January 31, 2012
Chemo Again
I had chemo last Friday. One of these days I’ll have to total up the number of time that I have had chemo. I think it is pushing 40.
This time I had part of the Doxil that was allotted to me. Doxil is the main Ovarian Cancer drug that is experiencing a shortage. I started on Doxil last May or June and had a very good response to this drug. I also had level 4 side effects due to the toxicity of the drug. Because of the toxicity I went off of the drug for a few months; this was when the national Doxil shortage became apparent to the medical community. My doctor immediately put me on the Doxil waiting list and that was the last we heard from Doxil. When I had my 3rd recurrence this Fall, I went back on a drug that I have had in the past with success — not great success, but acceptable success in fighting my cancer.
When I went in for Chemo the end of December, there was a surprise for everyone at the clinic….. Doxil had sent a dose of the life saving drug for me. With my name on it. No one else could have this dose of Doxil…. it literally had my name on it and no one elses!!! This was the first Doxil that my cancer clinic had seen since the summer… and I was to be the lucky recipient! The drug was shipped in two vials, one considerably larger than the other with the total dose being what I received during the summer months with good results. It is unknown when Doxil will be back in production in the United States. So… in an effort to make it last and not knowing if I would receive another life-saving dose, and in an effort to reduce the side effects, my doctor and I decided to only give me the large vial of Doxil. That way if no more is received, then I can at least have a ‘smidgen’ of the drug next month if no more comes in for me.
I have heard reports that Doxil is available in Canada and also in Europe. With my travel benefits, either one of those might be a definite possibility. I think I’ll do some advance research with my doctor and see just what the procedure would be if I do want to go to another country for this drug.
Meanwhile, you can pray that I have no ill side-effects and that I will also be ‘gifted’ another dose of Doxil right here at home. Because to receive this lifesaving drug is truly a gift to me.
January 24, 2012
Afghans
One of my minor goals is to make an afghan for each of the people I love. I made one for my adorable grandson last year and it is getting well used! When my Sweet Adorable Granddaughter came along, I started one for her, but had to quit working on it during the summer because of the side effects from my chemo drug, Doxil.
Well, I finally finished my grand-daughter’s afghan and today was delivery day! Hers is a soft green and all one color with the pattern of ‘bobbles and crosses’. The bobbles are like little puffs and are so girly that I made the edging out of them. It is a little bit bigger than a crib, so it will be the perfect size for a little girl to snuggle up into. She is only 9 months old now.
But the best part was the delivery! I carefully folded it up and wrapped it up in some brightly colored paper and tied it with a pretty purple bow. I set in front of her while she was in her highchair. She knew it was for her! She gave me the sweetest look as if to say, “For Me? Wow! This is fun!” Then she reached right away for the purple ribbon and started to pull it (I have brilliant grandchildren!) as though she opens presents everyday! Well, she did need a little help as her 4-year-old Brother remarked…. “I think she needs some help.”
And with that, the ribbon was off the package!
Next came the best part. The paper! I made a little tear in a corner to ‘start’ it for her and she had so much fun ripping it to shreds and tasting it and throwing it on the floor! And then she saw the afghan…. She looked up at me and gave me the biggest, sweetest smile as if to say “Thank You, Nonni! I love it!” That made the 6 inches I had to rip out and redo worth every extra stitch.
There is no medicine so wonderful as the seeing the face of your grandchild smile up at you!
January 23, 2012
Chinese New Year
Tonight, Jan 23, 2012 is the beginning of the Chinese New Year. Midnight will usher in the Year of the Dragon; it is a celebration that lasts for 15 days culminating with the Lantern Festival. Maybe we should all go out for Chinese food!!!!
January 17, 2012
Procrastination to the Nth degree!
OK, today I am feeling a little bit better. I have forced myself to take sweet Mercedes out for a walk every day. Not necessarily a long walk by others standards, but long by ours. We usually walk for about 5 -8 minutes on a good day. So I have thoughtfully tried to bump that up to at least 15 minutes a day with a couples of extra smaller walks thrown in.
I still have low energy, and would just like to hibernate, it is the middle of January — so I am acting like a lazy bear. Even though there are several good movies out now, I don’t even want to get dressed and go to the movie! I need to get a pedicure before my next chemo, so I actually called the salon today, but wasn’t ready to make an appointment. Maybe tomorrow! There’s always tomorrow. I guess my mantra right now is “Don’t do today what you can put off til tomorrow!” Yep, that’s exactly how I am feeling! Do it some other time.
January 16, 2012
Reductive
Well, the reporter did as well as Portland Firefly :
Reductive:
| 1. | the act or process or an instance of reducing |
| 2. | the state or condition of being reduced |
| 3. | the amount by which something is reduced |
| 4. | a form of an original resulting from a reducing process, such as a copy on a smaller scale |
| 5. | a simplified form, such as an orchestral score arranged for piano |
| 6. | maths |
| a.the process of converting a fraction into its decimal form | |
| b.the process of dividing out the common factors in the numerator and denominator of a fraction; cancellation | |
January 15, 2012
Hi!
I cannot believe that is has been such a long time since I posted. I am doing fine… I tolerated the carboplatin chemo just fine with minimal side effects. I now am suffering through a period of depression that I am having trouble shaking. Oh, I continue to do a few things and to get out of the house now and then, but I would really just rather lie around in my jammies all day and crochet or watch TV or both. Oh, and spending endless, mindless hours on stupid computer games…
I’ll get through this… it’s just a phase, but there it is and I am owning up to it!
