Bacon and Bankin'

Life expectancy would grow by leaps and bounds if green vegetables smelled as good as bacon.  ~Doug Larson (US newspaper humour columnist) 


The above quote has little or no relevance to what I'm about to write, but I like it just the same.


Then again, the correlation between life expectancy and bacon might not be so absurd after all. Think about other things that are purported to extend life expectancy - certain medications, for example. Oft times these panacea are little more than broccoli sans pancetta. 

Case in point: In recent months/weeks I've been prescribed a sizable list of medications that were meant to cure ailments I didn't actually have (e.g. Clindamycin), were not effective in treating a very real affliction (e.g. Herceptin), or proved beyond all doubt that the cure was far worse than the disease (e.g. Capecitabline and Pramidronate). Yesterday, Lapatinib and Foretinib were added to the list.

My oncologist could easily see, even without the aid of a written radiologist's report, that Monday's CT scan showed a marked change in the lesions when compared to the previous scan. As was the case with the previous study, I was removed from this Lapatinib/Foretinib trial due to lesions growing beyond the allowable parameters. The one in my trachea was among those showing most marked growth, which likely accounts for recent bouts of wheezing. In addition, there is evidence the cancer has spread into more of the lung tissue. At this point, I do not know if it is in any of my other organs (aside from the spleen which continues to play host to its own collection). The radiologist's report will clarify, but it won't be available for another week or so - allowing for typing and copying time.


Needless to say I'm a tad bummed by this news. However, aside from fatigue and a bit of wheezing (which will be greatly relieved with the help of an inhaler) I feel pretty good. The fact that Dr Lorisch has another treatment option also means I ain't done yet. Better still, her two-year prognosis of March 2009 ends in four months. She assures me I won't expire before then, and likely not for some time after. So the good news is that while they might have failed me in the end, the various treatments I've had since 2009 have certainly bought me a great deal of quality time. Reminded Dr Lorisch of my reaction to her prognosis back in 2009: "I've always worked on a five-year plan. Mind if I continue?" She laughed at the reminder, and said she is pleased to see I am keeping up my end of the bargain. 


So, what's next? Another intravenous drug treatment has been proposed, one that can be administered at St. Mary's in Sechelt. Once again, this will consist of a two-drug cocktail - Gemcitabine and Cisplatin. The treatment plan will be six chemotherapy cycles (about five months) with each cycle being three weeks in length. I'm not entirely clear how often during each cycle I get in touch with my old pal IV - literature I was given says on day 1 and day 8, one week apart but that doesn't add up to three weeks. I'm sure all will be revealed once the treatment schedule is put together. 

I've already been given prescriptions for two anti-nausea medications (the same two I had for my initial chemo treatments back in 2008), so I have a good idea of how I'll be feeling over the next while. 

Other POTENTIAL side effects: Have read that the Cisplatin can cause damage to the peripheral nerve endings. Yippee! Not!! Apparently the drug can also affect my hearing, resulting in tinnitus or loss of hearing. Provided I drink plenty of water over the two days following treatment, kidney dysfunction should be minimal. Gemcitabine will likely produce flu-like symptoms. Both drugs may cause some hair loss (thinning, but likely not total hair loss). Oh yeah, and I can look forward to mouth sores once more. Of course, all of these are only common side effects. None is guaranteed to occur, and level of severity varies from one patient to another. 

While I'm not wild about the idea of experiencing any of this, past chemo reactions have been largely mild or short-lived - with a couple of exceptions. In any case, I am not obliged to take the treatment, and can certainly halt it at any time should it be too uncomfortable. As long as I can see some benefit, I'm willing to put up with a bit of discomfort. On the other hand, if I'm unable to do the things I enjoy, I have no problem facing a future with another - possibly alternative/non-conventional type - treatment or continuing along sans medicine. There is little doubt that a time will come when nothing anyone does will help. 

So, what does the future hold? In the words of Woody Allen: "If only Gold would give me a clear sign! Like making a large deposit in my name in a Swiss bank." 

Sick and Tired

Just finished spending the last five days in bed. Can't say for sure what ailed me, but a stuffy nose, regular coughing and fatigue were among the symptoms. Also had a persistent ache in my left outer thigh. After a short bout of vomiting over the weekend, I'm feeling much better. Perhaps I simply needed to purge a bug? In any case, I'm feeling well enough to brave a journey into the Cancer Agency. Have a CT scan scheduled for today as well as the usual blood work, urinalysis, ECG, and oncologist appointment on Tuesday. Ah, the joys of being on a drug trial. While part of me thinks it would be more prudent to quarantine myself for another couple of days in order to ensure whatever passed through my system really has past, I need to ensure things remain on track re the drug trial. I'm not at all certain how being off the medication for a couple of days a couple of weeks back might have affected things. Do know that I have been wheezing a bit of late (a sign, in the past, that the lesion in my trachea has enlarged), but that might have been due to the cold, flu, or whatever it was that was making me feel so rotten. Results for the CT scan will certainly provide some answers to all these questions. In the meantime, I will continue to contemplate my navel. More specifically, the collection of bruises sprouting up in the area thanks to my questionable skills with the Dalteprin needles (and Momzy wonders why I never went into nursing - the world has been spared!). I'm beginning to see something in the way of a connect-the-dots pattern forming. Hey, it looks like Che Guevara! Or Tony the Tiger. A smurf?

As I Were

Spoke with the study nurse today after she consulted with my oncologist. The decision has been made to have me continue taking the Foreitnib and Lapatinib as well as the daily injections of Dalteparin. The Dalteparin has done wonders re eliminating the swelling in my legs, and will also lessen the likelihood of another clot forming in the future. I've responded well to the cancer meds, so am happy to get back on them despite the recent setback. Now that I'm able to give myself the daily injections of Dalteparin, I'm feeling even more comfortable about the situation. Ah, my empathy will pincushions continues to grow.

Off to the Cancer Agency tomorrow for my regularly scheduled meeting with the study nurse. Back on track re the other ongoing appointments as well. Must say it is nice to be back on a regular schedule, although having a "weekend off" was good, too.

Dalteparin sodium

A bit more about my new best friend. Think I'll call it Dal:


Dalteparin is a low molecular weight heparin. It is marketed as Fragmin® by Pfizer Inc. Like other low molecular weight heparins, dalteparin is used for prophylaxis or treatment of deep vein thrombosis (which is what I have) and pulmonary embolism.
The CLOT study, published in 2003, showed that in patients with malignancy and acute venous thromboembolism, dalteparin was more effective than warfarin in reducing the risk of recurrent embolic events.
Heparins are cleared by the kidneys, but studies have shown that dalteparin does not accumulate even if kidney function is reduced.

The above definition is from Wikipedia, not necessarily the most reliable source of info, but it says pretty much what every other site said but in a much more accessible way.

Hope this helps clarify some questions you, gentle reader, may have had re my latest news.

I'm so Vein

What a day! Went to see Dr Wadge for a follow-up to yesterday's appointment. The redness on my leg has lessened somewhat, but the swelling has increased to the point that I can't completely fasten my bootette. Pain is getting worse, too, and spreading. Dr W thought this was most peculiar, so ordered an ultrasound. Found myself in the radiology dept of St Mary's a short 15 minutes later. Turns out what ails me is a DVT (deep vein thrombosis) aka a blood clot in my leg! I immediately alerted the BC Cancer Agency. I have been ordered to stop all medications aside from my anti-depressants. In their place, I will be injecting myself once a day with the anticoagulant Heparin, for life. Apparently the cancer makes me ineligible for Coumadin (Warfarin) treatment, so Heparin was prescribed instead. I've never been a big fan of needles and have never dreamed of giving myself one. Interestingly, getting over my fear of needles was one of the things that appeared on my bucket list, so I will likely be striking that entry in the near future. Hey, hundreds of thousands of people give themselves insulin every day. Friend Jo Ann's dear cat Julius did as well (with Jo's help) and never complained. I'm much taller than Julius ever was, so I'll try to assume the role of "big girl" and suck it up. So what caused the sudden clot? Speculation is that the Foreitnib is to blame. Remember last Dec when the drug trial was suspended before I started it? Well, the reason was that some patients were developing blood clots (I seem to remember that many of them were in the lungs). So I may be taken off the drug trial. Or not. Both my oncologist and the head of the drug trial were at a meeting this afternoon. I'll know more on Monday. Am scheduled to see the study nurse on Tuesday. So, watch this space ...

Bye, bye, Pam - Roseanne Roseannadanna was right

The amazing Dr Wadge has agreed with me. Pamidronate is never going to be my friend. Thus, she has cancelled that treatment. Too bad as I will, once again, miss seeing the shiny faces of the team in St Mary's ACU. There is a possible alternative treatment, Clodronate, but it's use will have to be approved by my oncologist before that starts.

While this outcome of my visit with Dr Wadge did not come as a surprise, what happened next took both of us aback somewhat. After checking out my thumb, Dr Wadge asked to see the knee that was giving me so much grief. Seems skeletal pain is a noted side effect of Pamidronate, but one that she has never seen in any patients prior to me (ah, good to know that my "unusual" status has in no way diminished with all these treatments). But imagine her surprise when, upon raising my pant leg to view the knee she was greeted by a very red and inflamed shin to boot! More amazing still is the fact that I had no sensation whatsoever that the shin was not as it should be. A few large, red patches also appeared on my left shin, but the area in question on the right was much more pronounced, much hotter to the touch, and very sensitive when it was touched. The diagnosis was Cellulitis, not to be confused with cellulite which my thighs and butt have boasted a plenty for many a year. But I digress. Dr Wadge was especially puzzled by the fact that I was totally unaware of the Cellulitis, and that it only hurt when she touched the sensitive area. A course of antibiotics was prescribed (Clindamycin as I'm deathly allergic to Penicillin). Tomorrow I'm to have bloodwork done at St Mary's lab, and then I'm to meet with Dr Wadge at the ACU (she is conducting stress tests there tomorrow) to see if there is any improvement after a couple of doses of the Clindamycin. So looks like Friday is going to be another fun-filled day. Oh joy!

Roseanne Roseannadanna was right: It's always something. If it's not one thing, it's another.

Weekend Fall-out

Actually, it's the Pramidronate that I'm still recovering from. Thought the flu-like symptoms would disappear after a couple of days, but they reappear off and on throughout the day. Rather draining. Continue to feel achy, and have occasional vomiting. Last night, my right knee joint became inflamed as did the knuckle on my right thumb. Knee hurts when I sit after taking a few small steps, and there seems to be little relief for the ol' thumb. Difficult to hold a pen to write - at least I can use one finger if needed on the keyboard. Am scheduled to see the amazing Dr Wadge tomorrow to inquire whether my body would rather not have this latest drug, or confirm that my experience thus far is normal. I'm only had one treatment, so it's kinda hard to tell. In the meantime, I'm spending an inordinate amount of time in bed. At least I'm catching up on some reading that's stacked up over the last while!

Still feeling overwhelmed by the reception to my little talk on Sunday evening in Madeira Park. Between 50 & 60 people turned out at the event held at the small community church. I was very nervous at first, but gradually calmed enough to say something that bordered on intelligible. Several people came up to me afterwards and said they were both moved and inspired by what I had to say. A good feeling. Hope to have the chance to speak to other groups in the future. An unexpected side note: one woman in the audience, after completely ignoring what I said about how my faith and the support and love of the congregation at St Hilda's were in large part what have carried me this far on the journey, decided to make it her mission to help me "come to know Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ". Thanked her, but repeated the fact that I have both been baptized and belong to a church and faith in which I find great comfort. The woman had the gall to call me yesterday and tell me I was on the certain road to hell because I wasn't approaching my salvation "the right way"! Pointed out that I had been very polite and respectful of her views on such matters and expected the same from her in return. She repeated her assertion that I am damned. Told her not to contact me again, and hung up. Some people, honestly.

On a happier note, I did have the chance to spend some one-on-one time with Jean Curry, a fellow guild member who is fast becoming a dear friend. Seems we have a lot of common experiences, including breast cancer. I can't thank her enough for inviting me to speak on Sunday as I feel I got as much from the experience as the audience did. Thanks, too, to Yvonne Stowell who was both pew partner for the event and a comforting shoulder/warm hand when the emotion of it all became a bit much to bear on my own.

On a lighter note: I opted to continue sporting the Halloween "costume" that I first donned on Saturday evening. When I was in London in July, I picked up a packet of temporary tattoos for Donna as I knew she would be as taken as I was by the packaging graphics. I fully expected her to tuck them into the back of a drawer and forget them or, at best, place the package in some sort of a frame so she could admire it. Given that this was a tattoo meant for the lips, Donna insisted (after spying the red sweater I was wearing to the Maiwa event that night) we should actually apply the tattoos in celebration of Halloween. While I was tempted to purchase the polka dot or leopard tattoos, I opted for the Union Jack. Check out the other "Violent Lip" options at http://www.violentlips.com/

Now Donna and I are rational people prone to gather all the necessary information before embarking on a new adventure. Or, in this case, applying anything new to our bodies especially the mouth since it might interfere with future eating ability. As such, we carefully read the instructions enclosed in the package and also watched the suggested online video. Both reassured us there was nothing difficult or dangerous about what we were about to do. Reality soon hit the fan. Donna opted to play scout. She cut the top-lip tattoo as per instructions. She wet the paper backing in the way recommended. Then she pealed off the stuff to reveal - NOTHING!! Seems in all the excitement she forgot to remove the plastic backing before wetting the paper backing. Even tweezers couldn't help her rescue the quickly dissolving tattoo. Thankfully, there were three in a package, so she gave it another try. In the meantime, I was getting on with my on lip marking. Between witnessing Donna's experience and trying to hold my own upper-lip embellishment straight, I got the giggles. I couldn't stop. The video stressed the need to "keep the lips relaxed", but there was little hope either of us could manage that instruction. In addition to a lot of laughs, I think we managed to create the desired effect. Many, many thanks, Donna, for making this Halloween one that will stick with me for some time to come!