So after my grumpy, crabby, down in the dumps pre-CT scan blog entry, I have good news to report! My large liver lesion is now down to around 2 cm!!! WOW! Remember back in March when I had my baseline scan to enter this trial it was around 7.5/8 cm. Such remarkable results. I still have one other small lesion that is barely detectable, but there's really nothing other than those two remaining that can be seen. My blood work all came back great again except for my WBC and ANC are a little low as usual...nothing that another shot of Neulasta couldn't fix (too bad I'm not a Neulasta rep!).
My clinical trial oncologist, Dr. Wheler, asked me today if I wouldn't mind getting another biopsy of my liver to do some more genomic mapping stuff and see what comes up - I'm all in for that for sure. Something really exciting is that she will be putting together some of the preliminary results from this trial to submit for a poster at ASCO. I would be so excited to be part of a clinical trial presented in a poster at ASCO (I've warned you guys about me being a big NERD!). Just a fantastic day at MD Anderson for sure. I even heard from my rock star breast oncologist, Dr. Litton, who just wanted to follow-up with me regarding my CT scan. She's so excited too!
Thank you all so much for your continued support and prayers! Please continue to pray for me, but most of all please continue to pray for all of us in CancerLand and especially Laurie Earls and Lindsey Apostolo.
As far as my last blog, I heard from a lot of you. Again, so appreciate all the support out there. I'm really struggling with going back and forth between days at MD Anderson where so many miracles happen but so many lives are hanging by a thread, and then the "real" world outside of MD Anderson where "normal" life goes on. Sometimes the faces I've seen at MDA haunt me...I think about the couple I saw a month ago where the wife had stomach cancer and looked like she was at the brink of death, I think about all the people with radiation burns I see there, the people with oxygen tanks, and the stem cell/bone marrow transplant patients. It haunts me, but then it also makes me feel so grateful for what I have. Which leads me to my list of things I'm thankful for:
1. God, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit taking care of me and my family and blessing us!
2. Clint - he's been a ROCK!
3. My family (yes, this includes my furbabies Buddy and Preston)
4. My friends (old and new, near and far)... you guys keep sticking by my side through all the craziness.
5. MD Anderson - all the oncologists, nurses, staff, volunteers who are helping God perform miracles every day!
6. Houston's First Baptist - where else can someone go and hear a sermon that speaks to them right at that very moment they need it the most? It's like Pastor Gregg is reading my mind!!!
6. My job - I LOVE my job. Yes, it's a job and not perfect but its such a great job and UCB has been really good to me through all this as well as the many physicians and office staff I call on. Oh, and my health insurance has been AMAZING!
7. Memorial Park... such great therapy running there. Just so sad that all the trees are dying because of the drought. :(
8. Living in Houston. Yes, I'm probably the only person that has admitted that, but I can't tell you how convenient living here has been for me for many reasons!
9. My new boobs! Thanks, Dr. Schusterman. I really LOVE them.
10. El Tiempo. Where else can a couple of girls get fajitas and sit on the patio and solve the world's problems?
11. I'm thankful that A&M is leaving the Big 12 for the SEC. This will be so much better for my marriage!! (For those of you who don't know, I'm married to a Longhorn)
12. Finally, I'm thankful for a few men named Andre, Arian, Matt, Owen, Brian, DeMeco, etc! And thank you Dallas for firing Wade Phillips.
I wish all of you a safe and Happy Thanksgiving! I hope to be back in a few days to post some pics and highlights from the last A&M/UT game for a very long time. Gig em, Aggies!
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
Sunday, November 20, 2011
OH NO SHE DIDN'T!!!!
I'm having my next CT scan tomorrow. I report to MD Anderson at 7am for bloodwork and then to prepare for my scan at 9am. This happens every 3 months so I'm getting pretty used to it.
What I am not getting used to....people complaining about mundane stupid stuff,
"Oh no, I'm not gonna be able to breast feed for 6 months like I want to!"
"Raising a kid is a tough job, you'll understand one day when you have your own."
"My kid didn't make the A team for basketball. they are so devastated!"
"Team X should have won this college football game if it wasn't for lame XYZ reason"
"I'm the golden child at work but I still complain about stuff that doesn't go my way even when I don't deserve to be the golden child at work and what I complain about doesn't matter!"
Sorry, but this is what I deal with on a day to day basis...before you say anything, yes I know, I complain about mundane stupid stuff too. But if you guys have noticed me feeling a little down lately let me tell you why. I really don't have much patience left for those of us who have been given so many blessings and don't even realize it. Yes, some of my best friends are the worst ones and you probably don't even know it. I'm at my wits end with many of you. You don't even realize how good you have it. Meanwhile, back in CancerLand, some of my friends are really struggling.
Laurie had to go to the ER today, they thought she had a lung embolism but didn't, thank goodness. She has had to stop her cancer treatments back in California due to issues with her bloodwork. Her family is worried that the cancer will have its way while she has her treatment break. She isn't due back at MD Anderson for scans until December 7. Please pray, it is a difficult time for her and her family. Here lately I find myself trying to "wheel and deal" with God for a miracle where she is concerned. I'm not gonna go into details, but I feel very strongly that Laurie needs some good news and needs to be delivered from her cancer. That's just what I want...I want a "normal", wonderful life for Laurie. I want her to be married and have children and live happily ever after. That's what I want for her so desperately...
My friend Lindsey who has metastatic cervical cancer is having a difficult time too. She now has pelvic fractures and a new tumor. She is now on new chemos, but is in a lot of pain and looking to go on disability with work. She also needs to find a new place to live as her roommate situation is not working out. We have offered her a place to stay at our house - Clint's idea too! I love my wonderful and thoughtful husband. We hope she accepts our offer to stay at our house. She would bring so much life and love to our home!
I guess I have been a little worried about my CT scans coming up, but I have been reminded daily about how wonderful my life has been since cancer. I am so THANKFUL for meeting all my CancerLand friends and appreciate everything they have taught me about life. No matter what my results are on Tuesday, I know that I can face the results knowing that God is on my side and I have wonderful cancer friends to look up to like Laurie and Lindsey. So many of you have commented on my courage and strength, but it is nothing compared to my two sweet friends. They are the true heroes...not me.
So excuse me if I'm a little annoyed with our comfortable lives. WE HAVE IT SO GOOD and don't even realize it. I hope we all realize what we truly have and appreciate every minute of it before its too late.
I will let you all know how my scans go, but either way...does it really matter?
What I am not getting used to....people complaining about mundane stupid stuff,
"Oh no, I'm not gonna be able to breast feed for 6 months like I want to!"
"Raising a kid is a tough job, you'll understand one day when you have your own."
"My kid didn't make the A team for basketball. they are so devastated!"
"Team X should have won this college football game if it wasn't for lame XYZ reason"
"I'm the golden child at work but I still complain about stuff that doesn't go my way even when I don't deserve to be the golden child at work and what I complain about doesn't matter!"
Sorry, but this is what I deal with on a day to day basis...before you say anything, yes I know, I complain about mundane stupid stuff too. But if you guys have noticed me feeling a little down lately let me tell you why. I really don't have much patience left for those of us who have been given so many blessings and don't even realize it. Yes, some of my best friends are the worst ones and you probably don't even know it. I'm at my wits end with many of you. You don't even realize how good you have it. Meanwhile, back in CancerLand, some of my friends are really struggling.
Laurie had to go to the ER today, they thought she had a lung embolism but didn't, thank goodness. She has had to stop her cancer treatments back in California due to issues with her bloodwork. Her family is worried that the cancer will have its way while she has her treatment break. She isn't due back at MD Anderson for scans until December 7. Please pray, it is a difficult time for her and her family. Here lately I find myself trying to "wheel and deal" with God for a miracle where she is concerned. I'm not gonna go into details, but I feel very strongly that Laurie needs some good news and needs to be delivered from her cancer. That's just what I want...I want a "normal", wonderful life for Laurie. I want her to be married and have children and live happily ever after. That's what I want for her so desperately...
My friend Lindsey who has metastatic cervical cancer is having a difficult time too. She now has pelvic fractures and a new tumor. She is now on new chemos, but is in a lot of pain and looking to go on disability with work. She also needs to find a new place to live as her roommate situation is not working out. We have offered her a place to stay at our house - Clint's idea too! I love my wonderful and thoughtful husband. We hope she accepts our offer to stay at our house. She would bring so much life and love to our home!
I guess I have been a little worried about my CT scans coming up, but I have been reminded daily about how wonderful my life has been since cancer. I am so THANKFUL for meeting all my CancerLand friends and appreciate everything they have taught me about life. No matter what my results are on Tuesday, I know that I can face the results knowing that God is on my side and I have wonderful cancer friends to look up to like Laurie and Lindsey. So many of you have commented on my courage and strength, but it is nothing compared to my two sweet friends. They are the true heroes...not me.
So excuse me if I'm a little annoyed with our comfortable lives. WE HAVE IT SO GOOD and don't even realize it. I hope we all realize what we truly have and appreciate every minute of it before its too late.
I will let you all know how my scans go, but either way...does it really matter?
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
OK, so I've been really busy lately...
Clint's been gone a little over three weeks now - he's been working in Africa. So I've been trying to keep myself busy while he's gone. It just makes time go faster! I've been so busy I just haven't gotten the chance to blog.
First of all, I'm happy to report that my good friend Amber, her husband Jack and their son Max haved finally moved here to Houston from Manchester, UK. Yay! So glad to have you back, Amber. Me and Amber got to have some girl time a couple of weeks ago over sushi - good times!
I also got to go to the Tour de Pink "Thank you" party. The Tour de Pink bike ride raised over $400,000 for Pink Ribbons Project. I raised $5300 individually and just under $10,000 for Team Bella Rachel. Thanks to all of you who supported me. I will be sending out thank you cards soon. Look for them in the mail. Those of you who forgot to donate...you will have other opportunities with Suites of Hope! ;)
Speaking of Suites of Hope, we have had 2 board meetings and have accomplished a few things. Dr. Namieta Janssen has a condo ready for us to look at to purchase. Maybe we can have a condo by the first of the year? Just waiting to hear back from the IRS.
I also got to go to Chicago for 5 days for the American College of Rheumatology Conference. I got to hang out with my UCB peeps and some Rheumatologists from the Houston area. This was the first time I've been to Chicago (other than the Chicago Airport Marriott with Wyeth years ago). It's a great city, but the cab drivers are really crabby and rude!! They are way worse than New York. Here's some pics.
Me, Dr. Martha Aguilar, Kurt Schoppe, Dr. Joan Appleyard
First of all, I'm happy to report that my good friend Amber, her husband Jack and their son Max haved finally moved here to Houston from Manchester, UK. Yay! So glad to have you back, Amber. Me and Amber got to have some girl time a couple of weeks ago over sushi - good times!
I also got to go to the Tour de Pink "Thank you" party. The Tour de Pink bike ride raised over $400,000 for Pink Ribbons Project. I raised $5300 individually and just under $10,000 for Team Bella Rachel. Thanks to all of you who supported me. I will be sending out thank you cards soon. Look for them in the mail. Those of you who forgot to donate...you will have other opportunities with Suites of Hope! ;)
Speaking of Suites of Hope, we have had 2 board meetings and have accomplished a few things. Dr. Namieta Janssen has a condo ready for us to look at to purchase. Maybe we can have a condo by the first of the year? Just waiting to hear back from the IRS.
I also got to go to Chicago for 5 days for the American College of Rheumatology Conference. I got to hang out with my UCB peeps and some Rheumatologists from the Houston area. This was the first time I've been to Chicago (other than the Chicago Airport Marriott with Wyeth years ago). It's a great city, but the cab drivers are really crabby and rude!! They are way worse than New York. Here's some pics.
Me, Dr. Martha Aguilar, Kurt Schoppe, Dr. Joan Appleyard
Me, Dr. Prashanth Sunkureddi, and Tiffany Moake at Dr. Sunkureddi's poster
Me, Tiffany Moake, Kierstin Cleary, and Shawn Dauber at a Chicago Pizza Place (I forgot the name)
Christin Croll Carlson and Dr. Sunkureddi before the REF 5k that started at Soldier field and made its way down to the Navy Pier and back along Lake Michigan. Such a fun 5k!!! Dr. Sunk left me and Christin in the dust.
Me and Christin Croll Carlson at dinner (had to put an awesome pic of Christin in to make up for the 5k pic sans makeup)
By the way, Christin rode 60 miles with me last year in the Tour de Pink if some of you think that she looks familiar. Christin, you are so awesome!!!!
When I got back, my cousin Kay had tickets for us to go to the Nutcracker Market Preview Party. Four hours of shopping...I was really exhausted but it was all worth it. I got some really cool Christmas decorations for the tree this year. Look out for an animal print decorated tree! :) Thanks for the tickets, Kay. I know I was cranky and hard to deal with, but I really appreciate you inviting me!
Doesn't Kay look fabulous? Everyone was commenting on her beautiful blouse. WOW!
Finally, I got to have a girls night out and host a slumber party at my house. Amy Poland Preyer was back in town from Denver and we just had to all get together for dinner and drinks.
By the way, I wasn't wearing the fedora to be fashionable - I had a photo facial (IPL) and had dramatic results. Basically my whole face turned red and all my sunspots and sun damage really came to the surface so I had to hide all of the mess on my face that I could. No worries, all the dark brown sun spots are now flaking off and the redness has gone away. I thought the fedora looked pretty good regardless!
Sadly when we got back to my house I immediately feel asleep on the couch like an old geezer while the others sat around and had a good time catching up. The same thing happened the last time I had girls night/slumber party. I think I'm a 39 year old girl trapped in the body of a 70 year old!
I'm so ready for Clint to be home - he's supposed to be home in two days. It's been a hard 3 weeks without him, but I'm surviving.
I'll be back in a couple of days to let you guys know that he got back safely and to talk about some other stuff going on with me.
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