Health Update Stuff
You can skip this detail, I'll un-cut for the bottom line stuff!
Saw my oncologist yesterday as scheduled and learned that my tumor marker number was climbing again and it was time to discontinue those drugs. She's switched me to Doxil. There's a good-news, bad-news aspect to this (as usual).
Doxil means we're at the bottom of the barrel for treatments; I've seen lots of drugs and this is the last new one to try. Of course, it's unfair to call it "bottom of the barrel" because it's an approved second-line ovarian treatment drug and many doctors would have tried it sooner. It's one of those personal taste things. My doctor probably hasn't had great results with it so it's one of her last choices. Of course, using it as a last choice probably skews the results she gets, too.
The good news, for me, is that Doxil only gets administered once a month. So I won't have to be getting poked and infused once a week, or see the Cancer Center every Thursday. Hopefully I'll be able to have a more normal life. The chemo-girl version of normal, anyway.
Yesterday involved a blood transfusion as well as the new drug. We also didn't realize that the one-hour infusion I was promised takes 2-1/2 to 3 hours the first time, to check for allergic reactions. The bottom line was that I spent 12 hours at the hospital and kept nurses there late (much guilt!). But I honestly do feel better today for the transfusion (more guilt!).
So. We're near the end of what Modern Medicine has to offer, but I've always been depending on more than their drugs to keep me going. Your good wishes, vibes and prayers mean the world to me and Rich. I plan to be around for a while yet, honestly, but I know that's not in my control. Heck, I'm still walking to work and could get hit by a bus any morning, you know?
Today I feel good, the snow has stopped at least temporarily (the sky is still snow-colored), and I'm pretty happy.
Saw my oncologist yesterday as scheduled and learned that my tumor marker number was climbing again and it was time to discontinue those drugs. She's switched me to Doxil. There's a good-news, bad-news aspect to this (as usual).
Doxil means we're at the bottom of the barrel for treatments; I've seen lots of drugs and this is the last new one to try. Of course, it's unfair to call it "bottom of the barrel" because it's an approved second-line ovarian treatment drug and many doctors would have tried it sooner. It's one of those personal taste things. My doctor probably hasn't had great results with it so it's one of her last choices. Of course, using it as a last choice probably skews the results she gets, too.
The good news, for me, is that Doxil only gets administered once a month. So I won't have to be getting poked and infused once a week, or see the Cancer Center every Thursday. Hopefully I'll be able to have a more normal life. The chemo-girl version of normal, anyway.
Yesterday involved a blood transfusion as well as the new drug. We also didn't realize that the one-hour infusion I was promised takes 2-1/2 to 3 hours the first time, to check for allergic reactions. The bottom line was that I spent 12 hours at the hospital and kept nurses there late (much guilt!). But I honestly do feel better today for the transfusion (more guilt!).
So. We're near the end of what Modern Medicine has to offer, but I've always been depending on more than their drugs to keep me going. Your good wishes, vibes and prayers mean the world to me and Rich. I plan to be around for a while yet, honestly, but I know that's not in my control. Heck, I'm still walking to work and could get hit by a bus any morning, you know?
Today I feel good, the snow has stopped at least temporarily (the sky is still snow-colored), and I'm pretty happy.