Friday, October 10, 2008

Friday, October 10th, 2008 -- Doing the Happy Dance!!

Dear Bloggy,

YAYAYAYAYAYA!! I'm doing the happy dance!!! I'm so happy tonight, I could just explode :D

Today was my appointment with Sharlene (oncologist) to go over the PET scan results and what our plan of action will be with the chemo, etc. I have to admit, it's not like I'm looking forward to going on chemo again, on the other hand, I'm a real fighter and if it means going on chemo to fight this beast, then chemo it will be!

Well, for starters... the PET scan. I was thrilled to hear that the scan was perfectly clear except for the lung nodule that we already know about. The other lung nodules that showed up on the CAT scan are just too small to light up on the PET scan, which explains why we didn't see them on the first PET scan, until we had an actual CAT scan done of the lungs.

So then Sharlene sat down with me to discuss our options. She says that even though, as an oncologist she is a chemotherapist, she would rather us get a third opinion rather than rushing in to go on chemo. There is this Radiologist specialist who works at the Radiology program out at Royal Columbian who is the only one in the lower mainland to do "ablations" on the lungs. An ablation is when he would use the CAT scan and with a needle and instrument, would go in and burn the small tumours/nodules. So rather than shrinking them with chemo, where there is the possibility they might come back, she would like to see if this Radiologist would feel I'd benefit from ablating the small nodules. I'm not sure what the criteria is, but if he doesn't think it would be possible, then we can always fall back on the Chemo plan. Only, this time, we would be replacing the Oxipilatin chemo that caused me so many problems with sensitivity to the cold and neuropathy in the feet, with another chemo drug.

Soooooo, I'm not exactly sure what the plan will be yet, but as Sharlene said, there is no need to panic or worry if we give ourselves some time to come up with the right treatment. These nodules, including the somewhat larger one, are growing so slowly, there is no rush to take the first option we can think of.

That is why I'm doing the happy dance tonight! We haven't run out of options at all!! :D :D

Hugggggs,

Cheryl

PS: I have managed to figure out how to put the excerpt of my reading a child's audiobook so you all can have a listen. If you click on this hyperlink it should take you to a page with a bar that you can click the play arrow and the sound file will start.

Sunday, October 5, 2008

Sunday, Oct 5, 2008 -- The Sun Is Out!

Hiya Bloggy!

Yes, after what seems like weeks of rain (ok, so maybe it's only been about 5 days or so), it is a lovely sunny Sunday! Hehe... if it wasn't that the outside of my windows are so dirty, it would actually be lovely to look out on this gorgeous day. At least, it is so mild, I can have the windows open and fresh air coming into the apartment :)

I'm going to be meeting my friend, Nancie, this afternoon and we are off to see a movie, perhaps dinner, then again, maybe we'll drop in to the Arts Club's Backstage Lounge where they are celebrating their 50th Anniversary (not 50 years on Granville Island, but 50 years with the Arts Club).

Anywho... I thought I would drop in here and take a poll . You see, I belong to an Amateur Photography Group on Facebook. Every week there is a different theme and we all submit one photo that matches that theme... and then everyone who submitted a photo gets to vote and pick all the photos that they really like (excluding their own). It's all just for fun and enjoyment... and certainly is fun to see what photos others submit.

This week's theme is "Black and White". My problem... I have narrowed down to 8 photos that I wouldn't mind submitting but I have to pick only one of them. So, I figured I would put them up here and you all can tell me which one you like the best. Just add your choice by adding a comment at the end of this entry :)

Beacon Hill Park, Victoria BC

Stone Bridge, Beacon Hill Park, Victoria, BC

Bridget down at English Bay, Vancouver, BC

Duck in a pond at Queen Elizabeth Park, Vancouver, BC

House #1 out by Lighthouse Park, West Vancouver, BC

House #2 out by Lighthouse Park, West Vancouver, BC

A lighthouse on one of the Gulf Islands between Vancouver and Vancouver Island.

The West End in Vancouver, taken from the park next door to my apartment building.

So there you have it. I'm not sure which one I'm going to enter for this week's submission... let me know what you think :)

Ciao for now!

Cheryl