60 Days without an event.

Saw my oncologist this morning. He had planned for another series of chemo-to start today....but, when he walked into the room... "You look way to good to even be here."  "let's wait until we see the results of the CT Scan on Thursday (1/15/15) and decide then.  Now that, makes me one happy camper.  Told him, that I haven't felt this good, in quit a long while. 


My breathing is so much better.  While I still have COPD, not that much coughing. The only real RX I am taking, is the Spiriva.  And, my thyroid RX... 


Basically I am pretty healthy.  Walking, cooking, some cleaning, and driving.  I don't have a lot of energy built up....but that will come with time. 


When I have to slow down, I tend to organize rooms and stuff...so, nothing lost and everything gained.


I will see oncologist on the 20th and the radiation Dr. on the 4th of Feb.  Hang on world...Here I come, again.

Finished with radiation 1/2/15

Greeting 2015 is the best gift I could have received.  I have finished my radiation treatments and am ready to find out what is next.  I am told there will be a CT Scan and blood draw within the next 30 days.  What or if there is further treatments will be discussed.  At this time, I am beginning to feel pretty normal (whatever that is) and will start making my plans for the future. 


I finally had to drive my car, today.... Something I had been putting off until I was sure my reaction time was acceptable.  Guess it is.  My daughter woke up with a severe tooth infection and I was lucky our dentist was in his office on a Saturday.  She is taking a lot of antibiotics and pain pills until Wednesday and then, she should be good to go...for an extraction. 


I am just so very grateful the dentist was in, and I am in good enough shape to drive.  Happy times are around the corner for me and my family.  I will keep my results posted on here and on the Lungevity Community Support Group pages...


HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!!!

Day 44 without an event.  Four more radiation treatments... Still do not know about the 6th Chemo.  All anyone can tell me, "a CT--without contrast, and a blood draw, by the 13th of January." 


I feel pretty good and sleep pretty well.  Eating very well.   Starting to do bits and pieces of housework.  Still doing the major cooking (as my kid says, "you do magic when you cook.)"


I plan to start my exercise, again.  While doing chemo, I don't try.  Next two weeks will let me know where I am.  All this down time is allowing me to organize my office and filing cabinets...  I do genealogy, when my brain is screwed in straight.  Plenty of time to look it over and see how much I have duplicated. 


Really bored with TV... Do enjoy reading the Washington Post on my Kindle HD Fire...I can pick and chose what I want.  VBWG.


Time to go check out the NFL and see who is playing today....My favs are Green Bay, Patriots, Broncos, and Seahawks... Sometime hope for Cardinals...

Christmas Post

41 days without any real problems.  I find that people do not want to know about "no burn days."  I watch the news pretty close so that I do not get caught in the inversion and other bad air.  I also carry masks with me, along with water or something to drink.  The only time I have coughed, is on the inversion/no burn days.  I am sooooo glad I have an air scrubber.  Keeps me in pretty good health and allows me to sleep better at night.


I had enough energy to can 24 jars of quince jam, as gifts for Christmas.  Yup, I have a quince tree. I really haven't canned anything in some 50 years... I did pretty good and it turned out great.  I will do this again.  I took 12 jars to the radiation dept... along with fresh belly button oranges and grapefruit... in a pink wig, green Christmas shirt, red nose and black tights... Plan to take a load of fresh fruit to the chemo side of the clinic...same outfit.  Makes them all smile. Makes me feel good.


Almost to the end of my journey.  Best gift I could ever have is to finish all the treatments and be the miracle I am... No cancer.  At this time, there still is no lung cancer showing on the quick CT's that are done each day I go to radiation.  I finish on the 2nd of January. Hopefuly my last chemo is tomorrow.


I wish each person a Merry Christmas, and a Healthy Happy New Year.  Live each day as if it were the last day of your life... Do the best you can each day, even if it is a bad day.  Fight hard and laugh a lot.


More later,

Who said Santa only wears a red suit?

Interesting end to this week.  All my radiations were normal...  I am on 29th consecutive days without any breathing problems.  Makes me keep on thinking I have won this race.  However, Friday morning was a topper. 


I had an Air Scrubber installed on my heat pump, but could not afford the vent filter replacement unit.  It was not a good install when we built the house, back in the early 90's.  Anyway, it was strongly suggested that the filter frame be replaced to do a better job with scrubbing our air.  I was considering sometime the in January 2015...if I could scrape together the funds.  In the meantime, I had decided to call the company I had been using over the years, to tell them that I felt the scrubber was working pretty good.  Both my daughter and myself had not had to use the allergy medications we had both needed...for about two weeks. 


When I called, I asked for the Vice President and told him how pleased we were with their product and that we were both breathing much better...  "Chuck" was pleased to hear it and would relate two more stories he had received within the past couple of hours.  He wanted to know about my cancer, and I told him...  He was so impressed and inspired that he wanted me to call him as soon as I get a clean bill of health and we would all celebrate.  I assured him I could and would do that. 


Friday morning there was a banging on my door and there stood the young man who had done some of the other installations and work for the AC/plumbing company, with a bright blue package and blue bow.  His boss had told him to bring it to me and install it.  I opened it and there was the whole vent replacement unit.  Merry Christmas from Chuck and Austin.  I burst into tears, I was so moved.  Within minutes, the replacement had been installed.  I thanked Austin. 


Couple of hours later, Chuck called and asked if I had received it....I said yes and thanked him profusely.  He reminded me that I was still to call him when I received my clear health... I promised I would, he also remarked that we would have a celebration of it.  I have no idea what they are up to, but I am pleased to have a fully operational system that cleans all the outdoor
pollution,  out of my house.  BTW, I posted pictures and the incident on FB...  Name of the company is local company, known as Parker and Sons.  I can say, They do Rock...!

Lung Cancer Community Support

I've joined an awesome support group with a lot of golden information and support about lung cancer. I have given them my Blog address: Born 2 Survive.  Also added the info that I am on FB and belong to a large women's organization. 


We have all been touched by our own experiences, family or friends that have had to deal with cancer.  This support group is a good place to talk with people who have been through it.  Some with great ways to handle their situations and some with whom you can relate to.  Tears and smiles.


Try it! You'll like it.     http://forums.lungevity.org/

Latest and greatest

Started the fourth round of Chemo this week.  Which means Blood Draws, Chemo and Radiation for  this week.  Busy, busy.  Day one Chemo did give me some problems, but nothing I couldn't handle.  Reaction started by 8 p.m. and would continue throughout the night.  Today all cleared, again.... Don't know what this evening will bring.  This means a week of Toxic Period. No kissy, kissy. :)




I am to start the "back off" of my chemo/radiation Rx's.  I have been scheduled for the fifth Chemo the week of Christmas and be finish radiation the 2nd of January.  My once large tumor of 6.1 Centimeters., is down to "cells" as of today.  But, because I have a habit of growing tumors, we are sticking to the original aggressive treatments.


I still have damaged on the bottom of my feet and toes.  Think that will be a slow recovery.  My lung has completely inflated itself ( which is very good), I can take deep breaths once again. The coughing spasms are way down and that pleases me to know end. I still have a little edema in my cheeks, which makes me look like a chipmunk. My digestive system goes on strike, now and then...Something I have to keep and eye on.  I now know what tinnitus is...It's the bloody treatments and drugs.  I hear multiple sounds that sometimes sound like music.  Good news is, I can still hear, but loud noises do tend to bother me.  I am assuming this will clear up once I am finished. I am walking much better, but still have a ways to go.  I continue to use the electric carts at the stores and big box places.  I really do not like to go to them, because I have no immune system.  Cannot wait to drive, once again.


Met a lady in the chemo waiting room today, that had started her journey with Breast cancer and it metastasized into her lung and is now in her brain.


There will be a radiation treatment for my brain...once I kind of get some of my strength back.