The latest round of chemo has rendered me uncarbonated. Hardly any pain at all, just not a lot of gumption. I would not say i feel effervescent at this stage. It’s a little like having small people dangling off your arms and knees who mildly complain of all the movement. Continue Reading
watchin’ the Olympics
Chemo 3: side effects not as strong this time
Just a quick update to say that so far Val’s having less pain this time around on the weekend after chemo. Tired and spacey with smallish twinges and burbles, but mostly better than the first two rounds. We are staying up late watching Olympics (who knew there was Olympic trampoline??) Continue Reading
Pelicans, feathers of joy, 1913 and a generous librarian
In 1913 the architect A.E. Doyle built a beach cottage in Manzanita, a lonely hamlet on the wild Oregon coast. He built it for Mary Isom, Portland’s head librarian. (Doyle finished Portland’s lovely new “crown jewel,” the Central Library, the same year.) Among library staff Mary is informally considered our Continue Reading
Apomab redux
One other tidbit this week: turns out we’d been given incorrect information about the Apomab drug trial ditching the placebo. This week (with some chagrin) oncology staff let us know Val’s Apomab trail is unchanged, and half the participants will still receive a placebo instead of the drug, although that Continue Reading
presidential pardon
Well, here’s a little piece of good news! As you will recall, two weeks ago, our heroine’s platelets were too low for round 3 of chemo, so she got a week off to recoup. When she was tested last week, her platelets were ready to party but her neutrophils (a Continue Reading
Rabbit Hole
So this morning I’m off to chemo. I hope. There is some issue with my neutrophils. My bone marrow is not producing enough so they are going to give me a drug that will induce my bone marrow to give up the goods. It is called neupogen and it has Continue Reading
quick update: chemo postponed till next week
neutrophils still low yesterday, so no chemo yet. also no montana trip. maybe a couple days at the oregon coast instead, this weekend. (plan E.) they’ll be re-testing her neutrophils monday (8/11). if they’re up, val will start chemo again tuesday. if they’re still not up on their own, then Continue Reading
I will not offer cancer a biscuit
i will not offer the cancer a biscuit. i will not pull out a chair. i cannot spare a blanket. my body will keep cancer awake all night. i will play loud music. my heart will take against cancer and leave every time it tries to talk. i will dance Continue Reading
Hazel Rand
I will tell you that today was Hazel’s memorial service. And that should impart some kind of information to you. So that you can picture the buffet table and the BBQ pork. The outside tables set up at a friend’s house. The cooler of Coors Light. The smokers over by Continue Reading