Monday, May 25, 2009

Lots of news

Once again it's been a long since I've updated this blog, but I've been exhausted.  

In my last posting I wrote about the beginning of my radiation treatments.  Last week I had two treatments a day for four days; all went well.  I fell asleep during most of the treatments, and got a chair massage several of the days (yes!).  It was kinda weird--having to keep an eye on my watch all the time and organizing my life around the two-a-days, but well worth it.  Thursday afternoon they took the balloon out, gave me lots of hugs and sent me on my way.  I need to allow the spot where the tubes came through a little more time to heal, and then I'll be able to take, yes, oh my god, A SHOWER!!!!!!  I'm hoping for Tuesday . . . 

On Monday I went to see Dr. Ken Weizer, a naturopath.  Miriam Hecht sent me to him; he's a cancer survivor himself, and he's really smart.  He gave me several powders to mix into yogurt.  They'll help boost my immune system, and restore what's been knocked out by the stress and radiation--and chemo (more about that below).  I really like him.  Unfortunately, the powders total more than 2 Tablespoons, and don't dissolve in a cup of yogurt--which is about the max I can eat at a time.  I tried using warm milk with some coffee concentrate (heat to help dissolve the stuff, coffee to cover the taste).  I emailed Ken and he suggested fruit juice, so I'll try it with diluted juice--most is too sweet for me.  Wish me luck.  

He also told me to eat a bowl of whole grains every day, and half a cup of cooked mushrooms--any kind except white button.  I've been having fun with that, making lots of dishes that combine both (although I don't have to eat them together), and just learning about different grains.  Coincidentally, I bought "Whole Grains for Busy People" just before my cruise, and it's a pretty cool cookbook. 

On Tuesday I saw my oncologist, and there is great news.  Based on the DNA testing of my tumor and all the other info, my chances of recurrence are pretty damned small.  Not zero, but small.  Dr. Orwoll talked to be about chemo, the pros and cons.  Because my numbers are so good, she couldn't recommend either way, just laid out the information for me and insisted I sleep on it.  It would change my odds by a few percentage points.  

 I slept on it and took two naps--and decided to have the chemo.  It's fairly benign (methotrexate and 5FU), and few people have side effects.  I just don't want to find more cancer in 5 years and say "Damn!  Shoulda had that chemo!"  I'm going to wait a little before I start to give myself time to get a little stronger.  Two surgeries plus radiation really wiped me out.  

Once I start the chemo, I will spend two hours every other week hooked up to an IV.  Then, 24 hours after the chemo, I will have to take a special form of folic acid every six hours for 24 hours--including waking up in the middle of the night for that dose.  Basically, the chemo stops cells from reproducing, and the folic acid restarts them.  During the first 24 hours, any cells that are cancer will die without reproducing, but most normal cells will be OK.  Treatment will be for 6 months, which means about a dozen treatments.  

Dr. Orwoll is also going to put me on a bone-strengthening medication that helps fight cancer recurrence, an estrogen blocker (Tamoxifen or another one, depending on tests), and extra Vitamin D and calcium.  She's also going to run some genetic tests looking for some markers (BRCA-1 and -2).  

So what's next?  First, I figure out a potion that will work for the powders my naturopath gave me.  Then I talk with my surgeon about when I go back to work,  schedule my chemo, set up a follow-up appointment with my naturopath, and see if I can manage to sign up for a yoga class.  And, of course, I'll keep you posted.  

(And in case you were wondering about that picture . . .it's a device that plugs into the USB port of your computer and heats a pad; the pad is placed in your bra to keep your breasts warm while working on the computer.)



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