Archive for November, 2012
Oncologist Visit
Posted in Life, tagged Cancer, Chemotherapy, Low Carb Diet on November 28, 2012| 5 Comments »
Home
Posted in Life, tagged Cancer, Chemotherapy, Low Carb Diet on November 26, 2012| 9 Comments »
Sue gets to go home today.
The last few days she has made the most amazing progress. They came to remove her catheter – at 2am – so much for the restorative value of sleep eh? – just a couple of days ago.
She then HAD to walk to the loo (because she vowed she would never use a bed-pan!). Other tubes came out, along with half the staples that held her together – 60 staples that day! She had her first solid food in two weeks on Saturday (sausages, baked beans, white bread, cake….sigh). The dietician is worried that she has lost 8kg in just 10 days, but we wonder what they expect, when she has had lots of her innards removed, a lake full of fluid drained from her gut, AND she hasn’t eaten anything for 12 days!
The last 60 staples were removed yesterday and she was able to have a shower. She said she stayed under the water for an hour, and washed her hair four times – she said it felt marvellous 🙂
She has an appointment with the oncology people on Thursday to discuss her chemotherapy treatments.
She and I will both fast for 48 hours prior to each chemo treatment. Fasting apparently causes the ‘good’ cells in your body to go into ‘survival mode’ – thus protecting them from the side-effects of chemotherapy. The ‘bad’ cells are ON all the time and cannot protect themselves against the drugs.
She is hoping – if she can minimize the side-effects, she will be able to return to work. She LOVES her job. The only question she asked the other day was ‘when can I go back to work?’
She and I will also continue with the very low carb version of the paleo diet. Research shows such a diet can help ‘starve’ the cancer cells of the glucose they need in order to grow.
I know you probably get tired of hearing about this ‘diet’ stuff, but it fascinates me… and is a way for me to feel not so completely useless while Sue is on this ‘journey’. It simply can not do her any harm, and is my way of showing solidarity at this time.
Good News
Posted in Life, tagged Cancer, Chemotherapy, Low Carb Diet on November 21, 2012| 14 Comments »
It’s not an infection – there is a tube in her nose that goes to her stomach. Apparently it is causing some irritation, and that is making her vomit. It should be able to be removed on Saturday.
She had her catheter removed last night, walked to the loo this morning and is feeling good.
We’ve had a meeting with her specialist. He had the results of the biopsies and recommendations for the future.
It turns out that chemotherapy IS an option… we had been so afraid they would say there was nothing further they could do.
The likelihood of chemo curing her cancer is very slim, but it may give her some more time – if it goes well, maybe up to 3 years – if not, it will be just months.
We are chasing a miracle for her – we know that. But they happen sometimes, and she is overdue one.
I’ve been madly googling – trying to find ways to maximize the good effects of chemo, and minimize the side-effects. Turns out a ketogenic (VERY low carbohydrate) diet (which is what we were doing before the diagnosis) is the way to go.
And odd side-effect of that diet is it seems to promote a sense of ‘calm’ – almost a detachment. I’ve read it described as ‘Vulcan’ – (after Mr Spock from Star Trek). Sue has it, and I find I do too – mostly. I ate some extra carbs at the weekend – and had a miserable, weepy day on Monday. I’ve gone back to the diet and am feeling much calmer. I think it might be the source of my ability to be the ‘family rock’.
Once again – thank you all for your support and encouragement. It is hugely appreciated.
Infection
Posted in Life, tagged Cancer, Chemotherapy, Low Carb Diet on November 19, 2012| 5 Comments »
Sue spent all yesterday and all last night vomiting. At first they thought she was reacting to a change in medication. Now they think she may have an infection…
Angry
Posted in Life, My Darlings, tagged Cancer, Chemotherapy, Low Carb Diet on November 16, 2012| 8 Comments »
Sue had a very bad night. HUGE pain – so we are not allowed to visit today, so she can rest.
I took some things she’d asked for to the hospital – left them with the ward receptionist.
I got back to my car and got a txt from her… thanking me, telling me she felt very much better…
It turns out…
The afternoon and night nurses ‘forgot’ to give her iv pain relief.
FORGOT TO GIVE HER PAIN RELIEF!
WHAT THE FUCK?
Her doctor and the ‘pain management team’ are very angry.
The rest of us are so angry we could spit.
It’s a very good thing we are not allowed to visit today – I want to hurt someone, I really do.
This is supposed to be one of (if not THE) best cancer hospitals in the country.
God help the rest of them.
She’s had pain relief now – has had a sponge bath and is sitting in a chair. The sooner she is well enough to leave the hospital, the better.
Let the Battle Commence
Posted in Life, My Darlings, tagged Cancer, Chemotherapy, Low Carb Diet on November 15, 2012| 7 Comments »
Operation
Posted in Life, My Darlings, tagged Cancer, Chemotherapy, Low Carb Diet on November 14, 2012| 2 Comments »
Update
Posted in Life, My Darlings, tagged Cancer, Chemotherapy, Low Carb Diet on November 10, 2012| 7 Comments »
Sue had a biopsy on Friday
She will see the specialist on Monday (tomorrow)
They will operate on Wednesday – the surgeon has ‘cleared his day’ for her…
They’re planning to remove her appendix – since that seems to be the root of the problem, her ovaries and part of her bowel… she is going to ask them to do a tummy-tuck while they’re there (!)
She is on some pretty heavy pain medication – and her colleagues have authority to give her morphine (again) if she needs it.
She feels good enough today to be rude to me by text (NORMAL!)
I have so much cleaning planned for Wednesday… it doesn’t stop the worrying, but I’ll be busy and the house will sparkle…
Roof
Posted in My Darlings on November 7, 2012| 5 Comments »
Poppy likes to get on our roof… I’m pretty sure she watched the fireworks from there – since she WOULD NOT be locked inside on Guy Fawkes night.
She climbs up the Jasmine trellis in Nettie-next-door’s garden – then leaps across to our old meat safe (which has been sealed up and is now where we have the microwave) – then she hauls herself up onto the roof. She loves to peer in the kitchen window and squeak at me while I’m at the sink…
Poppy showed Yoshi – who has never been on the roof in all his 13 years, how to get up…
But, Yoshi is a bit arthriticky these days – he only made it to the top of the Jasmine trellis…. then he couldn’t get down again…
I could see him through the window above the oven. He sat up there for ages – crying – until I realised he really was stuck.
I fought my way through the undergrowth – balanced on the rickety edge of an old covered drain and encouraged him till he got close enough for me to hook him down…
So
Posted in Life, tagged Cancer, Chemotherapy, Low Carb Diet on November 7, 2012| 4 Comments »