The Next Mountain to Climb

We weren’t planning an update until after chemo got started, but today and the last week has been, well, pretty shitty (forgive the language, but we need to be real). The good news is, the shittiness gave way to some cathartic laughter on our way to Stanford  this evening . Maybe it won’t be so funny to you,  but we’re in the car for a few hours … we decided to share.  Let me set the scene. Since we found out for certain that chemo was the next step we have been full steam ahead. Time is not in my favor so I’ve been proactively getting things moving. The insurance snafu set us back a week and didn’t allow us to be able to get my port put in in Fresno. That’s why we’re headed to Stanford this evening so I can get it done in the morning. The second part, of course, is getting my chemo ordered and set up to be done in Fresno. My Fresno oncologist, who happens to be a brand new doctor for me, because my last one retired, required me to come in for a consultation bef...

We talked to Dr. Ganjoo this evening. I will begin chemotherapy sometime next week. I need to have a port (semi permanent IV port, I’ve had one before) installed first so that the infusions can be done through it instead of sticking me with a new IV each time. Chemo will be given every three weeks at this point. A scan about every six weeks will help determine what effect the chemo is having. Intervals between treatments as well as changes in drugs and dosage will be determined by the scan results.  I am so very relieved to be moving forward with treatment. The chemo regime will have side effects, but they don’t sound as horrible as what I’ve had in the past. Dr. Ganjoo even told me to keep working, with the caveat that I plan to stay home the day or two after treatments if I need to rest or recover. She told me that I will “be bored” if I don’t work. Lol - I guess she must have finally figured me out.  I don’t have many other details to provide at this time. I think we will j...

On January 5 Kristi had a biopsy of two lung nodules at Stanford.  Yesterday we received the pathology results that we expected, but didn't want.  The results indicate metastasis of Leiomyosarcoma, the tumor that was removed from her abdomen about 18 months ago.  She has an appointment with the Sarcoma specialist next Wednesday to go over the results and hopefully get an idea about treatment options and plans. "How are you doing?" is the logical and most often asked question of Kristi (and me, Jim). Physically, Kristi is again experiencing back pain similar to what she had experienced prior to the removal of the tumor.  While they have been focused on the lungs recently, it seems logical that back pain could be because of a recurrence of the original tumor (which is corroborated by her recent MRI's).  She is able to take some potent pain meds to help.  She is not experiencing any other notable symptoms. Emotionally ... it's hard to describe.  Sadness, ...