More Good News!

I am so pleased to report that the scan I had taken this past Monday indicated NO NEW GROWTH and everything once again remained stable!  This of course is great news and a tremendous relief.  Although in my heart of hearts I knew this would be the outcome, I nonetheless had some anxiety around it. 

My treatment continues on the same course, every 3 weeks, but if I need to stretch it out by extending it a week or so, that will not be a problem, which is very comforting and reassuring.

While chemotherapy is purpoted to be debilitating with each treatment and cumulative as to its effect it has on one’s emotional and physical condition, I continue to live my life as usual.  Yes, I’m playing tennis and cycling with no signs of fatigue.  I may not have the energy I once had, but I can also attribute that to age! 

So suffice it to say, there’s much to life and I’m living it!

Hope you are enjoying your summer And for me, the hotter the better, but perhaps not for you…so stay cool.

Love,
Shelley

My Latest News and Update…

I owe you all an update from my April 1st scan.  All Good!  The tumor is stable, the scan looked good, and the doctor was pleased.  I will continue on the same protocol having treatment every 3 weeks and my next scan in 3 months.

I don’t have much else to report, except that I’m feeling good and continue to live my life as usual.  I know you were looking forward to some more good reading from me, but this is as good as it gets for the moment.  I hope I didn’t disappoint too much…that’s all she wrote folks!

Love,
Shellley

Wondering Where I’ve Been?!!

Much too much time has passed since I’ve updated you on my progress.  To allay any concerns, my life continues to be as routine as ever. 

Treatment is still every third week and it has become just a normal day amongst all others.  I haven’t had an issue around treatment, and  for months all my vitals have been excellent!  My appointment with Dr. Kris each time is no more than 3-5 minutes and his last comment to me is either “you’re doing wonderfully” or “you’re doing great”!  I can’t ask for moe than that…

I have my next scan on April 1st and know I’ll have good news to report. 

I feel great and am doing great!

Enjoy the beautiful spring weather and life!

Love,
Shelley

“The Good News Continues…”

Can you guess? 

If you’ve been following my blog, you might recall that I was going to let you know the  positive results of my CT scan which I had this past Friday.  The “Power of Positive Thinking” really works!  When getting my infusion each time, I quietly say my mantra to myself…”shrink, shrink, shrink” AND SO IT DID! Yesterday we saw the scan results and guestimate the tumor has shrunk approximately 10-15% from the last scan three months ago. Therefore, since my diagnosis in May, I’d say it shrunk about 60-65%. 

I know you all must be smiling and delighted for me (and perhaps waving your arms in the air saying yippee).  So many of you have time and time again expressed  your warm support and positive wishes and thoughts.  Even though I’m the one who’s going on this journey, you   give me the strength to endure…so we’re all in this together.  Once again, my heartfelt appreciation and thank you for helping me get through this with your love and support (not overused)!

I feel great, aside from a couple of minor side effects , I have no complaints and it’s a small price to pay considering “the journey”.  When I go for treatment and see how so many people are really suffering, I feel so fortunate.

What a great way to start off the new year.  Speaking of which, HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU ALL and a HEALTHY ONE OF COURSE!

Love,
Shelley 

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My Long Overdue Blog

It’s been many weeks since I’ve updated my blog.   

It seems that my motivation for blogging had been when “things went off track” for me around treatment and I needed to vent and let you know what I had gone through during those times. 

Well….I’m happy to inform you that everything’s been going really well and I’m doing great.  Treatment has been routine without any incidents or frustrations.  I started my “every three week” schedule on December 1st.  Treatment will continue indefinitely.  Early on, Dr. Kris told us that he’s been doing “maintenance care” for his patients for years.   My my next scan will be in January and I will give you the good news then (optimistic as I am).

I’ve had no life interruptions and continue to move forward with work and play.

I wish you and your families a beautiful holiday season filled with good health and love.

Once again, thank you to everyone for your love, support and constant caring and concern for my well being and health.   And thank you to those of you who accompany me during those long hours at Sloan on the days of treatment.  I am one lucky woman and know it!

Sending you my heartfelt gratitude and love,

Shelley

Put on a Happy Face!

I haven’t kept up to date with my blog since things have been going rather routinely – thankfully – and I didn’t have much to report.  Well today is different and I’m sharing my great news with all of you!

Despite the rain, raw dampness, and a just plain dreary day, the SUN SHINED  ON ME TODAY! 

Before going for treatment,  I received the results of my scan which I took last Thursday…my tumor has shrunk approximatey another 25%!  How amazing is that?!  David, cousins Gail & Joel, brother Mitchell, and I could hardly speak when we saw the picture of the two scans side-by-side (previous one two months ago).  Tears of joy flowed and a group family hug followed.  It’s incredible and once again another remarkable result…Emotions ran high as we expereinced such joy and relief! 

In two weeks I will have my next treatment, and after that I will be going every three weeks.  This is also great news. 

I’ve been most fortunate that I have had a relatively easy time of it, except of course for the pneumonia, but that’s all in the past.  I’m continuing to move forward, living my life, and taking one day at a time.

“Let the Sunshine  In”   each and every day for all of us!!

Love,

Shelley

Where Has She Been?

Hello Dear Family & Friends-

I’m wondering if it’s the fact that I’m feeling so good that I haven’t been very diligent in keeping up with my blog!  That’s the good news…yes?  That being said, even though the “episode” has come and gone, here it is…read on!

The best treatment thus far!   I had treatment last Tuesday.  It was the usual long day, but the actual treatment itself went off without a hitch, glitch, aggravation, frustration, or mishap of any kind.  I left the medical center feeling good and smiling.  A very successful day indeed!

The following day…not so good.  Every time I return for treatment I’m asked whether or not I’ve experienced any side effects, and then the list is read to me.  My answer is almost “no” every time.  Well, the day following treatment, I was hit with the worst nose bleed (a side effect) and after not being able to stop it for two hours at home, went off to the Sloan’s Urgent Care Unit.  Fortunately I did not need caurterization and they were able to stop the bleeding with packing.  After approximately 3 1/2 hours, they sent me home and I then went off to work.  Yes, it was a little uncomfortable, but tolerable.   It was quite a traumatic and scary thing to happen.  Of course next time, hoping there won’t be a next time, I go straight to the hospital and not try to stop it on my own! 

Little to complaint about however!  I’m doing great, still feel great, and living my life.

Shelley

Why Was I Not Surprised?!

So much for expectations!  I was hoping for a relatively easy and short process last Tuesday, and wouldn’t you know it…more aggravation, miscommunication, and anxiety.  I will try to avoid a lengthyand detailed saga and keep this one short! 

Since being on chemotherapy my blood pressure has elevated – It’s usually normal or slightly below.  When I arrived last Tuesday morning to have blood drawn and vitals taken, my pressure was pretty high.  Have you heard of the ”the white coat syndrome”?  Well, I’m sure I was subconscientously experiencing this syndrome which caused me to feel anxious and therefore raised my pressure.  Fortunately it came down enough later in the day when I saw my doctor for my 3:30 pm appointment. I was told I would be able to be treated.  Just to let you know, Avastin, one of the two drugs I’m on, can cause one’s pressure to elevate and can reach a potentially dangereous  level which can cause, at worst, a possible stroke.   My doctor prescribed a medication to regulate my pressure which was given to the in-house pharmancy at Sloan about 4:30.

Finally I was called in for treatment around 5:45.  However when the nurse in the treatment room who was going to infuse me read my pressure (even though it was quite a bit lower than the morning), she did not want to treat  me.  The rules & policy seem to be different between my doctor’s and the treatment room nurses.  Since it was now 6:15 pm, Dr. Kris had already gone for day and was not reachable for to get his okay.   And…the medication had not been filled as it was denied by Medicare.  No one told us this information until several hours later.  The medication needed pre-approval and there was no one availlable at that time to do it, at least not when a decision needed to be made whether or not to receive treatment.  The pill would protect against the pressure elevating. 

You can just imagine my reaction-one of great frustration, anger, and probably RAISING MY BLOOD PRESSURE EVEN HIGHERER!!!  I was so upset at the prospect of not being treated…once again!!  Well, thank goodness for (cousin) Gail, who saved the day by suggesting that I buy one or two pills and pay out-of-pocket  Brilliant idea…wouldn’t you say?   And so i did!   I received treatment and left the medical center at 8 pm. 

A couple of new lessons learned on this journey!  One is that I only make morning appointments and the other, and perhaps most important, is that it is only two days out of the month and while I hope things go according to plan and on time, I will be prepared that they might not and accept whatever comes.  Remember my mantra - Acknowledge, Accept, and Let Go!

BTW-I continue to feel great as I’m still on the steriods for another 8 days.  So I’ve done my cycling and exercise routine in the gym, and I’m living my normal lifestyle.  I am so grateful to be able to take advantage of these “feel good” days.

I guess I didn’t stick to my word by keeping this blog short. I hope you  understand and appreciate my having to tell my story.

With Love,

Shelley

The Start of the Third Cycle

This past Tuesday I had treatment with only two drugs.  Therefore the infusion time was that much less – only 50 minutes from prep time to the end.  When I was on the Taxol, treatment was anwhere from two and a half to three and a half hours! While Taxol is a very aggressive drug and generally has great results, my doctor thought it compromised my immune system and probably was the cause of my walking pneumonia.  He was concerned that if I continued on the Taxol it potentially could have a more severe effect and therefore he took me off of it.  I was upset and disappointed, but I trust Dr. Kris and know his main concern is to make me healthy and I am optimistic that he will do just that!  

The Clinical Trial…

For many reasons, I made the decision to opt out of the clinical trial.  It is very rigid and patients must follow the policies of the trial w/o deviation.  I felt it was comprising my life in too many negative ways and causing me more stress than I need right now.  Dr. Kris was very supportive and that was important to me.  As a matter of fact, as I was listing my grievances last Tuesday, he made the suggestion that I drop out.

My treatment will now be every other week  This of course makes my life much easier.  It also means less time spent receiving treatment. Being in the trial, everything had to be done in one day, vitals, blood drawn, doctor’s visit, mixing of the drugs which took anywhere from 2-3 hours, and the treatment itself. 

I can now have blood drawn the day before, call in the next morning two hours in advance and have the drugs ready when I arrive, see my doctor and then go straight for treatment.  It’s called being “chemo ready”.  

Thank goodness for steriods…

Since my walking pneumonia, I’ve been on steriods along with antibiotic 3 times a week.  Now I know what the ballplayers feel like.  There’s no stopping me…I’m like “the energizer bunny”.  When I get up in the morning, I’m raring to go.  I’m taking advantage of feeling really great until the doctor takes me off the steriods (?) and I resumed exercising about tw0 weeks ago, particularly bike riding. Yesterday I cycled 16 miles, trying to increase my miles each time, and it’s the furthest I’ve gone thus far since recovering from the pneumonia.  Remember I said I hoped to do 20-25 by the end of summer? Well, the weekend isn’t over! Happiness is Shelley riding her bike.

Unfortunately  “All good things must come to an end” and tomorrow’s the last day in our East Hampton rental house.  Although it’s been a very different summer for me, I was so grateful to be able to be at the house in beteen going into the city for treatment.

Thank you to my housemates, Susan and Carole, for being so kind, caring, thoughtful and concerned for my well being and comfort.

Enjoy the rest of the beautiful Labor Day Weekend.

Love,

Shelley

The Latest “Bump” in the Road to Recovery!

After not having treatment last Tuesday (August 18), I was looking forward to yesterday’s long ardous routine of the day so as to continue my journey towards good health.  Well-another unexpected “bump in the road”…

Since being diagnosed with walking pneumonia last week, Dr. Kris said he was taking me off Taxol – one of the three drugs which is part of my protocol and is  very toxic and potent.  He felt  Taxol could have been the contributor to the walking pneumonia.  And…treatment would resume next week (Wednesday, August). 

So–yesterday’s story goes like this….The covering doctor for Dr. Kris, who  was on vacation which I had known, conferred with Dr. Kris in the morning (reaching him on his vacation)  prior to my meeting with the covering doctor.  She said that Dr. Kris was adamant about my not having the Taxol!  That being said, since I’m in this “clinical trial” any changes made to treatment protocol must be approved by all who are involved in  the “trial” and they must approve the change!  You guessed it–it had not been approved prior to my arrival yesterday and therefore no treatment!!!You can imagine how disappointed and upset I was.  Moving forward, hopefully, I will be starting Cycle #3 next Tuesday-assuming of course they  sign off and approve the change in due time.   I will be acting as my own advocate to make sure this happens before making the trip in from East Hampton to the City on Monday .  I certainly don’t want another experience of disappointment and no treatment. And…Thank you, thank you, thank you to my darling son, David, who has been the most incredible advocate for his mom every time, every appointment…he is my voice, my ears and my “rock” always.  Wonderful and Amazing David!

After processing this news, I used my mantra ACKNOWLEDGE, ACCEPT, AND LET GO,  and then felt a sense of relief and liberation.  I was feeling like my old self physically and energetically since not having treatment for three weeks (steriods do help) and walked home from 49th & and Park to my apartment @ 77th & York.  Continuing to take advantage of feeling  this good, I plan on getting  back to cycling over the next few days.  (This is an update and edit to  my blog since its writing this morning. I’m delighted to tell you I did 9 1/2 miles on my bike along with my friends Susan and Carole.)

The good news  about being on two drugs is I will only be  having treatment every other week rather than once a week for three consecutive weeks.  There’s always a bright side to every story! By the way, the other two drugs are continuing to do what they’re supposed to…killing those nasty cancer cells  even at this writing-blogging(?). 

I hope I didn’t bore you with all the details, but I needed to vent!  Thank you and I appreciate your reading (listening) to my latest saga.  I’m sure there’ll be more, but hopefully more positive ones…stay tuned-

Have a wonderful weekend and enjoy the couple of weeks left of summer.

Love,

Shelley