On the next episode...

I saw my Oncologist today and after he went over my CT scan and MRI results with a fine tooth comb he told me that my MRI was great, and that I had a brain :) but there were not any tumors there.

My other tumors showed a little growth (in millimeters) with a growth rate of 9%, but in cancer patients as long as the growth is under 20% then you are considered a "stable" cancer patient. But it might just mean that the IL2 is working and the tumors are inflamed because they are being "attacked". (which has been my feeling all along..wink wink)

Dr. Grossman was excited about the way the treatment is going and said that I was a perfect candidate for the next round. Round 2. I was sooo confused when he said Round 2...I was like, what are you talking about....I thought after this 3rd admittance I was done. HA HA  NOT!  This treatment next week will be the beginning of round 2a, then I will have 2b a week after- then run more tests and if all is still going well..Round 3a and Round 3b. Which goes thru the end of November........DEEP SIGH.

Everyone else seemed to understand that from the beginning but me...oh well, it is what it is.

Apparently that is not the only thing that I do not remember. While I was waiting for the Dr to come in I read my Mom's notes that she had taken while I was in the hospital. I have to say...I do not remember 3/4 of the things that happened. Here are a couple that made me laugh.

• Nurse: Let me turn the lights down so that it will be easy on your eyes
• Amy: Yeah...easy on the eyes like Channing Tatum.

I gave a nurse advice on how to potty train her son (using stars)...(she came back and told me that it was working.)

I told my friend how hot the nurse "Josh" was...thank goodness that he was not the one in the room at the time.

Watching the movie...Crazy, Stupid, Love

Getting mad at my daughter because she didn't grab a jacket. (she was not there)

Getting mad at my "wus-band" for not helping our little boy with an extension cord. (they were not there with me either)

Ordering  a tuna-salad and asparagus..I actually remember ordering the asparagus, but not eating it.

Eating chocolate Ice-cream.

Stay tuned for the next episode....GOTTA LOVE DEMEROL!

Bottoms up

Today was the day that I went in for the follow up CT scan and MRI, can I just say that Barium is so gross! I got the dry heaves after drinking the first bottle (16oz), but I told myself to suck it up and then pretended that I was drinking a Jamba Juice....I fnished the second bottle...Woo-hoo!

The contrast that I get gives a warm sensation, and makes me feel like I pee'd my pants (no...I didn't) and continues through my entire body. I swear everytime that I get the contrast it gets hotter. It is hotter than the heated blankets they give you.

The thing that some people may not realize about the Huntsman Cancer Institute is that everyone you see there is affected by cancer. They may be there for treatment, to visit a loved one who is going through treatment, for follow-up on treatment.  There is no question. Other hospitals you can be there to see a newborn baby, outpatient surgery etc.

When I was waiting in the lobby to get my blood work done, a sweet bald lady said to me "What do you have?" After talking, we discovered that we both have Melanoma. She is going through IL2 treatments also....she lost her hair after the first week of treatments. Her husband explained that while she was in the hospital she was doing great, but then she got home and went downnhill...she was so sick. She looked as if she had lost 40lbs...she couldn't believe that I hadn't lost any weight, or lost any hair. It turns out that we were doing treatments at the same time.

The Dr. told me that each person is different, and that was proven to me today. I feel very fortunate that my treatments have gone the way they have gone.

I should know the results tomorrow after meeting with Dr. Grossman.....I am staying positive that treatments are doing what they are expected to do.

I'll keep you posted :)

Blah..........

So this week has not been as "fabulous" as the first week after the IL2 treatments.

The first time I went back to work and felt great...not so much this time.

I had to go back to the hospital on Monday because I could not get a full breath, after 4 hours they diagnosed me with a bacterial infection in my abdomen, and were concerned that my my oxygen levels were not ideal so they sent me home with oxygen and prescriptions and told me to come back on Friday.

When they said that I was going home with oxygen I didn't realize what was involved. They brought a machine and 50ft of green oxygen hose. (I feel like I need to get 50 cats to go with this machine). I can't stand the smell of the oxygen tubing, but the alternative is not an option.

My kids always make sure that I have the oxygen in my nose and will sometime "pinch" the hose just to make sure that I am not lying.

I have lost about 10lbs, but still don't feel like myself. They were right...every treatment will be different. Lets hope the next one goes better.

Everyone have a "more-fine" night.


Thank you to all my neighbors and friends for the meals and the "check-ins" Luv-ya

Where am I?

It has been a while since I have written, so I figured it was time to update everyone.

I just finished the 2nd week of IL2...my body was able to take all 7 treatments, my mind however I am not sure of.
The one thing that was different this time than it was in the past was that I got "rigors" about two hours after the IV my body would get the chills and I would shake uncontrolably. The nurses were usually able give me demoral before I could feel them too much......but there was  a really bad one that I wish I could forget. Thank goodness for my Mom who was there to hold me through it.

I gained 30 lbs in 6 days from all the liquid that they pumped into me to keep me hydrated etc. but that also meant that I got liquid in my lungs and my blood pressure and oxygen levels dropped. They wanted me to take Oxygen home...but being the stubborn red-head that I am, I refused

During a "hot flash" I remember asking the nurse to get all my clothing off the top half of my body....I apologized for being a "diva"....but needless to say, I was having a melt-down. She was very accomodating and helped remove a couple layers, it was quite the task with the PICC lines, blood pressure cuff etc.
  
I always rememeber people saying that they were so thankful for prayers that were being said for them, and I thought " DUH....why wouldn't you."  But when you are the one at the receiving end of those prayers....your perspective completlely changes.

I could not have survived this last week without the prayers, thoughts, fasting and support from the many family and friends. I had a lot of visitors at the hospital, that I do not rememeber physically, but please know your presence was appreciated.

My goal right now is to get rid of this weight, get my kids ready for school (FINALLY) and get back to my normal self.

My next appt is Sept 11 (ughh, I know) and hopefully Dr. Grossman will have news that my treatments are working.
And then I will have one more round of treatment Sept 17th.

Thank you for the meals, thoughts and prayers...they are truly truly appreciated.

XOXO

Round 1b

Good morning everyone. That was a long night. I had two doses of the interlueken and started to get some of the side effects that they mentioned. I got the flu like symptoms with the body aches and also got 'rigors' which is when your body gets the chills and you shake uncontrollably. But with help of some cute nurses and some Demerol.....everything worked out. Bring on day two

Blood Work

I had a follow up appointment with my Dr today and he was very happy with the results of my blood work because they came back and the levels (billirubins) are back in the "normal" range. ( I compared the results to the 1st blood work from July 18 and some of them were even better now!)

Which means that my liver has handled the treatment very well.

I am going to be admitted to the hospital on Monday the 13th, and Dr Grossman is planning on giving me the IV treatment every 12 hours, or could push it to every 24 hours if needs be. He said that he would be happy to get 7 IV's of the IL-2 in my system before the toxicity levels of my liver and kidneys max out.

Another good thing is that I may not be Dr "Doom and Gloom's" patient next week.  I understand that she just wanted to make sure that I was aware of all the side effects and possible outcomes...but seriously-do you think that I am here for a week at the SPA?

Update

After speaking with family members this weekend, I found that I do not remember Tuesday July 31st 2012 (LOL). There were things that happened in the hospital that I do not recall happening, I apparently received a "bath" but do not remember ANYTHING. I also do not remember eating lunch or dinner that day either.

I remember being out of it and asking my brother if he had purchased trees from wal-mart, but then caught myself so that I didn't sound stupid. I remember being frustrated because I thought everyone was asking me the same questions OVER AND OVER again. Which really did happen every morning so that the nurses could check my neuro function...I did struggle on the question "How many nickels are in $1.25"  Ha..Ha..Ha.  So once I figured out that it was 25...I vowed to memorize the number so that I would never forget it.

So far the only side effects that I have had is itchy/dry skin (which if you know me you know that dry skin drives me CRAZY!) Thrush, which means that I can't share food or drinks with my kiddos. And 11 extra lbs from the fluid (but lost all but 2)

I am back at work today, so I guess that means that I really am SICK.

Thanks to everyone who came to "Amy-sit" at the hospital, even if I don't remember seeing you.