CT Results

Here is the latest results of my CT scan from this past Tuesday, 4/17 of my chest, abdomen and pelvis. Overall, the study states that everything is stable, as it states, "STABLE DISEASE WITHOUT SIGNIFICANT INTERVAL CHANGE WHEN COMPARED TO 02/03/12. Yay! This is great news. Since I've been stable for the last 6 months on Gemcitabine chemo, my Dr agreed to do scans at 3 months interval instead of every 2 months. I know it's a little riskier to wait an extra 4 more weeks to do scans, but it's a good baseline to start doing as it's awful to keep getting the toxic contrast and radiation at every 8 weeks. It's a good compromise.

After seeing my doctor, I went upstairs to get chemo and my monthly shot of Xgeva (denosumab),which is a bone strengthening drug to help prevent bone fractures. The nurses used my power port to draw blood labs and also used it for my chemo infusion. I was a little nervous to use it as it's still itchy and feels funny underneath my skin, but it went very easily and smoothly with just a little tiny bee stung poke. It wasn't too bad at all and feels much better than the regular needle stick poke into a vein. For the easiness, it's no wonder many patients like having the power port.  Still though, I don't like having this plastic tube clamping to my neck vein 24/7...but I guess having cancer, this comes with the territory.

Work is getting busier and busier and so I may have to come in a bit earlier, like 7AM so that I can get my routine morning gym workout, shower and get ready for work by 8:30AM. I'm going to try this new schedule this coming week so that I can get the gym workout out of the way and focus on work. I'll be back on Wednesday for lab draws and chemo again this coming week. And another good news is this time, I'll have a good friend accompany me. It's great to have caring friends. Now, hopefully with my routine chemo, I won't have to always come alone all the time as perhaps with 2 friends volunteering to come along with me at least once a month, it won't be so lonely. 

Other than keeping busy with the kids, I've noticed that I get easily tired or run low on energy running around with the kids at places. Ever since I've had the port, my neck feels a little funny and I just can't wait to someday have this removed. I've heard some patients have this power port as long as 8 years! Yikes..that's a long time to wait..but then again, having 8 years onward to look forward to instead of the 2% of lung cancer patient make it past 5 years and beyond is an amazing milestone and a miracle to hope for. The weather's been nice and hot here and we're loving it. Lots of Love.

CT Scan today

I went in today to get a CT scan of my chest, abdomen and pelvis with contrast. The procedure went smoothly. Since my power port is still really new and the stitches has not fully recovered, the nurse didn't want to chance using it yet and so I had to bear the usual needle stick poke pain with the IV into a vein on my right AC line.  I'm not even sure if my new power port will be ready yet to be accessed tomorrow for my routine blood draws and chemo infusion.  It's about a week since I've had this and I'm still not liking this power port as it is still itchy and sore. So far, it's awful having this power port and I'm not so thrilled about having put this in. I'm not sure why every chemo patient whom I've talked to highly recommends it.  Perhaps, after my stitches heal and in a few weeks, I'll get used having this power port underneath my skin and I'll have happy news of relief to report; just like many of the cancer patients who have it.

I'll find out tomorrow the results from today's scan and see if Dr. Neal will decide to change or keep me on the same chemo regimen.  It's hard to tell if the CT study will show stableness or not based on how I'm feeling. Overall, I'm doing everything as normal and feeling alright. But one thing that scares me a bit is that I've been having more frequent "hot" flashes throughout the day sometimes and I'm starting to feel just a tender touch of achy pain in one spot in my back, which I hope isn't another new bone tumor metastasis. Having cancer, every new kind of ache or pain brings about a little more worry and anxiety as I've become more aware of my own body's new changes.
Then again, having this "poison" call chemo infused week after week, endlessly with no end in sight, I can only imagine how much damage its causing to my own good cells and immune system. It's no wonder some cancer patients decide to take a break or stop it briefly and try alternate natural treatments to help rebuild or detox their body.

I'll post an update as soon as I can once find out the latest results. Lots of Love.

2012 LUNGevity Hope Summit, Blogs

I had a terrific weekend with the kids. With the nice sunny weather, we spent every minute having fun. On Saturday, they got creative with painting, attending an art class at Gymboree, visited Grandmas, played at the park and went to an evening party.  The kids also made new friends at one of our neighbor's party, which we stayed a little later past their bedtime again. On Sunday, they had a blast at the Jungle where they climbed throughout all the play structure and then afterwards, since the weather was so nice and warm, we went to the park where we rode the train and the carousel and then played in the playground.  All in the all, the kids just love it when I'm home hanging out with them. Of course, before the fun day starts, I always try to get them all to do a little bit of academic, reading, writing or math work in the morning, especially trying to get Ethan motivated to finish up his Kumon homework. With a little of push and hard work, Ethan's moving along slowly with his math, reading and writing skills. Our weekends are always full with lots of good, family quality time.

Lungevity 2012 Hope Summit

I read about this 2012 LUNGevity Hope Summit at http://events.lungevity.org/site/TR?fr_id=3420&pg=entry while doing my weekly reading about Lung cancer news. It's a pretty cool event. I won't be attending since I have work and young kids and no sitter to watch them overnight. As it states on its website, this summit "is a survivorship conference for lung cancer survivors of all ages and stages of disease, currently in or out of treatment, that will include inspirational speakers, medical expert forums, advocacy forums, lung cancer survivor-specific sessions and opportunities for lung cancer survivors to connect with other survivors and share their stories with the public and media." I'd like to attend it one day but not his year.

Besides the summit, Lungevity also posts some inspirational stories of real life Lung cancer survivors. Some of these survivors tell an amazing story of their miraculous remission of being cancer free after a stage 3 or near death diagnosis. Check it out at Faces of Hope: Kathy Smith , Faces of Hope: Jamie Young  and much more at http://www.youtube.com/user/LUNGevityFoundation/feed?filter=2. I hope I'll be like one of them someday and be cancer free, but with knowing what I have, I don't want to hold onto false hope but it's still awesome to know that there are others out there who have miraculously been "cured" or cancer free. Watching them tell their individual stories, I'm left at awe and wonder on how they were treated so that I can share it with my own Dr to be on the similar treatment regimen.

Lung Cancer Support Group

Besides belonging to the Stanford Lung Cancer support group, I also belong to an online Lung Cancer support group call http://www.inspire.com/, as well as the "Living Room" at  http://www.lungcancerfoundation.org/living-with-lung-cancer/lung-cancer-livng-room/. I haven't attended any of the meetings from the "Living Room" monthly meeting since it's a pretty far drive to San Carlos and it meets  late in the evening on a every THIRD Tuesday of every month from 5:30-7:30pm. But it's launching a live webcast meeting this month and so I will definitely be sure to log in and attend online via live webcast.  Lung cancer is a terrifying, lonely, depressing and sad illness and it's hard to really cope and deal with it on a daily basis and so talking, discussing, and hearing the latest news and coping it with similar people who have it helps.

Other Lung Cancer Blogs I f follow

As I'm still learning all there is to know about my illness, I also follow a few others who have what I have as a way to see and learn how others deal with their treatment and recovery. Some of these Lung Cancer bloggers have exactly have what I have; stage 4 non small cell lung cancer and they all share a unique, inspirational experience. I've listed their blogs that I follow below to help spread the hope that these blogs bring about and have also separated it by blogs who have sadly lost their battle against this devastating disease. All of these blogs and many more which I have not listed, are all well kept; well written and well documented.. So many endless thank yous to all of them all for sharing their experience.  Here they are:

Current Amazing Blogs I follow: 

1. http://outlivinglungcancer.com/, by  Linnea Duff. As she states on her blog, "My purpose in recounting my experiences is two-fold:  to offer hope and to provide a window into the life of someone living with terminal lung cancer.  And I do mean living. "  She's currently a SEVEN year survivor of stage 4 NSC Lung Cancer.

2. http://jimallen-lungcancerhappens.blogspot.com/, by Jim Allen, who shares his 5 year of living with stage 4 lung cancer. He's had whole brain radiation before and now will be going through it again.

3. http://crushmycancer.blogspot.com/, by Norm Wu, a Doctor himself, who at at the age of 40 years old, otherwise a healthy non-smoker, was diagnosed with stage 4 NSC Lung cancer in 2011. With faith and his chemo treatments, his treatments currently have given him a 90% reduction of his tumor masses..Amazing. 

4. http://sk-livingwithlungcancer.blogspot.com/, by Sk, who was diagnosed with stage 4 NSC Lung Cancer on June, 2008. He writes about his own ups and downs with dealing it, both with Chemo and Chinese Herbal medicine.

5. http://www.mikebakereducation.co.uk/beatingcancer/, by Mike Baker, an award-winning journalist, author, broadcaster, and media specialist in the UK, who keeps an uplifting, unique blog on his NSC adenocarcinoma lung cancer treatments. He was diagnosed, April 2011, and is currently rejecting getting anymore CT scans, chemo treatments and is trying an holistic, natural approach to treat his cancer with supplements, raw diet, cutting out glucose, no grains, no cereal, no red meat and no diary products and follows the Budwig diet. He takes about 130 large doses of expensive supplements per day and also does the twice per day coffee anemas.  Amazing...

RIP bloggers of NSC Lung Cancer, their Gift to other NSC Lung Cancer survivors

1.  http://www.themelissawaller.com/tag/lung-cancer/, by Melissa Waller.  A young, non smoker, otherwise healthy, she kept a well documented journey through all her treatments as a stage 4 NSC Lung cancer survivor. A definite courageous, spirited warrior.  

2.  http://www.godincontrol.bravehost.com/, by Emily Wong. Amazing journal of her faith and strength.

3. http://dorothysauber.com/, by Dorothy Sauber, an incredible, talented writer who wrote and published her essays as she courageously battled her stage 4 NSC Lung cancer. Her work is now published for free.

As for me, I'm still trying to get used to my power port as it's still uncomfortable and naggy underneath my skin. I'm doing alright and will get a CT scan this coming Tuesday to see how my current chemo treatment is doing. Send me good thoughts, prayers and strength my way please.  Lots of thank you to all of you for your support.  Lots of Love.

Power Port Woes

What wild weather we've had this week with the thunder, lightning and rainy weather. It's nice that we're getting the needed rain.  I love the rain.  Ok, here's my update for this past week.  Despite the rainy cold weather all this week, I was fortunate enough to get a last minute volunteer driver from the American Cancer Society http://www.cancer.org/Treatment/SupportProgramsServices/road-to-recovery help drive me to my appointment Wednesday. Yay. I'm so greatful for this wonderful help and program since it's hard to get family to help since they all work and have their own responsibilities.  And my hubby can't drive me since my nanny is off on Weds and so he's busy with the kids.  And it turned out my brother had some car issues and so it all worked out that I had help from ACS. The volunteer drivers of the program do amazing work and I just want to thank all the volunteers who do it.

 
The procedure to get my power port in went well and smoothly. But, honestly, the minor surgery was a bit painful even though I was given local anesthesia and also Fentanyl through IV. I almost declined the Fentanyl as I just don't do well with pain meds and don't like the nausea and constipation that follows afterwards as side effects. As soon as the Fentanyl was given, I felt so woosy, dizzy and felt sick to my stomach that I had to be given Zofran to calm my stomach and stop me from vomiting. Good thing I also declined being given the amnesia euphoric Versed medicine too. I was wide awake the whole surgery and felt every "needle" pinch as the surgeon pushed in the plastic tube, which took about an hour to complete. It's now been 3 days since I've had this power port under my left side chest and still feels a bit sore, painful to the touch and very uncomfortable. It's strange to have this plastic tuby device clamped to my neck or jugular vein.  I just hope by next week, I'll get used to it and it will be as comfortable as many patients and nurses claim it is and that my chemo, blood draws and CT scan will go smoothly.

This week I started my official reduced 30 hours work week and it's great. I really like as it gives me just the perfect balance to do work that I enjoy and time with the kids.  Ethan started his 1 on 1 tutoring too to help him boost his reading and writing skills which he still hasn't fully grasped yet. This kids were off for Spring break this week. Too bad with the stormy, rainy wet weather, we weren't able to take them to outdoor day trips. They had fun hanging out in the yard and at the nearby park.  I'll try to make it up this weekend as they'll start a fun art class tomorrow and Emma gets her first play and music class at the local Gymboree. Lots of Love.

Getting Power port, fun weekend, Reduced work hours

This coming Wednesday, I'll be finally getting a medical port put in underneath my skin. I'll have to fast for atleast 6 hours and will be there at Stanford for about 4-6 hours and will need someone to drive me home since this is considered a minor surgical procedure which I'll be under conscious sedation.  I made a few calls to the American Cancer Society to get a volunteer from the Road to Recovery program to help with taking me to my appointment and even asked around among my family members to take me. And this time, unfortunately, due to probably the higher gas prices and distance, no volunteer could take me.  Luckily, one of calls to my family member, since it's Spring break for his kids, my brother is able to take me. According to Wikipedia, "a port (or portacath) is a device that is surgically inserted under the skin in the upper chest and appears as a bump under the skin. A catheter connects the port to a vein. Under the skin, the port has a septum through which drugs can be injected and blood samples can be drawn many times, usually with less discomfort for the patient than a more typical "needle stick".  I hope it'll go smooth and that it'll make all my scans, chemo infusions, and blood lab draws pain free and it'll be as comfortable like everyone says it is.

Like any surgery or device, there are always some risks involved. Some of the risks of having a port are, 1)infection, 2) blood cots or Thrombosis - which is a formation of a blood clot in the catheter which may block the device, 3) Arterial injury - The subclavian artery can be inadvertently punctured and 4)Pneumothorax - Attempts to gain access to the subclavian vein or jugular vein can injure the lung, possibly leading to this complication.  Then again, "Chemotherapy is often toxic, and can damage skin and muscle tissue, and therefore should not be delivered through these tissues for prolong periods. Portacaths provide a solution, delivering drugs quickly and efficiently through the entire body via the circulatory system."

The timing of getting this port in is perfect because if I didn't have this put in, I'll be poked countless times via IV needle with much pain and discomfort since by now, after 14 months of poking, my veins " have gone bad. I'll be glad to not feel the needle bruising me each time the nurse misses to find a vein and then has to go "fishing" to find a good one. 

Also next week, I'll be getting an updated chest and abdomen CT with contract scan again since it's been a little over 2 months since the last one. I'll post an update as soon as I find out the results next week. Let's pray that it'll be good news of either stability or shrinkage.

Kids had a Fun busy Easter weekend
The kids and I had a fun, busy Easter holiday weekend. As soon I got home on Good Friday, I took them to a friend's 4 year old Birthday party at BounceRama. They had a blast at the party jumping on many of the bouncers. Thanks to Jason and his family for inviting us! Then on both Sats and Suns, the kids had a great time hunting for Easter eggs at a friend's party and at church on Sunday. They had a terrific time throughout the whole weekend as I try to keep them busy, spending every moment of quality time together with them, either with friends or with their cousins or family (we visit grandma every Sundays).

Reduced work hours
I can't believe it's April already.  Ever since I've been back to work in Feb, time sure flies by so fast. And with realizing that I've been working so much, I've re-prioritized my work and family time and have decided that, at the end of the day, it's spending time with my family that means most to me. So as a way to have a balance of both work and family life, and also to keep my health benefits, I'm fortunate to have a great, caring manager to offer me reduced office face time work hours, meaning, I'll just need to be in the office for approximately 30 hours and then the ability to work from home. That means, on Weds, when I usually head to Stanford for my treatments, I won't be required to be in the office that day and that I get to leave by 3:30 on Tuesdays and Thursdays.  This will be great as it'll give me much more time (besides the weekends) to spend with the kids, taking them to Kumon on Tuesdays and watching all three of them at their swimming lessons on Thursdays.  I hope this schedule will be working well permanently for me and of course my team and manager.  Lots of Love.