November Friday

I have been looking over all the information that I was given for all the medications I recieved during chemo. I was getting Venofer for iron deficiency and Aranesp to help my bone marrow create more red blood cells. My 1st treatment was on the 23rd of July of this year. I had my 1st cancer surgery in Feb. 2008. The cancer was removed and my colon was resectioned. I was diagnosed with stage 2 colon cancer.Then in Oct. of 2008 I had a colonoscopy and they found just some polyps and diverticuli. My doctor removed the polyps. I started gradually having a few problems that I didn't think were related to my cancer. I went to my colon surgeon and he said that it didn't sound like a colon problem. He was right about that. I went to get a check-up with my family doc. He is the one that actually sent me to get all the test that found the colon cancer. Well I had a pap test and he said everything looked fine. Then he started pressin on my stomach and he said girl what have you done! Actually scared the crap out of me! Well after that he set me up for this scan and that scan. This time I was sent to the Cancer Center. They found a tumor as big as a football from my ovaries down into my pelvis. No wonder that I had gained weight. Anyway this was removed in June2009. Then I started my chemotherapy 6 weeks later. I was getting ELOXATIN with 2 other anti-cancer drugs: 5-fluorouracil(5-FU) and Leucovorin to prevent my cancer from spreading.

Tuesday Evening

I went for my labwork yesterday. I must have been more nervous about going back to the doctor than I thought. All the night before I had such a headache. I tried sleeping it away but that didn't work. So I took some aspirins. That helped, but I could still feel the headache hanging around waiting to come back. And it did. So I ended up not working yesterday. And I really wanted to at least get in half a day. They are being so nice about everything at work,when I need to be absent and leave early. And I really appreciate that.
Everything went well at the cancer center. The people there are so nice. It kinda seemed strange using my port for my bloodwork. But I thank God for having it. It is so much less painful than having to be stuck by needles. My veins roll. They never used to do that for the occasional times that I had blood tests before but after getting stuck so many times they sure do now. Well next monday will be the PET and CT scans. I pray for a good report.

Sunday Evening

In the last few months we've had a number of additions to our family. First and foremost of course is my new granddaughter Angelina. She was born on the 20th of October. She is my daughter and her husbands 7th child. Yes seven! Wow! Five boys and two girls now. Making ten grandchildren in all!
Our two dogs Knothead and Minnie Pearl had puppies 4 girls. They are 4weeks old now and just now playing and being lots of fun. Also one of our cats had kittens. They are about 3 weeks old now. So we have a house full! I can't be sick,I want to be able to enjoy every minute of this life that I can, you know.
Well I go for my labs tomorrow. I,m going to work until lunchtime and make it to the cancer center by 12:30. I know that I have gained about ten pounds since I stopped the chemo. For the first time in my life I want to be able to gain weight!
Thank you to Daria for the video you posted. It was inspirational. Everyone take care.

Sunday,Sunday

It is such a beautiful day outside. Hard to believe its November. I know that I haven't been keeping up with my blog very well but I'm goina try to do better. Since I stopped taking chemo I've been working and living my normal life. It's strange but that is so comforting to do. I guess I'm just trying to ignore cancer and hope it will go away. Can't do that much longer, starting this monday over the next 3 mondays I will be getting labwork done then PET and CT scans and meeting with my cancer doctor to discuss results. I hope and pray that it hasn't spread.
I've been reading the info papers that I got with the chemo and other drugs that I was taking. I was on ELOXATIN(oxaliplatin for injection). The side effects for me were awful.

TGIF

Its Friday and its a beautiful day. About 70 degrees farenheight. Clear skies and I dont have to work today.Ive just been enjoying the day with my honey.We went to a nice little place for lunch called New Friends. Its in an old store building in our small town. They have good food. Then we ran some errands and went to the pet store and bought some small mice for our snake. Well really shes my husbands snake. Her name is Betty Lou. Its kinda strange I guess but since Ive had cancer I enjoy taking care of animals. If I had the time to go over I would like to become a vet.
Lately the cancer hasnt affected me too badly. At least since I stopped taking the chemotherapy I dont have to deal with the hours sitting while the medicine drips in or the side effects, which were terrible. but I know that this reprieve is only temporary. Unfortunately cancer doesnt just go away. But I sure hope and pray It will!
Well sorry so short but I am going to cook some supper. Nothing fancy. Maybe just some rice with beefstew over it.

Beautiful Fall Sunday

I've had a pretty relaxing day at home. We finally got some sunshine. It's been cloudy and rainy for weeks it seems. I can tell that I'm getting stonger since I stopped taking the chemo. I worked for 38hrs. this past week and the week before. Something I just could not do while taking treatments. They told me at the cancer center that some people have no trouble working during their treatments. Kinda made me feel like a wuss. I really believe that the treatments were going to kill me before the cancer.
Anyway, Iam just sitting here on this computer with my kitten in my lap. Every time I start to type she climbs in my lap and goes to sleep.
This weekend I've started looking at some other blogs. Cancer affects us all in many different ways,I know, but a lot of symptoms are the same. My doctor has already said that since my cancer had spread that they cannot tell me that I can ever be cancer free.again and have to live with it as I can. Reading other blogs makes me feel that I'm not so alone.

FEELING GOOD!

Haven't had time to write anything lately. It took over 2 weeks without the chemo for me to feel anything near able to go back to work. I went back on Sept. 14th. I don't know if the cancer responded to the treatments or not but it feels so good just to feel sorta normal for a while. Anyway, I need my insurance. Lose my job-lose my insurance. Sad but true.