Today
I called the anesthesiology dept. head at Penn because I hadn't
heard from them. At
He couldn't have been nicer to me. He answered our multitude
of questions.
I once had a bad experience about 20 years ago and I didn't want
those
chemicals [as you'd expect, I have a list so I faxed them over to
him]. He
told me the name of my anesthesiologist for Mon. and told me she was
a
personal favorite of Dr. Kaiser's. SO that made me feel good.
We needed to be sure they put in antibiotics for my mitral valve
prolapse,
and that I could keep taking my valium that morning.
******
We have stopped traveling - it just got to be too hard. It was Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz who said, "If I ever go looking for my heart's desire again, I won't look any further than my own backyard..."
This past week, especially, reminds me of how depressed I would get before a vacation [the thought of leaving the comforts of home]. But of course this is compounded by the fact we are going up for surgery and then the unknown.
So we'll be out of touch for a while starting this weekend - it will be nice when we get home and can get our usual schedule back...I function best under normal.
yes,
it seems like it is a dream to expect us all to be pleasantly
surprised on Monday. Well, for as long as it lasts, it gives a
sense of hope.
Did
I tell you I was not allowed to be in any cigarette smoke
for 2 weeks prior to this type of lung surgery they said; it could
affect adversely the procedure and my recuperation. Usually
that would not be any problem because we never go where there is
smoke, but we had planned a meal at Ventura's which is a mess
is that regard. We canceled because you have to wait in
the bar until our table is ready. Someone wanted to bring me
lilacs today. I had to say no - I can't get a cold or any
allergies [no swollen tissues]. We are telling people no
flowers or plants because while the lung is healing, I will have
breathing difficulties. They sent me 20 pages of no no's.
Well
we put some of the bags in the car already and I got the house
cleaned and wash done. Getting the trash together [a neighbor
will put the can back in our yard]. Water the plants [Marcie
will stop buy and check them mid week - the ones on our yard and on
our front steps]. Talked to the mailman. Such a long list.
till
after the slice and dicing, barbs
p.s.
I am trying to Think positive!!!!!! But sometimes my mind wanders in
a not-so-great-place.
Thank
you for your good wishes - the angels did carry me thru the surgery
so
now we will see what God has in line for me next.
The news was not what we wanted to hear at all......the tissues Dr.
Kaiser
took out were all malignant and probably part of the original
cancer. So
much for hoping it was an infection or aberration. We
don't know how they
grew so fast since Sept. when I had a normal scan. They say if
is part of
the aggressive nature of Thymic, and we will continue to pursue what
options
we could have. Which are not really any, according to all the drs.
we spoke
to. But first I have to recover from this operation. It is
hard to talk
because my lung capacity has been reduced greatly. They
took out part of the top and bottom lobe of the right lung and all
of the middle lobe - pretty extensive.
We can not believe it! Tuesday, through the night to Wed.
morning, they
overloaded me with narcotics [which gave me an itch and slowed down
all my
systems so much] and anesthetics and all I could do was sleep and I
had a
temperature and a million tubes and bags and canisters attached to
me. This
morning the Fellow came in and said do you want to go home this
evening. I
said not really - I'd rather wait till tomorrow. I felt like a dead
fish in
the market display case.I had a private duty nurse all evening
applying
cold compresses to my head and arms and was so surprised.
Little
by little they removed the lines in me. The epidural in my
spine was
very painful and it may have caused the fever, being an irritant, a
foreign
body. It was painful to lay back on it. Then they took
out the chest tube
which was the size of a hose...totally hughmongous [it had been
leaking
anyway]. Wednesday they took off all the telemetric monitors
on my chest and
stomach [that info was fed to a computer that they watched].
They caused
hives under each of the electrodes. No one believed all my
sensitivies till
they saw for themselves. I brought a list with me but they
thought I was joking.
The I.V. got infiltrated in my wrist and finally after my last
antibiotic pack, they took it out.
As the drugs stop, I felt more awake and could sit in the chair and
walk a
little so they examined the stitches and hole from the chest tube
and bid me
farewell ---telling me a long list of things to look for and go to
Atlantic
City Medical Center if there are any problems and hop a helicopter
back, if necessary.
Penn was great, every person was flawless in my care [except one
intern who I'll tell you about later---the way he made an unsterile
bandage ON A CHAIR and WAS GOING TO PUT IT ON MY FRESH INCISION].
You know I freaked out. But I got special executive meals from
my ex-students' s boyfriend and he 'took care ' of our TV and phone
bill.
Gotta rest.
It
has been better not to have the phone ring all the time - we
couldn't believe how many people called in the hospital the day of
surgery. It was loud and each time would jolt me awake.
I am having some troubles but nothing we can't manage.
We have everything - 2 totally full freezers. We had to
tell neighbors not to bring dinner this year.
We
truly have everything we need. We have had to tell
people to please tell people not to send anything -
Anyhow, I have to be MORE careful than usual, if you even imagine
that. I have this annoying tickle in the trachea and I can't
cough so I can't appease it. It kills me to cough so I start
to lose my breath when it happens. I had to remove ALL
candles, scented soaps, plant matter [and flowers - one person still
sent a bouquet which had to go] and am very careful with food [like
spices and flavors]. A sterile existence for a while. Live and
learn. Lose some lung and lose function. And some have kindly
sent donations to different organizations but that we had to say is
not necessary - the only one we've said is we'd totally
appreciate is to our Foundation. It is the only way we will
ever be able to get help for this cancer; we HAVE to start getting
it funded. I don't know how to get the word out politely. If people
really have the URGE to send something, this is the only thing that
can really help - we say to register for the aerobothon [even if
they aren't going to come] or other choices for the Foundation.
So we'll see if this works
Alan
is fine and just amazing. I am happy he isn't sitting in that
hospital chair all day and night in the hospital. That
bothered me most. We both are thrilled to be in our own home
again - just the colors, textures, and quiet is so more healing than
a big institution. That is all that matters in life.
Absolutely
not much else is important [so many meaningless concerns some have -
the weather, keeping up with a neighbor...].
We don't need a nurse. My
private duty nurse schooled us on what to do when we got home.
Our primary in
It
is like being trapped when you are in there in the hospital. The
best help was ordering a private room for me again. It isn't
worth any extra depression to be stuck with some types of roommates
[and then they come in carrying germs or smell or bring smelly
foods]. Or worse yet ---kids. We saw many under 5 year
olds visiting in rooms and they scream and run. Just want you
want when you are on the brink. We always requested it
[though they don't guarantee it because they can get filled up].
There is no price you can put on it. As with the private duty
nurses. I had to keep my door closed most of the time not to
hear other sick patients' noises or I would have freaked out
so I can't imagine having to share the room with them when you don't
feel good and are nervous. The nurse was worth her weight in
gold. Like an angel.
The only time that I felt disoriented was coming to in the recovery room. Very bizarre feeling.
But
you are right - it is positive - I survived again. Shocking
because I always said I would never do all of this if I got cancer.
Who knows what motivates us until we are in the moment.
I
heard about Elaine. Again, at least it is a benign issue that
has a 'fix.'
Something I will not be offered. She is very lucky.
Probably she doesn't
even know it. Most people don't know how lucky they are. I'll
feel lucky
again when I can stroll thru Shoprite and do normal simple tasks.
Bizarre
what sometimes we live for.
Uncle went to our favorite breakfast place today to bring me home a waffle [the owner knew something wasn't right when he got take -out and there were NO chocolate chips or walnuts ordered for my meal].
We are sorry we didn't get to see you at the hospital - I was thinking of hearing some poems.
You
show great compassion which is a wonderful characteristic in someone
so
young. We know people twice your age who can't seem to get a
supportive
thought out.
You guessed it! ALan is my Prince Charming. Always has been -
since we were
in high school and I can only wish every woman I know can find
someone like
him to go thru life with. We could maybe try to clone him.
His is amazing.
I
remembered how you felt about germs so that is why I told you the
bandage
story. Actually in the room ON THE WALL is a huge dispenser of
anti-bacterial spray. He never thought to use it on the chair!
Alan did tell me but I promptly lost it. They scrambled my memory, you know, with drops, after the surgery. Not much to tell - my back is hurting [they probably had me in a weird position during surgery]. When I woke up my shoulder was excruciating. The nurse said my arm had to be over my head for hours.
Yes,
it is good to email. We appreciate the email contact - it
helps more than you'll ever know. I wish everyone used it; it
doesn't wake us up or make us hear the same story being told out
loud over and over [especially because it is an upsetting story].
Gotta
end since I am so uncomfortable and can't seem to find a place for
myself, we've had no company whatsoever; we just told my
sister not to drive down tomorrow [it isn't worth it to drive 2
hours, sit 5 minutes for her and then I'd fall asleep].
Our major hope is through the Foundation we started. Take a look at the website and see what we are trying to do. We hope to find someone to do research. But first I have to recover from this operation.
The
Penn oncologist called today to schedule my appointment and answer
some of our questions. We had heard of some treatments
and ran them by her but she said most likely there will be no
cure for this. Each treatment I heard of, she said it was for
another type of cancer [like lymphoma, or true lung cancer, etc.]
It kind of put us in that depressing place we found ourselves
a month or so ago. Her
words "no cure" were never said to any of our friends with
common cancers. Cut me like a knife all over again.
She
even poo poo-ed green teas anti-angiogenesis effects. She said
the drugs being invented to starve tumors [like the substance in
tea] just are not working as they'd like them to. As for a
macrobiotic diet, she said it probably wouldn't hurt but there is no
proof it works and it is very expensive
Cleanliness and quiet is so more healing than a big institution [A SARS-free environment.] . But I tried to move around more today - we took a short walk outside [passed 14 houses and came back]. Then Alan took me for a short ride - he needed something at the hardware store [it felt good to be among the land of the living again]. Forced myself. Ten minutes is my best - for a short walk or sitting upright on the patio.
Thanks
for being so sweet and offering help. At this point, all we
need are continued prayers that we don't ever have to face this
again - that is more than we could ever want.
Everything that could be under control is...it is the one
thing we can't control that we need help on.
Someone
wrote me that God has his own mysterious way of working out
things. People
tell me, "there IS ALWAYS A FIRST - you will just have to be
it!"
P.S.
My friend sent me this. "Who are these lousy misbehaving cells
anyway? And the machine is just looking at them. Muster
up all your psychic power and make the nasty little things fade away
or at least behave properly." My mind is getting tough on
these little bastards. Let's try it!
Trying to space out my pain pills further - and there are no narcotics in them at all. I haven't taken any of those. They just sit on the shelf. It is still hard to talk - I start coughing if I say too many words - and to cough is painful.
When I'd go to different events, what I'd notice is the volume of healthy people and amazed how the world goes on and more people don't have more defects, given how complicated the body is.
As for people - yes they are a mixed blessing. I am tiring of those that call and ask how the weather is here. Like it matters! Then there are those Pollyanna's that keep on telling me I am a fighter and will beat this ---when the drs. have said otherwise. I know they mean well and don't know what to say but it upsets me to hear the wrong words so often.
The physical healing is slow [diminished lung capacity makes it hard to talk and painful for most movement]. It is so hard to believe I never even held a cigarette, much less smoked one, and had so many tumors in my lung.
After going thru this type of
surgery, I have no idea why someone would smoke and take a chance of
going through this. I couldn't even stand the sound effects on the
floor I was on in the hospital - from all really bad - off lung
patients that DID smoke. The choking and hacking made us keep
my door closed all the time. Their bodily noises upset me. The
drs. said those who smoked had a much harder time with this type of
surgery ---it is hard to imagine even more pain or discomfort.
It would be nice to prove the naysayers wrong. I have to focus on that more. I appreciate your support and you know you have mine. We can gripe to each other. And laugh at the rotten cards we have been dealt and yet see the blessing of the people who have come to help us. A mixed bag...
We
love the way you think; we have to hope the drs. are wrong. They
are not God. Once in a while we need reminding. It is
just that they look at my track record the last year and it is not
good. We see one oncologist on June 9th.
You'd
be proud. Today I stood in the kitchen awhile and pan-fried an
Israeli orange pepper, a red one, and a green one. Then I
chopped brocco sprouts and added them. And finally, I put some
miso in hot water and blended it and added it to the vegetables .
I put it all in a container and can used some each day in different
foods we have...can't get more macrobiotic than that, right?
Will there ever come a day when we have pleasant topics to talk about.
We
tried to return to a little normal so Alan and I drove to
Smitty's and I stayed in the car and he picked up a wrap. We
went to this little park on the water [the ocean, actually] at the
base of the new
I
think my life awake is actually calmer than my dreams. Once -
when we first moved into this house - I was sitting on our window
seat and Alan saw a 'figure' sitting beside me. That we took
as wonderful - maybe one of my parents or grandparents, who knows?
It would be nice to 'see' someone now.
Mentally,
the news they are giving us is frightening. We heard from the
dr. at Sloan Kettering today, that we have an appointment with July
23rd.
He said the EXACT words as the Penn oncologist told us the other
day.
He said there is no cure or standard of care in my situation.
He said
oncologists do not have any experience giving chemo for thymic
cancer
patients who have no evidence of disease [i.e. measurable disease on
CAT
scans or physical exam]. That is called adjuvant chemo.
At this point, the
drs. explained I have NO measurable disease [they removed what
showed on
the last CAT scans or physical exam].
He also wrote that the risk of recurrence for me is HIGH, but the
risk of
toxic side effects from chemo is even higher. He said without
measurable
disease there is no way [if they did figure out a chemo regime] of
knowing
whether the toxic chemo is actually helping.
He further said that he wouldn't recommend chemo for thymic because
the
drugs they are currently using are not reliable enough to justify
their
blind use. When I tell this to people , some don't understand
a word of
this. They can't understand why there isn't one drug for all
cancers. They
don't get it - that one chemo can wipe out one cancer and do
nothing for
another cell.
We have
been doing research for a year and knew this .
So that is where we are. Physically I will heal some day but
mentally it is a bitch dealing with this. It
wears us both out, all day trying to explain. I used to tell happy
or funny tales. I don't know what happened.
As
opposed to the kind and caring people that call, this one guy
today, asked Alan how I am so Alan was starting to tell him
about the oncology opinions. This guy changed the subject to
something trivial which minimized our agony. We hate talking
to people like that. So we cut it off.
My
old professor emailed me that I should be seen at the NIH or
NCI. It is hard to believe that for over a year now, we have
been hearing of the NCI and the NIH, but only in the research
setting. And web site info. It has been impossible to
get any info from them anytime we wrote. It has been impossible to
get certain researchers to answer us so we gave up.
We
had no idea, that patients could go there - it is almost like a
country secret [like
I
feel like today I started to wake up a little more, but as the
anesthesia wears off, so my back is hurting more. I called the
surgeon's office and they weren't concerned. It is my right top
back below the shoulder. They just tell you to take more
pain medication. I am taking it a little closer together
sometimes.
After
ALL of the above, one caller today told Alan today that maybe
they can give me ''a less strong chemo so I don't lose my hair like
" her friend. We don't need this now. People just don't
listen...or absorb.
As
for Phyllis, you really don't have to mention her to me again.
She has let me down and I won't let myself be set up again by the
same person. There is no excuse after this latest siege.
Having needed support since the 12-31 scan and receiving no contact
from her, there is no place for her now. I tried emails and
calls and really......enough is enough. My support system here [and
across the country] took over and these are the people I need to be
in touch with and send emails, etc.
The
dr. was right [he was in the current issue of Phila. Mag. by the
way: p.91 if you have it] - there is a lot of pain involved in this.
Dr. Kaiser reached my lung by doing a muscle-sparing
thorecotomy. He went in from my right side, from under the
armpit and down - like a 5-6 inch incision: supposedly they
went in between the ribs and didn't have to break them or cut them
but seeppparated them. OUCH. So my back, side, breast
and chest are in excruciating pain from even this 'microsurgery.'
The
mental pain, which will be here forever, though, is
worse than the physical, which will heal eventually.
Even though we try to think positive, the odds are not good.
Nothing
like brutal honesty.
So
to answer your question about visitors. We are not good
company...mentally. I freaked out when someone started
complaining about the weather to me. How anyone could expect
sympathy from me over a few raindrops, when we are living this
existence, in the house, like mushrooms is beyond me.
It
feels better to get out and do things. A
neighbor called tonight and asked us to come over - they were bbqing.
We had already eaten but we walked over after awhile and just sat
and talked with them and their company [2 couples we know from
Get
this ignorant remark; Alan answered someone who called and asked how
I was. He said my back pain was intense at times and she said,
"well, maybe it is because of the weather." DUH! I
hate this minimizing merde where they can't acknowledge the real
issue.
Well
this morning we walked over to that annual memorial day brunch,
in Longport [Big Ted Rothman. ]
The
walk was less than a few minutes and we got our food before
the crowds came, and went across the street to sit in the gazebo and
eat it. It was our own private brunch room One by one, some
people [including our Mayor and his wife] we know came over to say
hi to me. But after an hour it was just too damp to stay there
so we walked home [it is only a block – on 36th]. But it had
tired me out so much that I needed to sleep for 3 hours in front of
the fireplace, after that. At least we went.
We left as the mummers were marching down the
street. The pains in my right back and side and breast have
not abated and on top of that my neck was being a real killer today
too. Very stiff and hard to turn. I
changed my clothes 3 times to find something that didn't hurt
me. Usually
1000 people show up.
It is very hard to explain but I push myself so the brunch at Ted's had been on my mental list of spring things-to-do and to me, it is extremely important that Alan keep up the normal routine. It is all sad enough as it is most of the day and night and if we get out to do some 'normal' activities, it makes me feel like he isn't living in a 'sick house'. So when I can, we go about doing the things we always did.
A lazy day - read the paper and picked up a Little Caesar's pizza for dinner. That is our favorite type and since we got a Kmart, it is easy to get them since Little Caesar's is in there.And they have this ridiculous special of $5.00 per pizza. Pre-inflation prices.
And
this weekend got kind of out of hand since so many people were down
from PA. After 2 hours of CONSTANT 10 minute visits, I
had to go in and to to sleep for 4 hours. It was too much.
We don't have people in the house but on our screened in patio
[heated]. It has been in a delirium since coming
home. I can't talk long without getting out of breathe yet.
Now
I am doing better going up but until the other day, I'd have to rest
every few steps and at the top it would be hard to catch my breath.
I sure miss my lung lobe.
Since most of my clothes are so hurtful, today I sat at my sewing machine and cut, for example, the sweatshirt necks down into a 'V' and hemmed them. It makes them wearable now. I did this with some nightshirt tops too. I was proud of myself that I thought to do this. They are perfectly good items but killed me at the spot of the neck incision and radiation.
I
feel like today I started to wake up a little more, and sleep less
[unless
I do something out of the house] but as the anesthesia wears off, so
my back
is hurting more.
No
matter the weather in this house. The raindrops are so
soothing to watch
from my own sofa. Two weeks ago we were in a hotel room
waiting for surgery
and having no idea when I'd get home. Any moment doing something
normal is a
gift now.We had to get a gift certificate today, so I accompanied
Alan on a
ride to the Taj Mahal Casino so we could pick it up. One
direction, it was
so bumpy. But at least I got out. The worst part was walking
thru the
casino to the store. The cigarette smoke nearly killed me - I
had to hold a
cloth over my nose and mouth. I have no idea how so many
people work in
those conditions.
--Hope
all the money they are
spending on other research, pays off ---it is taking them too long
though. How can they be so close, yet so far away from more
humane treatments. Here they are sending billions to rebuild
We
are not sure what time you dropped by. Before the
weekend many people [like about over 3 dozen ALL emailed
or called that they wanted to see me - people from here, people from
PA.]. There was no way I'd be able to see this many visitors.
So we chose very carefully who we said could come and WHEN. We figured probably I can prop up for about 10 minutes on the patio for a short spell but we didn't expect 10 minutes to turn into 15 or more , then another couple drop by, then another, for 3 hours. All in a row. It was just too much so I had to go in to sleep. I was totally exhausted and in pain from trying to sit and breathe and look interested thru all those 'short' visits.
Imagine
this - almost a whole day and no stupid comments. But Alan
went out to do some errands and I did something I usually
don't do ---I fell asleep to awake in a delirium at one point because
I heard the doorbell and loud knocking. I was on
the 3rd floor resting after my longest walk and couldn't do the
steps [I get very out of breathe still].
At one point I thought I'd go to the window and open it to see who is there but gave up because I can't lift it up - I am not allowed that amount of poundage yet. No straining to the right side is allowed. It was very frustrating. Then the phone rang [it was the visitor but before I got to it they hung up]. I found out later who it was. She decided to 'just drop in.' I truly hate when people don't call first, even if I am well. She was just so sick herself, you'd think she' know all this.
Once
she told me she 'dropped in' at
Alan
used that time I was sleeping to refresh his mind and go for
a short ride on his motorcycle. I am glad he got it because he
comes back exhilarated , which he deserves and needs.
This
weekend just got kind of out of hand since so many people were down
from PA. and we will not do this again. After
hours of CONSTANT visits, I was so out of it and
had to sleep for 4 hours. It was too much.
Then
one time, after I woke up, a neighbor
called and asked us to come over. They are just across
We
were glad to spend time out a little bit and are grateful to know
such caring people. We are having some hard adjustments to
make - in our thinking. Though we try to think positive and
hope this was the worst of it, we were at this same point last year.
We thought last year's surgery was the worst and then we hoped the
radiation was the end of 'the worst' so now we pray that this
surgery will be the end of it. Now we don't get our
hopes up because it is that much further to fall. Many have
suggested I try Seashore Healing Arts for learning how to channel
meditation or do yoga or reiki. Even our rabbi is doing that [for
his leukemia].
5-28-03
IF YOU Don't hear from me, it doesn't mean necessarily that anything is wrong. SO don't worry prematurely. It can be one of so many things these days. Sometimes I just can't sit at the computer - either my eyes close or I ache too much to write. And since we are getting about 60 emails a day from well wishers, it is hard to keep up. So we try to answer each one in order - chronological order of when it comes in, to be fair.
But
today, trying for normal, Alan drove us to Rita's water ice and we
got a gelati - I felt like I was a queen. The best dessert
ever ---cappuccino and chocolate water ice laced with vanilla and
chocolate custard. Each day we try to do something like that.
SO
let's get even angrier ---on the news last night we heard they are
sending $15,000,000 to
Someone told me they were at a seminar from Sloan Kettering and it slipped out, kind of, that the cures are there but the gov't is holding them back. Cancer is such big business that if they cured it, an entire industry would collapse. This better not be true though unfortunately, in my deepest heart, I would believe it. Look at the hype for statin - giving, for example.
What
a way to live. Yet so many people do this. It is a help
that times have changed and there is a lot of different help out
there besides compassionate people LIKE YOU that help get you thru.
Yesterday
I tried a reiki massage - it alleviated a lot of pain for awhile.
It helped me in a lot of ways. SO many people encouraged me to
do this - have you tried it. I was skeptical
at first but when she was done and had me sit up, I coughed.
It was my first real cough in 3 weeks - a full cough - since the
operation and I HAD NO PAIN. SO now I am a believer.
The reiki massage was such a nice surprise. I wonder how it
works. We know it is thousands of years old. It was a relief
to feel somewhat better, all of a sudden. Even my mood was
brightened. She opened up my major chakras et voila! She
told me to envision all of my cells with happy faces on them. Today,
though, I was very tired and achy again [but I did go to the
supermarket with Alan - that is a lot of walking up and down those
aisles].
My
arm is decent - I don't lift more than 5 pounds, as per their
instructions. Tomorrow we go up to PENN to see the surgeon
and will see what is next. It is my back and breast that are
hurting a lot now. I sleep ok except when I stir or wake up,
my mind is very pre-occupied on not-nice thoughts about the future.
Daytime is better.
Last
night, I didn't have that after the reiki so there is much more than
the traditional medical model. With luck one day, we hope to
find that one 'brain' to tap.
Next
week Alan gets one of the massages.
She
sent us a link today for a company called Norvartis that developed
Gleevec, the miracle drug that can put a certain type of leukemia in
remission in 2 months. We know someone on it and for 2 years
he has been in remission and working full time [no side affects at
all with the drug]. Anyway, it seems as if it may be useful
for other types of cancers. The news is being unveiled May
31st at the ASCO [American Society of Clinical Oncology]
meeting in
Coincidentally,
the oncologist that I got at the Hospital of the
Today
we took what was supposed to be a short ride to Appleby's to pick up
one of their Chinese Chicken Salad bowls. There was so much
traffic - bumper to bumper. First yesterday in Phila. coming
home and here today. There are way too many people on this planet.
The traffic used up all of the time I could sit bouncing around in
the car so we only made one stop. That was annoying
because we had hoped to do one more errand.
On
June 6th, we have to be in the Northeast at Fox Chase at
On
June 9th, we have to be at the Penn oncologist [38th and Market] - I
misplaced the time [either
The
visit to the surgeon yesterday was long but a friend or two stopped
by to keep us company - first I needed to get a chest ex-ray [which
he later told me was ok]. We were there 4 hours total.
Much waiting. When we finally saw him he said he couldn't
believe how soon I was able to leave the hospital. We learned
how extensive the operation was. We had no idea that the 4-6
inch scar is only the tip of the iceberg.
Once
inside, they needed to cut about 24 inches around, from front to
back. Now that explains the majority of my pains. From
my right side, to my center back is about 12 inches and then from my
right side along the front [parallel to my breast], they had to cut
another 12 inches. He wants me to take it easy a few more weeks and
see him in 3 months, after getting a CAT scan. They think it
is healing properly, so that is good.
His
office is practically all lung cancer patients and it makes one
think. Many are end-stage. In wheelchairs and on oxygen
and very thin, bald. I did not like being around so many sick
people during our time there. It was very depressing to see
this.
Today
I started to wake up a little more, but as the anesthesia wears off,
so my back is hurting more. I tire
easily and really don't want to be around a lot of people, for fear
of catching something. I am barely breathing now so if I
caught a cold, it would literally kill me.
We
just have to be grateful these days for small things - even
that I can do a little on the computer. It diverts my mind
from the pains. We are happy just to sit and
hold each other or walk around the block. Don't need much else
in life, really? We have learned a lot from this. Like
Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz ---'I found my heart's desire in my own
back yard.'
We spend a lot of time reading materials Alan printed out from various sites, which is further depressing. We are trying to figure out how to deal with 'life.' We do sit on the patio a lot and are glad we added that on.
According to my original timetable, this month Alan and I were going to do a lot of publicizing the Aerobothon. But now I am a sluggard so the only one thing we'd appreciate is to tell people to support to the Foundation. It is the only way we will ever be able to get help for this cancer. Everytime Alan brings me a registration form, it is a boost.
We have been reading of so many promising technologies, like Lymphorad - where a little radiation pellet is sent thru your blood stream to target only the cancer cells. Of course I was told it is only for lymphoma now. Then there is the 'death star' [p53], a gene that purges defective cells. We also read online at the Fox Chase site that Dr. Treat is using liposomes- fat balls that go thru the blood and target only cancer cells. Would any of these be useful for my type of cancer - who knows? But at least we have a list to approach them with.
Last time we were at FCCC, while we were waiting to go back, we sat with a woman and her husband - she was getting chemo for breast cancer, I think. I was amazed how she had been going there for years and absolutely loved it and everything about the place and her drs. I never expected to hear a report like that after all we talked about. She had been somewhere else first and it was not a good experience so she and her family chose FC. We are mainly coming up to see what ENgstrom's tumor board arrived at. SO we have some basis for comparison when we go to Penn and Sloan
You'd
never believe this but my neck incision site and area of radiation
still hurts me worse than the new place.
Today we went over to the flower show on the
ocean city boardwalk [it is indoors on a pier over the ocean].
We always enjoy the view as much as the flowers - today was very
uplifting being there. We watched surfers while we enjoyed
orchids and bonsai. Friends from
One
of the most annoying problems I have is I get a tickle in my throat
often throughout the day and night. Other than drinking water,
not much else subdues it. I hate to start with cough syrups
yet. I did have it before the surgery [I think the lining is
still trying to recover from the radiation] but it is worse now
cause it hurts to cough.
Unlike
the surgeon last year, he doesn't put me onto the path I should
follow next; he doesn't get involved. He just said to see the
oncologist. It was very
depressing to see his other patients.
It
made me think that I don't want to do that, whenever that time
comes. Dignity. It felt so good to get on the road home,
even though we were in a bad traffic jam for an hour trying to cross
the bridge.
I
think everyone winds up like 'them' unless we luck out and die
quickly in our sleep [like my 2 grandmothers] or a heart attack
[like my father] or an accident or terrorist attack.
Eventually the parts wear out and the body just can't go on and in
many people, the deterioration is slow, and fraught with so many
symptoms from each bodily system. Each person has to decide when
they have had enough of the pain involved with extended health
problems.
Like
you, we like comedies. That is all I watch. You are
right that laughing is good medicine ---you know my great
grandfather was a vaudeville star [and gave w.c. fields his first
job ---it was in the 'Whoot' this winter].
Today
we did some work in our yard; Alan unwrapped the tarp from the
fountain and I took the hose and watered some flowers we put in
pots. We put the pots around the base of the fountain.
A few neighbors walked by so it was nice to be outside, for a
change, and chat.
Then
we took a little walk since the weather held up. It was a bit
cool here - enough to need a jacket. For a few blocks we walked on
the beach but it is hard to navigate so we got off.
Even
had the energy to make spaghetti and meatballs for dinner [of course
the meatballs were formed already and frozen from a month ago -I had
planned ahead].
We know how you felt - it is very difficult when you are down to want to talk to anyone. A lot of people have a way of upsetting us. Yesterday a guy called up, did not ask AT ALL how we are - he immediately went into an entire soliloquy on the building they are constructing at the beach. Meaningless. Then he asked Alan to go over to his house today and take his trash cans in after they collected - he said since the whole family was down, it was too much trash to take home. And that was that. I wouldn't ask someone with a cold to go out of their way, let alone something like this.
Then another one called and started complaining to me about her husband's cough for 15 minutes; I didn't say a word. She kept on debating to herself that it must be an allergy and blah blah blah.
Tomorrow,
a group of women from
Thanks for all your good wishes. Each and every one helps, I have to believe in the force behind everyone's prayers. We are grateful you included us in your synagogue's prayers. That is the most wonderful thing anyone could do - it is interesting how in life, you get to a point [THIS POINT] and need nothing at all but your health and life, so any means to get it, is the most important thing in your life. We strongly believe in the power of these prayers. That has been our blessing thru this - we are learning there are such good and kind people around us and they are who we want to be around.
On the other hand, there are some people I don't ever want to have to see again - like your cousin Jeff [in a year and a half...not a call or card or note ...nothing]. I have an uncle like that too [my mother's brother] who has not contacted us in any way. It is healthier and imperative that we remove this type from our lives. There is no way they can re-enter at this point of time when they knew the scoop.
Mentally
there is so much on our minds, that it is meaningless to think about
the weather or plan to go to the beach. And I have been too in
pain yet to go to the beach. Maybe the next nice day we will
try for a half hour, now that we don't have to lug anything ---I am
not allowed to carry anything yet [over a couple pounds] so I can't
help Alan tote all the crap down there [not even a bag can I carry]
but Sandy is an angel, making it much easier for us now. She said
she would bring the chair down to the water for me. So all I
have to do is walk down our street. So we will be on our Longport
beaches from now on.
The
reiki person I used last week was Kathy Smith at Seashore Healing
Arts. Thank you for Adria's number - I think I will try her
too, to compare. If she specializes in cancer, it may work
even better. Mal Hollander also recommended her. He's
Dr. Hollander's husband - she is another oncologist [in
I
don't even know what to say - people tell me to tell the bastard
cells to go to hell, or to muster up my psychic powers and will them
away. You and I know it is not that easy. SO we will
resort to our intimate prayer circle and maybe together we can do
it.
Happy you know how hard this is [Alan said when you go thru something like this, you can really get a glimpse into people's hearts and souls]. Some have said such stupid comments to us that I have to put distance between us.
Since
the surgeon said I could walk on the treadmill and the weather
outside wasn't meant for a stroll, I went to the gym 3 times so far
and I did 1/3 of a mile on the treadmill [I have to keep my arm
immobile by my right side though or it is very painful ---it drags
down on the incision]. Today I went up to a 1/2 mile!
Progress.
What used to seem important is so meaningless now - life takes on a new perspective. Compared to health, there are no problems, like the weather. As long as I wake up and see Alan's smiling face. We are in all day most of the time anyway - well you remember from your foot surgery. And often we are just tackling the insurance problems, appointments, gathering information, and trying to adjust somehow. Luckily we have the patio and can sit there and enjoy the raindrops. People don't understand how little importance weather is to someone in my mental state [we are very numb] right now since much of what I have to do each day is inside and determining my very existence. I appreciate going out for a nice short walk but if I can't because it is nasty, it is ok.
The doctor mentioned in the article, Patrick Loehrer, Alan actually contacted him a year ago and they DO correspond. He is the expert but unfortunately he sees mostly thymomas - there isn't too much thymic to see. SO his work and trials are geared to thymomas. This is the problem.
All of the oncologists we talk to know that the mix he uses is extremely toxic and it may be of some value in thymomas [he's seen more than any other dr.]. But the protocol is not proven for thymic cancers. They don't know if it works at all for thymic. Unfortunately. It is so toxic due to the combination they choose, that most patients can't finish the series due to extreme side affects and many of the others die at the end [Johns Hopkins did a study]. SO that is why the oncologists say until I absolutely need it, they'd like to wait. We are tending to agree. I don't want to end up like my mother where the treatment killed her. It almost happened with the radiation last year.
There has to be a better way.
He has given us information, which we followed. For example, last year, he said the best course for me was surgery and radiation. Which we did. And he sent us an email this year too. He is a tremendously nice man and we have been overwhelmed by the medical community around the country.
You
asked what has helped. Alan is my true blessing in life.
He is too good to be true; I always called him my prince charming
and he keeps me in an equilibrium most of the time. It makes
the whole ordeal easier to have a true love there with you.
Sometimes I think that since we have been together since our first
date [it will 40 years ago on this July 23rd], and have had such an
idyllic time of it, that maybe this is the 'little rain that must
fall' on our parade. I really can't gripe or complain about
this because in our time together, it has been like a fairy tale
[you'd have to see slides of some of our trips to believe it].
It is just life and it can't be perfect every day. So I'd never
trade what we had together - not that you can bargain anyway - to
get rid of this.
And you asked about a vacation; we did sooo much traveling [when we taught and had summers off] that we just love it here and have no plans to go anywhere. In the Wizard of Oz, Dorothy says, "I found my heart's desire in my own back yard." That is how we feel. Wherever we traveled we gravitated towards the ocean. We saw some of the prettiest beaches in the world but we just ADORE it right here and think this is the best beach of any we were ever on. What makes it special is we know so many people up and down the beach and it is more social than just going and baking in the sun.
It
is a new way of looking at life and health now. All aspects of
daily living take on a different perspective. If the weather
bothers the scars, I don't care that much; I even welcome it.
Because that is benign. The scars are all too new to know about
what affects them; I am not used to my neck pain and numbness yet.
Benign is a good word to me, but unfortunately the drs. don't
say it to me. As long as I know the pain is not associated
with a horrid cancer, then fine, and I will live with it.
Chronic pain is ok as long as I am alive and not growing
anymore masses. That is one struggle that I can't deal with
anymore.
Thank
you for your good wishes for tomorrow. Tonight we took a
short walk to the beach with Art and Marcie and it was so 'normal.'
I wanted to freeze the moment and don't want to come home tomorrow
and have to live any other way because the drs. probably want to do
painful treatments on me.
The ride up was so painful -every bit of jostling I felt in my chest and back. Once we got there, they took my blood and we had to wait TWO hours to see the dr. and Fellow. I was pacing in their hallway after 35 minutes and telling the nurse to get them in the room because I was in pain and had to go home and get my clothes off [they were binding me and creating more pain]. First the Fellow came in and we EACH pulled out our list of questions [ever prepared - actually some of the questions, our drs. told us to ask]. We kind of stumped him with a few so he had to leave - I can't imagine how it is for people that don't use the internet or resources to learn their options.
The Fellow had pulled out a huge booklet to give us and said, "This is what we will put you on." It is a phase 2 trial by the NIH and I asked how many people with thymic cancer were on it in phase 1. Couldn't answer. He said it is for a lot of different cancers. We know from reading on the internet site that the answer is 0.
I
asked if Fox Chase gets paid for each patient they enroll in the
trial and he was a bit miffed but said they do get paid. There
lies the problem I had hoped they'd review my case and find
what I needed. They were trying to pigeon hole me into what
they got big bucks for. Our friends were right when they told
us about this months ago.
We should have made a videotape of this - it looked choreographed.
Others going thru similar could use it to learn how to deal with
these drs. [AKA used car salesmen]. Then here is the coup
D'Etat! Alan was looking at the booklet on the trial and said
to the Fellow, " Is Barbara qualified to be in it; it says here
that you have to show MEASURABLE DISEASE TO GET that chemo."
He went out and got the main dr. to come in.
Dr.
Engstrom came in and questioned us as to what Dr. Kaiser did to me
and what he said after the operation. We told him that he felt
he got it all out. He had the pathology report there which
confirmed that. so he said that he'd give me a script for a
full body cat scan in August and see if there is any measurable
disease. So we have 2
months to breathe and meditate this merde out of me.
If
I hadn't had the surgery, then I'd have qualified for the trial.
But after they take it all out, it is not an option.
So how long would it have taken for them to realize I was not a
candidate. Would I have gone thru the surgery for putting in
the chemo port [a hospital procedure - more anesthesia and cutting,
etc.]. If Alan hadn't said anything, who knows what they would
have done next. Isn't that scary. It leaves you shaking. Alan
is a true blessing.
By
the time we got home I slept for a few hours. Then we went out for
waffles and ice cream. Which we earned!!!!!!
Yes
the new cardiologist was thorough - he gave me a card to keep in my
wallet for my mitral valve prolapse - it says all the procedures you
should use antibiotics for FIRST before having the test. Then
he gave me a copy of the EKG to attach to it. No cardiologist
ever did this before. He was very understanding about all
my reactions to the statins and said he'd work with me. He has a new
aspirin-like medicine that he may try.
Thank
you for such a supportive email. When I read your list of
activities, I 'saw' me, 15 years ago. And if you are like I
was, then that was only a partial list. Sometimes I worry that
my frantic lifestyle back then may have set the stage for this awful
disease - I have read how stress breaks down our immune systems and
that is when these dread diseases creep in and take over. I'd
hate to see even my by worst enemy go thru this. If you can take away anything
from my ordeal, then may it be to ONLY do in life exactly what you
want to do and enjoy. Life is too short to live by lists [my
lists used to have lists and sub-lists]. It all sounds so trite but
the adages are true. We had reached a point where we realized
for example, that there are only so many Saturday nights in our
lives and we would not spend them with people we didn't want to be
with [out of duty]. Practice saying no and then do
it for real. You don't get another chance; the body is so
fragile and once it breaks down, it may not repair as easily
as when we are kids.
Your prayers and good thoughts have helped bring me through the latest ordeal. We are grateful so many were generous enough to help. And we appreciate your idea of Gilda's Club. It is ironic that a few months ago we went to their art auction and I wanted to volunteer to help out there. And now I will need their services. So certainly I would be glad to talk to Shirley. A neighbor also is active there and she had someone from Gilda's call me too. Everyone associated with it is so compassionate. What a wonderful resource to have in our community.
Though
I have heard that
a frantic life style may set the stage for this awful
disease and how stress breaks down our immune systems and that
is when these dread diseases creep in and take over, I am not
holding myself responsible. I won't beat myself up that way.
There are too many other factors. In fact Alan said to me the
other day that we had so many stressful years [ remember the city
tax, the house from hell, and the college], that he feels amazed
that he didn't get cancer because he was so fraught with turmoil.
He handled it all worse than me and I was the one who got the
cancer. I bet much of what determines if you get it or not,
is genetic.