I met with Dr. Rohatgi yesterday and he agreed that since my scans were SO high, he was putting me back on IV Chemo starting immediately. Sonia and Jordan both accompanied me to my appointment, and since Sonia was afraid we'd forget everything once we left the room, she was kind enough to record it. She actually wanted to send a copy via the internet to Luanne, but I'm not sure how to do that, so since I'm going to be spending a couple days with her this week, I'm just going to bring the recorder for her to listen to. This new IV Chemo will definitely make me lose my hair again, but that's okay because it's getting too long anyway. Sonia says that she couldn't believe I was that cheap if that's what I'm looking forward to :) ...lol. I will have chemotherapy once a week for one week on, then two weeks off. I'm still not sure how long the treatment is, but it's sometime between two and four hours. Usually it depends upon whether or not you've had blood work done ahead of time or not, but we went down to Sutter today to prepare ourselves for the treatment on Monday, but they said that the blood work I had done the other day with my blood transfusion was good enough and that I didn't need to have it done again. However, for my next cycles, I may have to come a day or two early and prepare my blood work for them. Apparently it's a big deal because if we don't have it done ahead of time, they're hours behind on my treatment. Whatever works. I just hate to have my ride (since I'm always at the mercy of somebody driving me - and it's usually Monica) have to wait a long time for nothing. I know how busy Monica is with the kids and the restaurant and all, so I hate to make her wait any longer than she has to. This Monday Monica is going to be bringing her teenage son Frankie with her to spend some quality time together :) I love Frankie, he's a good boy who sometimes helps out at Strings when they need him, but one of his greatest strengths besides his strikingly good looks, is the fact that he can play some serious baseball! Unfortunately we cheer for two opposite teams (Giants vs. A's), but it's all good. We'd just love to see Frankie successful in wherever his dreams take him. Good luck to you Frankie, just keep up those grades and you'll make it.
So...Cycle 1, day 1 starts Monday, December 19, 2011 @ 8:30. It's been about 9 months since my last IV chemo, so I'm a bit nervous. So again, I ask that you pray for me during this difficult time transitioning over to IV, it's not that easy, so I'll need your positive help with this. Also, when at the breast surgeon's office the other day, he said that the tumor in my breast had grown back to be the size that it was originally. It's a bit sore, but hopefully it will shrink with treatment and the pain will subside a bit.
Peace to you all ~ Love, Genie
-Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Sunday, December 18, 2011
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
Tim, I look to you for strength and guidance...
As you know my younger brother is Tim and he's going through a pretty difficult time in his life right now. However, a little over two years ago he gave me some words of wisdom that I truly grasp at from time to time with all of my heart and soul. I sometimes grasp so hard at those words of encouragement, that I'm literally white-knuckling my fingers, they are so clenched in prayer. What Tim told me was to never under estimate the power of prayer, and that I should never forget about the power of positive thinking. And with negative thinking, it wouldn't get me anywhere, but would rather do me more harm than good.
Well, Tim, I sure love you and I've been thinking about you and your encouraging words all day. Remember my Tumor Marker that my Oncologist measures every month and keeps an eye on? Well, when I left Kaiser it was barely creeping up on 100, and I believe that was back in May. The standard range on the chart shows that it should be approximately < 38. Last month on 11/09 my count was at 415.2, but when I checked today which was drawn on 12/07 my count was 645.7! It has taken everything in me to stay positive today and have faith in what the doctors are doing, but those numbers sure do scare me...a lot.
And without "airing his dirty laundry" as my Dad would always say, I pray that you get through this difficult time in your life with dignity and respect. And remember to "never under estimate the power of prayer & definitely don't forget the power of positive thinking".
Peace to you all ~ Love, Genie
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Well, Tim, I sure love you and I've been thinking about you and your encouraging words all day. Remember my Tumor Marker that my Oncologist measures every month and keeps an eye on? Well, when I left Kaiser it was barely creeping up on 100, and I believe that was back in May. The standard range on the chart shows that it should be approximately < 38. Last month on 11/09 my count was at 415.2, but when I checked today which was drawn on 12/07 my count was 645.7! It has taken everything in me to stay positive today and have faith in what the doctors are doing, but those numbers sure do scare me...a lot.
And without "airing his dirty laundry" as my Dad would always say, I pray that you get through this difficult time in your life with dignity and respect. And remember to "never under estimate the power of prayer & definitely don't forget the power of positive thinking".
Peace to you all ~ Love, Genie
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Sunday, December 4, 2011
Surgery...
We made our way upstairs to the waiting area and who was waiting with a HUGE smile on her face? Yolanda Turner from the DMV!! OMG I was so excited to see her waiting to be sure I made it into surgery okay. What a sweetheart she is. At one point in our lives we didn't see eye to eye and I sure am glad that the good Lord has shown me the unnecessary way in which I was acting, because that was plain foolish. I am blessed to have such a dear, kind-hearted friend in my life. Thank you Yolanda for your forgiveness, God bless you. I must also mention that my loving Father-in-law also drove up early from San Jose to make it in time, arriving at approximately 9:00 to save his place in line :)
After we registered I began to have butterflies that didn't want to ease up. SERIOUS butterflies. If I'd been there alone, I think I would have backed out, but unfortunately I had WAY too many witnesses to walk out on something like this...damn it!!
Dr. Tamariun walked in and went over everything again before the surgery and wondered who had requested the top anesthesiologist in the hospital and none of us had any clue, but that definitely put some of those butterflies to rest, that's for sure :0) and within about twenty seconds after answering my questions, I was out cold after meeting him. Don't ask me what he even looks like, I have no clue...sorry Dr. Brown!
Within what I swear felt like less than a minute, I was awake and talking my head off! With a room FULL of people, I managed to get some food in me and some serious narcotics to take the edge off. Between trial and error, we eventually landed on the usual cocktail of Morphine every 2 hours (just like when I landed in the ER a couple months ago) and it definitely helped with easing the pain. Thank goodness.
I do want to take this moment to apologize for perhaps being a bit grumpy straight after surgery, but it SERIOUSLY hurt like hell...so please understand when I say how truly sorry I am for anything said that might have hurt your feelings in any way, shape, or form. I found out later on, that during the final stages of the surgery, the surgeon erroneously broke a bone and had to repair that with wires before
I stayed overnight and decided that since sleep was almost impossible, we choose to go home after the first night. Watching the fish channel the entire night just wasn't kicking it :) although with the sound, it was quite therapeutic.
I'm home now and hanging out in the recliner with the cat (Siren) and starting to really heal. I believe that's what happens when you start to itch like crazy, right? I'm in a sling so I can't just stick a wire down it, but i manage with our back-scratcher. Remember it boys? It was mom's old brown one, that hit the spot every time.
Okay, I'm outta here. Not bad for one finger typing. I'll keep in touch <3
Peace to you all ~ Love, Genie
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
After we registered I began to have butterflies that didn't want to ease up. SERIOUS butterflies. If I'd been there alone, I think I would have backed out, but unfortunately I had WAY too many witnesses to walk out on something like this...damn it!!
Dr. Tamariun walked in and went over everything again before the surgery and wondered who had requested the top anesthesiologist in the hospital and none of us had any clue, but that definitely put some of those butterflies to rest, that's for sure :0) and within about twenty seconds after answering my questions, I was out cold after meeting him. Don't ask me what he even looks like, I have no clue...sorry Dr. Brown!
Within what I swear felt like less than a minute, I was awake and talking my head off! With a room FULL of people, I managed to get some food in me and some serious narcotics to take the edge off. Between trial and error, we eventually landed on the usual cocktail of Morphine every 2 hours (just like when I landed in the ER a couple months ago) and it definitely helped with easing the pain. Thank goodness.
I do want to take this moment to apologize for perhaps being a bit grumpy straight after surgery, but it SERIOUSLY hurt like hell...so please understand when I say how truly sorry I am for anything said that might have hurt your feelings in any way, shape, or form. I found out later on, that during the final stages of the surgery, the surgeon erroneously broke a bone and had to repair that with wires before
I stayed overnight and decided that since sleep was almost impossible, we choose to go home after the first night. Watching the fish channel the entire night just wasn't kicking it :) although with the sound, it was quite therapeutic.
I'm home now and hanging out in the recliner with the cat (Siren) and starting to really heal. I believe that's what happens when you start to itch like crazy, right? I'm in a sling so I can't just stick a wire down it, but i manage with our back-scratcher. Remember it boys? It was mom's old brown one, that hit the spot every time.
Okay, I'm outta here. Not bad for one finger typing. I'll keep in touch <3
Peace to you all ~ Love, Genie
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Thursday, December 1, 2011
Stay Tuned...
Hello ~ I promise to blog at some point either today or tomorrow, whenever I can withstand the pain long enough to press the keys with one hand. Just know that I am alive, back on Morphine every 2 hours, and thinking about positive (pain free days ahead). Prayers are still and always will be welcomed. That is all for now, but I'll be back soon.
Peace to you all ~ Love, Genie
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Peace to you all ~ Love, Genie
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
Pre-op Went Well...
Dr. Tamurian met with us this morning and went over everything having to do with the surgery scheduled for Tuesday, 11/29. We discussed how he's going to be making one incision at the top of my Humerus and they'll be running the titanium rod (which they kept referring to as a nail) down through the bone to basically the elbow area. Apparently they do this operation all the time, which is really unfortunate and made me sad when he told me. I also got to meet "Mike" his assistant who will be joining him during the operation. I already told John, but geeze, they've got some good looking surgeons at Sutter!
I'm still supposed to show up at 10:00, although we'll get started at 12:00 and the entire operation will take about two hours. He said that he would expect that my recovery time will take a couple weeks.
Peace to you all ~ Love, Genie
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
I'm still supposed to show up at 10:00, although we'll get started at 12:00 and the entire operation will take about two hours. He said that he would expect that my recovery time will take a couple weeks.
Peace to you all ~ Love, Genie
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
Getting Ready for Surgery...
Well apparently it's custom to have an EKG before going in for surgery to ensure that your heart is doing good. Since they already ran an EKG a couple weeks ago while I was in the ER, they only had to transfer over the information from my files, which was nice. They also got all of my necessary lab work done when I went in for my Zometa treatment last week. Which was actually funny, because I came in a week early for the treatment, thinking that it was supposed to be one day for sure, but apparently I was wrong. Thank goodness they didn't seem to mind and went ahead and gave me my treatment instead of sending me on home. John wasn't too thrilled, but at least that part is over with now. So, the only thing left is for me to go to my pre-op appointment tomorrow morning with Dr. Tamurian @ 8:30. He'll go over all the necessary arrangements with me and inform me of all that is going to take place on the 29th. I think I've asked everything except how long the surgery is going to take. And also, if they're going to put one of those long tubes down my throat, cuz that would not be fun. I think they need to know how freaked out I can get, and beware. However, I'm going to try my best to go in with a good attitude and know that I'll be in really good hands. I know that God would never just take me this far and then end my life so suddenly, but whatever is meant to be, is meant to be. I'll be okay. I'm actually looking forward to using my right arm again! Yay, I'll be able to dress without assistance, drive without fear, and write without looking like a kindergartener wrote it!
Peace to you all ~ Love, Genie
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Peace to you all ~ Love, Genie
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
I'm Back....
I know, I know, I haven't blogged in what seems like forever! I do apologize for that, it wasn't intentional. Let me catch you up a little bit on what's been going on and maybe you'll understand. Okay, first of all, remember that arm that's been in a sling since September 14th?! Yeah, that's right...the friggin middle of September!! Well, first of all, that stupid obstacle keeps getting in the way with typing...a lot. Then, just as I'm starting to recuperate from the black-eye (from the crazy fall) and all of my other wounds, I promptly came down with the flu...in a big way. I didn't even see it coming. Wammo, one minute I didn't have it, the next, I did and was losing it from both ends. Sorry guys...gross. However, that was exactly what was going on and I lost communication with everyone on the planet. I didn't check emails, texts, voicemails, or even looked at my iPad and that's a miracle for me. So there, I had the flu and now I'm over it.
FINALLY, this past Friday we met with the Oncology Orthopedic Surgeon (like we should have a couple months ago) and went over a plan of attack. He discussed that there were two different options that we had, but ultimately we would be making the final decision. The fist one was to take a titanium rod and run it down the Humerus, avoiding the "bad" cancer and if everything goes well, the recuperation time will be about two weeks and I should be using my arm again...yay! Btw, of course all cancer is "bad" cancer, but some is more aggressive than others and is constantly eating away at your bones. The other cancer isn't as bad and can help work towards healing the problem (sort of). Okay, back to the other surgery option. The second option is that he goes in from behind my arm and goes straight to the "bad" cancer and cuts out a block of it, inserting a titanium block in it's place. However, this surgery has a lot more risks involved and also the recuperation time is twice as long. After thinking about the options, we ultimately chose option number one and he said that if it doesn't work for some reason, we can always go to the backup plan. Now, get your pencils ready because my surgery is scheduled for Tuesday, November 29th @ 12:05 p.m. I have to check in at 10:00 a.m. to get all prepped and ready to go, but that's the schedule. Naturally if the hospital has an emergency of some sort that bumps my surgery out a bit, then that will be the case. Otherwise, that's the plan. I've already done my labs, my EKG looks good, and we're headed in the right direction. Finally, I have another last minute appointment with him next week since he can't see me the week of Thanksgiving (otherwise he would), then we're ready to go. All I need from all of you is.....plenty of positive thoughts and prayers, as usual :)
Peace to you all ~ Love, Genie
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
FINALLY, this past Friday we met with the Oncology Orthopedic Surgeon (like we should have a couple months ago) and went over a plan of attack. He discussed that there were two different options that we had, but ultimately we would be making the final decision. The fist one was to take a titanium rod and run it down the Humerus, avoiding the "bad" cancer and if everything goes well, the recuperation time will be about two weeks and I should be using my arm again...yay! Btw, of course all cancer is "bad" cancer, but some is more aggressive than others and is constantly eating away at your bones. The other cancer isn't as bad and can help work towards healing the problem (sort of). Okay, back to the other surgery option. The second option is that he goes in from behind my arm and goes straight to the "bad" cancer and cuts out a block of it, inserting a titanium block in it's place. However, this surgery has a lot more risks involved and also the recuperation time is twice as long. After thinking about the options, we ultimately chose option number one and he said that if it doesn't work for some reason, we can always go to the backup plan. Now, get your pencils ready because my surgery is scheduled for Tuesday, November 29th @ 12:05 p.m. I have to check in at 10:00 a.m. to get all prepped and ready to go, but that's the schedule. Naturally if the hospital has an emergency of some sort that bumps my surgery out a bit, then that will be the case. Otherwise, that's the plan. I've already done my labs, my EKG looks good, and we're headed in the right direction. Finally, I have another last minute appointment with him next week since he can't see me the week of Thanksgiving (otherwise he would), then we're ready to go. All I need from all of you is.....plenty of positive thoughts and prayers, as usual :)
Peace to you all ~ Love, Genie
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
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