gaile's Cancer Blog
June 30, 2008
| Well, it was good for a while! | Views: 383 |
I had 4 months without treatment. My doc wanted me to have some “normal” time in my life. She said my cancer was pushed back and didn’t seem to be growing with any speed, so I could afford some time off.
Well, she and I were both shocked. I had a PET scan on June 17th. I saw my doc and got the results on June 24th. I had been feeling better as the months went by. I kept sleeping a lot but less as time went by. My doc said it was probably the chemo that was causing me to sleep and that sometimes it takes several months for your body to heal from it. I had some pain in my back and my pelvis, but my energy was better and I was getting my house ready to sell.
Then the RESULTS. She held the PET scan results out for me to see. I took one glance at the pictures and started to cry. My liver and my pelvis lit up like a Xmas tree. There were tumors all over my liver (which had been tumor free in March – after having 4 small ones that responded to chemo). There were big ones and little ones of varying intensity. Apparently the radioactive iodine uptake was high, meaning they are very actively growing tumors. I also had had a slow growing tumor in my uterine wall before. Well now it is much bigger, much more active, and gave birth to another tumor almost as big. I also had a new one on my lung. I still have to check out my brain with an MRI which has not been scheduled yet.
I have just gotten hair, for the second time. And now I will start chemo again and lose my hair for the third time. I will also get to retain fluids and swell up like a water balloon. I am to be the matron of honor in my best friend’s wedding on July 19th so we decided to wait a month to start treatment. But all weekend I worried that I shouldn’t wait another month, so I have a call into my doc today to ask her if that is wise. She supports living life and working chemo around your experiences, not working experiences around your treatment. But I am not yet ready to take the risk. I am so sad.
I was going to take my son to Honolulu on Sept. 8th to meet up with his group that will go to study in Tokyo for 11 months. I probably won’t be able to go. I also have a high school reunion on Sept. 20th. I have never been to one and it has been 38 years! My cousin is flying in from N.C. (I am in Calif.) for 5 days to attend with me. It is a 3 hour drive from where I live, so it would be a long day. IF I can go I will look so uck, bald and puffed up. Right now I look pretty good. Complain, complain. Girls are always so worried about these things. What I am, of course, worried about the most is that I might not have good results, and with the intensity of this cancer, this might be it.
I beat my 18 month prognosis on June 4th, but that also makes me realize that it might not be too far off. I was doing well mentally, and now the depression and worry has returned. P.U.! Please continue your prayers and good thoughts. I pray for all of you.
Gaile
08.22.08 - 
Thanks for your support -
Gaile! Ugh! such crappy news. You new profile photo looks great, I wish it came with some good news.
Hug to you is all I can say.
I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers .
sherri
You have prayers coming from every end of the world for you. Blessed is your faith. Sharron
Oh, Gaile, I am so sorry.
You look so pretty in your profile picture but you also look so pretty in the pic with your bald head. That beautiful smile is what makes you so pretty.
I send you many, many hugs.
My love, thoughts and prayers are with you each and every day.
Hang in there, my friend.
Love,
Joyce
Dear Gaile; You really did get a shcok from which you must be realing. There seems to be quite a few plans ahead and hopefully you will achieve doing these things that have kept your thoughts going. After all you have been the inspiration to us all and have kept yourself busy and active, forging ahead no matter what. There are always decisions about when and why we should take the treatments prescribed but you know you only get one chance to be in the wedding party so go for it. Chemo will wait and it might give you some happy memories and some time to digest all this medical revelation that has knocked you over. I am praying for you and hoping that you can muster your courage for the next round. Thanks for sharing your news even though it was not what you and others had hoped for. Keep strong Gaile and please keep us posted. Weezie
Saying a prayer right now. Hoping that this will actually log me in so that you know that you are supported by those you don’t even know. God bless you.
Praying for you
Mac
I found a lot of comfort and freedom from pain
from
the use of a cup of cottage cheese with a spoon
of flax seed mixed up, twice a day.
gooooogle cottage cheese flax
to see other’s excellent results.