Oncologist

Went to the Cancer Agency at 9 for blood tests.  Enjoyed a cup of tea and (crumbly) scone for breakfast.  Getting bored with soft food.

Saw Dr. Gelmon for the 1st time in a couple of months - she was away last month.  She didn't have the tumour marker or biopsy results yet.  Monday's CT Scan didn't show much change.  She'll call Friday or Monday with more info.

She thinks we don't need to panic with the new diagnosis of an estrogen negative node in the right leg.  I am not getting sicker, like I was a couple of years ago, and the CT Scan isn't showing a big change.  My tumour markers are now in the 50's but not going up steadily.  More like a hover.

The plan is to keep me on the current treatments and assume that they are working for most of the cancer.  If the new kind acts up, I'll need more chemo.  She doesn't think we are anywhere near there right now.  It is more wait and see but at least no one is panicking.

Got some more soft food at M&M and Cobbs and some fresh local strawberries and raspberries at a fruit stand.  After grabbing a couple of library reserves, I headed home.  

My mouth is sore tonight and I am really tired.  No family reunion in Alberta for me this weekend!

Another biopsy

Up early to watch soccer.  Maureen picked me up at 12:30 and drove me to the Cancer Agency for another ultrasound guided fine-wire biopsy.  This time it was the top of the left leg to see if the tumour there is still estrogen positive.  Had the same doctor and it went well with just a bit of pain.

Maureen came for me after a dental appointment.  I spent the time in the 5th floor lounge reading Ellery Queen magazine on my iPad.  A volunteer made me some peppermint tea and another gave a classical concert on the piano.  Dr. Drysdale stopped by to say hi.

Home by 4:00.  Put some ice on the leg and it really hasn't been a problem.

CT Scan

Up early to start drinking water for scan. Finished the test quickly and stopped at Oakridge for groceries. Even brought home a Starbucks latte that I sipped once it cooled.

The big scab and stitches fell off this afternoon. Feels much better! I even had macaroni and cheese for dinner. Skipped the union retirement dinner at the Yacht Club.

I am feeling much better tonight. I'm cutting Vitamin E capsules and putting the oil on my lips.

Riots

Today the rioting in Toronto added a new element to my TV viewing.  Thugs who wear masks and do damage need to be thrown in jail and kept there a while.  We need to figure out how to get rid of them so the voices of the real protesters are heard.

Woke up in time for the 1st soccer game but kept falling back asleep.  Bit better again today but still can't each very much.  Still working on the scrambled eggs, cottage cheese, fruit milkshakes, pudding...

Go Ghana!

At least the World Cup is keeping me entertained as I heal.   I usually wake up while one game is on and then watch the final one after showering.  Nice that at least 1 African team has made it to the quarter finals.

Short trip to Safeway to stock up on milk and eggs.  Made a milkshake this afternoon and had scrambled eggs for dinner (again).  

Found a huge bruise on my abdomen that I hadn't noticed.  My mouth is better today than yesterday but the teeth are still tender.  They were sure knocked about!

Coffee trip

Met Louise at Character's for coffee. Decided on fruit milkshake. We played with iPad - free Internet. Took cinnamon bun home so I could tear it apart in private.

I went straight home as I was bagged. My teeth are cranky today.

iPad

Slept a fair time but woke up with a bit of a headache and feeling a bit sick.  Better after a shower and was finally able to brush my teeth.

Met Barb M at Oakridge to give her RTA minutes book.  She gave me a card and fruit basket from the RTA.  I showed her around the Apple store and then picked up the iPad that had come for me.  I figure I deserve one for all the stress I've had this month.  It is instead of buying a new laptop - and cheaper!

Was feeling pretty shaky so came straight home.  

Scrambled some eggs for dinner.  Am hungrier now and slowly eating soft food.  Still can't drink without dribbling.

No crisis today (for me)

Slept pretty well in my Lazy Boy.  Was a bit shaky so when I got up so approached the day slowly.  Felt better after a shower.

Did a quick trip to my Safeway and loaded up on liquids and soft foods.

Nibbled and sipped through the day but can't do much.  I can talk better today.

Relieved that Moira's new car kept her safe tonight.  She was just jealous of the attention I was getting!

Toothless

Slept pretty well in my Lazy Boy.  Watched soccer when I woke up and called the dentist when they opened at 7:45.  They fit me in at 3:15.

Ate some yogurt and finished the soup at lunch.  Tooth still painful to touch.  Picked up a library book on the way to the dentist.

Suzy Hupfau is the best dentist!  She took an x-ray and couldn't see anything wrong.  Froze my mouth and took the cap off, hoping to just put it back on again.  I could tell right away things weren't good.  The tooth was broken off at the gum line and couldn't be fixed.  She took it out and the nerve was exposed.  No wonder it hurt!

She tried to get the root out for quite a while but it wouldn't budge.  She then asked the assistant to call Dr. Slemko, an oral surgeon next door.  He was in the hallway on his way home when they caught him.  Suzy took me next door and he went to work.  He finally had to drill it apart and take out the pieces.  Worth every penny of the $320 to get rid of the pain.

Came straight home clenching a bloody gauze between my teeth.  Looked a fright!  Can't eat real food for a few days.  Found a box of pudding to make with milk and that was dinner.  Not really hungry.  

I have Tylenol 3s and will take then just to keep the pain away.  It isn't bad at all tonight.  I won't take them in the morning until I've gone to Safeway to load up on liquids and soft things like ice cream.

Face plant

I started out okay today.  Took my car to Toyota for service and winter tires removal.  I finally called Weir to tell Diane I wouldn't make it for lunch.  I was finally done at 12:20.

Stopped at Mark's Workwear and then Oakridge on the way home.  Was coming out of the Bay and trying to cross behind a Canada Post truck that was parked.  Too busy watching for cars and tripped on the speed bump end.  Fell flat on my face!

I could feel the top front tooth dig into the lip.  Of course I bled like a stuck pig and was really shaken up.  Several people came to help and made me lie still for some time as they called 911.  Finally a couple of security guards and a nurse helped me up and over to a bench.  The guards had a first aid kit and cleaned a lot of the blood up.

A fire engine was next and they put me on oxygen as I was getting shaky.  My vitals soon came back to normal for them and we waited around for the ambulance.  They cleaned me up some more and transported me to VGH.  Matt showed up and stayed until 3.  I was then moved to a private room.  Sent some memos and posted to Facebook but had to stop then as the room blocked the signal.  Was also loosing battery power.

The doctor and a student came in at 5ish.  He cleaned me up and put about 7 stitches inside and outside the lip.  My tooth didn't go all the way through so the pavement must have split the outside open.  The cap on the tooth is loose and it hurts every time I touch it.  I'll call my dentist in the morning.  My nose is bloody but isn't broken. A tetanus shot was the final touch.

Mae arrived in a cab just as I was leaving.  Maureen collected me and we stopped at Max's so I could get some soft food.  I picked up my car and was home by 6:15.

I ate part of the food.  I can only chew on one side and it is hard to avoid touching the loose cap.

Think I'll try sleeping in the Lazy Boy tonight.

FTF

Didn't feel well most of the day.  Think I was clenching my teeth in my sleep so my face was sore.

Still - when 3 new caches popped up in the Dunbar area, I just had to go.  Was the First to Find on one of them.  Macro containers were hidden in cars that have been parked with dirt in the engine compartment and fruit trees planted in them.  Found 2 but a 3rd car was towed away!!  Met a couple at the second one and they actually found it so I was officially 2nd.  Also 2nd at a tree near the Dunbar Community Centre.

Came back home to watch soccer and listen to the Lions.  Don't know why it wasn't on TV even if it was pre-season.

Sleepy day

Had a good sleep after yesterday's adventure.  Decided to do nothing but read, watch TV and play games.  Love retired life!

Sea to Sky geocaching

Met Georgina at her sister's house in North Vancouver just after 11:00.  We headed up the Sea to Sky for some geocaching.  Climbed up to Shannon Falls and found a couple.  Had a wonderful lunch at the Shady Tree Pub just outside Squamish -  (large) cup of seafood chowder and beef dip and pulled pork sandwiches that they split in two for us so we could share.

Georgina used her pass to get us in the Aboriginal Cultural Centre and Museum in Whistler - a great museum!  Shopped in the gift shop and had a cup of tea with bannock.

Worked our way back home and found a total of 7 caches.  Didn't find a few.

Finally got home at 10:15 after driving over 300 km.  Will sleep tonight!!

Tired day

It was dull all day so I didn't mind that I spent it inside the Cancer Agency.  Picked up Mae at 9:45 and arrived at 10 for my bloodwork.  

Saw Stephanie, my trial nurse, at 10:30.  The bone scan this week was normal.  Always a relief that the cancer isn't in the bones.  I was taken in for treatment early (12:25) but the drug was about 45 minutes late (1:45).  

Picked up some food at Liberty Bakery on the way home.  Fell asleep for a bit.

Clean apartment

Mel came this afternoon and cleaned.  First time in ages and it was embarrassing.  I hate housework and use my sore hands and wrists as an excuse.

Picked up a reserve at the library and found a newish cache on Blenheim.  Bought groceries at IGA and home again.

Bone Scan

Drank 4 cups of water and was at VGH by 9:00 for the Bone Scan injection.  I asked about it this time.  Most of the radiative stuff is gone in 6 hours but you can set the alarms at the border off for about a week.  Bit hard to find a vien and I'm left with one of those purple things.

Had Eggs Benedict with tomatoes and avocado at the Sunshine Diner on Broadway.  Loitered over a couple of pots of tea as I had to drink 4 cups.  Back at VGH at 11 for the Scan.  Good technician so it went smoothly.  Hard to lie still for 1/2 an hour when no one is talking at you.

I was home by noon and dozed off a few times through the afternoon.  Picked up dinner at Applause as I just didn't feel like cooking.

Resigned from the Retired Teachers' Executive today.  Too much pressure on how I should do the newsletter.  I have to focus on medical stuff right now.

Caching day

The sun was shining so I headed for White Rock.  Found a total of 6 caches in White Rock & Surrey.  Had fish & chips by the beach.  Steveston is still better than anything I've tried in White Rock.

Home by 5.  I now have date for biopsy - June 29th.  I now have appointments Monday to Friday that week.  Bone scan tomorrow morning.

Safety in the woods

Not feeling spiffy so didn't even get dressed today.  Watched the Germany give Australia a lesson in playing soccer.  Had hoped the Lions preseason game would be on, but it wasn't.

Cleaned up some bills and paper.  Watched the Tony Awards and thought it was the best awards show I've seen in a while.  Lots of performances and not so much talking.

Another woman found dead in Pacific Spirit Park.  There are still caches I need and I have to wait for Pam or Lori since it seems foolhardy to enter alone right now. 

Yawn

Had a good sleep and actually slept in a bit.  Met Pam for some Delta geocaching.  We could not find the Salmon puzzle cache.  Too many weeds!  Both of us started sneezing.  We had to go to the library to recover and wash.

Went for a great walk on the dyke and met a local farmer who strolled back with us.  Her son is a cacher.  After leaving Pam, I found a couple more - on Annacis Island and in Richmond.

Took Pru her late birthday present and sat in the front yard for a while enjoying the sunshine.

Picked up groceries at Oakridge and home by dinner time.  I am tired!  Tomorrow I'll watch some soccer.

World Cup

Saw the end of the 1st World Cup game.  Thought South Africa might beat Mexico but at least they got a tie.

COSCO meeting at the Hastings Community Centre at 10.  Always interesting but I couldn't stop playing Angry Birds.  Had lunch at Tom & Jerry's with Patricia.

It was raining so I decided to head for Richmond.  Did some much needed shopping at London Drugs and Chapters.  Had passport photos done at London Drugs and took everything into the Canada Passport office.  Took no time at all and I'll have my new one in a couple of weeks.

No sun again

I was going geocaching with Georgina this morning but backed out when she called.  The weather was not clearing up as fast as it was supposed to.  Also I didn't sleep much last night.  Maybe the dinner?

Did fit in a load of laundry but didn't do much else.

Time to get up

Woke up at 10:30 - isn't it nice to be retired!

Took all day to meander through the newspaper (online).  Love days like this.

Met Moira for dinner.  Applause was full so we tried a new one in Marpole.  Won't go back.

Dr. Gelmon left a message while I was out.  She'll see me when we do a bunch of tests to figure out what to do next.

Disaster exercise

Slept in this morning and had a slow start to the day.  Found 3 caches in Richmond, Delta & New Westminster.  Ate at the Waffle House and then picked up a few presents and water at COSTCO.

Met with other disaster supervisors at the Red Cross for an excercise to get ready for the forest fire season.

VTLA Dinner

Went geocaching in Delta this morning and found 5.  Was home in time for Perry Mason at 1.

The VTLA annual dinner was at the Vancouver Lawn and Tennis Club.  They sang a song about geocaching to Pam.  Always a treat to see old friends.

Karen's office called to set up a bone scan next Tuesday.  She wants to see me in the next couple of weeks to plan our next steps.

Rain again

I had good intentions to do some work today but ended up watching movies and hockey and playing Bejewelled 2 on my iPhone.

17 cache day

The sun was shining so I headed for Abbotsford and found 17 caches, my second best day.  I now have 751.  It is sunny so late that it was hard to stop.

I have 4 books in my iPod that plays through my car radio via a cable in the glove box.  I love using the BC Library site, Libraries to Go.  Why buy digital books when you can borrow them?

Home by 8.  Feeling pretty good today.

Dinner with the girls

Slept in this morning - best part of being retired.

The sun was shining but I stayed home until the semi-finals of the Scripp's Spelling Bee were done.  Laura Newcombe, from Toronto, made it to the finals.  I set my PVR and headed out.

Found 2 new caches that were hidden last night.  The first was on River Rd. in Richmond and I ran into Pam trying to open the box.  We got it open and signed the log.  I then headed over to Mitchell Island and found a micro in line with the old bridges that used to connect Fraser St & No. 5 Road.  The 3rd I found was near Willingdon & Kingsway.

Met Andrea, Sadie & Lily at the White Spot on Lougheed.  Amazing how Pirate Paks have stood the test of time (42 years).  I remember the original pirate chest at the doorway of the old dining room.  You got a prize from it if you finished your meal.

Sunshine

After all the confusion yesterday about what to do next, today was business as usual.  Bloodwork was at 11:30 and I then picked up my new prescription.  After lunch in the coffee shop (mediocre), I sat in the 6th floor lounge reading.  Darline and Sarah stopped by to chat.  My chemo was at 1:00 and went quickly.

There was actually blue sky so I headed out to Delta to try some new caches.  Couldn't find the 1st 3 but had success on the next 3.

Picked up groceries on the way home at Marine Way & Byrne Road in Burnaby.

Drat

Started the day with blood work at the Cancer Agency.  The nurse made mistake and I had to do it all over again because she was one vial short.  I like the port-a-cath but it is a bit of a production - saline, test vial, vial, saline, heparin. 

Walked over to Fairmont for my oncologist appointment.  My doctor is away so I started with my trials nurse and a resident.  The biopsy in my leg showed that the lymph node there had breast cancer in it.  The difference is that it is estrogen negative while the rest is positive.  The drugs I am on won't have any effect on it.  The question is have they stopped working.  The plan was to stop the trial and see if they will lift the blind.  If I wasn't on the real drug the company might let me switch.  

After working out what might happen, Dr. Chia, the head of breast cancer in BC came in - this is the usual ritual: nurse, resident, oncologist.  He says to carry on with what I am doing until Dr. Gelmon comes back.  He thinks the treatment is holding the rest of the cancer at bay so why stop.  This new one might need radiation.  I'll probably need a biopsy on the other leg to see if those nodes are still positive. 

It was raining so I decided to just come home.  

Referrals

Woke up this morning with a headache, blogged ears, a black floater and flashes in the right eye, a couple of rashes and a sore wrist.  Old age is a bitch.

My GP retired in February and this was the first time to the Seymour Health Clinic since then.  I saw Dr. David Narvas and really liked him but he only works there a couple of days a week.  He fixed the ears and gave me referrals to a new rheumatologist and to my former dermatologist.  He also sent a 2nd request to the eye specialist with an urgent note.

Dropped off The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest for Pru and we went to dinner at the White Spot at Oakridge.

Late night

Supposed to be a rainy day so I stayed in.  Turned out not to be so bad.  Just can't predict any more.

I slept in as I kept reading The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest until I finished (4 am).  Just couldn't stop!  Now I'm choked that the author is dead and I've read all 3 books.