Wednesday, January 23, 2013
Tuesday, January 15, 2013
Clear Sailing
Good news! Just a quick note to say that the PET scan showed no active areas, a much-shrunken tumor site and no other lymph node involvement.
So after a very long year and a bit, we can say farewell to frequent visits to the oncologist and too many needles, other than quarterly visits to monitor John's health.
This is not to say the lymphoma is gone, but we are hoping for a respite of several years before we have to experiment with the newest and latest in chemo. Thankfully there are a few drugs making their way through the FDA approval process and hopefully a good, effective one will be available when John needs it the next time.
Until then, we're grateful for the Bendamustine--side effects and all; it was worth it in the end. Now we'll see if we remember what a normal life is like.
It's a good way to start the New Year!
So after a very long year and a bit, we can say farewell to frequent visits to the oncologist and too many needles, other than quarterly visits to monitor John's health.
This is not to say the lymphoma is gone, but we are hoping for a respite of several years before we have to experiment with the newest and latest in chemo. Thankfully there are a few drugs making their way through the FDA approval process and hopefully a good, effective one will be available when John needs it the next time.
Until then, we're grateful for the Bendamustine--side effects and all; it was worth it in the end. Now we'll see if we remember what a normal life is like.
It's a good way to start the New Year!
Wednesday, December 19, 2012
Normal Is Nice
Fortunately, chemo weeks pass quickly and we get back to normal. But I think I forget to let people know that we have many more good days than challenging ones!
So...normal news.
We've been enjoying Christmas music since early November while Erik practiced for the Reno Pops holiday concert. I know everyone thinks the retailers start way too early with their holiday displays, but it turns out that all those wonderful-sounding holiday concerts involve a little jumping-the-gun preparations! Kharma does a little singing of her own when the violin starts. (She's pretty much on key.)
The concert coincided with our first real snowfall of the season. So we made our slippery drive to the concert hall, gingerly walked the icy sidewalks and found a full house in attendance. Guess who got the last seat available? The music was enjoyable from beginning to end and seeing how handsome E looked in his new tuxedo shirt and black bowtie was the perfect finishing touch.
We've managed a bit of holiday shopping, wrapping paper marathons and the obligatory standing in line at the post office. The house was decked in red and green, snowmen, Santas, and snowflakes right from December first then decorating took a back seat to buying goodies for the grand-daughters and far-flung family.
Erik and I cut a tree right after Thanksgiving and it's been sitting outside in a bucket of water. Well, anyway I thought it was water until I hauled it into the garage at lunch today and found it's actually been frozen in a block of very heavy ice. It's awkward to bring a Christmas tree through the doorway at the best of times, adding a frozen five-gallon bucket to the mix takes it to a whole new level. I've settled for hammering the ice off instead of bringing it inside to decorate. Maybe tomorrow we'll have an official place to put our wrapped presents!
Music, decorating, gift-giving...seeing old friends, Christmas parties, kids...a bit of snow, a bit of cold weather...our annual Hannukah dinner (a tradition I established once my tastebuds experienced their first latke garnished with applesauce)...holiday planning...looking forward to family time. It's a cozy, friendly, fun time of year.
Hoping your December is proceeding normally with the usual traditions and as little stress as possible!
So...normal news.
We've been enjoying Christmas music since early November while Erik practiced for the Reno Pops holiday concert. I know everyone thinks the retailers start way too early with their holiday displays, but it turns out that all those wonderful-sounding holiday concerts involve a little jumping-the-gun preparations! Kharma does a little singing of her own when the violin starts. (She's pretty much on key.)
The concert coincided with our first real snowfall of the season. So we made our slippery drive to the concert hall, gingerly walked the icy sidewalks and found a full house in attendance. Guess who got the last seat available? The music was enjoyable from beginning to end and seeing how handsome E looked in his new tuxedo shirt and black bowtie was the perfect finishing touch.
We've managed a bit of holiday shopping, wrapping paper marathons and the obligatory standing in line at the post office. The house was decked in red and green, snowmen, Santas, and snowflakes right from December first then decorating took a back seat to buying goodies for the grand-daughters and far-flung family.
Erik and I cut a tree right after Thanksgiving and it's been sitting outside in a bucket of water. Well, anyway I thought it was water until I hauled it into the garage at lunch today and found it's actually been frozen in a block of very heavy ice. It's awkward to bring a Christmas tree through the doorway at the best of times, adding a frozen five-gallon bucket to the mix takes it to a whole new level. I've settled for hammering the ice off instead of bringing it inside to decorate. Maybe tomorrow we'll have an official place to put our wrapped presents!
Music, decorating, gift-giving...seeing old friends, Christmas parties, kids...a bit of snow, a bit of cold weather...our annual Hannukah dinner (a tradition I established once my tastebuds experienced their first latke garnished with applesauce)...holiday planning...looking forward to family time. It's a cozy, friendly, fun time of year.
Hoping your December is proceeding normally with the usual traditions and as little stress as possible!
Saturday, November 24, 2012
Sierra at Five Months
I could get lost in those eyes. Sigh. I love you, my little Rosebud!
Friday, November 23, 2012
Some Days are Better Than Other Days
Thursday and Friday? Meh.
Funny how the chemo picks up steam. The first few days aren't bad, but then his energy disappears, his appetite wanes, and he fights off waves of nausea as the treatment's dark side emerges.
He seems content to bask in the sunshine like an old horned toad brought in from the desert. And that's fine. He'll rebound for a few hours and work on the computer.
Post-chemo weekends are usually pretty mellow with low expectations and that's exactly what this one is shaping up to be. No big plans, just puttering around the house getting a few things done while the weather is still nice.
Meanwhile, Erik and I abandoned the patient, bought a tree permit, stomped around in the snow until we found a nice fir tree and tied it to the top of the SUV. At home, after we set it in a bucket of water, we both looked at the Doug fir growing outside the window and wondered why in the heck we went out and cut a tree when there was a perfectly acceptable candidate right in our backyard.
Hmmm.
Funny how the chemo picks up steam. The first few days aren't bad, but then his energy disappears, his appetite wanes, and he fights off waves of nausea as the treatment's dark side emerges.
He seems content to bask in the sunshine like an old horned toad brought in from the desert. And that's fine. He'll rebound for a few hours and work on the computer.
Post-chemo weekends are usually pretty mellow with low expectations and that's exactly what this one is shaping up to be. No big plans, just puttering around the house getting a few things done while the weather is still nice.
Meanwhile, Erik and I abandoned the patient, bought a tree permit, stomped around in the snow until we found a nice fir tree and tied it to the top of the SUV. At home, after we set it in a bucket of water, we both looked at the Doug fir growing outside the window and wondered why in the heck we went out and cut a tree when there was a perfectly acceptable candidate right in our backyard.
Hmmm.
Tuesday, November 20, 2012
The Human Pincushion
This week involved blood work Monday morning at the lab, followed by an IV for chemo (that took two tries). This morning it took two nurses, three sticks and forty-five minutes to get an IV started.
Someone is thoroughly sick of needles. He knows they'll probe interminably, and may or may not be successful. If not, he gets to undergo the torture again. He can deal with the minimal pain of the tumors, he seems to nap while the poison drips into his veins, he's come to terms with waves of nausea and lack of energy, but just thinking about needles gets him stressed enough to send his blood pressure up a few notches.
We can't blame the nurses when we know the problem is his veins reacting to the chemo. The poor nurses probably hate to see us walk through the door! If we'd known at the start that veins can be damaged, we'd probably have opted for a port or picc line. Too late now.
However, on the bright side, he felt good enough to make turkey enchiladas for dinner tonight and he's able to drink fluids without much problem. So the side effects are manageable nowadays, thanks very much. His blood work continues to look stellar. And the only needle he needs to worry about is tomorrow's shot which is easy-peasy.
And hopefully he'll have to face the dreaded needles for only one more round.
Also the pomegranates from Costco have been fabulously wonderful; both John and Erik have enjoyed feasting on them. Personally I think they're more trouble than they're worth (the fruit, not the guys). I have the feeling that Persephone felt the same way.
Someone is thoroughly sick of needles. He knows they'll probe interminably, and may or may not be successful. If not, he gets to undergo the torture again. He can deal with the minimal pain of the tumors, he seems to nap while the poison drips into his veins, he's come to terms with waves of nausea and lack of energy, but just thinking about needles gets him stressed enough to send his blood pressure up a few notches.
We can't blame the nurses when we know the problem is his veins reacting to the chemo. The poor nurses probably hate to see us walk through the door! If we'd known at the start that veins can be damaged, we'd probably have opted for a port or picc line. Too late now.
However, on the bright side, he felt good enough to make turkey enchiladas for dinner tonight and he's able to drink fluids without much problem. So the side effects are manageable nowadays, thanks very much. His blood work continues to look stellar. And the only needle he needs to worry about is tomorrow's shot which is easy-peasy.
And hopefully he'll have to face the dreaded needles for only one more round.
Also the pomegranates from Costco have been fabulously wonderful; both John and Erik have enjoyed feasting on them. Personally I think they're more trouble than they're worth (the fruit, not the guys). I have the feeling that Persephone felt the same way.
Sunday, November 18, 2012
Our Thanksgiving Day
I"m so happy we decided to celebrate Thanksgiving early. It meant I had all day Saturday to cook. How relaxing! Who knew?
I'm casting my vote right now--the Thanksgiving holiday from now on needs to include Wednesday so we can all cook at our leisure and enjoy it instead of spending our Wednesday at work then entering our kitchens like rabid ferrets on a mission!
On the menu:
I love the tradition of bringing out serving utensils that have been handed down through the family, using recipes from Fresno Thanksgivings, silver from our wedding, and goblets from my grandma's holiday table. It just makes the day more special as it links us with happy memories from our past.
I had never realized until this year that my guys are Mayflower descendents. They have the genes passed on by those brave and hardy souls who somehow survived that first year in the New World and flourished.
Let the leftovers commence!
I'm casting my vote right now--the Thanksgiving holiday from now on needs to include Wednesday so we can all cook at our leisure and enjoy it instead of spending our Wednesday at work then entering our kitchens like rabid ferrets on a mission!
- roast turkey with gravy,
- cranberry sauce,
- yams and green beans,
- deviled eggs, olives, and pickles,
- homemade bread with decorative butter pats,
- sparkling apple and apple-pomegranate cider,
- pecan pie and warm-from-the-oven apple pie.
I love the tradition of bringing out serving utensils that have been handed down through the family, using recipes from Fresno Thanksgivings, silver from our wedding, and goblets from my grandma's holiday table. It just makes the day more special as it links us with happy memories from our past.
I had never realized until this year that my guys are Mayflower descendents. They have the genes passed on by those brave and hardy souls who somehow survived that first year in the New World and flourished.
Let the leftovers commence!
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