malia's mom

Hello ladies,
I hope this post finds you all well. i haven't updated in awhile, so here it is. this is actually an email that my mom now sends out to all of her loved ones about every 3 weeks or so to keep everyone infromed. i will share it with you.


My very dear Friends, Family, Brethren, Sistren -
I hope to be able to give you a brief overview of our current events, but I'm just not the sharpest cheese on the cracker today, very sleepy from Monday's chemo and yesterday's follow-up. However, an attempt will be made!
I'd like to thank those of you who wrote back to me for your kind and encouraging words and comments; I/we appreciate your support so much.

Since I last wrote, I received a 4th chemo treatment, and just this past Monday, a 5th. Dr.Pendurthi, my surgeon, has been out of town, and Dr.Salib, oncologist, after conferring with Dr Cinelli, our new family doc who is the D.O. familiar with integrative/complementary medicine, decided it was best to give the 5th chemo rather than wait a relatively lengthy time between chemo and surgery.

I was sick again after the 4th chemo, and found myself back in the "chemo room" at Dr Salib's, receiving about two hours worth of anti-nausea, anti-histamine, steroid, multivitamins, and electrolytes by IV. I felt much improved by it.
The two most uncomfortable things going on right now are the blood clots in my right leg, for which I'm still taking blood thinners, and the apparent absence of a thermostat in my body. I am hot and then cold; at night I perspire so badly I drrench my pajamas. It is like menopause multiplied. I did have to stop using my comfy bio-identical hormone compound (Oprah wasn't the only one who liked this particular form of hrt ) when I was diagnosed, so some of the symptoms were to be expected. However, a poor fellow in the chemo room one day was complaining of being too hot and then taken with chills; it is also a chemo side-effect.

My second CT scan was Feb.7th, with labs and bloodwork at Muhlenberg Hospital. The radiologist noted "definite improvement", but was concerned about my lower right lung. So, last Fri. I had a CT of my lungs; there is pleural effusion (fluid) and atelactesis (collapse) in the same area, but thank God, no cancer. This fluid needs to be drained before any surgery, so I'm scheduled day after tomorrow (Fri) for a thoracentisis (I can't swear I am spelling these terms correctly); I see my surgeon Mon Feb.21st, and I think he will schedule surgery at that time.

To prevent nausea, etc. after this last chemo, we went back in the very next morning, for two different anti-nausea drugs and the usual Benadryl, steroids, and vitamins, all by IV, utilizing the ever-handy "Cathy". Now here's a tip everyone should know: if steroids are administered by too fast a drip, they make one twitch, and it is very disconcerting. Steroids will make one plump, as well. I have gaiined about 20 lbs. The doctors are pleased with their fatted calf, and I am looking forward to springtime and walks on Tunnel Road again, when I can exercise.

Because I can't take Warfarin for a couple of days before any procedure, I must have a different blood thinner by injection. Al has gotten quite skilled at administering my daily shot. It seems that we go from one appointment to another; we haunt the pharmacies, and our focus is on little else until we get thru the next big step, the surgery and prognosis for my recovery. However! we manage many quiet evenings at home, watch movies, and in the morning enjoy the little winter tree birds at the feeder while the sun causes the porch icicles to sparkle.

I was thanking Al the other day, for all that he does to help me and take care of me, and he said "I couldn't have done it without ya, Baby". Whatta guy.

God bless and keep you all. I sure like hearing from you.
Love, Signe