My Husband, My Life, My Love, My Family, My Cancer
Comments
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Mae- glad this appears to be muscle related.... I’ve also had pain under my arm which I’m sure is muscle pain from coughing due to the pleural effusion, which seems to be easing thankfully. Still very breathless which is quite scary and very annoying too!
Pretty fed up all round and didn’t help when DH bitched and moaned incessantly about the real xmas tree I bought as usual with the hassle of putting it up today. He used to find it funny and just let me get on with it....but now he seems to have lost any sense of humour. In fairness it is a bit bigger than I thought, but smells great!
SO that’ll be the last real tree for me... he can have his 8ft plastic monster from 2021... and all the other xmas stuff too as might not be there to see it. Will post a pic tomorrow.0 -
Mae - good thing it's just muscles. I solved the bathtub & shower scrubbing problem because I have a problem getting up & down on my knees. After each shower I spray the tiles & tub down with Clean Shower. It's scrub free & prevents soap scum & mildew stains. It means I don't have to wash the tub very often. Certainly not more than every 3 or 4 weeks. Every time you shower, the junk washes away. And when I do scrub, the soap scum almost melts away. Honestly I don't have a vested interest in the company, but I wish I did.
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Sounds good minus, I’ll check it out.
Early night for me with pain returning but hopefully the pills kick in as quickly as they did earlier.
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Is anyone else watching/did anyone else watch The Sound of Music tonight on ABC? I missed it last year around Christmas, but it is one of my all time favorite movies. My dad owned several movie theaters when I was growing up -- movies were his life -- and he and I saw it together when he had it at one of this theaters in northern New Jersey. Such good memories. And such a feel good movie for this not so great year.
Hope some of you had the opportunity to see the movie, and hope it brought you joy.
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Mae glad you're back home and it was not serious.
Tanya, sorry about your friend. Thinking of you my friend.
Sondra, I am sorry the grocery store supplies are impacted, my goodness, a new strain of covid. That is terrible.
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BevJen,
It’s probably my all-time favorite movie. They really don’t make them like that anymore. We have always watched it (on DVD) at Christmas. Sort of makes my holiday. And oh my...was Christopher Plummer handsome?
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BooBoo,
Yes, he sure was!
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Hard to believe by watching that Plummer absolutely despised and detested the movie and working on itas sappy and schlocky. He did not develop a fondness for it until many years later.
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I have already watched my yearly watch of the Sound of Music as well. It was good of course.
Not doing much today, will probably go to the dollar store to get cards for the gift cards previously purchased to get in a walk. The dollarama is right next door. I will also order takeout online at my local Harveys. Not going to eat it in restaurant as we will be going full lockdown on Friday. I must say that if the pandemic is important enough to lockdown, we should be doing it now. The shopping can wait. I don't think giving people extra shopping days is a good idea, the malls will be crowded. Christmas gifts can be given post Christmas when things open up. Our governments in Canada should lockdown and then pay to help the businesses and employees displace. Locking down is proven to slow or stop the spread. Just frustrating is all. I only go the places that are deemed essential. Dollar stores fall under that due to being classed as grocery and essential.
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Melissa,
Did not know that about Christopher Plummer. Very interesting stuff.
Mara,
It’s hard to believe we are still seeing lockdowns again. It’s been going on for so long, but hopefully the end is in sight. If this new vaccine using mRNA technology works, it could lead to similar treatments for cancer (with some re-engineering). Oh happy day that would be!
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I agree, when the day comes when we have eradicated this pandemic, it would be nice to see some of the research being done to slow or prevent cancer spread. Who knows, one can dream.
As far as the lockdown, I am still visiting DB as I am considered part of his house and alone BUT I am not going to run to the mall to try to get stuff before we lockdown fully. I can get my groceries which is good, I will shop early as possible and as said, pick up takeout. I will still take public transit to places that are far away as well. Take shorter walks when walking etc. I don't spend long in stores either and I spray down all masks with straight rubbing alcohol 99 percent as well. I am picking bottles of that up all the times it is available. Even when the lockdown is over or pandemic over, I may continue masking and the hygiene to avoid regular cold and flu. Only need to get a couple of cards to put the visa gift cards in.
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Too early for news from Candy yet, I imagine. I know she was worried about today's appointment.
Nothing new here, grey and rain today. We are heading out to the store in a few hours to see what is up. A friend was in the city today and said it was completely dead, no one on the trains in and a very popular market was open but deserted. I was hoping to make a visit to the spice shop in there, before all this new drama started. Of two minds to still go - I probably shouldn't but I am going kinda nuts at home. Eh - ill sleep on it and then decide. It cant be any riskier on the Tube now as last week when I went to see the genetics MO and now the Tube is empty of schoolkids and drunk office guys without masks.
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Sondra, I am with you about riding transit as needed. I am still just going to what I need which is largely grocery stores, dollar stores and my burger joint for takeout. Other than that, I only walk outdoors when walking.
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Hi all, I met with my cardiologist today and while I have no physical symptoms of any heart damage, I do have to take a medication to boost it back up to the the point where my Herceptin is allowed. I am free to resume the Xeloda & Tukysa but waiting on my MO to say so. It is believed that the EF drop is due to the 1 dose of a Herceptin biosimilar (generic version of Herceptin, sort of) that I received in El Paso last month. I was told that Texas Oncology doesn’t use Herceptin, so either they get it for me somehow or we drive back to Houston every 3 weeks to continue all treatment at MDA. I will not risk heart damage for convenience but the alternative is such a long drive. Still waiting on details of what TX Onc can do for me, so no decision yet. But, it’s believed that my heart should bounce back without issues.
Another night of muscle pain last night, so I feel a nap coming on.
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Mae,
Wow, that's a wild story. Who knew that such a problem could arise with a bio similar drug? Makes you really wonder.
Hope you are soon feeling better from this as well as from your muscle pain. No fun.
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Bevjen, whatever the difference is between them is probably not much at all but I’m the one with all the weird odds. Low odds of bc at 41, low odds being stage IV de novo, 2% odds of severe reaction to taxotere (I had all the severe symptoms w/ER trip), 2% odds of severe reaction to taxol (had them all again). Finally did well on abraxane but had to have it weekly at a lower dose and with premeds.
Not much surprises me anymore, lol.
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Mae - Good news but a bummer about the generic. Could you get Herceptin in San Antonio? That would at least cut 3 or 4 hours off the drive.
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Mae,
Are you on all three drugs at the same time? Wow. You are a tough cookie.
I'm glad your cardiologist seemed confident that the EF drop could be corrected. That's good news. I don't see any reason that regular Herceptin cannot be sent to your current MO's office. Hoping it works out for you.
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Minus and booboo, I noticed the change on paperwork before the infusion and asked why I wasn’t getting Herceptin, as I had be for the last 4 years. I was told that Texas Oncology (the only cancer center I could find out west) uses Kanjinti instead. I’ve sent the MO out there an update and to see if they could special order it for me, waiting for a reply. If not, I’m in for the long drive, unless I can find some other alternative.
Booboo, yes, I’m on them all.
1st line was Herceptin, Perjeta and Tamoxifen
2nd line is Herceptin, Xeloda, Tukysa
Looks like this week is going to be another scramble to get things sorted.
Good news, our new replacement RV has finally arrived, we pick it up on Wednesday.
And DH and I celebrate our 20th anniversary on Thursday (Xmas eve) 🎉
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Hi everyone! Had day 8/15 of my rads. Past the halfway mark so now I count down to the end. Also had a port flush.
Started showing on drive home. I took Olive to the field so she could get her zoomies out. It's going to melt overnight I think but sure was pretty for a bit. Ds discovered the 100m of fairy lights on the deck have different settings and he made them twinkle today but it doesn't show in the photo
Dd is making me a spinach and tofu curry and then maybe we'll squeeze in another hallmark before the evening dog walk
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Moth, beautiful snow and such a happy pup ❤️
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Moth, Great pic of Olive in full run! Hope the rest of your rads go quickly and are easy on your skin.
Mae, Good luck getting your herceptin locally. I hope your meds control your pain, glad nothing is broken.
Candy, hoping your day went ok.
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Update: Nothing broken, x rays were all good, just some degenerative changes and a mention of my healed hip bone met. I am also feeling much better this afternoon, I think I’ll sleep good tonight and ve back to normal tomorrow.
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Hi everyone, well the best laid plans and all that, I'm currently hanging out in the ED with a wicked kidney infection and shortness of breath, I'm still waiting on blood results to find out if I'm neutropenic, hopefully I can be out of here by the 24th for my grandson's birthday. I hope everyone else is faring better. It's so busy here but at least I have a bed in my own room. I will keep you all updated as soon as I know what's happening. For now, I'm just going to try and sleep to pass the time.
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Loving your pics Moth!
Mae, just shows the challenges you all face in living in a huge country, but you’d think getting a supply of the meds you need should’nt be one of them. Saying that we have Brexit to deal with and 20 miles over the English Channel, or 2 over the Irish border seem to be an issue....the people who voted for that in ignorance of the consequences will be regretting it now...
Kitty I hope you get that out sorted ASAP and are comfortably at home now?
Candy, also thinking about you and waving 👋🏻 to everyone.
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I'm finally home, I still feel rubbish but I have a fistful of antibiotics with instructions to rest and go back if it gets worse. How did your appointment go Candy, thinking of you.
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I’m glad you’re out, Kitty. I hope you continue to feel better.
Mae, same for you. I hope you feel better.
Thinking of you as well, Candy.
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Tuesday morning here-- 7:30am, early.
Mae- Sounds like good news on the heart issue, that it will get better. One more thing you have to go thru though. And now the inconvenience of traveling for your treatment.
Moth- Good pics.
Kittykat- Bummer on the infection. Yeah, even a small thing can be big for us. Rest up and drink lots of water.
Thanks for all the well wishes. I was too tired last night after getting home to post. I had a full day. The drive. CT of chest. MRI of abdomen and pelvis. The 1 1/2 hour wait in my truck between scans and the appt. Then they wanted more blood work. ??? I had it last week locally. But they wanted another test not done last week. So IV for the contrast. Then removed IV. Then stick for the blood work. Then doc visit-- I will get to in a minute. Then 25 min wait for the Xgeva shot. I felt like a pin cushion when done. And was very tired for the drive home.
So..... small changes in the 4 liver mets. But just by 1-3mm each. No new ones--- woohoo. Doc says that the changes could just be measuring differences in radiologists-- from 2 month ago MRI to now. Or could be growth. Need to watch. Next MRI 3 months. But she doesn't want to change treatment yet. I totally agree.
We did discuss the Covid vaccine. I told her I had read that some on Ibrance said they would take vaccine on the week off --when white count is at its best. But with me doing on 5 days and off 2 with no week off I suggested I take a week treatment vacation when ready to do vaccine. She thought that would be a good idea. She said she is wanting to see CDC guidance on cancer patients and low counts, but nothing yet. I said I wanted the vaccine as soon as I could get it. She said "Me too". So she hasn't had hers yet either.
Weight loss/ nausea issues--- I mentioned I noticed my pants were loose. And I do not get weighed routinely. So I weighed 2 weeks ago at my injection appt (locally done) and I had lost 7 pounds. Yesterday on their scale I was the same as always-- no loss. I know there can be differences in scales, but 7 pounds. And my clothes fit looser. So I will watch--- weigh monthly with Lupron injection locally. I mentioned the nausea. She didn't say anything. But I know our meds say nausea for side effects. So I will monitor on my own.
I was in with her maybe 20 minutes. She always turns her computer toward me so I can see CT and MRI images. But I tell her it means nothing to me. But nice she includes me. But she is not the overly talkative type. Just business and off to the next patient. No sitting and asking if I have other questions. But I think she is smart and the cancer center has a good reputation so I think they know what the are doing. Just more academic and not fluffy.
Thanks for all the thoughts and prayers for me.
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Well, the back muscle pain woke me up at 5am and this really sucks! My deepest sympathy to anyone dealing with pain, it’s all consuming. I’m really hoping this will be over in a day or two. Grrr
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pain Sucks!!! Badly it cuts into your mind daily. I’m sorry Mae.
kittykat feel better.
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