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

Update 5/5/10

As my stomach was not feeling well on Monday, I was able to call and change my lab work and chemo to yesterday and by then I was feeling somewhat better. I did again have to take another catherization because of funny looking labs. They watch my kidneys carefully because of the low potassium and low white blood count. I did not find out what my counts were but apparently either the same or better because I received the 3 chemos and the Zometa for the bones. We left by 3:30 which was much better. Since next week is my bye week, I do not have to worry about waiting the 5 days before having chemo again but I do have an appointment with my neurosurgeon to have another MRI for my brain tumor on Monday and see him the same day. Still its my bye week and I look so forward to them. I receive a steroid for the nausea and I think that is beginning to effect my sleep as I did not go asleep until 4:30 this morning and then the dog woke me up at 7:30 so with 3 hours sleep this update may not make much sense - LOL!! Again, I can not say enough about the emails, cards, prayers and concerns. Even though I don't answer them directly, hopefully this email is getting to everyone. Stacy has loaned me her laptop so am back on line with that. Danny, over the weekend, had our nephew help with building me a handicapped deck - no I can get around most days but if the Ettrick Matoaca rescue squad comes to get me, they have a hard time getting me out of the house so this ramp will help plus Mom and Dad both soon to be 88 years old have a lot of problem with a few steps, so really love the new ramp. Love to all and take care, Janice

4/26/10 Update

Well, we were hoping to get out early yesterday but my potassium levels were back down so another 2 hour IV but we got out at 5:15 and got home around 8 p.m. Found out that I also have to get my four shots for white blood count every week so will start those today and they go thru Friday. At least Danny is getting pretty good at giving them in my leg and hip. I had a bad night last night and did not go to sleep until 5:30 a.m. this morning. My brain was just super zipped or I got overtired yesterday. I even took a benedryl to help me sleep but that did not help either. Don't know if the potassium IV hyped me up or not. My bye week will be on week of May 10th but have brain MRI then with Dr. Broaddus in Richmond. I'm expecting normal MRI as just had eye exam with no abnormalties found. Thanks for the emails, cards and prayers and bless God for all of his blessings. Love to all, Janice

4/19/10 Tests/scans update

Good news! The tumors continue to shrink - the bone tumor has decreased, the liver tumor has shrunk to 2 x 1 with the other tumor still gone; the breast color is getting lighter and I also had a mammogram yesterday with no indications of a tumor in the right breast but indications of calcification's in the left breast which were expected since I have cancer in that breast. I now have to take shots after the chemo for 4 days to keep my white count up and I now start back up on the chemo for another 8 weeks with scans and tests in June at some point. My break was for 10 days which was nice not to have to take nausea medication or chemo but back to the grind. Thanks for the emails, cards, prayers and calls. It's so nice to get a good report. Praise the Lord for all of his guidance and blessings. Love to all, Janice

4/5/10 Update

Hello everyone! Due to low white blood count (supposed to be 1000 and I was 700), I was only able to receive one chemo and my zometa IV for bone. I then had to call to see what to do in the meantime to build my white blood count back up since next week is my bye week. Per the clinical nursing staff, nothing until I return on the 19th of April. At that time, based on my labs they will either cut back on the amounts of chemo that I receive for two of them under the clinical trials or receive a shot for the next 3 days that will build the white count back up. There is nothing you can eat except to try and eat healthy, walk a little if possible and drink plenty of fluids. I am drinking the boost, I had a banana milkshake last night so my potassium level has come back some. I'm to stay out of crowds, away from children and not be around anyone that has a cold/virus, etc. Anyone preparing food must keep washing their hands. Did you guys know that when someone is going thru chemo, the chemo patient cannot have any fresh flowers and their clothing has to be washed in hot water twice for 2 days after chemo? You find out all kinds of things you never knew when going thru this, so just thought I would share. Thanks for the prayers, emails and calls. Love to everyone, Janice

3/29/10 Update

Angela was able to take me this time to give her dad a break but I've been so stopped up with allergies and possible upper respiratory that I called the nurses to check with the doctor to see what I needed to do. Well, she sent me for a chest xray which was fine, thank God! and put me on the Zpac so I am feeling better. Then that made me late to chemo which since my potassium was 3.1 (very low), I had to have an additional potassium IV thru my port which was slow at 2 hours. So now am on bananas, raisins and anything that will get my readings back up to at least 3.5. We did not get home until 9:45 on Monday night! Long trip! I know I felt like I had a real good day on Tuesday with energy but it is back down again. I have a Boost I need to drink too!
Thanks for the prayers, cards and emails. Love to everyone, Janice.

3/22/10 update & Sanibel

Well, first of all I want to cover our trip to Sanibel! It was wonderful even if I did get sick with mouth sores and stomach upset...it was just a beautiful and restful trip. I did rent a wheelchair while there so that I could get around better. We took a couple of driving trips to Captiva where the water was even bluer and more beautiful. I made arrangements with the airline for a wheelchair at each stop which worked out great as we just whizzed thru security even though I had a patdown at Fort Myers, FL airport. We got back Saturday evening, had one day of rest and proceeded on to Duke on Monday and then the doctor was behind so did not get to chemo until 5:00 pm., so we did not get home until after 9:00 that night, which is how it goes sometimes. I have been scheduled for updated scans on April 16, can't believe it Will have been another 8 weeks gone by. I could not eat very well when at Sanibel so missed out on the seafood but did get to try alligator strips before I got sick...a little stringy but tasted a lot like chicken. Lost 4 more pounds but my mouth is much better now and getting so more protein back into my food line so probably will put some of that back on. I'm going to try and attach some photos from our trip and hope that you all enjoy. Thanks for the prayers, emails and calls. Love to all, Janice

3/1/10 - update

I have been so tired lately that we asked to see the doctor while there just for chemo treatments. My blood levels were okay so she went over my diet with me, asked what I do for the nausea since that has been up too, and advised with being on this many chemos, I have to keep on the nausea medication. For my energy levels, she advised taking Carnation Instant Breakfast which has a lot of extra vitamins in it, and to also take Boost or Endure. She then listened to my lungs which she said are fine. Anyway, we go back on the 8th for chemo and then we leave for Sanibel Island, the 12th of March and return on the 20th. I have set up a wheelchair at all of the airports as I sure don't want to walk all over Atlanta airport and I have rented one for Sanibel as they have several areas we want to see, the Mantee park and the shell museum, if possible. Believe me, I'm not pushing it, we're going mainly for the seashells and if that is all I do, I'm happy. I'll have so many pills with me, they may think I'm a seller! LOL!!!
I just hope it is warmer there than here, I don't know what to take to wear....guess I'll just check later on this week. Thanks to all for the prayers, cards, emails! Love to all, Janice

2/22/09 Great update

Awesome news! My tests that previously showed two tumors in the liver have now reduced to the smallest one no longer shows as being there and the larger tumor reduced by 45%!!! The bone tumor looks better (of course, radiation helped there) and the color of my breast looks a lot better and there are NO NEW TUMORS!!!! I feel that I would not have had these results at VCU because they could not make up there mind what to do, so am so happy that I am going to Duke (288 miles, but every mile is worth it!) We had late chemo yesterday so we did not get home until 9:45 p.m. but I can rest today. My doctor also approved my planned trip to Sanibel Island, FL for the 13-20th of March, so am estatic about that too. I just really need a break from the house, from the worry, from the same old stuff every week, so am really looking forward to the trip we have tried to plan for the past 4 years. I feel that all of this good news is due to all of the prayers and I thank God and my friends everyday for caring about me which gives me the strength to meet the everyday challenges. Love to all, Janice

2/8/10 Update

Angela and I were lucky enough to make it down to Duke with no issues - lot of potholes on I-85 though. I did find a rash on my lymphedema arm over the weekend which I was lucky enough to get into to see the doctor which she believes is an infection in the arm (which I have had before) so she gave me an antibiotic. But, she wants me to see a therapist to have it checked out, which I could not get an appointment until March 8. She wanted an appointment in one week, yea, right! I am having some tingling and numbness in in fingers and toes so the Abraxane (one of the three chemo's I take causes this) so they will be watching this very closely. They do not want it to get to the point of no return to normal feeling, so they can change the type of chemo I am taking, guess we will wait and see after the testing on 2/19. I have nausea off and on most days, which if I eat something, like animal crackers, yogurt, it helps. The mouth sores are a lot better and I still have a little hair! LOL!!! This weather has been keeping me in though - 4 walls and all, you know! Say an extra prayer for my brother-in-law, Jerry Moore, who is scheduled for a 4 way bypass either today or tomorrow. His wife Laurel is stuck at the house in PA in 23" of snow and they are supposed to get 10" more inches tonight. At least, she still has electric. Thanks for all of your cards, prayers and support. They do help so much! Love to all, Janice.

2/1/10 Update

Well, snowed in again for the second weekend. Sorry about not posting my blog but have felt a little rough this week. The nausea just sometimes gets to me and I try to eat smaller meals, but that doesn't always work. We go back this Monday and Angela should be taking me, Danny just lost another tooth today and if we don't hurry up and get him somewhere, he's not going to have any bottom teeth left. He was supposed to go last Monday but was scared of the weather but it seems to be a lot less snow this time, hopefully. Come on spring, we're tired of the snow! Guess I'll sign off for now and post more next week. Love to all, Janice

1/25/10 - Update

Well, did not post last week since it was my by week - no chemo! Stacy did take me down for my chemo on Monday and Danny was able to get a physical that he needed. Trip down was fine, we ate lunch at Cracker Barrel which was a real treat (my mouth sores are getting a little better). Saw the doctor and clinical trial nurses who went over my issues, which I still am having some problems with the skin lesion burn from the radiation treatment I had back in Dec. So my doctor gave me a powder to use instead of wet ointment to see if that will work better. I have tried so many things! Went in at 2:15 for my chemo and they could not get my port to work, so had to try thru the vein, which I was lucky and the male nurse got the vein the very first time...thank God! They had to use Heparin to finally get the port to work so must have been a clot blockage of some type and we got out of there at 6:15. So we stopped for supper, still eating a lot of soft foods, but made it home by 10:00 p.m. We were both tired but since Stacy was off this week, she was able to sleep in yesterday. I have my schedule for next month and will need a lot of prayers for the 19th of February - that is when they will be redoing my tests - CT scan, bloodwork, and PET scan, so mark that day for extra special prayers as I know a lot of you pray for me everyday and I believe that is what has helped me thru the trials and tribulations so far.
My chemo dates are Feb 1,8 & 22. Love to all, Janice

Internet issues since Dec 09

We have and continue to have internet issues with our high speed internet with Comcast.
It may go out again as it has been up and down for 9 days now. Sorry for the delay.


I had first chemo treatment on Dec 29, after that incident with trying to get a line in for over an hour, the chemo nurses advised that I really needed a port. So, the next Tuesday I got my
port with chemo on Wednesday. Next appt. was scheduled for Mon, Jan 11 so we proceeded on
to Duke and after taking blood and went upstairs for my chemo, was when I found out that I had
to wait seven days before taking my chemo and it would be 7 days on Wednesday. However, it was not a total wasted trip as I got to see the radiation doctor has I have a radiation burn in the crevice of my leg near the groin area which is hard to keep clean so he did prescribe some medication which I hope will make it better...we shall see. Anyway, had my third treatment of
chemo today which they added the bone treatment again which made me so sick the last time with nausea, being sick, high temperatures and made my leg hurt worse. They say this bone treatment will need to done every 4 weeks and usually that the first time around is usually the
worse. Hope so! I also have horrible constipation because of the nausea medications. I get nausea medications before each treatment and nausea pills for 2 days after. Then to top it all off, I have developed mouth sores from the chemo treatments and they give you a mouthwash for that with lidocaine---yummy, yummy!!!! Now on bland diet with soft foods only, no spicy foods or hot, hot foods at all. Everything must be room temperature. I had the stitches removed yesterday where they put the port in for treatment by my original surgeon...he is such a sweet doctor and told me to be strong! Well, I'm trying. I did not sleep much night before last and am still tired...that's when I realized I had the mouth issue so after taking my benadryl at 8:00 pm, which did not work, I started with a real bad case of nausea so I took phenegran at 2:00 am and finally got to sleep around 4 a.m. Then I had to leave at 5:30 am this morning to be in Durham by 8:30. We were 5 hours on the road today with a total of 288 miles. When we leave, we always sign "on the road again" and call the erractic drivers "dumb asses" which makes us really laugh. Believe me, even with all of these issues/problems, I am where I need to be and that is Duke. I'm getting the best care, concern, treatment that I have ever had and very caring doctors. I have a bye week next week - no treatments yea! I go back on Monday, January 25 and Stacy is taking me to give her Dad a break. Angela took me some time ago for the liver biopsy so the kids continue to help. I've had a lot of other offers and calls too and appreciate them all. I enjoy the emails when I can get to them. After 4 visits by Comcast to fix my internet, I'm glad I never switched my phone! Phones are supposed to be up within 24 hours - yea, right! Anyway, guess I'll sign off now as don't want this blog to be too long. So many people have called about the blog not being up so hopefully this will help. I don't mean to be so descriptive in telling everyone about my health issues, but hope that maybe oneday something I have posted will help someone else if God forbid anyone would have any type of cancer. Yes, at times, I cry because I get discouraged but then I get up determined to fight even harder and do everything my doctors tell me to do. By the way, I have a new walker with brakes and a seat with a basket underneath it and guess what color it is? PINK!!! With a black seat that has the pink breast cancer ribbon on it....so neat. I'll take a picture and post so everyone can see. I get tired when I stand in lines to check in and supposed to start some strength and conditioning treatment soon, yea, right! When do I fit that in? I know - I'll practice with my walker walking around the inside of the house. Take care everyone! Love to all, janice.