Post #53: Treatment Changes

Hello Everyone,

Sorry for the delay in a new posting. My life here at home has resumed its normal course and gotten very busy. You all know the feeling - not enough time to do everything you want to do!

Just got off the phone with Mother. Her condition is pretty much as it has been the past few days: great appetite, up and moving about more, no nausea and no pain per se, but some chest congestion, still feeling dizzy when she bends over and still experiencing the shortness of breath. She says that today she is, on the whole, feeling great. However, the past few days she has been experiencing some "teary" spells that come without warning and at odd times. But she realizes that this is most likely the byproduct of the treatment and the oncologist says that it is normal given her condition. So she is fighting off these episodes by actively trying to think in a positive way.

She had her appointment with the oncologist yesterday. In a surprise move, rather than scheduling her for her next chemo treatment in the next few days, he had her go in for it right then and there. She was there from about 10:30 a.m. to a little past noon, so a bit over an hour and a half of chemo. He also decided to change her treatment plan a bit. She is now scheduled to go in tomorrow morning at 10:15 a.m. for her second Rituxan treatment. Including tomorrow, she will be receiving four more Rituxan treatments in addition to chemo. Her doctor is also going to order another cat scan for her to determine what is happening with her, particularly in the abdominal and chest areas.

Two humorous side notes: Anita asked the onoclogist about how her blood was doing and he told her that "you have the blood of a superwoman!" When she mentioned to him that when she bends over she gets dizzy and the feeling over her heart is like "a frog trying to jump out of my chest," her doctor said: "Well, actually two frogs!"

On a more serious note, she asked him point blank what he thought her chances for remission are. He really thought about it before answering her and then stated that personally he thinks she will go into remission - "that is what we've been doing this all for." As to how long the remission will last, he said that no one can say for sure as it all depends on the individual. But in general, it could be 6 months, 2 years, or even longer.

Anita was feeling so good today that she decided to take advantage of that fact, given that the effects of yesterday's chemo treatment and of the Rituxan treatment tomorrow will probably hit her sometime Saturday. So today, to shake off some of her cabin fever, she went out with John to Lowe's to check out some home improvement materials. She said that she is feeling and getting stronger and was able to walk through Lowes to Aisle 20 by pushing a cart and taking it slow. Along the way, she saw some stools on sale and pulled one off the rack for an impromptu rest stop! Ever resourceful, that's Anita! Then on the way out of Lowes she decided she wanted a Coke and a Woody's Chicago hot dog! Ate the whole thing!

She didn't take that swim the other day because she and John had not been given keys to the gate to the pool area. They have now corrected that situation and are well armed with their pool keys. Ever listening to prudent suggestions of others, I passed along to Mama the concern that she probably should check with her oncologist about how safe it is for her to be swimming given her lowered immune resistance. Additionally she should probably be careful about cleaning up after the puppy. Don't want to take any unnecessary risks.

As for Tristan, he is doing somewhat better in the comportment department and is still providing lots of laughs and solace to both Mother and John.

Anita will not be home from her Rituxan treatment until late in the afternoon tomorrow. As she mentioned, her post-treatment pattern seems to be that she feels fine until the next afternoon the day after the treatment. So I will be sure to update all of you as her condition changes.

Melissa