Raining and cool, sunny and humid, twists and turns of summer

     Since my last post ,  I have had gradually worsening pain in my sternum area. And yes the doctor new about it.  The pain started out as a discomfort or like a bruise when you push on it.  And even though I'm active,  I'm no way in any type of shape or  condition of any sorts. Nor do i exercise routinely. So I knew I hadn't injured the area in exercise or any other way. Every three weeks when I see the doctor I would tell him I thought it was getting worse. Most recently I had an X-ray and it didn't show any abnormalities.  The pain is now effecting everything I do. Sneezing I try to avoid at all cost.. Coughing too. Lifting things I actually ask for help with now.
So now I have had a C.A.T Scan and I won't get into the madness it took to get the results because that made me really mad. The scan shows the pain is being caused by the pressure from the tumors growth. That's most plain English I can use for you. The liver tumors have grown and there's more of them also.
The game plan is to get this pain under control. So I am currently taking OxyContin . They will increase the dose as needed until its tolerable.  And that will be slow going. Wow that stuff is something else. Hard to believe there are people out there wanting to feel this way. I won't have any treatment until the pain is under control. My next one is scheduled for after July 4.  The 2nd part of the game plan is to decide if I want to continue on chemotherapy and beating my body up. No easy decision by any means.
I have a paper with questions for the doctor for my next appointment.
Please pray for me and my family as we begin down this path with many twists and turns .
Peace
Kelly

I'm late posting just like spring is late arriving

After my late post in February I thought I would update routinely and on time.....which is only after doctor visits. Well that is what I had been doing anyways.
      I had a doctors appointment the last week of March and at that appointment found out that my latest C.A.T. Scan showed growth in the lung mets(tumors), and stable liver mets. So my Dr. and I talked about changing drugs to get a better grasp on these lung mets. The drug is an older chemo but one I have not had. I agreed to switch but not without hesitation because the last two or three drugs have been newer chemo's and with less side effects. I started my new chemo last week Monday and was in bed sleeping for 4 days following.. All day and all night.  Nauseated some too. So I'm hoping the side effects lessen each treatment.
      Over the past year I have had a fast heart rate. Chemo's can damage heart muscles....I finally asked to see a cardiologist because I would get random chest pains, and sometimes short of breath. I had a stress test done and it came back good. No muscle damage. So now the cardiologist wants me to take some medicine that should slow my rate down....and the side effects...fatigue. I guess I will be getting a lot of rest.
     I have a few daffodils and crocus in bloom which remind me spring is here it just doesn't feel like it.  I hope everyone enjoy the sunny days that are soon to be in an abundance .

Peace
Kelly

Happy holidays!

Happy Valentines Day! Happy New Year and Merry Christmas!

I can not remember not posting anything since Thanksgiving. I am in shock myself. Sorry for those that follow my blog and that's how you stay updated.
    There isn't much you missed quite honestly. I am on another new drug since the one mentioned at the thanksgiving post stopped working to keep the tumors stable.  I take this treatment every Monday. However because it makes me very fatigued , starting after spring break I will have treatment for 3 weeks in a row and one week off. That is as long as the cat scan show stable mets. I will have the scan March 18.
     It's been two years now since my stage 4 diagnosis. I am so thankful to all of you for your support and prayers. The goal is to keep the tumors from  growing as there is no cure. So I will always be on chemotherapy. Every year I survive, the scientist keep coming up with new drugs. As long as there's tools in the bag we are in good shape.
    Show your LOVE to those you care most for! Let today be a small reminder of that love.

Peace to you

Kelly
   

Happy Thanksgiving

      I hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving! Enjoy yummy food and your family and any others you are gathering with.
     I will be starting a new drug on Dec. 3 and if you are a follower of this blog you know that means there has been progression. This new drug i will need to have every week.  I have had some nausea during the day randomly, and tired, so the doctor agreed to do the cat scan a month earlier than planned. And I also complained about the lingering cough I have had since I got a cold way back before the week of Halloween.
     GIVE and be THANKFUl!
Peace
Kelly
 
   

Lots of Color

Since my last post the fall colors have peaked and the leaves are beginning to fall.  What a pretty time of the year. Love the temperatures too.
I saw the doctor last week, and the week before that had a CT scan.  The scan showed some stable tumors and some small new tumors. I wasn't able to ask questions of any kind because the doctors pager went off and he left the room. AND didn't come back.   So before the interruption we discussed staying on the same chemo drug.  And staying off the oral chemo drug that was raising my liver enzymes and causing lots of diarrhea.  I will continue this regime on two Mondays in a row and one Monday off.  Something new that is happening and the Lemmen Holten Center is the doctors or mine at least, is seeing new patients on one of his work days.  All other patients see him on his other work days. The bad thing about this for me, is this now has be traveling down on another day of the week. 
     This past weekend I was in Chicago for a Metastatic Breast Cancer Conference. My sister Kim and Mom joined me .  There was a lot of information gained.  There was good news in that there is a lot of research being done and it looks promising but the bad news it takes so long to get to the FDA and then for the FDA to approve it.  I will be traveling to the Mall of America in a couple of weeks.  I have never been there.  If you have any suggestions or must do's feel free to email me.
     Paul retired from the Wyoming Police Department.  He got a new job as Deputy Chief  for the city of Grandville.  His first day was this past Monday.  We are very excited for him.  Rachel will be cheering at her last freshmen football game tomorrow and then she will have 2 weeks off before trying out for the competitive cheer team. Emily had her last 7th grade volleyball game yesterday that ended in a win.  She wants to try out for a club volleyball team next.  James will be signing up for basketball through community ed or the local YMCA.
     Happy Harvest to all, Happy Halloween too!
Peace and prayers to you
Kelly

Almost 2 months

Sorry for the delay in my posts. I decided that I would update after dr appointments and I have only seen nurse practitioner lately. And until seeing some people that read my blog I was reminded I haven't updated so here goes.
My cat scan on July 5 showed growth of old tumors and quite a few new tumors in my lungs. The liver was stable. Because of the growth in lungs I needed to change to a new infusion chemo and also change from herceptin that I've take since 2007 to tykerb. Both drugs block the cells from dividing. But the change was needed because my body became immune to the herceptin thus the growth. The bad news is tykerb is an oral pill taken at home. 5 horse pills to put it nicely. 5 horse pills that give me diarrhea something awful.  Well you can't function in life like that so they lessened the dosage by one pill with no difference in outcome. I then told them I would be on vacation so I stopped taking them while we were in charlevoix . Started back up and had the same side effects so the had me take 2 in am and 2 pm. Well before I could start that dosage my lab work for my liver was raised so they halted the tykerb believing that was the cause. It's been three weeks with out taking it. Good for the bathroom purposes bad that I haven't been taking something that helps the tumors not multiply.
So instill go in for a treatment once a week on Monday's for two weeks the one week off. I'll have a doctors appointment in 3 weeks and will probably get a cat scan scheduled then. As of yesterday's labs my liver counts are coming down but still too high to take meds.
Rachel is cheering freshmen football games and enjoying it along with high school. Emily is loving middle school and all of her classes. She also made the volleyball team. James is enjoying .6th grade and enjoying being the king class of elementary school. He decided to take the year off from football. But found himself being the ball boy at the freshmen football games since we are there watching Rachel.
The pool was closed this past Sunday just in time for this weather change.
As far as take them a meal goes we have decided to keep it disabled since its been going fine with out it. We wanted to try to get back to some normalcy as much as we can. Yes cancer is a normal part of our life. But let's try to do some things without cancer in it. Does that make sense. A few people want to bring a meal and that is awesome thank you.  I will message you or call you soon. Thanks for the surprise gift cards to order something for dinner. All so thoughtful.
Paul is working 10 hour shifts still but now no more weekends. He either works m-th or t- fri. He is teaching for Grand rapids cc  on Monday and Wednesday nights and for Ferris
s in big rapids on Fridays . Just a tad busy.

Take Them a Meal

I have disabled the Take Them a Meal schedule for now. Not sure if it will be forever, short term or what.  Thank you to everyone for all the great meals and recipes'.  We ate well because of all of you.
IT was very nice of all of you to take the time to think of the Anglim's during this journey we have been on.  You have touched our hearts as well as our bellies.  Thank you so much!

Kelly and the rest of the Anglim's