UPDATE ON IRENE

For those of you who check this blog, please forgive me for going so long without a post.  I think it boils down to the fact that I do not “love” writing about myself, and what I have to write is pretty repetitious.  I will try to do better. 

Going back to my 5^th Chemo treatment which I wrote about at the end of March, it was a little different experience in that I felt pretty normal (normal for me) even the first couple of weeks after the treatment.  I did not go through the “being weak” phase which was nice.  I am grateful for any positive results. 

On to the 6^th treatment which was last week, April 25.  We spent eight hours (from 8 am until 4 pm) at the Banner MD Anderson facility.  A couple of those hours were waiting, but the chemo infusion took four hours.   The following two days we were there for about four hours each day for infusion of fluids and anti-nausea medicine.  I am so grateful for that, as I am not having any nausea.  Unlike my 5^th treatment, however, I have been very weak.  Well, that is something that I can deal with.   

I am slowly learning that I shouldn’t count on anything as far as these treatments are concerned, as it is not an exact science.  Basically, Dr. Homsi, wants to do two more chemo treatments using just one chemo drug each time.  In all my past treatments, they have given me two drugs, and he does not want to go from two to nothing.  I will have another MRI and CT Scan on the 22^nd of May then chemo on the 30^th.   

This is a fun time of year in that we have had many grandchildren events to go to – elementary school programs, gymnastic recitals, band, orchestra, and choir concerts coming up and Mt. View HS graduation for Josh, Chuck and Gayla’s oldest.  It is good for me to have something to get out of the house for besides going for my weekly blood draws.   

As of today, I uploaded my book to blurb.com that I have done for my brother who is turning 90 in June.  He wrote a wonderful journal of his 30 missions over Germany in World War II as the bombardier.  My project has been to get that into a book with the text, pictures, certificates, awards, etc. documenting his military career.  I have spent hours a day on it and have really enjoyed the project.  I think that my next project needs to be indexing.

POSITIVE RESULTS & FIFTH CHEMOTHERAPY

This morning we met with Dr. Homsi, our medical oncologist.  He had reviewed the MRIs and CT scan and recommended that we proceed with the chemotherapy today with another one in four weeks then more scans at the end of May.  The results are positive in that the lung lesions are still indistinguishable.  The tumor in my leg has been reduced dramatically from the original scans.  

If the scans in May look good, he will probably give me a break for a few months and remove the PICC line.  YEA!

As for the blood clots, there is not much change from when they were first diagnosed.  He told us that this is a slow process which is why it could take six months or longer to see results.  I am now giving myself a Lovenox shot once a day.

I told Dr. Homsi that at least once a week someone asks, “If the chemotherapy has helped your leg, why didn’t they try that in the beginning?”  His answer was interesting and shed some light on the subject. 

First of all, he said that sarcomas are a rare form of cancer, and a lot of them do not respond to chemo, so surgery is usually the first resort.  He then went on to say that the response for my tumor has been impressive and that I am a lucky girl.  I guess if I have to have something that is rare, I can be most grateful that it is responding to treatment. 

Chemo went fine today.  I read for a while, then the sedative they put through my PICC line kicked in, and I was out for a couple of hours.  Daryl is patient as always and is getting a lot of reading done.  We will be there again the next two days for anti-nausea medicine given intravenously through the PICC line.  This has really worked well the last two times. 

The goodness of friends is overwhelming as wonderful meals, and fabulous food baskets show up at our home along with all of the verbal concern, cards, etc.  These Christ like acts of service and expressions buoy us up and do make a difference.  We love each of you and thank you so very much—especially for your prayers!

We are really looking forward to this weekend and General Conference.  And we are so excited for the scheduled arrival of Allison Garn to Kevin and Tara on April 6^th.  They are busily painting their children’s’ rooms and switching them around in preparation for this momentous event.  This will take us to 15 grandsons and 14 granddaughters plus one great granddaughter.  It does not get any better than that. 

The following post "TESTS & MORE TESTS" is also new."

TESTS & MORE TESTS

These are examples of MRI machines.  Basically the top part of the bed slides into the machine.  I usually go in feet first, but my body is totally in the machine.

The past couple of days have run together, as we have spent a lot of hours at the Banner MD Anderson facility.  Yesterday, March 27, I started with a blood draw at 8:30 a.m.  After that I was scheduled for two MRI’s.  It turned out to actually be two, but it was all done at one time, so this was the longest MRI I have ever experienced—very close to two hours.  For any of you who have had an MRI, you will know that that is a bit of a challenge.  I can relax pretty easily, and I am not a bit claustrophobic, so that is not a problem.  But lying perfectly flat on a hard surface with a heavy shield type thing on top from my chest to my mid-thighs and lying perfectly still for that period of time makes for pain as the time goes on.  I was wearing ear phones, but the loud construction type noises (jack hammer for instance as well as other banging sounds) pretty much drown out the music.  The technicians are good to let you know about how long certain parts take such as saying that you have 5 minutes for this segment or twenty minutes left.  I try to distract myself.  I said the “Articles of Faith” many times, but that doesn’t take a lot of time.  You think about anything that might take your mind off your situation.  Anyway, my hips were killing me the last half hour.  Interestingly, the minute I was out and stood up the pain went away.  Opposition really inspires gratitude when things improve.

After that, I had a CT scan of my lungs.  Since I am noting the negatives, this test is quite fast and not hard at all, but for the preparation, I had to drink two bottles of what they call a “Berry Smoothie” which is really “Barium Sulfate Suspension” and has no relationship to a smoothie.  They gave me an hour to do that as they don’t want you to drink it too fast, or you may throw it up.  I really tried to exercise mind over matter which helped immensely, as I did not gag with every swallow like I did last time in Houston.  Maybe it really was a Berry Smoothie!

NO NEWS IS GOOD NEWS

I haven’t written for a while, because there is not a lot to write about.  After four treatments, we have pretty much settled into a routine.  The IV treatments for anti-nausea following chemo have worked well, and I had very little nausea this time around.  For a week and a half, I am very weak with just enough ambition to read, watch TV and nap.  That gets old pretty fast even though it sounds like a dream for those of you who are on the run every minute of the day.  Then my strength gradually comes back.  What a great feeling to do some work around the house, cook a decent meal, do the laundry and get out and do a few things. 

This past week many of our family have been out of town for Spring Break, but we were able to have Emily (11) and Andrew (9) Garry for a few days.  We made donuts (the easy way), watched movies, BYU basketball, grocery shopped, went to the park and had a pizza/hot tub evening with the addition of Kevin, Tara and family.  We are happy to have almost everyone back in town safely after skiing in Utah.  Dana and Amy have been in Costa Rica with the high school Spanish Club.  They have had a great adventure. 

My oldest brother, Byron, who will turn 90 in June, kept a detailed journal of his 30 missions in WW II as a bombardier.  I am working on getting that into a hard-bound book using Blurb.com.  It is well-written and very fascinating.  I am amazed anyone came through that ordeal alive.  My plan is to have it finished for his birthday, so I am spending a lot of time on that project. 

On Monday, we are driving to St. George, Utah, to visit Jean (my sister) and Evan.  Daryl will also be playing a little golf with friends, and we plan to attend the temple.  After chemo, I need to build my immune system back up along with my strength to be able to attend the temple.  It is always a good feeling and a privilege to be back. 

I will have an MRI and a CT scan on March 27^th and am scheduled for my 5^th chemotherapy treatment on the following day.  Hopefully, I will have a break after that.

I will have to say, however, that every day I am so grateful to be walking and to be feeling as well as I do.  I feel so very blessed.  

One more tidbit--I have been happy not to have lost my eyelashes, but they are getting thinner every day.  Well, no more mascara to put on and have run!

FOURTH ROUND OF CHEMOTHERAPY

Today went well.  We left home this morning to go to the Banner MD Anderson Cancer Center in Mesa at 8:00 a.m. and arrived home at 4:00 p.m.

The first part of the day was meeting with our Medical Oncologist, Dr. Homsi.  He is very concerned about the overall treatment as well as my quality of life.  We discussed doing everything here in Mesa as opposed to going back and forth to Houston for scans and consultations.  He was very objective and said that it needs to be based on how we personally feel about the services here in Mesa.  He also said that if we decide to shift our treatment to Mesa, but something more serious comes up that we feel we need the experience in Houston, we could still do that.  We are very comfortable with Dr. Homsi who by the way was in Houston before he came here.

We plan to go this direction of doing everything here in Mesa. As a result, they have scheduled an MRI of my leg and pelvis on March 27 as well as a CT scan of my chest.  These will be done and compared to previous scans.  Dr. Homsi feels that if there is continued improvement in reduction of the cancer in my leg, he will have me do another round of chemotherapy at that time.  At the point when two subsequent MRI’s do not show much change, they will quit chemotherapy for a time.  I hope this all makes sense.

I am continuing the Lovenox injections for the blood thinning once a day now instead of twice, and blood samples are taken weekly to monitor the process.

Today the actual chemotherapy IV process of dripping 5 bags of medication through my pic line lasted from 11:30 a.m. until 3:30 p.m.  I sit in a recliner for the treatment.  I read for a while and slept a little, then at a certain point I was totally out and didn’t wake up until I was finished.  They put some type of sedative in the IV fluid which does a job on me.  Through all this, Daryl has to be the most patient and positive person I know – just doing what needs to be done in a most cheerful & willing manner.  He is my hero!

I will go back in tomorrow and Friday for more IV fluids with anti-nausea medicine as well.  This worked great the last time in that the nausea was not nearly as bad, so I am hoping for the best and hoping that the you are enjoying “the best” in your lives at this time also.

MISSION CALL

We are so excited to have our first next generation missionary.  Steve and Dana’s, Jason, who is a freshman at BYU received his mission call one week ago.  We were all gathered around the laptop at Steve and Dana’s with him in Provo at his dorm.  It was a perfect picture and almost as good as having him there.  When he opened the call, he read every word including the addresses until he got to the actual call – no looking ahead.  He will be serving in the Mexico Tampico Mission which is on the coast on the Gulf of Mexico side.  It is a city with lots of members and a temple.  Needless to say, we are all thrilled.  Dana is especially happy that he will be learning Spanish.  Jason turns 19 on May 26th and will report to the MTC on June 13. 

He arrives here this evening for the weekend, and tomorrow evening he will be going to the temple for the first time.  I am so happy to feel well enough to go, as I have not been to the Mesa Temple since I started my chemo treatments.  I am really looking forward to being there with our family.

Two weeks down the road now from my last treatment, I am feeling a little better and stronger each day.  I did not have much nausea at all this time – just threw up a few random times, but that is behind me.  We have been walking around our circle in hopes of building up my strength and stamina. 

My next treatment will be here in Mesa on February 29, then I may not have any more treatments for a while.  We continue to be so grateful for many who tell us they are still praying for me.

THIRD CHEMOTHERAPY CYCLE

We arrived home from Houston on  Monday afternoon – very happy to be here.  There is really no place like home.

We had an appointment on Wednesday morning with Dr. Homsi and learned that we were all set up that day for my chemotherapy treatment, so we spent most of the day in the infusion center.  Dr. Homsi was also very pleased with the results of the chemotherapy on the spots on my lungs and also the reduction of the tumor in my leg.  He feels like the physical pressure of the leg tumor inhibiting blood flow is what caused the blood clots.  There is a clot in my lungs, but they are very hopeful that over time the Lovenox shots will dissolve the clots.

Dr. Homsi had me come back into the cancer center yesterday and today for IV treatments for anti-nausea and for fluids to prevent dehydration.  It is about a four hour process, so we are getting a lot of reading done.  The pharmacy mixes the fluids, and they do not even start that process until you are in the infusion center.  So far it is working, and I have not been nauseous for which I am so grateful.  I am pretty weak.  Made a batch of whole wheat bread this morning which took most of my energy. 

I received a sweet note today from Elena Cottom who was one of my achievement day girls years ago and who is now serving in the Domican Republic.  She shared D&C 90:24 – “All things will work together for our good.”  We are counting on that for us and for each of you.