Dear all,
Well, it looks like we're into a waiting game of sorts. Anita and John went to see the oncologist on Sept. 26th to ask some questions about the recurrent pain she is having as well as about what to expect in the future given that she has only one more chemo session currently scheduled. Unfortunately, the meeting with the doctor left both Anita and John feeling unsatisfied and a bit depressed.
The doctor stated that there would be no more chemo and positively no more Rituxan treatments. This seemed odd given that some time ago he had stated that once she was through with the first round of treatments, he would then determine if she needed more treatments.
Regarding the recurrent pain she has been experiencing in the past week or so, he simply stated that in remission she can expect to have pain from time to time. As you all can tell, this is really a non-answer. His manner, according to Anita, appeared to her to be somewhat dismissive. He said that she would be undergoing follow-up cat scans every two months. However, he did not state what would happen should something negative show up on a particular cat scan.
During the meeting, Anita and John apparently were too taken aback to really press him with more detailed questions. I have suggested they prepare a detailed list of questions for their next meeting with the doctor, and that they not leave until they get satisfactory answers to all of their questions. Mama said that she would do this.
Call me a skeptic, but I have also suggested that they check with their HMO to see whether the HMO intends to pay for any additional treatments. If not, that may explain the doctor's attitude. Anita has discovered that he has submitted bills to the HMO for every single meeting or encounter that she has had with him since the start of her treatment. We know that this HMO likes to limit costs and rewards its doctors for helping cut down on costs. In my experience, this translates as cutting down on treatment for patients.
So, we are now waiting for the next chemo session which is Oct. 3rd. She will meet with the oncologist following that session. At that point we should know whether this oncologist's attitude is merely a momentary aberration or a permanent fixture.
Melissa
Saturday 29 September 2007
Tuesday 25 September 2007
Post #75: Long break but I'm back!
Hello friends and family!
I realize that it has been about ten days since my last entry and that has caused some concern among you. I am sorry if any of you became unduly worried. The reasons for the break are multiple and I won't bore you with them all, but here's the short of it:
Went on a short two-day trip to France with my husband on Sept. 17 to celebrate my birthday, had a wonderful time, but came down with food poisoning after eating some delicious, but apparently not quite up to snuff langoustines. I can truthfully say that on my birthday I got bread and water while my husband dined sumptuously on foie gras, skewered-scallops St. Jacques and a moelleux chocolat for dessert! Well, whatever bugs were in those langoustines were not user-friendly ones and it took a few days for me to finally recover. Then our dog got an eye lesion followed by a systemic skin allergy and during it all we acquired a new client for our business while another client developed urgent problems, etc., etc. In other words, life's been happening!
Additionally, although Mother has not been feeling too well the past week, she asked me not to write a post about it because she was trying to wait it out thinking that her feelings of discomfort would subside, as has been typical in the past after she has had a Rituxan treatment. As it turns out, she is still not feeling too well.
Her last Rituxan treatment was on Friday, Sept. 14. The following Sunday she started feeling lousy, which followed the usual post-Rituxan pattern, but the discomfort continued throughout all of last week and until today. Specifically, she started feeling pain again in those areas where she has her remaining (and historically largest) tumors, the upper right abdominal quadrant and on the left side around her kidney area. Fortunately, the pain has not been as bad as what she experienced back in June and she has not felt the need for morphine drops or pain patches. However, it has more or less persisted and this is of concern to her. It has also been accompanied by a tendency to get tired and achy (for example, if she sits at the computer too long she gets aches in between her shoulders). She thinks perhaps she has been doing too much.
This morning she said she awoke and "can all but feel what seems to be a new lump or mass under her ribs on the right side." This, of course, is not good news as it might indicate a new growth. However, it is possible that the pain she is feeling is the treatment working on the final and toughest areas and this "mass" may be a byproduct of that. So she is calling the oncologist today to arrange to see him regarding these latest symptoms.
In any event, she is determined to be optimistic and is "hell bent on getting remission after her next chemo session (Oct. 3rd)!" She is not happy about these "red flags" coming up, but even with them, she is remission bound! Her weight is up a bit and she is maintaining it 135 lbs. She is as active and busy as ever. Can't keep this woman down! She is excited about the improvements at the house. The new living room sliding glass door and outside patio are proving to be the perfect touch to the house. She and John are planting lots of beautiful flowers and bushes to add that extra touch of privacy and lushness. Combined with that tornado of a dog, Tristan, her spirits receive a pick-me-up everyday. So keep sending those healing thoughts and wishes her way. We all want to see her successfully through this journey!
Melissa
I realize that it has been about ten days since my last entry and that has caused some concern among you. I am sorry if any of you became unduly worried. The reasons for the break are multiple and I won't bore you with them all, but here's the short of it:
Went on a short two-day trip to France with my husband on Sept. 17 to celebrate my birthday, had a wonderful time, but came down with food poisoning after eating some delicious, but apparently not quite up to snuff langoustines. I can truthfully say that on my birthday I got bread and water while my husband dined sumptuously on foie gras, skewered-scallops St. Jacques and a moelleux chocolat for dessert! Well, whatever bugs were in those langoustines were not user-friendly ones and it took a few days for me to finally recover. Then our dog got an eye lesion followed by a systemic skin allergy and during it all we acquired a new client for our business while another client developed urgent problems, etc., etc. In other words, life's been happening!
Additionally, although Mother has not been feeling too well the past week, she asked me not to write a post about it because she was trying to wait it out thinking that her feelings of discomfort would subside, as has been typical in the past after she has had a Rituxan treatment. As it turns out, she is still not feeling too well.
Her last Rituxan treatment was on Friday, Sept. 14. The following Sunday she started feeling lousy, which followed the usual post-Rituxan pattern, but the discomfort continued throughout all of last week and until today. Specifically, she started feeling pain again in those areas where she has her remaining (and historically largest) tumors, the upper right abdominal quadrant and on the left side around her kidney area. Fortunately, the pain has not been as bad as what she experienced back in June and she has not felt the need for morphine drops or pain patches. However, it has more or less persisted and this is of concern to her. It has also been accompanied by a tendency to get tired and achy (for example, if she sits at the computer too long she gets aches in between her shoulders). She thinks perhaps she has been doing too much.
This morning she said she awoke and "can all but feel what seems to be a new lump or mass under her ribs on the right side." This, of course, is not good news as it might indicate a new growth. However, it is possible that the pain she is feeling is the treatment working on the final and toughest areas and this "mass" may be a byproduct of that. So she is calling the oncologist today to arrange to see him regarding these latest symptoms.
In any event, she is determined to be optimistic and is "hell bent on getting remission after her next chemo session (Oct. 3rd)!" She is not happy about these "red flags" coming up, but even with them, she is remission bound! Her weight is up a bit and she is maintaining it 135 lbs. She is as active and busy as ever. Can't keep this woman down! She is excited about the improvements at the house. The new living room sliding glass door and outside patio are proving to be the perfect touch to the house. She and John are planting lots of beautiful flowers and bushes to add that extra touch of privacy and lushness. Combined with that tornado of a dog, Tristan, her spirits receive a pick-me-up everyday. So keep sending those healing thoughts and wishes her way. We all want to see her successfully through this journey!
Melissa
Saturday 15 September 2007
Post #74: Down a bit but heading back up!
Hello Everyone!
Anita underwent 3-1/2 hours of Rituxan treatment yesterday. It was not the greatest session in that the atmosphere at the treatment center was depressing, given the condition of some of the other patients (such as an 18-year old boy being treated for lupus). Also, being that it was her last Rituxan treatment, Anita was rather impatient to get it over and done with. Rituxan is administered via a slow-drip method and it seemed to take forever! So not too surprisingly, she didn't feel, shall we say, her usual upbeat self nor at her most charming either while she was there or later when she got home. She was "grouchy, not feeling so hot, and went to bed!" Well, I say she's totally justified in feeling grouchy and anything else after all she's been through!
However, her spirits and how she is feeling seem to be starting to turn around today. When I talked with her she was busy preparing for a small dinner party at home tonight to celebrate the inauguration of the new patio! The concrete is all poured, the forms are coming off today and Anita and John plan to serve drinks outside on it before having dinner indoors. And what a dinner it will be! Anita is preparing pork roast stuffed with prune dressing, potatoes in olive oil, garlic, parmesan cheese and parsley, sweet & sour red cabbage, broiled tomatos dipped in Italian dressing and topped with feta cheese, not to mention big "granddaddy biscuits" and gravy for the roast. Getting hungry yet folks?! The guests are bringing champagne to help celebrate, so it should be an upbeat evening for her. She is wisely taking a long nap this afternoon in order to be rested and ready.
Anyhow, when I called she was busy chopping up ingredients in the kitchen and getting all the dishes prepared. And this the day after the Rituxan treatment and waking up at midnight with indigestion! She truly is amazing. Anyhow, she expects to follow the same pattern she has after all of her previous Rituxan treatments. She will feel lousy for a few days and then start daily feeling better and better. After yesterday there will be no more Rituxan and only one more chemo treatment to go!! That will be on October 3rd. Following the last chemo, she will have another contrast cat scan to see how she's doing. As she says - and as we all say - REMISSION is what she's headed toward! What a miracle to be getting ever closer to that point!
Melissa
Anita underwent 3-1/2 hours of Rituxan treatment yesterday. It was not the greatest session in that the atmosphere at the treatment center was depressing, given the condition of some of the other patients (such as an 18-year old boy being treated for lupus). Also, being that it was her last Rituxan treatment, Anita was rather impatient to get it over and done with. Rituxan is administered via a slow-drip method and it seemed to take forever! So not too surprisingly, she didn't feel, shall we say, her usual upbeat self nor at her most charming either while she was there or later when she got home. She was "grouchy, not feeling so hot, and went to bed!" Well, I say she's totally justified in feeling grouchy and anything else after all she's been through!
However, her spirits and how she is feeling seem to be starting to turn around today. When I talked with her she was busy preparing for a small dinner party at home tonight to celebrate the inauguration of the new patio! The concrete is all poured, the forms are coming off today and Anita and John plan to serve drinks outside on it before having dinner indoors. And what a dinner it will be! Anita is preparing pork roast stuffed with prune dressing, potatoes in olive oil, garlic, parmesan cheese and parsley, sweet & sour red cabbage, broiled tomatos dipped in Italian dressing and topped with feta cheese, not to mention big "granddaddy biscuits" and gravy for the roast. Getting hungry yet folks?! The guests are bringing champagne to help celebrate, so it should be an upbeat evening for her. She is wisely taking a long nap this afternoon in order to be rested and ready.
Anyhow, when I called she was busy chopping up ingredients in the kitchen and getting all the dishes prepared. And this the day after the Rituxan treatment and waking up at midnight with indigestion! She truly is amazing. Anyhow, she expects to follow the same pattern she has after all of her previous Rituxan treatments. She will feel lousy for a few days and then start daily feeling better and better. After yesterday there will be no more Rituxan and only one more chemo treatment to go!! That will be on October 3rd. Following the last chemo, she will have another contrast cat scan to see how she's doing. As she says - and as we all say - REMISSION is what she's headed toward! What a miracle to be getting ever closer to that point!
Melissa
Thursday 13 September 2007
Post #73: Not Feeling As Well This Morning
Dear all,
Anita did her two hours of chemo yesterday morning and in what has come to be her "chemo style," felt good after the treatment and went home and cleaned out her closets. Also did a little ironing! Utterly amazing!
However, as has become the pattern during her treatments, she got tired and went to bed early. She woke up in the middle of the night, got back to sleep OK but was nauseated when she got up this morning. However, she took her sure-fire nausea medication, napped a bit and then around 10:00 a.m. or so, she was able to eat a bowl of cereal and drink some fruit-flavored vitamin water. She followed that up with another nap and when I talked to her around 12:30 p.m. she sounded groggy but nevertheless positive. The shortness of breath that had come back over this past weekend (she had worn herself out the week before) has again gone away. And she realizes that the nausea and tiredness is not unusual at this point in time.
So it's on to the last Rituxan treatment tomorrow. Her appointment is at 9:00 a.m. and the treatment should last about three hours. The Rituxan will also create more tiredness and nausea, but she is prepared for it and is looking forward to recovering from this last of the double-whammy sessions soon. One item buoying her spirits is the pouring of the concrete for the new patio. The workers are there and it should be completed by this afternoon. Not to mention, her new wardrobe! Always a pick-me-up for Mama!
So I will update again following her Rituxan treatment tomorrow or if I receive additional news in the interim. Let's all keep those positive thoughts flowing!
Melissa
Anita did her two hours of chemo yesterday morning and in what has come to be her "chemo style," felt good after the treatment and went home and cleaned out her closets. Also did a little ironing! Utterly amazing!
However, as has become the pattern during her treatments, she got tired and went to bed early. She woke up in the middle of the night, got back to sleep OK but was nauseated when she got up this morning. However, she took her sure-fire nausea medication, napped a bit and then around 10:00 a.m. or so, she was able to eat a bowl of cereal and drink some fruit-flavored vitamin water. She followed that up with another nap and when I talked to her around 12:30 p.m. she sounded groggy but nevertheless positive. The shortness of breath that had come back over this past weekend (she had worn herself out the week before) has again gone away. And she realizes that the nausea and tiredness is not unusual at this point in time.
So it's on to the last Rituxan treatment tomorrow. Her appointment is at 9:00 a.m. and the treatment should last about three hours. The Rituxan will also create more tiredness and nausea, but she is prepared for it and is looking forward to recovering from this last of the double-whammy sessions soon. One item buoying her spirits is the pouring of the concrete for the new patio. The workers are there and it should be completed by this afternoon. Not to mention, her new wardrobe! Always a pick-me-up for Mama!
So I will update again following her Rituxan treatment tomorrow or if I receive additional news in the interim. Let's all keep those positive thoughts flowing!
Melissa
Wednesday 12 September 2007
Post #72: Off to Chemo #5!
Hello Anita fans!
Well, she is off as I type to a quick breakfast out and then her fifth chemo treatment. It's a 9:00 a.m. appointment, but knowing them, she probably won't really get started until 9:30 or 10:00. Following today's treatment, she will have her last Rituxan treatment on Friday the 14th, also at 9:00 a.m. She sounded tremendously upbeat when I talked with her a few moments ago, so much so that one would think she was going out to a routine doctor or dentist appointment rather than to a cancer treatment session! Well . . . that's Anita!
One reason she is feeling upbeat is that she and John went shopping yesterday for some new clothes for her. She has lost so much weight that most of her former clothes don't fit her anymore. And as you can imagine, she's happy as a clam (although when you think about it, why would a clam be happy?) and is sporting a whole new look! It's so fun to hear her talking with such enthusiasm about styles and colors and fabrics. Well, she will be looking sharp tomorrow for an 8:00 a.m. meeting with the MLS (multiple listing service) real estate crowd. Can you believe it?! That's Mama, still doing her best for her clients!
She has been fairly tired the past few days, feeling the need of having to go to bed and rest, but that's not all that surprising. She was so exhilarated and had such a fabulous week with their friend from the East Coast - there was something going on every night - that she rather overdid it! Apparently, her heart "went cockeyed" a bit - as she puts it. But she is recovering rapidly and will take a more leisurely pace in the days and weeks to come.
The forms and wires and whatnot are all set up in the side yard outside the new living room door for the pouring of the concrete which will happen this Thursday. This has caused no end of distress for Tristan Tornado as he has been relegated to the back yard until everything is finished. The good news is that he is now totally house-trained. Quite a relief (no pun intended) for the rest of the household!
So, I will be checking with Mother after her treatment to see how it went and will report back to all of you. Speaking of "you" I want to thank you all for following the blogsite so closely. I'm happy that it is helpful to you. I'm sorry I'm doing fewer postings now, but with all this improvement, there's less health-related information to report, which is a good thing! However, beware and fair warning! I may start pounding the keys everyday again! Coming from a family of writers, the bug is spreading! Besides, it's good discipline to write everyday!
Melissa
Melissa
Well, she is off as I type to a quick breakfast out and then her fifth chemo treatment. It's a 9:00 a.m. appointment, but knowing them, she probably won't really get started until 9:30 or 10:00. Following today's treatment, she will have her last Rituxan treatment on Friday the 14th, also at 9:00 a.m. She sounded tremendously upbeat when I talked with her a few moments ago, so much so that one would think she was going out to a routine doctor or dentist appointment rather than to a cancer treatment session! Well . . . that's Anita!
One reason she is feeling upbeat is that she and John went shopping yesterday for some new clothes for her. She has lost so much weight that most of her former clothes don't fit her anymore. And as you can imagine, she's happy as a clam (although when you think about it, why would a clam be happy?) and is sporting a whole new look! It's so fun to hear her talking with such enthusiasm about styles and colors and fabrics. Well, she will be looking sharp tomorrow for an 8:00 a.m. meeting with the MLS (multiple listing service) real estate crowd. Can you believe it?! That's Mama, still doing her best for her clients!
She has been fairly tired the past few days, feeling the need of having to go to bed and rest, but that's not all that surprising. She was so exhilarated and had such a fabulous week with their friend from the East Coast - there was something going on every night - that she rather overdid it! Apparently, her heart "went cockeyed" a bit - as she puts it. But she is recovering rapidly and will take a more leisurely pace in the days and weeks to come.
The forms and wires and whatnot are all set up in the side yard outside the new living room door for the pouring of the concrete which will happen this Thursday. This has caused no end of distress for Tristan Tornado as he has been relegated to the back yard until everything is finished. The good news is that he is now totally house-trained. Quite a relief (no pun intended) for the rest of the household!
So, I will be checking with Mother after her treatment to see how it went and will report back to all of you. Speaking of "you" I want to thank you all for following the blogsite so closely. I'm happy that it is helpful to you. I'm sorry I'm doing fewer postings now, but with all this improvement, there's less health-related information to report, which is a good thing! However, beware and fair warning! I may start pounding the keys everyday again! Coming from a family of writers, the bug is spreading! Besides, it's good discipline to write everyday!
Melissa
Melissa
Friday 7 September 2007
Post #71: An absolutely fabulous week!
Hello Everybody!
Well, it's been a week already . . . can't believe where the time goes! But it has been an incredible one for Anita. Yes, she still gets tired easily and still gets some dizziness - but that has all diminished in severity and frequency.
The great news is that she has been able to thoroughly enjoy the past week with her visiting friend from the East Coast including social gatherings and even a trip to San Diego on Sept. 4th. Off they went to beautiful San Diego where Anita waded in the ocean waves breaking in the sand and ate steamed clams and stuffed artichokes at The Beach House at Cardiff by the Sea - one of her all time favorite restaurants. Talk about a sure-fire cure for cabin fever! She reports that it was a long day with lots of driving but "it was like having a short trip to Heaven on Earth after these past long months and the recent heat wave!"
Not that she's not busy at home! Tristan managed to chew away the stucco on the wall of the kitchen and break the baby gate such that John and Anita had to buy a new gate to fence the little darling in more securely. Anita now calls him "Hot Dog" and "Tornado" rather than Tristan. Those names certainly sound better suited to his personality! Yesterday "Hot Dog" woke her up at the charming hour of 5:00 a.m. so by the time I talked with her (around 1:30 p.m.), she was already worn out! But happily so.
She and John are delighted with the new living room sliding doors. In the next few days, they are laying a new patio outside the doors so they will be able to shift in and out of the house with ease. Well, as you all know, they always have had an eye and knack for creating beautiful living spaces.
Yesterday afternoon she went out to a cocktail party very generously being hosted by another dear local friend in honor of the visiting friend. Anita's determination to get out there and live life in spite of everything she's been through - and is still going through - is simply amazing! I am so proud of her and so inspired by her. As she said to me again yesterday, "I am going to be well! I've made up my mind. I just don't have time for this!" We should all adopt that mantra.
So, next Wednesday, Sept. 12th she goes in for her fifth chemo treatment and on Friday, Sept. 14 she has her last Rituxan treatment. Then in approximately three weeks, around October 3rd, she should have her last chemo treatment. Now, it is possible, that the oncologist will order more treatments after that, but to hear Mama talk, she "won't stand for that! I'll be in remission!"
I will keep you all posted as to how she responds to the next round of treatments. In the meantime, we can all rejoice with her as she celebrates feeling better every day!
Melissa
Well, it's been a week already . . . can't believe where the time goes! But it has been an incredible one for Anita. Yes, she still gets tired easily and still gets some dizziness - but that has all diminished in severity and frequency.
The great news is that she has been able to thoroughly enjoy the past week with her visiting friend from the East Coast including social gatherings and even a trip to San Diego on Sept. 4th. Off they went to beautiful San Diego where Anita waded in the ocean waves breaking in the sand and ate steamed clams and stuffed artichokes at The Beach House at Cardiff by the Sea - one of her all time favorite restaurants. Talk about a sure-fire cure for cabin fever! She reports that it was a long day with lots of driving but "it was like having a short trip to Heaven on Earth after these past long months and the recent heat wave!"
Not that she's not busy at home! Tristan managed to chew away the stucco on the wall of the kitchen and break the baby gate such that John and Anita had to buy a new gate to fence the little darling in more securely. Anita now calls him "Hot Dog" and "Tornado" rather than Tristan. Those names certainly sound better suited to his personality! Yesterday "Hot Dog" woke her up at the charming hour of 5:00 a.m. so by the time I talked with her (around 1:30 p.m.), she was already worn out! But happily so.
She and John are delighted with the new living room sliding doors. In the next few days, they are laying a new patio outside the doors so they will be able to shift in and out of the house with ease. Well, as you all know, they always have had an eye and knack for creating beautiful living spaces.
Yesterday afternoon she went out to a cocktail party very generously being hosted by another dear local friend in honor of the visiting friend. Anita's determination to get out there and live life in spite of everything she's been through - and is still going through - is simply amazing! I am so proud of her and so inspired by her. As she said to me again yesterday, "I am going to be well! I've made up my mind. I just don't have time for this!" We should all adopt that mantra.
So, next Wednesday, Sept. 12th she goes in for her fifth chemo treatment and on Friday, Sept. 14 she has her last Rituxan treatment. Then in approximately three weeks, around October 3rd, she should have her last chemo treatment. Now, it is possible, that the oncologist will order more treatments after that, but to hear Mama talk, she "won't stand for that! I'll be in remission!"
I will keep you all posted as to how she responds to the next round of treatments. In the meantime, we can all rejoice with her as she celebrates feeling better every day!
Melissa
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