Cycle Nine, Day One, Treatment One

I had an appointment with Dr L (not my regular fellow) for my monthly check up. Got back my test results, everything's staying the same, nothing new, but the *old* stuff is still there. The Dr said that he could still feel the lump under my arm (that one has been a constant for everyone), but could not find the one in my breast. He said that the lab results look good!

It was just Amber, Sarah and I today at the clinic. Mack had to go up to Yakima, WA and take care of a rental problem that we had up there. Roxanne was up at Oregon Health Science Hospital, as her Brother-in-law Mike, got flown up from Roseburg, OR, last night due to low (as in zip) platelet count and he was having major problems with his heart not beating properly, so he was in ICU up there. She was torn about where she should be this morning. I told her to go, as Mike was all alone as his wife had to drive up, and chose to drive up in the daylight hours. Please send healing thoughts/vibes/prayers their way. They’ve been thru a lot.

Other than that everything is the same around here. Keep-er and I continue to walk on the treadmill 2-3 times a day.

We’ve done a little Obedience and Rally Obedience training in the basement, as it’s too cold, blowy, rainy or snowy to be outdoors.

Cycle Eight, Day Twenty-Two, NO Treatment Rest Week

Research nurse called with Lab results—said that they are looking good!! She was going to check on my scan results and call me back. (She never did call back)

Not much to report this week. Not a whole lot going on here. I'm just hanging in there, taking it one day at a time. Keep-er and I continue to walk at least a couple of times a day on the treadmill for about 30 min at time doing 2.0 miles per hour pace.

Cycle Eight, Day Fifteen, Treatment Three

Keep-er and I both have been walking on the treadmill together----she joins me now on her own. We’ve also done a couple of outdoor walks this week as the weather has been dry, crisp and cool enough for it.

Amber, Mack and Roxanne were there with me this week, so I had some company and I requested a TV again.

Along about Tuesday the research nurse called and said that the Sponsor of the study now requires a MUGA test (The MUGA scan (MUltiple Gated Acquisition scan) is a noninvasive test that produces a moving image of the heart. From this image, the health of the heart’s major pumping chamber (the left ventricle) can be assessed.) So she scheduled for today Friday 16 January 2009 @ 3:00 PM. When I checked in to get my dye injection for the Bone Scan they said ummmmm we have a problem we cannot do both test today, as the two dyes are NOT compatible with each other. So you have a choice, we can do one or the other today. However if you choose NOT to have the Bone scan it cannot be done next week was we are OUT of dye and cannot get any by then. We can schedule the MUGA for next week no problem----I said not much of a choice really –we do the bone scan today. MUGA test rescheduled for Monday 19 January 2009 @ 8:00 AM before I start drinking the prep for the CT scan, so that stuff won’t interfere with it either.

I won’t get the results for two weeks when I see the DR next.

Veins playing hard to get today----took two tries to get the IV started. First one (in the back of the hand, by the pinky) hurt like @#$#$ as she put it thru the vein causing a big welt and bruising. The second one (in the wrist by thumb) hurt a little as it went in but then was ok once she got it hooked up to the IV and running.

So that’s my report/gripe session for this week. Other than that things are pretty much the same.

Now aren’t you sorry you asked?

Cycle Eight, Day Eight, Treatment Two

Another boring post--but if I don't post something you all get worried **grin**

I appreciate all the good thoughts, healing vibes, prayers, whatever else you are sending my way to keep it boring so I can at least let you know that I'm still here and still boringly good? **smile**

In spite of food tasting blah my appetite is still good, I'm walking on my treadmill at least an hour a day. some times I get Keep-er to walk with me some times she actually walks on it by her self. (Sarah was leaning on the console, straddling the belt, talking to me and Keep-er got up there to see what she was doing, so Sarah turned in on and Keep-er just walked like it was normal thing---lasted a couple of min. then she tried just the front feet on the treadmill then just the back feet. she's much more imaginative than I am about how to walk on the thing.)

Now for some more boring GOOD news!!!! :-)

My counts are all normal today

The blood counts are looking good!!!!

Dr. Mark

Cycle Eight, Day One, Treatment One

Happy New Year every one Sent from my Daughter up at Ski Bowl on Mt Hood

Today was a very long confusing day----they are playing catch-up from last week *snow days off work* and trying to stay on top of this week’s regularly scheduled appointments. We got there at 11:00 AM a half hour early for my 11:30 AM appointment; they checked me in as usual. ONLY thing is they forgot to tell the Dr's nurse that I was there! An hour and half later they took me back (only hour late from scheduled appointment).
After I got done with him I had to chat with the research people, then they were on hold for 45 min trying to get my research drug approved for release so the pharmacy could fill my RX.but she got it. So I’m BACK on the Study Drug after being off of it for 5-6 days….By then it was lunch hour and the infusion room was short staffed, I finally got called back for my two hours of Chemo. The Chemo drug got hung at 2:57 PM.
Of course NOW the rest of my schedule is all messed up . Other than that life goes on as usual.