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