well...... everyone in my house has been sick with quite a bad cold & cough.... Michelle and Craig too..... I seem to be spared the worst of it, but I do have a sore throat and a bit of congestion and extra cough (which sucks since that is also a symptom of my lung status, it plays with my mind).

Gord recovered quite well, but Brian has actually stayed home from school even after Easter Break, and is feeling really tough. So we are mostly laying low, watching movies and keeping it low key.

The U of M pair are in the midst of finals... I'm looking forward to seeing them when they are done!

That's it for now... Joanne

Scan results: Stable

Well, that's the word: no change since the last scan. Although it seems odd, this is a "good" news scenario, since at the very least, the Xeloda is working to keep the cancer from growing. Of course, "better" news would be for all the cancer to disappear, but that is a bit of a reach for just 3 cycles of a gentler chemo. I do still have some symptoms (cough, shortness of breath) so this result is more or less what I expected, and I am very grateful that the disease has been halted, at least for the moment. AND.. everything else (liver, bone etc...) remains clean.

So, my oncologist (Dr. Chal Chal) is very happy with both the results and with my improved functioning. And I am doing better on a daily basis, just doing the ordinary things of life. He is optimistic for continued improvement, and will rescan after 3 more cycles.

So, I continue with the same chemo, Xeloda, same dose.... I will likely have a bit of trouble with my feet, but we will keep the dosage as high as possible for as long as possible.

Thank you to everyone who keeps checking in on me and for your posts, too.... I feel like a very ordinary person, just doing what each of us would do in the same circumstance, so I feel that praise is unwarranted and I can't really imagine you are talking about me! But it is so nice to see your responses.....

So, for me it is a time of gratitude and patience. "Hope is patience with the lamp lit" - Tertullian.

Cheers - Joanne

Shopping fun

OK, this was a lovely, huge fitting room in Nordstrum Rack - designer section - where we learned about how some fitting rooms are nice and luxurious, unlike the dumpy variety we are usually in. Success all around, as all the girls (including Kelly) found a dress. The Sherlocks in particular will be stunning at upcoming weddings, graduations, etc...

And thank you to Loretta, who gave me a little shopping spree as a gift, what fun, and here is the proof that I really was in the store, and had a GREAT time choosing a gift. And yes, it was St. Patrick's Day, and we are nothing if not faithful to the wearing of the green.

This is my week off Xeloda, and I am quite sure that I am feeling better, people keep telling me I sound better, and I am certainly a little more active, which is very enjoyable for me. My feet have begun to hurt (as expected for the side effect called Hand-Foot Syndrome), but that will be managed with dosage, as long as the drug is working. That story will be told soon, as I have a CT scan on Thursday, and will know the results on Tuesday, April 10.

In the meantime, for Easter, Gord, Brian and I are headed to Minot, ND along with our friends, Anne, Chuck, Ryan and Chad. Michelle and Craig are unable to make it, but they were home this past weekend. Making a trip to North Dakota for Easter brings back many fond memories of all the years we did that as a family along with the Reidy family, so I will be happily thinking of that all weekend. Wonderful memories, I hope our kids have as much fun as we did back then, and the grown-ups hope to get a few hands of bridge in by the pool as well!

And of course, there is a Target in Minot, and who isn't happy just being in a Target store?

Happy Easter all... I will check in next week with the results of my CT scan.

Happy Birthday Mom and Dad

We celebrated Mom and Dad's birthday a day early, on St. Patrick's Day, since Darryl and I had flights home on the actual birthday! The photo shows two of my nieces, Laurel and Heather, and my dad and mom.....

Thanks to everyone who contributed to my dad's 70th birthday "book"... it turned out really great and I am pretty sure it will be treasured.

Darryl and I had a great (short) trip to Phoenix to be there for the birthdays.... Darryl flew through Calgary so I had assistance for the flights, and that was great, plus, he then had the pleasure of my company !!!

Medical updates: I am in the middle of Cycle 3 of Xeloda....... feeling about the same, still some cough and shortness of breath and I need a lot of sleep..........

Upcoming: CT scan April 5, results April 10, keep your fingers crossed because all in all this is a tolerable chemo regime, probably the most "easy" chemo I have been on....

"Week Off" Xeloda.....

It is warm and sunny in Regina, but NOT THIS NICE.... this was a photo from our Phoenix vacation last month...... the "boys" were enjoying the bumper boats....



Well, I have already completed two rounds of Xeloda, and although I definitely feel a bit crappy on the days I take the medication, it is very tolerable overall. And on this first day of my week "off" I am actually feeling quite spry for a change. I was even out for a few errands today after my bloodwork.



And it is great to be out right now in Regina, it is warm and melting everywhere, sunny and pleasant... likely temporary, but spring is in the air....

That's the update for this week, I'm hoping to continue to feel better.......

Joanne