Well, the picture of the clock is
important because that is what time I was able to leave Siteman today!
Yes, no more 3 day chemo for now, and I was out of there in time for
lunch! From here on, I will have chemo more frequently (3 Tuesdays out of
4) for briefer periods......just a few hours including labs and doctor
visits.The results of the CT scan are good news, bad news. The large tumor in the pancreas (about 3 in by 2 in) has not changed much. That is good! The 2 metastases in the liver have increased significantly (doubled) and have given birth to two more babies. That is not good.
So the doctor wants to try Gemzar, a typical pancreatic cancer drug, to control the tumor in the pancreas, and an experimental drug (for my cancer but already approved for metastatic breast cancer) called Abraxane to control the mets. It is off label for this purpose and has not yet been approved by my insurance company. Hopefully it will be good to go next week.
My labs are good. I have a blood clot around my port, so I am back on two shots a day of Lovenox. Platelets are a little low (understandably with that medicine) but other blood work and liver enzymes are normal!
We are thinking about having a memorial for Ralph next week. I have chemo on Tuesday, and we will try to get to Atlanta Tuesday or Wednesday for the service.
Thanks again for all the comments on email and in the blog, as well as the notes and phone calls. It is really uplifting and encouraging to me.
Hooray for getting out of the hospital at 12:40 !
Lynne
P.S. One more thing. Depending on how I tolerate the new treatment, we will retest in two months.....about the middle of February.
I think you will tolerate the Gemzar/Abraxane well.....I have seen the Gemzar really help keep the pancreatic stuff in control and Abraxane is well tolerated...
ReplyDeleteSorry about your brother. Know you are loved and cherished.
Nancy Marsh csj
Appreciate the good news, Lynne; and pray the bad news diminishes . . . AND, that the insurance people recognize the need to say "YES" ... Love as always, Cec
ReplyDeleteWell glad to hear the positivity in your post, keep it going that way. Keep fighting sister!
ReplyDeletePeayers and hugs!
Kelly Goersch
Lynne--I'm glad to see your face on this blog and to pray that the insurance company comes through!!! Know I think and pray for you often. Kathy Crowley
ReplyDeleteAnd JO in the singing video is just too much!
Hopefully you have heard from Valerie Sperka by this point. I gave her this blog site and an email address as she really wanted to reconnect with you. I met her in Indianapolis during the National Catholic Youth Conference in late November. She told me that you were her teacher and that you were awesome. vsperka@archindy.org Know that you continue to be in prayer...Linda Markway, CSJ
ReplyDeleteHi Lynn... Lyda Krewson here. I stumbled across your blog this morning when I was looking for your email address. I think I have read the whole thing by now... it has made me so sad and so happy all at the same time. Your writing, pictures, and insight are so incredibly rich! Moving, funny, warm, I feel lucky to know you even a little. Thank you for being so public and 'bringing all of us along' over many years.
ReplyDeleteNow for that new car... maybe you are driving with the top down these last few days. Enjoy! And please let me know if i can do anything for you or Doorways. xoxo Lyda