Thursday, November 6, 2014

Wasn't it just March? Time flies. #CancerJourney

So, yeah, I've been incommunicado via e-mail and Facebook and online generally since July. Prior to that I had been off about a month. And it really does feel like this year has gone by in an eyeblink without me even noticing...

So, what have I been doing (other than worrying people)? I have been obsessively reading if I wasn't sleeping. I read all the Honorverse novels, most of the Grimspace books, several Vine books, a couple old "medical curiosities" books, a few short story anthologies, a few random short stories... When it comes time to update all that, it'll be a long day for me on Goodreads. And Shelfari. And LibraryThing. I have taken extensive notes on most of the books I've read, but I still may or may not actually write reviews for all of them, because damn... that's a lot of reviews to write.

Each fortnight I trundle myself off to my oncologist and have poison medication put into my veins through the port in my arm, then go to the hospital to be hooked up to a home infusion unit for a couple more days of chemical fun. Thank goodness I don't have some of the sorts of side effects that are mentioned by characters in the short story anthology Let's Scare Cancer to Death, which I read a couple weeks ago. I have not had a lot of nausea and zero throwing up, about which I am most happy because I really do hate throwing up. Since coming off the oxaliplatin I don't have problems with cold things, nor do I have muscle spasms, which is wonderful. Mostly my digestive system is out of balance, and I tend to be very tired, and wear out very quickly when I do much of anything. However, the treatment is helping, the tumors and liver lesions are shrinking, so we'll be continuing this treatment until a) it stops working and needs to be changed or b) the liver lesions are gone, at which point we can do surgery to remove the big tumors in my abdomen. I've regained all the weight I lost, so am back to where I was in 2012. Which, as it turns out, is too much, because it is negatively affecting the fit of my colostomy wafer. So now I have to try to lose some of that weight again. I just can't win! But such minor annoyances are nothing compared to what others have gone through, and what others ARE going through.

Speaking of Let's Scare Cancer to Death, it is a charity anthology. All monies raised will go to cancer research, so go ye forth and buy.

Meanwhile, know I am so grateful to my friends who have texted me on occasion to let me know they're thinking of me, and I found a lot of similar messages on Facebook as well. This means a lot to me. I am going to try to catch up with my e-mail, but likely I will be quiet for a long time while I'm doing that due to the volume of it. So, be patient with me! Meanwhile, know I love you all, and here's a big ol' hug for you!



17 comments:

  1. I'm so glad you posted an update. I think about you often and I'm glad to hear you are managing so well with your treatments. I'll continue to send good vibes and healing thoughts your way.

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  2. Thank you so much for the update. Hope you continue to get better! *hugs* :)

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  3. Good to hear things are improving for you. I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers. Hugs! <3

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  4. So glad to read this and that you're on the mend. You're always in my thoughts. You sound as positive as always. Good luck with the rest of the treatment.

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  5. So nice to see your words again ;)

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  6. God bless you Katy. May you continue to heal. Nobody stops thinking of you or the many in your situation. We always pray! :)

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  7. Keeping you in my thoughts, Katy. Glad you're back online.

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  8. Missed you! Thanks for the update! Great to hear you are reading and doing well! HUGS! :-)))))

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  9. Thanks for the update.I'm also glad to hear treatment is going well!

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  10. I was worried when you went dark for so long. Glad to hear from you.

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  11. How wonderful to hear from you again! I've been thinking about you and praying for you since your diagnosis, and am thrilled to see you posting again. Love the hug . . .

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  12. VERY GLAD TO HEAR FROM YOU. WISH YOU A TOTAL RECOVERY. I completed another book, The Last Omen, maybe when you get well, you can review it. Your writing style is great.

    My very best,

    Steve

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  13. Hi,
    Katy,

    I take 50,000 iu of Vitamin D3 every day!
    You should research it.
    Also Activated Charcoal capules 260mg by 4.
    This is a powerful cleanser of the body.
    Research it!
    Avocado, Broccoli, Asparagus = SUPERFOODS.

    I pray you make a full recovery!

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    1. I take D3 as well, and Magnesium, Iron, and a multi super-food supplement. As far as the superfoods mentioned- sorry, hate 'em... LOL I will eat raw broccoli and spinach, though I have to be careful because of the blood thinner I am on. Thanks! *hugs*

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  14. I just found your blog and was deeply moved by your account. You seem very brave and determined to live. Good for you.

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  15. And a general thanks to everyone who posted here. I would do individual responses, but I want to try to do a short post and have already been on here way too long, so... just know that I appreciate your thoughts and support so much!

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