December 19,2008

I am still feeling the after effects of chemo, namely joint and muscle aches and pains...not what I had counted on at this stage. My ovarian cancer is in remission with a very low tumor marker of 11, (which was 1800 when I was admitted to the hospital in May). I guess we are all hopeful that it will stay low. The Dana Farber Oncologist has given me a better than 50% chance of being cured, meaning no recurrence of the cancer.

However, I am still at risk for breast cancer, since with the BRCA1 gene mutation there is an 80% lifetime chance of my developing breast cancer in my lifetime....the next hurdle awaits.

We are looking forward to the holidays and going to the Galapagos Islands from 12/28-1/9/09. See you next year!!

Happy Holidays and God Bless us all!!

Final Treatment

November 11,2008

I completed my final treatment yesterday, so with a 3 week recovery, I should feel much better!!

Thereafter, I will be able to go back for check ups at 3 month intervals.  This should give me some time to have fun for the holidays.

Thanks to all of you who have helped to get me through this difficult period.  I feel as if I have been on a treadmill since May.

Let's hope for a nice long remission and happy days ahead!

Maura

Last Treatment Scheduled for November 10th

I am feeling okay after my treatment on Friday. Mostly I am looking forward to finishing before Thanksgiving.

Thank you to all who helped me get through this one! It is great to be near the end.

Our family is going to the Galapogos Islands after Christmas, as a special vacation. We will be going from 12/28-1/9/09.

I will be on a 3 month schedule with Dana Farber for checkups thereafter. By my calculations, my first check up will be in February.

There was frost on the pumpkin this morning.

Sixth Treatment 10/17

I have had a cold, which not dangerous, but hard to shake. Anyway, I am feeling better every day. If you have a fever and low blood counts, you have to be hospitalized and get intraveneous antibiotics. Fortunately, I have not had the two events coincide!!

My sixth treatment has been scheduled for Friday, October 17th. This is approximately 4 weeks from my last treatment. Although I was on a 3 week cycle, I will really appreciate the extra week to recover and get healthy!! After this I will have one more. My new objective is to finish by Thanksgiving and really celebrate. The holiday will take on new meaning!

I hope everyone is not too soggy from the rain!

Chemotherapy Treatment Yesterday

I had my fifth chemo treatment yesterday, which went off without a hitch. I had very nice company from old friends (all from Newburyport) who probably wanted to visit in more pleasant surroundings. It was great fun to have visitors!

I am starting to see that when this treatment is over, life will be very good!!

The kids have resettled in school and life is very busy when they are around. Everyday seems very scheduled. There are no such things as pick up sports in the neighborhood. There is a part of me that longs for a more casual lifestyle without all the driving. But this is the way it is...

Enjoy the Fall weather. I has been glorious for more than a few days.

Treatment Cancelled for 9/9

Because of low blood cell counts, I was not eligible for my treatment yesterday. This was rescheduled for 9/18 (next Thursday) to give my body more time to recover. It is not uncommon after 4 successive treatments, to need a little break.

The good news is that my cancer tumor marker (CA-125) is back to normal indicating that the treatment is working!!

We are back in Concord, settling in for the school year. Emily is in middle school, which starts almost one hour earlier than elementary school!! She likes it and has friends at her middle school (Concord has 2 middle schools). The sixth graders go on an overnight trip next week to meet new friends at the school and do some team building and experiential learning. Hope for good weather!!

Nathaniel has a great 4th grade teacher and other than having a cold, is fine. He is settling into soccer and other activities at school.

It feels good to be back. Bill's father underwent surgery earlier in the week that went fine. We feel lucky in many ways.

I am hoping to get this cancer into remission and finish my treatments by Halloween. Thanks for helping me to hang in. I am more than half way through.

Love to all, Maura

Another Treatment at Dana Farber

I went in yesterday for another treatment, which was okay. Thank you to the June and Betsy, who came in for visits. It passes the time. I probably have 3 to go (9/9, 9/29 and 10/?).
The bad news for me is that I tested positive for a gene mutation (BRCA-1). Unfortunately, it has implications for breast cancer (60-85% lifetime chance). So I was also have to grapple with this issue. I'll meet with the Dana Farber oncologist to discuss this..

Hope you are all well. Thanks for the visits, and cards and letters.
It makes me feel sad that summer is almost over.
Maura

Chemotherapy Treatment Yesterday

I had another chemo treatment yesterday, which went well. It took place at the Dana Farber in their Desens Lab in the lower basement. So I didn't see daylight for 12 hours or so. All went well without a reaction, so things are looking up. Bill and I were back in Padanaram having dinner at 8 pm on Thursday.

Prior to that appointment, I was in Concord for a few days and went to visit 2 friends in Manchester and meet my friend's new horse.

Last Thursday, I had my head shaved in a buzz cut. I am definitely losing hair, but haven't lost all of it, so it may have been premature. (my sister would say "proactive"). My wig hasn;t gotten much wear, mostly I like baseball caps and beach hats. People are very nice and polite, even hold doors for me. I am surprised how something I dreaded has not had the huge impact I would have expected. It is still a shock to look in the mirror, but I am getting used to it.

The children are fine, thanks to my sister and sister-in-law. Nathaniel has been enjoying his Rocketry class at Friends Academy, sailing class at New Bedford Yacht Club and his Orton-Gillingham tutor. Add to that playing golf and swimming, and you have a busy happy boy. Emily is also taking sailing classes, and hanging out with friends. She has done a gymnastics class here, in preparation for the Fall. They seem happy and content to be here with cousins and aunts and uncles coming and going.

My next treatment is on 8/19 at the Dana Farber, if anyone wants to visit. It is a long time to be there starting at 7 am. Ruthie will stop in on 9/9. I think it is too long to ask anyone to stay the entire time although Bill likes to be there at the beginning and the end. (which has been 5:30 or 6:30, but could be earlier)

I am off to an accupuncture treatment to see if it gives me some relief (later on). The peripheral neuropathy seems better. There are various aches and pains in few days, which I would like to have some relief from.

Best to you all. Keep the cards and letters coming. They help cheer me up!! Maura