Allow Me to Digress

Yesterday I got some energy back. I took a trip out to the store to pick up some things and was able to get the Jan issue of Southern Living Magazine. I know I try to keep most of my entries OC related so here is where I digress.

I have started to feel down about not having my children close by. Terry and Andy are in OK with little silly Silvio pup and Matt is leaving today to go back to Blacksburg. And I was feeling physically spent and ached from my first treatment. After watching some TV last night I started reading the magazine. Half way through there was an article. " Wide Open In West Texas" about western TX 200 miles or so east of El Paso. It brought back so many memories of our June trip to bring Terry and Andy back to El Paso. We passed through miles of dessert between Pecos and Van Horn on Route 10 that was just incredibly beautiful - desolate but beautiful. We had not actually passed through Marathon on which the article was written. But it was great to read what the residents said about living with so much space. " Out here you can just Breathe" and " In the openness you suddenly feel creative". And then it hit me. Why don't I think of these chemo rough patches as a time to breathe. Don't stress just Breathe and just see what happens.

Who would think that a magazine article would have such a profound affect. I can Breathe.

LIVESTRONG

Dee
Every is a Blessing!

PS the image above is one I took on Route 10 by Pecos, Tx

Yoga for Cancer Survivors

Starseed Yoga - Monclair is offering a free class for Cancer survivors. Dr Susan Herman will lead the class on Thursdays at 2pm. For more information contact:

215 Glenridge Ave.
Montclair, NJ 07042
973.783.1036
Montclair@StarseedYoga.com

LIVESTRONG
Dee
Every Day is a Blessing

Slowly emerging

Hopefully this entry won't be totally incoherent. I have had some rough days since Wed. Should remember that one does not extend ones time between nausea meds otherwise it will come back to get you. Thanks for the nurse help line at CINJ who came through with 2 other drugs that did the trick but made me sleepier. Oh well small price to pay.

Today I am feeling ok in that area but still very fatigued. I do stuff for an hour and than back to sleep I go. Tomorrow should be better since it will almost be a week since my chemo.

Once I get this routine down pat I'll be prepared for the next cycle. Now lets see if I can watch a quarter of the football game and not dose off.

LiveStrong
Dee
Every Day is a Blessing.

One down Five to go

My first chemo treatment at CINJ went very smoothly. I started pre-meds at 9:30am , did a slow titration of Taxol ( so I wouldn't get that dreaded reaction) and finished up with the Carboplatin. I was done at 2:00 and was home by 2:30. My nurse Vicki was great and short visits by my doctor, the two nurse practicioners in the group and the social worker who facilitates my support group at CINJ, made the time go quickly. Except for the headache I woke up this morning ( I think related to the incoming storm) I felt good otherwise. The three tylenols my doctor ordered help to take the edge off of the headache. The good news is that my CA-125 is already down to 39 so I hope it will come in the normal range and down to single digits by the 3rd treatment.

I may not be posting for the next few days. If I follow true to form from my first treatmens in 2005 I will be sleeping most of the time. But one never knows this time could be different.


By the way did you see the great news that a team of scientists from Princeton collaborated with a group of research doctors at CINJ to isolated a breast cancer gene present in patients whose cancer is most likely to spread. Click here for the press release from CINJ.
LIVESTRONG

Dee
Every Day is a Blessing!

CDC's Inside Knowledge: Get the Facts About Gynecologic Cancer

CDC, in collaboration with the Department of Health and Human Services' Office on Women's Health, established the Inside Knowledge: Get the Facts About Gynecologic Cancer campaign to raise awareness of the five main types of gynecologic cancer: cervical, ovarian, uterine, vaginal, and vulvar.This national campaign is supported by the Gynecologic Cancer Education and Awareness Act of 2005, or Johanna's Law, which was unanimously passed by the U.S. House and Senate (109th Congress) in December of 2006, and signed into law by President George W. Bush on January 12, 2007. You can find lots of information and statistics on the linked pages. As an advocate for Johanna's Law I am pleased to see such a visible outcome and hope that many women and their doctors will make use of fact sheets, etc .

Check out the very informative site here: http://www.cdc.gov/cancer/knowledge/

Livestrong

Dee
Every Day is a Blessing!

Wired Magazine's- Why Early Detection is the Best Way to Beat Cancer

Why Early Detection is the Best Way to Beat Cancer
Although it is a long article it raises a number if interesting points about research into the early detection of cancers , including ovarian cancer. The article highlights Don Listwin, an engineer, ( formerly of Cisco) and his Canary Foundation .

It makes me feel good that there is more attention being giving to early detection tests for cancers.

LiveStrong

Dee
Every Day is a Blessing

Happy New Year

I wish all my family and friends a very Happy, Healthy and Prosperous New Year!

LiveStrong
Dee

Every Day is a Blessing