A big thanksgiving shout out to my favorite train!

Oh and of course, thank you to my awesome meal train with Gillian as the engineer! Thank you all for the love and time you've put into each meal and the creative dishes you created when my food choices were so limited! You have been reliable and on schedule, exceeding all train expectations!! A special thanksgiving thank you to you all!! You may already know that we're giving the meal train a vacation through the holidays. We'll see where we are at in January and let you know.
Lots of love and gratitude to you this Thanksgiving Day.
Janet, Mike, Michael and Maggie!

Report from Tuesday's Visit with Dr. K

Sub title: I think I’m kicking the shit out of this shit!

(Lisa D…that’s ok to say, right…not like the last time…this time I added the I think…not too cocky!)

So Friday we got the print out of the scan report from the doctor and I spent some time before our appointment going through it carefully to compare numbers and see if the chemo really is working as well without the Zeloda as it was working with the Zeloda. While I was going through it carefully I could find very little about my stomach and what’s going on in there. It said my stomach showed “normal wall thickness no discrete areas of abnormal transmural wall thickening.”

That was all it said about the stomach…what about my tumor? lesion? or other cells and bits?

Before chemo I always get a blood draw, get my port accessed and then we go to see Dr. Kaplan. I asked him about the minimal information about my stomach, after all this is gastric cancer. He said there is not much else to see or say. I asked, “Is there no cancer in there?” He said he would not say that, but it has shrunk to the point that it won’t show up on a CT scan. Some cells and bits might show up on a PET scan or an endoscopy and we’ll do one or both of those in the future…but for now, clearly the IV chemo is working! Wow! At this point there is very little to no cancer on my pancreas, small bits probably in/on my stomach, and the liver tumors are definitely shrinking. I asked if he saw surgery in my future, he said not at this point.

Wow! I feel like there is a miracle happening here, and I really don’t want to speak to soon, or let my guard down, or take anything for granted…but damn! I don’t think I could ask for more at this point.

I attribute this of course to my great doc and the powerful medicine he prescribes, to the mushrooms from my naturopath that have been shown to help the chemo do the job, the mushrooms from Brody…just  the extra punch. Also from my amazing family and close friends in the trenches with me. And because of all of you (and many of your children) and your persistent positive energy; your prayers, dedications, candle lighting, imagery, and positive thoughts. I am so held up to fight this fight. I’m so thankful for all of you.

It takes a village to fight cancer…and I have an awesome village.

I wish you a peaceful, loving, full day around a table with loved one’s tomorrow. I’ll be eating whatever I want (woohoo) and thinking of you all!

Love and Peace and Light and Gratitude

Janet

Food and Numbers

We went to see Dr. Kaplan on Friday. He gave us big hugs and is so pleased with the progress. I asked him to look into a crystal ball, but his crystal ball only goes from one scan to the next. Really, the bottom line is, we continue on this path as long as the chemo continues to work. If the chemo stops working, we go to plan B (I have no idea what plan B is, by the way). So, two or three more rounds of chemo (6-9 weeks) then another scan, and then another look into the crystal ball. I asked about going back to work, he says I need the energy I have to fight the cancer. I think if I had a different kind of job I could probably start back now. One day a week, or work on line, take chemo weeks off, that just doesn’t work in my situation, so I have to hang on a bit longer before I can make plans to go back to work.

Numbers

We received 3 pages of medical text that document the results of the scan.

My favorite numbers are on page one regarding the “mass” on the liver…

The mass in liver that had extreme hyper metabolism on PET scan 7/1514…shows a further reduction in size compared to 9//13/14 and significantly decreased in size compared to 6/28/14, with a maximum length measured at 3.8cm now at 2.7 cm.

There is a great deal more medical jargon and measurements, but what I know for sure is they are shrinking and the chemo is working! I’ll take that and go to Thanksgiving!

Food

Last Tuesday I talked for a while with Mary, my dietitian. I told her all the foods I had put back in my diet and the foods I had not yet tried. It had been about 7 weeks since I’d left the hospital and my gut has been on the mend with no setbacks. She gave me the go ahead on all the foods I had not tried! So off to wheat I went. I made up my mind if I was going to have a bad reaction to wheat at least let me have had the wheat that I love. I wasn’t going to eat some dry wheat crackers and then have a bad reaction that left me without wheat again!!! Hell no! We went straight for Serious Pie!

Best pizza in Seattle, in my opinion, other than our front yard!!

Good news…no bad reaction; I’m back in the game. Since then I’ve kept wheat at a minimum; trying not go to overboard. I’ve added in salad as well, and citrus and a few other things. My appetite and taste buds fluctuate during the three week chemo cycle, but I am now able to eat any foods with no real restrictions. Mary said the things I may find irritating to my gut are black pepper and popcorn. I’m sure I’ve had pepper, it is just in stuff…right? But I have not had popcorn…yet. All in due time.

So, now it is time for Thanksgiving and I have plenty to be thankful for this year. I have chemo tomorrow and though I will be tingly and buzzy for Thanksgiving Day I’m thankful to know that the chemo is working. I’m thankful for all of you holding us up through the long hall that is cancer.

I wish you all a peaceful and loving Thanksgiving. 

With love and thanks,

Janet

A Lovefest

I still have not gone to the doctor’s today to get the details, but I just have to write a bit about the love fest that just happened! 

I decided I was ready to go check out Pathfinder. I literally had not been there since July when I was throwing things around trying to clean up from last year and get a few bits in order for Jessica. I was worried about my visit. I knew I would be overwhelmed with emotion, I just couldn’t picture how I could visit, not create havoc and come out without having a breakdown. I also planned it for today to keep my mind of my appointment this afternoon. (No need for that, though, I just get to be happy and think of it as part of my celebration of good news!)

It was awesome! Today is the last day before their Thanksgiving break (for the kids, teachers have conferences next week) AND it was their annual Elder Lunch day. So, I knew going into it that it was going to be a high energy day, full of distractions! So, why not go and just be one more distraction. My plan was to start in Sky Hall (the K/1 hall) and give hugs to my teachers, just peek in and spy a bit on my new group of kindergarteners (most of them don’t know me at all) and then if that was enough, I’d just sneak right back out. Well, that was so much fun, I decided to head on up to the office to find some more hugs. On my way up of course I ran into kids and parents (lots of volunteers for Elder’s Lunch), there were tears and hugs and it was just so great to see some of my former students. OK, now I’ll go…then I saw Scott heading out to recess with his class…I HAD to go hug them! So I went out to recess and saw lots of my kids (now 4th graders) and the 4/5 teachers. (Hi Thomas…sorry I missed you!!). Ok, now I have to go. I just kept seeing more and more people and before I knew it the 2/3 classes are heading down the steps. They include the second graders who were my last years first graders and their teachers whom I love! I got swept right into the cafeteria hugging aunties and grandmas and grandpas that I’ve met in the past, right along with teachers, parents and kids! Oh my goodness, did we have a hug fest! It was ridiculous in the best way!

I did not get to see everyone on my list but I finally just had to go. I’m just exhausted but in the best of ways! I’m so glad I went to see you, Pathfinder! I miss you terribly and hope to be back in the new year.

Love and Hugs to you all,

Janet

Good News A Day Early!

Right now it’s early Friday morning. I have a physical therapy appointment at 8:30 and then a few things planned for the day to help me keep my mind off the unknown. Our appointment to hear the scan results is late in the day, scheduled for 3:40 this afternoon.

So last night we decided to go out, Betty and Maggie and Mike and Me….out for, what I was calling, ignorance is bliss night! At one point I checked my phone and I had just missed a call from Dr. Kaplan. It was an ominous feeling…check the message or not…continue in ignorance. I would  have thought it was an appointment reminder, but it was so late in the evening. I had to check…

A very brief message, a very few words…"the scan looks good…all the tumors are continuing to shrink…I’m very happy…hang in there…" That was it, but really that was way more than we expected, good news, early!  We were overwhelmed! 

That is all I know for now. We’ll get the details this afternoon. I’ll let you know more sometime this weekend.

Michael and Eva are headed up. We might even fire up the pizza oven to celebrate, even in the rain!

I am not fighting this cancer alone. I can't believe how many people I see and hear from who are following along with us and praying for us (in all the different ways that people pray!).

Good job everyone! We are fighting the good fight!

Love to you all, 

Happy Friday!

Janet

BBBBBRRRRRRR…that was cold!

I’m back to our balmy 50 degree weather! It was so cold in KC! When the wind blew it was that biting, stinging dry cold. My skin was dry, my sinuses complained….yikes! But, it’s not about the weather, right? 

I had a great trip and I’m so glad I went. I saw all my aunties, many cousins and both my nieces that live in KC. I got to catch up with Mig, a close friend from high school, hung out with my brothers, Paul and Matthew,  but mostly hung out with my momma, which was the main goal of the trip.

We went to the movie, went to eat BBQ and hear live blues/jazz, watched Matt bowl in his Saturday morning league and I cooked a couple of times for Mom and Matt. 

A highlight of my trips to KC is when my aunts gather and any cousins who can, join in. These gatherings used to be held religiously on Sunday morning at a nearby park for tennis and then to Dairy Queen. Relatives would come and go during these regular Sunday morning events. At DQ, no matter what you ordered, it was in your best interest not to think of it as yours, as in yours alone. You really had to think of it as belonging to the group. You might get the lions share of your order (or not) but you would definitely end up sharing pretty much anything you brought over to the tables! If you really wanted it all to yourself, you needed to find another part of the restaurant to consume your food or beverage. On any given Sunday there could be anywhere from 6-30 people at a time at the DQ.  Back in those days mom said no one was willing to host that many people.

Sadly the DQ closed its doors a number of years ago and the group tried a few other venues. Then mom and her sisters hung their racquets up, no more need to meet at the park. And now the event has morphed into their Wednesday meetings. In the past, when I booked tickets for KC I always had to have a full Sunday there so I wouldn’t miss the DQ experience, now I have to make sure I’m there on Wednesdays.

The Wednesday meetings are held at Starbucks in a nearby mall. Luckily, in the back, the Starbucks has a big table where they usually congregate. This past Wednesday there was one man at the table working on his computer. Instead, we put together tables outside the door of the Starbucks, in the mall, and moved chairs out to accommodate our group.

Mom and I were there, of course, as were mom’s 3 sisters. One of their best friends since Kindergarten, Eileen, was there, too! My cousin Linda has changed her work schedule so she can usually be there, and she was. My cousin Susan drove from Lyons, Kansas just to join us that day. My niece Jennifer took the day off to be with me and mom, and one of her best friends joined us, too. My cousin Julie took a long lunch so she could be there. I think that’s everyone….did I forget anyone? It was a middle of the week party and I swear we sat there for 3 or 4 hours! 

Sunday before heading to the airport my cousin Julie had folks over for tortilla soup and to watch the Seahawks win (oh well, maybe next time!). I was able to catch up with a few more cousins there. I really do have an amazing and interesting family and I miss them very much! It is always a treat to spend time with you all! Thanks, for such a warm welcome home!

It was hard for everyone to see how healthy I am and believe the battle that is going on inside me. I look pretty healthy and I think if I had all my hair, no one would even guess I am fighting cancer. I tried to emphasize to my relatives, and will repeat it here…I really do think there is a genetic link some where. The tests they ran do not show a link, but that does not mean it isn’t there. They just haven't identified that link yet. It’s hard to believe that I was so healthy; exercising and eating so healthy in recent years. It’s easy to think the cancer might be caused by something I did…but I don’t think so. My moms maternal grandpa and uncle had stomach cancer…both of them…and stomach cancer is pretty unusual! So, I say this not to scare you, but to remind you to mention this to your doctors when you see them, especially if there is weird stomach things going on for you or another odd things you cannot figure out.  And, if I find anymore out about a genetic link (because I will continue that search) I’ll be sure to let you know!

I miss KC and all of my relations there! I’ll be thinking of you and counting you as a blessing this holiday season!

Now...back to Seattle and back to cancer. Thursday is my scan and Friday I'll find out the results. Until then, I'm feeling really good so I'm just going to have a great week and then pick up from there on Friday!

Hope it is sunny where you are...it is a beautiful day here!

love to you all

xoxoxo

Janet

Kansas City here I come...

I mean, Kansas City here I am!! Just a short post to let you all know I did it, I made it, I am here with my mom, my brothers and many more of my clan! My sweet niece Jennifer picked me up from the airport and escorted me right to my momma! My brother Matthew greeted me with a big hug, my brother Paul joined us for dinner and I am so happy to be here!

The plane was full, no upgrade or special treatment for me...and that was ok, really none was needed, I was fine. I'm so glad I paid extra for a non-stop, the Delta flight I would have caught went through Minneapolis and I understand many flights from there were cancelled. So all is well, the flight was painless. I wore a mask most of the time for my own protection, though I have to say passengers seemed pretty healthy; I was on the lookout for symptoms and a bit of a germ-o-phobe all day. Now I just have to stay bundled up here as it is very, very cold...26 degrees at this point in time.

Good night from the heart of America!
Stay warm!
Love to you all,
Janet