Wednesday, November 30, 2016

Where Have I Been?

It has been right at 30 days or so since my last post....and so much has happened. I had four rounds of chemo and I knew my stomach was looking a little larger. I was worried about fluid buildup (ascites) so I asked Dr. Dy in Effingham if we could do a CT scan. I also gained 6 pounds which is another sign of fluid. BUT....the scan came back that I had no ascites. (That's the good news.......).
The bad news is MD Anderson had been watching some nodules in the lining of my stomach. You have the outside of your stomach...then fluid...then a saran wrap type of lining that hold the fluid that keeps the fluid intact. Those pesky nodules had grown in the two months on my chemo. Everything else is stable but we need to stomp on these nodules.
Before we do anything, I already had appointments in two weeks for a scan, bloodwork, a biopsy of the nodules on the stomach lining, and a visit with the great Dr. Javle.  We want to know if there are new genetic mutations that we might have more treatment options for. Those biopsies are no picnic with a large gauge needle piecing your skin and getting to the nodule. THEN, comes the chomping of a staple gun sound as it bites a piece of the nodule. Last time, I heard it chomp three times as I opened my eyes wide open after each chomp! BUT. if it helps....I'm in...if we don't find any useful information, atleast we know we have left no stone unturned.
After the biopsy, I will return home and start a different chemo regimin until the biopsy results come back. I believe I will be on Gemcitabine and Abraxane (chemo drugs) and they are supposedly no picnic. So, we shall see. 

This news isn't the best news but it is not the worst. We have known for quite some time that I am just darned hard headed and am not giving up. We will treat this cancer as things pop up and pray for the best!

In February, it will be 6 years of fighting this devil called intra-hepatic cholangiocarcinoma. I have been so blessed with WAAAAAY more good days...months...years than bad ones. No doctor has ever promised me a long life....but Dr. Javle has promised to use every tool in the tool box until we are out of options. He has given me hope when other doctors could not.

So, as I close tonight, know that I am calm.I cannot worry what is going to happen next.....I have to live while I can. I cannot think about the nodes that could be growing in my stomach lining until I get on a chemo regimin. No....God is with me every step of every day! No matter what happens to this fat lady.....I HAVE LIVED!!

May Christ be in your Christmas!

I promise to blog after returning from Houston in a couple weeks!

Love & hugs,
Patty

8 comments:

  1. You have amazing strength. It also helps to be hard headed. Haha Your in my thoughts and prayers.

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  2. Patty, my sweet sister, Patti Means, mentioned you many, many times. She mentioned your constant support of each other, and your messages back and forth. I know that she'd be cheering you on with all the gusto she brought to everything she did. Thank you for all the ways you walked the path with her, lifting her up. I believe that, in whatever way she can now, she's doing the same for you. Take heart and may you have a lovely Christmas in a few weeks... Patti's sister, Maureen

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    1. Oh Maureen, it is so nice to hear from you! Patti was a true warrior and a gem of a friend! I have a deck of cards from Seattle from her and they are in my family room....and each time I see them, I smile. I loved her like a sister and she was a beautiful woman of faith!

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  3. Jeannie Seeley-SmithDecember 1, 2016 at 6:14 AM

    Dear, dear, Patty, I was eager to see this post after our correspondence earlier this week. Yes, though the news of growth is never great, Dr. Javle, as you know, will battle them with every trick in the book. He was such a ray of hope to my twin, and to our entire family. So! Such a relief that you do not have ascites!!! You have been blessed beyond belief throughout this journey and with the new chemo I am glad you have a couple more pounds on you. Your appetite has been such a great sign of you doing well....and it will no doubt suffer a bit with the new chemo - but with you, who knows??? Maybe you will gain! Your journey of faith continues, dear friend. I prayed for you upon my awaken this morning and will continue! And, I am also praying for your family.... and specifically for a special angel of comfort around Maureen. There is nothing like sister!!! Love to you and your precious family!

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  4. Dear Patty-- I have the same cancer you do and have been following your blog for some time [now that I finally had the courage-- last year I was too scared to read about others. I'd like to contact you by email but don't have any of the accounts that allow it [my account is on AOL]. Is there a way to contact you from AOL? [Also -- just one comment about your current or soon to be chemo-- Gemcitimine aka Gemzar is supposed to be one of the MILDEST chemos with few side effects. I did WELL on it combined with Cisplatin last year but had a hard time when my doctor tried it alone [[I have a weird, weird body; doctor says now that I have a 'twisty reaction to drugs'. Yep. Anyway would love to be in more contact with you if possible. This is such a hard road to travel but I too have a strong spirit and I take inspiration from yours as well. Kathie C

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    1. My email is olneyerba@yahoo.com Feel free to email me anytime.

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  5. Thank you so much, Patty!! It's taken me long enough, LOL! but this feels like the 'right time'. Will write to you very soon! xoxo Kathie

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  6. Great to see a new post.
    im amazed you are keeping weight, any tips on what you eat, are you on steroids?

    thanks!

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