Cancer Journey- Part 10

Wow! Has it really been months since I last did an update? I suppose I should apologize, but it would be rather disingenuous of me. I’ve had plenty of opportunities to write, but I have chosen to enjoy being back in our home and doing all the stuff that comes with having things to physically work on.

There was always something to do outside: flower beds to weed (my parents made a trip to help almost weekly), apples to harvest, and blackberry vines to tame. We enjoyed many celebrations and milestones over the summer and fall months. Then came the holidays and all that goes with them.

A bathroom also needed updating. When I say “need” I mean that it was fine, but I didn’t like it. It was so outdated and miss matched. I still have a bit to go on it, but it doesn’t irritate me like it did. I may post some pictures when it’s done. It’s not some fancy bathroom makeover with beautiful tilework or anything, just not as ugly. Sometimes that’s all I can aim for.

18th Birthday Fun

Sister turned 18 this summer! We had the usual family party out at my parents’ house. She has a very fun sense of humor and chose a chocolate cake made to look like a cartoon lemon cake. This was a fun one to put together.

My mom’s birthday is the day before Sister’s. There’s not a lot my mom wants, but I thought of something super fun. One of my nieces was living for a little while about 7 hours away. I asked her if she would be interested in driving up for a girls’ day out. It all worked out and up she came. Along with her came her baby boy, my parents’ first great grandchild. This was the first time we got to meet him.

He is the happiest, most laid-back boy. Little Bit became really attached and will quite often ask if we can go and visit him. I wish we could, but he is now multiple states away. We have other family out where he lives now that I would also love to visit. So, maybe.

24th Anniversary

Ben and I celebrated out 24th wedding anniversary with a trip down the Oregon coast. I had been looking up places to stop along the way and learned that multiple beaches have agate hunting. There must have been a secret that I didn’t read because all I found at stop after stop was sand. Lots and lots of sand.

In case you are wondering, no, Ben does not have an earring. It’s just a light hitting at just the right spot. He took other pictures of us, but this was the only one I didn’t look doofy in. He’s a very good man.

The Real Reason You’re Reading

Anyways, the real reason you’re probably reading this is for a cancer update. In part 9 I mentioned that I had a PET scan done and was going to tell you the results. Well, all came back good from that test. There were no masses detected anywhere. Lobular breast cancer doesn’t make masses, so that was no surprise, but due to having Lynch syndrome my doctor wanted to make sure no new cancers had started. Also, my doctor was surprised that the lesions in my spine had not grown. He said that he had expected to see them getting closer to my spinal column.

This news about the lesions added along with the cancer counts in my blood going down made him say the word, “remission.” I just sat there trying to pay attention to what he had just said and what he was continuing to talk about. Then he said it again! I sat there in shock.

Afterwards, Ben and I went and got a coffee then sat and talked about the appointment. I didn’t want to get too excited because I was still expecting that I misinterpreted what the doctor was saying somehow. I asked Ben, “So, when he said ‘remission,’ that really means he is saying my cancer is in remission?” He answered with the affirmative and went on to reword some of the things my doctor had said. He then had to take a call, so I quickly texted my parents with the good news.

From there I went up to visit my bestie, Davina. I did my best to not cry on the 10-minute drive to her house. There were so many emotions that were finally getting the news from my brain that I knew if I started to cry, I wouldn’t be able to drive.

I made it to her house in one piece and went inside. I got the informal greeting that one expects when one has been known for years. One kid was on the couch, another was making a sandwich, another in a bedroom. Davina was getting a last-minute chore done and was asking me if I wanted something to drink. I couldn’t contain myself any longer. In the middle of her great room, I leapt into a full forward lunge and threw my hands up as though I had just made a touch-down and yelled, “Remission!”

I may have scared a kid or two. Davina stood there for a bit trying to register what I had just done and said. Finally, she came over to give me a hug and we both started crying.

From there I went to my sister-in-law’s house to pick up Little Bit. I got to spread the good news to that household, too. As you might imagine, there were more hugs and crying.

13th Birthday Fun

Little Bit turned 13! Her cousin and her are a day apart and she really wanted to have a joint party with him. She had already decided on a sasquatch theme for the party before he even agreed to having a party together. Thankfully, he didn’t care and went along with it.

I don’t know how many hours she spent looking for the perfect cake for me to replicate. She narrowed it down to two really elaborate ones. She got neither. I had to tone it down for this party. There was just too much pulling at my time that week. I could tell she was disappointed, but she didn’t say anything negative. She went on having a fun time with all the family at their party.

This cake was four layers tall including: chocolate, chocolate/vanilla swirl, white, and vanilla chai. It had to be tall because it’s one of those surprise cakes. When you cut into it the candy in the center of the cake spills out. In this cake a sasquatch was hiding in the candy. I put little footprints in the “mud” at the bottom and tried to make it look like something had walked into the forest.

Back to the Updates

Over the last six months or so I’ve had my monthly blood draw and doctor appointment. I am mainly excited to see what my cancer counts are. I love to see the numbers dropping. Once in a while one of the counts is slightly up, but not enough to be concerned about.

One number that wasn’t moving like any of us wanted it to was my red blood count. With the cancer being in my bones the marrow just isn’t there to produce the amount I need to move further away from anemia. My body is used to the lower levels so I am able to go about my day, but I wear out faster than I should.

But listen to this! A woman I know from being stationed in Korea and her husband have a vision of starting a community center where people can come for Godly counseling at any time day or night. It would have art, theater and music programs and just be a safe place. I was thinking about her and didn’t know what exactly to pray for, so I texted her. We had a few messages back and forth and she asked what she could be praying about for me. I told her my blood counts.

Well, guess what? This last visit my count jumped almost a whole point! When a 7 is time for a transfusion and 10 is the low end of normal going from being in the 10s to in the 11s is a big deal! We’ve got a great big wonderful God!

Migraines have been a topic of discussion for the past few months, also. The most I’ve had is three in one month. I know some of you have these frequently and I can’t imagine having to deal with them any more than I already do. A month ago Dr. M. gave me meds to combat the migraines when they set on which has helped immensely.

During this last visit with him, he noticed that my creatinine level was high. This means I am a bit dehydrated. He said that being dehydrated could be what caused the migraines to start. The 8 hours of uncontrolled pain followed by being wiped out for the rest of the day (before I got the meds) may have been because I wasn’t drinking enough water.

A friend’s daughter in Louisiana, Miss L, is 5 and she made me a video over the summer reminding me to drink my water. I was doing a good job at the time, but I slipped. I may need her to do random checks on me. I don’t ever want to tell her that I’m not doing what I need to do.

Dr. M. also said that the cancer counts are low enough and my blood is up enough that any fatigue I may experience is not due to the cancer but is a side effect of all the medications I’m taking.

Stomach Trouble (Maybe Too Much Info)

This last Sunday, Jan 28th, I got up feeling fine. I made a cup of tea with no milk or sugar because of a diet I needed to be on for a PET scan on Monday. I was about half-way through when I got a bit nauseous. I thought it may have been because I needed to eat. I went in the kitchen and took an anti-nausea pill along with my other meds and started to make my breakfast. I got flushed and opened a window to get some cool air on me. It wasn’t cooling me down at all, so I went on the back porch. I grabbed the dog’s water bucket and dumped it out to get him some fresh water. Before I could get to the water I was vomiting in the bucket. I looked at it and it was a faded black/dark gray color. I’ve never seen vomit like that before. There was no food in it or coffee ground texture indicative of blood.

I texted my mom and Davina and asked them to pray. Ben and the kids had me stay home from church just in case I had something contagious. I’ve had stomach aches off and on all week, but no more nausea or vomiting and I never had diarrhea. Ben and I had been on a trip to Virginia and gotten home the Friday before, so maybe I just picked something up along the way. Dr. M. had said that I’m not so immunocompromised that I can’t go out and do normal things. Please don’t think I’m living dangerously.

PET Scan

Monday was PET scan time again. Thankfully, this appointment was in the morning because fasting is required. Everything went well. I’ve had the same tech a couple of times now. Along with the metal box containing the metal syringe of radioactive liquid, he brings some humor.

I asked if I could have a picture of the syringe and he said, “Sure!” Then he posed with it. I didn’t ask for his permission to share the photo so I blocked his face. He was looking rather maniacal.

In Other News

Little Bit got a duckling from Ben’s cousin. She was the cutest little thing! Hazel cat wasn’t so sure of her and would keep her distance, but I think she secretly liked the duck too.

I got a dog for my 45th birthday. His name is Jasper. After I chose the name I looked up what it meant. (Anyone else love to look up the meaning of names?) It is a gem that is found in the breast plate of the Hebrew priests from the Old Testament. It represents the tribe of Benjamin! He is definitely a treasure to us. Hazel cat does mind this addition and she lets him know.

Missouri Star

My baby quilt, Star Spangled, was seen by Jenny Doan of Missouri Star almost two years ago. She asked me to make instructions for a bigger variation of it to be sold on their website. I did and it is finally on their site! Not only that, but she made a tutorial for it on her YouTube channel. My mom and the ladies from her quilting guild have been waiting so long to see this come to fruition.

If you would like to see her tutorial, it is available here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZnELcAkzPVQ

This Just In…!

As I was typing this post I got a call from my doctor. My stomach pains are a common side effect of the Ribociclib medication. Any of the tissues from mouth to exit can become irritated and the skin/lining doesn’t replenish itself like it should and causes pain. I have had the sores in my mouth, but this time it is in my stomach. He prescribed another medication for me.

I was feeling a bit down over having yet another pill to take. Ben was the one to think about looking it up to see what it actually does. Turns out it’s just Prilosec! I really wish he had told me the common name and not the fancy one.

He also went over my PET scan results. There are still no new masses. There is nothing in my organs to suggest inflammation. The lesions in my spine have still not grown any closer to my spinal column and there are no new lesions. He was happy with the results. Obviously, we are too.

Well, you are now all caught up with my doctor reports and life in general. I thank you for all your prayers. God really does love each one of us and listens when we talk to him.

“The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.” Psalm 145:18

If you would like to read this journey from the beginning, click here.

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