These weekly updates will outline more of the day-to-day details of my life and treatments.
This week's update:
I've been feeling good. A few rough days with fatigue and stomach issues early in the week but I am improving and doing better now.
I had a blood draw and appointment with the PA (Physician's Assistant) on Tuesday. We LOVE him. He's a great guy, has really helped when we needed him, took his time, and answered all of our questions (I always ask a lot of questions). He was very positive about how I am doing and how I am progressing.
Also had great appointments with my Naturopath at OHSU and my long-term Naturopath. Both were great. We discussed supplements, symptoms, and complementary treatments, and I had an IV with ozone, a high dosage of vitamin C, and Curcumin today (Friday). I've also started doing some intermittent fasting to give my system more time to rest and heal. I will try to do the fasting most days other than when I take the Temozolomide which I discuss more below.
My blood work was good. I am still anemic but most of my blood markers are improving or holding steady. Everyone on my medical team is feeling good about how I am trending even though I am still a bit low in some places (like Iron).
I am staying on my current chemo protocol. I am on the 9th day of my two weeks off of drugs (my cycles are 28 days - 14 days of chemo drugs and 14 days off). I start my chemo again next week. My chemo is all oral so it's just pills I take at home, no infusions (I can't tell you how happy I am about the way I take my chemo). My chemo protocol is commonly referred to as CapTem which is short for Capecitabine and Temozolomide. I take the Cap for 14 days and take the Tem for the last 5 days of that 14 (so, for those challenged in math like me, 9 days of only Cap and 5 days of Cap and Tem). In addition to the chemo, I am on drugs for blood clots, liver function, ulcers, and iron supplements
My symptoms are primarily digestive and fatigue. I have had some others but they come and go more. My symptoms are usually amplified when I am taking my chemo drugs but I don't tend to develop a lot of new symptoms.
I am trying to do more volunteering where I can help people. I am getting involved with the Society for Integrative Oncology and some other groups. More on that to come but great conversations this week.
What helps me? I love hearing from people (about what's going on with them) and helping people. I am learning a ton and keeping my brain engaged definitely helps me. In addition, being active, doing yoga, and doing non-cancer-related things all get me excited and make me happy. REACH OUT! I want to hear what's going on with other people, I am boring!
What doesn't really help me? Feeling sorry for me, avoiding me because you think it will bother me, not sharing what's going on, even if it's not good (I can take it and want to hear about everything going on, not just happy things!)
Well, this is the best cancer life report I've read all week! You have one truly holistic plan happening and a beaut it is. (I bet you ask lots of questions...would like to be a fly on the wall for all those questions!)
I can report that I met with two Rosen brand extensions this week: Cousin Lisa and Aunt Micki. So great to catch up with Lisa who I hadn't seen forever.🌷Micki and I strategized about life, liberty and promoting Israel.☀️
One of these weeks when you're ready how 'bout I come out there and we do some tai chi?