What an interesting and challenging week!
As we approached the weekend, I was suffering. My mouth sore was ever present. My hand/foot syndrome was making my hands red and sore. And......I seemed to have developed an old friend Paradoxical Diarrhea.
Let's deal with them in order. My magical mouthwash was having minimal effect on the mouth sore. Hydrogen Peroxide (the research manager's choice of treatment) was not that effective. But the further I get from the Xeloda pills, the better it gets. My concern was how it would mesh with my tooth extraction next Tuesday.
The hand/foot syndrome was discussed with the doctor at the cancer center. He explained that there were three stages. Looking at my hands, he said that I was definitely moving moving into stage two. If I get to stage three (in which my hands start to blister and leak) I will have to stop taking Xeloda and go back to regular chemo, barring possible developments in immunotherapy or genetic engineering. I stay in touch with the Cancer Research Institute to learn of any testing in those areas. The doctor's solution was to go two more weeks without Xeloda and see how things are then, likely restarting with a smaller dose. Apparently, the redness in the hands reflects Xeloda settling there rather than the bloodstream and a few weeks off should allow the Xeloda to gradually get into the blood and therefore, taking a few weeks off is not big risk. It definitely offers a big benefit for me. I feel better already. I will be doing a petscan in 12 days and it will be interesting to see where things stand.
The Paradoxical Diarrhea seems to be best dealt with by having a colonic. I did this late this afternoon and it feels much better. The therapist was pleased with how my colon was working. Nothing better than pleasing your colon-hydrotherapist.
Meanwhile, my blood test numbers yesterday were good. In particular, my platelet count was 97, up from 73 a few weeks ago. No doubt the research manager's recommendations of papaya, papaya leaf extract and beet root juice have had significant effect. She has not stopped reminding me of that since we got the number.
I love retrieving the mail each day. Recently, the research manager beat me to it and I asked if there was any interesting mail. She said that she had an interesting male.
"I often drink water and when I do, I drink high ph Essentia water. Stay alkaline, my friends."
Wednesday, April 17, 2019
Wednesday, April 10, 2019
Priorities
While each week, I look forward to seeing the results of the blood tests, they also can be challenging.
When my platelets are low, the research manager prescribes beet juice, papaya and papaya leaf extract.
When my red blood cells are low; red meat, chicken livers, and other things come to the fore.
Billirubins are high? Back to the Cholestyramine.
You get the picture.
At times, I get tired of dealing with these issues, bearing in mind that meanwhile the cancer fight continues with the full array of supplements and vitamins.
This week, the platelets improved slightly, but the white blood cells and ANC dropped significantly. We have to keep the immune system up. Lypo-spheric vitamin C and Chaga Mushroom tea are the order of the day.. I have been taking Chaga every day since the beginning of this journey and have not had a cold, notwithstanding that I meet with hundreds of people each week.
Over the weekend, my hand/foot syndrome was at its worst. It hurt to do many things. However, a few days without Xeloda and generous applications of cream have things improving slowly. It did prompt me to go and buy a comfortable shoe (actually two shoes) to wear, in place of the running shoes that I have worn every day since Labor Day.
I love getting mail each day. The other day the post lady was still putting mail in the boxes when I came home and I was told that I needed to wait until she was finished because she did not know who I was. I told her that I knew who I was and as I got on the elevator, it registered and she said that she was glad that I knew who I was. She must be thinking about the Silver Alerts we get each day in Florida. It seems there are a lot of old forgetful guys.
Talking about dealing with issues, my weight has crept up a little. And I may have found a good solution. The headline on page 57 of a recent Time magazine was "Eating dessert can help with your diet." I have yet to hear the research manager endorse that however!
When my platelets are low, the research manager prescribes beet juice, papaya and papaya leaf extract.
When my red blood cells are low; red meat, chicken livers, and other things come to the fore.
Billirubins are high? Back to the Cholestyramine.
You get the picture.
At times, I get tired of dealing with these issues, bearing in mind that meanwhile the cancer fight continues with the full array of supplements and vitamins.
This week, the platelets improved slightly, but the white blood cells and ANC dropped significantly. We have to keep the immune system up. Lypo-spheric vitamin C and Chaga Mushroom tea are the order of the day.. I have been taking Chaga every day since the beginning of this journey and have not had a cold, notwithstanding that I meet with hundreds of people each week.
Over the weekend, my hand/foot syndrome was at its worst. It hurt to do many things. However, a few days without Xeloda and generous applications of cream have things improving slowly. It did prompt me to go and buy a comfortable shoe (actually two shoes) to wear, in place of the running shoes that I have worn every day since Labor Day.
I love getting mail each day. The other day the post lady was still putting mail in the boxes when I came home and I was told that I needed to wait until she was finished because she did not know who I was. I told her that I knew who I was and as I got on the elevator, it registered and she said that she was glad that I knew who I was. She must be thinking about the Silver Alerts we get each day in Florida. It seems there are a lot of old forgetful guys.
Talking about dealing with issues, my weight has crept up a little. And I may have found a good solution. The headline on page 57 of a recent Time magazine was "Eating dessert can help with your diet." I have yet to hear the research manager endorse that however!
Wednesday, April 3, 2019
Chicken problems
Apparently, there is a secret way to find out how I am doing and many people are using it. They ask the research manager. Since I look well and feel well, she has decided to tell them that I am doing well, which I am.
The blood tests went well yesterday. Most numbers were decent. My platelet count went down slightly, but only slightly. We will continue to work on that.
As I left to go out for tennis yesterday, the research manager noted that my billirubins were high. Apparently, they are reflective of something about the liver. But she noted that the other liver measures were all good, I thought about it while playing tennis, until it rained and then I thought about it while making and eating breakfast and then I went to the cancer center and asked the nurse practitioner about it. She said that they were high, but that they kept an eye on it and that my other liver numbers were good. Conclusion: trust the research manager.
Talking about the research manager, I have noticed that she often focuses her eyes on what I am doing and eating. I think she inherited her eyes from an eagle. I just have to laugh.
Our mutual printer is on my desk. The other day, a recipe got printed out for Brazilian chicken. I have spent hours looking for a Brazilian chicken to no avail. Things got worse though. The next thing I saw was a recipe for stolen chicken. If anyone wants to risk it, could you steal one for the research manager?
While I was at the cancer center, I mentioned that in addition to my hands and feet being affected, I thought my knees were losing hair. The nurse practitioner said that she had never heard that before, but she checked it out and said there was still plenty of hair there. I am sure that will be a story that will entertain someone at the cancer center.
So, all in all, things are good. I feel good. And I thank all you good people for your interest.
Future events.
Tooth extraction on April 23
Petscan on April 29 or 30.
The blood tests went well yesterday. Most numbers were decent. My platelet count went down slightly, but only slightly. We will continue to work on that.
As I left to go out for tennis yesterday, the research manager noted that my billirubins were high. Apparently, they are reflective of something about the liver. But she noted that the other liver measures were all good, I thought about it while playing tennis, until it rained and then I thought about it while making and eating breakfast and then I went to the cancer center and asked the nurse practitioner about it. She said that they were high, but that they kept an eye on it and that my other liver numbers were good. Conclusion: trust the research manager.
Talking about the research manager, I have noticed that she often focuses her eyes on what I am doing and eating. I think she inherited her eyes from an eagle. I just have to laugh.
Our mutual printer is on my desk. The other day, a recipe got printed out for Brazilian chicken. I have spent hours looking for a Brazilian chicken to no avail. Things got worse though. The next thing I saw was a recipe for stolen chicken. If anyone wants to risk it, could you steal one for the research manager?
While I was at the cancer center, I mentioned that in addition to my hands and feet being affected, I thought my knees were losing hair. The nurse practitioner said that she had never heard that before, but she checked it out and said there was still plenty of hair there. I am sure that will be a story that will entertain someone at the cancer center.
So, all in all, things are good. I feel good. And I thank all you good people for your interest.
Future events.
Tooth extraction on April 23
Petscan on April 29 or 30.
Wednesday, March 27, 2019
Amazing
Another week. More blood tests. Mixed results.
A few numbers were improved. ANC, for example, went from 1.4 to 1.7. The doc is happier if that number is over 1.5 and it has been known to be 3.0 or more. Strangely, my white blood cell count went down from 3.0 to 2.8. Both measures are indicators of my immune system's ability to function properly.
Stay tuned for the amazing thing,
It is encouraging that my level of alkalinity is up. It is now in the range of 7.25 to 7.5 whereas it was often around 6 a while ago. This is good. The more alkaline that I am, the tougher it is for cancer cells. Credit a few things, but 60 ounces of Essentia high ph water is helping.
I finished my week of Xeloda yesterday and am happy about that. My hands, in particular, are very red and fairly sore. I am using liberal amounts of Udderly Smooth cream.
Stay tuned for the amazing part of this blog.
I won at tennis today. It threatened rain when we started. Paul and I won the first game and then it started raining. We would have continued, but everyone else ran for protection. Chalk up another major victory for team Gill.
I sometimes play with three younger more energetic women who are not part of our group. The last time that I played with them, all the courts were in use and we had to vacate our court for some people who play pickleball. But we were ahead 6-5 when we had to quit. We agreed to meet later, but they did not show. It is bad enough being stood up by one women, but three? That hurts.
I know that you have been waiting with baited breath for the amazing part of this blog. Here it is. You know that the research manager concocted an attack on low platelets. The first week's efforts had no positive effect (73 versus 77 the week before). But this week we added papaya leaf extract and the count went from 73 to 89. We have asked the doc often about whether there is anything that can help platelets and they knew of nothing. The research manager finds papaya leaf extract and it has immediate results. Amazing!
I am off for dinner. I am dressed too warmly because when I checked what the weather was going to be later tonight, I accidentally looked at Cupertino California rather than St. Petersburg. Oh well. I am not going to change now.
I intend to have a great week and hope the same for you.
A few numbers were improved. ANC, for example, went from 1.4 to 1.7. The doc is happier if that number is over 1.5 and it has been known to be 3.0 or more. Strangely, my white blood cell count went down from 3.0 to 2.8. Both measures are indicators of my immune system's ability to function properly.
Stay tuned for the amazing thing,
It is encouraging that my level of alkalinity is up. It is now in the range of 7.25 to 7.5 whereas it was often around 6 a while ago. This is good. The more alkaline that I am, the tougher it is for cancer cells. Credit a few things, but 60 ounces of Essentia high ph water is helping.
I finished my week of Xeloda yesterday and am happy about that. My hands, in particular, are very red and fairly sore. I am using liberal amounts of Udderly Smooth cream.
Stay tuned for the amazing part of this blog.
I won at tennis today. It threatened rain when we started. Paul and I won the first game and then it started raining. We would have continued, but everyone else ran for protection. Chalk up another major victory for team Gill.
I sometimes play with three younger more energetic women who are not part of our group. The last time that I played with them, all the courts were in use and we had to vacate our court for some people who play pickleball. But we were ahead 6-5 when we had to quit. We agreed to meet later, but they did not show. It is bad enough being stood up by one women, but three? That hurts.
I know that you have been waiting with baited breath for the amazing part of this blog. Here it is. You know that the research manager concocted an attack on low platelets. The first week's efforts had no positive effect (73 versus 77 the week before). But this week we added papaya leaf extract and the count went from 73 to 89. We have asked the doc often about whether there is anything that can help platelets and they knew of nothing. The research manager finds papaya leaf extract and it has immediate results. Amazing!
I am off for dinner. I am dressed too warmly because when I checked what the weather was going to be later tonight, I accidentally looked at Cupertino California rather than St. Petersburg. Oh well. I am not going to change now.
I intend to have a great week and hope the same for you.
Wednesday, March 20, 2019
Moral Fabric
Well, last night I started back on Xeloda. Over the week off, things have improved significantly.
My hands are better, not great, but better.
My blood test showed improvement in virtually all categories, except for platelets, which dropped from 77 (bad) to 73 (worse). Having said that, my mouth sores did get better. A week ago, I was waking up looking like Dracula with blood trickling out of my mouth. That is not happening right now, anyway.
We are working on the platelets with many approaches. Beet root juice, papaya and a few other things did not seem as helpful as we hoped, but a new fix is in hand. The research manager learned that papaya leaf extract has improved platelet count for many and fairly quickly. I began those capsules last night also. It will be exciting to see the results at next Tuesday's blood tests.
Speaking of blood tests, yesterday's was exciting for me beyond the blood test results. Since it was a finger prick test this week, I was given a Snoopy bandage and, lo and behold, Snoopy was playing tennis, I could hardly contain my excitement. I mentioned it to a few people, but they did not seem that impressed. I think the blood technicians believe that I am crazy. They may be right.
One interesting thing this past week Someone at the club is moving and had a large amount of fabric that she wanted to get rid of. Someone expressed interest and she brought the fabric to the club. I asked if she had any moral fabric. She thought I was questioning her character, but I told her the moral fabric was for me. I hope she believed me.
My hands are better, not great, but better.
My blood test showed improvement in virtually all categories, except for platelets, which dropped from 77 (bad) to 73 (worse). Having said that, my mouth sores did get better. A week ago, I was waking up looking like Dracula with blood trickling out of my mouth. That is not happening right now, anyway.
We are working on the platelets with many approaches. Beet root juice, papaya and a few other things did not seem as helpful as we hoped, but a new fix is in hand. The research manager learned that papaya leaf extract has improved platelet count for many and fairly quickly. I began those capsules last night also. It will be exciting to see the results at next Tuesday's blood tests.
Speaking of blood tests, yesterday's was exciting for me beyond the blood test results. Since it was a finger prick test this week, I was given a Snoopy bandage and, lo and behold, Snoopy was playing tennis, I could hardly contain my excitement. I mentioned it to a few people, but they did not seem that impressed. I think the blood technicians believe that I am crazy. They may be right.
One interesting thing this past week Someone at the club is moving and had a large amount of fabric that she wanted to get rid of. Someone expressed interest and she brought the fabric to the club. I asked if she had any moral fabric. She thought I was questioning her character, but I told her the moral fabric was for me. I hope she believed me.
Wednesday, March 13, 2019
Normal
Things could be called largely normal this week.
Most of my blood numbers are within a normal range (for cancer guys like me.) However, the platelet count is down to its lowest yet.......77. So the research manager is on a campaign to get the count up. Anybody want to participate? Beet root juice, papaya, vitamin k2, more spinach and a few other things are in my immediate future.
My CEA is up slightly but still in a range that Dr. Patel is comfortable with. I think it is more a measure of colon issues than liver or lymph node issues and the liver and lymph nodes are our primary focus.
My hand/foot syndrome got bad over the weekend, the same as two weeks ago. I think it gets better duringthe non-Xeloda week. I hope so. It was tough playing tennis on Monday morning and I took today off to recover a little bit.
The mouth sores are also back in a minor way. But I will survive..
I learned that a bridge club nearby runs a stroke clinic on Saturday morning. That is super, tennis for those with heart problems.
I am thinking of having a baby. The less than a year old grandson of two of the tennis players was brought down to the tennis court the other day and the ladies all fawned over him. With a baby, I would get at least peripheral attention.
I still need rest and so I am going for my soak now. Earlier this week, the research manager said that she was out of thyme and that is how I feel some evenings also.
Most of my blood numbers are within a normal range (for cancer guys like me.) However, the platelet count is down to its lowest yet.......77. So the research manager is on a campaign to get the count up. Anybody want to participate? Beet root juice, papaya, vitamin k2, more spinach and a few other things are in my immediate future.
My CEA is up slightly but still in a range that Dr. Patel is comfortable with. I think it is more a measure of colon issues than liver or lymph node issues and the liver and lymph nodes are our primary focus.
My hand/foot syndrome got bad over the weekend, the same as two weeks ago. I think it gets better duringthe non-Xeloda week. I hope so. It was tough playing tennis on Monday morning and I took today off to recover a little bit.
The mouth sores are also back in a minor way. But I will survive..
I learned that a bridge club nearby runs a stroke clinic on Saturday morning. That is super, tennis for those with heart problems.
I am thinking of having a baby. The less than a year old grandson of two of the tennis players was brought down to the tennis court the other day and the ladies all fawned over him. With a baby, I would get at least peripheral attention.
I still need rest and so I am going for my soak now. Earlier this week, the research manager said that she was out of thyme and that is how I feel some evenings also.
Wednesday, March 6, 2019
Changes
There were a few surprises this week.
The first is that I did not have any blood tests. There were some scheduling errors and as a result, the blood tests were not scheduled. When I called about it, I was told my numbers were okay last week and so I did not need to come in.
In general, I feel good. Just battling all the usual issues, but I am still smiling.
As many of you will know, we made our goal in raising funds for the book. The research manager has been working on the Appendix which details the supplements and activities that I am following in addition to the Chemo pills. I hope that her appendix will not burst like it did for the wife of one of my tennis friends last week. Seriously, her appendix will be valuable to many. I am thinking of sending it to Alex Trebek. He has pancreatic cancer just like Mary Jo did.
Three things have changed this week, two of which are true.
I have always said that I will not eat dinner for breakfast or breakfast for dinner. I broke the breakfast for dinner hurdle a while ago, but now I have had dinner items for breakfast a few times in the last week. Who would have ever thought that I would be eating peas in the morning!
The second is that I have always indicated that I do not like sushi.. Imagine my surprise when I went to pick up our take out order of Thai food the other day and was told that the sushi would be ready in a minute or two. When I said that I did not order sushi, I was told that the seaweed salad which I eat is sushi. Who knew?
The third is that I was told by a lady at the health food store where I get my wheatgrass that what I needed was Noni Juice. When I said that I can get that locally, I was told that you have to go to Hawaii to get the real stuff. Do you think that I should abandon the book idea and use the funds to move to Hawaii. I will let you know how this turns out!
I am still waiting for the oncologist and the dentist to get together on my tooth extraction. Meanwhile, it does not hurt much anymore. Besides that, I am too busy to take a few days off to recover.
Thanks for your interest.
The first is that I did not have any blood tests. There were some scheduling errors and as a result, the blood tests were not scheduled. When I called about it, I was told my numbers were okay last week and so I did not need to come in.
In general, I feel good. Just battling all the usual issues, but I am still smiling.
As many of you will know, we made our goal in raising funds for the book. The research manager has been working on the Appendix which details the supplements and activities that I am following in addition to the Chemo pills. I hope that her appendix will not burst like it did for the wife of one of my tennis friends last week. Seriously, her appendix will be valuable to many. I am thinking of sending it to Alex Trebek. He has pancreatic cancer just like Mary Jo did.
Three things have changed this week, two of which are true.
I have always said that I will not eat dinner for breakfast or breakfast for dinner. I broke the breakfast for dinner hurdle a while ago, but now I have had dinner items for breakfast a few times in the last week. Who would have ever thought that I would be eating peas in the morning!
The second is that I have always indicated that I do not like sushi.. Imagine my surprise when I went to pick up our take out order of Thai food the other day and was told that the sushi would be ready in a minute or two. When I said that I did not order sushi, I was told that the seaweed salad which I eat is sushi. Who knew?
The third is that I was told by a lady at the health food store where I get my wheatgrass that what I needed was Noni Juice. When I said that I can get that locally, I was told that you have to go to Hawaii to get the real stuff. Do you think that I should abandon the book idea and use the funds to move to Hawaii. I will let you know how this turns out!
I am still waiting for the oncologist and the dentist to get together on my tooth extraction. Meanwhile, it does not hurt much anymore. Besides that, I am too busy to take a few days off to recover.
Thanks for your interest.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)