January update

Here is the latest update.  I have now received a fourth treatment with the new chemotherapy regimen (the twelfth overall).  The drug combination is called FOLFIRI, with Avastin as an addition.  The difference between this and the FOLFOX that I initially received is the OXaliplatin, which caused my neuropathy, has been replaced with IRInotecan, which causes diarrhea and hair loss.  The Avastin can cause bleeding.  Sounds like fun stuff, doesn't it?  Fortunately I haven't experienced any hair loss (as far as I can tell) and the diarrhea has not been bad as long as I watch what I eat.  It is really only rough for the first few days after treatment.

The plan going forward is to have another treatment on the 8th of February, and then return to Houston and MD Anderson on the 20 and 21st.  I will have another appointment with my oncologist here on the 22nd and possibly get chemotherapy depending on what the doctors in Houston say.

I asked my oncologist here if I could have a CT scan done before I go to Houston, to see if there has been a change that would necessitate the trip.  He suggested that they will want to do their own scan at MD Anderson (the oncologist I met with there told me as much last time), and getting two scans is not a good idea. 

So in the mean time we are hoping that this is the treatment that works, and that I become a candidate for HIPEC.  At least that is what I am hoping as I think it gives me the best chance for survival, not that the procedure sounds fun at all.  Teresa is just hoping that this can all be done and I will live for a long time.

Layne

Saturday Breakfast

The kids have dubbed Layne, "Chef Daddy". It was years ago that they figured out that he can cook and is great at creating new combinations of flavors. It's fun going to a restaurant with him and having him state that he could do something similar at home. The new creation is always a success. He gets excited about new kitchen gadgets.
When we bring food to a potluck, people know that I bring items that work just fine for the occasion. If Layne brings it...there's typically lots of happy sighs and requesting of recipes. I have given up on being the contributor of food for our family reunions. I will think for days about logistics and what will work, finally come up with something that will be sufficient, and start in on the necessary planning. Layne will let the subject stew for a couple of days, mention it at the last minute, throw it together, and the crowd goes wild. If there has been a memorable meal at a reunion...it's been the one Layne has dreamed up (usually). It's not like any of them are worthy of complaint. We have several people that know what they're doing. I'm not one of them. Layne tends to come up with something that can feed a crowd and be a little different at the same time.
Layne likes to cook a real yummy breakfast whenever possible. The best time to work that into the schedule is typically on a Saturday morning. This morning it was French Toast. He used cinnamon swirl bread and egg nog instead of doing the usual. It was the first time our family had tried it. Scrumptious. We also had some fruit and the kids had hot chocolate. (Thanks for the 'machine' G/M!) It was delicious!
I had a very brief..."What do we do when he's gone?" moment while he was flipping the French Toast. The kids know I will never think of such things. We'll have to come up with a new tradition. Maybe that's part of what I'll remember about this morning...tradition. There are certain things that we like to do that don't seem like a big deal at the time, but when variables are changed, we realize they are huge. I will always fondly remember Saturday Morning Breakfast with Layne.

So Much...

I have many topics running around in my head. Some are about cancer and Layne, some are about our kids and homeschooling, some are about what we are grateful for these days, some are about the purpose of the Christmas season, some are about the latest family happenings, and some are just about logistics for tomorrow. I'm sure I could go on...but, that would be a bit boring.
We've been truly blessed. We are so grateful for all who keep us in their thoughts and prayers. We are humbled by those who serve us. This has been a different holiday season for us. I'm behind on plans. We haven't participated in all of the events that we were originally thinking to this year. But, at the same time, there is a peace in our home that comes from attempting to be close to the Savior. Or maybe it's just that He's trying to tell us something. I think that something would be that somehow, it will be OK...and that's all we need to know. We would drive ourselves crazy trying to figure out how things will work out. So, we don't. Time will tell. In the meantime, we are enjoying this precious season. There is so much to be grateful for each day.
So...Merry Christmas to all...and to all a good night.

12 Days of Christmas

We had a small Christmas tree delivered to our doorstep tonight. It was decked out with pears and a partridge on the top (along with other festive items). It's a mystery as to who left it there, but we are grateful. I first wondered why someone had thought of us. We are used to being on the other end of the seasonal fun. (Yes, I still have yet to purchase the 'sub for santa' gift I committed to...better get on that.) Then I remembered, 'Oh ya, my husband has cancer; I guess someone thought we could use some Christmas cheer.'. So, here we are with a tangible piece of evidence that someone was kind enough to think of us. Thank you!

Schedule, Shmedule...

We have had several adjustments to the schedule for this week. At one point, Layne was going to meet with the oncologist and have an infusion on the same day. He's usually one of the first appointments in the day and we get still get home at a decent time. This time he was scheduled for late morning and with the chemo change, there wouldn't be time to do it all in one day. So, he was going to do labs and meet with the oncologist today and then get the infusion tomorrow. That was a little change of plans. Now we're onto another change of plans. Huntsman hasn't received the current info (scan, etc) from MD Anderson...so, the appointments were postponed. After pinning down the actual time of package delivery, Thursday is now the day we'll do it all...starting early and ending late. (FedEx is still on schedule...we're just anxious to move forward.)
We're realizing with this whole thing that plans are constantly changing. It makes it difficult to schedule when we don't have a guarantee of when things are happening or how Layne will feel after the chemo. So, we just keep moving forward. I'm glad something is scheduled...for now. It'll be over a month since he's had any chemo at all. So, we'll see how things go with the new chemo and rather we can keep a consistent schedule.

Christmas Wish

Layne and I were working on gifts for the kids. He asked me what I wanted. I couldn't think of a thing. I finally just told him that the best gift would be a husband that's cancer free. Here's hoping for a Christmas miracle...

Results from Houston visit

The trip to Houston was good.  I enjoyed meeting some new friends, loved the Texas BBQ, and the weather sure beats Salt Lake City in December.

The oncologists at MD Anderson told me they are not sure yet whether I am a candidate for HIPEC.  They had two concerns that would need to be addressed before I could receive the treatment.  One is that they don't think my current chemotherapy is working, and HIPEC would not be effective without a chemo treatment that stops the cancer.  The other concern was that I may have cancer near my bladder in a place where they could not surgically remove it, again making the HIPEC ineffective.  I think Teresa mentioned these things in her recent posts.

Anyway, I will meet with my oncologist here in Salt Lake on Tuesday and do a session of chemo on Wednesday.  I think the plan is try another kind of chemo, and then follow up with scans again in a few months to see how things are working. 

Layne