Woo-hoo! I had my last chemotherapy treatment on January 11, 2011. On January 25, 2011, I had a CAT scan that didn't detect any tumors. Yippee!
I still have to have that confirmed by my oncologist when I go in for my next appointment, but I feel hopeful, to say the least.
A little bit about CAT scans. Number one, the barium drink that I got was in the form of a fruit smoothie. It didn't taste half bad. Actually, I had to drink two. The first one I had to drink slowly, over the course of an hour. The other one I could drink more quickly as long as I didn't gulp down in seconds. As if. They didn't taste that good. The barium drink was part one.
Part two came when I actually got to the hospital for my CAT scan. After the first round of scans, I was injected with a dye that made me feel hot all over. Fortunately, I wasn't having a hot flash when this happened. Imagine holding on to a steaming cup of tea while someone lights a match under hand, just close enough for you to feel the heat of the flame. That's what it would have been like to have a hot flash while the heat of that dye coursed through my body.
Anyway, what I dislike about CAT scans is that little tube that I get shuttled back and forth through. I don't actually suffer from claustrophobia, but I always feel a little panicky.
Once the chemotherapy drugs have completely exited my system, it will be time to start Avastin treatments. Basically, Avastin is a drug that stunts the growth of cancer cells. So, if any microscopic cells remain, the Avastin will prevent them from growing and spreading as quickly as they might otherwise. Once a month for twelve months, I will have to go in and get juiced again. Avastin doesn't have the same kind of side effects as chemotherapy drugs, so at least I will be able to lead a normal, active life again without feeling fatigued just from going shopping.
The fear that the cancer will return someplace else in my body remains in the back of mind always. On the surface, I pretend it's gone for good. It's the only way I can get through each day without panicking over every little body ache or upset stomach.
Saturday, January 29, 2011
Loopholes - Part 5
Leda practically skipped back to her apartment, where she got her car and drove to Tariq’s apartment.
“You don’t look like someone who just executed her best friend,” Tariq said as Leda walked in.
Leda winked. On a table beside the couch, stood a white phalaenopsis orchid beneath a bright lamp. As she reached out to touch one of the blooms, her hand began to burn. She quickly pulled her hand back, covering it with the other.
“Sun lamp,” Tariq explained.
Leda nodded.
“How long have you been this way?”
“More than 300 years.”
“How?”
“I was a slave, escaping to freedom … I thought. I got caught. Was beaten to within an inch of my life. There was a man there, a Frenchman-”
“Jean-Pierre?” Tariq interrupted.
“Right. After everyone else had left, he picked me up and took me back to his house. As he cleaned my wounds, he made me an offer that I couldn’t pass up.”
“Any regrets?”
“I can’t eat food,” Leda laughed.
Tariq nodded. “How’s Sebastian?”
Leda grinned. “Right as rain.”
Tariq nodded again as he looked out a window.
Leda and Tariq took advantage of the weather and spent the day together. Leda showed him places around town that most humans didn’t know about and answered all his questions about vampires. In the afternoon, they went to Leda’s apartment where they spent the rest of the day and most of the night together. Tariq took Leda to a jazz club he frequented to celebrate Sebastian’s release. It was the best time she’d had in decades.
Before Tariq came along, Leda had always avoided developing romantic attachments with humans. She’d seen other vampires try unsuccessfully. The humans who didn’t opt to become vampires themselves always ended up leaving. Tariq worked with vampires every day. He knew Leda was a vampire when he met her. There were no surprises. He accepted her and her way of life. So, when he asked if he could return to spend Saturday with her, she said, yes, without hesitation. When they parted company Sunday afternoon with the promise to meet by the river Monday morning before dawn, they had no idea how dramatically their world was about to change.
As Leda sat on the bench by the river early Monday morning, she heard the tell-tale sound of Tariq’s footsteps as the delicious scent of his cologne drifted toward her.
“Leda …”
She turned. Her smile melted into a look of horror. Tariq stood before her with a woman’s hand poking through his mid-section, dripping with blood. Slowly, the hand withdrew and Tariq sank to the ground.
“No!” Leda ran over to Tariq’s side. “Why?” she asked, looking up at Moira who was licking Tariq’s blood from her fingers the way humans licked barbecue sauce from theirs.
“Why?” Moira taunted. “I’ll tell you why Miss Goody Two Shoes. You took something that was of great value to me, so I took something – or someone – of great value to you.”
Leda shook her head. “What are you talking about?”
“The Council! The Council! That’s what I’m talking about. After his little meeting with you, Jean-Pierre called me in and made me give a sample of my blood for a ‘background check.’ Isn’t that funny? That’s what humans do … background checks. Anyway, my blood ‘confirmed the rumors’ they’d been hearing about me. I can’t ever have a seat on the Council … and it’s all because of you.”
“How is this my fault? I’m not the only one who about your penchant for ratting out other vampires to curry favor with the Council.”
“Maybe not, but you are the only one Jean-Pierre adores. He would do anything for you. Anything!”
“So?”
“So, he did this for you because you complained about me turning in that undisciplined idiot, Sebastian.”
“Your own unscrupulous behavior put you in this position, Moira, not me. Own it,” Leda finished as she lunged toward Moira.
In a flash, she had Moira pinned to the ground. She drained the other vampire of enough blood to reduce her strength to that of a female human. One punch easily stunned Moira, allowing Leda to go over to Tariq and get his handcuffs. Leda dragged Moira over to the bench and handcuffed her to it. It would be dawn in another hour and the weather man had predicted a cold but sunny day.
“Please, don’t leave me,” Leda said as she cradled Tariq’s head in her lap.
“I don’t think I have … a choice … in the matter … my love.”
Leda looked at the gaping wound in Tariq’s middle. Only one way to save him. Tariq took a deep breath and closed his eyes.
“I don’t know whether to thank you or curse you,” said Tariq as he and Leda sat on their favorite bench the next morning.
“I’ll help you make the adjustment,” Leda promised.
Tariq smiled as he enveloped Leda’s hand between his. She missed the warmth of his touch.
“Just think how much easier it’ll be for you to catch the bad guys now that you’re a vampire detective,” Leda smiled.
“Hm, yeah.” He kissed her hand. “Better get goin.’ Sun’s about to come up.”
“You don’t look like someone who just executed her best friend,” Tariq said as Leda walked in.
Leda winked. On a table beside the couch, stood a white phalaenopsis orchid beneath a bright lamp. As she reached out to touch one of the blooms, her hand began to burn. She quickly pulled her hand back, covering it with the other.
“Sun lamp,” Tariq explained.
Leda nodded.
“How long have you been this way?”
“More than 300 years.”
“How?”
“I was a slave, escaping to freedom … I thought. I got caught. Was beaten to within an inch of my life. There was a man there, a Frenchman-”
“Jean-Pierre?” Tariq interrupted.
“Right. After everyone else had left, he picked me up and took me back to his house. As he cleaned my wounds, he made me an offer that I couldn’t pass up.”
“Any regrets?”
“I can’t eat food,” Leda laughed.
Tariq nodded. “How’s Sebastian?”
Leda grinned. “Right as rain.”
Tariq nodded again as he looked out a window.
Leda and Tariq took advantage of the weather and spent the day together. Leda showed him places around town that most humans didn’t know about and answered all his questions about vampires. In the afternoon, they went to Leda’s apartment where they spent the rest of the day and most of the night together. Tariq took Leda to a jazz club he frequented to celebrate Sebastian’s release. It was the best time she’d had in decades.
Before Tariq came along, Leda had always avoided developing romantic attachments with humans. She’d seen other vampires try unsuccessfully. The humans who didn’t opt to become vampires themselves always ended up leaving. Tariq worked with vampires every day. He knew Leda was a vampire when he met her. There were no surprises. He accepted her and her way of life. So, when he asked if he could return to spend Saturday with her, she said, yes, without hesitation. When they parted company Sunday afternoon with the promise to meet by the river Monday morning before dawn, they had no idea how dramatically their world was about to change.
As Leda sat on the bench by the river early Monday morning, she heard the tell-tale sound of Tariq’s footsteps as the delicious scent of his cologne drifted toward her.
“Leda …”
She turned. Her smile melted into a look of horror. Tariq stood before her with a woman’s hand poking through his mid-section, dripping with blood. Slowly, the hand withdrew and Tariq sank to the ground.
“No!” Leda ran over to Tariq’s side. “Why?” she asked, looking up at Moira who was licking Tariq’s blood from her fingers the way humans licked barbecue sauce from theirs.
“Why?” Moira taunted. “I’ll tell you why Miss Goody Two Shoes. You took something that was of great value to me, so I took something – or someone – of great value to you.”
Leda shook her head. “What are you talking about?”
“The Council! The Council! That’s what I’m talking about. After his little meeting with you, Jean-Pierre called me in and made me give a sample of my blood for a ‘background check.’ Isn’t that funny? That’s what humans do … background checks. Anyway, my blood ‘confirmed the rumors’ they’d been hearing about me. I can’t ever have a seat on the Council … and it’s all because of you.”
“How is this my fault? I’m not the only one who about your penchant for ratting out other vampires to curry favor with the Council.”
“Maybe not, but you are the only one Jean-Pierre adores. He would do anything for you. Anything!”
“So?”
“So, he did this for you because you complained about me turning in that undisciplined idiot, Sebastian.”
“Your own unscrupulous behavior put you in this position, Moira, not me. Own it,” Leda finished as she lunged toward Moira.
In a flash, she had Moira pinned to the ground. She drained the other vampire of enough blood to reduce her strength to that of a female human. One punch easily stunned Moira, allowing Leda to go over to Tariq and get his handcuffs. Leda dragged Moira over to the bench and handcuffed her to it. It would be dawn in another hour and the weather man had predicted a cold but sunny day.
“Please, don’t leave me,” Leda said as she cradled Tariq’s head in her lap.
“I don’t think I have … a choice … in the matter … my love.”
Leda looked at the gaping wound in Tariq’s middle. Only one way to save him. Tariq took a deep breath and closed his eyes.
“I don’t know whether to thank you or curse you,” said Tariq as he and Leda sat on their favorite bench the next morning.
“I’ll help you make the adjustment,” Leda promised.
Tariq smiled as he enveloped Leda’s hand between his. She missed the warmth of his touch.
“Just think how much easier it’ll be for you to catch the bad guys now that you’re a vampire detective,” Leda smiled.
“Hm, yeah.” He kissed her hand. “Better get goin.’ Sun’s about to come up.”
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
Texting and Driving Don't Mix
"Drinking and driving don't mix." Have you ever heard that one before? Most people have. Well, now it's time for a new one, "Texting and driving don't mix." What will it take for people to stop trying to read and send text messages while they're driving? Does MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving) need to reinvent itself and become MADDD (Mothers Against Drunk and Distracted Driving)? And how MADD do they have to become before young people -- and some older ones, too, I know -- realize that your chances of getting into an accident when you're texting and driving are considerably greater than your chances of getting into an accident when you're driving under the influence of alcohol? You shouldn't do either, but taking your eyes off the road prevents you from even attempting to avoid an accident because you have no clue what's coming until it hits you.
I think AT&T should be commended for making this video. May God bless who those who chose to share their stories, and may He rest the souls of those who lost their lives.
I think AT&T should be commended for making this video. May God bless who those who chose to share their stories, and may He rest the souls of those who lost their lives.
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Many Americans Support Juan Williams
National Public Radio (NPR) may not have appreciated Juan Williams' comments about riding on airplanes with people wearing "Muslim garb" on Fox News Channel's "O'Reilly Factor," but a quick survey of the general public, conducted by Poll Position, revealed that many Americans believe that Williams should not have lost his job.
Poll Position surveyed 1,017 people across the United States via interactive voice response. Of those 1,017, 46% believed that NPR was wrong to fire Williams. One reason might be because Williams voiced a fear that, regardless of how irrational, many Americans can understand, even if they don't share it. In fact, Poll Position conducted another survey, in which they asked 1,074 people across the country if they felt safe riding on airplanes with Muslims. Overall, 43% said yes, they do feel safe while 37% said they do not.
When the results of the survey regarding Williams' firing were broken down demographically, NPR consistently came out on the losing side of the debate, except with the 18-29 crowd. They were fairly evenly split with 38% believing NPR did the right thing by firing Williams and 37% believing NPR made a mistake. A bomb threat made against the organization within a week of Williams' dismissal could be inferred to mean that some people were violently opposed to NPR's decision, literally.
Most people would agree that Williams' comments regarding people who wear "Muslim garb" would have been better left unsaid, but an impromptu survey by Poll Position found that a clear majority of Americans agree that he didn't deserve to lose his job because of them.
Poll Position surveyed 1,017 people across the United States via interactive voice response. Of those 1,017, 46% believed that NPR was wrong to fire Williams. One reason might be because Williams voiced a fear that, regardless of how irrational, many Americans can understand, even if they don't share it. In fact, Poll Position conducted another survey, in which they asked 1,074 people across the country if they felt safe riding on airplanes with Muslims. Overall, 43% said yes, they do feel safe while 37% said they do not.
When the results of the survey regarding Williams' firing were broken down demographically, NPR consistently came out on the losing side of the debate, except with the 18-29 crowd. They were fairly evenly split with 38% believing NPR did the right thing by firing Williams and 37% believing NPR made a mistake. A bomb threat made against the organization within a week of Williams' dismissal could be inferred to mean that some people were violently opposed to NPR's decision, literally.
Most people would agree that Williams' comments regarding people who wear "Muslim garb" would have been better left unsaid, but an impromptu survey by Poll Position found that a clear majority of Americans agree that he didn't deserve to lose his job because of them.
Saturday, October 30, 2010
Side Effect of Neulasta
While I never look forward to my chemotherapy treatments, I'm especially loath to go to the one that's coming up. The day after my last treatment, I had to have a shot of Neulasta to boost my white blood cell count. Fortunately, my treatment nurse told me about Claritin. Naturally, I Gogled it and looked at what other people who have used Claritin to cope with the side effect Neulasta had to say about how well it works.
My heart sank when I read about the excruciating pain people suffered because of Neulasta; however, I was encouraged when I read that some people went as long as four days without any pain at all, thanks to taking Claritin. So, I went out and bought a box of Claritin and took it one hour before my shot of Neulasta as my treatment nurse had instructed. It kept the bone pain at bay for two days.
After two days of nothing more than the needling pains associated with my chemotherapy drugs, I started to get extreme pain in my shins, knees and ankles. On a scale of 1-10, the pain ranked a 9. I tried to endure without taking anything but finally gave up and started taking Percoset left over from when I had my hysterectomy. It worked a treat but I only had a few doses left. I called the hospital and one of the doctors recommended using a high dose of ibuprofen. It didn't work at all. The pain didn't abate one iota. So, I called back and requested a new prescription for Percoset, which I received.
When I go in for my next treatment, I will go with the knowledge that I will have something to help me combat the pain caused by the Neulasta. Small victories can mean so much in epic battles.
My heart sank when I read about the excruciating pain people suffered because of Neulasta; however, I was encouraged when I read that some people went as long as four days without any pain at all, thanks to taking Claritin. So, I went out and bought a box of Claritin and took it one hour before my shot of Neulasta as my treatment nurse had instructed. It kept the bone pain at bay for two days.
After two days of nothing more than the needling pains associated with my chemotherapy drugs, I started to get extreme pain in my shins, knees and ankles. On a scale of 1-10, the pain ranked a 9. I tried to endure without taking anything but finally gave up and started taking Percoset left over from when I had my hysterectomy. It worked a treat but I only had a few doses left. I called the hospital and one of the doctors recommended using a high dose of ibuprofen. It didn't work at all. The pain didn't abate one iota. So, I called back and requested a new prescription for Percoset, which I received.
When I go in for my next treatment, I will go with the knowledge that I will have something to help me combat the pain caused by the Neulasta. Small victories can mean so much in epic battles.
Monday, October 11, 2010
Second Treatment
It's the day before my second chemotherapy treatment. To say that I dread going would not be an understatement. The one side effect that I had really hoped not to get showed up about ten days after my first treatment.
As a writer, having tingling in my fingers is an unpleasant experience to say the least. I have the same tingling in my feet, which could cause serious navigation problems should it get worse. If the tingling in my fingers gets worse, it could hinder my ability to write. The up side is that if the tingling gets so bad that it hinders my ability to perform normal, every day tasks, then I will be taken off the Taxol and given Taxotere -- a drug I'm already familiar with from when I had breast cancer -- instead.
No one can say that battling cancer isn't adventurous. The trouble with ovarian cancer is that it has a high incidence of recurrence. I'm hoping to get more than two years of cancer free life. If I'm truly blessed, it will never come back.
As a writer, having tingling in my fingers is an unpleasant experience to say the least. I have the same tingling in my feet, which could cause serious navigation problems should it get worse. If the tingling in my fingers gets worse, it could hinder my ability to write. The up side is that if the tingling gets so bad that it hinders my ability to perform normal, every day tasks, then I will be taken off the Taxol and given Taxotere -- a drug I'm already familiar with from when I had breast cancer -- instead.
No one can say that battling cancer isn't adventurous. The trouble with ovarian cancer is that it has a high incidence of recurrence. I'm hoping to get more than two years of cancer free life. If I'm truly blessed, it will never come back.
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Awaiting Side Effects
Waiting for other side effects to begin is a study in frustration. I don't know which ones I will have. It can take as much as two weeks for hair loss to begin. That's no big deal but the mouth sores, gastro-intestinal issues, etc. are what I'm waiting for. I should be glad that right now I only have to deal with aching all the time and feeling tired all day. I'm not.
Knowing that other issues could arise is what's making me anxious. I want them to happen so I can have some idea what I'll be dealing with for the next five months. Being unemployed doesn't help matters either. I have trouble staying busy all day and as a result, my days seem to drag on forever. No wonder time seems to be going along at a crawl.
I wish I could find another telecommuting job. That would be ideal, especially now that I'm on chemotherapy.
Knowing that other issues could arise is what's making me anxious. I want them to happen so I can have some idea what I'll be dealing with for the next five months. Being unemployed doesn't help matters either. I have trouble staying busy all day and as a result, my days seem to drag on forever. No wonder time seems to be going along at a crawl.
I wish I could find another telecommuting job. That would be ideal, especially now that I'm on chemotherapy.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)