Saturday, June 27, 2009

This is Heaven

It is summertime, and it is 69 degrees inside with the windows open. I love it. Why do we spend the summer in New Orleans? I am looking out of a big picture window that faces a "forest." I have a comfy sofa to rest my head and a good book. I don't think that I will move for the rest of the day.

Thursday, June 25, 2009

Only 1 More Left!!!!

Yesterday was my 9th Avastin treatment since January. I have now completed 17 chemotherapy infusions since May of last year. In three weeks I will walk through those double doors of the chemo room for the last time. I will finally get to ring the bell. That will be a momentous day for me and for Steve.

I can hardly believe it. Watch here for video of the occasion.

Since the summer hit in New Orleans, I have been experiencing horrible hot flashes (before summer I had them but the hot flashes were milder). They occur at least five times a day. I think so anyway, today I am making a count. I am curious to see how many I actually have every day. I am on my third one since I woke this morning. It is now 11:30AM. So the number will probably be higher than five. They can be embarrassing. The other day I was in a small shop and was talking to the sales rep when I began dripping from my forehead onto the merchandise. I tried to make a quick exit without being rude.

Tomorrow we travel up north to visit our friends John and Elizabeth Simon in Sugarloaf, NY. I am hoping the cooler weather there will keep the hot flashes at bay.

Saturday, June 20, 2009

Mammogram - Check

On Thursday I went for a mammogram. I had one 6 months ago on the left side just before surgery. This was my 6 month check. Ochsner now has digital mammongraphy. It seems that it was easy for them to read the left side. All looked as it should post surgery, and they could compare it to the picture taken in December. I had to take multiple pics on the right side. Maybe 4 or 5 extra ones. I was starting to get nervous. Since it is difficult to compare the old mammograms to the digital ones, the doctors needed the extra shots. It took an hour, but I was given the all clear.

Later that day I went to see my surgeon. All well there too. However, I was hoping that I could schedule the removal of my port. That truly marks the end of this ordeal. Since the drug that I am taking blocks new blood vessels from forming, he doesn't want to remove the port until 6 weeks after my last treatment. That puts me into September for removal, which means some time away from work. So I don't have a definite date because they will not schedule that far in advance.

Sunday, June 14, 2009

Active Weekend

I am trying to up my activity level. On Saturday we spent time in the garden weeding. That was my second day of weeding this week. The garden both in the back and in the front finally looks good. With no rain I am out there every other day watering, but I hate the weeding. I hate the watering too, but I like healthy plants more.

On Sunday I took Josey Brown for the monthly walk with the hounds around Audubon Park. There were only 6 greyhounds on our walk. On good months with the weather not so hot there are sometimes 12 hounds. They are something to see all together. Today was hot, and I found out that the walk will go on hiatus for the summer and resume in September. I know that it is hot, but Josey must be walked twice a day no matter what the weather.

Tuesday, June 9, 2009

Getting Near the End

I have been on a clinical trial for my whole chemotherapy regimen. When you sign up for a clinical trial, you are assigned a research nurse who holds your hand through the treatment. My first treatment was May 29, 2008 and my last treatment is planned for July 16, 2009. The nurse initially signed on to my case left Ochsner before I had my first chemo last May.

So I have been with Melanie Zazulak for over a year. I see her before each chemo. She asks me a zillion questions, and I get to ask her a zillion also. She schedules all my appointments. She is my connection to the doctor. It is a whole lot faster to call Melanie and get her to talk to Dr. Larned for me. She usually called back with a solution to my problem within twenty minutes. Melanie has made my journey much easier. I think that on July 16th will be my last visit with Melanie.

I finally got a picture of her during my last visit. Here we are in the hallway in oncology.

Monday, June 1, 2009

Back Home

We spent a long weekend visiting my father in law in Delray, FL. That was my first trip of the summer. Here is a picture of me with Bob.


On Thursday, I had my 7th Avastin treatment. Only two more left. YEA!!