I'm not going to lie, I have been ridiculously nervous for the past few days. We were anxious to start chemo and wanted to get it going as soon as possible. I, however, was dreading it.
This morning we went to the oncology clinic (in Penticton) and met with Dr. Caskey. He didn't have any new information to give us, but he answered some of our questions and told us what to look out for.
We then went to the chemo room. A year ago I would have fainted just walking into the room, with all the patients hooked up to ivs. I wasn't able to actually look at any of them, but I made it to my chair without too much of a fuss.
The first thing I was asked was if I wanted an ativan. Yes PLEASE! We had to wait for my chemo drugs to get mixed up, so our nurse taught us all about them and the side effects and how to handle them. She, like all the other nurses we've dealt with so far was amazing.
She put ice on my portacath to freeze it a bit, and when it was time to get my line started, it really didn't hurt at all. We had to sit there for about 2 hours as the drugs dripped in. Thanks to the ativan, I was able to snooze a little bit. The worst part of the whole experience was having to go to the bathroom multiple times with the iv stand. So awkward. I may drink less water next time.
Before we left she hooked me up with my "baby bottle" that will continue to pump for the next 2 days. There's some tubing and the bottle, all hid very discreetly in a nice fanny pack.
I've got a schedule of anti nausea pills to take, so hopefully that won't be much of an issue. Now we just get through the next couple of days and see what kind of side effects I'll notice.
I'm feeling a huge sense of relief right now. BYE BYE CANCER CELLS!!!
Monday 28 May 2012
Thursday 24 May 2012
Post-Op
We've had a busy, but fun week. Our little princess turned three, so we had a great time celebrating with our family. We had some friends in from out of town and had a great time visiting with them. Mr. Liam is constant trouble and entertainment for us. His dance moves are getting better by the day.
Yesterday was my portacath surgery day. We managed to get some VIP treatment. I made such a big deal when I checked in about being scared of needles that they gave me an ativan and a bed to lie in. So Will and I got to wait in a room, while I snoozed, instead of the busy waiting room. They also let Will come with me to the OR holding area, and were nice enough to get the iv going before he had to leave. Going into the OR is not something I will forget soon, it's quite intimidating in there, with all the people and lights. The Dr. was great and put some country music on for me and before I knew it I was in a recovery area talking to a nurse. We are able to go home shortly after. I feel pretty good today. Just stiff in the area where the device was implanted. Will said he would refrain from any jokes about me getting an implant in my chest area.
I'm trying not to move my left arm in too big of motions for a few days. I have a couple days to heal up and have some fun, and then chemo starts Monday morning. We're hoping to take the kids to the children's festival this weekend. We're also celebrating Sophie's birthday again with a bunch of kids from her baby group. So hopefully we have some good weather and everything goes smoothly.
Thank you again for your continued thoughts and prayers.
Yesterday was my portacath surgery day. We managed to get some VIP treatment. I made such a big deal when I checked in about being scared of needles that they gave me an ativan and a bed to lie in. So Will and I got to wait in a room, while I snoozed, instead of the busy waiting room. They also let Will come with me to the OR holding area, and were nice enough to get the iv going before he had to leave. Going into the OR is not something I will forget soon, it's quite intimidating in there, with all the people and lights. The Dr. was great and put some country music on for me and before I knew it I was in a recovery area talking to a nurse. We are able to go home shortly after. I feel pretty good today. Just stiff in the area where the device was implanted. Will said he would refrain from any jokes about me getting an implant in my chest area.
I'm trying not to move my left arm in too big of motions for a few days. I have a couple days to heal up and have some fun, and then chemo starts Monday morning. We're hoping to take the kids to the children's festival this weekend. We're also celebrating Sophie's birthday again with a bunch of kids from her baby group. So hopefully we have some good weather and everything goes smoothly.
Thank you again for your continued thoughts and prayers.
Friday 18 May 2012
Let's get this fight started!!
I apologize for not updating this last night. I know a lot of you were thinking of me yesterday afternoon. The appointment took longer than expected (as appointments always do), and after we got home and got the kids to bed, Will and I, were just too exhausted.
We met with our Oncologist. He didn't really tell us anything we didn't already know. I have colon cancer that has spread to my liver. Although we knew this already, it was still hard to hear. He explained the course of chemo that I'm going to go through and all the possible side affects.
I am starting chemo on Monday, May 28. Due to the date of my port-a-cath surgery, it wasn't possible to start next week. So basically, I will go in, get a dose of chemo for a couple of hours, then I get to go home. I will need to wear a baby bottle type device that will slowly drip the rest of the chemo into me over 48 hours. I was advised to keep it in a fanny pack. I am going to be pretty styling this summer....I wonder if I still have a neon fanny pack? I will do this every 2 weeks for the next six months.
We are feeling really optimistic and happy that there is a plan in place. We are continuing 100% with my alkaline diet. We are also exploring some alternative medicines to compliment my chemo.
We have been overwhelmed with all of the offers of help. Right now all we need is your continued thoughts and prayers.
We have a busy weekend ahead. A couple out of town friends we haven't seen in ages will be coming by, and on Sunday we are having a family birthday party for Sophie. Sophie has requested that all the girls wear dresses, and that we have party hats. It is sure to be lots of fun!
Thanks again for all your support.
We met with our Oncologist. He didn't really tell us anything we didn't already know. I have colon cancer that has spread to my liver. Although we knew this already, it was still hard to hear. He explained the course of chemo that I'm going to go through and all the possible side affects.
I am starting chemo on Monday, May 28. Due to the date of my port-a-cath surgery, it wasn't possible to start next week. So basically, I will go in, get a dose of chemo for a couple of hours, then I get to go home. I will need to wear a baby bottle type device that will slowly drip the rest of the chemo into me over 48 hours. I was advised to keep it in a fanny pack. I am going to be pretty styling this summer....I wonder if I still have a neon fanny pack? I will do this every 2 weeks for the next six months.
We are feeling really optimistic and happy that there is a plan in place. We are continuing 100% with my alkaline diet. We are also exploring some alternative medicines to compliment my chemo.
We have been overwhelmed with all of the offers of help. Right now all we need is your continued thoughts and prayers.
We have a busy weekend ahead. A couple out of town friends we haven't seen in ages will be coming by, and on Sunday we are having a family birthday party for Sophie. Sophie has requested that all the girls wear dresses, and that we have party hats. It is sure to be lots of fun!
Thanks again for all your support.
Tuesday 15 May 2012
Upcoming Appointments
We have had a great few days. Sophie and Liam got a new sandbox, which they are absolutely loving. Sophie had a great time at her race. It was only 30 minutes, but my little girl gave it her all the whole time. Well, except when she saw Uncle Jonny and stopped for some water and a rest:)
We didn't celebrate Mother's Day this year. I figured I would bawl the whole time. Will is already doing everything for me and Sophie is constantly making me cards and giving me kisses, so I'm not sure what else we could have done.
We got an appointment today with an Oncologist in Kelowna. Will and I did a happy dance, which is really odd that we are excited to see an oncologist. Anyways, the appointment is for Thursday. I also have an appointment for a CT scan tomorrow. Hopefully after these appointments we will know a little bit more and have a plan of action.
I have completely changed my diet. I have cut out all processed foods, all sugars (except in fruits and veggies), and all carbs. I have added in a bazillion veggies, smoothies made with orgnaic whey powder and wheat grass, healthy oils and nuts and multivitamins. It's been much easier than I thought it would be to cut out sugar. I have to thank Will for having everything cut up and prepared for me so all I have to do is eat it. Also my amazing sister, who managed to make some decent tasting muffins, by using ground whole almonds and other foods off my list.
I guess that's all we know for now. I'll let you know what the Oncologist says.
Thanks again for the ongoing support, love and prayers.
Thursday 10 May 2012
Thanks!
I'd like to thank all of you for the messages that you've sent to me and my family. It really means a lot to us that there are so many people praying and sending positive thoughts are way. If we don't respond to your message please don't take it personally, and if you'd like to send us another message in a few days to let us know you are still thinking of us, please do.
As far as the medical stuff goes... The pathology report from my biopsy came back. It is colon cancer, as they assumed. The good news is, it is what they thought, not worse. All of my info has been sent to the Oncology Clinic in Kelowna and now I just need to wait for an appointment. My doctor said it could take a couple of weeks, but that he would keep calling and try to make it as soon as possible. After I have the appointment, the chemo should start fairly quickly. I can do the chemo in Penticton.
In order to do the chemo, I need to have an outside line. Some people that have chemo don't need this, I'm not sure why I do, but I do. So on May 23, I am going to have a port-a-cath inserted just below or above my colloarbone. If you are interested you can google more about it. Basically, it will be a catheter connected to the port, that they can put the chemo into or take blood out of. No more needles!! YAY!! I'll need a surgery to have it inserted, but will be able to come home the same day. I am hoping for some really really good drugs for this one:)
If we have the opportunity to start chemo sooner, we still will, and they will just use an IV through my arm until the port-a-cath is inserted.
On a less medical side, I had to wean Liam from nursing. I probably could have kept at it another week or two, but decided it would be easier to do it now, while life is still somewhat normal. He put up a bit of a fight, but he is a champ, and I think has almost forgotten about his beloved boobies.
Also, I have been convinced to cut out sugar and try to make my body less acidic. Apparently the more acid that is in your body, the easier the cancer can grow. So while we are waiting for the chemo to start, we are going to make my body as uninviting as we possibly can for the cancer cells.
The last two days have been obviously very difficult as we are still wrapping our head around this, but they've been a lot of fun too. We had a great time at the petting zoo today. The kids loved feeding the animals, especially the baby lamb the bottle of milk. Will bought Sophie a kite, which she is getting quite good at, and we have spent a lot of time just enjoying each other.
We're not expecting to hear anything over the next couple of days, so we will just try our best to have a great weekend. Sophie has her first bike race of the season in Salmon Arm on Sunday. She is doing the lil pup version of the Salty Dog. If any of you are at the race, come cheer for our little Sophers!!
Thanks again for all your love and support. It means a lot.
As far as the medical stuff goes... The pathology report from my biopsy came back. It is colon cancer, as they assumed. The good news is, it is what they thought, not worse. All of my info has been sent to the Oncology Clinic in Kelowna and now I just need to wait for an appointment. My doctor said it could take a couple of weeks, but that he would keep calling and try to make it as soon as possible. After I have the appointment, the chemo should start fairly quickly. I can do the chemo in Penticton.
In order to do the chemo, I need to have an outside line. Some people that have chemo don't need this, I'm not sure why I do, but I do. So on May 23, I am going to have a port-a-cath inserted just below or above my colloarbone. If you are interested you can google more about it. Basically, it will be a catheter connected to the port, that they can put the chemo into or take blood out of. No more needles!! YAY!! I'll need a surgery to have it inserted, but will be able to come home the same day. I am hoping for some really really good drugs for this one:)
If we have the opportunity to start chemo sooner, we still will, and they will just use an IV through my arm until the port-a-cath is inserted.
On a less medical side, I had to wean Liam from nursing. I probably could have kept at it another week or two, but decided it would be easier to do it now, while life is still somewhat normal. He put up a bit of a fight, but he is a champ, and I think has almost forgotten about his beloved boobies.
Also, I have been convinced to cut out sugar and try to make my body less acidic. Apparently the more acid that is in your body, the easier the cancer can grow. So while we are waiting for the chemo to start, we are going to make my body as uninviting as we possibly can for the cancer cells.
The last two days have been obviously very difficult as we are still wrapping our head around this, but they've been a lot of fun too. We had a great time at the petting zoo today. The kids loved feeding the animals, especially the baby lamb the bottle of milk. Will bought Sophie a kite, which she is getting quite good at, and we have spent a lot of time just enjoying each other.
We're not expecting to hear anything over the next couple of days, so we will just try our best to have a great weekend. Sophie has her first bike race of the season in Salmon Arm on Sunday. She is doing the lil pup version of the Salty Dog. If any of you are at the race, come cheer for our little Sophers!!
Thanks again for all your love and support. It means a lot.
Wednesday 9 May 2012
Our New Reality
Will and I have started this blog to keep all of our friends and family up to date on what is happening. It is too hard emotionally for us to talk about it. We will try to keep this as up to date as we can, so feel free to check in whenever you are thinking of us. Postivie messages and prayers would always be appreciated.
The Backgroud:
Starting in January, I was having cramps on and off. I went to a doctor thinking I was constipated. She felt my stomach and said everything felt fine, and told me to take Metamucil. That issue went away shortly. The cramps continued and a few months later I went back to the doctor. My symptoms didn't seem to match anything. There was no pain when he put pressure on my abdomen. The pains were on and off and they were not affecting my daily life, just a nuisance, so he told me to keep an eye on the them and come back. I came back in the beginning of April. At this point, he ordered a whole bunch of blood tests, an abdominal and pelvic ultrasound. The blood work came back mostly normal. The liver enzymes were slightly elevated, but nothing to worry about. I re did the liver enzymes test and they seemed to be going down. Three weeks go by and there is still no ultrasound appointment. I called the hospital and they said it could still be a few weeks as I am not a priority at this point, and if it is getting worse to go back to my doctor. So I went into my doctor's office that afternoon. He ordered more blood tests and put a hurry up order on the ultrasounds.
On Saturday May 5, I went for my abdominal ultrasound. On Sunday May 6 I showed up for my pelvic ultrasound, to find that it had been switched for a CT scan. On Monday May 7, we got a call to be at the doctor's office at 1pm.
The Present:
We knew from the second we walked in it was bad. We could tell by the looks on people's faces. The doctor told us that I had colon cancer. This is apparently very rare for someone my age. I have a tumour in the upper left part of my bowels. It also looks as if there are spots on my liver. The doctor (Dr.Caskey) called the surgeon straight away and set us up to have a colonoscopy the next day.
The colonoscopy itself was absolutely fantastic. Most of you know that I am absolutely terrified of needles, so the thought of needing an iv, plus having this procedure was terrifying. The doctors were smart though and gave me an Ativan to take while I was waiting. I made friends in the waiting room with an older man who had colon cancer 17 years ago.. He was just in for his every 5 year check:). Back to the fantastic procedure. The iv insertion wasn't that bad and then they gave me the most marvelous drugs every. Apparently I stayed awake the whole time, and narrated a horse race going on in my stomach. All of Sophie's toys were galloping around in there. I was so excited about this event that I recounted the horse race to an amused Will as soon as I was back in my room. I was able to go home shortly after.
The good news is that my bowels aren't blocked so I won't need to have surgery right now (which would delay the chemo). Right now we are just waiting for the biopsy to come back. Once that is back I will have an appointment in Kelowna with an oncologist and then start chemotherapy.
It looks like this will all take place next week. This week are just trying to live normally and do a bunch of family things with the kids. We are headed to Farmer John's Petting Zoo tomorrow with Leah, Olivia. Nama, Pa, Memaw, Pa, Aunty ZZ and maybe Auntie Kristie.
The Future:
We are going to have a long and tough road ahead of us. I know it's not going to be easy, but I will do everything in my power to get myself healthy again as soon as possible. I am very lucky that Will has taken an indefinite leave from work, and our family and friends are being fantastic. We also have a great team of doctors who we trust to take very good care of me.
The Backgroud:
Starting in January, I was having cramps on and off. I went to a doctor thinking I was constipated. She felt my stomach and said everything felt fine, and told me to take Metamucil. That issue went away shortly. The cramps continued and a few months later I went back to the doctor. My symptoms didn't seem to match anything. There was no pain when he put pressure on my abdomen. The pains were on and off and they were not affecting my daily life, just a nuisance, so he told me to keep an eye on the them and come back. I came back in the beginning of April. At this point, he ordered a whole bunch of blood tests, an abdominal and pelvic ultrasound. The blood work came back mostly normal. The liver enzymes were slightly elevated, but nothing to worry about. I re did the liver enzymes test and they seemed to be going down. Three weeks go by and there is still no ultrasound appointment. I called the hospital and they said it could still be a few weeks as I am not a priority at this point, and if it is getting worse to go back to my doctor. So I went into my doctor's office that afternoon. He ordered more blood tests and put a hurry up order on the ultrasounds.
On Saturday May 5, I went for my abdominal ultrasound. On Sunday May 6 I showed up for my pelvic ultrasound, to find that it had been switched for a CT scan. On Monday May 7, we got a call to be at the doctor's office at 1pm.
The Present:
We knew from the second we walked in it was bad. We could tell by the looks on people's faces. The doctor told us that I had colon cancer. This is apparently very rare for someone my age. I have a tumour in the upper left part of my bowels. It also looks as if there are spots on my liver. The doctor (Dr.Caskey) called the surgeon straight away and set us up to have a colonoscopy the next day.
The colonoscopy itself was absolutely fantastic. Most of you know that I am absolutely terrified of needles, so the thought of needing an iv, plus having this procedure was terrifying. The doctors were smart though and gave me an Ativan to take while I was waiting. I made friends in the waiting room with an older man who had colon cancer 17 years ago.. He was just in for his every 5 year check:). Back to the fantastic procedure. The iv insertion wasn't that bad and then they gave me the most marvelous drugs every. Apparently I stayed awake the whole time, and narrated a horse race going on in my stomach. All of Sophie's toys were galloping around in there. I was so excited about this event that I recounted the horse race to an amused Will as soon as I was back in my room. I was able to go home shortly after.
The good news is that my bowels aren't blocked so I won't need to have surgery right now (which would delay the chemo). Right now we are just waiting for the biopsy to come back. Once that is back I will have an appointment in Kelowna with an oncologist and then start chemotherapy.
It looks like this will all take place next week. This week are just trying to live normally and do a bunch of family things with the kids. We are headed to Farmer John's Petting Zoo tomorrow with Leah, Olivia. Nama, Pa, Memaw, Pa, Aunty ZZ and maybe Auntie Kristie.
The Future:
We are going to have a long and tough road ahead of us. I know it's not going to be easy, but I will do everything in my power to get myself healthy again as soon as possible. I am very lucky that Will has taken an indefinite leave from work, and our family and friends are being fantastic. We also have a great team of doctors who we trust to take very good care of me.
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