Booooooring and no interesting photos!

Today I had a CT scan. My platelets are still too low for chemo. Initial reports are that the mama tumor in the pancreas hasn't changed much, and the metastases have grown marginally. The bigger deal is that the blood clot around my port has increased despite the fact that I have been taking Lovenox shots twice daily (it is like heparin). Tomorrow I go for a test to see why the shots aren't solving the blood clot. Remember what I said about nuisance!?

The best news is that Paula, Iris, Beth and Sandi are coming this weekend for RED! I am sure there will be pictures.

Lynne

Flunking Platelets

It seems like a bunch of nuisance symptoms are getting in the way. Can you believe I flunked platelets? I was supposed to have chemo on Tuesday, and the blood tests showed I had only 43,000 platelets. That seems like a gracious plenty, but JoAnn says I’m supposed to have 200k to 400k. What a feeling of inadequacy!

My other new wrinkle is that I have cellulitis in both legs. Usually people don’t get it bilaterally, but it appears I am an over achiever in this regard. Basically my shins, calves and ankles started swelling, turning bright red and hurting like hell. Guido jumped on it immediately and took me to Siteman,  and they gave me ten days of antibiotics. It was hard to walk for a few days, and I had petechia……little red dots of blood showing just under the surface of the skin…..but now I am almost back to normal. I missed several days of gym and gained weight, hopefully just from the water retention. I had to quit the lovinex (sp?) shots in the stomach which are for the blood clot around my port, so that may become a problem. So, see what I mean by nuisance?

RED is coming up. Iris and Paula and Beth and Sandi are going to be here for it!

Finally, our staff at Doorways went together and had this serious and seriously beautiful bronze plaque made in memory of Carly. We will hang it in the memorial garden. What a thoughtful, loving gift! There is a photo here to show you.

2012 Update!!!

Lynne's Groupies

Lynne, Alison, Sue, Murphy and Susan

Well I have gotten the message that I need to update the blog!

First, Happy Birthday, Cec! It's been a great 43 years of friendship!

The treatments have been going pretty well. I am now on the single drug and seem to be tolerating it. My white blood counts were too low to start the Abraxane. We will have another CT scan in three weeks to see how the tumor is responding, and we may start it then! In the mean time I have found out that a vaccine trial for pancreatic cancer, and including some of those who are not candidates for surgery (like me) will be starting in St. Louis, possibly as soon as next week. There are lots of hoops to jump, and I will have to be almost perfectly matched to the requirements of the trial, but my doctor does not see any of the more obvious red flags that would exclude me. This is the most cutting edge treatment introduced to me by Sean Muthian and articles from my cousin, Rene, and, if I qualify, I am very lucky to have it in St. Louis.

For now, I am able to work frequently though sometimes briefly. Joe Noelker is doing most of the day to day management, and we are collaborating on projects. Fatigue is my biggest challenge, and my memory at a moment's notice is not what it usually is. I take lots of naps! My appetite is usually the same, although Jo says I have more of a sweet tooth than I ever have had.

Thanks to all of you for your notes and encouraging thoughts, especially after My brother Ralph's death and memorial service. It really was a blessing in many ways. Clark and Beth were with him when he died, and his birth daughter, Angel, and her family, as well as family from Jacksonville and Valdosta and friends from our old neighborhood, attended the luncheon after the service at the cemetery.

I will try to send photos soon!

Please see the new website for the maternity clinic at www.maternityclinicgulu.com and the updated Doorways website at www.doorwayshousing.org

Lynne

Sister JoAnn, Lynne, Jeff and Greg at Food Outreach

Christmas with Will, Seth, Grace and Sophia