Warm again

The sun is back and will be shining for days.  Quick trip to London Drugs, Cobs & M&M Meats.  Brought home a burrito for lunch.

Quiet day of reading and TV.

Checkup day

Hard to get up for 8:30 bloodwork.  Went to the a Sunshine Diner for Eggs Benny.  Back to Fairmont to see Dr. Sun who was covering for Karen.  Liked her a lot.  She and the trials nurse spent a long time talking to me.  She really understood my problems with appointments and will fix the conflict between chemo and an appointment with the radiation oncologist in July.  Helps that they were in med school together.

They were concerned about the bunch of new tumours on my stomach and back.  Hopefully, restarting the Taxol will help.  They think the wound on my leg is healing.  There's still a hole, but it's not draining or bleeding anymore.  The plan is go back to Taxol on Monday and Reolysin on Monday and Tuesday.  I have a CT Scan booked for the end of June.

Couldn't find parking at Granville Island.  Forgot about the Children's Festival.  Loaded up at Safeway instead.

Stanley Park

Went to Stanley Park with Pam and Lori.  It was supposed to stop raining by noon but that didn't happen.  I felt guilty sitting in the car while they got soaked.  We didn't find a lot and had some DNF's.  Still got some good ones off our map.  Enjoyed the fish and chips at Prospect Point.

My skin is now reacting to the radiation so I'm using lotion they recommended.  It looks and feels like a sunburn.

Open Road

Took my car to Open Road Toyota for service and to get my summer tires put on.  Was there from 12:30 - 16:30!   All set with music, iPhone, iPad and Kobo.  Had a good lunch across the street at a Fenders.  Will need new shocks next time - expensive.

Starting to feel some skin discomfort from the radiation.

Steveston

Tried having lunch at Pajo's but the tables were full of seniors and disabled people from three buses.  No one was in line fir food as there was nowhere to sit.  Ended up trying Shady Island Seafood Bar and Grill again.  Still has slow service and I couldn't eat the over cooked yam fries.  The third person I mentioned it to said I should have said something.  I did!   No point in sending it back since I'd been waiting so long the parking was expiring.  

Peter Fassbender is the dumbest Education since Christy Clark held the job. 

Liver

Had liver for lunch at IHOP.   Want to pass Friday's blood test.

Got an appointment card to see the radiation oncologist.  Another screw up as it is a day I get both my drugs and I'll be all doped up and wanting to be going home.  I'll try to fix it Friday.

Rainy Sunday

Good day to stay inside.  Still pretty tired so didn't do much.  Slept well.  My appetite seems to be normal again.

Poor Habs. Next game!

Better day

Got a good sleep last night.  Started eating slowly today.  By dinner I felt much better.  That was a side effect I don't want very often.

Watched the UEFA finals and then the Whitecaps.  Warming up for World Cup.

Geocaching

It was raining this morning so Pam picked me up at noon.  We found a couple of caches and had lunch at Rocky Mountain Flatbread Company on Main - Ocean Wise shrimp in a light basil lemon mayonnaise with cured tomatoes, boiled organic egg & sprouts. 

We continued cleaning up our Vancouver map. I started feeling bad and really sweating.  We made one bathroom stop on the way home.  Had bad diarrhea for the next few hours.  Drinking Ginger Ale and just had some yoghurt.  Still a bit shaky.  

My trials nurse called to check on me.  She is concerned about a growing tumour below my stomach. It feels like the skin cancer we biopsied before (it was breast cancer mets).  Might have to move up my next CT or do a biopsy.  It gets complicated because of the detailed rules of the trial.  

Recovery day

Feeling better today.  Nibbled during the day and supper tasted good.  Still a bit shaky and have a bit of a headache.

Stayed in and rested.  Really need to do this on the day after treatments.

Last radiation

Started Wednesday with radiation at 8:00.  My last of five treatments.  Went up for chemo.  A call last week said it was at 9:30, but the appointment slip I got on Tuesday was for 8:45.  Of course, it wad the later time.  Didn't really mind the wait, just the snafu.  Read, had some tea and talked to a volunteer.

Chemo went well and I was home by noon.  Had to wrap up in my electric blanket for a couple of hours but the shivering wasn't as bad.  Didn't feel well and was really tired, so I went to bed around 6:00.  Threw up an hour later.

Better day

Ignored my afternoon appointment and showed up in radiation at 7:45 as suggested by one of the techs last week.  They had a big section of free time at 8:30.  They ended up running late and called upstairs to say I would be late for chemo.  Not a problem.  Too bad the appointments clerks can't be so flexible.

Stopped at Max's for some food on the way home.  Felt pretty wiped by noon, proving why I didn't want to wait hours for radiation.  Got really cold and slept on an off for a few hours.

Victoria Day

Quick trip to Burnaby this morning.  Filled up with gas $1.49!   Shopped at London Drugs and Cobs. Brought home some chicken from Nando's for lunch.

Afternoon latte

Met Mary Locke for lattes today at Beans Around the World.  Had a good visit.  Sat outside it was so warm.  Stopped at Safeway on the way home.

Quiet day

Stayed in to recoup today.  Watched Habs implode.   Finished a good mystery and caught up on taped TV shows.

Tired but feeling pretty good except for a bit of a headache tonight.

Fucked up

Had six calls from three people on two phones today about next week's treatment.

Went in at 3:45 for radiation.  Just realized that the appointment on Tuesday are screwed up again.  I was told to come in before 8 but now realize the card says 1:45.  Chemo is 9:30, so I'll be screwed by then.  I'm going to arrive at 7:45 and see what they say.  If it's no, I'll have to go home and take a cab back.  So pissed.

Appointment fix

My radiation today was at 2:35.  The staff quickly fixed the scheduling problems next week.  I was going to have to go for chemo early and then wait hours for radiation.  I wouldn't be feeling well enough to drive and would have to keep telling staff to clean bathrooms I used.  Now I go for radiation before the chemo.  So simple, but impossible for the booking clerks yesterday.

My treatment was quick and easy.  I was in and out in about 20 minutes.  Stopped at MEC for a new bag I liked online.  Grabbed a smoothie at Starbucks and was home quickly.

Feeling pretty good today.  Missed out on geocaching.

Radiation

My first radiation treatment was at 2:35.  Didn't realize that a whole new treatment area had been built under the back of the building.  The radiation technologist met with me first to explain everything.  It took a few minutes to align my three tattoos and less time to do the treatment.  I was back in my car in half an hour.  Sounded like a ray gun zapping me but felt nothing.  Four more to go.

I might have a skin reaction in a week or two.  There won't be any visible change to the tumour for a month or more.

My leg is certainly better this week.  It is hardly draining at all and seldom hurts.  I'm feeling much better today than I have for a few.  Quicker recovery during the break from the Taxol.

Chemo day

Had the Reolysin at 9:30 today.  Stopped at Canadian Tire to buy a toaster and grabbed lunch at Starbucks & Quizno.  My drink was the free one for my birthday.

Head was really sweaty last night.  Today I had a bit of fever and the two hours of shivering.

Chemo

Just had the Reolysin today.  The pharmacy was behind so it took longer.  Parking was $10.50. So unfair.  I was alone in the room and dozed off.  Saw Mae and Darline.  Quick stop at Granville Island.

Had lunch but started feeling cold.  Kept falling asleep and have a little fever.  Didn't eat dinner but had some yoghurt and drank Ginger Ale.

Deliveries

Pam dropped off my laundry today.  Shortly after, Stong's delivered my groceries.

Decided to stay in to rest up for tomorrow's chemo.

Van Dusen

Had lunch with women from the VESTA Status of Women Committee today.  There were six of us and we went to Truffles at VanDusen Gardens.  Company was great and we stayed for three hours with a good view of the gardens.  The food was pitiful and I won't go back.  They gave me Starbucks and Chapters cards for my birthday.  Also got a Starbucks card from Jane in the mail.  Generous friends!   Think I'll use the Chapters card to subscribe to electronic Maclean's and Chatelaine.  

Tired and sore but a lot better than I've been.  Eight hours sleep helped.  

Plan in place

Felt stronger today.  Had my first shower in a week and there was no bleeding.

Went to the Health Unit in the afternoon and got more supplies.  The nurse took a look and said the wound looked okay.  Stopped at Safeway on the way home.  Also put in an online order at Stong's for heavy stuff.

I just have Reolysin on Monday and Tuesday next week and Tuesday and Wednesday the following week.  The Taxol and bloodwork are cancelled.  Radiation starts on Wednesday for five days.  I then have a week off.  If I start having problems, they might stop the Reolysin.  Glad to know the plan. 

Geocaching

Lori, Pam and Maureen picked me up this morning.  Lori had done some laundry and Pam took another bag.  We stuck to South Vancouver and Burnaby.   Tried having lunch at Romer's Burger Bar but the only seats left were outside (it was cloudy) and high stools.  No way I was getting up on those with a hole in my groin.  Gave up and went to White Spot.

Had to cone home early as I was feeling shaky.  Yesterday should have been my chemo recovery day. So relieved to get home.   I think all the prodding made the tumour quite sore.  It has settled down tonight.

Prepping for radiation

Met with Dr. Voduc.  We then met the man doing the radiation.  I had a CT Scan and gained another tattoo.  The plan is to stop the Taxol for the next two weeks, but keep on with the Reolysin.  I'll have 5 days of radiation, starting next week.  There won't be any noticeable result for a few weeks. Might have some problem with raw skin.

Came home for lunch and then went to the Health Unit to meet the wouldn't nurse.   She took off the dressing and stretched the skin for a look and it started bleeding.  Almost had to go to the hospital.  They sent me home with pads, a spray and Gelfoam to stop any more bleeding.  If it starts up with any vigor, I'm to go to emergency.  I can now have showers!  

New plan

Went to Health Unit to have the dressing changes.  My Reolysin was at 11.  Picked up some food at Max's.

Shivering started at 2:30 and lasted a few hours.

New plan is radiation every day and no morevTaxol.  I meet Dr. Voduc tomorrow and will have a CT Scan to help him map the treatment. I'll still have the Reolysin on Monday and Tuesday.

Too tired to blog

Monday was a long day. Freemasons picked me up at 9:20 and had me home at 3:55.   Those of us on Reolysin are now being treated together and can only use the bathroom in our room.  I had wondered about the danger of spreading the virus.  It's not airborne, so it's safe to walk around.

The nurse was able to avoid an allergic reaction.  They seem to have a good handle on how to slow down the Taxol.  Of course it takes longer so the cafeteria was closed.  I had tried to come early but my driver had to pick a couple up in Dunbar.  I got to the Agency right on time.  One of the nurses changed the dressing on my leg. 

I had so much Benedril that I slept a lot there and at home.  Went to bed early.  

Taxes

Finally did my taxes the day before the deadline.  I'd like to procrastinate, but I keep putting it off.

Had the dressing changed at the Health Unit.  Yesterday's didn't last long.  This one has to make it until Tuesday as I can't drive tomorrow.

Love a Sunday night TV.  So choked thar tonight was the end of the season for Bletchley Circle.

South Community Health Center

Went to the Health Unit ar 49th and Knight to have my dressing changed.  It went well and the wound looked fine.

Next week is so complicated.  I'm supposed to visit the unit every day to have the dressing changes.  I'll skip Monday.  I'm to have chemo on Monday but don't know if I'm still on the trial or if I'll just get the Taxol or nothing.  I don't know if and when they'll do radiation.  It would also be every day.

Stopped at London Drugs on the way home.  Dozed off a few times this afternoon.

New plan

Was at the Cancer Agency for bloodwork at 9:00.  They took several tubes for the study I'm on.  Convinced the nurse that I needed more and she found the orders buried under the trial papers.   Saved me a trip back.  Had breakfast in the cafeteria.

Karen and my trials nurse are both in Toronto.  The replacement nurse and a resident started the exam.  Eventually, two men and four women poked and prodded and photographed my groin.  The CT Scan showed some of the tumours are shrinking.  They weren't happy with the bleeding, weeping tumour sticking through the skin on the top of my leg.  My bloodwork results arrived.  The only problem is low hemoglobin.  Must eat liver.

The replacement oncologist came in and said that she thinks I'll be taken out of the trial as the one tumour looks 20% bigger.  That's the threshold the study sets.  She also want radiation that should start next week.  In case there is an infection, she took a swab and started me on antibiotics.

The photographer came to take photos for the study.  Two nurses then put on a big dressing.  They didn't have what they needed to do it properly.  I thought I could do it myself but they said it was impossible.  It needs packing to encourage healing.  I agreed to home care.

Met Pru for lunch at Trafiq on Main.  So good I brought hone soup for dinner and some desserts.   Stopped at Safeway for some groceries and the prescription.  

Amazing how much better walking was with the dressing on.  Most of the pain is gone.  It really hurt this morning.  

Started cleaning a bit to get ready for the nurse but I got a call that I go to the South Community Health Center at 49th and Knight on Saturday and Sunday.  Will try cleaning the hall, bedroom and bathroom in case they need to come here on chemo days.  

Karen and my regular trials nurse will be back on Monday and then I'll know the new plan.  Right now I go at 10:15 for the treatment.  Remembered to book Freemasons.  

No geocaching

Had to miss caching on the warmest day of the year so far.  Not bleeding as much.  Stayed quiet with the leg up all day.  Doctor tomorrow.