Let's do the Happy Dance!!

Found out on Friday that my scan was improved but did not know till today what that meant:  No new tumor spots and the tumors that are then are shrinking. AND the tumor marker that was going down went down again from 160 to 116.  Yea!!  see me dancing in my chemo bed??!!  

So I have four treatments under my belt and he would like to to 4-6 more, normal course is up to 12 but they stop before that, not sure what all the determining factors are except tolerance.  He said after the last chemo we take monthly blood tests and scans every two months to see what is going on.  If it holds at bay for a good amount of time we can try chemo again when the tumors start to grow again.  I  The longer the better since it means the first round of chemo really worked well and might do so again.  Shorter means we would look at something else cause the cancer was probably still growing.  I asked about trials and other options and making contacts now.  He said it is too early and the next best thing will be different by the time I need it.

We talked about trips to AZ and Yosemite, he said go anytime now.  After the last chemo he said 6 weeks and then plan a real trip, now we just need to figure out where to go....

This is almost too much for me to take in.

Last week I wrote about chemo getting harder.  It is helpful to know that even as it is hard it is working.  That will help this week.  Waiting for the CT test and results was hard last week.  The rest of the times when I am not waiting for scans I just keep thinking about the minions doing their work and now Kung Fu Panda gets involved sometimes--it all becomes routine, finding out if it is working or not sets off anticipation emotions and those can be all over the map.  Here is what I wrote earlier.

" Either chemo is getting harder or I just don't remember what it is like from one time to the next.  I do remember last time wondering if I would be out of the funk by the time my family came so maybe it was hard then too.  I like to think that I have a good week to come, Wednesday to Wednesday but this time is pushing new limits, we will see how today goes.

I want to tell my doc that now I look like someone on Folfirinox, losing weight, diarrhea, and vomiting.  Whatever chemo symptom honeymoon I was on, it is now over.  It makes is harder to do my three jobs, drink water, eat, exercise.  But I am trying to do what I can each day and Sue is working hard to keep me on track with all three.  "

By Thursday I was feeling better and had several good days before returning today.  As the next chemo rounds are this hard--which in the scheme of things is not so bad, or harder I will look to the kids I know and others doing similar work.  Super Luke and Avery, two kids both fighting cancer and doing it with great determination.  Our great-nephew Gabrielle who from his time of his birth has been fighting lissencephaly, a rare brain disease.  And a shout out to Steve (not a kid) at Mayo--get those electrolytes in order.  And as a reminder of life, we welcome Takunda's new baby brother Tenaka.

For fun:  We got to see our play.  What a treat especially to be at the first reading and then see the characters and relationships come to life.  The play was transformed by the performances and set/costume design.  Hats off the the fine cast and crew.

SCADUSCH.  We went to see Kung Fu Panda 3.  A little different quality than the play.  Fun none the less and a good counter to the week I was having.  I can still see him striking a pose to fight, it is a good one and comes in handy every so often.  And then Eddie the Eagle--looking for upbeat, not cinematic excellence.  What fun and a feel good movie as was needed.  Still on the list--the Revenent, Room, Brooklyn and The Lady in the Van.  Which reminds me--Downton Abbey ends this week-what a bummer.

An art show at the Landscape Arboretum was a nice way to get out for the evening, the orchids in the lobby were gorgeous.  Bought one outside decoration for our patio table, a stained glass flower.  Stopped at Eden Prairie Mall to shop at Von Mauer--a nice alternative to Nordstroms and Macys.
Breakfast with Deb and Jim--great to see them but wish it were on their boat in Florida instead.  Sue and Mary went to the MN vs #5 Ohio State women's basketball game--overtime win.  Sad lose to Maryland but looking forward to the Big 10 tourney this weekend.

Other than that we continue our purges, one shelf, drawer or cabinet at a time. Feels good to do it but it is a long road. Nancy has a puzzle going, it is all pencils lined up in rows from top to bottom.  And we are working with Darin and Mark on plans to remodel the guest bathroom.  They will do the demolition while we are away on a short trip.  Scott comes for the next round of chemo for a week--he is now retired so can come anytime.  He is trying to come here once a month and we love having him here. And I am lucky to continue getting new gifts--a Nancy drew book cover puzzle, to go with a purse I had, and a Georgetown hat.  I get a little grief for it being from Georgetown but it is the school of Mr Cal Rohde, swimmer extraordinaire and so I am proud to wear it.

Gotta go now, have to start planning our next big traveling journey...it will show up in the blog.