Thursday, December 1, 2011

Port Free and All Scheduled

I went in on Thursday to have my port removed. I was a little nervous about them doing it with just local anesthetic, but it ended up being pretty easy. It was really surreal to have someone cutting into me and pulling that thing out while I was wide awake (no, I couldn't see anything). I was really happy to be leaving with a clear head, not the weird fuzziness you feel after more significant sedation. It is a little sore and pretty bruised, but otherwise I'm feeling pretty good. Now I just need to wait and heal up before I head in for my new one on the 29th.

In the meantime I've gotten scheduled to start back on the trial, finally! Unfortunately, it didn't turn out the way I wanted it to- The drag is that I start back on Tykerb on December 22. Since it is a 5 day on, 9 day off kind of thing, I'll be on treatment over Christmas while Keith and I are up in the UP. Urgh. This was not how I wanted it to go. I was hoping to start the week before, but no such luck. I went around and around with the trial coordinator (who is wonderful) trying to figure out another option, but there just isn't anything to be done unless I want to delay getting started by 2 more weeks (NO THANKS). I'm just going to suck it up. I'm hoping that maybe it will be slightly easier than I remember it since I have had a nice break from treatment (and I don't have a brain tumor!). We'll see...

So this week, I've got a bunch of appointments on Tuesday to make sure I'm still eligible for the trial. Really they're just checking out my heart and liver. All the HER2 targeted drugs are hard on the heart muscle, so they need to make sure mine is still going strong before I start the trial. I'm not too worried, but it'll be nice to hear that things are a definite go! If things are good, then on Thursday I'll go in for a CT Scan to get a baseline of what things look like before I get started (please cross your fingers and toes and send good vibes for a good clean, or close to clean, scan).



Red and Keith and I got out for a nice hike today in Marin County. It was brisk and windy but it sure felt good to get out.
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3 comments:

  1. AnonymousDecember 12, 2011 at 5:13 AM

    We will be all twisted up with crossed digits and limbs on Thurs, hoping that the scans show a pretty clean result. Glad to hear that the removal of the old port wasn't too bad, but it is very creepy to be awake when someone's hacking away at you. What a bummer with the timing for the Tykerb treatment, slam bang on Christmas!! I hope the cosy ski cabin that you and Keith have rented turns out to be a lovely retreat for you when you're not feeling well. We'll be with you in spirit thinking about the cancer cells being killed. Golly, what a lovely spot for a walk - I'm glad you're living in a location where you can find such lovely places. love, Sheila

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  2. AnnDecember 12, 2011 at 5:50 AM

    Eileen- thanks for the update and the lovely picture. I'm so sorry that you will be on treatment for Christmas.... what a bummer! But good to be back on the trial. Here's hoping that your scans are (almost) clean and the Tykerb does its job!! Thinking of you....
    Love, ann

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  3. AnonymousDecember 12, 2011 at 2:56 PM

    Thanks for the update. Glad to hear that your de-porting (un-porting?) went well. Yes, I can imagine that it must have been quite unnerving! Yikes!

    I am sorry to hear that the scheduling of the trial could not be different. Not a fun way to spend the holidays, to say the least.

    And, we will all be thinking of you on Thursday; here’s to spic-and-span scans (SASS)!!!

    Good idea to head for high ground for a walk with Mr. Mis-behaving. It does look like a pretty walk.

    Take good care.
    Love, Jane

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