Today I wanted to remind you all that tomorrow is national wear Teal Day in support of Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month. Do you have anything teal?
I went to the dermatologist today for a skin check up. Thanks be to God all my freckles and moles are of no concern at this time. Yay! I am so relieved that I went because once you have cancer, you tend to be hyper-aware of potential sources of cancer in other areas of your body. I was instructed on how to monitor my own skin, and contact them if I noticed a problem. What a relief.
Last night I had nightmares that I was bleeding internally. Probably all weird because I had watched the movie "The Lovely Bones" with my mom that evening. It was surreal, creepy, but had a strange sweetness to it. I makes you face death and confront your views on the here-after. I'd recommend it.
Since it has been such a beautiful day here in Seattle, I have been so happy today. I love it when the sun shines. You can see the harbor much more clearly and people seem more content.
When I was on chemo, I remember feeling literally "afraid" of everyone. Almost paranoid. I would take extra measures to lock my car doors when driving, and saw everything as a threat. I don't feel that gloomy fear anymore, thank God. I just wish we could be graced with the sun a little longer.
My waist is 29 today.
Be Love.
CDC Symptom Diary Card
Thursday, September 02, 2010
Wednesday, September 01, 2010
First day of OVC Awareness Month
Have spent most of the day online responding to women asking for help on the "inspire" blog sponsored by the National Ovarian Cancer Alliance.
I am going to daily/regular measurements my waist just under my rib. Today I am at 30" (35-30-35) to be exact. I want to monitor for fluid retention, because I STILL have ongoing abdominal pain. Because I don't know if the pain is scar tissue, digestive, missing omentum, or tumor, I want to do all I can to track my progress. Tomorrow I see a dermatologist for skin screening.
Michael Douglas was diagnosed with "throat" cancer, stage IV, just a few weeks ago. He also suffered through physician incompetence, missing the cancer in it's early stages while most likely to heal. I feel bad for him and his family, and my prayers go out to them. This is his first week of chemo and radiation, and seeming well on David Letterman, the general public has no idea how much he will suffer. Chemo and radiation get more and more toxic with each dose. I pray God stays with him and gives him the strength to tolerate the treatment regimine, to rid him of his cancer. God Bless Micheal Douglas and his family.
Be Love
I am going to daily/regular measurements my waist just under my rib. Today I am at 30" (35-30-35) to be exact. I want to monitor for fluid retention, because I STILL have ongoing abdominal pain. Because I don't know if the pain is scar tissue, digestive, missing omentum, or tumor, I want to do all I can to track my progress. Tomorrow I see a dermatologist for skin screening.
Michael Douglas was diagnosed with "throat" cancer, stage IV, just a few weeks ago. He also suffered through physician incompetence, missing the cancer in it's early stages while most likely to heal. I feel bad for him and his family, and my prayers go out to them. This is his first week of chemo and radiation, and seeming well on David Letterman, the general public has no idea how much he will suffer. Chemo and radiation get more and more toxic with each dose. I pray God stays with him and gives him the strength to tolerate the treatment regimine, to rid him of his cancer. God Bless Micheal Douglas and his family.
Be Love
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
SEPTEMBER IS NATIONAL OVARIAN CANCER AWARENESS MONTH
http://www.ovariancancer.org/
With September being National Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month, I am hoping that you will be taking some time to become familiar with the symptoms and also checking with your gynecologist to make sure you are healthy. Please ask your primary care physician and gynecologist to explain to you the symptamatology of OVC. I ask this of you because you need a good doctor. You need a doctor who knows the symptoms and who will take all your symptoms seriously, God forbid any occur.
No doctor's ego or intimidation is worth the sacrifice of your health!
I read daily posts from ovarian cancer survivors and those in treatment and all are suffering. It is unbelievable to me how much long term suffering exists in the OVC survivor. We are strong women who didn't need to suffer.
We need more sophisticated screening for EVERY woman so that she remains free of this deadly disease.
Be the one to save yourself and be the one to save your female friends and family. Spread the word and learn about OVC.
Be Love,
Denise
With September being National Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month, I am hoping that you will be taking some time to become familiar with the symptoms and also checking with your gynecologist to make sure you are healthy. Please ask your primary care physician and gynecologist to explain to you the symptamatology of OVC. I ask this of you because you need a good doctor. You need a doctor who knows the symptoms and who will take all your symptoms seriously, God forbid any occur.
No doctor's ego or intimidation is worth the sacrifice of your health!
I read daily posts from ovarian cancer survivors and those in treatment and all are suffering. It is unbelievable to me how much long term suffering exists in the OVC survivor. We are strong women who didn't need to suffer.
We need more sophisticated screening for EVERY woman so that she remains free of this deadly disease.
Be the one to save yourself and be the one to save your female friends and family. Spread the word and learn about OVC.
Be Love,
Denise
Friday, August 27, 2010
neulasta for life
Had a great visit with my hematologist yesterday at the cancer center. He asked me an odd question "doesn't coming here give you anxiety?". He was telling me that most patients don't like to return to the cancer center after they have finished their chemo. I told him that the cancer center feels like home to me, they saved my life. I can understand why patients would not want to be reminded of their pain.
I want them to know that they helped me, I want them to see me smiling with gratitude. I want them to know that they matter.
I will have to take neulasta shots for the rest of my life. Drag. After two months of weekly lab tests, there is no cyclic neutropenia, no lymphoma (Thank God), and no solution other than neulasta. Neulasta costs $7K per injection. Fun.
Anyway, I can't avoid it, because my WBC/neutrophils get so low that my life is threatened because of possible infections. My doctor said he may try to help me with the cost by doing what he can to negotiate with the powers that be and see if I can get a cost break.
I am very grateful to him for his efforts. I had been dealing with low counts for years, with multiple hematologists literally stupified by my situation, and now I have an answer.
My JRA has beaten my immune system to a pulp and my bone marrow no longer wants to produce neutrophils. Maybe I would be a transplant candidate.......forgot to ask about that.
Anyway, so I have a lot of bone pain today (side effect of neulasta), but I'm protected for a few weeks. Yay!
On a side note, I'm making friends with the local neighborhood cats. All the neighbors have indoor/outdoor cats. They are coming around and I get to play with them. I love that! Just love it.
Be Love
I want them to know that they helped me, I want them to see me smiling with gratitude. I want them to know that they matter.
I will have to take neulasta shots for the rest of my life. Drag. After two months of weekly lab tests, there is no cyclic neutropenia, no lymphoma (Thank God), and no solution other than neulasta. Neulasta costs $7K per injection. Fun.
Anyway, I can't avoid it, because my WBC/neutrophils get so low that my life is threatened because of possible infections. My doctor said he may try to help me with the cost by doing what he can to negotiate with the powers that be and see if I can get a cost break.
I am very grateful to him for his efforts. I had been dealing with low counts for years, with multiple hematologists literally stupified by my situation, and now I have an answer.
My JRA has beaten my immune system to a pulp and my bone marrow no longer wants to produce neutrophils. Maybe I would be a transplant candidate.......forgot to ask about that.
Anyway, so I have a lot of bone pain today (side effect of neulasta), but I'm protected for a few weeks. Yay!
On a side note, I'm making friends with the local neighborhood cats. All the neighbors have indoor/outdoor cats. They are coming around and I get to play with them. I love that! Just love it.
Be Love
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Cre'me Brulee
Well, per doctors orders, I am eating less fiber. So instead of a nice soup or salmon with veggies, I had Cre'me Brulee for lunch with peppermint tea. My mom and I went to a local little lunchhouse called "The Barking Dog". It's actually within walking distance. Met a nice older guy named John who chatted with us a bit. Mom had halibut and salad, with some white wine (gosh I wish I could have alcohol at least once).
Lunch was grand, and after the lorazepam, queasy pop and extra omeprazole, I think I was OK to eat. Life is fun.
It was nice to chat with mom about this and that, watching people walk their dogs, talk about things other than our illnesses and worries. It was a good day. Thank you God.
Be Love
Lunch was grand, and after the lorazepam, queasy pop and extra omeprazole, I think I was OK to eat. Life is fun.
It was nice to chat with mom about this and that, watching people walk their dogs, talk about things other than our illnesses and worries. It was a good day. Thank you God.
Be Love
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