going on a trip and upcoming tests- *update*
I'm just checking in and letting you all know that I will be gone on a trip from Oct 7-17th. Hubby and I are flying to Miami and going on a 5 day cruise with stops in Jamaica and Grand Caymen Island. When we return to Miami, we're renting a car and driving around Florida for a few days. I hope that I feel well enough- about 2/3 of the time lately, I've been feeling nauseated and have also had some pain again lately in the rectal area. No fun. I almost wonder if I have some kind of bacteria, as I don't know that the cancer itself would be causing such nausea even on my off chemo week, although when I was so bad back when I went to the hospital in June, they tested me for various bacterias & everything came out negative. So, I don't know what is causing this. I know what's causing pain, but I also feel sick to my stomach often even when there is no pain.
Tomorrow (Tuesday), I have chemo and my CEA will be drawn. It was last drawn 4 weeks ago. That's when I had good news that it had gone down 80 points in 4 weeks from 359 to 279. I hope and pray that tomorrow's CEA also shows it going down. I should know on Thursday.
My next PET scan is due the last week in October- my prior scan had been the beginning of July.
I'll be okay- even if I'm not feeling super great, I'm definitely looking forward to this trip and cruise!
Take care-
Lisa
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Update on CEA:
I actually got my CEA results back a day sooner than I thought I would. My CEA gets tested every 4 weeks. It had been going up and up and a high two months ago of 359. Last month it made a wonderful drop of 80 points in 4 weeks. I attributed that to the fact that I had been slacking on my supplements and then in those four weeks I really stepped up taking everything & thought it was the supplements that helped with that 80 point drop. Well, I've continued on the supplements, but today I found out that my CEA this time has gone up 38 points since the 4 weeks earlier.
I just don't get it- I don't know if I have any control over the CEA or not. I don't know now if anything I've been doing or taking makes a real difference or not. I'm back to my down-up pattern that I had a few weeks ago. Then, it seemed to not matter what I did or took- it'd be down one time, up the next, down the next, etc. I guess I'll continue the supplements anyhow and see what happens next time. The scan will be last week of Oct.
Comments
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Have a wonderful time Lisa!!
I did that same cruise for my honeymoon 4 years ago and loved it. The water in the Caymens is beautiful. Crystal clear. Enjoy yourself and forget about cancer. Maybe a destressing environment will help you feel better. Worry tends to make me sick to my stomach, maybe you too?? Keep us post and we'll miss you in the time being. To smooth sailing-Melissa0 -
Have a wonderful trip, Iplh4gail said:Awesome! Have a great time
Awesome! Have a great time my dear! Make sure you take the nausea meds with you just in case.
Love ya buddy, gail
ps....can I please stowaway in your suitcase?
Have a wonderful trip, I loved the cruise we went on it was from Miami to Bahamas. Enjoy!!0 -
3 in a Row...
You're kicking a$$ this year on your Vacation Touor, Lisa....you're off to another destination location:)
One day I hope to be able to travel as much as you've been able to do. It's great that you've been able to go see and do. I hope we'll be in a position to do just what you're doing one year if we continue to work hard.
It's a big deal just for me to get to Chicago, I got a super-saver flight with Southwest Airlines - they fly up to 2 bags "free." That should take care of me and Kim. LOL! LOL!
Well, enjoy yourself and best of luck with your tests and today's chemo.
-Craig0 -
Have a wonderful trip!Sundanceh said:3 in a Row...
You're kicking a$$ this year on your Vacation Touor, Lisa....you're off to another destination location:)
One day I hope to be able to travel as much as you've been able to do. It's great that you've been able to go see and do. I hope we'll be in a position to do just what you're doing one year if we continue to work hard.
It's a big deal just for me to get to Chicago, I got a super-saver flight with Southwest Airlines - they fly up to 2 bags "free." That should take care of me and Kim. LOL! LOL!
Well, enjoy yourself and best of luck with your tests and today's chemo.
-Craig
Can't wait for the report when you get back.0 -
Fun
That sounds like a lot of fun. Just try and enjoy yourself as much as you can. Hope that you are feeling better though. Maybe just getting away for awhile will help you. Have fun.
Kim0 -
Have a wonderful trip Lisa!Annabelle41415 said:Fun
That sounds like a lot of fun. Just try and enjoy yourself as much as you can. Hope that you are feeling better though. Maybe just getting away for awhile will help you. Have fun.
Kim
Praying for another drop on your CEA!
Hugs!0 -
Lisa
Lisa,
I love that you and your husband are going on a cruise!!! Wonderful my friend. Relax and have fun. I will keep you in prayer during your cruise.
Aloha,
Kathleen0 -
Lisa
Enjoy, enjoy, enjoy the cruise, hoping cancer gets to take a back seat for a little while for you so that you can do the activities you want to.
Winter Marie0 -
Hi Lisa
I feel that sense of disappointment in your voice. I know it's discouraging for you. I've watched you do everything that you could possibly do to help yourself. I know you're in a rough spot and I know that you know that too. I've always admired your fortitude with how you've stepped up and handled your fight and given it all that you've got to give.
I've heard you mention on more than one occasion that you were 'desperate' and if it doesn't hurt, why not try it?
I think those words have stuck with me the most as I walk along with you on your journey. Often times, I've tried to put myself in your place to try and imagine how you must feel and what you are going through on a daily basis. What are the fears that you wear every day? How you tried to portray strength to your family and us here on the board. How you must feel at times that you just really want to say to everybody, "I'm scared."
I know somewhere deep down inside you that is how you must feel at times. And even though you talk about knowing where you will go, you have fought very hard to stay here:)
As veteran war horses, we know that there are folks who look to long term fighters to help show them the way - so it's hard sometimes to admit that we feel vulnerable and are not always as tough as we make out SOMETIMES. We set the bar too high and it can get very hard to reach on some days.
Somehow though, knowing you the way that I have come to, I sincerely doubt you would ever back down from anything in your life. I'd draft you on my team anyday and be proud to have you. You are a warrior.
I stand in awe at your longevity - yes, longevity as you're still here. I've gotten to know you alot over the last 28 months since I got here. I think you've done more living than I could ever hope to. And you've got a nice vacation coming up, that I have no doubt will help with a little healing for the soul.
Lisa, I wrote a bunch of other stuff and then changed my mind and deleted it. Would just cause a firestorm. Perhaps one day I will PM you what I was going to say. Right now, I don't want to detract away from you and your story.
I hope the CEA takes a nosedive for the end of month checkup. Until then, you got another great vacation coming - and there's nothing that cancer can do about it either.
Just best wishes!
-Craig and Big Billy0 -
Hi Lisa, I hope that you're
Hi Lisa, I hope that you're feeling better soon so that you can forget about cancer for a while and simply enjoy your vacation. Warm weather, sand, sun and a beautiful vista - sounds like a prescription that every doctor should order! Best wishes, Cyn0 -
to CraigSundanceh said:Hi Lisa
I feel that sense of disappointment in your voice. I know it's discouraging for you. I've watched you do everything that you could possibly do to help yourself. I know you're in a rough spot and I know that you know that too. I've always admired your fortitude with how you've stepped up and handled your fight and given it all that you've got to give.
I've heard you mention on more than one occasion that you were 'desperate' and if it doesn't hurt, why not try it?
I think those words have stuck with me the most as I walk along with you on your journey. Often times, I've tried to put myself in your place to try and imagine how you must feel and what you are going through on a daily basis. What are the fears that you wear every day? How you tried to portray strength to your family and us here on the board. How you must feel at times that you just really want to say to everybody, "I'm scared."
I know somewhere deep down inside you that is how you must feel at times. And even though you talk about knowing where you will go, you have fought very hard to stay here:)
As veteran war horses, we know that there are folks who look to long term fighters to help show them the way - so it's hard sometimes to admit that we feel vulnerable and are not always as tough as we make out SOMETIMES. We set the bar too high and it can get very hard to reach on some days.
Somehow though, knowing you the way that I have come to, I sincerely doubt you would ever back down from anything in your life. I'd draft you on my team anyday and be proud to have you. You are a warrior.
I stand in awe at your longevity - yes, longevity as you're still here. I've gotten to know you alot over the last 28 months since I got here. I think you've done more living than I could ever hope to. And you've got a nice vacation coming up, that I have no doubt will help with a little healing for the soul.
Lisa, I wrote a bunch of other stuff and then changed my mind and deleted it. Would just cause a firestorm. Perhaps one day I will PM you what I was going to say. Right now, I don't want to detract away from you and your story.
I hope the CEA takes a nosedive for the end of month checkup. Until then, you got another great vacation coming - and there's nothing that cancer can do about it either.
Just best wishes!
-Craig and Big Billy
Hi Craig,
Thanks for your very heartfelt reply. You are most definitely a warrior as well- an example in kindness and leadership abilities to others (as well as a damn good author!)
I will keep up the fight & yes, I admit, I'm scared, but I'm not going to let that take the fight out of me!
I plan on enjoying this vacation- each time I take a new trip, I always wonder if this one will be my last, but I still have too many places to go see for that to be the case, lol! I know I have been blessed by being able to do as much traveling as I have done, though.
Hugs to you,
Lisa 0 -
Living in NHLivinginNH said:Hi Lisa, I hope that you're
Hi Lisa, I hope that you're feeling better soon so that you can forget about cancer for a while and simply enjoy your vacation. Warm weather, sand, sun and a beautiful vista - sounds like a prescription that every doctor should order! Best wishes, Cyn
Thanks, Cyn, for the well wishes!
Lisa0 -
Sorry about that darn CEA
Sorry about that darn CEA Lisa.... I say pack for that wonderful trip and have a great time with your hubby. Splurge a little on the food when you feel like it and back off if you're just not wanting it. Rest some and enjoy A LOT!!
Love you buddy! gail0
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