We embarked on Chris's 3rd and final cycle on Monday. He is now officially halfway through this long week. He has chemo 5 days this week and a neulasta shot on Saturday. However, Friday will mark the end of this awful week and the rest is downhill! One shot on June 17 and one on the 24th. That's it!! Chris asked the nurse to schedule him for a doctor appointment as soon as treatment is done so that he can get his port removed. The port and the awful taste in his mouth have probably been his two biggest complaints. He is ready to get that thing out!
Most of you are wondering how Chris is feeling this week. So, here's a quick summary: Monday wasn't great. Chris was sleep deprived and had done a lot of yardwork on Sunday. Those things combined produced a less than stellar Monday morning. He felt a little better by the end of the day due to the anti-nausea meds given to him during treatment. Tuesday was great. He had a restful night of sleep the evening before and woke up refreshed. He visited for a couple hours with my brother who was awesome and brought Chris and I pizza. As is the norm for Chris these days, he gave Brian very specific order "suggestions." :) that brings us to today. The morning was rough. Chris felt hot (no fever, thankfully!) and nauseous. He hurried to check some things off of his to-do list so that he could nap. My preference would be for Chris to relax and rest all day, but that is not my husband. I expect that his computer will be coming out soon and he will be getting back to work.
Counting down......
Katie
Wednesday, June 12, 2013
Sunday, June 2, 2013
Kinda like a Pregnant lady
Chris spent most of Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday in bed unable to do much of anything. On Thursday, he got up and started his day as normal (just a little slower). He worked all day Thursday and Friday and was starting to feel much better. He may have overdone it, because by noon on Saturday he started feeling lousy again. The rest of the weekend was spent on the couch or in bed. I don't want to draw an inaccurate picture. Chris wasn't so ill that he had a fever or extreme nausea and vomiting. He just felt nauseous and had a headache. He was tired. His biggest complaint has been the metallic taste in his mouth that will not go away. Apparently this is a common chemotherapy side effect that many people experience. For Chris, it never goes away so he spends all day trying to mask it. He is constantly searching for foods and drinks that will cover the horrible taste. He's a little bit like a pregnant woman. I get random texts from him saying things like, "On your way home from the baseball game can you stop and pick up some cookie dough ice cream? Preferably Ben and Jerry's." Or, he will order pizza with his brother and eat 1 and 1/2 pizzas on his own before his brother has to tell him he should probably stop. During one long chemo session, I had to run out to get Chris's truck tires rotated. I got a text.... "Can you pick up 5 roast beef sandwiches, curly fries and a strawberry shake?" Sure! I'm not going to tell him no! Fast forward 2 hours when I notice Chris taking short, shallow breaths. I got pretty freaked out because his chemo drugs can cause lung problems. So I asked the nurse to check him. She starts asking questions and Chris says, "oh, by the way, I ate 5 roast beef sandwiches for lunch!" Long story short....The shallow breaths were from his full stomach impeding his diaphragm from taking deep breaths! Awesome. His cravings and aversions change frequently. After he eats one type of food for awhile, he starts to associate it with the chemo taste and no longer wants it. So far the following foods and smells have been affected: apple juice, coffee, jello, peppermint, lavender. There's a bunch more but my memory is failing me at this moment. Anyway, the reason I am writing this long post about Chris's cravings and aversions is that I didn't know anything about this prior to Chris experiencing it. I'm assuming that at least some of you may never have known about this side effect either. I also know that a lot of you are curious about how chemo is affecting Chris. Right now, this is probably his biggest complaint.
Tomorrow is another chemo day. He receives his bleo shot. We are both dreading it. The good news?? Only 3 weeks left!!!
Katie
Tomorrow is another chemo day. He receives his bleo shot. We are both dreading it. The good news?? Only 3 weeks left!!!
Katie
Tuesday, May 28, 2013
Quick update
I can't believe it has been a week since I last posted! My intention was to post every day Chris receives some sort of treatment. That's not happening! Oh well...
So, last week was Chris's long treatment week. He handled it really well, considering that it IS chemo he is receiving. I always laugh because whenever anyone asks Chris how he's feeling, he is so enthusiastic with his responses- "can't complain!" "Doing well!" This attitude serves him well I think. I was joking with my sister-in-law this weekend that I would be the complete opposite. I would be curled up in a blanket all day, feeling sorry for myself, moping....not Chris thankfully. He is getting us both through this!!
Chemo finally caught up with Chris this weekend. Not sure what exactly happened but he hit a definite wall. A big, brick one. Yesterday and today have been particularly bad. He has nausea, headache, body aches, and chills. He told me today that he can't even "fake it". He feels that sick. To top it off, he had his bleo injection today. This is the one med he gets during his "off" weeks. He has been in bed for most of the past 48 hours, only coming out to see the kids and eat.
Tomorrow will be better. Thanks for reading.
Katie
So, last week was Chris's long treatment week. He handled it really well, considering that it IS chemo he is receiving. I always laugh because whenever anyone asks Chris how he's feeling, he is so enthusiastic with his responses- "can't complain!" "Doing well!" This attitude serves him well I think. I was joking with my sister-in-law this weekend that I would be the complete opposite. I would be curled up in a blanket all day, feeling sorry for myself, moping....not Chris thankfully. He is getting us both through this!!
Chemo finally caught up with Chris this weekend. Not sure what exactly happened but he hit a definite wall. A big, brick one. Yesterday and today have been particularly bad. He has nausea, headache, body aches, and chills. He told me today that he can't even "fake it". He feels that sick. To top it off, he had his bleo injection today. This is the one med he gets during his "off" weeks. He has been in bed for most of the past 48 hours, only coming out to see the kids and eat.
Tomorrow will be better. Thanks for reading.
Katie
Tuesday, May 21, 2013
Hold on tight, here comes some "deep thoughts from Katie!"
Chris went home from chemo last night feeling really good. A little tired, but that didn't stop him from taking the kids to Kyle's baseball game. This was extra nice for me as I got to enjoy a romantic homemade (delicious, kb!) dinner for 1. I even got a run in. I HAD to get a run in after the large amount of chicken bora bora that I consumed. So good! Kyle came home bursting to tell me that 1) he is the best hitter on his team (so modest, and a little bit of an exaggerator!) and 2) that a girl on his team has a crush on him. How could she resist my sweet, funny little toe-head?!? Grace, I totally get it!
Today is a big day for Cameron and I-last brownie meeting of the year. I have to admit, I was pretty much forced into helping to lead her troop this year. 1 did brownies for only 1 year when I was little and I never really considered myself a brownie-type girl, Whatever that means!! But cam really wanted to do it and she needed a troop leader. So, 3 of us came together and here we are on the verge of the last meeting of the year! I can say now that I had NO real idea of what being a troop co-leader would entail or all the great things that Girl Scouts promotes. Cameron and her friends have learned a lot about hardwork, teamwork, sales, cooperation, volunteering, giving back, money management, yoga, pottery, bird classification, etc. Most importantly, she is in a group with 11 other smart and fun little girls that she gets to traverse through the rest of her schooling with. I'm so happy that she will have that support! I tell you all this for a purpose. This whole health scare has made me to stop and appreciate every little part of my life so much more. Brownies is just one example. Stick with me and I'll eventually explain what I mean.
About the time Chris was diagnosed, I received a book from a friend (thanks, jill,) entitled the Happiness Project. It is a great book and one I will surely pick up again soon. I have to tell you that when I first got the book and started reading, it struck me in deeper ways than I'm sure the author intended. I didn't read too much before I became overwhelmed by the content. All of you who have read this book are probably laughing as you read this because I'm SURE I missed the point. What I read was basically that you need to get your life in order in an attempt to be happy. I also read that having your life in "order" helps get you through harder, more stressful times. This is when I panicked(for lack of a better word). I had been cleaning, purging, organizing the house for weeks. Chris and I had finally decided to finish our 2 bonus bedrooms and bathroom. I started volunteering at the school more, and meeting more people. I made new friends. And then.... Chris got cancer. I now look back at all the things I did to bring order to my life as a little nudge from God to have things in place, because a storm was coming. Now that my house had less extra junk and there was a designated spot for everything we did keep, cleaning was easier. The kids can help. Family can help. Now that the bonus rooms are done, friends and family have a place to stay. Brandon and Brent got to come and stay the Saturday before the start of chemo to distract Chris and lift his spirits. (It meant a lot, guys!). If we need help overnight, family has a place to stay. We met some great people during the building process. The poor builder even ended up being the one to talk me off the ledge the morning we got bad news. And the new friends I made and the relationships that we strengthened-these people have made all the difference!! They have put together meal donation lists( Megan), donated warm home cooked meals to my family when they were likely to have gotten only cereal or fast food from me(too many friends to mention), rides and play dates for my kids(you know who you are!), texts, cards, phone calls to check in (all of you). I'm sure I'm missing a lot of what you all have done and I've strayed away from giving shout outs in my blog posts because I'm sure to miss things. I'm sure I have! But all you all have done has been noticed and appreciated more than you will ever know!
This brings me back to brownies... I told you I'd bring it full circle:) Being a brownie co-leader has been an unexpected gift! I met great girls with great parents who I may not have otherwise gotten to know. And the meetings were a FUN distraction. But most importantly, I gained some great friends who have meant so much to me through this process. And the sad thing is, that we may never have gotten to know each other well enough to be friends if it hadn't been for brownies. Melissa, kiersten, and katrina-thank you! At the beginning of the year, my intention as far as Girl Scouts was concerned was one and done! I think I changed my mind...
This brownie diatribe is just one small example of a change in perspective that this cancer diagnosis has afforded me. Cancer sucks! It sucks when it strikes anyone. It sucks more when it hits the one you love most in the world. But for me, this difficult experience has also given me and my family lots of gifts.
Thank you
Today is a big day for Cameron and I-last brownie meeting of the year. I have to admit, I was pretty much forced into helping to lead her troop this year. 1 did brownies for only 1 year when I was little and I never really considered myself a brownie-type girl, Whatever that means!! But cam really wanted to do it and she needed a troop leader. So, 3 of us came together and here we are on the verge of the last meeting of the year! I can say now that I had NO real idea of what being a troop co-leader would entail or all the great things that Girl Scouts promotes. Cameron and her friends have learned a lot about hardwork, teamwork, sales, cooperation, volunteering, giving back, money management, yoga, pottery, bird classification, etc. Most importantly, she is in a group with 11 other smart and fun little girls that she gets to traverse through the rest of her schooling with. I'm so happy that she will have that support! I tell you all this for a purpose. This whole health scare has made me to stop and appreciate every little part of my life so much more. Brownies is just one example. Stick with me and I'll eventually explain what I mean.
About the time Chris was diagnosed, I received a book from a friend (thanks, jill,) entitled the Happiness Project. It is a great book and one I will surely pick up again soon. I have to tell you that when I first got the book and started reading, it struck me in deeper ways than I'm sure the author intended. I didn't read too much before I became overwhelmed by the content. All of you who have read this book are probably laughing as you read this because I'm SURE I missed the point. What I read was basically that you need to get your life in order in an attempt to be happy. I also read that having your life in "order" helps get you through harder, more stressful times. This is when I panicked(for lack of a better word). I had been cleaning, purging, organizing the house for weeks. Chris and I had finally decided to finish our 2 bonus bedrooms and bathroom. I started volunteering at the school more, and meeting more people. I made new friends. And then.... Chris got cancer. I now look back at all the things I did to bring order to my life as a little nudge from God to have things in place, because a storm was coming. Now that my house had less extra junk and there was a designated spot for everything we did keep, cleaning was easier. The kids can help. Family can help. Now that the bonus rooms are done, friends and family have a place to stay. Brandon and Brent got to come and stay the Saturday before the start of chemo to distract Chris and lift his spirits. (It meant a lot, guys!). If we need help overnight, family has a place to stay. We met some great people during the building process. The poor builder even ended up being the one to talk me off the ledge the morning we got bad news. And the new friends I made and the relationships that we strengthened-these people have made all the difference!! They have put together meal donation lists( Megan), donated warm home cooked meals to my family when they were likely to have gotten only cereal or fast food from me(too many friends to mention), rides and play dates for my kids(you know who you are!), texts, cards, phone calls to check in (all of you). I'm sure I'm missing a lot of what you all have done and I've strayed away from giving shout outs in my blog posts because I'm sure to miss things. I'm sure I have! But all you all have done has been noticed and appreciated more than you will ever know!
This brings me back to brownies... I told you I'd bring it full circle:) Being a brownie co-leader has been an unexpected gift! I met great girls with great parents who I may not have otherwise gotten to know. And the meetings were a FUN distraction. But most importantly, I gained some great friends who have meant so much to me through this process. And the sad thing is, that we may never have gotten to know each other well enough to be friends if it hadn't been for brownies. Melissa, kiersten, and katrina-thank you! At the beginning of the year, my intention as far as Girl Scouts was concerned was one and done! I think I changed my mind...
This brownie diatribe is just one small example of a change in perspective that this cancer diagnosis has afforded me. Cancer sucks! It sucks when it strikes anyone. It sucks more when it hits the one you love most in the world. But for me, this difficult experience has also given me and my family lots of gifts.
Thank you
Monday, May 20, 2013
Ding dong
The witch (cancer!) is dead!!! Yep, you read that right:). Chris had bloodwork done today. They tested his tumor markers, which for Chris is HCG. Prior to surgery he was at 400. After surgery, but prior to chemo, he was at 208. Today.... <0.1 which is as low as it could ever be!! Basically, his tumors produce/cause elevated HCG. So, following those levels helps the doctor see if treatment is working. If HCG goes down, it means the meds are working. The nurse was pleasantly surprised by how well Chris responded to treatment!! He does have to continue through the next 2 cycles but it is such a relief to know that the cancer is being eradicated!
His white blood cell count, platelets, etc are still looking good!
If you are keeping track, Chris has now beaten cancer TWO times:)
His white blood cell count, platelets, etc are still looking good!
If you are keeping track, Chris has now beaten cancer TWO times:)
Tuesday, May 14, 2013
Monday, May 13, 2013
Post of the day, part 2
Here's a quick update for those who are curious. Chris actually handled today's treatment really well! Phew! We got home around 11:30 and he napped for 3 hours. He woke up feeling pretty good! He has a week to recover until cycle #2 begins. 1 down, 3 to go!
Goodnight,
Katie
Goodnight,
Katie
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