-Cheryl-
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Posts posted by -Cheryl-
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Hello All,
I completed the trial today at Mary Crowley's Research Center. I am the only one left in the study. Others dropped out due to progression of disease or health problems. I don't know if that is a good thing. I was hoping for NED and only achieved stable. I am, on the contrary, quite grateful for that. No serious problems with the paclitaxel/carboplatin, except grade II neuropathy in my feet and low blood counts. Extra chemo has not proved to be beneficial, and could cause more harm than good.
Next week, they will test my blood for 4 proteins to see if I am a candidate for the Epimmune trial. The proteins, called HLA-A2 bond with molecules in your DNA to kick up your own body's immune response to target the cancer. Now, there have been complete responses, but usually it just extends survival by a signifigant amount of time. There are other immune therapies on the horizon, which I can do in the future, but this will keep me alive to try them hopefully. There should be no side effects to it. I get one shot a month over 6 months. Only 40 % of the population are born with the HLA-A2 proteins to participate. Many will be tested. I recommend others on this board testing their blood to see if they are carriers to participate. Everybody carries at least one protein. No chemo side effects, missed work, hair loss, or neuropathy!
I had a arnesp shot today due to low blood counts, but feel good considering.
Take Care,
Cheryl
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Yeah Bill! Do celebrate! I too am devasted for TAnn, She would want you to be excited about this. God bless TAnn and you all.
Cheryl
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Wow, I can't believe your poor Dad. i may have been exposed by a coworker, who works wirh a TB patient. She doesn't need this because she can't hardly eat anything due to the meds she is own to control her seizures. I sure don't either due to the cancer. Please keep us informed on how he is doing!
Cheryl
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Congratulations on your bledded babbies. What a gift God has blessed you with! Enjoy them and love them.
Cheryl
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Forget about this disease till the 16th! Enjoy Florida and the Sunshine! You've had several scares and they were all nothing to get upset about. Hoping and praying for the same this time too.
Cheryl
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Glad Bob's pain is not as bad. Thank God for that. I have spots on my Kineys. I haven't had them biopsied, but there are 7 total. They aren't causing trouple and have not grown in size or nuimber. My doctor thinks they may be cysts. Who knows, but the lungs are 1st priority and probably not treated unledd a problem does develop. Tell Bob good look on the CT though.
Cheryl
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Hello Folks,
I get this call from a fellow LPC who supervised me to get my lisence years ago. She tells me that a co-worker had called her and was plotting against me basically. The co-worker was telling this therapist she should come and apply for my job, that my boss was trying to get rid of me and my cancer was really bad. She was telling me this out of loyalty. I was so hurt and upset. I cried for hours. I felt decieved, because my boss was complimenting me on the Thanksgiving dinner I helped organize and the huge donation recieved by me from Wal*Mart. He told me how he wanted me to keep my job and would work with me to do that. Meanwhile, he is discussing my health with a fellow employee, who thinks it is her job to help rid me from LRMHMRC. I don't know, but isn't there a Hippa violation or something with them discussing my health. This coworker, is a case manager, and works with the adult population. She has no buisness in my buisness, and I have told her so in the past, which is probably why she dislikes me. Any way, I went to work the next day and heard her down the hall. I popped my head in, while she gossiped with three other employees and told her,"So and So asked about you and told me to tell you Hi." She said, "Oh I have been meaning to call her and tell her "Hi." I just thought this co-worker should know I got her number and know what she is up to. I have faith God will take care of her for me. She is decietful and it will catch up to her one day. I can not believe people, how could they cospire agaisnt someone with cancer. What kind of world has this become. She is absolutely evil, and has brought to herself some pretty bad karmma. What goes around comes around I firmly believe. She will have to answer to God, when he reads to her the Book of Life. I pray to God to help me not harden my heart towards her for what she has done.
Cheryl
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Margaret,
I haven't had pnemonia, but have had the pericardial and plueral efussions. I gained like twelve pounds and had severe SOB. I was extremely tired and could only take a couple of steps before I had to stop and rest. I called my onc and he had me come in and was given an x-ray. He also listened to my heart. I was weighed and couldn't believe my weight! I immediately was hospitalized and had surgery to relieve the pressure on my heart. The fluid has almost resolved itself, thanks to the pericardial window. A hole was cut in the top of the heart sac to allow the fluid to drain downward. My breathing was so much better. No cancer was found in the fluid, but the cancer caused the fluid build up. TAnn had a problem with plueral efussions and had a Denver Catherter inserted to prevent reoccurence. I was also under the impression that a fever pointed to an infection like pnemonia. Thanks for the insight. Hope your hubby gets better.
God Bless,
Cheryl
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Howdy JC,
Glad to see you post. We missed you!
Cheryl
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You go girl, Thanks for the support and hard work!!!
Cheryl
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Wow that was quick!
Thanks,
Cheryl
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Ahh, thank you guys. Elaine your so funny!
Becky I appreciate your checking in on me. Debi Sleep tight! All of you are so great. Stable is good, I'll take it. Still hoping NED will visit me. I'll keep experimenting till he does! What do I have to lose, being as they gave me only a 13% survival rate in the first place! To the future!Cheryl
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TAnn,
Please don't lose hope. I afree with Ginny, radiation continues to work long after it treatment ceases. Perhaps the size difference is due to the angle taken of the nodules. Its ok to be upset. This news has thrown me for a loop too. Your lung nodules are stable, and you have no symptoms from your brain mets. These are good signs. I will keep you in both my prayers and well wishes. I hate that you must go through this. but you are not alone. There are 1600 people here praying for you. TAnn, please come to us with your fears, your pain, whatever you need. I wish I were there to hold your hand when you see the doctor. Know that you will be close in my heart and always in my thoughts.
Much Love,
Cheryl
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Lisa,
I am saying prayers now for you. I am so sorry to hear about your Mom and and family. You have much to stress about. Place it in God's hands and let us worry for you. You just take care of yourself.
Cyber Hugs!
Cheryl
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How lovely. Thank you for sharing this beautiful poem. I hope that you find peace in it for the holidays without having your Dad physically here to share them. Just know that he is spiritually with you.
Cheryl
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Elaine,
Iv'e been told the CT covers from nose to knees. I was given my choice of bannana, apple, or berry flavored barium, and told to drink the secound half of a pint 35 min. later. The tech got me for the CT about 30 min. later. Regular CT's are taken then an iodine contrast is injected. CT's are compared and a radilogist oncologist reads them. Hoping you just moved during the CT, and perhaps that is why you got called back in. Keep us posted!
Cheryl
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WE are on your side, `hang in there!!
Cheryl
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Wonderful news!!!!
Cheryl
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Angie,
The pain you must be in right now has brought back some difficult memories for me. The time was Christmas 1985, my Dad's lung cancer had entered into his brain stem. The only treatment then, was cobolt. Your whole body literally got radiated. They couldn't treat my father with cobolt since it was too dangerous to mess with his brain stem, which controlled his heart and lungs. As tears fill my eyes, I wish that I were there to comfort you sweetie. There is so much they can do now for brain mets. There is even a chemo that enters the blood brain barrier and improves radiation's effects, why there are drugs to lesson the effects of WBR. Onco doc help me out on this. I'm drawing blanks on their names. It is not the end, and times have really advanced medically since 1985. I met a woman with 33 tumors in her brain a few weeks ago, and honestly could not tell. I hold on to hope for you and your Dear Dad. I refuse to accept defeat on this! I am here for you.
All of my love and prayers,
Cheryl
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Just talked to my nurse about my CT results. My kidneys are the same, may be cysts. My right ovary cyst is gone, fluid in my stomach and heart are mostly gone. My lung nodules remain. So I am stable. Hopefully I will be elligible for the vaccine trial beginning next week. Praise God, I will take stable.
God Bless you all,
Cheryl
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Thanks Guys,
The day was long! I was scheduled for an 8:50 Am CT, but it was changed without me knowing, to 11:00 Am. So, I took my barrium and went upstairs to get my blood work. The nurse was listening to another patients story and accidently caused my blood to spew like an erruption at Mt. Saint Helen's. The blood was taken from a pipeline never used. You can immagine the mess! I went back down stairs and slept in a chair till I was called for my CT. Afterwards, I sat and waited another 1 1\2 hours for the results. I finally got up and asked the manager "why the wait?", and she said a doctor had to read them first. Me, thinking the worst, "oh my God they must be bad!" Thanks for letting me know so I wouldn't have to wait. I went back and got my blood results, counts still low, but on their way back up. I asked my nurse about the Epimmune trial, and she tells me next week they will start enrolling. My blood will be checked to see if I am a candidate. I haven't much faith that I am NED, being as I am "THE ONLY ONE LEFT IN THIS TRIAL!!!" Every one else had to drop out due to reoccurence or health problems. The paclitaxel causes hair loss, yet mine is as thick as ever. I wonder if the chemo is working at all. The nurse assures me I am the only one who responded well to the chemo. We shall see when I do finally get the results. So, I am sorry nothing to report yet. I will learn about them most likely tomorrow, and will let you all know. Thanks for the prayers. You all are so greatly appreciated. TAnn, I am saying prayers for you now, as well as the rest of you too.
Hugs,
Cheryl
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Thanks Guys,
The day was long! I was scheduled for an 8:50 Am CT, but it was changed without me knowing, to 11:00 Am. So, I took my barrium and went upstairs to get my blood work. The nurse was listening to another patients story and accidently caused my blood to spew like an erruption at Mt. Saint Helen's. The blood was take from a pipeline never used. You can immagine the mess! I went back down stairs and slept in a chair till I was called for my CT. Afterwards, I sat and waited another 1 1\2 hours for the results. I finally got up and asked the manager "why the wait?", and she said a doctor had to read them first. Me, thinking the worst, "oh my God they must be bad!" Thanks for letting me know so I wouldn't have to wait. I went back and got my blood results, counts still low, but on their way back up. I asked my nurse about the Epimmune trial, and she tells me next week they will start enrolling. My blood will be checked to see if I am a candidate. I haven't much faith that I am NED, being as I am "THE ONLY ONE LEFT IN THIS TRIAL!!!" Every one else had to drop out due to reoccurence or health problems. The paclitaxel causes hair loss, yet mine is as thick as ever. I wonder if the chemo is working at all. The nurse assures me I am the only one who responded well to the chemo. We shall see when I do finally get the results. So, I am sorry nothing to report yet. I will learn about them most likely tomorrow, and will let you all know. Thanks for the prayers. You all are so greatly appreciated. TAnn, I am saying prayers for you now, as well as the rest of you too.
Hugs,
Cheryl
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Hello all,
Tomorrow I go for tests. I will have a CT and blood work. They will also test my bood to see if my DNA is appropriate for a new vaccine trial called Epimmune. My counts are still down from the last chemo. I hope they're up, because next week is my last chemo! There are not many people left in the trial due to reoccurence. I am praying I am NED, or atleast stable. Please say a prayer for me to God. as I will continue to hold you all in my prayers.
Thanks,
Cheryl
Becky I appreciate your checking in on me. Debi Sleep tight! All of you are so great. Stable is good, I'll take it. Still hoping NED will visit me. I'll keep experimenting till he does! What do I have to lose, being as they gave me only a 13% survival rate in the first place! To the future!
"Slightly Depressed"?
in GENERAL
Posted
Becky,
Staying busy does help to relieve slight depression; however, it may be a way of not dealing with the problem too. In which case, only ads to the stress and overwhelmed feeling. The first thing to do is identify what it is that is bugging you, then make up a game plan to tackle each problem. Sometimes we feel overwhelmed, extended, unable to say "no", guilty, used and abused. You need to take it one problem at a time.
Not everything is "fixable." You are not perfect, and that is ok. Try not to beat yourself up when things don't go your way. That is hard for me, cause I am in the "helping business," not the "fixin business." I have to try not to "fix" everything.
When you look at everything you do, who would not feel overwhelmed! You really make for a top list of stressors! (Move to new house, working mom, cancer survivor, practically a newlywed, Christmas, and the list goes on.)
I am glad you are getting counseling and taking meds to keep the monsters at bay. You are doing all of the right things to prevent serious major depression from occurring. If I can ever help, you are not alone.
Hope things improve,
Cheryl