Friends are Gifts

This week was my week off of chemo. On Tuesday, September 1st, we go back and see Dr. Marschke, the oncologist. I don't anticipate any big changes to the routine. I am still doing well, but continue to be on oxygen, which can be frustrating sometimes.

I was blessed with 2 visits from friends these past 2 weeks. A week ago Friday, Brenda came over and we had a nice visit over some pink lemonade. Suzanne came over on Wednesday this week. We had little single serving hagen-daz ice cream cups. It was quite a treat. I enjoyed visiting with both Brenda and Suzanne. I also got to catch up with my friend Cindi yesterday as she gave me a massage. No ice cream, but it was still a treat. It is awe inspiring when friends take time out of their busy schedule to call up or e-mail and say when can I come over. Friends are also those to pick up the phone to catch up or send a newsy e-mail on what is happening at work. It can be lonely sometimes, so I am grateful to everybody that can take that extra couple of minutes.

God Bless all of our friends. Have a peace filled week.
Michelle

No Chemo Last Week, Chemo This Week

So on August 11, my blood counts were too low to get chemotherapy. So they skipped it. This week they were better and I received chemotherapy yesterday. It is funny how not getting chemo can make you sad. I think I was worried about things growing if there was nothing in there to stop it. So I am glad I got chemo this week. I am still dragging around an oxygen tank. I am hoping to stop that soon. I got a massage today after not having one in a couple of months. It felt good. I am finding I am feeling a little low, though my mood is picking up. I know part of it is feeling bored and house-bound. The kids start school next week and then we will see how lonely it will be (or if we are all fighting over cars!).

Have a peaceful week.
Michelle

Good News - Tumors Shrinking

Bill and I were down in Denver on Thursday at the University of Colorado Health Center. I had my 5th ERCP to replace the stents in my bile duct. The doctors said that one of the tumors has resolved and so I am taking that to mean one of the tumors is gone and the others are a little smaller from April and they didn't put stents as high in the hepatic ducts. So good news. Praise God.

I had chemotherapy on Tuesday. It was weird being back there after missing the last 7 weeks. There was a new set of regulars. The nurses all recognized me. They gave me the lower dose of chemotherapy. I am feeling good. I am still on oxygen full time, but that is getting better also.

We got a diagnosis for Kelly this week. She had been dizzy since July 26th, the Sunday we got off of the cruise. She has been unable to really be on her feet. She has had to call into work the past few weeks. Thursday she went and saw someone at the Ear Nose and Throat doctor's office. She was diagnosed with maldebarq syndrome. Her brain never reset to say she was back on land. There isn't any medication to fix it. There is some physical therapy she can do to help reset her brain. So she has physical therapy appointments the next 6 weeks along with some exercises to do at home. The concern is she starts school in 2 weeks and needs to be able to go to class.

Have a great week.
Michelle

CA19-9 went up

On Friday Bill and I met with Dr. Marschke, the medical oncologist. The new plan is to try to continue the chemotherapy with a lower dose of the gemzar. Gemzar is what I was getting before the side effects showed up in June. The dose is going to be started much lower we will be watching for any symptoms. So far I have been scheduled for chemotherapy on August 4, 11 and 18th.

We had a great prayer circle last night. We celebrated a great vacation with coconut rum cake and chocolate rum cake. We also sang Happy Birthday to Bill. Chris and Kelly's 20th birthday was on Friday.

I will also be having an ERCP on Thursday to replace my stents. It has been 15 weeks since the last ERCP. They like to wait no longer than 12 weeks.

I got my CA19-9 results today. It has gone up to 97 from 57. I am sure this is from not having chemo for 7 weeks. So it is a good thing we are starting back with treatment. Please pray that this comes back down.

Have a good week.
Michelle