Over the past several weeks, I've been having a groovy time doing life with family & friends, plus a mix of infusions and doctor appointments. On May 4, I had my Avastin infusion in the morning and my primary care physician (PCP) appointment in the afternoon. My doctor felt my blood pressure was a bit too high and called in a prescription for an additional pill to help lower my blood pressure. Scheduling my April, May, & June chemo follow-up appointments and infusions was a challenge that could raise your blood pressure!!! Plus throw in a CT scan scheduling nightmare. Just that was stressful with emails back & forth with my oncology nurse, Clare. She, however, was a rock star throughout the whole process!!! At first, the only time they could schedule me for the CT scan was June 14. This just would not work since my oncologist wanted me to have it before my May appointment. Finally, while getting my infusion on May 4, they called and scheduled the CT scan for the morning of May 12 at the hospital in Camden. YEAH!!! Then, they scheduled my port access in Voorhees. If you don't live near me, the two locations are about at least an hour's drive from each other on a good morning. Again, Clare to the rescue!!! I was rescheduled for Camden and at the correct time.
On Friday, May 12, I arrived to get my port accessed on time, no problems and walked across the street to the hospital, checked in, and then started drinking the yucky tasting contrast. Approximately an hour later, I was laying on the table ready to "shoot the donut." Of course, nothing is ever easy with me. After they pumped the contrast into me and started taking pictures, what do I do??? .... Sneeze!!! Ooops!!! Now they need to take several more pictures that aren't blurry from my sneeze. Then I get a lecture about the possibility of being allergic to the contrast. What a fun time!!! After the scan, I walk back over to MDA for one of the nurses to de-access my port. I advise the receptionist that I'm back and they just need to call back and let them know. I take a seat and wait. And wait. And wait. And wait. Finally, after about 20 minutes, I return to the receptionist desk. Did she call? No. Did the other receptionist call? Yes. And within 2 minutes, the nurse came and took care of me and sent me on my way home. Now comes the waiting for the results to arrive in my portal. I knew that unless there was something on the scan that needed immediate attention, I wouldn't get the results until Monday. I did get the results on Monday and in my opinion, there was nothing horrible. I love the line in the results that states: "BONES: Intact." It just makes me giggle. Unfortunately, I still have some small plueral effusions.
I had my oncology appointment on Thursday, May 18 with Clare & Jackie (APN) before my infusions of Doxil & Avastin (8A). Although Clare has seen me every month, I haven't seen Jackie since last year. She walks in and says, "You have hair!!!" The rest of the appointment we talked about my numbers, local eateries, itchy feet from the Doxil, and future appointments. I love my MDA oncology team!!! 💙
After my appointment and scheduling the next 3 months, I took the elevator up to the infusion floor and waited to be called back for my time in the chemo chair. I didn't have to wait long to be called back, but I did have to wait a bit because my blood pressure was too high. So after about 10-15 minutes and the nurse taking my blood pressure about 5 times, it was finally low enough to start chemo. Hallelujah!!! 🎉🎉🎉
This infusion was what I consider my "A" treatment. Specifically, 8A. And since my CA-125 only went from 105 to 101 (massive disappointment), I feel like I will be on this schedule for a long time. Lucky me. Lucky, lucky me!!! 🍀
If you were alive in the 60's & 70's, you'll remember that everything was about being groovy and world peace with protests and sit-ins and rock and roll festivals like Woodstock. On Saturday, May 4, I attended a Ladies' High Tea at a friend's church with the Feeling Groovy theme. It was a wonderful afternoon of goodies, a 60s/70s fashion show, a craft, a game (which I won), tea - of course, and a wonderful message about the true peace found in Jesus Christ.
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| L - Groovy cookies that I won. R - Yummy treats. |
In fact, from Genesis to Revelation, the Bible is full of over 300 verses about peace, depending on what version you are reading. Then you're thinking peace.... really? Those verses must have only been applicable in "Bible times," not in 2023. God really doesn't understand today's world. It's different now!!! There is no peace in the world. There's a big war in Ukraine with the Russians wanting to take over, there is a war in Sudan, there's famine everywhere, there are floods, massive snowstorms, tornados, forest fires, there's probably in-fighting in every democratic government, plus there is so much poverty around the world, homelessness, uncurable diseases, broken relationships, gun violence, mass shootings, and the list could go on and on and on and on. But in Mark 13:5-8, Jesus says, "...See that no one leads you astray. Many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he!’ and they will lead many astray. And when you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed. This must take place, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places; there will be famines. These are but the beginning of the birth pains." Sound familiar?
But in John 16:33, Jesus says. "I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”
Read that verse again!!!
You can have eternal peace through faith in Jesus Christ. He didn't say believe in me and you won't problems, like cancer. However, he did promise me peace during my problems. This is from Philippians 4:5-7, "Let your reasonableness (or gentleness) be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." WOW!!! Thank you Jesus!!! (my emphasis)
Are you feeling groovy or feeling anxious?
Let the peace of Christ reign in your heart - now & forever!!!
Prayer Requests:
June 1 - Chemo 8B - Avastin only
June 13 - Labs - draw blood & urinalysis - please pray for lower CA-125
June 15 - Doctor appointment followed by Chemo 9A - Doxil & Avastin
June 29 - Chemo 9B - Avastin only
July - attending She Speaks - please pray for the Lord to protect my family while away
July 18 - Labs - draw blook & urinalysis - please pray for a lower CA-125
July 20 - Doctor appointment followed by Chemo 10A - Doxil & Avastin
August 3 - Chemo 10B - Avastin only
August 11 - My birthday - please pray for the Lord to use me for His glory.
August 14 - Labs - draw blood & urinalysis - please pray for lower CA-125
August 15 - appointment with new PCP - please pray for a good first meeting.
August 17 - Doctor appointment followed by Chemo 11A - Doxil & Avastin
August 31 - Chemo 11B - Avastin only
Do you notice a trend? As of now, I will be on this type of schedule for the foreseeable future.
Looking forward:
September is Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month - On September 9, I will be walking again in the 2023 Together in Teal Run/Walk for the Mid-Atlantic region at Neshaminy State Park in PA. I would love your support for research to find a cure, help newly diagnosed patients, provide assistance to caregivers, and heightened awareness of the signs & symptoms of this silent killer.
This link should take you to the NOCC fundraising page:
togetherinteal.donordrive.com -- Cut & paste this link to another tab.
Any support you can give would be greatly appreciated!!!
Only through His Strength,
Sandy
PS - Until the speaker at the Tea explained, this was information I had never heard before. In my Christian church upbringing, I always heard that the peace sign was a broken cross. So, I looked up the information and this is what I found on Brittanica:
Occasionally, maligned as an anti-Christian symbol (an upside-down broken “Nero-cross”), a satanic character, or even a Nazi emblem, the iconic peace sign is apparently not so innocent to everyone. Thankfully, the symbol has a clear history, and its origin is not so controversial. The modern peace sign was designed by Gerald Holtom for the British Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament in 1958. The vertical line in the center represents the flag semaphore signal for the letter D, and the downward lines on either side represent the semaphore signal for the letter N. “N” and “D”, for nuclear disarmament, enclosed in a circle. Holtom also described the symbol as representing despair, with the central lines forming a human with its hands questioning at its sides against the backdrop of a white Earth. It is said that Holtom originally considered using a Christian cross but disliked its association with the Crusades and ultimately chose something he considered to be more universal.
