FINALLY - AN UPDATE ... More pictures to follow
FINALLY - AN UPDATE!!!
Seconds go by, then minutes, hours, days and soon weeks and months. I can feel my internal time clock ticking away. And all too soon I want to shout STOP! at the top of my lungs. It isn't fair; to be a cancer patient means appointments and more appointments means less time to do the things that I really want to do. And then you throw in the normal aging process and you have even MORE appointments. Ugh. Do I sound frustrated? Well, I am.
So first of all, I apologize for being out of the loop for so long. Believe me, I would much rather be writing in my blog than running all over the place visiting doctors and trying to solve problems or keep up-to-date on filing, housework, gardening, etc. To answer the important question, I did not qualify for the vaccine trial at Johns Hopkins so I am back to square #1. I am still taking my original chemotherapy drugs in the same protocol as before: once a week for three weeks followed by two more weeks of the same schedule then a week off. If my blood counts hold up these weeks are consecutive, if not, I can miss a week and that sets me back a bit. My fourth week I have off and then I start the whole process over again for two more months. (I know - it gets confusing!) At the end of approximately three months I am scheduled for scans. It is the scans that show whether the cancer is spreading or holding it's own. That's called "nail biting" time. So far my scans have been relatively good but I am due soon for another go-round. (I think I'll paint my nails a real lucious pink color so I won't be tempted to chew them down to bits...)
That's the story as far as my Cancer goes. If you feel really ambitious you can check out my Travel blog in a few days to see how I love to spend some of my time. (I think I am a travelaholic, which could be worse, you know.). I get on a plane with no palpitations of the heart (meaning scared to fly) and I always come back feeling happy and fulfilled. Lucky me.
Seconds go by, then minutes, hours, days and soon weeks and months. I can feel my internal time clock ticking away. And all too soon I want to shout STOP! at the top of my lungs. It isn't fair; to be a cancer patient means appointments and more appointments means less time to do the things that I really want to do. And then you throw in the normal aging process and you have even MORE appointments. Ugh. Do I sound frustrated? Well, I am.
So first of all, I apologize for being out of the loop for so long. Believe me, I would much rather be writing in my blog than running all over the place visiting doctors and trying to solve problems or keep up-to-date on filing, housework, gardening, etc. To answer the important question, I did not qualify for the vaccine trial at Johns Hopkins so I am back to square #1. I am still taking my original chemotherapy drugs in the same protocol as before: once a week for three weeks followed by two more weeks of the same schedule then a week off. If my blood counts hold up these weeks are consecutive, if not, I can miss a week and that sets me back a bit. My fourth week I have off and then I start the whole process over again for two more months. (I know - it gets confusing!) At the end of approximately three months I am scheduled for scans. It is the scans that show whether the cancer is spreading or holding it's own. That's called "nail biting" time. So far my scans have been relatively good but I am due soon for another go-round. (I think I'll paint my nails a real lucious pink color so I won't be tempted to chew them down to bits...)
That's the story as far as my Cancer goes. If you feel really ambitious you can check out my Travel blog in a few days to see how I love to spend some of my time. (I think I am a travelaholic, which could be worse, you know.). I get on a plane with no palpitations of the heart (meaning scared to fly) and I always come back feeling happy and fulfilled. Lucky me.
A happy Hannah
Hannah's "gang" gathered for dinner
Typical French Quarter corner
Thought you might like to see a few pictures so it isn't all doom & gloom. Here is a Troia family portrait: Hannah, Kelley, Tim, Charlotte & Wilbur