Wow, it is hard to believe that it has been 2 months since we last updated this blog. I’ve been getting a bit of grief from several people for not keeping this up to date. But since we have had nothing but positives I guess I was just sitting back and thanking God for all his blessings. I probably should have shared with you. Sorry!
Things have been getting back to normal, with Laurie transitioning back to full-time work during October and November. Thanksgiving this year was very different as she was not recovering from surgery or preparing for the unknown journey of chemo, radiation, etc. We had many things to be thankful for this year!
A question that was asked recently was “What is the point of reference when people talk about “1 year survivor” or “cancer free for 5 years”?”Laurie was surprised to realize that there is no right answer here! Many people use their date of diagnosis if they are talking about survivor time. However, if you use the term cancer free, most people use the period that all visible cancer is removed. In her case, the surgery removed the known cancer, and the PET Scan in December showed no other visible traces of cancer. All additional treatments were to make sure any microscopic cells of cancer that had escaped notice were destroyed, and to reduce the chance of recurrence through radiation and by building up antibodies (biological treatment, Herceptin). So, in that case, she has been cancer free for 1 year effective November 24th! She had the biopsy on Halloween last year, and that is when the diagnosis of breast cancer was confirmed, so if she used that date, it would be about a month earlier.
Laurie is currently working to finish up the notes on her radiation treatment and consolidate a summary of the side effects of all her treatments. We hope to have them posted by the end of this year, and then we will only update this site every 3 months, or so, when she has her ECHO tests or check-ups. Feel free to share this information with anyone that may wish to understand more of what the journey is like, and let them know they can feel free to contact us if they have specific questions. We would like to think we can make their experiences a little lighter by giving them more insights from our experiences.
We pray that you and your family will have a wonderful Christmas season, and a marvelous New Year!
.
Friday, December 4, 2009
Friday, September 25, 2009
Late breaking news!
Hey everyone,
This just in!
Another praise!
As we mentioned in our blog Aug 16th, Laurie had to get a nodule on her thyroid checked out (seen on PET scan in Dec). She was able to get an appt with Dr Rogacz within 5 weeks which is a miracle in itself (it is very hard to get quick appts with endocrinologists!). That appt was last week, which led to further appts for blood work (last Friday) and a needle biopsy (this past Tuesday). Both tests came back normal, so all is well. They are recommending a follow-up sonogram in 6 months (just like the GYN) but no further action at this time. This is really wonderful news!
God is so cool!
.
This just in!
Another praise!
As we mentioned in our blog Aug 16th, Laurie had to get a nodule on her thyroid checked out (seen on PET scan in Dec). She was able to get an appt with Dr Rogacz within 5 weeks which is a miracle in itself (it is very hard to get quick appts with endocrinologists!). That appt was last week, which led to further appts for blood work (last Friday) and a needle biopsy (this past Tuesday). Both tests came back normal, so all is well. They are recommending a follow-up sonogram in 6 months (just like the GYN) but no further action at this time. This is really wonderful news!
God is so cool!
.
Clinical Trial for Biophosphonates 9-25-09
Hey everyone,
The 3 year Clinical Trial that Laurie is participating in is designed to determine if adding a biophosphonate to hormonal therapy and/or chemotherapy will help prevent breast cancer from spreading to the bones or other parts of the body. About 4,500 women are taking part in this study. There are 3 different groups within the study, each being given a different type of biophosphonate for 3 years as note below. (there is no placebo in this study)
1. 4 mg infusion of zoledronic acid through a needle in the vein every 4 weeks for the first 6 months and then once every 3 months for the other 30 months
2. 1600 mg of clodronate by mouth (2 tablets) every day for 36 months
3. 50 mg of ibandronate by mouth once every day for 36 months (marketed as Boniva here in US, similar to Actonel)
Biophosphonates are a class of drugs that prevent the bone from breaking down. Low doses are used for osteoporosis here in the US and higher dosages are used for bone cancers (currently zoledronic). This clinical trial is using higher dosages. For example, someone taking Boniva for osteoporosis (you probably have seen Sally Fields in a TV ad on this) would take 2.5 mg daily or 150 monthly. As you see under #3 above, participants in this study take 50 mg daily. The purpose of the study is to see if biophosphonates should be added to the treatment regiment for breast cancer patients, and if so, which one of these works the best (best stats with least amount of side effects). Side effects from the 3 options vary but overall, side effects include nausea, vomiting, reflux and diarrhea. Uncommon, but serious side effects include the possibility of a specific type of damage to the jawbone (osteonecrosis of the jaw) and damage to an unborn child or a baby who is breastfeeding (not a concern for Laurie!). They will run routine blood tests every month for the first 6 months and then every 3 months thereafter. The blood tests will check normal levels as well as serum creatinine to ensure the kidneys are working properly.
For those medical folks out there, you know that bisphosphonates prevent the breakdown of bone by bone cells called osteoclasts. For the rest of us, Laurie’s dentist explained it a little easier to understand: “The bones are like roads. Before they are repaved, a layer is removed, and then a new layer of asphalt is added. Bones are similar. There are cells that are breaking down the bone, and then new cells are created. The biophosphonates decrease the activity of the cells that are “breaking down or removing” bone density and since the new cells are still being created, the bones become more dense and stronger.”
The medication she is taking is being used in Canada, the United Kingdom and Italy, where it is marketed as Bonefos, Loron and Clodron. Oral Bonefos is approved in 67 countries outside the United States largely for the treatment of tumor-induced osteolysis and hypercalcemia. So far, nearly 20 years of use and 300,000 patient-years of experience with Bonefos have been accumulated worldwide.
So, now you know a bit more about what and why Laurie is participating in this clinical trial. The bottom line is that she hopes to provide data that will one day lead to a cure for others that may experience what she has already gone through.
May God continue to bless you as He has so richly blessed our family!
.
The 3 year Clinical Trial that Laurie is participating in is designed to determine if adding a biophosphonate to hormonal therapy and/or chemotherapy will help prevent breast cancer from spreading to the bones or other parts of the body. About 4,500 women are taking part in this study. There are 3 different groups within the study, each being given a different type of biophosphonate for 3 years as note below. (there is no placebo in this study)
1. 4 mg infusion of zoledronic acid through a needle in the vein every 4 weeks for the first 6 months and then once every 3 months for the other 30 months
2. 1600 mg of clodronate by mouth (2 tablets) every day for 36 months
3. 50 mg of ibandronate by mouth once every day for 36 months (marketed as Boniva here in US, similar to Actonel)
Biophosphonates are a class of drugs that prevent the bone from breaking down. Low doses are used for osteoporosis here in the US and higher dosages are used for bone cancers (currently zoledronic). This clinical trial is using higher dosages. For example, someone taking Boniva for osteoporosis (you probably have seen Sally Fields in a TV ad on this) would take 2.5 mg daily or 150 monthly. As you see under #3 above, participants in this study take 50 mg daily. The purpose of the study is to see if biophosphonates should be added to the treatment regiment for breast cancer patients, and if so, which one of these works the best (best stats with least amount of side effects). Side effects from the 3 options vary but overall, side effects include nausea, vomiting, reflux and diarrhea. Uncommon, but serious side effects include the possibility of a specific type of damage to the jawbone (osteonecrosis of the jaw) and damage to an unborn child or a baby who is breastfeeding (not a concern for Laurie!). They will run routine blood tests every month for the first 6 months and then every 3 months thereafter. The blood tests will check normal levels as well as serum creatinine to ensure the kidneys are working properly.
For those medical folks out there, you know that bisphosphonates prevent the breakdown of bone by bone cells called osteoclasts. For the rest of us, Laurie’s dentist explained it a little easier to understand: “The bones are like roads. Before they are repaved, a layer is removed, and then a new layer of asphalt is added. Bones are similar. There are cells that are breaking down the bone, and then new cells are created. The biophosphonates decrease the activity of the cells that are “breaking down or removing” bone density and since the new cells are still being created, the bones become more dense and stronger.”
The medication she is taking is being used in Canada, the United Kingdom and Italy, where it is marketed as Bonefos, Loron and Clodron. Oral Bonefos is approved in 67 countries outside the United States largely for the treatment of tumor-induced osteolysis and hypercalcemia. So far, nearly 20 years of use and 300,000 patient-years of experience with Bonefos have been accumulated worldwide.
So, now you know a bit more about what and why Laurie is participating in this clinical trial. The bottom line is that she hopes to provide data that will one day lead to a cure for others that may experience what she has already gone through.
May God continue to bless you as He has so richly blessed our family!
.
Monday, September 7, 2009
Merry Labor Day!
Hey everyone,
Several people have said it’s time for an update since we left you hanging the last time, so here is the latest, and we apologize for the delay.
After much prayer, we decided that Laurie should participate in the clinical trial as it can help other patients down the road. She feels that her medical treatment has been outstanding, and that is in part due to other women being willing to participate in trials that helped them create the current treatment plans. So, Laurie started the clinical trial on 14 Aug 09 and it will continue for 3 years. She was put into the 2nd group, which is taking 1600 mg of Clodronate once each day (currently in use in Canada, UK and Italy under names of Bonefos, Loron and Clodron). The most likely side effect is nausea, but she has been very fortunate that she has not experienced any side effects. Luckily, she learned to swallow large pills when she was a teenager, so she is able to take the two “horse” pills each morning 1 hour before eating anything. However, her stomach is also starting to let her know when it’s hungry so her stomach has started growling (which is nice to her as her body wasn’t telling her when it was hungry before).
She also was able to go to the Gyn specialist (Dr Scott Forrest, so easy for her to remember his name) relating to the spot on her ovary, and he feels very confident that it is related to her infertility struggles, and while we will check it again in 6 months, does not believe it is something to be concerned about. As he said, it could have been there for years, and we only know about it because of the PET scan. The endocrinologist appt is in mid September, where we will have the spot on the thyroid checked out. Laurie’s friend Sheila, who is a nurse, set our expectations that we may have to have a needle biopsy before we have final answers, but we will let you know as we find out.
Laurie will also be starting her hormone treatment this week. Although she was put into menopause by the chemotherapy, the doctor cannot start her on Aromatase inhibitors (AI) until they are sure her menstrual cycles don’t return. If they did put her on AI’s and then her ovary began to produce estrogen again, then it would actually overproduce, thinking her body needed it, and that would actually create a perfect environment for her estrogen positive breast cancer to return. So she will be starting Tamoxifen, one 20 mg tablet a day. The side effects of Tamoxifen are similar to some of the symptoms of menopause, with two of the most common side effects being hot flashes and vaginal discharge. Other side effects in women may include headache, nausea and/or vomiting, skin rash, fatigue and fluid retention and/or weight gain.
One thing that Laurie asked for her birthday (although it was hard to admit she needed it) was the “daily pill box.” Although it did make her feel old to have to use one, her kind nurse at the oncologist’s office said it was just another way to be “organized”. So that is the story she is sticking with now. ;-) This box helps her remember the pills she needs to take, which include:
- Clinical trial – 2 800 mg tablets of Clodronate, first thing in am, 1 hr before food
- Vitamins – 1 One-A-Day Essential vitamin and 1 Vitron C (extra Iron) at lunch
- Calcium with Vitamin D – 1 chewable Caltrate tablet at lunch, and 1 chewable at night (have to take these at 2 different times since your body can only absorb so much calcium at one time)
- Hormone therapy – 1 20 mg pill at night
We’re not sure how many “pills” you need to be taking before you get this type of “organizer” but 7 is way beyond what Laurie’s simple mind can handle without this helper!!
Tomorrow, the kids begin school. Brooke & Ridge are in 3rd grade and Forrest starts 6th grade. Once we settle back into a routine with school and extracurricular activities, football, baseball and volleyball, Laurie will give us more detail on the clinical trial and what Radiation therapy was like. Stay tuned.
.
Sunday, August 16, 2009
Flamingos!
Hey everyone,
Divine timing! Yes, that is what Laurie believes happened this past week. God used someone out there to boost her spirits exactly when she needed it the most by “flamingo”ing our yard. Yes, it brought a smile to her face and tears of joy and excitement.
Laurie had been feeling down on Wednesday and Thursday for a variety of reasons. Forrest and I had been at football practice every night last week. Laurie's work has been very busy lately which has led to some frustrating moments since she's not being able to get everything done while working the part-time schedule, Although Forrest and I were not around every evening this past week and her work has become a bit more of a challenge, the biggest reasons for her low spirits were medical.
First of all, although she had finished radiation earlier in the week, the effects didn’t peak until 2-4 days after the last treatment. So she was rather uncomfortable due to the “really bad sunburn” in the treated area. Secondly, she had to have two sonograms as a follow-up to her PET scan results from last December, but it could only be done after chemo and radiation. She went for them on Tuesday and the initial results indicated a need for her to go see two more specialists. Nothing yet to panic over, but it just seemed a little more than she wanted to handle.
Then, as she was going to bed on Thursday night, she noticed a note taped on the window beside our front door, and opened the door to get the note. That is when she noticed the 17 flamingos all over the front yard. While we still don’t know who to thank for lifting her spirits, we wanted to share this with all of you so that whoever was responsible will know it was perfectly timed and greatly appreciated!
One of Laurie’s favorite poems is "Footprints in the Sand" by Mary Stevenson. It reflects how we trust the Lord for everything and rely on him to carry us though the good and the bad.
Thanks God!
Footprints in the Sand
Last night I had a dream. I dreamed I was walking along the beach with the Lord. Across the sky flashed scenes from my life. For each scene, I noticed two sets of footprints in the sand: one belonged to me, the other to the Lord.
After the last scene of my life flashed before me, I looked back at the footprints in the sand. I noticed that at many times along the path of my life, especially at the very lowest and saddest times, there was only one set of footprints.
This really troubled me, so I asked the Lord about it. “Lord, you said once I decided to follow you, You’d walk with me all the way. But I noticed that during the saddest and most troublesome times of my life, there was only one set of footprints. I don’t understand why, when I needed You the most, You would leave me.”
The Lord replied, “My son, my precious child, I love you and I would never leave you. During your times of suffering, when you could see only one set of footprints, it was then that I carried you.”
.
Divine timing! Yes, that is what Laurie believes happened this past week. God used someone out there to boost her spirits exactly when she needed it the most by “flamingo”ing our yard. Yes, it brought a smile to her face and tears of joy and excitement.
Laurie had been feeling down on Wednesday and Thursday for a variety of reasons. Forrest and I had been at football practice every night last week. Laurie's work has been very busy lately which has led to some frustrating moments since she's not being able to get everything done while working the part-time schedule, Although Forrest and I were not around every evening this past week and her work has become a bit more of a challenge, the biggest reasons for her low spirits were medical.
First of all, although she had finished radiation earlier in the week, the effects didn’t peak until 2-4 days after the last treatment. So she was rather uncomfortable due to the “really bad sunburn” in the treated area. Secondly, she had to have two sonograms as a follow-up to her PET scan results from last December, but it could only be done after chemo and radiation. She went for them on Tuesday and the initial results indicated a need for her to go see two more specialists. Nothing yet to panic over, but it just seemed a little more than she wanted to handle.
Then, as she was going to bed on Thursday night, she noticed a note taped on the window beside our front door, and opened the door to get the note. That is when she noticed the 17 flamingos all over the front yard. While we still don’t know who to thank for lifting her spirits, we wanted to share this with all of you so that whoever was responsible will know it was perfectly timed and greatly appreciated!
One of Laurie’s favorite poems is "Footprints in the Sand" by Mary Stevenson. It reflects how we trust the Lord for everything and rely on him to carry us though the good and the bad.
Thanks God!
Footprints in the Sand
by
Mary Stevenson
Last night I had a dream. I dreamed I was walking along the beach with the Lord. Across the sky flashed scenes from my life. For each scene, I noticed two sets of footprints in the sand: one belonged to me, the other to the Lord.
After the last scene of my life flashed before me, I looked back at the footprints in the sand. I noticed that at many times along the path of my life, especially at the very lowest and saddest times, there was only one set of footprints.
This really troubled me, so I asked the Lord about it. “Lord, you said once I decided to follow you, You’d walk with me all the way. But I noticed that during the saddest and most troublesome times of my life, there was only one set of footprints. I don’t understand why, when I needed You the most, You would leave me.”
The Lord replied, “My son, my precious child, I love you and I would never leave you. During your times of suffering, when you could see only one set of footprints, it was then that I carried you.”
.
Monday, August 10, 2009
Finally! An August Update!
Hey everyone,
It’s been three weeks since our last update. Sorry for the delay but things became crazy after we got back from the beach. We all drove down to Myrtle on Saturday, July 18th, and after the normal delays on 95, we got there around 4:30. We checked into our condo, went to dinner with some of our baseball friends, and then went grocery shopping. The next day was beach day, and then we were able to go to a marvelous seafood dinner with our cousins, Keith and Katie, and their sons Matthew and Brian (13 & 10) and daughter Savannah (6). Since Forrest did not get to see them over the July 4th weekend, he spent the night with them so he could have some extra time, and then joined us and most of the other baseball team members and their families on the beach Monday midday. Laurie had to fly back that night to continue her radiation therapy, and the baseball tournament started on Tuesday. The team did well on Tuesday, winning both games, but then began losing steam on Wednesday (although they did pull out a last inning win) and then lost on Thursday. While the baseball results were disappointing, everyone enjoyed the sun and fun even though we missed Laurie. Also, at the end of the week, the riptides became dangerous … 3 people drowned, so the lifeguards were not letting anyone in the water above their waists, and we were happy to comply!
We came back home on Saturday, and were treated to a cookout by our next door neighbors, the Rohertys, and enjoyed our refreshing pool. Forrest also had to pack and leave the next morning (Sunday) at 7 am for Boy Scout Camp (Brown Sea Island, which is below Roanoke, Virginia). He had a great time even though all of us really missed him!! Ridge went to Chantilly HS boy’s basketball day camp, and Brooke had a great week at Chantilly Academy gymnastics day camp with her new friend Julianne.
Laurie has now completed 2/3 of her radiation … hurray! She only has 8 more appointments, the rest of this week and 4 days next week. Her doctor says her skin is holding up rather well, but she is also using “Calendula cream” every day and night to help, and she prefers driving these days so that the shoulder strap is on her left side, not the right side which is receiving these treatments. She is slowly gaining her energy back but still goes to bed early to ensure her body gets plenty of rest, and some days are better than others. She had a busy weekend as her sister, Carlene and her friend, Barb, invited her to the Women of Faith Conference in DC on Saturday and it was very enjoyable … both the speakers and musicians as well as the fellowship in the NBC box of women from Kirkwood Presbyterian Church. Then on Sunday, we all had lunch with my dad, Forrest and Frances Frakes, and Kurt Hallex and Dad’s roommate Dan at Famous Dave’s and then celebrated the 4 family birthdays that evening at Carlene’s house. Today, she also went for her every 3 week biological treatment (Herceptin). The big decision that we need prayers on over the next week is whether she should participate in a clinical trial that would be over the next 3 years. Background information: when breast cancer returns or metastasizes, it is in the 2 Bs (breast or brain) or 2 Ls (liver or lung). Other countries have studies that show taking biophosphates, which is what is taken to treat osteoporosis; helps prevent the recurrence in the bones. This trial would not have placebos, but would compare 3 different types of biophosphates and its side effects. The decision has to be made by next weekend as she would have to start within 60 days of completing her chemotherapy. No side effects have subsided yet, but still hoping for that!
During the WOF Conference, the following scripture was featured, and it reminded Laurie that God gives us hope in the midst of these challenges!
John 16:33 – I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world, you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world!
Works for me!
.
It’s been three weeks since our last update. Sorry for the delay but things became crazy after we got back from the beach. We all drove down to Myrtle on Saturday, July 18th, and after the normal delays on 95, we got there around 4:30. We checked into our condo, went to dinner with some of our baseball friends, and then went grocery shopping. The next day was beach day, and then we were able to go to a marvelous seafood dinner with our cousins, Keith and Katie, and their sons Matthew and Brian (13 & 10) and daughter Savannah (6). Since Forrest did not get to see them over the July 4th weekend, he spent the night with them so he could have some extra time, and then joined us and most of the other baseball team members and their families on the beach Monday midday. Laurie had to fly back that night to continue her radiation therapy, and the baseball tournament started on Tuesday. The team did well on Tuesday, winning both games, but then began losing steam on Wednesday (although they did pull out a last inning win) and then lost on Thursday. While the baseball results were disappointing, everyone enjoyed the sun and fun even though we missed Laurie. Also, at the end of the week, the riptides became dangerous … 3 people drowned, so the lifeguards were not letting anyone in the water above their waists, and we were happy to comply!
We came back home on Saturday, and were treated to a cookout by our next door neighbors, the Rohertys, and enjoyed our refreshing pool. Forrest also had to pack and leave the next morning (Sunday) at 7 am for Boy Scout Camp (Brown Sea Island, which is below Roanoke, Virginia). He had a great time even though all of us really missed him!! Ridge went to Chantilly HS boy’s basketball day camp, and Brooke had a great week at Chantilly Academy gymnastics day camp with her new friend Julianne.
Laurie has now completed 2/3 of her radiation … hurray! She only has 8 more appointments, the rest of this week and 4 days next week. Her doctor says her skin is holding up rather well, but she is also using “Calendula cream” every day and night to help, and she prefers driving these days so that the shoulder strap is on her left side, not the right side which is receiving these treatments. She is slowly gaining her energy back but still goes to bed early to ensure her body gets plenty of rest, and some days are better than others. She had a busy weekend as her sister, Carlene and her friend, Barb, invited her to the Women of Faith Conference in DC on Saturday and it was very enjoyable … both the speakers and musicians as well as the fellowship in the NBC box of women from Kirkwood Presbyterian Church. Then on Sunday, we all had lunch with my dad, Forrest and Frances Frakes, and Kurt Hallex and Dad’s roommate Dan at Famous Dave’s and then celebrated the 4 family birthdays that evening at Carlene’s house. Today, she also went for her every 3 week biological treatment (Herceptin). The big decision that we need prayers on over the next week is whether she should participate in a clinical trial that would be over the next 3 years. Background information: when breast cancer returns or metastasizes, it is in the 2 Bs (breast or brain) or 2 Ls (liver or lung). Other countries have studies that show taking biophosphates, which is what is taken to treat osteoporosis; helps prevent the recurrence in the bones. This trial would not have placebos, but would compare 3 different types of biophosphates and its side effects. The decision has to be made by next weekend as she would have to start within 60 days of completing her chemotherapy. No side effects have subsided yet, but still hoping for that!
During the WOF Conference, the following scripture was featured, and it reminded Laurie that God gives us hope in the midst of these challenges!
John 16:33 – I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world, you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world!
Works for me!
.
Friday, July 17, 2009
July 18th
Hey everyone,
Laurie has now been through almost 2 weeks of radiation, and is just getting used to the routine. At first, it was hard for her to become accustomed to going for daily treatment … but reminding herself that it is only for 28 week days has helped her. Although the first day was longer as they had to ensure everything was lined up correctly, the subsequent appointments have only been between 15-30 minutes long! Most days, she is in and out within 15 minutes, and then once a week, she sees the doctor and every 5-6 days, they take X-Rays to make sure the radiation is going to the correct areas, so those appts take a little longer. And having the weekends off is nice as well.
This past Monday, she also went to get her ‘every 3 week’ Herceptin treatment, and she was in and out in 1 hour, which again was much quicker than her Taxol/Herceptin treatment that lasted 2 ½ hrs. So things are getting better.
Now the disappointing news. When Laurie met with her doctor last Monday, he said that different side effects subside in different time frames. The most distressing one to Laurie was that the tingling in her hands/feet may not be totally gone for a year or more!!! And her finger nails have become very discolored, which will take 2-3 months for them to grow out. Other side effects . . . time will tell! I guess she was naive to think everything would be normal again in 4-8 weeks, but then again, it’s best to be positive too!
This weekend, we will head off to Myrtle Beach for our family vacation, which is tied into Forrest’s baseball tournament down there. Laurie will drive down with us on Saturday and then fly back on Monday night since she can only miss 1 day of radiation! We had hoped to have a visit with my aunt and uncle, Dot and Grady, as part of this trip but that couldn’t be arranged. Hopefully we will get to see them soon.
I hope to provide another update when I return from Myrtle Beach.
Please remember those who are also fighting cancer right now and continue to pray for our family as we make this trip and especially Laurie as she returns home on Monday.
.
Laurie has now been through almost 2 weeks of radiation, and is just getting used to the routine. At first, it was hard for her to become accustomed to going for daily treatment … but reminding herself that it is only for 28 week days has helped her. Although the first day was longer as they had to ensure everything was lined up correctly, the subsequent appointments have only been between 15-30 minutes long! Most days, she is in and out within 15 minutes, and then once a week, she sees the doctor and every 5-6 days, they take X-Rays to make sure the radiation is going to the correct areas, so those appts take a little longer. And having the weekends off is nice as well.
This past Monday, she also went to get her ‘every 3 week’ Herceptin treatment, and she was in and out in 1 hour, which again was much quicker than her Taxol/Herceptin treatment that lasted 2 ½ hrs. So things are getting better.
Now the disappointing news. When Laurie met with her doctor last Monday, he said that different side effects subside in different time frames. The most distressing one to Laurie was that the tingling in her hands/feet may not be totally gone for a year or more!!! And her finger nails have become very discolored, which will take 2-3 months for them to grow out. Other side effects . . . time will tell! I guess she was naive to think everything would be normal again in 4-8 weeks, but then again, it’s best to be positive too!
This weekend, we will head off to Myrtle Beach for our family vacation, which is tied into Forrest’s baseball tournament down there. Laurie will drive down with us on Saturday and then fly back on Monday night since she can only miss 1 day of radiation! We had hoped to have a visit with my aunt and uncle, Dot and Grady, as part of this trip but that couldn’t be arranged. Hopefully we will get to see them soon.
I hope to provide another update when I return from Myrtle Beach.
Please remember those who are also fighting cancer right now and continue to pray for our family as we make this trip and especially Laurie as she returns home on Monday.
.
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Phase 2 - COMPLETE!
Hey everyone!
We had a busy week with Laurie’s 11th chemo treatment and the visit with the radiation oncologist. Our friend Bernadine Donovan served again as a chauffeur and companion for Laurie this visit and all went well. The last chemo of Taxol was on June 22nd, but instead of a 1 week infusion of Herceptin (biological treatment) as normal, Laurie got a 3 week infusion. This represents the start of the remaining 9 months of biological treatment, which she will receive every 3 weeks from now until next March. Laurie’s friend from British Aerospace and Concert/BT, Sheila Ryan, was able to take her and they had a lot of catching up to do. Sheila then went home to get ready for a trek across the US with her oldest daughter to get her settled in San Diego for her new job.
For the next phase of treatment, Laurie starts radiation in early July. The radiation oncologist wanted to give her body one week to recover from the Taxol before starting 28 days of radiation, so that will start on July 6th, running through mid August. These radiation treatments will be on consecutive days, Monday through Friday, but with weekends off. Laurie was also given permission to skip one day in the middle, so she will be able to enjoy a long weekend in Myrtle Beach July 20th so she won’t miss the entire family vacation. The possible side effects of this phase are fatigue, itchy rash, arm swelling and short term lung issues. Of course, we hope that during that time, the side effects from the chemo (tingling in feet/toes and hands/fingers, fatigue, mouth sores) will subside as well. While each person is different, it can take anywhere from 4-8 weeks for them to subside.
Since we are starting a new phase, we will give an update of other side effects. For example, someone this week asked for an update on Laurie’s hair. Although her eyebrows have thinned quite a bit, she still has some left. Her eyelashes are mostly non-existent. But the Taxol has actually allowed her scalp hair to begin to return. It is very fine right now, and while she thought her hair used to grow fast, it is growing very slowly right now.
One of the most frustrating parts of chemo is the dulling of taste buds. Most things start to taste alike, and even the favorite foods no longer hold any interest (yes, even chocolate!). One of the treats Laurie discovered early on through a gift card from the Floris Kindergarten teachers is a high protein smoothie from Fresh City. It contains strawberries and blueberries so has a strong enough taste that she can actually taste it, and her parents have treated her to one each week since then. The nutrients can’t hurt her, and it is a reminder to her that her taste buds will return.
We are so thankful we are through the 2nd phase, and our prayers are turning to those who have recently been diagnosed. While we know our journey is not over, we hope that you will let us help you as so many have helped us thus far.
Keep the Faith!
.
We had a busy week with Laurie’s 11th chemo treatment and the visit with the radiation oncologist. Our friend Bernadine Donovan served again as a chauffeur and companion for Laurie this visit and all went well. The last chemo of Taxol was on June 22nd, but instead of a 1 week infusion of Herceptin (biological treatment) as normal, Laurie got a 3 week infusion. This represents the start of the remaining 9 months of biological treatment, which she will receive every 3 weeks from now until next March. Laurie’s friend from British Aerospace and Concert/BT, Sheila Ryan, was able to take her and they had a lot of catching up to do. Sheila then went home to get ready for a trek across the US with her oldest daughter to get her settled in San Diego for her new job.
For the next phase of treatment, Laurie starts radiation in early July. The radiation oncologist wanted to give her body one week to recover from the Taxol before starting 28 days of radiation, so that will start on July 6th, running through mid August. These radiation treatments will be on consecutive days, Monday through Friday, but with weekends off. Laurie was also given permission to skip one day in the middle, so she will be able to enjoy a long weekend in Myrtle Beach July 20th so she won’t miss the entire family vacation. The possible side effects of this phase are fatigue, itchy rash, arm swelling and short term lung issues. Of course, we hope that during that time, the side effects from the chemo (tingling in feet/toes and hands/fingers, fatigue, mouth sores) will subside as well. While each person is different, it can take anywhere from 4-8 weeks for them to subside.
Since we are starting a new phase, we will give an update of other side effects. For example, someone this week asked for an update on Laurie’s hair. Although her eyebrows have thinned quite a bit, she still has some left. Her eyelashes are mostly non-existent. But the Taxol has actually allowed her scalp hair to begin to return. It is very fine right now, and while she thought her hair used to grow fast, it is growing very slowly right now.
One of the most frustrating parts of chemo is the dulling of taste buds. Most things start to taste alike, and even the favorite foods no longer hold any interest (yes, even chocolate!). One of the treats Laurie discovered early on through a gift card from the Floris Kindergarten teachers is a high protein smoothie from Fresh City. It contains strawberries and blueberries so has a strong enough taste that she can actually taste it, and her parents have treated her to one each week since then. The nutrients can’t hurt her, and it is a reminder to her that her taste buds will return.
We are so thankful we are through the 2nd phase, and our prayers are turning to those who have recently been diagnosed. While we know our journey is not over, we hope that you will let us help you as so many have helped us thus far.
Keep the Faith!
.
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
Surprise! Another update!
Hey everyone,
This week, Laurie's hemoglobin inched up a little more to 11.2 so it's going in the right direction. However, her white blood count dropped from 5 to 3.2, so she needs to limit her exposure to those that may be sick. She also has a rash from the Herceptin, so she's going to try different lotions that may help that, her normal Mary Kay lotion doesn't like the new skin. The mouth sores are coming and going so she's drinking LOTS of milk, which has a soothing effect, and limiting her fruit intake. One of the mothers on Brooke's & Ridge's baseball team, whose husband had cancer about 15 years ago, said that his side effects became worse at the end, and he was told it was due to all the bad cells being out the system, so the medicine could only attack the good cells. Another survivor at the Reston Relay for Life told Laurie it was a sign that the medicine was doing its job. Both sound right, and help Laurie set her tolerance level higher for the side effects. It is also a good reason to talk to other survivors or people going through similar treatment plans. It is easier to ask those who understand, and Laurie & I both believe God makes good of these difficulties by letting us help others around us.
I think many of you that have seen Laurie lately know that a tissue is a permanent fixture in her hand. She thought it was just due to her allergies being exasperated by the chemo. However, she found out from a new nurse visiting from the Fairfax office that post nasal trip is actually a side effect of Taxol, so that should stop 2-8 weeks after the Taxol treatments stop . . . which will be in 2 weeks! So that is more good news. There is a light at the end of the tunnel for that as well as the neuropathy (tingling of feet/toes and hands/fingers).
Now the countdown toward treatments 11 and 12 of the Taxol/Herceptin is beginning. As you may have picked up, this is rather a long journey, so we have to celebrate the milestones along the way. The next round is radiation. Laurie has her radiation simulation appointment scheduled for next week, and her quarterly echocardiogram scheduled for the following week (to verify that the Herceptin is not damaging her heart). She then has a week off from her doctors the week of June 29th, although we will have to take Brooke for a checkup appointment. The week after July 4th is when she will start her radiation treatments. Six weeks of Monday through Friday doses. She will also continue the Herceptin (which is considered a biological treatment) every 3 weeks so although she will get stronger doses (3 week versus 1 week), she will only have to go in every 3 weeks.
As school is winding down and summer begins, we will be carting the kids all across the county and occasionally up and down the east coast to various camps and tournaments. I will continue to work during the summer as I don’t get the luxury of having the summer off. Laurie already has all the camps and tournaments mapped out so the hard part is already done. All we have to do is get them to and from and that part, from past years experience, is the easy part.
I hope you all have a great week and we want you to know that we are thanking God daily for all of his blessings and thank you for all your prayers and support.
.
This week, Laurie's hemoglobin inched up a little more to 11.2 so it's going in the right direction. However, her white blood count dropped from 5 to 3.2, so she needs to limit her exposure to those that may be sick. She also has a rash from the Herceptin, so she's going to try different lotions that may help that, her normal Mary Kay lotion doesn't like the new skin. The mouth sores are coming and going so she's drinking LOTS of milk, which has a soothing effect, and limiting her fruit intake. One of the mothers on Brooke's & Ridge's baseball team, whose husband had cancer about 15 years ago, said that his side effects became worse at the end, and he was told it was due to all the bad cells being out the system, so the medicine could only attack the good cells. Another survivor at the Reston Relay for Life told Laurie it was a sign that the medicine was doing its job. Both sound right, and help Laurie set her tolerance level higher for the side effects. It is also a good reason to talk to other survivors or people going through similar treatment plans. It is easier to ask those who understand, and Laurie & I both believe God makes good of these difficulties by letting us help others around us.
I think many of you that have seen Laurie lately know that a tissue is a permanent fixture in her hand. She thought it was just due to her allergies being exasperated by the chemo. However, she found out from a new nurse visiting from the Fairfax office that post nasal trip is actually a side effect of Taxol, so that should stop 2-8 weeks after the Taxol treatments stop . . . which will be in 2 weeks! So that is more good news. There is a light at the end of the tunnel for that as well as the neuropathy (tingling of feet/toes and hands/fingers).
Now the countdown toward treatments 11 and 12 of the Taxol/Herceptin is beginning. As you may have picked up, this is rather a long journey, so we have to celebrate the milestones along the way. The next round is radiation. Laurie has her radiation simulation appointment scheduled for next week, and her quarterly echocardiogram scheduled for the following week (to verify that the Herceptin is not damaging her heart). She then has a week off from her doctors the week of June 29th, although we will have to take Brooke for a checkup appointment. The week after July 4th is when she will start her radiation treatments. Six weeks of Monday through Friday doses. She will also continue the Herceptin (which is considered a biological treatment) every 3 weeks so although she will get stronger doses (3 week versus 1 week), she will only have to go in every 3 weeks.
As school is winding down and summer begins, we will be carting the kids all across the county and occasionally up and down the east coast to various camps and tournaments. I will continue to work during the summer as I don’t get the luxury of having the summer off. Laurie already has all the camps and tournaments mapped out so the hard part is already done. All we have to do is get them to and from and that part, from past years experience, is the easy part.
I hope you all have a great week and we want you to know that we are thanking God daily for all of his blessings and thank you for all your prayers and support.
.
Friday, June 5, 2009
June 5th update
Hey everyone,
Last weeks chemo treatment the day after Memorial Day went well. Laurie’s hemogloblin went up .4, so she was excited about that even though she wondered if it was due to the fact that she got one extra day before her treatment due to the Memorial Day holiday. This week’s treatment would tell us since she will have one less day between treatments so perhaps the numbers will reverse, but hopefully remain stable for the most part. We also had lots of help last week from Laurie's Mom and Dad. The first issue was that Brooke had no shorts that would fit. She had to wear Ridge's shorts! And for those of you that know Laurie, even when she had energy, shopping was not her forte! So Laurie's mom went out and searched the stores and found some adorable outfits that Brooke loves! And her Dad went with her to the treatment on Tuesday, while her mom fixed dinner for all of us. The treatment took a little longer than normal as there was a "kink" in the Herceptin drip so it slowed down, and she didn't realize it until the timer went off but the bag was still 1/2 full. The nurse fixed it and it finished in about 20 minutes. It’s amazing that this is the first time that has happened! You never know.
Last weekend was the Reston Relay for Life, and while Laurie and I used to participate in this American Cancer Society fundraising activity before we had children, this was Laurie’s first “survivor” participation. Laurie had nominated her primary care physician, Dr. Maura Sughrue from Fairfax Family Practice, as ACS’s Healthcare Hero, and the award was announced at this reception. Unfortunately, Dr Sughrue could not make it due to recent knee surgery but many of the other survivors agreed that she deserved it, as they shared very different experiences with their doctors when they learned of their cancer.
Laurie’s nomination included: Dr Sughrue was on the phone with me within 30 minutes of my failed mammogram. She immediately gave me an action plan, which is important to feel some control in this situation. She provided a wonderful list of referrals, which lead me to some other great doctors that I could trust with my life. She kept in contact with me, sometimes even daily, calling me on Friday night from seminars she was attending, just to offer me support, listening and offering any advice that she could. I believe that first 4-6 weeks of a diagnosis is so difficult and she was my lifesaver during that time. We have had a patient doctor relation for many years, but this was when I counted on her the most and she was my Hero!
After the reception, all of us joined Laurie at 1 pm for the kick-off survivor lap. Laurie definitely saw it from a different perspective than from past relays!
On Monday, although it had only been 6 days since the last treatment, Laurie’s hemoglobin went up .5! That was the most it had gone up in a single week so now it is at 11, only 1 below the “normal range.” That was great news for her! We’ve been very open with the children from the start of our journey through cancer, and we’ve shared with Brooke that since her maternal grandmother had cancer, and now her mom as well, she has a higher chance of getting cancer. So several weeks ago, when we were talking about Laurie’s weekly treatment, Brooke said “Can I come with you so I can know what it would be like in case I get cancer?” We believed there was only one response to such a request, so we arranged for all 3 children to accompany us last Monday. We got the “luxury suite” so we had room for all, and they stayed through the cleansing of the site, the blood draw and results, the Benadryl and Pepsid infusion, and then they left soon after the Taxol infusion began. It was more than enough for them to realize that the process is not painful for Laurie, just tedious, and that was our hope.
At this time, we’re counting down the remaining 3 treatments of this round. While Laurie lost some weight during the first round, she is maintaining her weight during this round of treatments. She has learned that small meals are the best way to go and is now learning to deal with mouth sores and frequent tingling in her hands and feet. These reactions to the chemo should dissipate over the next couple of weeks and we look forward to that.
As always, we thank you for your continued prayers for us as well as others who may be going through similar and/or difficult times. Keep the faith! We are!
.
Last weeks chemo treatment the day after Memorial Day went well. Laurie’s hemogloblin went up .4, so she was excited about that even though she wondered if it was due to the fact that she got one extra day before her treatment due to the Memorial Day holiday. This week’s treatment would tell us since she will have one less day between treatments so perhaps the numbers will reverse, but hopefully remain stable for the most part. We also had lots of help last week from Laurie's Mom and Dad. The first issue was that Brooke had no shorts that would fit. She had to wear Ridge's shorts! And for those of you that know Laurie, even when she had energy, shopping was not her forte! So Laurie's mom went out and searched the stores and found some adorable outfits that Brooke loves! And her Dad went with her to the treatment on Tuesday, while her mom fixed dinner for all of us. The treatment took a little longer than normal as there was a "kink" in the Herceptin drip so it slowed down, and she didn't realize it until the timer went off but the bag was still 1/2 full. The nurse fixed it and it finished in about 20 minutes. It’s amazing that this is the first time that has happened! You never know.
Last weekend was the Reston Relay for Life, and while Laurie and I used to participate in this American Cancer Society fundraising activity before we had children, this was Laurie’s first “survivor” participation. Laurie had nominated her primary care physician, Dr. Maura Sughrue from Fairfax Family Practice, as ACS’s Healthcare Hero, and the award was announced at this reception. Unfortunately, Dr Sughrue could not make it due to recent knee surgery but many of the other survivors agreed that she deserved it, as they shared very different experiences with their doctors when they learned of their cancer.
Laurie’s nomination included: Dr Sughrue was on the phone with me within 30 minutes of my failed mammogram. She immediately gave me an action plan, which is important to feel some control in this situation. She provided a wonderful list of referrals, which lead me to some other great doctors that I could trust with my life. She kept in contact with me, sometimes even daily, calling me on Friday night from seminars she was attending, just to offer me support, listening and offering any advice that she could. I believe that first 4-6 weeks of a diagnosis is so difficult and she was my lifesaver during that time. We have had a patient doctor relation for many years, but this was when I counted on her the most and she was my Hero!
After the reception, all of us joined Laurie at 1 pm for the kick-off survivor lap. Laurie definitely saw it from a different perspective than from past relays!
On Monday, although it had only been 6 days since the last treatment, Laurie’s hemoglobin went up .5! That was the most it had gone up in a single week so now it is at 11, only 1 below the “normal range.” That was great news for her! We’ve been very open with the children from the start of our journey through cancer, and we’ve shared with Brooke that since her maternal grandmother had cancer, and now her mom as well, she has a higher chance of getting cancer. So several weeks ago, when we were talking about Laurie’s weekly treatment, Brooke said “Can I come with you so I can know what it would be like in case I get cancer?” We believed there was only one response to such a request, so we arranged for all 3 children to accompany us last Monday. We got the “luxury suite” so we had room for all, and they stayed through the cleansing of the site, the blood draw and results, the Benadryl and Pepsid infusion, and then they left soon after the Taxol infusion began. It was more than enough for them to realize that the process is not painful for Laurie, just tedious, and that was our hope.
At this time, we’re counting down the remaining 3 treatments of this round. While Laurie lost some weight during the first round, she is maintaining her weight during this round of treatments. She has learned that small meals are the best way to go and is now learning to deal with mouth sores and frequent tingling in her hands and feet. These reactions to the chemo should dissipate over the next couple of weeks and we look forward to that.
As always, we thank you for your continued prayers for us as well as others who may be going through similar and/or difficult times. Keep the faith! We are!
.
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Post Memorial Day Update
Hey everyone,
Last week, one of our friends, Bernadine Donovan, took Laurie to her chemo appt, and they had a great time catching up! Laurie’s hemoglobin went up .1, which was disappointing to her, but the doctor said that being stable is good. While he knows she wants her energy back, it takes a while. In the past, they had medicine that would trigger the creation of red blood cells just like Neulasta did for the white blood cells in the 1st round of chemo, but Procrit was pulled from the treatment plans about a year ago since there was evidence it caused strokes. So, Laurie will just have to be patient to get that energy back! She finds that she has energy on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, but then the rest of the week she needs to take naps. Luckily, this weekend was a holiday weekend so we had a relaxing time. Ridge played in his very 1st 8U All Stars baseball tournament in Manassas, and it was only 1 game each morning (Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday) so Laurie could rest in the afternoons. It was strange for Forrest to be the spectator for once but he supported his brother most of the time (when he wasn’t watching other friends play or hanging out with them).
Laurie has also gotten the side effects that she was expecting between treatments 5-6 … the tingling in the fingers and toes. Since she just got it about a week ago, it hasn’t been too bad, but it may get progressively worse over the next few weeks. So please pray that she is able to cope with that symptom. The good news is that she only has 5 more of the Taxol/Herceptin treatments. Then she will have a week “off” of treatment (probably more medical appts though) and then start her radiation the week after July 4th. She will also switch to only Herceptin treatments every 3 weeks at that time, and the possible side effects are rash and heart issues (Laurie has an echocardiogram every 3 months to watch for any issues as A/C could have caused that as well.
This week, Laurie had her treatment on Tuesday due to the Memorial Day holiday and then will switch back to Mondays next week. While she had some last minute concerns to address at work related to her working part time while going on long-term disability, she was reminded while she was waiting for her monthly oncology check-up that if God takes care of the little sparrows, He will also take care of us, and all seemed to fade back into perspective (Matthew 6:25-34). Thank you God for your ways of reminding us of what really is important!
.
Last week, one of our friends, Bernadine Donovan, took Laurie to her chemo appt, and they had a great time catching up! Laurie’s hemoglobin went up .1, which was disappointing to her, but the doctor said that being stable is good. While he knows she wants her energy back, it takes a while. In the past, they had medicine that would trigger the creation of red blood cells just like Neulasta did for the white blood cells in the 1st round of chemo, but Procrit was pulled from the treatment plans about a year ago since there was evidence it caused strokes. So, Laurie will just have to be patient to get that energy back! She finds that she has energy on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, but then the rest of the week she needs to take naps. Luckily, this weekend was a holiday weekend so we had a relaxing time. Ridge played in his very 1st 8U All Stars baseball tournament in Manassas, and it was only 1 game each morning (Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday) so Laurie could rest in the afternoons. It was strange for Forrest to be the spectator for once but he supported his brother most of the time (when he wasn’t watching other friends play or hanging out with them).
Laurie has also gotten the side effects that she was expecting between treatments 5-6 … the tingling in the fingers and toes. Since she just got it about a week ago, it hasn’t been too bad, but it may get progressively worse over the next few weeks. So please pray that she is able to cope with that symptom. The good news is that she only has 5 more of the Taxol/Herceptin treatments. Then she will have a week “off” of treatment (probably more medical appts though) and then start her radiation the week after July 4th. She will also switch to only Herceptin treatments every 3 weeks at that time, and the possible side effects are rash and heart issues (Laurie has an echocardiogram every 3 months to watch for any issues as A/C could have caused that as well.
This week, Laurie had her treatment on Tuesday due to the Memorial Day holiday and then will switch back to Mondays next week. While she had some last minute concerns to address at work related to her working part time while going on long-term disability, she was reminded while she was waiting for her monthly oncology check-up that if God takes care of the little sparrows, He will also take care of us, and all seemed to fade back into perspective (Matthew 6:25-34). Thank you God for your ways of reminding us of what really is important!
.
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
May 12th update
Hey everyone!
"This is the day that the Lord has made, Rejoice and be glad in it!” This is the Bible verse that Laurie heard this morning when she was on the treadmill, and it just seemed so appropriate. She finished her 6th weekly chemo treatment yesterday, which means she is halfway through this 2nd round. And last night she was able to go to bed at normal time and sleep through the night. Her "spiritual" alarm clock woke her up at 6:30 so she went downstairs and got on the treadmill for the first time in 6 weeks, and turned on the TV, which just happened to be on this channel giving her a great verse for the day. How AWESOME is our God?
Last week, Laurie did get another sinus infection, but the Z-Pack from the doctor seemed to do the trick although she got a fever after starting the medications and had no energy on Thursday and Friday. Her great Brownie co-leader Stacey took Brooke to the Brownie Mom & Me sleepover Friday night, and then Laurie and her mom drove out to Potomac Woods (past Leesburg) for the activities on Saturday. I'm not sure if all the walking around the camp was harder for "Grandmom" or Laurie but they both made it with support from all the other mothers, and Brooke had a great time making jewelry, swap its, playing games and learning new Girl Scout songs. We got home around 4 pm, just in time to freshen up and go to Carlene's for a family celebration. Laurie's Dad turned 73 and Annie will be 17 in the next week, and of course, we celebrated all the mothers too! That night, we drove down to Ruther Glen, VA so we could be ready for the 2nd day of Forrest's baseball tournament. The first day, the team had won one and lost one. On Sunday, they won the first one, and then played against the team that had beat them the 1st day. They played like a team, very consistently, and beat that team, which placed them in the Championship game. For that game, we played the RISE team (Richmond Indoor Sports Experience), which is coached by a friend that used to go to Ox Hill Baptist with us before they moved to Richmond, Wayne Huggins. So while we lost to them 0-5, it was still good to see old friends and keep the game respectable (they got their points when they had 2 folks on base and then a home run was hit, and then 1 person on base with another homer).
On Monday, when Laurie did go in for her treatment (her Dad came with her again), her white blood count was totally back to normal days (8.3), and her hemoglobin had gone up .3 points (it was up .2 points the previous week). So while it may only be in very small increments, her numbers are slowly going back up, and that is great news! Maybe that walking around the Girl Scout camp did help! As her hemoglobin goes up, she will have more energy, which helps all of us. 8-) Yesterday, since she felt a little weak after leaving the doctor’s office, her dad and mom treated her to a High Protein Smoothie at Fresh City, and she perked right up! So she is learning new tricks for this round of treatment. And although she is going in weekly now, the appointments are only between 2.5 and 3 hours, so she can normally work the full morning on Monday and then go get treatment, and be back for Brooke & Ridge's baseball games that evening (unless they are rained out ... which luckily did not happen last night). They are both hitting the ball quite well and are making plays in the field. Every practice and/or game we see improvement and that is rewarding as one of their coaches!
So, all in all, things are going pretty well. We continue to go through each week one day at a time and praise the Lord for all he does for us. We continue to thank you for all you do for us and look forward to providing another good report next time.
.
"This is the day that the Lord has made, Rejoice and be glad in it!” This is the Bible verse that Laurie heard this morning when she was on the treadmill, and it just seemed so appropriate. She finished her 6th weekly chemo treatment yesterday, which means she is halfway through this 2nd round. And last night she was able to go to bed at normal time and sleep through the night. Her "spiritual" alarm clock woke her up at 6:30 so she went downstairs and got on the treadmill for the first time in 6 weeks, and turned on the TV, which just happened to be on this channel giving her a great verse for the day. How AWESOME is our God?
Last week, Laurie did get another sinus infection, but the Z-Pack from the doctor seemed to do the trick although she got a fever after starting the medications and had no energy on Thursday and Friday. Her great Brownie co-leader Stacey took Brooke to the Brownie Mom & Me sleepover Friday night, and then Laurie and her mom drove out to Potomac Woods (past Leesburg) for the activities on Saturday. I'm not sure if all the walking around the camp was harder for "Grandmom" or Laurie but they both made it with support from all the other mothers, and Brooke had a great time making jewelry, swap its, playing games and learning new Girl Scout songs. We got home around 4 pm, just in time to freshen up and go to Carlene's for a family celebration. Laurie's Dad turned 73 and Annie will be 17 in the next week, and of course, we celebrated all the mothers too! That night, we drove down to Ruther Glen, VA so we could be ready for the 2nd day of Forrest's baseball tournament. The first day, the team had won one and lost one. On Sunday, they won the first one, and then played against the team that had beat them the 1st day. They played like a team, very consistently, and beat that team, which placed them in the Championship game. For that game, we played the RISE team (Richmond Indoor Sports Experience), which is coached by a friend that used to go to Ox Hill Baptist with us before they moved to Richmond, Wayne Huggins. So while we lost to them 0-5, it was still good to see old friends and keep the game respectable (they got their points when they had 2 folks on base and then a home run was hit, and then 1 person on base with another homer).
On Monday, when Laurie did go in for her treatment (her Dad came with her again), her white blood count was totally back to normal days (8.3), and her hemoglobin had gone up .3 points (it was up .2 points the previous week). So while it may only be in very small increments, her numbers are slowly going back up, and that is great news! Maybe that walking around the Girl Scout camp did help! As her hemoglobin goes up, she will have more energy, which helps all of us. 8-) Yesterday, since she felt a little weak after leaving the doctor’s office, her dad and mom treated her to a High Protein Smoothie at Fresh City, and she perked right up! So she is learning new tricks for this round of treatment. And although she is going in weekly now, the appointments are only between 2.5 and 3 hours, so she can normally work the full morning on Monday and then go get treatment, and be back for Brooke & Ridge's baseball games that evening (unless they are rained out ... which luckily did not happen last night). They are both hitting the ball quite well and are making plays in the field. Every practice and/or game we see improvement and that is rewarding as one of their coaches!
So, all in all, things are going pretty well. We continue to go through each week one day at a time and praise the Lord for all he does for us. We continue to thank you for all you do for us and look forward to providing another good report next time.
.
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
April 28th update
Hey everyone,
It’s been a couple weeks since the last update. Laurie had her 4th weekly chemo treatment of this 2nd round (Taxol and Herceptin) yesterday and appears to be doing well. Her dad went with her this time and that gave them a chance to have some one on one time. We had been told that she will get used to the Taxol and Herceptin after a few treatments and I’m hoping that is the reason for her new found strength. The answered prayer is that we were able to drop the steriods from 5 to 2 pills on the 3rd and 4th treatment of this 2nd round, and her hemoglobin reamined the same as last week, which is very positive. It means the body is learning to create the red blood cells by itself (during the 1st Round of A/C, I gave Laurie Neulasta shots to help the body create new blood cells).
Looking back, the past two weeks were a time of trial and error. During the 2nd chemo treatment, the nurse told Laurie that her hemoglobin had been dropping regularly, and we should be watching that. When we asked how we could help raise it, one of the options was “eat red meat.” What was very interesting about that is that the weekend before this, Laurie had spaghetti with meat sauce on Friday and steak on Saturday! So even though this food leaves a metallic taste in her mouth, after this advice, she was determined to do better the following week. On Tuesday, April 14th, we went out for the twins' 8th birthday, and she got pork barbecue, and even had some dessert that night courtesy of Terry and Gail. Thanks for the pies ladies! Unfortunately, perhaps because it was too much for her system to handle, on Wednesday, she had some stomach issues that ended her work day at 12:30 and left her very weak thereafter. Over the next two days, working and resting were the only order of the day, and she was ready to make the trip on Friday to Rehoboth Beach to watch Forrest’s baseball team play in the Spring Fling tournament at Sports at the Beach.
Again, very aware of the hemoglobin deficiency, on Saturday night, she decided to get a very well done hamburger (that’s the way she likes them) at the restaurant we went to. It was very tasty but somehow, Laurie’s gastrointestinal system just wasn’t ready for it. The good cells that chemo attacks are the “fast creating” ones, such as hair and gastrointestinal ones. So these immature cells or limited cells just couldn’t manage this fantastic hamburger, so Laurie again suffered from stomach issues that evening. But Sunday brought a new day, and a softer diet. :-) At that point, Laurie decided to see if she could get a consult with the dietician on other possibilities, but if any of you health experts have ideas on how to get her hemoglobin up, please let us know!
One more note on the hemoglobin. The nurse Laurie saw during the 3rd treatment had many years of oncology experience and when asked, said there is nothing Laurie can do to increase the hemoglobin number. The body will do it by itself, and her levels should begin to increase soon on this weekly regiment as it is not as harsh to the body as the 1st round of A/C. If it doesn’t, the doctors would have to consider a blood transfusion, but that is not a consideration right now.
As noted above and in earlier notes, Laurie was very concerned about continuing on a high dosage of steriods. Since she didn't have any reactions during the first 2 weekly treatments, during her 3rd weekly treatment, the doctors let her take only 2 instead of 5 pills the night before and 2 hrs before so that she actually cut the steriods substantially. We believe this success is again a result of your prayers so thank you once again for your diligence. All went well, and Laurie felt rather good that evening. Her mom went with her to that treatment so I could work a little longer and then be with the kids that afternoon. While my bosses have been great about me going with Laurie to her treatments, we are also conscious of my work demands, so we are letting family and friends who wish to go with her to the weekly sessions have that opportunity. They just have to not mind seeing her at “her sleepiest best”. It definitely is a learning experience and gives her an opportunity to catch up with friends and family.
Also, during Laurie’s last check up with the doctor, she mentioned that she wasn’t seeing as well as before. The doctor said that although he hates the term, chemo can “accelerate aging”. Thanks Doc! Anyway, he said that other examples include bringing on menopause earlier as well as needing reading glasses and similar things. Well, the good news in all this is that within two weeks after the end of the 1st round, Laurie’s eyes were seeing better, and she was able to read Bible verses on Sunday morning again without reading glasses. Before that, most of them were blurry. Once again, God answered another prayer. Thanks God! So it seems that particular symptom was due to the first round of A/C and things are looking brighter!
You can probably tell that some of this was written last week and some written today. Yes, I tried to combine the two. I just want to get the updates out so all of you that are praying for Laurie and supporting us know what’s going on. Thank you all so much for your time, thoughts and prayers. You make it possible for us to get through this to the end when we will hear the doctor say: “Laurie is cancer free”! Keep praying and we will hear that soon. Many thanks again to you all!
.
It’s been a couple weeks since the last update. Laurie had her 4th weekly chemo treatment of this 2nd round (Taxol and Herceptin) yesterday and appears to be doing well. Her dad went with her this time and that gave them a chance to have some one on one time. We had been told that she will get used to the Taxol and Herceptin after a few treatments and I’m hoping that is the reason for her new found strength. The answered prayer is that we were able to drop the steriods from 5 to 2 pills on the 3rd and 4th treatment of this 2nd round, and her hemoglobin reamined the same as last week, which is very positive. It means the body is learning to create the red blood cells by itself (during the 1st Round of A/C, I gave Laurie Neulasta shots to help the body create new blood cells).
Looking back, the past two weeks were a time of trial and error. During the 2nd chemo treatment, the nurse told Laurie that her hemoglobin had been dropping regularly, and we should be watching that. When we asked how we could help raise it, one of the options was “eat red meat.” What was very interesting about that is that the weekend before this, Laurie had spaghetti with meat sauce on Friday and steak on Saturday! So even though this food leaves a metallic taste in her mouth, after this advice, she was determined to do better the following week. On Tuesday, April 14th, we went out for the twins' 8th birthday, and she got pork barbecue, and even had some dessert that night courtesy of Terry and Gail. Thanks for the pies ladies! Unfortunately, perhaps because it was too much for her system to handle, on Wednesday, she had some stomach issues that ended her work day at 12:30 and left her very weak thereafter. Over the next two days, working and resting were the only order of the day, and she was ready to make the trip on Friday to Rehoboth Beach to watch Forrest’s baseball team play in the Spring Fling tournament at Sports at the Beach.
Again, very aware of the hemoglobin deficiency, on Saturday night, she decided to get a very well done hamburger (that’s the way she likes them) at the restaurant we went to. It was very tasty but somehow, Laurie’s gastrointestinal system just wasn’t ready for it. The good cells that chemo attacks are the “fast creating” ones, such as hair and gastrointestinal ones. So these immature cells or limited cells just couldn’t manage this fantastic hamburger, so Laurie again suffered from stomach issues that evening. But Sunday brought a new day, and a softer diet. :-) At that point, Laurie decided to see if she could get a consult with the dietician on other possibilities, but if any of you health experts have ideas on how to get her hemoglobin up, please let us know!
One more note on the hemoglobin. The nurse Laurie saw during the 3rd treatment had many years of oncology experience and when asked, said there is nothing Laurie can do to increase the hemoglobin number. The body will do it by itself, and her levels should begin to increase soon on this weekly regiment as it is not as harsh to the body as the 1st round of A/C. If it doesn’t, the doctors would have to consider a blood transfusion, but that is not a consideration right now.
As noted above and in earlier notes, Laurie was very concerned about continuing on a high dosage of steriods. Since she didn't have any reactions during the first 2 weekly treatments, during her 3rd weekly treatment, the doctors let her take only 2 instead of 5 pills the night before and 2 hrs before so that she actually cut the steriods substantially. We believe this success is again a result of your prayers so thank you once again for your diligence. All went well, and Laurie felt rather good that evening. Her mom went with her to that treatment so I could work a little longer and then be with the kids that afternoon. While my bosses have been great about me going with Laurie to her treatments, we are also conscious of my work demands, so we are letting family and friends who wish to go with her to the weekly sessions have that opportunity. They just have to not mind seeing her at “her sleepiest best”. It definitely is a learning experience and gives her an opportunity to catch up with friends and family.
Also, during Laurie’s last check up with the doctor, she mentioned that she wasn’t seeing as well as before. The doctor said that although he hates the term, chemo can “accelerate aging”. Thanks Doc! Anyway, he said that other examples include bringing on menopause earlier as well as needing reading glasses and similar things. Well, the good news in all this is that within two weeks after the end of the 1st round, Laurie’s eyes were seeing better, and she was able to read Bible verses on Sunday morning again without reading glasses. Before that, most of them were blurry. Once again, God answered another prayer. Thanks God! So it seems that particular symptom was due to the first round of A/C and things are looking brighter!
You can probably tell that some of this was written last week and some written today. Yes, I tried to combine the two. I just want to get the updates out so all of you that are praying for Laurie and supporting us know what’s going on. Thank you all so much for your time, thoughts and prayers. You make it possible for us to get through this to the end when we will hear the doctor say: “Laurie is cancer free”! Keep praying and we will hear that soon. Many thanks again to you all!
.
Thursday, April 16, 2009
April 16th Spring update
Hey everyone,
I would like to wish you all a belated Happy Easter greeting!
I have been notified by several individuals that I have not presented an update since Laurie started her second round of chemo. For that I do apologize.
Laurie’s last two treatments, this past Monday and the week before, went very well and her only side effect was not being able to sleep the night of the treatments because of the steroids. Once the steroids wore off she was fine and had a great week last week and so far this week has been good. The first treatment was a “double dose” of Herceptin which kicks off the treatment and then and also included a “double dose” of steroids. The second treatment had the normal dosage of Taxol and Herceptin and the double dose of steroids. Her treatment next Monday should be the “normal” dosages of all three so we anticipate a good night’s sleep that evening and a good week following the treatment.
We understand that after several Taxol and Herceptin treatments she may experience soreness in the joints but that has not occurred yet and we are praying that this continues.
We enjoyed celebrating Easter with our family at Laurie's sister Carlene's home. We also celebrated Brooke and Ridge's 8th birthday last Tuesday. Quite a week of celebration!
We were blessed to have Martha from Oak Hill ES prepare our meal last Thursday evening. The Teriyaki chicken, brown rice, salad, and cherry dessert were the perfect ending to an eventful Spring Break day! Thanks Martha!
We will be away this weekend at Rehoboth Beach for Forrest’s baseball tournament and are looking forward to getting away to the beach even if it is only for a couple days.
Laurie’s next treatment is next Monday. Please keep us in your prayers and thoughts.
.
I would like to wish you all a belated Happy Easter greeting!
I have been notified by several individuals that I have not presented an update since Laurie started her second round of chemo. For that I do apologize.
Laurie’s last two treatments, this past Monday and the week before, went very well and her only side effect was not being able to sleep the night of the treatments because of the steroids. Once the steroids wore off she was fine and had a great week last week and so far this week has been good. The first treatment was a “double dose” of Herceptin which kicks off the treatment and then and also included a “double dose” of steroids. The second treatment had the normal dosage of Taxol and Herceptin and the double dose of steroids. Her treatment next Monday should be the “normal” dosages of all three so we anticipate a good night’s sleep that evening and a good week following the treatment.
We understand that after several Taxol and Herceptin treatments she may experience soreness in the joints but that has not occurred yet and we are praying that this continues.
We enjoyed celebrating Easter with our family at Laurie's sister Carlene's home. We also celebrated Brooke and Ridge's 8th birthday last Tuesday. Quite a week of celebration!
We were blessed to have Martha from Oak Hill ES prepare our meal last Thursday evening. The Teriyaki chicken, brown rice, salad, and cherry dessert were the perfect ending to an eventful Spring Break day! Thanks Martha!
We will be away this weekend at Rehoboth Beach for Forrest’s baseball tournament and are looking forward to getting away to the beach even if it is only for a couple days.
Laurie’s next treatment is next Monday. Please keep us in your prayers and thoughts.
.
Monday, April 6, 2009
Round Two!
Ding!
The second round of Laurie's chemo began today pretty much like the previous four treatments of the first round. Temperature, blood pressure, and blood work. The results from the blood work came back and everything was good for commencing the Herceptin and Taxol treatments. The 20 minute Benadryl I.V. was administered and then the 90 minute long Herceptin I.V. was administered. The first dosage today is the double dose kick-off dosage to get the body going with the Herceptin. The 11 weekly doses that follow will be about half this initial dose. The nurse told us that the Herceptin is administered first because they have to monitor Laurie for 90 minutes once the Herceptin is finished for any type of flu like symptoms that the Herceptin may cause. The Taxol was then administered immediately after the conclusion of the Herceptin and the hour it takes to administer the Taxol is part of the 90 minute monitoring process. Any allergic reactions from the Taxol should occur within the first few minutes after the Taxol is first administered. The side effects of the Taxol include joint pains, hair loss which is not an issue now, and tingling/numbness of the hands and feet, but that does not usually happen until the 5th or 6th week.
As you probably have picked up by now, both rounds of chemo are designed to ensure there are no microscopic cells in the rest of Laurie’s body, which may have escaped from the original tumor. Although the surgery removed the tumor fully and there were no cells in the margin that was surgically removed, 4 lymph nodes did have cancer cells in them and the lymph nodes are the “side roads” of the main arteries. The PET scan, which scans the entire body from the throat down, did not show any activity but since the 4 lymph nodes had cancer cells in them, they want to be sure they kill any cells that might be elsewhere in the body.
A little background on this second round of chemo. This round of Taxol is still a chemo therapy and the Herceptin is considered a biological treatment. Everyone is allergic to the solution the Taxol is administered through, so the oncologist wishes to minimize Laurie’s reaction with a massive dose of steroids and Benadryl. Once at the office they provided Pepsid, an antibiotic, and a large dose of Benadryl to ensure she doesn’t have a bad reaction. For example, during the first round, Laurie took 2 tablets of Decadron the first 3 days of her chemo. In this round, she actually took 5 tablets the night before and 5 tablets 2 hours before the chemo. If she does not have any reaction, then they will reduce it to 2 tablets each dosage to minimize the steroids and their side effects. The theory here is if you have a very bad reaction the first time, it is very difficult psychologically to go to the next chemo session, so they would rather have a little too much than not enough. The side effects of Decadron are increased appetite, irritability, insomnia, headaches, and mood swings, so Laurie really doesn’t want to take too many of these tablets and we don't either. We want her to remain her sweet, lovable self so please pray that she will not need much of the Decadron.
The Herceptin will be given with the Taxol for 12 weeks, and then she will have just Herceptin for 9 more months every 3 weeks. Yeah, I know!
Several people have asked about particular prayer requests at this time. Laurie’s request is that the doctors are able to minimize her reaction to the Taxol without too many steroids.
Today’s first visit of Round 2 went very well. Laurie had no adverse reactions to either the Herceptin or Taxol. God has already answered another prayer! She took a half hour nap earlier this afternoon and has been feeling well all evening.
We are both very encouraged with how this 2nd round has started and have God and all of you to thank. Your prayers and support continue to give Laurie and me the strength and encouragement we need to get to the end of this long road to the cure. We could not do all of this without you and thank you again for all you have done and continue to do for us.
.
The second round of Laurie's chemo began today pretty much like the previous four treatments of the first round. Temperature, blood pressure, and blood work. The results from the blood work came back and everything was good for commencing the Herceptin and Taxol treatments. The 20 minute Benadryl I.V. was administered and then the 90 minute long Herceptin I.V. was administered. The first dosage today is the double dose kick-off dosage to get the body going with the Herceptin. The 11 weekly doses that follow will be about half this initial dose. The nurse told us that the Herceptin is administered first because they have to monitor Laurie for 90 minutes once the Herceptin is finished for any type of flu like symptoms that the Herceptin may cause. The Taxol was then administered immediately after the conclusion of the Herceptin and the hour it takes to administer the Taxol is part of the 90 minute monitoring process. Any allergic reactions from the Taxol should occur within the first few minutes after the Taxol is first administered. The side effects of the Taxol include joint pains, hair loss which is not an issue now, and tingling/numbness of the hands and feet, but that does not usually happen until the 5th or 6th week.
As you probably have picked up by now, both rounds of chemo are designed to ensure there are no microscopic cells in the rest of Laurie’s body, which may have escaped from the original tumor. Although the surgery removed the tumor fully and there were no cells in the margin that was surgically removed, 4 lymph nodes did have cancer cells in them and the lymph nodes are the “side roads” of the main arteries. The PET scan, which scans the entire body from the throat down, did not show any activity but since the 4 lymph nodes had cancer cells in them, they want to be sure they kill any cells that might be elsewhere in the body.
A little background on this second round of chemo. This round of Taxol is still a chemo therapy and the Herceptin is considered a biological treatment. Everyone is allergic to the solution the Taxol is administered through, so the oncologist wishes to minimize Laurie’s reaction with a massive dose of steroids and Benadryl. Once at the office they provided Pepsid, an antibiotic, and a large dose of Benadryl to ensure she doesn’t have a bad reaction. For example, during the first round, Laurie took 2 tablets of Decadron the first 3 days of her chemo. In this round, she actually took 5 tablets the night before and 5 tablets 2 hours before the chemo. If she does not have any reaction, then they will reduce it to 2 tablets each dosage to minimize the steroids and their side effects. The theory here is if you have a very bad reaction the first time, it is very difficult psychologically to go to the next chemo session, so they would rather have a little too much than not enough. The side effects of Decadron are increased appetite, irritability, insomnia, headaches, and mood swings, so Laurie really doesn’t want to take too many of these tablets and we don't either. We want her to remain her sweet, lovable self so please pray that she will not need much of the Decadron.
The Herceptin will be given with the Taxol for 12 weeks, and then she will have just Herceptin for 9 more months every 3 weeks. Yeah, I know!
Several people have asked about particular prayer requests at this time. Laurie’s request is that the doctors are able to minimize her reaction to the Taxol without too many steroids.
Today’s first visit of Round 2 went very well. Laurie had no adverse reactions to either the Herceptin or Taxol. God has already answered another prayer! She took a half hour nap earlier this afternoon and has been feeling well all evening.
We are both very encouraged with how this 2nd round has started and have God and all of you to thank. Your prayers and support continue to give Laurie and me the strength and encouragement we need to get to the end of this long road to the cure. We could not do all of this without you and thank you again for all you have done and continue to do for us.
.
Saturday, March 28, 2009
Happy days are here again!
Hey everyone,
Laurie has felt so much better this past week. This last 3 week cycle of A/C was much more like the 1st and 2nd cycle rather than the 3rd one which came with all the extra illnesses. Her cough is now very infrequent, and she has been able to get back on the treadmill during the past week, which in turn helps her energy level and ensures she gets hydrated. After her experience of picking up those germs last cycle, she has limited her “away from home” activities so that her immune system stays strong, and we thank each of you who helped make that possible by taking our children to various activities.
We look forward to another good week and anticipate the beginning of her 2nd round of chemo which consists of Taxol and Herceptin on April 6th. We will be remaining in town for Spring Break this year which allows us the opportunity to go to Washington, D.C. to see some of the monuments and museums and do some of the tourist stuff. Sadly, this is something we have never done. Better late than never, I guess.
Since we also have included “educational” information on this blog, we will admit there have been some small side effects, which Laurie calls the “small stuff.” For example, the chemo has brought on menopause and the hot flashes that accompany that. And she can’t sleep through the night since her bladder cannot last that long anymore. She does get weak from standing long periods (so she just doesn’t do that!) and she eats kids portions now so her digestive system doesn’t go into overdrive. Her allergies are more pronounced, and most importantly for her kids, she cannot wear her wig in the kitchen as sudden heat could singe it so their agreement is that she will stick to bandannas and turbans at home.
As far as me and the kids, we are busy trying to get rid of their coughs (Brooke & Forrest XIV) and sinus infections (me) and staying healthy (Ridge). We were all excited that Laurie was able to sneak out with all of us to a significant milestone for Forrest . . . his bridging ceremony to Boy Scouts! And this weekend was supposed to be the start of all 3 kids starting their baseball seasons, but only Forrest played a game last night and then the rains came. While we’re disappointed about games being cancelled, there is something nice to be said for “found” family time. Laurie decided to bake this afternoon so the house smells of cinnamon bread. The silver lining on the cloud of rain!
Our community has also experienced some strong reminders of how fragile life here on earth is over the past few weeks, and our prayers go out to the Stamps and Brewer families in the loss of a parent. We also praise the Lord that Mrs. Ricks (Wes’s mom) and Mr. Inglert (Tammy’s father) and Taylor Goodloe are doing better after serious hospitalizations. We will continue to pray for comfort and healing for these families.
We were treated three times this week to meals which meant I didn’t have to cook dinner. You don’t know how much that means when you’re trying to coordinate dinner either before or after baseball practices and games.
Monday was a surprise from Debbie Nelson, our neighbor, who brought us pork barbecue with buns, Coleslaw and corn. This was a welcome surprise that we all enjoyed. Thanks Debbie!
Tuesday the office staff at Floris ES put together a great meal of the kid’s favorite. Chicken strips from Chick-fil-A, macaroni & cheese, chocolate chip cookies and tossed salad. Thanks ladies!
Thursday's feast from Michele and Nikki at Oak Hill ES included chicken enchiladas, refried beans, sweet corn cake, Spanish rice, chips & salsa and Laurie’s favorite, Apple Crisp with ice cream. Thanks Michele and Nikki!
Once again the network of support we have is beyond incredible. Each day we receive supportive and encouraging emails, letters and cards via the post office, comments from the blog and phone calls. We continue to rely on the many prayers on our behalf. The words of encouragement make all of us smile and strengthen our resolve to move forward in this journey to completely heal Laurie now and reduce any chances of recurrence.
As always, thanks for all your continuing support.
.
Laurie has felt so much better this past week. This last 3 week cycle of A/C was much more like the 1st and 2nd cycle rather than the 3rd one which came with all the extra illnesses. Her cough is now very infrequent, and she has been able to get back on the treadmill during the past week, which in turn helps her energy level and ensures she gets hydrated. After her experience of picking up those germs last cycle, she has limited her “away from home” activities so that her immune system stays strong, and we thank each of you who helped make that possible by taking our children to various activities.
We look forward to another good week and anticipate the beginning of her 2nd round of chemo which consists of Taxol and Herceptin on April 6th. We will be remaining in town for Spring Break this year which allows us the opportunity to go to Washington, D.C. to see some of the monuments and museums and do some of the tourist stuff. Sadly, this is something we have never done. Better late than never, I guess.
Since we also have included “educational” information on this blog, we will admit there have been some small side effects, which Laurie calls the “small stuff.” For example, the chemo has brought on menopause and the hot flashes that accompany that. And she can’t sleep through the night since her bladder cannot last that long anymore. She does get weak from standing long periods (so she just doesn’t do that!) and she eats kids portions now so her digestive system doesn’t go into overdrive. Her allergies are more pronounced, and most importantly for her kids, she cannot wear her wig in the kitchen as sudden heat could singe it so their agreement is that she will stick to bandannas and turbans at home.
As far as me and the kids, we are busy trying to get rid of their coughs (Brooke & Forrest XIV) and sinus infections (me) and staying healthy (Ridge). We were all excited that Laurie was able to sneak out with all of us to a significant milestone for Forrest . . . his bridging ceremony to Boy Scouts! And this weekend was supposed to be the start of all 3 kids starting their baseball seasons, but only Forrest played a game last night and then the rains came. While we’re disappointed about games being cancelled, there is something nice to be said for “found” family time. Laurie decided to bake this afternoon so the house smells of cinnamon bread. The silver lining on the cloud of rain!
Our community has also experienced some strong reminders of how fragile life here on earth is over the past few weeks, and our prayers go out to the Stamps and Brewer families in the loss of a parent. We also praise the Lord that Mrs. Ricks (Wes’s mom) and Mr. Inglert (Tammy’s father) and Taylor Goodloe are doing better after serious hospitalizations. We will continue to pray for comfort and healing for these families.
We were treated three times this week to meals which meant I didn’t have to cook dinner. You don’t know how much that means when you’re trying to coordinate dinner either before or after baseball practices and games.
Monday was a surprise from Debbie Nelson, our neighbor, who brought us pork barbecue with buns, Coleslaw and corn. This was a welcome surprise that we all enjoyed. Thanks Debbie!
Tuesday the office staff at Floris ES put together a great meal of the kid’s favorite. Chicken strips from Chick-fil-A, macaroni & cheese, chocolate chip cookies and tossed salad. Thanks ladies!
Thursday's feast from Michele and Nikki at Oak Hill ES included chicken enchiladas, refried beans, sweet corn cake, Spanish rice, chips & salsa and Laurie’s favorite, Apple Crisp with ice cream. Thanks Michele and Nikki!
Once again the network of support we have is beyond incredible. Each day we receive supportive and encouraging emails, letters and cards via the post office, comments from the blog and phone calls. We continue to rely on the many prayers on our behalf. The words of encouragement make all of us smile and strengthen our resolve to move forward in this journey to completely heal Laurie now and reduce any chances of recurrence.
As always, thanks for all your continuing support.
.
Monday, March 16, 2009
Success! Check it off!
Hey everyone,
Laurie's cough is less frequent now and her blood work came back favorably so she was able to receive her last Adriamycin and Cytoxin chemo treatment today.
This is a great milestone in her road to recovery. Three weeks from today she will begin the next cycle of 12 weekly treatments of Taxol and Herceptin which should not impact her as severely as the Adriamycin and Cytoxin did. Her blood counts should not drop like they did during the first cycle and her susceptibility to infection should decrease allowing her to be the social butterfly we are all used to.
Last Tuesday the Floris ES fourth grade team provided us a great Mexican meal which included taco soup, tacos with all the fixings, Tostitos chips, corn muffins, chocolate chunk cookies and fried ice cream. I did not know that Breyers made fried ice cream. The entire meal was wonderful and so were the leftovers!
Thursday was Oak Hill's turn. Diane and Pam put together a wonderful meal of chicken and rice, green beans, carrots and turnips, tossed salad, Italian bread, chocolate chunk cookies and a two liter bottle of ginger ale.Someone must have leaked our love of chocolate chunk cookies to the world. Yum yum!
The whole family really appreciates the efforts and support from Floris ES and Oak Hill ES as well as that of Ox Hill Baptist Church. Not having to prepare a meal and getting the chance to relax for a few minutes really does help a lot!
Now that we have completed the first cycle of chemo we check that one off and anticipate the beginning of the next one. We know that we could not have made it through this time without the love and support from our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ and the prayers and support we have received from so many of you. Thank you again for the love and support you have shown us!
.
Laurie's cough is less frequent now and her blood work came back favorably so she was able to receive her last Adriamycin and Cytoxin chemo treatment today.
This is a great milestone in her road to recovery. Three weeks from today she will begin the next cycle of 12 weekly treatments of Taxol and Herceptin which should not impact her as severely as the Adriamycin and Cytoxin did. Her blood counts should not drop like they did during the first cycle and her susceptibility to infection should decrease allowing her to be the social butterfly we are all used to.
Last Tuesday the Floris ES fourth grade team provided us a great Mexican meal which included taco soup, tacos with all the fixings, Tostitos chips, corn muffins, chocolate chunk cookies and fried ice cream. I did not know that Breyers made fried ice cream. The entire meal was wonderful and so were the leftovers!
Thursday was Oak Hill's turn. Diane and Pam put together a wonderful meal of chicken and rice, green beans, carrots and turnips, tossed salad, Italian bread, chocolate chunk cookies and a two liter bottle of ginger ale.Someone must have leaked our love of chocolate chunk cookies to the world. Yum yum!
The whole family really appreciates the efforts and support from Floris ES and Oak Hill ES as well as that of Ox Hill Baptist Church. Not having to prepare a meal and getting the chance to relax for a few minutes really does help a lot!
Now that we have completed the first cycle of chemo we check that one off and anticipate the beginning of the next one. We know that we could not have made it through this time without the love and support from our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ and the prayers and support we have received from so many of you. Thank you again for the love and support you have shown us!
.
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
A minor bump in the road
Hey everyone,
I mentioned last time the nagging cough Laurie has had the past few weeks and that is the reason her chemo scheduled for yesterday had to be postponed until next Monday. Since she had a slight fever yesterday, her doctor was concerned that she may be getting a secondary infection. Since chemo shuts down her immune system, getting a secondary infection would be quite serious and they decided to be “safe” and delay the chemo. So instead of chemo, she has an inhaler which should take care of the cough and or her "reactive airways". And she gets an extra “good week” before her 4th, and last, treatment of Adriamycin and Cytoxan, next Monday.
Three weeks after her next treatment she will begin her weekly treatment of Taxol and Herceptin. Some people have asked me where we are in her recovery so I'm including the stages of her recovery as outlined by her oncologist below.
The stages left are:
1) Chemo therapy -- 3 months of aggressive therapy with 2 meds: Adriamycin & Cytoxan. This will be 4 treatments over 12 weeks. 1 every 3 weeks. Her 1st treatment was Jan 5th, she had her 2nd on Jan 26th, 3rd on Feb 16th, and hopes to have the last one next Monday, March 16th.
2)Chemo therapy combined with biological treatment - 3 months of Taxol & Herceptin. Weekly for 12 weeks. At this time, she hopes to start this on April 6th (Spring Break) and continue through June 22nd.
3) Radiation - 6 weeks of daily radiation (#4 is happening at same time)
4) Biological treatment - 9 more months of Herceptin, every 3 weeks
5) Hormonal treatments - for the next 5-10 years
So while this throws her schedule off a week it is always good to be cautious and we accept that. We look forward to a good week of recovery and thank God for his constant love and care.
Laurie wanted me to post the following which was given to her by Carl Bradley, a dear church friend whose wife dealt with cancer as well.
What Cancer Can’t Do
“There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.” 1 Corinthians 15
One of the most dreaded sentences a patient might hear is “You have cancer.” These words bring a chill to the ear. Although great progress has been made in treating cancer, recovery can be long and painful and some people do not survive.
An enthusiastic believer in Christ, Dan Richardson, lost his battle with cancer. But his life demonstrated that even thought the physical body may be destroyed by disease, the spirit can remain triumphant. This poem was distributed at his memorial service:
Cancer is so limited …
It cannot cripple love,
It cannot cripple hope,
It cannot corrode faith,
It cannot eat away peace,
It cannot destroy confidence,
It cannot kill friendship,
It cannot shut out memories,
It cannot silence courage,
It cannot invade the soul,
It cannot reduce eternal life,
It cannot quench the Spirit
It cannot lessen the power of the resurrection.
If an incurable disease has invaded your body, refuse to let it touch your spirit. Your body can be severely afflicted, and you may have a great struggle. But if you keep trusting God’s love, your spirit will remain strong. – D.G.E.
Why must I bear this pain, I cannot tell;
I only know my Lord does all things well.
And so I trust in God, my All in all,
For He will bring me through, whatever befall – Smith
Our greatest enemy is not disease, but despair.
We wish everyone well and thank you again for all your prayers and support.
.
I mentioned last time the nagging cough Laurie has had the past few weeks and that is the reason her chemo scheduled for yesterday had to be postponed until next Monday. Since she had a slight fever yesterday, her doctor was concerned that she may be getting a secondary infection. Since chemo shuts down her immune system, getting a secondary infection would be quite serious and they decided to be “safe” and delay the chemo. So instead of chemo, she has an inhaler which should take care of the cough and or her "reactive airways". And she gets an extra “good week” before her 4th, and last, treatment of Adriamycin and Cytoxan, next Monday.
Three weeks after her next treatment she will begin her weekly treatment of Taxol and Herceptin. Some people have asked me where we are in her recovery so I'm including the stages of her recovery as outlined by her oncologist below.
The stages left are:
1) Chemo therapy -- 3 months of aggressive therapy with 2 meds: Adriamycin & Cytoxan. This will be 4 treatments over 12 weeks. 1 every 3 weeks. Her 1st treatment was Jan 5th, she had her 2nd on Jan 26th, 3rd on Feb 16th, and hopes to have the last one next Monday, March 16th.
2)Chemo therapy combined with biological treatment - 3 months of Taxol & Herceptin. Weekly for 12 weeks. At this time, she hopes to start this on April 6th (Spring Break) and continue through June 22nd.
3) Radiation - 6 weeks of daily radiation (#4 is happening at same time)
4) Biological treatment - 9 more months of Herceptin, every 3 weeks
5) Hormonal treatments - for the next 5-10 years
So while this throws her schedule off a week it is always good to be cautious and we accept that. We look forward to a good week of recovery and thank God for his constant love and care.
Laurie wanted me to post the following which was given to her by Carl Bradley, a dear church friend whose wife dealt with cancer as well.
What Cancer Can’t Do
“There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.” 1 Corinthians 15
One of the most dreaded sentences a patient might hear is “You have cancer.” These words bring a chill to the ear. Although great progress has been made in treating cancer, recovery can be long and painful and some people do not survive.
An enthusiastic believer in Christ, Dan Richardson, lost his battle with cancer. But his life demonstrated that even thought the physical body may be destroyed by disease, the spirit can remain triumphant. This poem was distributed at his memorial service:
Cancer is so limited …
It cannot cripple love,
It cannot cripple hope,
It cannot corrode faith,
It cannot eat away peace,
It cannot destroy confidence,
It cannot kill friendship,
It cannot shut out memories,
It cannot silence courage,
It cannot invade the soul,
It cannot reduce eternal life,
It cannot quench the Spirit
It cannot lessen the power of the resurrection.
If an incurable disease has invaded your body, refuse to let it touch your spirit. Your body can be severely afflicted, and you may have a great struggle. But if you keep trusting God’s love, your spirit will remain strong. – D.G.E.
Why must I bear this pain, I cannot tell;
I only know my Lord does all things well.
And so I trust in God, my All in all,
For He will bring me through, whatever befall – Smith
Our greatest enemy is not disease, but despair.
We wish everyone well and thank you again for all your prayers and support.
.
Friday, February 27, 2009
February 27th Update
Hey everyone,
Laurie had her third chemo treatment almost two weeks ago on February 16th. When we went in to the doctor’s office that day I wondered if her blood levels would be high enough for her to have her treatment because of the nagging cough I mentioned in the previous blog posting. Her blood levels turned out to be good and she had her treatment.
The next day, Tuesday, I came home from work and she looked great and had a great day with the exception of the continued nagging cough. That evening we were treated to dinner with a Mexican theme by Cindy and Tara from Floris ES which included enchiladas, salad and cookies. Gracias!
Wednesday was pretty much the same with feeling pretty good but the coughing continued. I expressed my concerns but Laurie continued to blame it on allergies. That afternoon I received a call to pick up Ridge from school because he had a fever. No other symptoms. Just a fever. Ridge stayed home and with Tylenol the fever was kept in check.
Thursday afternoon I received a call from Laurie and she informed me that Ridge’s fever was 102.8. She called the doctor and I took him in and he was diagnosed with Type A Flu. Yea! Our family all received the flu shot earlier this year and I informed the doctor of that. The doctor prescribed Tamiflu. While there I mentioned that Ridge has a brother and sister and the doctor prescribed a “preventative” prescription for them too. Yea x 2! Thursday evening our dinner was catered by Diana from Oak Hill ES. She brought us chicken casserole, salad and cookies. Great choice! We all love chicken!
Friday morning Ridge was feeling fine and if the schools didn’t have that 24 hour fever rule he could have gone to school. Apparently, since he received the flu shot previously and received Tamiflu within the first 48 hours of his symptom, he recovered almost immediately. Yea x 3! Laurie was still coughing and feeling more tired than normal Friday which we expected after our experiences following the 2nd treatment. We anticipated her feeling tired for a couple more days and then bouncing back like she has previously.
Sunday Laurie woke up but was still very tired and the cough was still with her. She decided to stay home from church and rest. The rest of us went to church and she slept all morning. While at church we met members of the Eppert/Ossenfort family who provided us with dinner for that evening which included smothered chicken with mushroom sauce, rice, green beans, rolls and dessert. Awesome meal! Thanks so much!
Laurie continued to be tired and still had the cough and mild congestion on Tuesday. We contemplated a visit to the doctor but ruled against it due to her low tolerance against infections from the chemo. She would just keep hoping she would feel better in a day or so. I brought home from school all the fixin’s for ice cream sundaes and a gift card for Fresh City which was provided by the Floris Kindergarten team. You guys really know how to party! Thanks!
Wednesday Laurie contacted her oncologist and explained her symptoms and was told to contact her primary care physician. She was really feeling tired and suffering a lot from all the coughing and allergy like symptoms. Once again, the fear of infection was on her mind so she emailed her doctor for suggestions. Her doctor did get back to her but Laurie did not see the email until later that afternoon since she was sleeping. She did not have a good day and there was nothing we could do for her.
Thursday she contacted her PCP again and arranged to be seen that afternoon. She would sign in and be brought back to an exam room immediately. No waiting room time! She was seen and prescribed Levoquin which is an antibiotic. She doesn’t feel like she has an infection and wonders if she has the flu since Ridge had it last week. I don’t know what she has but I do know she has been miserable the past few days and hope the Levoquin or something else will make her feel better.
Next week is usually the “good” week before her next chemo treatment and I’m praying that will be the case. I hope you will continue to keep us in your thoughts and prayers. I believe in precision prayer and that is why I have gone into such detail above. Pray that Laurie will recover from whatever it is she has and continues to progress through these chemo treatments towards a full, complete, cancer free recovery.
.
Laurie had her third chemo treatment almost two weeks ago on February 16th. When we went in to the doctor’s office that day I wondered if her blood levels would be high enough for her to have her treatment because of the nagging cough I mentioned in the previous blog posting. Her blood levels turned out to be good and she had her treatment.
The next day, Tuesday, I came home from work and she looked great and had a great day with the exception of the continued nagging cough. That evening we were treated to dinner with a Mexican theme by Cindy and Tara from Floris ES which included enchiladas, salad and cookies. Gracias!
Wednesday was pretty much the same with feeling pretty good but the coughing continued. I expressed my concerns but Laurie continued to blame it on allergies. That afternoon I received a call to pick up Ridge from school because he had a fever. No other symptoms. Just a fever. Ridge stayed home and with Tylenol the fever was kept in check.
Thursday afternoon I received a call from Laurie and she informed me that Ridge’s fever was 102.8. She called the doctor and I took him in and he was diagnosed with Type A Flu. Yea! Our family all received the flu shot earlier this year and I informed the doctor of that. The doctor prescribed Tamiflu. While there I mentioned that Ridge has a brother and sister and the doctor prescribed a “preventative” prescription for them too. Yea x 2! Thursday evening our dinner was catered by Diana from Oak Hill ES. She brought us chicken casserole, salad and cookies. Great choice! We all love chicken!
Friday morning Ridge was feeling fine and if the schools didn’t have that 24 hour fever rule he could have gone to school. Apparently, since he received the flu shot previously and received Tamiflu within the first 48 hours of his symptom, he recovered almost immediately. Yea x 3! Laurie was still coughing and feeling more tired than normal Friday which we expected after our experiences following the 2nd treatment. We anticipated her feeling tired for a couple more days and then bouncing back like she has previously.
Sunday Laurie woke up but was still very tired and the cough was still with her. She decided to stay home from church and rest. The rest of us went to church and she slept all morning. While at church we met members of the Eppert/Ossenfort family who provided us with dinner for that evening which included smothered chicken with mushroom sauce, rice, green beans, rolls and dessert. Awesome meal! Thanks so much!
Laurie continued to be tired and still had the cough and mild congestion on Tuesday. We contemplated a visit to the doctor but ruled against it due to her low tolerance against infections from the chemo. She would just keep hoping she would feel better in a day or so. I brought home from school all the fixin’s for ice cream sundaes and a gift card for Fresh City which was provided by the Floris Kindergarten team. You guys really know how to party! Thanks!
Wednesday Laurie contacted her oncologist and explained her symptoms and was told to contact her primary care physician. She was really feeling tired and suffering a lot from all the coughing and allergy like symptoms. Once again, the fear of infection was on her mind so she emailed her doctor for suggestions. Her doctor did get back to her but Laurie did not see the email until later that afternoon since she was sleeping. She did not have a good day and there was nothing we could do for her.
Thursday she contacted her PCP again and arranged to be seen that afternoon. She would sign in and be brought back to an exam room immediately. No waiting room time! She was seen and prescribed Levoquin which is an antibiotic. She doesn’t feel like she has an infection and wonders if she has the flu since Ridge had it last week. I don’t know what she has but I do know she has been miserable the past few days and hope the Levoquin or something else will make her feel better.
Next week is usually the “good” week before her next chemo treatment and I’m praying that will be the case. I hope you will continue to keep us in your thoughts and prayers. I believe in precision prayer and that is why I have gone into such detail above. Pray that Laurie will recover from whatever it is she has and continues to progress through these chemo treatments towards a full, complete, cancer free recovery.
.
Monday, February 16, 2009
Presidents Day Update
Here we are again at the oncologist's office in Reston for the third chemo treatment.
The past week has been a good one. Laurie has been feeling well except for a nagging cough that we believe is due to allergies.
The week began with Laurie and Brooke attending Girl Scout Day at the GMU girl’s basketball game. They got there early Sunday morning so Brooke and her Brownie friends could learn a dance routine which they performed at half time. The day was long but both enjoyed their "Girl time" together.
Then on Tuesday we were treated by Roberta and Karen from Floris ES to homemade sugar cookies and a gift card to Chick Fillet. Many thanks to you both! We enjoyed the cookies and look forward to using the gift card.
Thursday was my Dad's 84th birthday. I was able to meet him for lunch at a local Chinese restaurant which we both enjoyed. I forgot to bring the birthday cards from the family so I put them in the mail. Cards or not, it was still good to be able to see him and enjoy a quiet meal together.
Thursday evening we were grateful to receive a platter of chicken strips and a large order of fruit salad from Chick Fillet. Jesse, Phyllis and Shanan of Oak Hill ES were the thoughtful trio who put that together. Many thanks to you all!
Friday the 13th, one of my favorite days in the year, was also Laurie's Mom's 70th birthday. The family couldn't get together that evening so we hosted a birthday party for her at our house Saturday evening. Each family contributed to the meal which included steamed spiced shrimp, KFC chicken, honey baked ham, baked beans, scalloped potatoes, apples and grapes, Cole slaw, tossed salad, rolls and birthday cake and ice cream. Sounds like a lot of food but when you're feeding 18 people you have to cover all the bases. Laurie enjoyed being able to do this at our house and the timing of Mom's birthday as related to Laurie's chemo schedule was perfect. We all missed David who was sick and my Dad who was out celebrating his day again with friends.
The chemo treatment went as expected. Laurie gets a bit apprehensive before we leave for the treatments but once we get there that all goes away. Her blood levels were really good today. Her WBC was 8.3. That is close to the level she had before she started chemo. Her GRAN count was 5.8 and her PLT was 306. All three are in the good to very good range. Thanks God! The only anomaly today is that the ice chips and fruit pops that she normally eats during the Adriamycin did not taste very good this time. We were told that her tastes might change. They were right!
So, three treatments down. We know that with each step in the recovery process we are that much closer to the fulfillment of God's plan for a full recovery. We thank you for the continued prayer and support. Please don't stop. Another update will be posted in the next few days.
.
The past week has been a good one. Laurie has been feeling well except for a nagging cough that we believe is due to allergies.
The week began with Laurie and Brooke attending Girl Scout Day at the GMU girl’s basketball game. They got there early Sunday morning so Brooke and her Brownie friends could learn a dance routine which they performed at half time. The day was long but both enjoyed their "Girl time" together.
Then on Tuesday we were treated by Roberta and Karen from Floris ES to homemade sugar cookies and a gift card to Chick Fillet. Many thanks to you both! We enjoyed the cookies and look forward to using the gift card.
Thursday was my Dad's 84th birthday. I was able to meet him for lunch at a local Chinese restaurant which we both enjoyed. I forgot to bring the birthday cards from the family so I put them in the mail. Cards or not, it was still good to be able to see him and enjoy a quiet meal together.
Thursday evening we were grateful to receive a platter of chicken strips and a large order of fruit salad from Chick Fillet. Jesse, Phyllis and Shanan of Oak Hill ES were the thoughtful trio who put that together. Many thanks to you all!
Friday the 13th, one of my favorite days in the year, was also Laurie's Mom's 70th birthday. The family couldn't get together that evening so we hosted a birthday party for her at our house Saturday evening. Each family contributed to the meal which included steamed spiced shrimp, KFC chicken, honey baked ham, baked beans, scalloped potatoes, apples and grapes, Cole slaw, tossed salad, rolls and birthday cake and ice cream. Sounds like a lot of food but when you're feeding 18 people you have to cover all the bases. Laurie enjoyed being able to do this at our house and the timing of Mom's birthday as related to Laurie's chemo schedule was perfect. We all missed David who was sick and my Dad who was out celebrating his day again with friends.
The chemo treatment went as expected. Laurie gets a bit apprehensive before we leave for the treatments but once we get there that all goes away. Her blood levels were really good today. Her WBC was 8.3. That is close to the level she had before she started chemo. Her GRAN count was 5.8 and her PLT was 306. All three are in the good to very good range. Thanks God! The only anomaly today is that the ice chips and fruit pops that she normally eats during the Adriamycin did not taste very good this time. We were told that her tastes might change. They were right!
So, three treatments down. We know that with each step in the recovery process we are that much closer to the fulfillment of God's plan for a full recovery. We thank you for the continued prayer and support. Please don't stop. Another update will be posted in the next few days.
.
Sunday, February 8, 2009
February 8th update
I know. I know. Why has it been so long since I updated the blog? I guess I’ve been a little busy lately and the blog was not the first thing on my honey-do list. I’ll try to do better in the future.
The days following Laurie’s 2nd chemo were good, but Laurie forgot how the anti-nausea meds are gradually reduced within the first 4 days of the cycle, so by the end of the week, she was down to eating smaller meals again. She also experienced very low energy levels over the weekend, and that was very difficult for her. She wanted to be doing something. Anything. But just did not feel like it. Thank goodness for understanding family members. :-) By mid Tuesday, her energy began to return, and she was able to return to "normal" activity (yes, her definition of this has had to change too, at least for now). She is working from home four hours every day which is good because it keeps her in tune to everything going on at Orange Business Services and allows her to focus on something outside of everything that's going on.
Now for the question of the week. Has she lost her hair? In her words, the good news is that she still has her eyebrows and she no longer has to shave her legs! TMI? She told me to include this. But many of you are probably thinking of the hair on her head, and this is truly an example how every person is different. She had heard many stories that she would begin losing her hair by the 3rd week or so, and when it started falling out, it would fall quickly (within 3 days was one quote). Laurie did begin losing her hair during the 3rd week. In fact she sent me an email that said “Day 18. My hair has begun to fall out”. It has not fallen out quickly. In fact, for at least 2 weeks, she felt like she had just gotten a haircut and had that "itch on her neck" since it was falling out so gradually. Even now, some of it is still hanging on! In fact, it sort of looks like she went for a Mohawk look in the back! But she is really glad she had Jodie at Shapes shave it before her first treatment. That made the gradual loss even more bearable as it wasn't as obvious to everyone else, and the kids were able to get used to the wig as well as the "home look" of bandanas or turbans. Since the children think the wig from the American Cancer Society is the one that looks "normal", that is the one she will wear for now. But the spring may bring on a new look as she has another wig which has a slightly different style with highlights and is not as dark and it really looks great. The kids just want Mom to look like she always has and we understand that.
Last week, on Thursday the 29th, we were treated to roast chicken, mashed potatoes, a veggies medley and scrumptious apple pie by Martha from Oak Hill ES. Thanks Martha! Please continue to take care of yourself as you recover from your fall last year.
Then on Super Bowl Sunday, Kristen and Jeremy from Ox Hill Baptist Church brought us Super Bowl cuisine which included Manwich sandwiches, chips and salsa, cole slaw and the boys' favorite, brownies! Thanks Kristen and Jeremy!
This past Tuesday our meal was prepared by the 1st grade team at Floris ES. They provided chicken tenders, steamed vegetables, macaroni & cheese, and chocolate chip cookies. Yum, yum!
Even though I have not done my part lately in keeping up with the blog, we still need and appreciate your prayers, well wishes and assistance. Please don’t stop! We still have a long road ahead of us and will depend on the Lord’s help as well as yours. Enjoy this wonderful spring weather while it lasts. I’ll update again soon.
.
The days following Laurie’s 2nd chemo were good, but Laurie forgot how the anti-nausea meds are gradually reduced within the first 4 days of the cycle, so by the end of the week, she was down to eating smaller meals again. She also experienced very low energy levels over the weekend, and that was very difficult for her. She wanted to be doing something. Anything. But just did not feel like it. Thank goodness for understanding family members. :-) By mid Tuesday, her energy began to return, and she was able to return to "normal" activity (yes, her definition of this has had to change too, at least for now). She is working from home four hours every day which is good because it keeps her in tune to everything going on at Orange Business Services and allows her to focus on something outside of everything that's going on.
Now for the question of the week. Has she lost her hair? In her words, the good news is that she still has her eyebrows and she no longer has to shave her legs! TMI? She told me to include this. But many of you are probably thinking of the hair on her head, and this is truly an example how every person is different. She had heard many stories that she would begin losing her hair by the 3rd week or so, and when it started falling out, it would fall quickly (within 3 days was one quote). Laurie did begin losing her hair during the 3rd week. In fact she sent me an email that said “Day 18. My hair has begun to fall out”. It has not fallen out quickly. In fact, for at least 2 weeks, she felt like she had just gotten a haircut and had that "itch on her neck" since it was falling out so gradually. Even now, some of it is still hanging on! In fact, it sort of looks like she went for a Mohawk look in the back! But she is really glad she had Jodie at Shapes shave it before her first treatment. That made the gradual loss even more bearable as it wasn't as obvious to everyone else, and the kids were able to get used to the wig as well as the "home look" of bandanas or turbans. Since the children think the wig from the American Cancer Society is the one that looks "normal", that is the one she will wear for now. But the spring may bring on a new look as she has another wig which has a slightly different style with highlights and is not as dark and it really looks great. The kids just want Mom to look like she always has and we understand that.
Last week, on Thursday the 29th, we were treated to roast chicken, mashed potatoes, a veggies medley and scrumptious apple pie by Martha from Oak Hill ES. Thanks Martha! Please continue to take care of yourself as you recover from your fall last year.
Then on Super Bowl Sunday, Kristen and Jeremy from Ox Hill Baptist Church brought us Super Bowl cuisine which included Manwich sandwiches, chips and salsa, cole slaw and the boys' favorite, brownies! Thanks Kristen and Jeremy!
This past Tuesday our meal was prepared by the 1st grade team at Floris ES. They provided chicken tenders, steamed vegetables, macaroni & cheese, and chocolate chip cookies. Yum, yum!
Even though I have not done my part lately in keeping up with the blog, we still need and appreciate your prayers, well wishes and assistance. Please don’t stop! We still have a long road ahead of us and will depend on the Lord’s help as well as yours. Enjoy this wonderful spring weather while it lasts. I’ll update again soon.
.
Monday, January 26, 2009
2nd chemo update
Hey everyone,
Today we went to the doctor's office for Laurie's second round of chemo. Before we could get started we had to do our Goldilocks impression as the first room they put us in was "too hot". We moved to another room and it was "just right".
She is having the 2nd round, of four, of her Adriamycin and Cytoxan. Once again, during the Adriamycin, she is eating Pedialyte frozen pops and fruit pop-sickles. This is supposed to help prevent mouth sores which are a common side effect of this treatment. It worked last time so she will continue to do this.
The nurse added Ativan to the IV this time to help prevent nausea. The only side effect of that is she is feeling kind of droopy. But eating the frozen "treats" keeps her awake so I can continue to entertain her.
Laurie was able to nap during the Cytoxan portion of her treatment which was good. It gave me time to compose this portion of my blog entry.
Saturday night we used a Papa John’s gift card we received from the JI team at Floris ES and ordered the "All Meats" and Hawaiian pizzas. Thanks to the Japanese Immersion team for their generosity.
Last night we were treated to dinner by the McKinley's from Ox Hill. Dinner included delicious manicotti, tossed salad, rolls, and chocolate chip cookies. We all enjoyed every bite!
We're looking forward to a relatively quiet evening at home tonight as we anticipate our first measurable snowfall of the season. The kids are off today and tomorrow due to teacher work days and they are hoping to add Wednesday to their time off due to the impending snow. Me too!
I feel like I keep repeating myself but I have to thank you all again for all the expressions of love you have shown our family. The meals, cards, emails, carpools and prayers have meant so much to Laurie and the rest of us. We really don't know how to thank you enough. God has truly blessed us with wonderful family and friends and we thank Him every day for each and every blessing.
.
Today we went to the doctor's office for Laurie's second round of chemo. Before we could get started we had to do our Goldilocks impression as the first room they put us in was "too hot". We moved to another room and it was "just right".
She is having the 2nd round, of four, of her Adriamycin and Cytoxan. Once again, during the Adriamycin, she is eating Pedialyte frozen pops and fruit pop-sickles. This is supposed to help prevent mouth sores which are a common side effect of this treatment. It worked last time so she will continue to do this.
The nurse added Ativan to the IV this time to help prevent nausea. The only side effect of that is she is feeling kind of droopy. But eating the frozen "treats" keeps her awake so I can continue to entertain her.
Laurie was able to nap during the Cytoxan portion of her treatment which was good. It gave me time to compose this portion of my blog entry.
Saturday night we used a Papa John’s gift card we received from the JI team at Floris ES and ordered the "All Meats" and Hawaiian pizzas. Thanks to the Japanese Immersion team for their generosity.
Last night we were treated to dinner by the McKinley's from Ox Hill. Dinner included delicious manicotti, tossed salad, rolls, and chocolate chip cookies. We all enjoyed every bite!
We're looking forward to a relatively quiet evening at home tonight as we anticipate our first measurable snowfall of the season. The kids are off today and tomorrow due to teacher work days and they are hoping to add Wednesday to their time off due to the impending snow. Me too!
I feel like I keep repeating myself but I have to thank you all again for all the expressions of love you have shown our family. The meals, cards, emails, carpools and prayers have meant so much to Laurie and the rest of us. We really don't know how to thank you enough. God has truly blessed us with wonderful family and friends and we thank Him every day for each and every blessing.
.
Saturday, January 24, 2009
January 24th update
Hey everyone,
Well, we thought we would have 14 days without doctors and nothing new to report but should have known better. What were we thinking? Laurie went to the doctor last Friday because one of her incisions from the surgery opened slightly. The good news is that the doctor thinks it was only one of the internal stitches that irritated the skin as it rose to the surface, but he gave her 10 days of antibiotics just to be sure. They also checked her white blood count, which was back to normal.
On Saturday, we had a day of basketball, with Ridge’s and Brooke’s games. On Sunday, Forrest had a rocket launching for cub scouts, a basketball game and then baseball practice. That night, the Andersons from church brought us some yummy orange chicken, rice and apple cake for dessert.
Monday and Tuesday were school holidays so we had time to straighten up the house and watch the inauguration. Since it was Laurie’s recovery week, she was able to help with Brownies at school and Girls in Action at church on Wednesday. And she started back to work part-time this week, working on “behind the scenes” projects to support her team.
On Thursday, the 2nd grade team and Debbie from Oak Hill ES sent over delicious Chili, cornbread as well as chocolate chip cookies and brownies for dessert. We really appreciate everyone helping with meals thus far. It has allowed Laurie to heal from the surgery and to figure out how these 3 week cycles will go with the Anthrymycin and Cytoxin. It seems like the first week is the one that is the “eating” challenge, so we’ll see how next week goes.
Friday brought another surprise as Laurie’s friend Sheila brought her lunch and a great “catch up” session. They were able to share updates on those from BAe and BT/Concert days, and catch up on our children’s activities.
Another full day of basketball for Brooke and Forrest and a special treat for Ridge as he gets to go to the Monster Truck Jam at the Verizon Center. Thanks Randy! Aside from these activities Laurie and I will just chill. Yeah right!
We seem to be repeating our thanks to each of you, but as many of you have shared with us that you are “praying without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17) on our behalf, we want you to know that we continue to thank you every day for all your support.
.
Well, we thought we would have 14 days without doctors and nothing new to report but should have known better. What were we thinking? Laurie went to the doctor last Friday because one of her incisions from the surgery opened slightly. The good news is that the doctor thinks it was only one of the internal stitches that irritated the skin as it rose to the surface, but he gave her 10 days of antibiotics just to be sure. They also checked her white blood count, which was back to normal.
On Saturday, we had a day of basketball, with Ridge’s and Brooke’s games. On Sunday, Forrest had a rocket launching for cub scouts, a basketball game and then baseball practice. That night, the Andersons from church brought us some yummy orange chicken, rice and apple cake for dessert.
Monday and Tuesday were school holidays so we had time to straighten up the house and watch the inauguration. Since it was Laurie’s recovery week, she was able to help with Brownies at school and Girls in Action at church on Wednesday. And she started back to work part-time this week, working on “behind the scenes” projects to support her team.
On Thursday, the 2nd grade team and Debbie from Oak Hill ES sent over delicious Chili, cornbread as well as chocolate chip cookies and brownies for dessert. We really appreciate everyone helping with meals thus far. It has allowed Laurie to heal from the surgery and to figure out how these 3 week cycles will go with the Anthrymycin and Cytoxin. It seems like the first week is the one that is the “eating” challenge, so we’ll see how next week goes.
Friday brought another surprise as Laurie’s friend Sheila brought her lunch and a great “catch up” session. They were able to share updates on those from BAe and BT/Concert days, and catch up on our children’s activities.
Another full day of basketball for Brooke and Forrest and a special treat for Ridge as he gets to go to the Monster Truck Jam at the Verizon Center. Thanks Randy! Aside from these activities Laurie and I will just chill. Yeah right!
We seem to be repeating our thanks to each of you, but as many of you have shared with us that you are “praying without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17) on our behalf, we want you to know that we continue to thank you every day for all your support.
.
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
January 13th update
Hey everyone,
Yesterday, we went to the doctor, and it seems that last week was the test of how Laurie’s body would react to the chemotherapy, and that period is now over. The rest of the cycle includes this week, when her resistance is down and then the 3rd week, which is just a week of recovery. This week, since her white blood count is down, she has to be careful about being around crowds or lots of germs and then next week is just a week of recovery. Her blood levels, which are good according to the doctor, are noted below:
Laurie has had to eat very small amounts every 1-2 hours during the past week, She can now eat regular meals, and is maintaining the nightly Ativan pill for nausea, just in case. The doctor believes the second cycle will be very similar to the first, but the 3rd and 4th may be slightly different due to the cumulative effect of the medications in her body. She is also supposed to drink lots of liquids so that the medication does not "sit" in the system too long (bad for kidneys) so she has learned that if she walks in the morning about 2-3 miles, then she can drink 1 liter of water rather easily, and then can aim for another 1-2 liters the rest of the day.
Last night she went to the “Look Good ... Feel Better” seminar which teaches make-up hints for when you lose your eyebrows, etc. She said she tried to pick up some hints and ideas but believes she will probably need help when that time actually comes. There were 6 other cancer patients there, 5 with breast cancer. According to those with more experience, the hair will go by next week, and then the eyebrows between the 2rd and 3rd treatments. However, as treatments can vary from weekly to every 2 weeks to every 3 weeks, and every person reacts differently, I'm not sure these measurements are very meaningful. Laurie also found out that the Neulasta shot I gave her 24 hours after chemo (to stimulate the growth of healthy white blood cells) did give others problems, but Laurie had none so again we feel blessed that it worked well for her.
Tonight we were treated to a delicious meal provided by Jean and Michelle from Floris ES which included meat Stromboli w/ extra tomato sauce for dipping, tossed salad, and cup cakes. Yum Yum!
Thanks to everyone for the emails, voice mails and comments on the blog. We know her schedule with the doctors, disability and insurance companies doesn't make it easy to catch her in "real time" but each prayer and thought does give her extra strength. We are so excited that she gets to go 14 whole days without another doctor visit. Woo Hoo!
.
Yesterday, we went to the doctor, and it seems that last week was the test of how Laurie’s body would react to the chemotherapy, and that period is now over. The rest of the cycle includes this week, when her resistance is down and then the 3rd week, which is just a week of recovery. This week, since her white blood count is down, she has to be careful about being around crowds or lots of germs and then next week is just a week of recovery. Her blood levels, which are good according to the doctor, are noted below:
Laurie has had to eat very small amounts every 1-2 hours during the past week, She can now eat regular meals, and is maintaining the nightly Ativan pill for nausea, just in case. The doctor believes the second cycle will be very similar to the first, but the 3rd and 4th may be slightly different due to the cumulative effect of the medications in her body. She is also supposed to drink lots of liquids so that the medication does not "sit" in the system too long (bad for kidneys) so she has learned that if she walks in the morning about 2-3 miles, then she can drink 1 liter of water rather easily, and then can aim for another 1-2 liters the rest of the day.Last night she went to the “Look Good ... Feel Better” seminar which teaches make-up hints for when you lose your eyebrows, etc. She said she tried to pick up some hints and ideas but believes she will probably need help when that time actually comes. There were 6 other cancer patients there, 5 with breast cancer. According to those with more experience, the hair will go by next week, and then the eyebrows between the 2rd and 3rd treatments. However, as treatments can vary from weekly to every 2 weeks to every 3 weeks, and every person reacts differently, I'm not sure these measurements are very meaningful. Laurie also found out that the Neulasta shot I gave her 24 hours after chemo (to stimulate the growth of healthy white blood cells) did give others problems, but Laurie had none so again we feel blessed that it worked well for her.
Tonight we were treated to a delicious meal provided by Jean and Michelle from Floris ES which included meat Stromboli w/ extra tomato sauce for dipping, tossed salad, and cup cakes. Yum Yum!
Thanks to everyone for the emails, voice mails and comments on the blog. We know her schedule with the doctors, disability and insurance companies doesn't make it easy to catch her in "real time" but each prayer and thought does give her extra strength. We are so excited that she gets to go 14 whole days without another doctor visit. Woo Hoo!
.
Friday, January 9, 2009
January 9th update
Just a quick update to say all is going well. Laurie has not been very hungry lately but is following doctor’s orders and eating small snacks and meals as she needs the extra protein for strength. Today is the first day she only has to take her regular vitamins and no other prescriptions meds, even though she does have the anti nausea meds if she needs them. The first night was the roughest, as we were not sure which medicine to use first.
We want to thank Joan and Meredith from Floris ES for providing our meal Tuesday night which included wonderful homemade chile, corn bread, salad and decadent Scotcheroos! (Rice Krispies with butterscotch, chocolate chips peanut butter and chocolate icing on top). Y’all are really spoiling us!
We are still not sure when her nadir will occur. Nadir is when the blood counts drop to their lowest during each cycle and affects white and red blood cell counts as well as platelet counts. This is when she is most susceptible to germs and infection. Normally nadir starts 7 days after the chemo treatments and continues for up to 10-14 days but since she is taking Neulasta, which promotes white blood cell growth, the time of lower counts may be shorter. She goes back to the doctor Monday for blood work which will clue us in as to what her levels are.
Laurie has been exercising on the treadmill but did not have the energy yesterday but says she will try to do some today even if it's a shorter time. Her goal for today is to try to access her work email and catch up a little on that.
Last night we were treated to dinner by John McCook from Oak Hill ES. We had baked lasagna, tossed salad and chocolate/blondie brownies for dessert. Thanks John! I never knew you were such a great cook! And many thanks to Tammy for her timely delivery service!
We would also like to thank Donna, Margaret and Martha for the informational as well as inspirational books. They have proven to be great resources as far as knowing what to expect and reminding us that God is with us thoughout all of this. Thanks so much for your support!
I’ll update you again Monday following the results from the blood work. The next couple of days are going to be busy with all the kids’ sports and scouting activities. Many thanks to all of you have helped with car pools. You are life savers!
Your continued prayers and good thoughts really mean a lot to us. Keep ‘em coming!
.
We want to thank Joan and Meredith from Floris ES for providing our meal Tuesday night which included wonderful homemade chile, corn bread, salad and decadent Scotcheroos! (Rice Krispies with butterscotch, chocolate chips peanut butter and chocolate icing on top). Y’all are really spoiling us!
We are still not sure when her nadir will occur. Nadir is when the blood counts drop to their lowest during each cycle and affects white and red blood cell counts as well as platelet counts. This is when she is most susceptible to germs and infection. Normally nadir starts 7 days after the chemo treatments and continues for up to 10-14 days but since she is taking Neulasta, which promotes white blood cell growth, the time of lower counts may be shorter. She goes back to the doctor Monday for blood work which will clue us in as to what her levels are.
Laurie has been exercising on the treadmill but did not have the energy yesterday but says she will try to do some today even if it's a shorter time. Her goal for today is to try to access her work email and catch up a little on that.
Last night we were treated to dinner by John McCook from Oak Hill ES. We had baked lasagna, tossed salad and chocolate/blondie brownies for dessert. Thanks John! I never knew you were such a great cook! And many thanks to Tammy for her timely delivery service!
We would also like to thank Donna, Margaret and Martha for the informational as well as inspirational books. They have proven to be great resources as far as knowing what to expect and reminding us that God is with us thoughout all of this. Thanks so much for your support!
I’ll update you again Monday following the results from the blood work. The next couple of days are going to be busy with all the kids’ sports and scouting activities. Many thanks to all of you have helped with car pools. You are life savers!
Your continued prayers and good thoughts really mean a lot to us. Keep ‘em coming!
.
Monday, January 5, 2009
The chemo begins
We arrived at the oncologist office at 1:00 P.M. and were shown to our room. We were given a room with a lovely view of the Reston Town Center. After signing several forms and testing the Mediport, blood was drawn from the Mediport. The blood was then tested for the following three counts:
* White blood cell count (leukocyte count): The number of white blood cells (WBCs) in the blood. White blood cells are the infection-fighting cells in the blood and are distinct from the red (oxygen-carrying) blood cells known as erythrocytes
* Platelets: An irregular, disc-shaped element in the blood that assists in blood clotting. During normal blood clotting, the platelets clump together (aggregate). Although platelets are often classed as blood cells, they are actually fragments of large bone marrow cells called megakaryocytes.
* Granulocyte: A type of white blood cell filled with microscopic granules that are little sacs containing enzymes, compounds that digest microorganisms.
The nurse returned with the results of the blood work and presented them to us. All levels were good and we proceeded to the next step.
An IV of Decadron and Aloxi was started to complement the anti-nausea meds taken one hour before arriving for the appointment. This IV took about 15 minutes.
The Adriamycin IV was then started. This took about an hour to complete. Laurie ate fruit popsicles and ice chips while the Adriamycin was administered which is reported to cut down on the likelihood that she will develop mouth sores.
Once the Adriamycin was completed the nurse started the Cytoxan IV which took another hour to complete. The IV access was removed from the port and we were sent home.
Laurie was very comfortable and upbeat throughout the entire process. She did become a little impatient waiting for each medication to finish but my charm and whit was sufficient to help pass the time. I also recognized her need for rest during the procedure and allowed that to happen.
We arrived home around 4:45. Laurie was tired from the treatment and from not sleeping well last night so she took an hour nap. She woke up groggy and I believe the effects of the chemo were beginning to take place. She was not hungry or thirsty but I insisted she drink some water. The kids were brought home by Laurie’s mom and dad around 7:00. Laurie was feeling more “out of it” so she went to bed around 7:45ish. A few minutes later she said she was feeling a little nauseous so she took a Compazine and went to bed. After watching Texas win the Fiesta Bowl I came to bed and she was still sleeping. Around 12:45 she was feeling nauseous again and I gave her Ativan which did the trick. She slept until 8:15 Tuesday morning.
Tomorrow we will see how she feels and allow her to rest and relax. At 4:30 P.M., 24 hours after her chemo treatment finished, I will give her a Neulasta injection. Neulasta is used to help stimulate the bone marrow to make white blood cells. White blood cells help the body fight infections. Giving her injections is nothing new to me because of all the IVF injections I gave her eight years ago that led to us having Brooke and Ridge.
Laurie is scheduled to go back to the oncologist next Monday, the 12th for a follow-up visit.
Our trust in the Lord has sustained us throughout this process and we continue to look to Him for strength and support. Our faith will see us through this and your prayers are very important to us. Please continue to remember Laurie in your prayers and thoughts as we have now completed the first of many steps toward her recovery.
.
* White blood cell count (leukocyte count): The number of white blood cells (WBCs) in the blood. White blood cells are the infection-fighting cells in the blood and are distinct from the red (oxygen-carrying) blood cells known as erythrocytes
* Platelets: An irregular, disc-shaped element in the blood that assists in blood clotting. During normal blood clotting, the platelets clump together (aggregate). Although platelets are often classed as blood cells, they are actually fragments of large bone marrow cells called megakaryocytes.
* Granulocyte: A type of white blood cell filled with microscopic granules that are little sacs containing enzymes, compounds that digest microorganisms.
The nurse returned with the results of the blood work and presented them to us. All levels were good and we proceeded to the next step.
An IV of Decadron and Aloxi was started to complement the anti-nausea meds taken one hour before arriving for the appointment. This IV took about 15 minutes.
The Adriamycin IV was then started. This took about an hour to complete. Laurie ate fruit popsicles and ice chips while the Adriamycin was administered which is reported to cut down on the likelihood that she will develop mouth sores.
Once the Adriamycin was completed the nurse started the Cytoxan IV which took another hour to complete. The IV access was removed from the port and we were sent home.
Laurie was very comfortable and upbeat throughout the entire process. She did become a little impatient waiting for each medication to finish but my charm and whit was sufficient to help pass the time. I also recognized her need for rest during the procedure and allowed that to happen.
We arrived home around 4:45. Laurie was tired from the treatment and from not sleeping well last night so she took an hour nap. She woke up groggy and I believe the effects of the chemo were beginning to take place. She was not hungry or thirsty but I insisted she drink some water. The kids were brought home by Laurie’s mom and dad around 7:00. Laurie was feeling more “out of it” so she went to bed around 7:45ish. A few minutes later she said she was feeling a little nauseous so she took a Compazine and went to bed. After watching Texas win the Fiesta Bowl I came to bed and she was still sleeping. Around 12:45 she was feeling nauseous again and I gave her Ativan which did the trick. She slept until 8:15 Tuesday morning.
Tomorrow we will see how she feels and allow her to rest and relax. At 4:30 P.M., 24 hours after her chemo treatment finished, I will give her a Neulasta injection. Neulasta is used to help stimulate the bone marrow to make white blood cells. White blood cells help the body fight infections. Giving her injections is nothing new to me because of all the IVF injections I gave her eight years ago that led to us having Brooke and Ridge.
Laurie is scheduled to go back to the oncologist next Monday, the 12th for a follow-up visit.
Our trust in the Lord has sustained us throughout this process and we continue to look to Him for strength and support. Our faith will see us through this and your prayers are very important to us. Please continue to remember Laurie in your prayers and thoughts as we have now completed the first of many steps toward her recovery.
.
Friday, January 2, 2009
Happy New Year!
Hey everyone!
It’s been a good couple of weeks since I last provided an update.
Our family and several others from our church went Christmas Caroling at Fair Oaks Hospital and had a great time spreading Christmas cheer to the patients along with Santa, Mrs. Clause and their daughter. We are lucky in that we get to do this every year and we always receive a blessing from the experience.
Laurie went to her reconstructive surgeon on Monday the 22nd and was released from her care because she has progressed so well. Immediately following that appointment we went to Fairfax hospital to have the Mediport implanted. This provides an “input” for the chemotherapy without using various veins in her arm, and everyone tells us it is THE way to go. However, Laurie thought it was only a medical procedure and not an outpatient surgery, and had to readjust her thinking on the recovery process related to that. She was very sore immediately following the surgery for a couple of days but has now become more adjusted to it.
We went to Laurie’s parent’s home in Centreville for Christmas Eve with all the local family followed by Christmas Eve service at Ox Hill. Christmas day we went to Laurie’s sister Carlene’s home in Chantilly for brunch and more Christmas celebrating.
In the week between Christmas and New Years, Laurie was seen and released by the Mediport surgeon, and also went to see the radiation oncologist to get more information as to the benefits of this type of treatment. Given her pathology reports as well as the fact that 4 lymph nodes were involved, statistically she has a 25% chance of recurrence on that side. Therefore, while radiation would not affect her survival rate, it would reduce her recurrence by 75%, or to about 6%. While there are risks, we believe they are worth the benefit so will plan to start that in July after the chemotherapy.
Today Laurie took another step towards her recovery. Since she will lose her hair from the chemo, she decided to donate her hair to Locks of Love and then had the remaining hair shaved. Martha, our next door neighbor, arranged for Laurie to go to Shapes in Herndon to donate her hair. She then had the wig she received at the American Cancer Society styled. She walked out just as proud as she walked in. I have to admit that she looks great! Thanks Martha!
Monday Laurie will have her first chemo treatment which should last approximately three hours. In addition to the chemo she will be also be taking several medications to counter any side effects. She will have her next treatment in three weeks.
As we begin yet another phase of her road to recovery we continue to treasure your thoughts and prayers and look forward to providing you with more updates.
.
It’s been a good couple of weeks since I last provided an update.
Our family and several others from our church went Christmas Caroling at Fair Oaks Hospital and had a great time spreading Christmas cheer to the patients along with Santa, Mrs. Clause and their daughter. We are lucky in that we get to do this every year and we always receive a blessing from the experience.
Laurie went to her reconstructive surgeon on Monday the 22nd and was released from her care because she has progressed so well. Immediately following that appointment we went to Fairfax hospital to have the Mediport implanted. This provides an “input” for the chemotherapy without using various veins in her arm, and everyone tells us it is THE way to go. However, Laurie thought it was only a medical procedure and not an outpatient surgery, and had to readjust her thinking on the recovery process related to that. She was very sore immediately following the surgery for a couple of days but has now become more adjusted to it.
We went to Laurie’s parent’s home in Centreville for Christmas Eve with all the local family followed by Christmas Eve service at Ox Hill. Christmas day we went to Laurie’s sister Carlene’s home in Chantilly for brunch and more Christmas celebrating.
In the week between Christmas and New Years, Laurie was seen and released by the Mediport surgeon, and also went to see the radiation oncologist to get more information as to the benefits of this type of treatment. Given her pathology reports as well as the fact that 4 lymph nodes were involved, statistically she has a 25% chance of recurrence on that side. Therefore, while radiation would not affect her survival rate, it would reduce her recurrence by 75%, or to about 6%. While there are risks, we believe they are worth the benefit so will plan to start that in July after the chemotherapy.
Today Laurie took another step towards her recovery. Since she will lose her hair from the chemo, she decided to donate her hair to Locks of Love and then had the remaining hair shaved. Martha, our next door neighbor, arranged for Laurie to go to Shapes in Herndon to donate her hair. She then had the wig she received at the American Cancer Society styled. She walked out just as proud as she walked in. I have to admit that she looks great! Thanks Martha!
Monday Laurie will have her first chemo treatment which should last approximately three hours. In addition to the chemo she will be also be taking several medications to counter any side effects. She will have her next treatment in three weeks.
As we begin yet another phase of her road to recovery we continue to treasure your thoughts and prayers and look forward to providing you with more updates.
.
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