Jan and Ian

We completed day 9 of the fourth infusion cycle today, and Jan has finally shaken off the effects of the chemotherapy she received on day one. Both of us have been surprised at the length of this recovery period, but have been assured by Jan’s medical team that all is well.  According to them, the effects of the treatments accumulate and we are seeing the impact of the accumulation.

We visited with Jan’s surgeon today, and she received a “thumbs up” on her recovery from the surgery in which the tumor and lymph nodes were removed.  We will not visit with him again until chemotherapy and radiation treatments are completed.

She and I stopped by a sandwich shop for lunch and to celebrate the good news, and since she was feeling up to more time away from the house we decided to call James & Gretchen to see if we could drop by for a quick visit.  Jan had not met new grandson Andrew (who is a week old) due to her slow recovery, and now that she was beginning to feel better, really wanted to meet him.  When we called, it turned out that they were close by returning baby items, and had time to join us at the sandwich shop for a quick visit!!  Hooray!!

We had a great visit, and Jan has felt great since.  Click here to see a few photos of the visit.

Jan is convinced that her turnaround was the result of our fortuitous meeting with James, Gretchen, Ian, and Andrew.  I’m convinced I’ll send her to visit Ian and Andrew immediately after the fifth cycle begins.

Jan has had a great week since her Herceptin infusion last Tuesday.  She felt good enough to pay Starbucks several visits, attend a PEO social event, and join the family in celebrating son John’s birthday.  The week was capped off by a visit from John and Jo Anne Caldwell today; they were en route to Nashville from John’s ??th high school reunion in Madison, Georgia.

We’re counting on good days continuing through Tuesday when she has her next infusion session.  This will be the beginning of the fourth cycle (out of 6) so we are making progress!  The first infusion of each cycle includes Taxotere and Carboplatin in addition to Herceptin.  If she reacts to this infusion in the same way she reacted to the other three similar infusions, Thursday through Sunday (April 22 – 25) will be difficult days and recovery will begin Sunday / Monday.  Here’s hoping we beat the plan.

Jan will stay with John and Sharon this coming Friday and Saturday nights, freeing me to help Atlanta Motorcycle Club run AHRMA dirt track races in Washington Georgia on Saturday.  Thanks for helping out John & Sharon.

Our thoughts are with the Lancaster family.  We learned that Aubrey’s father Hilton passed away yesterday.  We’re confident that Aubrey greeted him with open arms.  Godspeed Hilton.

Jan sailed through the dreaded major chemo session Tuesday a week ago (March 30) with a minimum of negative side effects.  This was a pleasant surprise given what she experienced after the last major chemo session.

However she felt kinda “low and tired” over the weekend, and by the time we arrived at this week’s infusion session (Herceptin only) the medical staff thought she was a bit dehydrated.  They pumped in an extra quart (OK — it was only a pint, but our motorcycling friends will appreciate “add a quart”. )

She is doing fine now, and looking forward to a good weekend.

We aren’t out of the woods yet, but we are much encouraged by the way Jan’s treatment is progressing and her increased ability to cope with the physical and emotional discomfort associated with the treatment.

My masculinity is at stake by considering using the “Itty Bittys” headline, but I’ve loved it since Gretchen began using it as a side bar heading on her blog.  It is descriptive and much better than the vogueish “news flashes”.  To heck with it — I’ll use it.  Just once.

Enjoying a beautiful Friday afternoon at our favorite Mexican restaurant

We’ve had a good week, capped by a nice meal at our favorite Mexican restaurant Tijuana Joe’s.  Food was palatable, company was great, and the weather was divine — even for a mid-March day in Atlanta at the beginning of March Madness.  Try saying that three times after several margaritas.

Our week had its ups and its downs.  It started off on an up note (see the “miracles” post), but then began to trend downward as Jan experienced a general lack of energy and stomach discomfort for several days.  She was disappointed at the turn and by Thursday was beginning to question the whole treatment regimen (right Claire?).  Fortunately things turned today.  The cold rainy weather turned bright, clear, and warm and our patient was able to sit comfortably outside and read most of the day.  Starbucks-lust got the best of her mid-afternoon and she headed there for a caffeine fix and more sunshine prior to joining me for dinner at TJ’s.

The week also had its light moments (which is what prompted the use of the headline).  Jan has a propensity for collecting nails in her car’s tires.  I’ve regularly accused her of being a “nail magnet” as I removed, plugged, and re-installed tires.  Been driving on construction sites, eh?  Driving around parking lots looking for nails?  OK, more than accused; how do you spell maligned?

Page 2.  Her car gets lots better gas mileage than the 15 passenger Club Wagon I drive and she has not been driving much, so I’ve been driving it to the grocery store, doctor visits, and the odd meeting.  Tuesday night when I arrived at the NFARL meeting (the ham radio club in which I am active) I looked down & there was a nail in her tire.   I haven’t picked up a nail in 20 years so it must be her nail.  She drove the car once last week so the car was obviously booby (no pun intended) trapped.  Needless to say, I got little sympathy when I got home.  Once again I was in the garage removing, plugging, and re-installing her tire.  Jan is still giggling.

The weekend is going to be nice — nice weather, nice attitudes, nice family time.  Hope yours is nice too.

Friday, Saturday, and Sunday were rather crummy days for Jan.  She didn’t eat a lot Friday and Saturday due to mild stomach discomfort and general weakness (expected side-effects of the chemo treatments).  She slept most of both days.  Julie came by Saturday to spend time with her Mom, and she and I had a very nice lunch and visit before she released me to suffer through the Tennessee / Kentucky game while she & Mom visited.  Kentucky was awesome, as was their visit.

Today Jan’s appetite is returning, and we’re struggling to find things that taste good.  After a few false starts, stove top chicken dressing and a rotisserie chicken hit the spot and she consumed a good dinner.  Shortly after the dinner, things started to come around and she is feeling much better.  According to her, it is like a miracle!!  Hooray!!

The experiences of the past several days have us thankful for the great medical resources available to Jan, and the family and friends who buoy us up when we’re looking at the less-than-good side of this journey Jan and I are on.  Thanks for your support.

This has been a marvelous week for both of us.  Jan felt great all week, and we were able to enjoy good time together with less interference from her illness.  The weather is finally beginning to show signs of springtime, and the anticipation of warmer weather and dirty hands from planting a few colorful flowers helped put us both in a good mood.

The trauma of the week was proactively addressing Jan’s hair.  We expect that it will begin to fall out mid to late next week after her fourth infusion session (one of the sessions in which all three chemicals will be infused), so Friday she had it cut to about 1/4″, had her wig styled, and selected a number of hats and scarves for daily wear.  Her wig style is very close to the hair style she wore a dozen + years ago — fuller than her recent style — and I think it looks really really great.  She is still adjusting to the cut’s fullness, and left the door open to go back & have it trimmed a bit, but I hope she leaves it like it is.  The hats and scarves are really cute too and nicely complement her wardrobe.

Anticipating the first showing of her new look was trying for Jan, but she could not have had a better audience.  Niece Christy, whom we have not seen in several years, laid over in Atlanta with James and Gretchen en route to spring break in Costa Rica.  The family congregated several times to visit with Christy … and preview Mom’s new look.  It was very well received.

We will spend tomorrow preparing for Tuesday’s infusion session.

Jan’s week since her second infusion has been the best since mid-December.  She has had no side effects from the dose of Herceptin infused last Tuesday and is beginning to regain her jovial spirit.

The week has been busy.  She ventured out alone for the first time in at least six weeks (I swear I heard bits of MLK’s “Free at Last” as she departed).  Carol Silva dropped by to visit and deliver armloads of healthy foods.  Gretchen’s Mom Lynne D’Huyvetter, a 15 year cancer survivor, carved a lengthy visit out of her busy schedule and shared her strength, experiences and wisdom on handling the disease with Jan.  We’ve selected a “cranial prosthesis” in anticipation of Jan’s hair loss.  We’ve taken a walk by the river, and we’ve ventured to the gym for a light workout.  Sunday we spent some time being entertained by Ian and his parents.

As we’ve gone through the week, we are learning that Jan’s energy levels drop late afternoon.  Consequently we’re scheduling social outings at mid-day instead of evenings.  We also tend to avoid large public gatherings given her reduced resistance caused by the infusions.

Tomorrow Jan and Gretchen are attending a presentation by Cookie Aftergut and her Chemoflage organization.  Cookie is a cancer survivor and puts on the sessions to teach others to deal with the disease.  After the session, Jan will head back to Dr. Austin’s office and receive her third infusion.  It will contain Herceptin only, so we are expecting next week to be another good week.

We appreciate all who have called and / or sent notes to Jan.  She checks email regularly and enjoys hearing from all of you.  Your contacts help maintain her spirits as she prepares for the March 9 session — the next session in which she will receive all three drugs.  You can reach her at janet1025 at gmail dot com.

Today’s session was a piece of cake.  We’re old hands at it now.

Jan’s pre-chemo bloodwork was good — white count down as expected from the effects of last week’s infusion and other measures within acceptable limits.

Jan received only Herceptin today and she “consumed” her portion in half an hour.  Herceptin has no ill side effects, so we’re looking forward to a good week.

Tomorrow we have an appointment to visit with the Women’s Center at Northside Hospital and learn more about hats, scarves, and wigs.

We’re hoping the weather will cooperate so we can enjoy a few short walks by the river.  Come join us if you have free time!!

Reality set in Friday and Saturday.  The steroids wore off, and Jan’s energy levels dropped significantly.  She coped with it reasonably well, but I was happy that Julie was scheduled to sit with Jan Saturday while I was off helping Atlanta Motorcycle Club run motorcycle races in Washington, Georgia.

It sounds like Jan,  Julie, and Indie had a great time.  Thanks Julie for helping and letting me get some fresh air on such a beautiful day.

Sunday and Monday Jan felt a lot better.  She spent the better part of both days napping and resting in front of the den TV.  I cannot read with a TV going in the same room, so we are sorting out a way to reduce TV sound levels so I can sit with her rather than work in my basement office.  We’ve tried ham radio headsets, but they are too heavy / confining for her.  Next try will be some lighter headphones.

btw, the racing on Saturday was excellent.  Click here to see a quick followup story on the home page of the Atlanta Motorcycle Club website, one of the sites I manage.