Sunshine

It's not been quite a week since I've arrived to Mexico, but I feel like a different person.  The constant nose bleeds have stopped as well as the constant nausea.  I've been sleeping 8 hours most nights and waking up feeling well rested.  I've read 2 books so far, and have been able to concentrate and focus on what I'm reading, something I couldn't do at home.  I'm sure the warm weather and sunshine has alot to do with it  We have been busy with our friends, going out to some secluded beaches and having bbq's...they are working on keeping my red blood count up..lots of iron in steak and spinach salad.  Bob and I are going to go south to the border of Belize tomorrow, stopping off at some funky beach towns and just hanging out for 4 days.  The thought of having to fly home for chemo keeps popping in my head every now and then, but I keep pushing it further away, I don't want to think of the cancer, treatments, Dr.s etc.  As my friend Hakima told me, " Everyday is a celebration" and that's how I'm going to try and live my life.  There's no sense wasting precious time worrying about something that I can't fix.  Looking forward a fun adventure this week and after I return from home our friends Tracey and Craig will be down and after them Beth will be here.  Lots of good times ahead!!!!!!

Dr. Visit

Dr. visit went well on friday.  Nothing new to report as he said, " everything is ok".  As I said in my blog last week I'm seriously thinking about getting a second opinion when I return home.  I would like to have a Dr. that goes into detail about what is happening now and long term and my Dr. doesn't do that.  Also was confusion with his assistant Dr who comes in before him and gets info.  She had me scheduled for iron infusions for the next 5 weeks, chemo appointments when I'm in Mexico.  After telling her she had it wrong she actually showed me the file with my name on it and asked if it was me!  So...also waited and hour for the Dr. and when he got in the room, he got called out to take a phone call.  Anyway, I'm putting it all behind me for now and going off to the sun and sand and having a wonderful time.  I will return home for a treatment in Feb and be here for a few days, then heading back to paradise.  I will post on here whats happening, probably once a week so those who are following know all is well. Peace and Love to all.....          Marcia

Nothing changed

So I asked at chemo yesterday if the Dr. had changed anything in my treatment and they checked and said everything was the same.  Guess I must be getting used to it or just got lucky and had a good week.  Yesterdays dose was cut down some as my white blood count is down to 1..which isn't good as I'm really susceptible to infections and getting sick.  Had to go today to get a shot of nuelasta, which is what the insurance said I can't have,,,,but if it's 21 days between chemo I can have it....makes no sense to me, but thankful that I do have insurance.  I will have 28 days till the next round of chemo.:-)  Have to see the Dr. this friday then off to the sunshine of Mexico on Wed.  I will have to fly home in the middle of my vacation as the Dr, said 2 months was too long to be gone without treatment.  Hoping the weather is like this and I don't fly into a snow storm or worse yet get stuck here and can't get back!  Abby will be staying with me here as will Beth.  What a way to earn some frequent flyer miles!!!!!!

Hope it lasts!!!

This past week has been really good, in fact wonderful.  Thou I don't recall much of the chemo treatment that I had on Monday,(slept thru it all) it has been a fantastic week, no napping and alot of energy. Both Bob and Beth have been amazed at how well this week went and those who have called to talk to me have commented on how good I sound.  So what gives?????????  Last week when I saw the Dr. he asked how I was doing and I told him that " I feel like crap, and that I hated feeling that way all the time".  I kind of wonder if he didn't make a change with my chemo, thou Beth was with me the whole time and she said the nurse told her what she was giving me, all three chemos.  I will ask at tomorrows treatment if anything was changed.  I've been thinking of getting another opinion from another Dr. when I return home from Mexico.  I really like my Dr., thou he has a way of "smoothing things over" and I don't have that "warm, fuzzy feeling" with him, like I do my other Dr.s.  On several occasions he has contradicted himself and we end up leaving with more questions than answers.  One more treatment to go then it's off to the sun and sand for 3 weeks............oh yea I have to fly home for a few days for a treatment, then will fly back for 4 more weeks of sun and sand....more on that later.....xoxo

Latest news

My chemo treatment went well on Monday.  It's down to 3 1/2 hours now.  Thankfully I can sleep thru the whole process.  My red and white blood counts were up so no shots were needed this week.  Also my CA-125 is at 9.5....down from 13 last month.  The Dr. continues to say things are going well.  Have been feeling really good, thinking it has something to do with going to Mexico and sitting in the sun on the beach, thou  the weather here hasn't been all that bad until today.  Yesterday I was out with just a sweater on and no coat, today rain turning to snow.  Winter is on the way and I'm getting ready to get out of town!

Energy

Not sure where the burst of energy came from, but today I cleaned out 2 closets and 3 dressers full of clothes that no longer fit or I don't wear anymore and donated to several organizations.  Still have some more to do, but when I sat down for dinner it felt pretty good so I'm going to move to the lazy boy and stay there till time for bed!!  Getting excited about going back to Mexico, even thou I was just there in October, it seems like it's been along time ago.  Looking forward to some relaxing times with friends and sunshine, thou the weather here hasn't been all that bad..who would of thought we'd have 50 degree temps in Jan and no snow!!!!!  Big chemo treatment on monday, plans to just sleep and get my strength back as soon as possible and hope the nausea drugs work their magic thru the week.  Carolyn visiting from Ohio tomorrow, looking forward to seeing her and catching up.  xoxo

Dr. Visit

Short visit with the Dr. today.  Thought my problem with throwing up and choking was due to acid reflux that has come about due to all the chemo......more medicine to take and try and get this taken care of before we leave for Mexico.  Two more rounds of treatment and then he said I'm on "chemo vacation"...even thou I have to fly home for a few days to get a round of chemo...adding to the frequent flyer miles.....looking forward to getting in warmer weather and out of this cold. 

Phone call

I received a phone call from one of my Dr.s today.  I haven't seen or spoken to this Dr. since I saw him in July, when he sent me to get the tests that confirmed my cancer had returned.  At first I was alittle concerned, as it's not always a good sign when the Dr.s office is calling you at home.  However, he was calling to see how I was doing, how treatments were going and what the prognosis was.  I have known and gone to this Dr. for about 30 years and have always had a good rapport with him, trusting his opinions and medical advice.  We had a good long conversation and he answered some questions that I had.  In today's world of medicine and Dr.s you are usually rushed thru and sent a bill, not alot of "personal" time spent answering questions and getting answers.  I was quite impressed that this Dr. took the time out to make the phone call, and in answering some of my questions, put my mind at ease, if for only alittle while.