New Favorite T

Vacation fun!

Vacation was so much fun. A time to forget for at least a few days that I am a cancer survivor. Yes, Survivor. T and I had a really great time shopping and going to the beach. We had the time to relax an actually enjoy one another. I love him. We had time to reconnect and reflect. It gave me the strength to come back home and face the doctors visit I had on Friday.

Results

T and I went to see Dr. A yesterday for my monthly visit. Things look really good. The Tumor Board recommended that I stay on Avastin and discontinue the chemo! WOW!! Fantastic!! We talked a lot (Dr. A is awesome! I encourage connecting to your doctors) about the decision. The reality is that treating brain tumors is still such a new thing that it is not known what to do. For instance, I was on chemo that is originally treated for colon cancer. Like other cancers treatment is an educated guess and the medicines that are being developed all the time are excellent. However, the duration of time is unknown. The length of treatment is often derived from the clinical trials. Dr. A informed me that patients have shown very positive results with the Avatin treatment alone. Now the question is "How long"? Not something I really want to know yet. As always the end date is something to look forward to and if it comes and the recommendation is to continue with treatment - that is hard to hear.

So yesterday I had my first treatment of Avastin only. I am feeling wonderful today. I even went to Kickboxing! Now I am headed outdoors to enjoy an awesome Fall day.

MRI # 8000 (not really)

I had a MRI the 16 and the preliminary results look good. The next step is for the doctors to meet at the tumor board. It’s a big meeting where all the specialists present all of the neuro cases. My scan was review by the radiologist and all of the experts and the outcome is that they recommend I continue treatment with the Avastin only. No more CPT11 chemo. That sounds terrific in theory but for me it is really frightening. Going off the treatment that has prevented more growth is numbing. I am relieved to hear the board still recommends the Avastin. It’s been a year with the combination of drugs ever other weekend. Every other weekend lying around feeling terrible, depressed and nauseous. Not to mention I have to schedule EVERYTHING in my life. I have missed so much this year.

T and I will talk to my oncologist Friday to get more information.

Vacation at the beach

YES! T and I are on vcation finally!! We took off to Myrtle Beach and it has been so nice here. Going to the beach, eating, pool, eating, shopping, eating...

I'm so happy that we are able to have this time together. Time with T is so precious.

Bye bye hair

Stuff seems to be falling out again. I asked Dr. A what he thought. He looked at my chart with a puzzeled look. the chemo dosage has not changed and my counts look good for my liver and kidneys. So WTF? I have not had the courage to shave my head again. I think it will be coming soon thoough.

Tomorrow Todd and I set out for 10 days of sun in Myrtle Beach. YES! I need a distraction from all this shit here. Work and my cancer life. I will be nice to get away. Next Friday K and her hubby R are coming to join us. I can't wait!