Sunday, May 30, 2010
And We Wait....and wait....and wait
Ahhhhh the waiting game is most difficult. I have been off chemotherapy now for nearly 6 weeks and await my surgeons to get there acts together to set a date for surgery. One must be off chemo only 4 weeks to be ready for surgery yet they drag their medical feet....ugh. It would appear that one of the surgeon's vacation takes priority, now we are looking at June 29th,as yet unconfirmed, to get going. This all makes me feel vunerable, being without chemo protection for so long. Is the cancer growing during this period, is it looking for a new blood supply? I hope and pray not. It will be a tad more than nine weeks of no chemo by the time we do this and my conversation to the surgeons will be this...if you get in there and find the cancer has spread because you needed to go lay on a beach somewhere, don't bother waking me up as I will no doubt hurt you to the extent I will be getting to know our infamous sheriff up close and personal! So we wait..... I hate waiting....another test of only seeking Positive Pursuits.... I am trying.
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Upcoming Sugery
Okay, there is no doubt I was thrilled to hear I could be a surgical candidate for resection of the liver and colon tumor removal... the only way to obtain a cure. We met with the liver surgeon already...he was optimistic. Met with the colon surgeon today and while optimistic, he is more of a realist and really spelled out what will happen. This is not a laproscopic surgery but full blown...the liver surgeon will asses his ability to remove ALL remaining tumors, however small. If he can get them all out and save sufficient liver for me to live, he will do so and then the colon surgeon will remove the tumor and the preceeding section of the transverse colon and any lymph nodes in the area, reconnect the colon and then we have more chemo (6 months) then reassess to see if I am clean of cancer activity. But, if the liver surgeon cannot get all the tumors, then I return to chemotherapy for pallative care (keeps me alive as long as possible) and the colon will not undergo surgery. Though not said, basically, why do surgery on the colon if I am going to die anyway....(unsuccessful liver resection). OK and with surgery there are risks of course of not healing, leakage, infection and on and on and on....and the odds of cure via surgery are at 50%. Good grief, even the good news is shakey. In the end after all is said, information is sorted and risks assessed, I have two choices: pallative care without surgery which will end in death albeit they may keep me alive for some years.... or take the risk of cure at 50% with all the risks that go with surgery... It is a no brainer for me...I will take the risk and will enter this process or eventually leave this world with nothing less than Positive Pursuits. I still believe that all those prayers out there about my condition are helping me get through this. Please, keep me in your prayers a little longer. Thanks.
Friday, May 7, 2010
Good News Keeps Coming
Yesterday was chemo day....and I got the news... no more chemo as surgery is coming! While no one is usually thrilled about surgery, I am. It is rare for a stage IV cancer patient to be eligible for surgery in only three months or so, but here I am. Tumors on the liver which were many to begin with are no longer visible on the PET scan. That does not mean they are gone as chemo does not cure, it only shrinks tumors to the point they may be surgically removed. It is surgery that cures............. so we apparantly have tumors so small they are no longer visible which means surgery can happen. One can remove up to 50 to 55% of the liver and function normally with the liver then able to regenerate over time. So, it looks good. I cannot have chemo during the next three to four weeks in order for my body to get strong enough to sail through surgery, so yippee.... no chemo for awhile. Now, I eat healthy and try to incorporate some cardio exercise into the plan so I can be poison free, have healthy cells and can breathe better. I can only marvel at this miracle...it is funny, I have always believed in miracles and yet now that I have received one, not quite sure how to act....I wondered if this was really true? Well, all medical providers confirm it is so here we go. Wish me luck! I will need 12 more sessions of chemo after surgery, then.......... maybe, just maybe we can lick this thing. In the meantime, check your water bottles to be sure they are a #1 recycled material, eat Mediteranean (more vegets, protein etc and whole grains and organic if possible) eliminate refined sugars please and limit or get rid of your stress to eliminate internal inflamation which sets the stage for cancer to do its dirty work! Stay healthy, be happy and seek only Positive Pursuits.
Thursday, April 29, 2010
MIRACLES DO HAPPEN..THE GOOD NEWS
Okay, now the good news, I know you like to read the good news sooooo here you go!
If you never truly believed in miracles, heads up I believe I have been blessed. You all know I am stage four Colon Cancer…it is the stage where options rarely exist and chemotherapy does not cure, it simply keeps you alive longer or shrinks tumors to the point where surgery is an option, and it is surgery that cures. Today I met with a Liver surgeon at the request of my oncologist who told me that my recent PET scan (which highlights cancer cells at the origin of the tumor, at the area metastasized and any other areas infected) showed significant response to chemotherapy that I needed a liver surgeon on the team. OK for me that was good news as it meant we were doing well and at some point in the future, I may eliminate enough tumors to qualify me for resection of the liver…cut out the remaining shrunken tumors and let my liver grow back healthy. So, I meet with the liver surgeon and say," does my scan show that I may become eligible for surgery? " (Please note, that for stage four this is closely related to being part of the 20% who recover). His response was, your PET scan was so good, that you are a candidate now…. The he showed me the scan. The tumors on the liver (at least 15 plus) originally lit up like the fourth of July on the first scan done before chemotherapy. The second scan done a couple weeks ago, no sign of fireworks…nothing… no tumors are lighting up at all! Are they miraculously gone? Perhaps they are gone or maybe so small now they are not showing up on the scan. In any event, I am now a candidate for liver surgery (which also includes some colon surgery to remove what is left of the original tumor) and my chances are really good? This just does not happen so quick in stage four………….so MIRACLES DO OCCUR and I cannot humbly believe I am worthy but will not argue the Will of my Lord God and Savior, my friends and family who have sent prayers constantly, and to research tools which have taught me, I can participate in the healing process. Now we meet new doctors, schedule this event which will take place at Good Sam Hosp. and I will need to get off chemo for four weeks prior to eliminate the poison, improve my cardio health and diet in preparation. When chemo ends will be up to my oncologist, so we shall see. There is a plan B if we have a fluke and the liver surgeon cannot get all the tumors (if any) left without compromising my health (a certain amount of liver must remain intact to live and grow back) but we will discuss that later if we need to. When I started this blog, I initially said I fully intend to be part of that 20% who recover and we are now on that new path. Thank you all for your prayers, your emails of concern, your thoughts and well wishes for you are one of the healing tools I needed and I am, no matter the outcome, eternally grateful for my family, my friends, my doctors, my ability to stay focused and informed and for my spiritual Healer who holds my life in his hands. Here we go….stay tuned for indeed, miracles can happen. Stay healthy, stay happy and seek only Positive Pursuits.
If you never truly believed in miracles, heads up I believe I have been blessed. You all know I am stage four Colon Cancer…it is the stage where options rarely exist and chemotherapy does not cure, it simply keeps you alive longer or shrinks tumors to the point where surgery is an option, and it is surgery that cures. Today I met with a Liver surgeon at the request of my oncologist who told me that my recent PET scan (which highlights cancer cells at the origin of the tumor, at the area metastasized and any other areas infected) showed significant response to chemotherapy that I needed a liver surgeon on the team. OK for me that was good news as it meant we were doing well and at some point in the future, I may eliminate enough tumors to qualify me for resection of the liver…cut out the remaining shrunken tumors and let my liver grow back healthy. So, I meet with the liver surgeon and say," does my scan show that I may become eligible for surgery? " (Please note, that for stage four this is closely related to being part of the 20% who recover). His response was, your PET scan was so good, that you are a candidate now…. The he showed me the scan. The tumors on the liver (at least 15 plus) originally lit up like the fourth of July on the first scan done before chemotherapy. The second scan done a couple weeks ago, no sign of fireworks…nothing… no tumors are lighting up at all! Are they miraculously gone? Perhaps they are gone or maybe so small now they are not showing up on the scan. In any event, I am now a candidate for liver surgery (which also includes some colon surgery to remove what is left of the original tumor) and my chances are really good? This just does not happen so quick in stage four………….so MIRACLES DO OCCUR and I cannot humbly believe I am worthy but will not argue the Will of my Lord God and Savior, my friends and family who have sent prayers constantly, and to research tools which have taught me, I can participate in the healing process. Now we meet new doctors, schedule this event which will take place at Good Sam Hosp. and I will need to get off chemo for four weeks prior to eliminate the poison, improve my cardio health and diet in preparation. When chemo ends will be up to my oncologist, so we shall see. There is a plan B if we have a fluke and the liver surgeon cannot get all the tumors (if any) left without compromising my health (a certain amount of liver must remain intact to live and grow back) but we will discuss that later if we need to. When I started this blog, I initially said I fully intend to be part of that 20% who recover and we are now on that new path. Thank you all for your prayers, your emails of concern, your thoughts and well wishes for you are one of the healing tools I needed and I am, no matter the outcome, eternally grateful for my family, my friends, my doctors, my ability to stay focused and informed and for my spiritual Healer who holds my life in his hands. Here we go….stay tuned for indeed, miracles can happen. Stay healthy, stay happy and seek only Positive Pursuits.
Dark Days Extended
Sometimes I do not blog for awhile because my dark days have taken over my life and this past week I really got hit hard. It is hard to imagine sleeping for 16 hours a day, three days in a row, rising only to use facilities and attempt to eat but that is my body’s way of escaping the misery. My poor husband, keeps life afloat while I am in lala land and patiently lets me know what day it is when I rise from the cocoon state. I have now lost my ability to taste anything that is not extremely acidic, so I am not taking in protein which is not a good thing. It would be okay if I could taste nothing, I would then eat anyway just to stay relatively healthy but my taste has contorted my buds so such food tastes like a cardboard box or metal and after awhile your body revolts and refused to eat. So, needless to say I lost 8 pounds last week and that is not good. So, I am looking for information about protein powders to try to supplement my diet right now. I can afford weight loss, although to date I have lost 40 pounds since I was working and I need to keep my cardio working and muscle mass intact. Let me know if you have any advice I can run across my chemo nurses for approval.
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Link to Symposium by Dr. David Servan-Schrieber FIND THE TIME/LISTEN
THIS IS A AN ABSOLUTE ASTOUNDING LECTURE BY A SCIENTIST M.D., AND PH.D FROM CALIFORNIA, DR. SERVAN SCHREIBER, SPEAKING AT THE U. OF PITTSBURGH MEDICAL SCHOOL BASED ON RESEARCH WITH SIGNIFICANT NUMBERS OF STUDY PARTICIPANTS REGARDING THE CAUSES AND TREATMENT FOR CANCER.
THE TITLE OF HIS LECTURE IS "ROLE OF BODY'S DEFENSE FOR CANCER TREATMENT AND PREVENTION. "HE SHOWS THE HISTORY OF THE EVOLUTION OF OUR DIET AND OUR LIFESTYLE CHANGES FOR THE PAST 4000 YEARS AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, SINCE ABOUT 1945.
HE PRESENTS THE 6 MAIN "HEALTHBUSTERS" THEN HE SHOWS THE VARIOUS "HEALTHBOOSTERS" SO IMPORTANT IN BOTH "PREVENTING CANCER" AS WELL AS "TREATING CANCER." HE PRESENTS AN "ANTI-CANCER" PLATE OF FOOD SHOWING WHAT IT CONSISTS OF AND LOOKS LIKE!
HE HIMSELF IS A SURVIVOR OF A BRAIN TUMOR.
THIS TIME WILL GO FAST BECAUSE THE INFORMATION IS SO INFORMATIVE, INTERESTING AND HUGELY INSTRUCTIVE. I THINK YOU WILL BE GLAD YOU DID!!!
EVERYONE COULD BENEFIT . . . . THOSE WITH CANCER AND THOSE WHERE IT HAS NOT YET BEEN DIAGOSED. WITH DIET AND LIFESTYLE CHANGES HE RECOMMENDS.
HE PRESENTS A 68 % REDUCTION IN MORTALITY!!! FOR EXAMPLE, WHEREAS OUR CURRENT DIETS ARE 80 PERCENT ANIMAL PROTEIN, IT SHOULD BE 80% VEGETARIAN AND PLANT-BASED!
STRIKING ALSO IS THE POWERFUL AND MEANINGFUL SUPPORT PERSONS/GROUPS FOR CANCER SURVIVERS!
AT THE END, THERE IS A 5 MINUTE TRAILER BY DR. SCHREIBER WHICH IS ALSO INTERESTING AND INSTRUCTIVE AS HE DISCUSSES THE SOLUTION TO THE "CANCER EPIDEMIC" WHICH IS LIFESTYLE (DIET AND EXERCISE) AND IS SO OFTEN REVERSIBLE. SUGAR FEEDS CANCER GROWTH.
YES, I KNOW HOW IMPORTANT TIME IS AND . . . MY FIRST INCLINATION WAS . . . "I JUST DO NOT HAVE TIME TO TAKE 58 MINUTES TO VIEW/LISTEN TO THIS" . . . BUT SINCE WE ALL HAVE CANCER CELLS AND FULLY ONE-FOURTH OF US WILL DIE SUFFER AND DIE FROM CANCER, I JUST FORCED MYSELF TO TAKE THE TIME TO TO VIEW THIS AND TAKE NOTES. PLEASE DO THIS FOR YOU, NOT FOR ME.
RECOMMENDATION: IF YOU KNOW ANYONE WITH CONCERNS ABOUT CANCER, FORWARD THIS TO THEM AND URGENTLY REQUEST THAT THEY LISTEN TO THIS LECTURE. THEN, EVERYONE ELSE YOU KNOW NEEDS TO KNOW FOR PREVENTION AND BUILDING UP THE IMMUNE SYSTEM! I BELIEVE THEY WILL THANK YOU FOR THIS "HEADS UP!" (CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XaDt3AJQ98c
PREVENTION IS A GREAT, GREAT WORD! TAKE THE TIME, YOUR LIFE IS WORTH IT!
THE TITLE OF HIS LECTURE IS "ROLE OF BODY'S DEFENSE FOR CANCER TREATMENT AND PREVENTION. "HE SHOWS THE HISTORY OF THE EVOLUTION OF OUR DIET AND OUR LIFESTYLE CHANGES FOR THE PAST 4000 YEARS AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, SINCE ABOUT 1945.
HE PRESENTS THE 6 MAIN "HEALTHBUSTERS" THEN HE SHOWS THE VARIOUS "HEALTHBOOSTERS" SO IMPORTANT IN BOTH "PREVENTING CANCER" AS WELL AS "TREATING CANCER." HE PRESENTS AN "ANTI-CANCER" PLATE OF FOOD SHOWING WHAT IT CONSISTS OF AND LOOKS LIKE!
HE HIMSELF IS A SURVIVOR OF A BRAIN TUMOR.
THIS TIME WILL GO FAST BECAUSE THE INFORMATION IS SO INFORMATIVE, INTERESTING AND HUGELY INSTRUCTIVE. I THINK YOU WILL BE GLAD YOU DID!!!
EVERYONE COULD BENEFIT . . . . THOSE WITH CANCER AND THOSE WHERE IT HAS NOT YET BEEN DIAGOSED. WITH DIET AND LIFESTYLE CHANGES HE RECOMMENDS.
HE PRESENTS A 68 % REDUCTION IN MORTALITY!!! FOR EXAMPLE, WHEREAS OUR CURRENT DIETS ARE 80 PERCENT ANIMAL PROTEIN, IT SHOULD BE 80% VEGETARIAN AND PLANT-BASED!
STRIKING ALSO IS THE POWERFUL AND MEANINGFUL SUPPORT PERSONS/GROUPS FOR CANCER SURVIVERS!
AT THE END, THERE IS A 5 MINUTE TRAILER BY DR. SCHREIBER WHICH IS ALSO INTERESTING AND INSTRUCTIVE AS HE DISCUSSES THE SOLUTION TO THE "CANCER EPIDEMIC" WHICH IS LIFESTYLE (DIET AND EXERCISE) AND IS SO OFTEN REVERSIBLE. SUGAR FEEDS CANCER GROWTH.
YES, I KNOW HOW IMPORTANT TIME IS AND . . . MY FIRST INCLINATION WAS . . . "I JUST DO NOT HAVE TIME TO TAKE 58 MINUTES TO VIEW/LISTEN TO THIS" . . . BUT SINCE WE ALL HAVE CANCER CELLS AND FULLY ONE-FOURTH OF US WILL DIE SUFFER AND DIE FROM CANCER, I JUST FORCED MYSELF TO TAKE THE TIME TO TO VIEW THIS AND TAKE NOTES. PLEASE DO THIS FOR YOU, NOT FOR ME.
RECOMMENDATION: IF YOU KNOW ANYONE WITH CONCERNS ABOUT CANCER, FORWARD THIS TO THEM AND URGENTLY REQUEST THAT THEY LISTEN TO THIS LECTURE. THEN, EVERYONE ELSE YOU KNOW NEEDS TO KNOW FOR PREVENTION AND BUILDING UP THE IMMUNE SYSTEM! I BELIEVE THEY WILL THANK YOU FOR THIS "HEADS UP!" (CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XaDt3AJQ98c
PREVENTION IS A GREAT, GREAT WORD! TAKE THE TIME, YOUR LIFE IS WORTH IT!
Saturday, April 24, 2010
Glitches
I have learned that a diagnosis of cancer gives one an increased and everlasting ability to deal with glitches. This week chemotherapy would not work...as my implanted pump would not work. So after several hours of trying alternative positions to relocate the tube that runs to my artery, I was dispatched to Mercy Gilbert Hospital for a dye test to see what the problem was. And, after a three hour wait, I had the ten minute test completed. It showed no repositioning, and no kinks and while lying flat, the hospital staff could get a drip to go in but no blood to come out. So off the chemotherapy the next day (Friday) only to find that no position would get it to work. The resolve, I got hooked up to two mechnical pumping devices to get all my weed killer in, yet another 5 hour day and carried home a portable mechanical pump to keep the stuff running until Sunday. I also brought home a medicine/chemical that now resides in my fridge to be administered Sunday by the home health nurse. With luck.... the problem could be that my body does not like a foreign object inside of me so created a sheath around the tube to protect me. Problem is, I do not need the protection so the chemical injection on Sunday, into my port pump, should dissolve the sheath created by my body. If not, I will need outpatient surgery again to go in and fix the darn thing. So............we are being creative in resolving the issue and I am being patient in that waiting is now just part of my life. In the meantime, other than severe neuropathy in hands, feet and throat...being electrocuted when cold and now having lost most of the ability to taste anything except dill pickles and vinagrette, I am doing really good and remain, as always, positive. Next item...the dark days are coming and then we meet with the liver surgeon....go team! Stay well, be happy and seek only Positive Pursuits.
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