Shalom!
Well, another detour along my path to, hopefully, good health. After chemo #6 in this Taxol series, I developed excruciating stomach pains in my left side. That was followed by a sudden bleeding as well. In the hospital, I went thru' a CT scan. It seems that with the chemo, and then antibiotics for my arm problem way back in the first series, my immune system is low. Therefore I am more prone to infections. That's why I was so against chemo to begin with. So not new chemo treatment was given for now. I am once again on new antibiotics as the attack is on my colon, called 'colitis'. What I drink or eat will help nor harm, altho' I do try to eat less to make the colon work less. That is not very successful for me. Hopefully, when I finish my week of antibiotics, we may be able to resume the chemo treatment. I await to hear from my oncologist who decides. Being at home, resting a lot, seems to be my one way to cope these days.
I thank my readers who are hopeful and caring for me. Until the next write-up or editing of this one, bye for now.
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Monday, May 17, 2010
MAY 20-10 BE YOUR OWN ADVOCATE
SHALOM:
The oncology dept. is so full of very ill people. The doctors are swamped, as are the exceptional nurses. I have not been able to see and talk to my oncologist for over 2 months. I am so thankful not to have a more serious cancer, but nevertheless I do have concerns and issues and a need to ask questions. The nurses have been wonderful with answering, but they often have to tell you to talk to your oncologist. This past week was close to the point at which I either continue all 12 taxol treatments or stop at 8 which was a possibility to be considered. With no doctor to talk to, I was very much in the dark, altho' the nurses said that everyone on taxol does all 12 tipulim.
I know in my heart that this one lovely nurse drawing my blood must have gone and cornered my oncologist and spoken to him. Suddenly that day, he came to smile at me. His nurse then cornered me and made me an appt. for 2 days later to discuss issues. Later on that same day, she said to come by his office, and possibly they will do it that day. I know that had I not been my own advocate and spoken of my frustration to my nurse attending me, that this would not have occurred. Bless the efficient, hard working nurses, and yes, people out there, whether you are in the U>S> or Canada or here in Israel, etc., BE YOUR OWN ADVOCATE. Speak up for yourself and ask questions.
Some summary points after my meeting for us all to think about.
Fatigue is common and after several weeks and months this will improve. Radiation as well will have its fatigue component, but less. Each of my series has its side effects, and it all varies from treatment to treatment and on the individual.
Based on my side effects and blood level, etc. my present treatments will end after the 8 sessions. Then I will have some time to kind of
come back to myself before starting radiation.
As to depression, we all live with uncertainty in life but get thru'
by denial, says my Dr., but with cancer (and such serious illnesses like after a heart attack,the denial is broken. We must learn to live with the anxiety and push it back of our head so that we can still live but not have it blind you. We all have an illusion of control through healthy living, etc. but the baseline risk of being human, we are all facing our mortality. Time helps, says my Dr. This in a nutshell is some of our discussion. Our body has betrayed us, and it takes time to trust our body again.
If this information helps anybody out there, I am pleased.
May we all pray for each other.
MY best wishes to you.
chaya bat sara bayla
The oncology dept. is so full of very ill people. The doctors are swamped, as are the exceptional nurses. I have not been able to see and talk to my oncologist for over 2 months. I am so thankful not to have a more serious cancer, but nevertheless I do have concerns and issues and a need to ask questions. The nurses have been wonderful with answering, but they often have to tell you to talk to your oncologist. This past week was close to the point at which I either continue all 12 taxol treatments or stop at 8 which was a possibility to be considered. With no doctor to talk to, I was very much in the dark, altho' the nurses said that everyone on taxol does all 12 tipulim.
I know in my heart that this one lovely nurse drawing my blood must have gone and cornered my oncologist and spoken to him. Suddenly that day, he came to smile at me. His nurse then cornered me and made me an appt. for 2 days later to discuss issues. Later on that same day, she said to come by his office, and possibly they will do it that day. I know that had I not been my own advocate and spoken of my frustration to my nurse attending me, that this would not have occurred. Bless the efficient, hard working nurses, and yes, people out there, whether you are in the U>S> or Canada or here in Israel, etc., BE YOUR OWN ADVOCATE. Speak up for yourself and ask questions.
Some summary points after my meeting for us all to think about.
Fatigue is common and after several weeks and months this will improve. Radiation as well will have its fatigue component, but less. Each of my series has its side effects, and it all varies from treatment to treatment and on the individual.
Based on my side effects and blood level, etc. my present treatments will end after the 8 sessions. Then I will have some time to kind of
come back to myself before starting radiation.
As to depression, we all live with uncertainty in life but get thru'
by denial, says my Dr., but with cancer (and such serious illnesses like after a heart attack,the denial is broken. We must learn to live with the anxiety and push it back of our head so that we can still live but not have it blind you. We all have an illusion of control through healthy living, etc. but the baseline risk of being human, we are all facing our mortality. Time helps, says my Dr. This in a nutshell is some of our discussion. Our body has betrayed us, and it takes time to trust our body again.
If this information helps anybody out there, I am pleased.
May we all pray for each other.
MY best wishes to you.
chaya bat sara bayla
Thursday, May 13, 2010
MAY 14-10 CONTINUING ON MY CANCERY JOURNEY
HI:
I HAVEN'T WRITTEN IN A LONG TIME. MY CONSTANT FATIGUE AND 'DOWN' MOODS JUST EXTRACT A LOT FROM ME. BUT I HAVE DONE 5 TREATMENTS OUT OF THE 12 IN THIS TAXOL SERIES OF CHEMOTHERAPY. I KNOW THAT I AM LUCKY TO HAVE 'JUST THIS', BUT I STILL AM STRUGGLING WITH IT ALL. I AM LIMITING SO MANY OUTSIDE ACTIVITIES DUE TO LACK OF STRENGTH, TENDING TO STAY HOME MORE AND MORE AT NIGHT FOR SURE, AND EVEN FOR WEEK-ENDS. FROM MY HOME BASE, I SEEM TO FUNCTION BETTER.
TAXOL RESULTS FOR ME:
EXTREME WAVES OF FATIGUE, FATIGUE -ACCOMPANYING DEPRESSION
TINGLING OF TOES AND ACUTE AWARENESS OF IT DAY AND NITE
BAD BREATH
'DOWN' MOODS
BLOODY NOSTRILS AND NEED MEDICATION
BUT I DO REMIND MYSELF TO BE THANKFUL THAT I HAVE COME THIS FAR, AND HOPE TO FEEL STRONGER AT SOME POINT.
I WISH EVERY READER WHO IS DOWN AND UNDER TO FEEL BETTER REAL SOON. FOR YOU HEALTHY READERS, COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS AND TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF TO EAT PROPERLY, EXERCISE AS WELL, AND BE HAPPY.
BYE FOR NOW ONCE AGAIN.
I HAVEN'T WRITTEN IN A LONG TIME. MY CONSTANT FATIGUE AND 'DOWN' MOODS JUST EXTRACT A LOT FROM ME. BUT I HAVE DONE 5 TREATMENTS OUT OF THE 12 IN THIS TAXOL SERIES OF CHEMOTHERAPY. I KNOW THAT I AM LUCKY TO HAVE 'JUST THIS', BUT I STILL AM STRUGGLING WITH IT ALL. I AM LIMITING SO MANY OUTSIDE ACTIVITIES DUE TO LACK OF STRENGTH, TENDING TO STAY HOME MORE AND MORE AT NIGHT FOR SURE, AND EVEN FOR WEEK-ENDS. FROM MY HOME BASE, I SEEM TO FUNCTION BETTER.
TAXOL RESULTS FOR ME:
EXTREME WAVES OF FATIGUE, FATIGUE -ACCOMPANYING DEPRESSION
TINGLING OF TOES AND ACUTE AWARENESS OF IT DAY AND NITE
BAD BREATH
'DOWN' MOODS
BLOODY NOSTRILS AND NEED MEDICATION
BUT I DO REMIND MYSELF TO BE THANKFUL THAT I HAVE COME THIS FAR, AND HOPE TO FEEL STRONGER AT SOME POINT.
I WISH EVERY READER WHO IS DOWN AND UNDER TO FEEL BETTER REAL SOON. FOR YOU HEALTHY READERS, COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS AND TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF TO EAT PROPERLY, EXERCISE AS WELL, AND BE HAPPY.
BYE FOR NOW ONCE AGAIN.
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