Geocaching

Great day in the sunshine.  It got up to 16 and felt like summer.

Met Pam, Lori & Maureen in Delta at 9:30.  We headed to North Surrey/Ladner.  I logged 24 caches. After doing one trail, they called me and I drove Lori's car to meet them at the far end.  Had a good lunch at Nando's.  Ate more than I thought I would.  My appetite isn't what it was.  Did a few more caches after eating.  The new Perimeter Road is such a treat to drive on.  Saves a lot of time and great views of the river.

My hair is falling out but Mei is away until Thursday.  Hope I don't make too much of a mess before I can get it cut off.

Quick outing

Gassed up so I don't have to on the morning.  Looked for new Bluetooth headset down Marine at Best Buy.  No luck.

Came home with a Quiznos sandwich and a Starbucks latte.

Love TV on Sunday nights.

Didn't sleep well so tried to keep the day quiet.  My scalp is sore but I hope getting rid of most of my hair will help.  Not much of an appetite but have been eating.

Windy

Slipped out between stormy weather to shop in Burnaby - VanCity, London Drugs & Cobs.  Grabbed a burger to go at the White Spot and was home without getting wet.

Still a bit shaky but sure felt good to be out.

Better day

Still a bit shaky and my gut isn't right yet.  Still went out for a quick trip to a mall in Richmond for Chinese takeout.  $7.50 bought more than I could eat for lunch and dinner.  Great hit and sour soup.  It was either going to kill or cure me.

Dozy day but will do a bit more tomorrow.

Best laid plans

Really looked forward to going geocaching and having lunch with my team.  Had to cancel at the last minute as I had really bad diarrhea.  Imodium works!   Need an outing before I go stir crazy.

I'm a lot better than I was.  Guess my body decided to experiment with different side effects this week.  Still have hair.

Shaky day

Slept well but feverish this morning.  Not much appetite.  The virus is working.

Feeling somewhat better tonight.  Hope tomorrow will be normal.  These effects are only supposed to last a day.

Another rough day

My driver got me to the Cancer Agency at 2:00.  The treatment went well and I was home by 4:30.

All of a sudden I got really cold and started shivering.  It lasted a few hours and then I threw up.  The Reolysin virus was doing its thing.  Got a good sleep but still not feeling normal.

Allergic reaction

My ride was a bit late but they called to warn me.  Arrived at the Cancer Agency a bit after 10 for bloodwork.  Had some tea and met Mae at 11.  Bought a toasted egg salad sandwich for lunch.

Arrived for chemo a bit early and my nurse took me right in.  I was joking with the two nurses in the room about not panning to have an allergic reaction to the Taxol.  Big mistake.  My right shoulder started really hurting snd my face was getting hot.  I spoke up and they jumped into action with a second bag of Benadryl.  A doctor appeared and checked me out. By this time, My face was dark crimson and I was having spasms of pain across the lower back.  This lasted nearly half an hour.

My nurses went on break and a new one appeared to sit with me.  We waited for the pain to go and at started again.  Every five minutes she increased the dose until we reached the normal level.  I had so much Benadryl in me, the leg cramps came back. The nurse massaged the leg and wrapped it in a hot blanket.  I had to give up reading as I was so doped up.

Finally finished at 4:00 and got my ride home quickly.  Very tired tonight.

Beautiful Spring day

This is truly the part of Canada to live in. The sun was shining and a nearby cherry tree is blooming.

Went to Cobs and Kins in Richmond.   Looked at a book that cane to the library but decided to leave it. Brought home a Vera's burger and milkshake.

Watched curling and hockey.  Bit late for the Canucks to start winning.

All ready for chemo tomorrow.  Did the dishes and took out all the garbage & recycling.

What day is it?

Dozy day.  Stayed in out of the rain and caught up on PVR.  Also read.   Have 3 reserves ready at the same time.  One is a real book, so I have to visit the library tomorrow.

Getting lots of sleep and eating well.

Outing

Went to Safeway this morning.  Came home with a BBQ chicken and a Starbucks latte. Felt pretty good.

The big tumour on my leg is painful but I'm feeling pretty normal.  Still not overdoing it.  Got to build up the blood for next week.

Spring

Sunny first day of Spring.  Didn't sleep well so had a quiet day.  Still feeling normal and ate regular food.  So different from last week.

Better Week

Well, this Wednesday was a lot better than the last one.  I slept well and was feeling pretty normal all day.  No sign of nausea or fever.

Day by day.

Done for the week

Freemasons picked me up at 10:00 and had me home by noon.  Treatment went smoothly and I felt fine.

Feeling better than last Tuesday.  One nurse said my tolerance should improve with time. Here's hoping.

Round 2

Freemasons picked me up at 10 for my bloodwork.  Only one tube to see if blood recovered.  Met Mae in the cafeteria.  Ordered a sandwich as Darline came to collect her for their volunteering.  Dozed in the waiting lounge until 2.

Treatment took 3 1/2 hours.  I got a restless leg from the Benadryl, so they should give it slower next time.  Maureen came to retrieve me and I was home by 6:00 - a long day.

Slept poorly last night so dozed a lot through the day.

Groceries

Out for a quick trip this morning.  Cobs for goodies and Kin,s for oranges.  A Starbuck's latte rounded it out.  Stong's delivered a big carton of groceries at 3:00.

Watched Canucks and Whitecaps and read all day.

Hope I can wake up in time for my 10:00 ride tomorrow.

Starbucks

Hard waking up this morning.  Shocked to see it was 10:00.   Hate to think how I'd be if I was taking any pills.

Took out the garbage and went to Quizno's and Starbucks to pick up lunch and a latte.  Drive felt good.  First time in a week.

Something wrong having a convicted drug smuggler on Paralympic curling team.  He and his son smuggled pills into BC.  Thought it was supposed to be inspirational.

Still feeling a bit off. Spent the day reading.  Finished Anne Perry's, A Sunless Sea and started The Monuments Men.  

Week's end

Made it through the first week.  Slept wel.  Vivid dreams a bit off putting.  Feel better than yesterday but still not right.  Pam brought my laundry and the trip down wiped me out.

Decided to get an order of food from Stong's for Sunday.  Easier than hauling it up the stairs.

Better day

Got a long sleep last night and feel more normal today.  My ankles are quite swollen but aren't bothering me as much tonight.

I'll be better prepared next week for a fluish Wednesday.  Must buy ginger ale.

Dopy Wednesday

Felt really out of it all day.  Patience called and she thinks it's the benedryl.  My trials nurse checked up on me and said I might get a fever.   She wasn't worried that I wasn't hungry.  Didn't eat much and dozed through the day.  Truly felt like I have a virus.  To think that I'm going to do it all over again next Monday. And the next.

Tuesday

Luckily I booked my ride with the Freemasons with an extra half hour cushion.  They were to be here at 1:30 for my 2:30 treatment.  I finally called after 20 minutes and the had no record of me.  Cab cost $20!

Just got the REOLYSIN® so it was a short day.  Started shivering, so the nurse wrapped me in two hot blankets.  The Freemasons picked me up quickly and I was home by 4:30. 

Felt really tired and just had some toast and tea for dinner. 

Chemo today

Nice quiet morning .  Freemason driver picked me up at 1:15.  She already had one passenger and we went to Dunbar for two more.  Nice drive in the sunshine.  Arrived in time to meet my trials nurse and the photograph.  My biggest tumour has grown so quickly, the photos from 2 weeks ago are useless.

My trial is: Intravenous Administration of REOLYSIN® in Combination with Paclitaxel for Patients with Advanced or Metastatic Breast Cancer

We started with bags of Ranitidine for reflux, and Benadryl and Dexamethasone, in case of allergic reaction.  That took an hour.  Mae and Darline came to visit.  Then the main drugs.  Reolysin was first. I always had a nurse watching and they had drugs ready in case I had an allergic reaction.  It turned out fine and I even dozed.  The next one was also fine.  Had to go to the bathroom a few times, dragging my pole with me.  To many fluids.  

I had a good book on my Kobo and music on my iTouch.  My nurse once lived on the same 2-block street in Richmond where I grew up and went to the same schools.  Small world.  

My biggest problem was getting home.  Freemasons stop at 5 and it was now 6.  My third call was Moira and she came to retrieve me.  Felt well enough for Japanese food at Applause on the way home. 

Feeling a bit hyped and tired.  Warned I might have trouble sleeping.  I should feel sick, just tired.  Other side effects will include hair loss, bleeding nose and gums, bruising, fever, chills...  I have a card full of number to call.  

Only the Paclitaxel tomorrow.  Repeat the next two Monday & Tuesday and then a week off.  

Getting ready

Spent the day getting ready.  Went to Safesway and bought a BBQ chicken. Lots of leftovers.  Charged up my headset.  Synchronized the iTouch and loaded a new play list.

Pain not so bad today.

Better day

Got a good sleep and didn't hurt as much today.  And the Whitecaps and Canucks both won!

Stayed in out of the rain and watched PVR.

On with the plan

Was at the Cancer Agency for a bunch of bloodwork at 10:00.  Stayed for a cup of tea and then on to Fairmont for oncologist appointment at 11:30.  I knew something was up when I had a bone scan because the radiologist was called and they did extra testing.  Turns out they were trying to find the cancer they'd seen a while ago in two ribs.  No sign of it now and I passed the bloodwork.

That means all the pain I'm having isn't that.  Karen thinks the tumours are pushing and pinching things they shouldn't.  Might even have some cancer in the nerves.  The photos they took of the leg tumour are now useless as it has really grown.  Will redo them before the chemo,

Treatment are at 2:30 on Monday and Tuesday,  Have to stay away from pregnant women and babies.  Really weird knowing I'm getting a live virus on purpose.  My nurse called to tell me I might have fecpver and chills for a couple of days and I'm to call if it lasts until Wednesday.  I've arranged my rides with the Freemasons for both days.  They'll pick me up and I just have to call when finished.

Did a bit of shopping at Granville Island and came straight home.  Really tired and keep dozing off.  Advil is settling down the ribs so I can go to bed now.

We went how far?

Left home at 8:15 drove to Pam's. Tunnel traffic was light this morning.  Lori picked us up and we stopped for Maureen on our way across the line.  NEXUS was really quick.

The plan was to find some challenge caches east of Sedro Wooley.  As we got close, plans changed and we went for a single coach near Tacoma that we needed. 225 km!!  On the way back, we realized there wasn't enough time for the 25 challenges.  Ended up in Bellingham for some puzzle caches

Stopped at Fred Neyer's for wine.  Home by 7:30.  The weather ranged from torrential downpour to sunny breaks in the clouds.  It was mostly dry.

My sore ribs weren't too bad sitting.  Hurt the most when I yawned or took a deep breath.  Did pretty good for a long day.  Back down next week?  See how I tolerate chemo on Monday and Tuesday.

Waiting

Spent the morning waiting my turn.  Got a day's travel insurance at BCAA. Went back to Safeway for the prescription I forgot yesterday.  Refused by Blue Cross as I didn't need it yet.  Explained I spilled the bottle.  Got it and will submit to BC with a plea.  Had to wait while they filled it. Short trip turned into two hours.

Pain has settled into lower back ribs.  Not as bad as yesterday but hurts to cough or take a deap breathe.  Leg is better than it was. Can now feel five tumours.

Painful day

This morning was fine and I did a quick trip to Safeway.  Forgot my prescription.  Think I might have strained something carrying the bag.  Pain is flipping around my ribs.  Yawning hurts.  Hoping a good night's sleep will help.  It was enough that my leg hurts.

Bye Lu 🌴

I'm in

Got a message from my trials nurse to say I've been randomized to receive the trial
drug, Reolysin.  I see the oncologist on Friday and start Monday.  I'll get both drugs on the next 3 Mondays and just the Paclitaxel on the 3 Tuesdays.  Will try organizing rides from the Freemasons once I know the times.

Quiet day.  Tumour is huge.  Hope these drugs knock it back.

Heritage Classic

There was a bit of snow when I woke up but I dozed off and it melted.

Poor old Canucks blew a 2-0 lead to loose the Heritage Classic to Ottawa.  Recreated the 1915 game when the Vanvouver Millionaires won the cup.  Worst moment was Sarah McLaughlin murdering the anthem.  Turned into a dirge and was out of sync with her choir.

Watched the Academy Awards.  So many good pictures this year.

Snow is coming

Still winter.  Supposed to snow tonight and tomorrow.  Quick trip this morning to Byrne Road - London Drugs, BCLC, Cobbs and grocer.  Brought home a burrito for lunch.

Had a good nap and watched a lot of stuff on my PVR.  Tumour is sore, but the leg is better.

Parking

At VGH for my shot of  radiative isotopes at 12:15.  Same tech who gave me a shot on Tuesday.  Had a great lunch of Eggs Benedict at the Sunshine Diner.  Off to Spanish Banks to read in the sun and see the umbrellas.

Back to VGH at 3:15 for the bone scan.  Good tech today.  Makes all the difference in how relaxed you can get.  The radiologist came in to talk about my ribs.  Cancer showed in the October scan but not in the CTScan.  They did an extra set of pictures by rotating the cameras right around me.  They'll merge those with the CTScan and get a 3-D view.  Didn't get home until 4:45.  

Parking cost about $35  this week.  Such a ripoff.  It's free in Delta because they have a bylaw stopping the hospital from charging. 

Pat picked me up at 5:30 and we went to a VESTA women's dinner at Chongqing on Commercial.  There were about 15 of us and the food was as good as always.  Nice to see old friends.