Friday 13 January 2012

The Unknown

I got some test results this week and some of my liver levels have dropped a bit which is good but some have stayed the same which is bad.I go to the Cancer Clinic again this Monday for more tests and then i will get the results on Feb first.
The hardest part for me in all this is the unknown.It is difficult for me to wait and wonder what is going on with my body.I am still gettinga blood thinner needles everyday to help prevent more clots,James has been giving them to me and he is doing a great job.I am dealing with some side effects from my liver not working properly some of them include a body rash with extrem itch,and i am completely exhausted all the time.I can deal with these side effects as i am determind to stay strong.I will update my blog as soon as i have more news.

Thursday 5 January 2012

Liver Damage

I am not sure if my journey is over or just beginning. I went for my second week of Chemo yesturday to hear the news that i need to be taken of the chemo immediatly as my liver was being destroyed by the chemo.I was taken directlly up to the chemo room and my Picc Line was taken out.My Dr. explained that in the one week of chemo my liver was extremely damaged.Getting chemo will never be an option for me so in saying that i cant help but ask "what about the cancer"?The Doctors will talk to me at a later date about the cancer but for right now their focus is my liver.My options are few, i go to Cancer Care Mondays and Wed to have my liver tested and at this point they are hoping it heals by itself.
This has really left me exhausted in a physical and mental way, it is hard for myself and my family not to worry,we are left with a sick uneasy feeling in our stomachs.

Friday 30 December 2011

chemo

Julie went for another session of chemo to day she is very tired and sore all over she had the dry heaves befor we left for the hospital she is tired all the time and not eating she has no apetite she has not eaten in 4 days the session went well i have her home now and she is starting to shake but these are the side effects and the vomiting i will keep you all up to date.

Thursday 8 December 2011

Tough Times

It has been a long few weeks waiting for my Chemo to start but i finally met with my Dr. and had a long talk and set up my date.I begged the doctors to start me after christmas so i can enjoy my family as Phil and Amy and my nieces will be here.I have an appiontment on the 23rd of December for a PICC LINE This is an IV that will go in my arm over my shoulder and to my heart.The IV will stay in for 4 weeks and the Chemo will be injected into the IV.I will go for Chemo every Wed Thurs Fri Sat Sun.It will take about 3hrs each day.On Mondays i have blood work and Tuesday is my day off.This will be for the first 4 weeks and then another change.The PICC LINE will be taken out after the 4 weeks and i will be giving myself injections at home.The doctors will also be teaching James how to give the needles.I am glad i will be able to do this at home as i will not be up to leaving the house.As i am sharing this with you i feel terrified of what is ahead for myself and my family,I had to make a hard decision yesturday but i believe it was the right one.
My Dr. told me that the type of Chemo i am going on is different than other types,it is much stronger and the syptoms are very hard on the body.He also told me that 55% of patients on this Chemo quit after 5-6 weeks.I was told that i will be extremely sick for the full year,as the treatment goes on the symtoms get worse.
I was also told that my chances of the Cancer coming back are 80%.It has been a a tuff couple of days to say the least.I plan on being strong and not quiting my treatmeant even though at this very moment i am full of fear,confusion,and sadness.
Thank you to everyone who sent meals and for thinkng about my family.Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers as things right now are really tuff.

Monday 14 November 2011

The good outweighed the bad.

Lets get the bad out of the way.Surgery took 3hrs and when i woke up in recovery my blood pressure and heart rate dropped.It took almost 3 hrs to get them stable.James was having a fit because they refused to let him in to see me for the time i was in recovery until i was stable. Longest 3hrs for him it was very scarey for James.I did not feel alot of pain for the 2 days in the hospital because i was so drugged up.I got home Wed and stayed in bed till Sat popping pain pills every 3hrs.I am spending alot more time on the sofa the past 2 days and it feels great.I am slowly starting to take less meds.My top layer of stiches come out on Wed @ 130.
Now for the good stuff :))
I was laying in bed on thursday and much to my suprise in walked my son and daughter in law.I was sooo thrilled to see them they were such a big help around the house and perfect company.I may have been drugged up but i will never forget waking up from a nap and seeing both my kids sitting on my bed.I felt totally blessed.
Another big day for me was Sat as my brother was flying home to spend 4 days with me.It was really great to just hang out and spend time together.We didnt do anything special except sit and visit which really meant more to me than anything.
Thank you James for caring so much and for taking such good care of me.Thank you Stu and Laura for your gift and meal we love you guys.Thank you Tom and Kathy for your gift what a huge blessing.Thank you Alice for your card and gift i sure miss you.
Thank you Amy for working things out for Phil to come back.Thank you Mom for visiting with me.Thank you Ash for helping me with everything,you have been such a big help to me.Thank you Alexis and Brent for being @ the hospital to see me and for the meal.Thank you Tammie-lee and Doug for the visit and the meals.Thank you to everyone who sent meals and cards my family feels so loved and cared for.
I will give an update on when i start my Chemo.

Monday 7 November 2011

Blessed

I went for some test results today from my neck and got more great news.My lymph Nodes are not highlighting and they are not growing so they are going to hold off on the surgery on my neck and scan my neck every month to make sure they are not growing.If the up coming scans show that the Lymph Nodes are growing then they willl do the surgery.This is great news!
I go to the Cancer Clinic @ 10 30 tomorrow morning for my arm surgery @ noon.I willl be put under and will be spending the night in the hospital.
My surgeon explaind to me today that i will be loosing a large portion of my arm and i will be in alot of pain.What my arm looks like after is not important to me,i know things for me could of been alot worse and i feel blessed.As for the pain i asked for really good drugs :))
I have an appointment with my Chemo doctor on Wed the 16th of Nov so they can explain to me what is ahead for me.I do know that the Chemo will make me quite sick and very weak but they will be trying different meds on me to make the 15months as comfortable as possible.I will update my blog when i get home and am feeling better.
Thank you Mom for the cookies.Thank you to everyone who signed up yo bring a meal.Thank you Faith Academy for praying for me and James and Ashleigh.Thank you FB friends for all the sweet messages.Thank you Steven for always phoning.Thank you Ashleigh for your text messages even though you are in class :)

Tuesday 1 November 2011

Good News

My doctor phoned me @ home last night to let me know that the results of my PET Scan came back showing highlighted spots only in my neck.Finally some good news.I was so worried that the cancer had spread to other parts of my body.So happy that is one less thing i have to worry about.I still have to have the surgery on my neck and arm one week from today and then the 15months of Chemo.
My appiontment yesturday for the Tracer Test really sucked.The first thing the doctor says to me was "julie this is going to hurt" and he was right.I said words i told my kids never to say.During the pain i was thinking that i have to be strong because the hard part is yet to come.I have been looking @  wigs and head scarfs as the doctors want me to be prepared incase my hair does start to fall out.Little things like looking for a wig makes me face reallity but it also gives me a sick feeling.
Thank you James for putting up with all my crazy emotions and showing me constent love.Thank you Ashleigh for all the work you have been doing around the house.Thank you PhilAmy,Emma Abby for the really cute card.Thank you Mom for phoning me just to show you are thinking of me and showing me how much you care.Thank you Alexis for coming with me(again) to my appointment and making me laugh.Thank you Tammy & Matt for Friday night it was fun.