Valencia, Cartagena, Malaga, Gibraltar

Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday

Dr Dan

First oncologist office appt

Valencia--It seems like weeks ago but it was just Tuesday when we spent about 3 hours with my new oncologist, Dan Schneider.  Lots of questions, info with a bit of laughter thrown in.  We talked about the standard treatment for Pancreatic cancer in anticipation of beginning that next week.  We talked about Mayo, who would have the same treatment and is farther away and we talked about a clinical trial.  Same treatment with an extra drug or placebo.  I want to participate--it may help me, it will help the science of the study, but I am a whimp and worry that it will increase the possible side effects of a fairly well tolerated chemo--and it comes with daily shots.  By Monday I will know what I have decided.  So he let me know that pancreatic cancer treatment has advanced since my sister Kerrin was diagnosed and reminded me that this is my cancer, not hers.  He also said I am entering this from relatively good health, most times he can see the effects of cancer by the time he meets a new patient.  He had 3 Pan can patients by noon.

Cartegena--So we left with a course of action pending the final biopsy results of Wednesday morning.  The rest of the day was as normal as they are these days, Yea!   No food or drink after midnight, morning shower and off to the hospital for the biopsy.  All I have to say about that is--not fun.  Had the Nick train--Nick for transport, Nikki for nurse and Nick for the Doc.  Did not get Nicole though she works in the unit.  4 hour bed rest before going for another CT of my upper chest this time.  That came back all clear which is good thing.  I let everyone know that I was supposed to be elsewhere but decided to come and spend my time with them instead.  It makes for good conversation and stories.

Slept all afternoon.

Malaga--I have added veggies and fruit to all meals and am drinking enough water to float a ship.  Walking on the tread mill when it is raining outside or getting for a walk are all good things.  Emails pictures and cards have been so welcome.  Thank you for all your thoughts, we are truly grateful for such concerned and caring friends and family.  We have decided to dance every day, today (Friday) we danced to Ellen's show while she was dancing--she is good for laughter.

My results were due on Friday but Dr Dan called Thursday afternoon as they had already analyzed the biopsy results.  Confirmed pancreatic cancer cells in the liver.  As expected but turns out it is still hard to hear.  Sue is overcome with sadness that she is fighting hard to get rid of as we focus on the possibilities and positive before us.  To quote her--she is positive she is pissed!!

So what does it all mean--it is different for everyone.  Chemo treatment is once a week for three weeks and one week off. I will lose my hair, so have an appointment for a short haircut next week.  I will be tired, plan on not having nausea, and have to keep eating, walking and drinking even though I will not feel like doing that.  I take chemo as long as it is helping me feel better or live longer.  What is longer, that is the hard part, who knows but we all know that stats that talk about 1-2 years, more or less.  There is no cure but there can be partial remission and a new cure around the corner.  I am sticking around to try it.

I know this is hard to read, it is hard to write.  You are all part of my efforts to remain positive and grateful.

Gibralter--quiet morning Deb and Jim stopped by with 6 individual world famous Jim chicken pot pies.  YEA!! and we have a honey baked turkey from a guy our friend Jenny knows--her husband the CEO. All good so that we can feed my brother Scott who arrives tonight.   Boo--not halloween--Spent the rest of the morning canceling our over seas trips for 2016.  We'll be staying closer to home. Nancy has Mt Rushmore in mind, an October Wedding in NJ, Sedona, New Mexico, Mayne Island and others perking in her head.

Cheers to all, after two days of rain the sun has come out, still some color in the MN fall.  Off to see the Wizard...

Palma de Mallorca or Colonoscopy

First off, the colonoscopy was negative, no polyps, no colon cancer.  So now we wait again for the meeting with the oncologist tomorrow and the liver biopsy on Wednesday. Stopped at the cancer library at the hospital to pick up some more books. There is always more to read.

Had a good day on Sunday--carved a pumpkin which you may have seen on Facebook, discovered a new lake in Woodbury which was a perfect place to walk.  Our friend Deb joined us and told us about her planned trip to Alaska, doing it now, while she can--good advice to everyone.

The other day I told Sue that I would need to become an extrovert to get through this, I've got my part covered but need all the people I can muster to stand in it with me.  One aspect of that is asking for help.  At the hospital this morning I figured out what I could ask for, when I cross your mind give a thumbs up, a smile, a kiss blown to the universe, or whatever sign you have for saying hello to the universe and asking for/being grateful for good things. And yes, your continued prayers.  A few folks have sent pictures, mostly my relatives kids, but I'm always up for a great picture of something that makes you smile.  Many of you have had your own journey with cancer, I am now, belatedly even more understanding and send you extra love, a thumbs up and a smile.

Mundane things are on the list for today, get gas, fix a remote control, put sheets on the bed, maybe grocery shop or at least plan some healthy meals from my new eating plan, pay the bills.  It is
good to keep going.

Here are two pictures, one of me and my cousin's granddaughter and the other an oldie but goodie Sue and her Facebook buddies Liz and Libby were having fun with old pictures of me.  Circa 1980.

Uncharted Territory Journey

Our first message 10/21/15

We are writing to tell you of a big change. We were scheduled to start a journey to Spain and Africa this week. Instead we will be taking a life journey.  Monday we learned that Nancy has a mass on her pancreas and some spots on her liver.  They are relatively sure it is cancer. Today we were at the hospital for a biopsy which was postponed until Wednesday October 28. The first primary care doctor appointment is scheduled and Friday for the first of what we believe could be many many discussions. Currently the first oncologist appointment is scheduled for Tuesday but may also be postponed due to the biopsy.

You can well imagine that we feel like we have been hit by a train. Lots and lots of questions and things to think about.  Only thing we know so far is we will take this thing head on and together. 

We have decided that like our other adventures/journeys we are going to blog this one as well.  So our On The Road Again blog will have thoughts, updates, and ramblings of this journey. 

Our first publishing will be when we get results of biopsy. We will notify you when it's up. After that we suggest you look every so often as we will not notify you of updates and we want this to be at your option.

Lastly, sorry we gave you this news this way. We welcome your positive thoughts and/or prayers.  

Love, 
Nancy and Sue

The update:  10/24/15

Our new journey got named on Monday October 19th.  Clearly we had been traveling it without knowing for some time now.  Nancy’s doc called us while we were out to dinner.  We stood outside and talked to her as she expressed her surprise that the CT scan I had earlier in the day showed a mass on my pancreas and spots on my liver.  Expectation:  Pancreatic cancer. 

So this started with a doctor’s appointment October 13th for abdominal discomfort and occasion pain that would double me over.  First step, maybe Giardia again since I had it before, or parasites.  Nope.  Next step a CT scan with results above.

Friday we learned that a marker for pancreatic cancer was normal, though it is still possible to have pancreatic cancer with these numbers.  A less general number was high and with the symptoms I was presenting my doc and oncologist, who we have not yet met, determined a colonoscopy was in order to determine if this is colon cancer instead.  Colonoscopy is less invasive than the biopsy and if positive then no biopsy needed.  If negative, we go on for the biopsy.

So what are we doing to stay positive, active and in touch.

We have heard from many of you and that has been helpful.  We appreciate all the prayers, good wishes and offers to help.  So far the symptoms are mildish so we are trying to do something fun everyday.  Of course we are reading, reading and reading…The weather has been glorious so we have been on a few outside walks, went to the Y the other day to use their machines.  Took in a good movie, but the lung cancer theme had us in tears most of the way through.  Went to the science museum to see the Humpback movie in IMAX—great.  And discovered our friend Jenny was off work and free for lunch one day so met her before walking at the mall and doing a bit of shopping.  Mary and Co were over today and we went out to find a labyrinth to walk, the first overgrown, the second hard to find but very calming on a beautiful afternoon.  Met Agnes, a 90 year old nun who helped us find it and asked us to say a prayer for her, done.

So obviously this is overwhelming, the unknown leaves us waiting.  We will wait to post more when we have some news.  No one needs to hear about colonoscopy prep!

We canceled our current trip, today was to be day one, in Barcelona.  Tomorrow, Provence and followed by Palma de Mallorca.  Put pictures of those places in your mind to keep the travel theme going. Here are a few local pictures from the week to start things off.  One from a walk, the other the labyrinth.