Win

Brian McKnight - Win 

Please take a listen. The song I selected for the title of this post is truly inspirational and will be a staple for me when things are not where I want them to be .... like now.

If you've read the last post, you know that the overall news from my recent blood work (tumor markers) and my PET is good, but we do have concerns. I met with Dr. Kocs on Friday. I came prepared with a half page of typed out questions. Here is a summary of our conversation:

Dr. Kocs:  Bishop!

Me:  Kocs!

Dr. Kocs: Did you see the PET?

Me: Yes, I have a list of questions

And so it starts. This is our "thing" and how we start all of our conversations. First we discussed the PET. No major shrinkage across the board (some but not major); metabolic activity went down almost across the board. One of the spots on my liver grew slightly, but the metabolic rate went down. Between size and metabolic activity, we get more excited about reduced activity than we do about size; this means the cancer is dying.  Note: I never wish death on anything, but I do have my exceptions; cancer is one of them! 

The one new node that showed up is concerning. It is the left side hilar lymph node with a metabolic rate of 21.5 this time; two months earlier it was 5.3, not even worth a mention on the write up. The hilar lymph node is in the lungs. A little background; we've seen stuff on and off in the lungs for months but nothing really concerning. For example, August scan indicated partially groundglass opacity in the left lung shows improvement compared to prior exam and an indication it is responding to treatment. 

This is the first time we've seen metabolic activity. The lungs always appeared to be an afterthought. In previous conversations, we discussed that it may be cancer, it may not, but we seem to be keeping it in check, so we aren't sweating it. Here is a picture I found of some of the lymph nodes.  #10 is the hilar lymph nodes; my bad boy is on the left side. 

So .... what's the plan? Stay the course. Other than this one stinker, everything else is stable and tumor markers are within normal range for the first time in six months. That is a huge win!! We do three more rounds on this chemo, do another PET in early December and go from there. Of course, we will continue to monitor tumor markers. If they start to rise, we may move the PET up. It could be an indication that, once again, my cancer is getting wise to the treatment and it may be time to switch. Honestly, I would be surprised if we don't switch treatments by Christmas. Dr. Kocs knows my feelings on treatment options - strong enough to kill the cancer but not strong enough to kill me in the process.

I have the green light to do standard non-cancer preventative stuff that normal people do every year; my well woman, colonoscopy time (the test is okay; the prep is killer), and flu shot. I meant to get the flu shot while I was in the office. I will do it next chemo session.

The biggest news? I have the green light to travel to Virginia to see my son during Thanksgiving - not by plane; planes are out. We are driving. Hubby and I will self quarantine for two weeks before we go; our son will do the same. We will only use the huge travel stops for potty breaks along the way ... they have way more room plus they get cleaned on a regular basis. To be honest, I was expecting a resounding "no", but Dr. Kocs says if we take necessary precautions, the list is relatively low because we are driving. Flying is another story ... not the planes, but the airports and long layovers.

Basic rule of thumb for those wondering, masks are a must, social distance, keep time indoors with strangers to no more than 15 minutes, use travel stops for restroom breaks because they are spacious and are cleaned frequently.

Schedulers were freaking out about my travel plans during Thanksgiving. What is funny, with Friday being my normal chemo day, it would have been messed up anyway, cuz their office is going to be closed. Anyway, we'll work it out. 

Let's Win!! 

Things That Make You Go Hmmmm

 Thinks That Make You go HMMM

Strange title for the blog, but I think very appropriate. The tune is quite catchy as well.

The thing making me go "Hmmmm" are the results from my latest PET:

What the heck is this left infrahilar lymph node that is misbehaving? Can I get a treatment that kicks butt on everything and not pick and those? Asking for a friend.

Needless to say, Dr. Kocs and I have things to discuss on Friday. Overall, the results are not bad but they aren't exactly stellar. Considering the past six months, though, I'll take it over the alternative.

Several things to discuss with Dr, Kocs on Friday;

• PET results
• Do we stay the course?
• Do we try to  hit it harder? I don't want to give this stuff a chance to get comfy in my body
• Do I do routine preventative tests (colonoscopy, pap smear)
• Do I take the flu shot?
• What about the pneumonia shot?
• Can I go visit my son for Thanksgiving if COVID calms down?
• We will all self quarantine for two weeks prior 
• Bring food when traveling so we don't have to stop for that
• Watch COVID rates in states we go through; if on the rise "no; if not, okay providing we follow all safety precautions?
• Can we ever get to NED?

While looking for this left infrahilar lymph node, I finally found some really cool pictures with the names and locations of many lymph nodes! Guess what I am going to do this weekend? I am going to check the pictures and see if I can find the lymph nodes mentioned in my scans so I know what they are taking about. I will certainly share if I can figure it out. If I can't figure it out, I will need to convince super nurse Stephanie to assist.

Boring, I know. I will post again this weekend after I talk to Dr. Kocs.

Think happy thoughts!!

If It Could Go Wrong .....

 Keystone Cops

Have you ever had one of those days, where if it could go wrong, it did? Well, my friend had one of those days last week. 

A little background. My friend and I both have bouts of insomnia, we are early risers. Neither of us think it strange to text or call the other when sane people are asleep. I received such a text last week; "can you chat?" 

It turns out my friend had a doctor's appointment later in the morning that she was really nervous about. Not the appointment itself, but being out in the general public. Her exposure to people outside her immediate circle in recent months is non-existent in this crazy pandemic time. For the most part, so is mine ....except my weekly visits to the doctor's office for chemo and labs. I think anxiety is a normal reaction considering the circumstances.

I spent the next thirty minutes or more convincing her that the doctors and staff are taking major precautions to make sure patients, staff, and doctors are following or exceeding CDC guidelines:

• Masks are required in all medical facilities I've been to during the pandemic
• Only patients, doctors, staff are allowed in; no visitors or patient family members
• Many also have plexiglass to shield staff
• There is screening before you even get into the office
• Taking temperature
• Asking covid questions
• Once you get past the screening, you head to the office
• Patients and staff have on their masks
• Social distancing marks are on the floor
• Chairs are strategically placed for social distancing

I texted her around 8:30 and told her she better be at the doctor; "Don't make me come over there". She is there and says she will call when she if finished. I received a call maybe an hour later, thinking she would tell me she had nothing to worry about. I was wrong.

Doctor's office

The screening went as expected; people were social distancing as they were checking in. Then things  took an ugly turn:

• One of the check-in staff didn't have on a mask
• One of the patients decided he was tired of wearing his mask and took it off
• No one said a word to him
• My friend is getting anxious
• They call her back for her blood work
• She is sitting at a folding table right next to another patient to get blood work; no social distancing
• Anxiety level going up
• Bloodwork done, she heads to another level to get her flu shot
• The huge guy that called her back for the shot had on a mask that barely covered his nose and mouth; he was a big guy
• He was talking the whole time, not to my friend but to a co-worker, struggling to keep his mask in place; he didn't seem fazed at all
• Anxiety near panic level
• After shots, she takes the elevator to the bottom floor. 
• There are social distance "x" in the elevators; only two allowed in at a time
• In pops a girl that my friend had seen in the office
• She goes to the back of the elevator, then proceeds to tell my friend that she is continuing to live her life as normal and not letting anything like a little pandemic invade her bubble
• Near full panic mode now; who knows where this gal has been?
• Safely in her car and heading out.

The Bank

While she is out, may as well stop by the bank. The plan was to hit up the ATM and deposit a check.

• The ATM was broken and would not accept check deposits
• She has to go through the drive thru
• She masks up and puts on her gloves; drive thru it is.
• I think she is being very brave, considering this is her first adventure in months

Getting Gas

The bank wasn't so bad, so let's try filling up the tank. She pulls into the gas station, up to the pump, and starts filling up her tank.

• A huge truck pulled up next to her while she was pumping gas
• Out jumps a big ol' red neck man, no mask
• My friend is like "WTH?!" and jumps into her car while it finishes filling up
• Car gassed up and she heads home

Needless to say, I felt so bad when she called me and told me about her adventures. Here I am, telling her how safe it is, and every thing that could go wrong, did. Most of what she feared it would be came to pass. Luckily, she was laughing, mainly because of the absurdity of it all. 

She will never listen to me again 😏