April 2012 - Cancer is back!

I have been feeling sharp pains in my left side for a couple of weeks.  Reminds me of a rib injury; hurting sharply when I cough, laugh or breath too deep.  So back I go for the following up testing we had scheduled for Mid April.  The April tests, including a crappy thoracentesis procedure (they jab a small tube in your back to remove a sample of fluid), showed that the cancer is back.  So here we go again. ;-(

I made three trips to Houston in April. Tests, tests and first new chemo treatment.

Chemo treatment this time will be mostly accomplished in Midland, praise God!  The travel between Houston and Midland was almost as hard as the infusions. OK, that's not true, but it was exhausting on me and my care givers.  Libby and Nita have dealt with the bulk of traveling with me and I will never be able to reward them for all their time and love.

I have three cycles of chemo to complete, each cycle is 4 weeks.  Week one and three in the cycle includes multiple drugs with week two just using taxol.  Week four is an 'off' week with no treatment.  If everything goes according to schedule, I will be doing the treatments through July.  These treatments don't seem to be as hard on me as the chemo last year, but here is fair warning - the treatments include some steroid so be ready for the mood swings! ;-). Hair is gone again just in time for the Summer heat.

Here is a picture before starting chemo again so you can see what my hair looked like before we started again.  I was amazed that I didn't have any gray hair!

So Far So Good - March 2012

Getting my strength back took longer than I thought.  Whew, it has been a struggle.  Starting in February I can work around the house, garden etc. for about 2 hours at my full speed (which is of course flat out faster than most people will ever go) then the crash comes and I take a much needed nap.

I have to say, that I did not mind missing my first 1099 submittal cycle in 30 years.  I was surprised that I didn't much give it a second thought.  Just shows you that my priorities have changed greatly this last year.

Our whole family was busy getting over a terrible sinus infection that had me in Lubbock with the kids for almost all of January. We took turns taking care of Evie, napping and fixing meals.  Evie was the best patient (even with all the teeth she is cutting).  The rest of us bitched and moaned as we began to feel better, trips to the ice cream shop where the highlight of the week.

Evie had her first birthday in April.  We celebrated with a wonderful lunch made by Kelsey and a few close family.

Four Generations

Andy, Kelsey & Evie - 1st Birthday Family