I sent out my radiation schedule Tuesday July 17 and my dance card was full Wednesday! thanks to all my great friends for helping me and Ted with this, as I go every day to Tom Baker Cancer Centre for treatment. Kudos first two weeks to Joy, Sally and Karen. It's great to visit with them all en route.
July 31: Some sad news today. Our friend Gayle Laird, 58, died while hiking in the Rockies last weekend. She roomed with our old pal Anita GilderHenneberry (now in Victoria) in Edmonton when they were both students. She was an exceptional woman, larger than life, amazing hiker and absolutely intrepid X-C skier. Who can forget the tale of her and her friend Nancy holed up at the 'Wolverine Hotel' skiing in to Assiniboine Naisset huts? (They got lost, could not get into the Bryant Creek Hut, spent the night in a tree bole, and a wolverine ate their sandwiches!)
I'll miss her competitive camaraderie at the Scrabble board on cosy Norseman Ski Club weekends.
Tuesday, July 31, 2007
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
July 23 - Zapping going well
After getting my zapping schedule last Monday, I circulated it to my pals asking for rides to the hospital, and it was full by Wednesday. Thank so much all of you, and sorry for those who offered to drive me and are on the standby list!
I see Dr. Trotter (my radiation oncologist) for the first time since starting treatment and she is really pleased with my progress, no skin damage and no problems. She shows me my Xrays and explains how the treatment on four sites is working. The actual zaps are anything from about 7 to 24 seconds, three techs check numbers every time, and in more detail once a week. They are all kind and compassionate. A highlight of waiting is listening to the repartee of the volunteer drivers, they are hilarious. I don't wait long, they run very close to schedule. Those 9 radiology machines (worth about $3 million each) are working all the time. July 26 we get a day off while they do maintenance on our Unit 8 system.
I see Dr. Trotter (my radiation oncologist) for the first time since starting treatment and she is really pleased with my progress, no skin damage and no problems. She shows me my Xrays and explains how the treatment on four sites is working. The actual zaps are anything from about 7 to 24 seconds, three techs check numbers every time, and in more detail once a week. They are all kind and compassionate. A highlight of waiting is listening to the repartee of the volunteer drivers, they are hilarious. I don't wait long, they run very close to schedule. Those 9 radiology machines (worth about $3 million each) are working all the time. July 26 we get a day off while they do maintenance on our Unit 8 system.
July 20 - Chemo behind me
After my radiation treatment, I am scheduled for last chemo blood tests and visit with Dr. Paterson. After several abortive attempts (even with my port!) we give up trying to get blood. My Herceptin shots are not dependent on blood tests so no big deal.
I see Dr. Paterson for my MUGA cardiac test results from last week. I aced it, and in fact my heart performance was better than when I had it done before I started on the drug. That's good news. Also good, I don't see Dr. Paterson again for 3 months as I am doing well 6 weeks after chemo has finished. Unfortunately, I still have side effects from the chemo which will take a few months to dissipate. The mouth sores don't want to go away and I am losing some of my fingernails.
I see Dr. Paterson for my MUGA cardiac test results from last week. I aced it, and in fact my heart performance was better than when I had it done before I started on the drug. That's good news. Also good, I don't see Dr. Paterson again for 3 months as I am doing well 6 weeks after chemo has finished. Unfortunately, I still have side effects from the chemo which will take a few months to dissipate. The mouth sores don't want to go away and I am losing some of my fingernails.
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
July 13 - heatwave and culture in the mountains
After my first radiation (one down, 24 to go) we leave for Banff in a heatwave. It was +30 all weekend and +40 in our VW camper! We put back the upper bunk which I use to sleep so I can spread out, but it's hot as hell up there! I decide my days of camping in the VW van are over, it was cooler in Mazatlan last April!
We get a nice site at Tunnel Mountain campsite, about 5 minutes drive from the Banff School of Fine Arts, home of he summer festival. Friday we take in the mountain film festival winners, some stunning films shown in the comfortable air conditioned auditorium. Aaaaah
Saturday we spend the day in the shade, reading and snoozing. That evening is an "interesting" chamber music concert followed by stunning cabaret performance by Patricia O'Callaghan - and I hung in until it finishes around 11.
Sunday more lazing then take in the Coffee Concert in the marvellous accoustics of the Ralston hall, replacing the horrible new music from Israel heard Saturday with marvellous horn and wind pieces, albeit some a tad too long, wish I could play the flute like that...
Talking of which, I am playing again, and spent Thursday afternoon with Lila and her harp. We are going to do duets soon.
We get a nice site at Tunnel Mountain campsite, about 5 minutes drive from the Banff School of Fine Arts, home of he summer festival. Friday we take in the mountain film festival winners, some stunning films shown in the comfortable air conditioned auditorium. Aaaaah
Saturday we spend the day in the shade, reading and snoozing. That evening is an "interesting" chamber music concert followed by stunning cabaret performance by Patricia O'Callaghan - and I hung in until it finishes around 11.
Sunday more lazing then take in the Coffee Concert in the marvellous accoustics of the Ralston hall, replacing the horrible new music from Israel heard Saturday with marvellous horn and wind pieces, albeit some a tad too long, wish I could play the flute like that...
Talking of which, I am playing again, and spent Thursday afternoon with Lila and her harp. We are going to do duets soon.
July 13 - Zapping begins
My first radiation session is long - checking measurements, marking me up like a road map - while my lovely oncology nurse, Linda, takes time out to explain everything, recommend the best way to tackle this treatment, and answer any questions Ted and I have. I feel like I'm in excellent hands now.
Linda and two techs complete the treatment which takes about an hour and a half first time around. I feel nothing and am told simply to get lots of air to the zapping site and apply copious amounts of Johnsons baby powder and nothing else during treatment. Keeping dry is important to baby the skin.
They go in 4 times about 10 second a zap. To make sure penetration is low and exact, Dr. Trotter has recommended placing something like a piece of liver wrapped in Saran on the target site, to fool the laser into thinking it's gone deeper than it has. I'm starting to feel like dinner in the microwave. This is a very precise science these days.
Linda and two techs complete the treatment which takes about an hour and a half first time around. I feel nothing and am told simply to get lots of air to the zapping site and apply copious amounts of Johnsons baby powder and nothing else during treatment. Keeping dry is important to baby the skin.
They go in 4 times about 10 second a zap. To make sure penetration is low and exact, Dr. Trotter has recommended placing something like a piece of liver wrapped in Saran on the target site, to fool the laser into thinking it's gone deeper than it has. I'm starting to feel like dinner in the microwave. This is a very precise science these days.
July 12 - 2nd MUGA Test
While on Herceptin I will have a MUGA cardiac test every 3 months to make sure I'm not one of the 4-5% who will get cardiac failure! So far I am acing those tests. Kudos to Didi in the MUGA test section (Nuclear Medicine) at Foothills Hospital.
First time I went to a private clinic and it took the tech 3 tries to get a vein, she blew all three and I had bruises and a painful wrist for a month.
In the test, they remove some blood, add a tracer and replace it 20 minutes later. They then put you under the Xray and video the blood pumping in and out. Mine performed perfectly - for a 60-year-old heart. After last time's problems, Didi decided to insert a needle and do everything through that one entry in my elbow vein. It meant keeping the arm perfectly still for 45 minutes, no problem. Tada - no bruises, no entries in hand or wrist, no after effects.
First time I went to a private clinic and it took the tech 3 tries to get a vein, she blew all three and I had bruises and a painful wrist for a month.
In the test, they remove some blood, add a tracer and replace it 20 minutes later. They then put you under the Xray and video the blood pumping in and out. Mine performed perfectly - for a 60-year-old heart. After last time's problems, Didi decided to insert a needle and do everything through that one entry in my elbow vein. It meant keeping the arm perfectly still for 45 minutes, no problem. Tada - no bruises, no entries in hand or wrist, no after effects.
Wednesday, July 4, 2007
July 4 - Here comes Stampede!
Saturday we went to Phoebe's pre-Stampede lunch. I found my new red stomping cowgirl boots and Stampede gear, and we spent a nice couple of hours visiting with many old friends. On Monday, we will go Stampeding above the grounds with Roger and Darlene, to watch the chuck wagon races from their super home high above the grounds and, if I feel lively enough, catch the fireworks after the Grandstand show. Stampede Parade is always the first Friday of July and the tourists are massing in Calgary this week. After all the cool weather and rain, it's 28, sunny and going to 30 plus for the next couple of days. The mountains start sounding good at those temperatures.
July 2 - Immunology only sessions begin
Today I had an easy time at the chemo centre with a half hour infusion of Herceptin only, my immunology treatment. No side effects at all. If I hadn't had to wait half an hour for a chair, I would have been out in about an hour. I still have many small side effects from the taxotere chemo drug which may take several months to dissipate. Each day further from my last treatment on June 11 gets better. I even have some fuzzies growing back on my bald head! Hair should begin growing back at normal rate about 6 weeks after my last chemo. It will come first in the fast growing follicles like eyelashes and eyebrows. I'll be happy if my leg hairs never come back!
June 29 - Radiation simulation
Today I went under the simulator and got my four tattoos - none of which were butterflies or say"Mom." It took about an hour lying on a comfortable bed while the simulator twirled around me taking measurements, which were checked and double checked by two techs and my radiation oncology doc, Dr. Trotter. Once they finished marking me in red, grey and black lines and points, I looked like a Miro painting. Most came out in the wash, but the tattoos remain for all time to make sure the geometry works to direct the radiation exactly to the points required. I'm glad they all passed maths! Now I wait for my lucky day - Friday July 13 - to start radiation. It will then be for about 4 minutes every weekday for 5 weeks, taking me to mid-August. I expect fatigue and sunburn-like side effects.
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