Wednesday, April 6th

Yesterday mom and I went to Walnut Creek to meet with my surgical gynecologic oncologist.  We had a great visit, she stayed with us for about an hour answering all of our questions and discussing the plan of care from here on out.  My exam was completely normal and everything has healed well from the surgery.  She is taking my neuropathy very serious and wants to delay chemo for 1-3 wks until the numbness has subsided some.  She says it can take a year for the neuropathy to subside, and whatever severity of neuropathy I have at the year mark will then be considered permanent. 
The plan will be to do the last round of chemo in a few weeks. About a month after that I can have the intraperitoneal port removed.  I will also then have a CT scan which will serve as my new baseline and will show them what my normal is so they have something to compare it to all the future CT's.  I will have a pelvic exam and lab work every 3 months for the next two years.  If anything appears either through blood work, exam, or symptoms then I will have either a CT or PET scan.  For those of you who don't know, all of this future work-up is done because my type of cancer has a very high re-occurrence rate.  I don't intend to have cancer again but I will follow their plan of care to ensure all is well. 
After the appointment we met Don and Becky for lunch.  Thank you so much Don and Becky, it was wonderful to see you.  On the drive home we also stopped by Jules Veterinary Office to pick up a Rx for Oliver and I got to visit with Kecia for a bit.  So all in all I had a very good day and was ready to crash once home.  Dr. Chen says the fatigue will take about a year after chemo to recover from. 
I have another appointment with MerriAnn (the energy healer) and Sandy (neuro reflex therapist) tomorrow.  I will continue to use my alternative methods in addition to the western medicine to help my healing journey.
I hope all is well with all of you.  I love to receive posts or emails from you so keep them coming.
Love and Happiness to you all,
Denise

Saturday, April 2, 2011

Round 5 is officially over and the first day I felt somewhat ok again we headed for the ocean/beach.  The weather has been so beautiful and I enjoy the sunshine on my walks but the ocean has been calling for me since the beginning of this journey.  Yesterday proved to be the day it was finally coming to fruition.  Mom, Dad, Oliver and I loaded up the car and headed for Half Moon Bay.  We found a nice little cove and set up camp.  Oliver had a blast running up and down the beach.  He wasn't much of a socialite with the other doggies but stayed focused on what I was doing and protecting me.  It was the perfect day to be there with large waves to be mesmerized by and just the right temperature to feel toasting but not too warm. 
I meet with my Gyn Oncologist (the surgeon) on Tuesday.  Lots of questions for her since I haven't seen her since the few weeks after my surgery.  We will also likely set up the referral to have the surgical procedure to remove my Intraperitoneal port a month or so after my final round of chemo.  There is a lot online about maintenance chemotherapy which is monthly chemo (often at a lower dose) that continues after the original 6 rounds.  My general oncologist wasn't able to tell me if that is something I need, he simply said it depended on my pathology.  So I'm hoping to get the final answer about that from the Gyn Onc.  I truly feel that I no longer have any cancer so hope the 6 should be it.  I'm also going to propose the dose be lowered AGAIN because the neuropathy continues to persist with no relief.  I'm now seeing a Neuro Reflex Therapist who does hour long sessions on either my feet or hands to try to "wake up" the nerves again.  The therapy can be quite painful but worth it if I can get relief.  She said I probably won't feel any relief until I've had 4-5 sessions.  I had one earlier in the week and I have one again later today. 
Thank you everyone for your continued support
Denise

Round 5, Post Chemo Day 2 and Hanging in there

I am happy to say that I have been out of bed all day.  Even went for a descent walk, not as long as usual but still a considerable distance.  My symptoms are present but too a much lesser degree.  Nausea is just knocking on the back door and being well controlled with meds.  The bowels are not normal but they are at least moving ever so slowing.  The debilitating bone aches is just making me feel a bit weak and shaky but no horrific pain.  I definitely have an overall fatigue, but that can be cured with a nap.  (And who doesn't want a nap from time to time?)  I can contribute the improvement in symptoms to several factors: 1) I really tried to work on my attitude this time around, 2) homeopathic supplements suggested by MerriAnn to help with symptoms I had complained about in the past, and 3) my oncologist made a decision to lower my Taxol dose due to the significant neuropathy I've been experiencing since day 1 of Round 1.  There is a chance that it is not reversible so he decided to lower the chemo dose.  Personally, I think it should have been lowered on the last round but am happy we are on the same page now with this round.  I am thinking very positive that the next few days will stay consistent with today and or even improve.  Keep the good thoughts coming. Thank you, Denise

READYING FOR ROUND 5

I bought this Rocky movie banner some time ago at a theater in Stockton who was getting rid of their banners they used to promote certain movies.  I bought it as an inspiration of my athletic challenges I take on such as the marathons and the triathlon.  Little did I know that it would help to inspire me to get through and complete chemotherapy.  After the last round I remembered I had the banner and told Mom I wanted to hang it up.  It has led to a complete reorganization of my room over the past few weeks.  The banner is now hanging as you can see and I am preparing to face Round 5 of chemo.  As I've mentioned before I am ready to be an anomaly of chemo and have a better and better experience with each round rather than the reverse.  This last round WAS better, although, still quite the challenge, but once I bounced back my energy continued to improve the past week or so.  I haven't needed to take a nap since the week following chemo.  I am stocked with more herbs that MerriAnn has recommended to help with the symptoms and I have the meditations to listen to while the chemo is being infused and a positive attitude again that things will be better.  I have my pre-chemo appointment and lab work tomorrow with my oncologist, chemo all day on Wednesday, and a post recovery appointment with MerriAnn on Thursday.  Please keep sending the strong will and positive thoughts my way. THANK YOU ALWAYS FOR YOUR SUPPORT!

Saturday, March 12, 2011

Improving each day. Continued cramping and bowel issues and started some new herbs recommended by my energy healer/nutritionist to help with this.

Yesterday, Friday, I visited my workplace and visited with staff.  It was great to see everyone and get re-connected.

During the next week or so I'm open for healthy visitors or anyone who would like to join Oliver and myself for a walk through the vineyards and orchards.  (Bring shoes that you don't mind getting dirty.)  Visitors via phone are also welcome.

Enjoying the sunshine, Denise

Finally feeling better post Round 4

Well Round 4 wasn't as bad as the last round but still was plenty miserable and bed confining.  The bowel issues continue to be the most threatening of symptoms.  Add to that the hours and days of intestinal cramping the worsening neuropathy, aching bones and nausea/vomiting and I just don't have much drive or desire to willingly go through this two more times.  It simply amazes me how much torture the medical community can dish out and still consider it "treatment" and convince a person it is what they need to survive, when all along all it feels like their doing is killing you.  I hate to sound so negative but I'm writing on my first good day in the past week so my attitude is still in the process of being adjusted upwards.  Oliver is very good medicine for that, as always.
My mom is also adding the one picture of me in my wig to the post today.  It was taken when we visited Darla in Monterey and went to the Aquarium.  We will also attempt a walk today, which I haven't been able to muster the past couple of days.
Thank you to everyone for your support; I promise there will a more upbeat post to come in the next few days.
Denise

Friday, March 4, 2011

The latest photo addition is one of three areas where Denise has posted some of the wonderful cards she has received.

Yesterday, the Infusion Center injected a blood thinner into her shoulder port.  After allowing two  hours to process, the port was successfully cleared of any clots and is now fully operational.  A big yeh! for this.  If the port didn't clear then another radiology surgical procedure would be scheduled.

Denise has been strong and doing well with Wednesday's chemo therapy.  The constipation caused by the chemo has kicked in and causing sleepless nights and abdominal discomfort.

The beautiful weather has been great for walking and lifting the spirits.