A Week In The Life Of Chemo

...AND RECUPERATIVE STUFF

With five months of Gemzar chemo behind me and only one more month to go (horray!), I thought I should log my experience with this phase of treatment.

Each Tuesday, I go down to City of Hope (cancer hospital). Hubby is always with me and is my biggest cheer leader. While I'm there, my blood is always drawn and analyzed prior to being hooked up to an iv. Doctors want to make sure that my body is continually strong enough to endure another round of a poison (chemo) invasion. An hour usually goes by (or more, if they are running behind) while my blood work is being analyzed and sent to the chemo infusion staff.

In the chemo infusion room, having the iv put into my arm is stressful as I never know if the nurse I'll get has the knack for finding a vein. So far, I've been hurt twice to the point that the pain brings me to tears and wish this was all just a bad dream. It's those times that make me think that with all that cancer patients have to go through, one would think that the hospital would make sure to place nurses who are efficient with iv placement into the chemo infusion area so that patients don't have to endure more pain than necessary. And it's those times that I ask to have someone else step in to do the work...and they're usually pretty understanding about it. Once hooked up to an iv, I receive a 20 minute infusion of Zofran...a medication that reduces nausea; a side effect caused by the chemo. And finally, I'm hooked up to the bag of chemo. Mine is Gemzar, a milder form of chemo than most and a 30 minute infusion. I look at the clock to mark the time (...by now, I just want to go home!) ...and then I try everything possible to stay distracted. I feel the Gemzar going into my body. It's so cold, it burns. Even though the nurse puts a warm pack on my arm, I ask for an additional warm blanket. The warmth sooths the painful, burning Gemazar. Once finished, removing the iv is quick and painless. I feel physically drained from the stress of the whole process and can't wait to get home.

Through it all, I'm friendly and pleasant with the nursing staff. After all, I can only imagine how their days go having to deal with sick, (even dying), depressed patients (bless them all!). I have made friends with several people on the nursing staff and I can see it makes a difference to do so. They are glad to see me and some greet me with a hug. Some pass by my infusion room (where I'm hooked up to an iv) and stop in to chat.

For the following two days (after my chemo treatment), I have to go to City of Hope for a shot called neupogen. It's to raise my white blood cell count so my immune system isn't compromised from the chemo. Thus, I'm devoting 3 days a week to hospital visits.

SIDE EFFECTS:
Wednesday (the day after my chemo treatment), I have red flushing across my nose and cheeks and my face feels hot. By that night, I'm running a low grade fever. But my energy level is good on that day so I'm still smiling, energetic and able to do many things. But the neuritis (caused by the chemo) sets in to both arms and hands making it painful for me to do much. Even drying my hands after doing dishes or washing my hands is painful. Being out in a chilly breeze makes the neuritis even more painful. Advil doesn't help. As time has passed, this side effect is less intense.

Thursday and Friday are my 'sick' days as I feel like I have the flu. My nose gets stuffy, I have a nagging headache, my eyes are weak and I'm so fatigued on those days that I forget what feeling good feels like. My concentration is very poor. Each week, these effect vary in their intensity. As time has passed, the intensity of the flu like symptoms is not as severe.

By Saturday, the side effects are lifting except for the neuritis in my hands and arms. I'm usually feeling good enough to do most things I enjoy despite the neuritis. Sunday is even better...except for the neuritis which is still a problem.

By Sunday, I'm feeling completely normal and try to pack as much activity into that day and Monday as I can. Tuesday...it starts all over again.

EVERYDAY, I'm losing more hair. By now, I think I've probably lost half of what I had. I'm fortunate that I'm not bald but not sure that ending up looking like Bill The Cat would be any better. It saddens me as I use to have beautiful, thick, shiny hair. I had to have it cut short a couple of months ago so that the long length wouldn't clog the drain and choke the vacuum. One friend (whom I sure meant well) said, "To hell with your hair!". Frankly, I'm not willing to wish any part of me to hell...and I believe I have a right to feel sad about losing the person I use to be (hair and all).

The fourth week of every month is my 'week off'. The doctor gives me a break from chemo and the white blood cell shots so my body can recuperate from the effects. And it does! By Friday (of my week off), the neuritis is gone...and it feels SO good to be free from pain and have a descent energy level again. During this week, I can almost forget that this has ever happened, I feel so good! One side effect remains...I continue to lose hair... (drat!)

Recuperation from the surgery itself is still ongoing but going extremely well. I feel LEAPS and BOUNDS better each month and moving about is near normal now. It's still difficult to go from a sitting position to a standing one without feeling a tug and some soreness within my midriff. Thus, I stand up very slowly. My intestines are returning to normal and, thank God, I can eat most all things again without much abdominal/intestinal pain. I've learned (the hard way!) which foods to avoid and, frankly, the list isn't that long. I eat all day long (3 meals plus snacks) and have been able to gain two pounds since I had the surgery. My body doesn't metabolize foods the way it use to since it's been 're-plumbed', therefore, gaining weight is a problem. I take enzymes to help with digestion. Fortunately, though...I haven't lost any more weight. It's odd to go from counting calories so as not to gain....to the extreme of eating all I can to try and keep the weight on. I feel like 'Pac Man' most days!...chomp!...chomp! I love making fruit smoothies and I add protein powder to aid in maintaining muscle mass (which I lost during my 32 days in the hospital). The fanny I lost while in the hospital has returned (horray!) and I'm not looking too sickly any more. In fact, you can't even tell I've been sick.

I've always been a happy person and this ordeal hasn't changed that. I still like to make light of a bad situation. My loving, supportive family makes it easier to have a bright attitude. But inside, I do have fear that one day the cancer will return and that my life will be over. My doctors go by statistics and this is what they believe. I hate that they beat the 'statistics' drum! I look forward to the day when the chemo and radiation treatments are finally over...but then I fear that the cancer will return. Even though I talk with my hubby about these fears and, bless him, he quickly lifts my mood with his positive (near denial) logic....I hand my fears over to God because this monster disease and the fear of what it can do is WAY too big for me to handle.

I'm in need of feeling productive as I refuse to just sit around each day wasting time away. I received a candle order last month, filled the order and realized how much I've missed doing this. I'm working on a website for a special client, I'm also making soaps, candles, crocheting and planning to sew some pretty summer dresses with my grand daughters. Life goes on ... :-)

Aroma Fields Candles & Bath

The Short of It

What the doctors thought was "bile duct" cancer turned out to be stage III pancreatic cancer, afterall. I had a major surgery in November (the whipple surgery) and spent 32 days in the hospital recovering.

I'm currently undergoing weekly chemo treatments which should be finished by the end of July. Then I have to have 5 weeks of daily radiation therapy combined with chemo. The chemo treatments I'm currently having aren't so bad as I only feel ill two days out of the week. But, I just don't have the stamina and concentration I use to.

Prognosis for this kind of cancer isn't usually very good but I plan to beat the odds :-) Only 20% make it past 5 years. Since, I've always been active and healthy, don't smoke or drink and always wake up each morning in a happy mood....I see no rhyme or reason why God needs to take me away from my family any time soon.


Aroma Fields Candles & Bath

It Sounds Promising

Met with the Oncologist on November 6th who told me that he believes this to be bile duct cancer. He says if I have the whipple surgery, I'll be "cured"...no other treatment is necessary (no chemo, no radiation). Sounds good to me!
Whipple surgery ("major surgery", he says...."bigger than open heart surgery", he says)....scheduled for Monday, November 17th.

And I'm scared.

Prior to the actual surgery, they'll do a laproscopy on me to see if the cancer is anywhere else. If it is, they won't bother with the whipple.

And this scares the hell out of me as this is exactly what happened to my younger brother last year. No whipple...they closed him up...nothing could be done. It was already too late and he passed away within 4 months.

If I don't die of fear prior to them putting me to sleep, I look forward to the good pain; the one that means I'm on the mend.

I am so thankful for all the prayers! Please keep them coming.

Going Into Battle

Out, Damn Spot!
On Wednesday, October 30th, after an ERCP procedure, I was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. The GOOD news is that doc says it is operable with a surgery called the whipple. I'm meeting with an Oncologist on Thursday, November 6th to discuss surgery and begin the battle for my life. This will be a hard road...it already is. But, I look forward to feeling better and to know that this beast is no longer growing inside me. I have a wonderful support group of loving family and friends and will be in great hands at the cancer institute we've chosen. Thank you for all your prayers. I could sure use more as I hope to win this battle and live a long time. I've got more I want to do in this world.

www.aromafields.ecrater.com
www.aromafields.etsy.com

Winner!

Congratulations to greeneginger, winner of the "Marilyn's Oh-Give-Me-A-Home Giveaway". greeneginger won 4 peach scented palm wax tarts.

Thank you to all who took the time to enter my drawing!

www.aromafields.ecrater.com
www.aromafields.etsy.com

Where's Aroma Fields?

Today, I temporarily closed Aroma Fields Candles & Bath because my health isn't good. A recent sonogram showed a mass on the head of my pancrease and I'm to undergo a CT scan this coming Monday. I'm not up to filling any product orders at this time. Please pray for me that this is not cancer.

I will follow through with my giveaway and hold the drawing on October 26th as planned. Winner will be notified October 27th as planned.

It is my hope and my family's that I can soon reopen my shop and resume making soy candles and natural soaps for you.


www.aromafields.ecrater.com
www.aromafields.etsy.com

Protect Your Content Against Online Plagiarism and Theft

You Can't Have That Because It's Mine!

Ever wonder if anyone likes your website content so much that they can't resist grabbing it for their own? Find out what they've copied and who they are with this handy little gem:

Copyscape

Take advantage of Copyscape's free service whereby you can run a search on 5 web pages per month. Or pay a fee for extended searches. It's easy! Just type in the website page URL and get instant results.

While you're there, pick up one of these little goodies to put on your website to detour folks from snagging your stuff:



Neato handy dandy little tool!

www.aromafields.ecrater.com
www.aromafields.etsy.com

Baking With Parchment Paper . . . "What's That", You Say?

More Uses Than For The Declaration of Independence! . . or . . Why I Never Bake Without It


I ran out of parchment paper so headed to the grocery store last night to buy more. Long story short; the store I went to didn't carry it and the clerks didn't even know what it was. When I explained the product and it's usefulness, they were determined to find some for themselves to use. (I wonder if it'll be on their store shelf the next time I need to shop there).

So, it ocurred to me that if not everyone knows what it is...ohhhhh, they should! Here's why:

Using parchment paper to line your cookie sheets makes clean up a snap. Not only that, but your baked item (cookies, biscuits, etc) won't burn or stick to the pan and it cuts the amount of calories in your baked item because you're not oiling the cookie sheet (adding excess oils). Use it in your baking pans, too.

You can use it to roll out cookie, biscuit or pie dough with no sticking.

Use it to make a disposable pastry bag.

Click on Learn to Use Parchment Paper in Your Baking for some neat tips.

I'm off to bake some biscuits to go along with the pot roast I'm making for dinner . . .


www.aromafields.ecrater.com
www.aromafields.etsy.com

Friday's Fabulous Find - October 10th

Fabulous Find: SeeSueStitch
www.seesuestitch.etsy.com

I happened upon this new shop one day and immediately felt a return to happy childhood times as I was surrounded by the charm of smiling, vintage rag dolls. Each one has been given their own identity, there own personality and through their creator, they truly seem to come alive within the walls of SeeSueStitch's Etsy shop. I couldn't wait to ask Sue some questions . . .

Tell us about the items you sell
Right now, I'm mainly focused on dolls but I'm working on adding aprons sometime in the future.

How did you learn to make your dolls?
When I was younger, I would make these tiny handmade dolls, every part of the doll was handstitched including the clothes. . . it was very time-consuming but I just loved the whole process of embroidery. Then, I began discovering all these wonderful websites with primitive dolls and I thought "Hey, I can do that!" So, I bought a sewing machine the next day and never looked back.

What is your favorite item in your shop and why?
That's tough because all my dolls are very special to me but my most favorite is my ballerina Posy Ann, adding all those sequins to her shirt was really a labor of love and she's just so pretty!

What other places do you sell?
Nowhere else, just on Etsy so far.

How do you promote your dolls?
I'm relatively new to the whole on-line selling scene . . . I just started a blog, I have a facebook account(seesuestitch)and of course, through word of mouth.

What handmade possession do you most cherish?
The cupcake pillow I sewed in Home Ec class when I was thirteen.

Apart from creating things, what do you do?
I teach Language Arts to gifted middle school students.

Meet Raggedy Ballerina Posy Ann:

And Raggedy Ruby Ann:

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Wouldn't these make terrific gifts? Or to decoratively place on a well made bed sweetly nestled against a row of pillows? Stop by SeeSueStitch's Etsy shop, read her profile to learn of her passions and take a look at her charming dolls!

www.aromafields.ecrater.com
www.aromafields.etsy.com

Marilyn's 'Oh-Give-Me-A-Home' Giveaway

Four Palm Wax Tarts - Peach Fragrance

My palm wax tarts are made from all natural, clean burning palm wax. They also have a beautiful texture and feel silky smooth. Melt them in your tart burner and smell the burst of aroma! Clean up is a breeze...(see my blog article entitled Thank You...But What Is It?). See the paragraph entitled Clean up and handy dandy soy advantage. Palm wax clean up is the same as soy clean up. Piece o' cake!

Want to win these lovely tarts?
RULES:
Go to my Etsy shop at www.aromafields.etsy.com and take a look around. Come back here and post the link to the item you liked most AND let me know why you liked it. Please remember to leave your contact information so that, if you win, I can let you know and get your permission to mention you on my blog.

Drawing will be held on October 26th and winner will be notified on October 27th.

Thank you and good luck to all who take the time to enter!

www.aromafields.ecrater.com
www.aromafields.etsy.com