Update after seeing Dr.

I've been having pain and numbness in my tail bone, pain down my left leg, and some on the right.  Neuropathy increasing in my left foot, and starting in my right.  Dr. thinks either tumor or scar tissue in my tail bone is pinching a nerve. I'm taking hydrocodone for the pain - works part of the time.  My CA-125 cancer marker has risen from 7 to 24 - not very good.  So, I'm getting an MRI or my brain and upper spine this week, and of the rest of my spine next week.  They didn't want to keep me in the MRI machine for 4 hours, so split the scans.  (Nice of the techs to think of me.)  I will be taking permanent disability from LANL soon to give my try at being a full-time"House Wife" and "Taxi" driver for Jamie.  (Although I'm not much for cooking.  If family wants good meals, will cook themselves.)

I'll update again once I get the MRI results

Beating the odds

The doc at MD Anderson Cancer Center gave me 4 - 6 mths.  I'm now in my 7th!  Yippee! (Goal is to see Jodi graduate, but I'm hoping for Jamie also.)  It is nice to be around.

Got my MRI and CT scan results.  Both show no signs of "metastatic disease" (cancer tumors); although MRI does show some brain cell damage.  (I was the youngest of 3!)

Now I'm in holding pattern - no treatments, just try to stay healthy and get stronger.  My Doc says she will be watching me closely for any caner growth.

For those of you not familiar with cancer treatment left over side effects, here are some I have - not too bad.

Fatigue
Neuropathy (nerve damage)  in my left foot and right hand
Short term memory loss (I am 52 years old!)
Trouble concentrating (probably from brain radiation)

Back pain (probably from spinal radiation)
Trouble sleeping (they have pills for this)
Hearing loss in Rt ear (possibly from radiation)

A lot of you probably have a similar list and haven't even been through cancer treatments, so I can't complain.
All in all, things are good.

Update

Had my CT scan and MRI yesterday.  Probably will get the results on the 26th when I see my Dr.  My platelets and red/white blood counts are down, and they wanted to do another blood transfusion.  I opted out at this time and hope to build them up on my own.  Will get blood checked later this week to see if cells are building.

The exciting thing today was Jodi getting her elbow drained.  She had here bursa sack burst and her elbow was swollen a couple inches with blood/fluid - 3 syringes full!  She is so happy to have it drained, and we no longer have to look at the "ugly" elbow.

Starting my 52nd year

What a nice way to start another year of life.  I have gotten so many well wishes for my birthday - who knew I had so many friends!  Thanks so much to all of you.  I finished my round of chemo yesterday and got a couple pints of blood - all is looking well.  I should start to get stronger as the chemo effects wear off in a few weeks. I'll get a CT scan and MRI to ensure nothing is growing and then I'm in "monitor" mode.  Let's hope I stay in the mode for a long time.

Nothing Found

Had an MRI of my brain and spine last week - Doc today told me they found nothing.  This explains why I'm a spineless blithering idiot!  When I'm slow to find my words, just remember that I'm pulling them out of my elbow.


Good news though, no signs of cancer in either brain or spine.  I'm getting chemo this week, then off to Alaska, then chemo again - hopefully last one.  Doc will then have a full scan done to check for cancer hiding away.  I don't think there is any though.

My CA-125 (cancer marker) is still 7.  yipee!

Keep up all the good thoughts and prayers.  Something is working.
thanks.

More Blood + 6 pack

My 4th round of chemo was rather uneventful until today. Got a call this morning from the nurse telling me my blood counts are way low and I need a couple bags of blood and a 6-pack of platelets. (Anyone know what a platelet 6-pack is?! Anything like a Sam Adams 6-pack or more like a Frontier Roll 6-pack?) Low blood counts explain why my nose was bloody and why I am soooo out of energy.
I had to go to S.F. to get blood draw in preparation for a Tuesday transfusion. They didn't want to chance LAMC in case of evacuation. Good thing, because the evacuation call came while I was in S.F. Can you believe they have to re-type my blood before every transfusion?! I asked the nurse if anyones blood type ever changes and she said "no", but they still are required to re-type. Must be a legal thing.
Luckily we had packed yesterday in preparation for evacuation - however, I had the car with everyone's clothes in it. The family is going to my brother's place in Pagosa Springs and I get to stay at LA Quinta in S.F. so I can get blood and 6-pack Tue., and then MRI on Thur., We rendezvoused at Cities of Gold in Pojoaque to pass off clothes. I was tempted to try my luck at Black Jack. But it has been so long since I've been in a Casino (probably 10+ years) that I was a bit intimidated.
Anyway. I get new, cell-rich blood tomorrow, along with a 6-pack. Should boost my energy quite a bit.

3rd round of chemo

I finished my 3rd round - 1/2 way now. The plan is to complete chemo the end of July.
All is well.
I'm working on keeping food down, trying to stop losing weight, and building back muscles.