The Waiting Game

This won't be much of an update because not much is new. Jane has now gone 5 weeks without chemo but is still feeling  lousy from it. She tires quite easily and never really stops having some level of nausea.  She will go sometime this week to have her port flushed and find out if her blood levels are up enough for another treatment.  However, she does not plan to take more chemo until her stomach is better. She sees the oncologist on Sept 10th and will make a plan after that visit.

She loves getting your cards and email. Please don't feel bad if she doesn't respond to emails. She says she has "chemo brain" which makes it hard to think of words, etc.

Thanks to everyone for all prayers and loving thoughts. Keep them coming!!!!

Robin

8/8/12

Jane had second treatment this Monday, 8/6. Has had a rough two days since. Very nauseated and uncomfortable...she is trying out different medicines and trying like crazy to power through, but is finding it impossible to be positive while being this sick.

She will not be able to take chemo next Monday as counts are coming down and she will need extra time. She has refused the nasty stomach shot that bolsters bone marrow generation because it hurts and makes her feel lousy.  She may decide to take a few weeks off to see what it feels like to feel good again and go on a short family vacation....but decisions like this are day to day right now.

Keep in mind as I say all this that in short order I will show up at the door and Jane will answer in a perfectly coordinated outfit, hair, etc. perfect, and ready to roll again.  Everything is relative, right?

Jane asks that you send emails to her or even me if you want a quicker reponse. She just is not up to talking yet.

Jane has finally agreed to release me from her wish that I be funny in these updates.  She doesn't really know that I have turned the act of blogging into a comedy all it's own. "They" say blogging is the easiest thing in the world. I have now added it to facebook and tweeting on the list of things no one can make me do!

Robin

Chemo Has Begun

Hello to all of Jane's friends and family. My name is Robin, and Jane has asked me to post this blog with updates about her progress in this newest challenge.

For those who are not all the way in the information loop, the cancer has returned to Jane's lungs and she has begun a new course of treatment with a drug called Topotecan. The course of treatment involves a one half hour drip three Mondays in a row, followed by one week off.  The plan is to do this through January.

The goal of this particular drug is to reduce the size of tumors and hold the disease at bay. The primary side effect of Topotecan is to reduce white and red blood cell counts and to reduce platelets. If that occurs she will have to take shots to bolster bone marrow production and may need platelet transfusions...or it may simply slow down the pace with which she can take to treatments.

Jane has been fighting this thing for 8 years and does not intent to give up the fight now (Irish...stubborn...fiesty).  She never fails to credit the unending support of so many friends and family members.

As to the impact of the first treatment (yesterday)..... the treatment is much, much shorter, so that is great. Today would be the day she begins to feel kicked from it and it probably will be fatigue more than anything else.

Emails, cards and prayers are much appreciated...and you know how she loves to laugh.  Probably shouldn't laugh in prayer though...I used to get in a lot of trouble for that!!!!

Stay tuned,

Robin

First Blog

Hello to all Jane's family and friends.  This blog has been put together to allow everyone to keep up-to-date with how Jane's cancer treatment is progressing.