More Scan Results + Back to Herceptin (#63)

Remember, hope is a good thing,  

maybe the best of things, 

and no good thing ever dies.

--Stephen King

 I had a video only appointment with Dr. Cole today.  We spoke about my blood clot and my pain, how I was holding up with the quarantine, and after finishing chemotherapy.  I asked specific questions like, "With a DVT in the gonadal vein, how much is sex effected?"  She answered, "From the position of the clot on the scans, it looks to be down lower, so I do not see it as a problem."  She then added, "Are you asking because you want to have sex or do you want official doctor's advice that this clot is a sex problem, a ticket to get out of it?"

Then, we talked about the cancer and chemo results of the scans.  She started by saying that "The scans showed a miraculous response. Mostly everything melted away.  Back in winter of 2019, when we first got these bad scans back, they were very scary/very bad.  Now, nothing scary from those scans is even visible, except the bone lesions that have been there as long as you've been my patient!"

I laughed as I answered: "Told ya so!  Do you remember that I told you when we started that my cancer is like a noxious weed that keeps trying to grow back, but if we hit it with our best shot, it will also go away quickly?"

We chuckled at my sick sense of humor and part of my coping mechanism that uses this dark humor to dance in the rain, like me apologizing for "almost following her instructions to the T: I din't Die, but I did delay.  I'd say if I was only going to stick with one, I picked the better one!"

It's still going to take some time for my body to become stronger again.  My labs are on the low end.  I can get another blood transfusion, if I feel like I need it, there's that pesky DVF (and pill) that will now be added to my medical history, I'll continue to have ct scans to check my body for those noxious weeds, and I have to follow up with Dr. W about my brain, but I get to be cautiously optimistic and HOPEFUL for the foreseeable future.

I started again with maintenance, which happens every 3 weeks for Herceptin and every 6 weeks for Zometa, which I had before.  I'll keep this, in order to have something, until we see if there is something else to add, since that prior concoction is not the guaranteed forever weed killer, but only a seasonal maintenance.  As my doctor closed our meeting by asking if our plan moving forward was "cool," I checked if it was still really her.  "Don't you mean COOLIO?"  She laughed that I remembered it that way.  I reminded her that her code name on my blog is Dr. Coolio, for that reason, and I hope she is flattered and not annoyed.  I do pretty well with hope in other areas, so surely this will continue to be a good thing.

My record on fighting cancer is still close to perfect, if only we could figure out a way to stop it from coming back.  There is always hope, right?  Hope and prayer have proved to be the best of things in my journey.  It does continue to seem to get more and more difficult, as the years go on, and the scars increase, and my overall health seems to decline, but I am known. .I am rescued.  Miracles have occurred on my behalf.  As long as I have meaning for others, my hope and faith will not be wasted.

I will continue to fight and kick and

BEAT THE HELL OUTTA CANCER!   

Quick Scan Result

I read recently:

We are all in the same boat in 2020.

(Or was it....We are all in the same storm?)

I'm not sure which quote is more accurate.  

Maybe, it's a little of both?  

I had post-chemotherapy CT scans last week.  

I'm hoping they will bring good news, but I also understand that good news has been so few and far between in 2020 that John Krasinski has created his own news show strictly with good news only.  

It usually takes at least four days for results to come back around here.  This time, however, I got a call and a personal message from MyChart (a medical app) a few hours later.  That led me to assume that this would probably NOT show up on "Some Good NEWS."  I was right. 

"Your scan does show a DVT (deep vein thrombosis/blood clot)  in your pelvis.  This is dangerous. Dr. Cole recommends starting Eliquis, a blood thinner, immediately....."

Below that was basically everything I could have discovered from WEBMD about this blood clot that decided to take shelter in my right gonadal vein.   I'd also been dealing with a painful, swollen, area from a previously quiet varicose vein on my left leg, which was deciding to speak up LOUDLY during the Coronas, making walking or even being barely touched by clothing nearly impossible.  

I was already dealing with pain, and now I had something "dangerous" to think about.  

 

In my cancer journey I often wonder "WHAT ELSE?"

Is there really more that I MUST go through-physically and medically-to prove my hope and faith, both to be healed and to NOT be healed, as well as that I can stay humble through trials, remembering that everyone has their own stuff (boats, storms, or both) to deal with?

Yes.  Apparently, yes there is.  

That point was made even more clear, as I attempted to pick up the medication my doctor had sent to the pharmacy, which JUST HAPPENED to be out of stock.  REALLY????

Thanks to a friend's help, I was able to start the correct dose the next day, and now will have another pill to add to my collection.  I'm hoping that I can get that stupid blood clot under control before a piece breaks off and decides to move away from home and take up residence in my lungs or brain. 

 That might just be the WHAT ELSE I just can't handle right now.  

 However, I can't pray and expect the Lord to direct my footsteps, if I'm not willing to move my feet.  I am frustrated many days and questioning my purpose and how much longer I will have to work on that purpose, but I know that I am known and loved and that there is a reason for me to still be here.  

I do not have all the answers, but I know that I, for now, can keep putting one foot in front of the other and keep moving those feet to kick cancer down the road!  

LAST CHEMO!!!!

I MADE IT TO THE LAST TREATMENT!!!!!

This occasion called for some fanciness.  My infusion nurses loved my pink skirt and princess crown.  I had my first teleport appointment with Dr. Cole, which didn't work exactly how it was supposed to, so we just used FaceTime.

My family dropped me off and enjoyed some beautiful weather while waiting for my last treatment.  I had a much-needed mommy Benadryl nap, and before I knew it I was awake again and ready to leave.  

During quarantine, I was able to organize my wigs by color and label them with their names.

After treatment, I got to ring the bell.  AGAIN.  

I love these nurses that have done so much to help me and continue to show up each day during The CORONAS,   

Now, I need to wait a few weeks until having scans and check the work of those six infusions of chemo.  As always, we are praying for the best we can get.
I'm trying to watch for tender mercies from the Lord, especially in these trying times.  It's fitting that today I came across this quote that a friend posted.  Perhaps it will be  a help to one of you in 2020.

We are in a period of stress across the world.  There are occasionally hard days for each of us.  Do not depair.  Do not give up.  Look for the sunlight through the clouds.

---------Gordon B. Hinckley

The important life quote of "Don't die and Don't delay" still applies.  I need to stay healthy and let my body get strong once again.
Prayers and blessings to all of us in The Coronas. May 2020 blessings rise up from the love each human can show to others and bring joy and sunshine into the days to come.

April Fool's Day and a Foot X-ray

I woke up on Sunday with an excruciating pain in my right foot.  Thankfully, we already have crutches from my left knee bone infarction and the surgery to diagnose it.  I usually have a high pain tolerance, but this was making it impossible to put even the slightest of pressure on the heel and arch and outside of my foot.  I mean, the blankets I was sleeping with were too much pressure!
Walking was not possible without crutches, and even with crutches was quite a challenge.

MONDAY

Thankfully, Stephen was home to help and pick me up a Dr. Pepper, the boys didn't have official school, and there was a lovely Harry Potter marathon tv, which carried over from Sunday.

"We must try not to sink beneath our anguish . . . but battle on." — Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

 That gave me plenty of time to elevate it, ice it, and switch to heat.  However,

“Numbing the pain for a while will make it worse when you finally feel it.” —Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

TUESDAY

On Tuesday, our cleaning ladies came.  We usually go somewhere to stay out of their way, but with THE CORONAS and my driving foot being injured, we decided to have school out on the patio.  The weather was lovely, and no-one fought for two hours.  We read under and blue sky.  We planted a few things and had a contest for which of my children could gather the most dead leaves.  I count this as a win!

"Happiness can be found, even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light." — Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

WEDNESDAY

Finally on Wednesday, I was scheduled for an x-ray.  Stephen was able to take me.  I didn't receive results, but tried to bring some smiles and joy to my tech, Brenda.  In Cooper Cancer style, I was all ready for the test, and the machine wouldn't work.  Brenda tried shutting the whole thing down, rebooting it, and even thought on my control-alt-delete suggestion.  She wasn't sure when I encouraged her to just open the cover, remove the cartridge, and blow out all the dust.  (I don't think she got that last reference of how to fix the original Nintendo.)

She did get a wheelchair to roll my old bones to another department and try again.  Success!

Then, we waited, and watched more tv, and snacked, and helped the kids with e-school.
I should get results and a suggestion of treatment plan soon.


I did not have quality footwear or adequate foot strength for a major butt kicking for cancer this week.  I guess I could destroy with my crutches!



"It is important to fight and fight again, and keep fighting, for only then can evil be kept at bay though never quite eradicated." — Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince