Update

This is my chemo week so it's back to the yucks. The doctor added another 4 days onto my antibiotic schedule so it's twice a day at the hospital unless there's a test to be done and then it's three trips to the hospital.

Anyone who's talked to me lately knows that my voice is difficult to hear or listen to. This has been going on for several months but now it's worse than even - at times I can only whisper. I saw a nose, ear, throat specialist and he explained that we all have 2 vocal cords that vibrate when we talk, thus making sounds. In my case however, only one is working. The other one seemed to be paralyzed or something. I've got a scan scheduled which will hopefully give him more info to go on. No idea at this point what there is to do for this problem if anything.

For those who don't live nearby, we're having extremely hot weather - over 100 degrees many days. Thankfully, this is the first summer we've had a heat pump which means AIR-CONDITIONING!! I'm not sure how we could have survived without it.

Something doesn't look right

There are places on my body that I can't see including my upper right chest where they inserted a port by which I've been getting chemo treatments. Fortunately I have an observant sister (Lu) who saw the area around my port which was bright red, hard, swollen and painful to touch. Although we had a doctor's appt in 2 days, she insisted that I not wait and made an appt with my general practice doctor who immediately admitted me to the hospital and started me on IV antibiotics (again). At first I was told the port would have to be surgically removed but it was later decided to discharge me to home but have me come in twice a day (x 10 days)for IV antibiotics at the hospital in the hope of saving the port.

Thankfully, there have been many friends and family members who have volunteered to take me, stay with me, and bring me home. That's dedication - which I really appreciate! In the meantime, I'm feeling much better although the infection seems to still be present. Hopefully by the end of treatment, it will be gone - otherwise I might still have to have the port removed.

LuAnne has gone on holiday to India for 5 weeks to trek in the mountains with her friend from Great Britian. My other sister, Carolyn - bless her heart - has been making meals for us which has been a great help, esp when I was feeling so sick. Hopefully I'll be back on my feet again soon and can be of some use around here.

Hadn't been to the hospital for a while, so...

Walt here...
Last week the cough that Yvonne has had for a long time started getting worse, and she began running fevers. LuAnne took her to the doctor on Friday and after getting some x-rays done, Yvonne was admitted to the hospital for pneumonia. Her white blood cell count was down to .8 (low normal is 4.8). Within a day or two at the hospital her white cell count was back up to 4.5 and her temp was back to normal, but she was still very, very sick. Her sisters and daughters have been taking turns staying with her day and night.

She was released today and is back home but still very weak.

As always, we are so grateful for everyone's prayers, encouragement and good thoughts.

Walt

Another Brief Update

Very short update from my appointment last week. Tumor markers had risen 3 small points (dr says he's not concerned). I continue to have lots of nausea and vomiting - the most embarrassing one being at a nice restaurant with a friend for lunch. Thankfully, I had an airline barf bag with me which I whipped out in time to put my deposit in. I was also wearing my "cancer sucks" t-shirt which hopefully explained to people what was happening. Still, I felt bad for the other patrons who were trying to eat.

Chemo week continues to be rough. I basically don't leave the house for a week and spend most of the day resting, wishing I could be more productive.