In loving memory...

This was a video I made/showed at mama's memorial. YouTube may remove the music, in which case I'll try and find another site to host it. Hopefully this works for awhile. -Mike

Mama feels tired but better!

From Mike:

Hello all! Mama says she feels better - despite the chemo!

I can tell she is very, very tired from the chemo - it really knocks her on her butt but she is not too nauseated. The worst part seems to be overwhelming fatigue.

But her appetite is actually better, and she actually LOOKS healthier than she did before she started chemo.

I took mama and dad out to see the twins today just for a short visit because we missed seeing them this weekend... here's a picture from today. Mama and Amelia!

More from the Livestrong event!

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!

From Mama:

I just realized that I have been selfishly concentrating on mostly me, me, me on this blog . Not good, time to give credit where credit is due, okay?

First, I’d like you all to know that we recently were given the gift of a visit from my sister, Bertha, and her daughter Grace. That’s them in the Livestrong Pictures. They journeyed here all the way from New Mexico and stayed with me for 2 weeks. They cleaned, cooked and did yard work and most of all filled my home with love and laughter. What a wonderful gift. I hope you all realize that these gifts are answers to all of your prayers, and that I so appreciate you all.

My son, Michael, and my daughter Julia and their families have been without a doubt fantastic. Unselfishly giving us their time and energy. Driving us everywhere, coming to visit, never letting me give up. I never, never take them for granted and I thank God every day for sending us such wonderful children.

My friends, Suzanne and Ray, Lynn, Marcia, Hlynn, Gayle, Gale, Cecilia, the Snows, Monique, Mary Jo, Steph, on and on and on, to include my terrific coworkers—have all been loving, helpful, and caring. Offers of help continue to pour in, and today Lynn was so kind as to drive me to my chemo session in Tacoma. I only get to see her in the summer, so we decided to take advantage of her being in town and ask her to drive me to a couple of sessions. We usually spend time together walking around one of our many picturesque little towns, but this year she will be keeping me company at Group Health Tacoma. Thank you Lynn!!

My longtime girlfriend, Hlynn, travelled all the way from W. Va to stay with me for several weeks. She teleworks, so she brought her home office and worked in the mornings. Hlynn and I started a lovely quilt for my grandbabies, as well as planted flowers and dug weeds. She has a talent for design, garden or home, so she always leaves me bursting with new ideas for home and garden. I hope with all my heart that I will be able to go visit her very soon.

The Familia Guerrero, on Saipan, and the Familia Mendez in New Mexico—words can’t express how supportive they have been. Two of my normally incorrigable brothers, Tony and Charlie, are actually learning to email and keep me in stitches with their crazy stories and misspelled words!! The nieces and nephews on both sides keep the less technologically savvy members up to date, saving me having to write more letters and make more phone calls. Not that I don’t love cards and letters, I just have an enormous family!!! Cousins from my childhood have been writing too, and they all have prayer chains going that I am convinced have been instrumental in keeping me healthy and fighting strong. Love and thank you to each and every one of them, from sea to shining sea.

So how am I? I’m doing well, I think. Blood counts are good except for my hematocrit. If it goes any lower I think I will require a blood transfusion. We will see tomorrow. Today was the last week of this chemo cycle, the end of my second cisplatin cycle. I plan on asking my doctor if its time to do a CT scan and see if all of this is actually killing the tumor. More prayers please!!!

As you can see from my photos I still have hair—I guess I did not realize how much more hair I have than the average person. But I have received many hats, and they have come in so helpful, because my scalp is very sensitive and I need to keep the sun of it. I have lost some weight, but only about 10 pounds. My appetite is quite a bit better lately, and I have learned what I can and can’t eat. Nausea is under control and I keep y pain patch on religiously. As long as that keeps working, I can hang in.

I am loving teleworking, and really enjoy watching retro TV. Leave it to Beaver and the Andy Griffith show!! Whoopee. Also catching up on missed episodes of Star Trek, the Next Generation. Gotta love that.

Well, until next time, guys. Keep the faith and keep those prayers coming, they are truly being answered, believe me.

An emotional mama at the finish line! Love my mama...

Barely Movin'!

We did it! Team Barely Movin' completed the 5k walk as a part of the LiveStrong challenge! Surrounded by kids and mom's with babies, we brought up the rear and completed the walk just before the rain set in. Our team was made up of my aunt Bertha, cousin Gracie, Julia (with the babies) and Matthew.

The walk was basically around the Seattle Center/Lower Queene Anne area - a nice part of town. We managed the whole route without incident which as you know is a feat for our family. The experience was very emotional, and many riders/walker/runners were participating in memory of friends and family or were cancer survivors - which was so awesome to see - we have hope! After the walk, we hit Julia's for brunch where mama almost finished an entire breakfast - definitely a good sign!

I think mama felt very fatigued from chemo on Wednesday which included Cisplatin - the worst in terms of causing nausea and fatigue. But she insisted, persisted and she did it!

Ready to proceed!

From Mama:

Well, I may have completed my first cycle of chemo, but its still never a dull moment!! Last week I had a reprieve from receiving chemotherapy, but not to worry. They occupied my time by sending me to St. Joe's in Tacoma to have a stent inserted in my right kidney. Yes, more fun and games!!

The main reason for the stent is to help my kidney drain and prevent additional damage from the more powerful chemo that they plan on starting this Thursday.

So far its been going pretty good, not real bad side effects. But from what I hear, the sisplatin/gemcitabine combo that I start on Thursday will be a different story. I'll keep you posted.

The stay at St Joe's for the stent went very well. I didn't plan on staying overnite, but I'm glad I did. I think they push people out after surgical procedures far too quickly in general, just to save money. So in my case, the procedure was performed by an 'interventional radiologist'. They used an ultrasound to guide the insertion of a wire into my back and to my kidney, then from there out and around the blockage to my bladder. Then they used the wire as a guide to insert a catheter. At first I had to wear a bag, yucko. But they took that off the next afternoon, slapped on a bandage and sent me home.

All this so that I can take stronger poison, how smart am I, anyway?

My family has been great during all this, have I mentioned that? My son Michael has been a staunch supporter, by my side for every treatment and willing to play long games of scrabble when we don't have WiFI access. Julia and her family come see me often. Those 2 babies are the best medicine ever!! And then there is my buddy, Hlynn. She came by train all the way from W. Va. to stay with me and help me out. I am truly blessed to have all of them.

Suzanne has been over working in the garden, plus she sends the funniest cards. Heather has been over to help with housework as well as offering her home during out long days in Tacoma. Many many of my other friends have also offered to help, and I truly appreciate every one of them.

Minor procedure to preceed new chemo meds!

From Mike:

With mama right now in the hospital - recovering from a nephrostomy. Everything went well and the doctor installed a tube that is internal and will directly drain into mama's bladder, so there will be no external bag.

Why the nephrostomy?

Well, the cancer growth is impacting and preventing mama's right kidney from functioning and draining. They were going to leave it as is, hoping and expecting that the kidney would recover as the cancer shrank. However, they will be starting a new kind of chemo this week, called Cisplatin, which is more toxic and impacts kidney function. So, they want both kidneys functioning fully - this will allow them to safely administer the more aggressive chemo, Cisplatin.

Here's mama post-procedure enjoying a meal!



They are keeping her overnight just for observation, make sure there is little or no bleeding, and then we can be on our way tomorrow!

**EDIT**

Notice mama has her hair short, because it's started falling out, but she STILL has her hair! Man her hair is stubborn just like her! Haha!

Update - end of Cycle One!

From Mama:

I paid my dues, took my shots, ate my red meat (ugh) and was allowed to receive chemo today. That means I have completed the first cycle!!! taaa daaa.

The session went well, and included the additional all around good time of getting some blood drawn for a cross match in case I decide I need a transfusion. Hmmm, not something I had anticipated, but apparently it happens.

Any advice from the masses for building up my blood counts will be appreciated.

Also, altho my hair has the formidable reputation of being some of the MOST STUBBORN my hairdresser Ronoldo has ever seen, it has finally been conquered by chemotherapy and I'm loosing it by the handfuls. So Ron has been enlisted to administer the Chemo Cut tomorrow. I'll try to remember to get him to snap a before and after pic, okay?

I will also begin another round of shots to help build up my blood counts.

Well, until next time!!

jeanette

Chemo round two....

From mama:

well, today was supposed to be shorter, but it still dragged on a bit. The actual infusion was only 30 minutes, but the start was delayed by almost an hour.

they opted to go ahead and give me the chemo, provided I protect myself from possible infection and then begin a series of injections to boost my white blood cell count. those start tomorrow here in Silverdale. Bad thing is I need to get them on Saturday and Sunday too, and I had wanted to spend the weekend at Julie's. May have to be a day trip now, after the shot in the morning or something.

I felt really tired by the time I got home, and took a nap while Dad went to the store and stuff. I managed to eat a little. This chemo round apparently is not as nausea producing as the one I got last week, so they just gave me the usual anti nausea there, and then I have the other stuff here that I can take. I need to remember to take it on a regular basis, and not wait till I am feeling ill.

Next week I will go in for a bone scan, to see if my bones are clear. I can not even imagine what the result will be if they are not. Don't want to go there. Plus I meet with Dr. Sun on Friday, this week to decide what to do about the stronger chemo dosage. Do we go for the kidney drain tube or not? Anybody out there have any experience with that?

still in the oncology clinic but haven't started chemo. met with oncologist, nurse and now chemo patient education! full day!

good morning friends and family! I am with mom and we are on our way to her first chemo appt! we will be at Group Health oncology infusion center in Tacoma WA. updates to come!

P_A_T_I_E_N_C_E

From Mike:

PATIENCE as opposed to IMPATIENT. I'm naturally the latter (thanks dad for that!)

Mom is still "hanging out" as we wait for more news, which we should have VERY SOON.

Again, the consensus is that mom has "poorly differentiated non-small cell carcinoma that originated in the right ureter (tube that goes from the kidney to the bladder)."

We should have a treatment plan within the next 24 hours.

We will also be getting a second opinion from the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance, probably on April 12th. However, we think her treatment might actually start before then.

In the meantime, I'm getting mama a new Mac for her to be able to cruise the 'nets while she's resting.

Also, I'm supposed to be going to Miami FL for a wedding, so that has me stressed out! I will probably be gone for just a few days, but might have to miss one treatment day which makes me sad :(

-Mike

The word from Mama!

From Jeanette:

Well, the roller coaster ride has begun. I've never liked roller coaster rides.

I have more tests to go thru before beginning chemo, so today I will get a ct scan of my head, to see if there are any signs of the cancer there. I'll also do more blood work-- one to see if I can tolerate blood thinners to prevent clots in my swollen leg and another to check my kidney function. The latter will help detemine what chemo to use.

Then next week will start off with a bang on Monday, when I go get a chest port installed. This will make it easier for the lab techs to hook me up and administer the chemo. I'm feeling like a borg already. Lets hope I have the strength of Capt. Picard too!

Next Friday, my son Michael will get me over to the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance. Not sure what will go on there, but part of it will be a second opinion.

So, in the meantime, I am spending a lot of time on the couch to keep my leg elevated, and I'm teleworking a few hours a day most days. I have lots of books that my good buddy Gayle brought over for me, but I'd love some second hand home improvement or garden type magazines.

Until next time.

Jeanette [aka Mama, Auntie, and Grandma of the Nuggets!]

EDIT:

From Mike:

[EDIT 4-1-2010] We learned that mom has poorly differentiated non-small cell cancer that did NOT originate in the bladder as we were initially told; the point of origin remains unclear.

However research seems to indicate that this type of cancer is often caused by smoking or second-hand smoke.

Have diagnosis. Have a treatment plan.

From Mike:

We do have a treatment plan in place that will only involve chemotherapy.

Mama's "cycles" will last 4 weeks - three weeks of 1x a week infusions followed by 1 week off. Chemo treatment will use a combination of cisplatin and gemcitabine.

From the American Cancer Society:

"Chemotherapy is generally given at regular intervals called cycles. A chemotherapy cycle may involve one dose followed by several days or weeks without treatment. This allows normal cells in the body time to recover from the drug's side effects. Alternatively, doses may be given several days in a row, or every other day for several days, followed by a period of rest. Some drugs work best when given continuously over several days.

Different drugs work best on different schedules. If more than one drug is used, the treatment plan will specify how often and exactly when each drug should be given. The number of cycles you receive may be determined before treatment starts (based on the type and stage of cancer) or may be flexible, in order to take into account how the treatment affects the cancer and your overall health."

We are hopeful! Send us good thoughts and energy! love u all

Mom is understandably scared and worried, but we're here to support her! We are spending free time with mom, we will all be together for Easter and I will take mom to her chemo appts.

First oncology visit with Dr. Amanda Sun

From Mike:

Still at the oncologist's office meeting with Dr. Sun. We learned that mom has poorly differentiated non-small cell cancer that [EDIT 4-1-2010] did NOT originate in the bladder as we were initially told; the point of origin remains unclear. We are talking with the docs and researching this now.

No links on it yet because we are researching the best links to post - this is getting a little complicated and we don't want to put the wrong info out there for you guys and gals.

Driving to mama's appt

From Mike:

We are on our way from Seattle to Tacoma to meet mom and talk with
her oncologist for the first time... very nervous!!!!!!

The night before our first oncology appt.

From Mike:

Very anxious tonight about moms test results (pathology) tomorrow!