November started off with Sharette and I enjoying some time up in Leavenworth Washington and we had a great time. We came back for my next chemo treatment. On the 30th of November I received my 20th chemotherapy treatment and then flew to Omaha for scans on the 14th of December. Not much change in tumor size and my tumor markers stabilized for the most part. A few were higher and a few were lower but not much change either way from the July scans. I still have 3 large tumors and a lot of little ones. The largest is just shy of 8 centimeters.
The decision was to stop chemotherapy for 3 months and see what happens. The cancer could start growing right away or it might stay stable for a while. Time will tell and yes I worry about it every day. My specialist wants to look again in March and then see if I need to stay off chemo longer, start back on chemo, have a new treatment, have a biopsy, or have a cytoreduction surgery. Again, time will tell.
Until then I continue to live life the best I can. I fight through the discomfort and pains. Sometimes they are not too bad and sometimes they really bug me but no matter what level they are, they are always present. The easiest way to describe it is: Imagine there is a rash covering your entire diaphragm that itches all the time plus something squeezing your liver and stomach and pulling on your right and left intestines and a cactus in your front pelvis and sandpaper at your back door plus the occasional tight belt around your chest and maybe some stabbing pains near your heart and light headedness that was not there before. That is about my normal but I am able to block out most of it from time to time if I can do stuff to take my mind off it. I can also sit sometimes or lay down and get comfortable and have little discomfort.
We also did a quick trip through the mountains and have done some family activities like board games and painting at the table.
I have been going to the gym with Sharette. I have done some mild weight lifting and some cardio. I am getting stronger. I am even a little physically stronger than Sharette is but still no jogging or running as the discomfort is too much. Her cardio is better than mine. I will keep doing what I can. Sometimes it even makes me feel normal. I will post again after my mid March visit with the specialist.
The decision was to stop chemotherapy for 3 months and see what happens. The cancer could start growing right away or it might stay stable for a while. Time will tell and yes I worry about it every day. My specialist wants to look again in March and then see if I need to stay off chemo longer, start back on chemo, have a new treatment, have a biopsy, or have a cytoreduction surgery. Again, time will tell.
Until then I continue to live life the best I can. I fight through the discomfort and pains. Sometimes they are not too bad and sometimes they really bug me but no matter what level they are, they are always present. The easiest way to describe it is: Imagine there is a rash covering your entire diaphragm that itches all the time plus something squeezing your liver and stomach and pulling on your right and left intestines and a cactus in your front pelvis and sandpaper at your back door plus the occasional tight belt around your chest and maybe some stabbing pains near your heart and light headedness that was not there before. That is about my normal but I am able to block out most of it from time to time if I can do stuff to take my mind off it. I can also sit sometimes or lay down and get comfortable and have little discomfort.
We also did a quick trip through the mountains and have done some family activities like board games and painting at the table.
I have been going to the gym with Sharette. I have done some mild weight lifting and some cardio. I am getting stronger. I am even a little physically stronger than Sharette is but still no jogging or running as the discomfort is too much. Her cardio is better than mine. I will keep doing what I can. Sometimes it even makes me feel normal. I will post again after my mid March visit with the specialist.