Just an update...

daylady

Hi Ladies!  I hav been missing in action a bit lately, but Molli asked me to check in so here I am!  (Thanks Molli, you're a doll!)  It has been a busy, busy summer with short trips and visits to grandchildren (we have 7) and dealing with my husband's Dad, who we placed in Hospice this last weekend.  He is 92 and his aortic valve has failed and he is not a replacement candidate so he is slipping away.  A little hard on my wonderful husband to be worrying about us both, but life is like thaat sometimes.  I feel like nominating him for sainthood most days.  In the midst of it all, I just needed to take a break from "all things cancer" as much as I could while going through chemo every 3 weeks. 

Quick update:  after recovering from pretty horrific reaction to Doxil, I went on Avastin.  My oncologist wanted me to go on Doxirubicon, a cousin of Doxil, but I said no.  I felt my body needed a break from cytotoxic drugs and Avastin is a biologic.  It was a risk, but I wanted to get through this fall without being sick and losing my hair again.  Our 50th high school reunion is coming up Oct. 10th and I told my oncologist I was NOT going to go bald and throwing up.  (I know it sounds pettier than petty, but my husband was the class president, and we were the "high school sweethearts" and I just needed to gt through this my way).  Well, so far so good.  My CA 125 dropped from 54 to 17 and has been stable.  We will do another scan at some point next month and see how things are going but if I have to change treatment plans we can think about it after the scan.  I also started working with a naturopathic oncologist who has me on an extensive program of supplements plus mistletoe injections three x a week (I give them to myself in the abdomen; was scared at first, but it's actually a piece of cake).  My naturopath has kept my immune sysstem strong so my numbers and blood counts have never dropped.  She works with a clinic in Germany who has all my case information and they provide input with regard to supplements and injections.  My regular oncologist is OK with all of it and that helps.  Mistletoe (Helixor) is used everywhere else in the world and has been for years.  Not approved in the US but easy to order from out of the country.  My CA 125 dropped as soon as I started the injections.  I have been on chemo for 15 months with only one short break last fall.  I keep hoping I get to NED at some point.  I also walk 5 miles a day and follow a really, really healthy organic diet.  Not macrobiotic, but very healthy.  It's the best I can do.

I am hoping everyone is doing OK and staying positive.  I think of all of you all of the time and hold you in my prayers.  I'll try to do better at staying in touch!  Love, Helen

pam0422

Not so petty

Little things seem nothing, but they give peace, like those meadow flowers which individually seem odorless but all together perfume the air.

Georges Bernanos

 

molimoli

Was missing you Helen, had to flush you out.

Nice to have you stop in Helen. That  photo tells us all that you are still sweet hearts, through high school and life itself . Too bad no one is working on mass-cloning your husband. a gross dis-service to deserving  women world wide. Darn!!  Have a wonderful reunion,glad you Know when to say no.,hold on to some control it is your life, it is ok to do some things your way,sometimes, really .

I beg to second the nomination.

Most days ? Perhaps the other few days he takes deserving drama free breaks,lol,  With his dad in the mix, being even  a part time saint must be a daunting task. Well done Bud, you'll stay in our prayers, For those of us who have had it with prayers for whatever reasons then just wish upon a star that these supporting partners will find added strength and renewed courage at the break of every dawn. Plenty  blessings and nuff love . Moli