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

CT Report From This Morning

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.

Ralph Joseph Cooper, II. Resting in Peace

My Brother, Ralph

My brother, Ralph, shown here with his daughter, Angel, died today at out Lady of Perpetual Help Hospice in Atlanta. He slept away peacefully after two years with lung cancer. Iris and Paula were on their way home from a visit here, but our brother, Clark, and niece, Beth, were with him. Thanks for all your support!

Lynne

"Dreams Come True with Rosie!"

Rosie and Susie brought dinner and the entertainment!

Tai Chi and Qi Gong

Shawn Tucker is teaching me Qi Gong Tai Chi at Brentwood Center for Health for its benefits on health and wellness. He is also doing energy work and designing an at home program. It's a great antidote for all the toxins of chemo!

http://www.webmd.com/fitness-exercise/tc/tai-chi-and-qi-gong-topic-overview


Lynne

Thanksgiving on Whidbey Island

Thanks for all the warm messages through Thanksgiving. I went to Rosie and Sue's home on Whidbey Island for a long winter's nap with Jo, Cec, Therese, Crowley and Mary Beth, my 14 year old niece. We had a wonderful relaxing time watching the ships come in and out of Puget Sound from the front windows, reading, watching movies, playing on line, talking and laughing...lots of laughing! I did great except for a mouth sore that finally went away (Faye called in a mixture of viscous lidocaine and maalox).
 
Today I started my 4th chemo and was at the hospital from 8-6. Jo will unplug me from this one on Thursday, and I'll get another week off! This time, though, I have an appointment for another CT scan which will tell the story of how the chemo is doing! I will keep you posted.

Please do something special for World AIDS Day on Thursday!

Thanks for all the love and good energy!

Lynne

The girls of Whidbey

Fashion forward on Whidbey Island