update 10/4/10

Since I have had so many problems with my hemoglobin, platelets, neuropathy in hands and feet, my doctor decided to remove me off of the clinical trial. However, the doctor started me back on 2 of the original chemos yesterday after a break of 2 weeks after additional problems with a fever and dehydration. I was almost admitted but my blood pressure came back up and they gave me fluids And IV antibiotic. My hair is also trying to come back in and looks like peach fuzz....what a hoot. My cat scan and PET scan came back with no new tumors or increases in present tumors...good news!!! Thanks for all of prayers, emails and calls. They really do keep up my spirits! Love to all, Janice

Update 8/29/10

Well, my doctor decided to give me 3 weeks away from chemo because of my blood levels and neuropathy in my hands and feet so Danny and I took a few days away from the house. I returned to chemo last week but my doctor cut back the Avastin 20% because my neuropathy had not improved that much. Based on how I do on that over the next several weeks, she may remove me totally from the clinical trial if I do not improve. She will then start me on another regimen to replace the 3 chemos but I do not not know what that will be at this time. My liver tumor has continued to shrink but she doubts if it will continue to shrink as fast as it has in the past but it has shrunk from 3" x 3" to 1" x 1". My hair is trying to come back in different areas with some long strands and some of my energy has come back because I gave my body a break for 3 weeks. I had gotten to the point where I could not even walk very far without getting short of breath. That has improved dramatically and I have enjoyed riding around Walmart in my little cart. I am a dangerous driver though....think they might bar me from Martin's since I ran into several shelves! LOL!!!!! Thanks for the cards, prayers, calls and emails. Sorry I have not updated my blog in such a long time but I just really did not have the energy. Love to all, Janice

update

I know its been a couple of weeks but have not felt well and after yesterdays 3 chemo treatments, I had my 3rd blood transfusion, IV calcium and IV zometa. Angela had taken me as Danny threw his back out on the 16th and we did not get home until 10:00 P..M. At least next week is my by week but I do my brain tumor MRI on Monday at MCV and my 8 week scans on Friday,as I have had a lot of problems with heart burn and hiatial hernia, on Monday I will have a barium swallow. I will keep everyone posted. Thanks for emails, cards and calls. Love to all, Janice

update 6/28/10

Let's just say the past week has been very tiring and I just could not get myself together. By Friday, I was asleep by midday so I knew something was not right. My hemoglobin on the 21st had been 9.9 and I still felt like I had been hit by a mack truck, so I called Duke. Of course, they wanted me to drive there to the ER and I said, I don't think I can make it, so they approved me going to the local ER (St. Francis). Danny came home from work and called the emergency crew and here comes the big fire truck and our volunteer crew to get me. I did not think I would be using my new ramp that fast, oh well!! I got right into the ER and my hemoglobin was 7.6...no wonder I could hardly get up out of the chair....12.0 is normal hemoglobin. So, I was admitted to St. Francis Friday night and they started giving me 2 units of blood via transfusion at 9:00 P..M., that night and did not finish until 5:30 the next morning. They retested my blood which came up to 10.0 and let me go Saturday afternoon. I did receive my 3 chemos today, my zometa to strengthen my bones and my hemoglobin was 12.4 today, which is a lot better. I also saw my doctor today and she changed some prescripti0ns and will see me again in 2 weeks. Next week is my off week and will give me some additional time to keep building my counts. Thanks for everyone's concern, prayers, emails and cards. Love to all, Janice.

update 6/14/10

Scans and tests showed no new tumors and that the liver tumor continues to shrink. I did receive another round of potassium as it was a little low. As for now, chemo will continue at current schedule. Thanks for your prayers, care and concern. Love to all, Janice.

s Pdate 5/24/10

Since my appointment was so early at Duke (0830), we decided to go up the night before. As we got closer to NC, the weaker I felt. We stopped at the NC line at the rest stop and I almost past out. I knew as the week got longer, the weaker I felt and since my hemoglobin (red blood count) was like 8.0 and 12.0 is normal, I had either not eaten enough greens or was missing something in my diet. See, the chemo eats up the bad and the good cells so you have to really eat more than you usually do, but I haven't had much of an appetite. Anyway, contacted the Duke doctor on call and he advised me to go to the ER. We got there around 5 pm Sunday and got out at 10:00 p.m. then went to the hotel we booked. Only thing the ER did was a bunch of tests, and give me some potassium, since that was low. Advised my hemoglobin was 8.4 so it had gone up some. To make a long story short, I contacted my doctor the next morning and they immediately sent me up to chemo for 2 units of blood, which took 5 hours. Then the doctor wanted to see me as she heard I fell and hit my head....no, just almost passed out. Since I was feeling somewhat better, we decided to go ahead with my 2 chemo treatments and left at 6:30 last night. I do feel like I have a little more energy today, was able to wash one load of clothes, paid some bills, took a shower and picked up a few things. That's more than I've been able to do in a couple of weeks, praise the Lord! Thanks for the prayers, cards, emails and just for thinking about me. Love to all, Janice

Update 5/17/10

Sorry this is late but had virus last week with two trips to my doctor and one trip to the ER. My potassium has been low again and the ER had to give me an IV potassium treatment. Also found out at the ER that I had a UTI so went to urologist yesterday and she provided me with an antibiotic. At my treatment on Monday found out my bloodwork is very low so they are talking a possible transfusion this coming treatment so am working on trying to get my counts up here by eating a lot of greens and my urologist wants me to get more water in. So, guess I'll be floating around with a lot of greens in my stomach!! LOL!!! Thanks for all of the cards, emails, calls, etc. They really help a lot but I believe it's all of the prayers! Take care and love to all. Janice