HTFM...

Helene the Fighting Machine!!!

Hope 4 Helene


But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

Isaiah 40:31

Friday, June 10, 2011

hmm...

Tyler went with me to the cancer doctor today. I had blood drawn on Tuesday and the tumor marker number is higher than in the past few months. It is a number that should not be looked at in isolation- but it is a concern...so the dr. wants a CAT scan next week and a dr. visit next Friday instead of waiting another month like we had planned. so hmmm..... not the best news, but no need to panic, I guess. The pt wants me to look into getting a cortisone shot, but Dr. Kash is cautious- so I have to wait for the results of the CAT scan before I see an ortho. dr. So I will continue pt 3 times a week for this stinkin' frozen shoulder. Always something....so keep the prayers and positive Karma a comin'.

xoxo, htfm

Saturday, May 21, 2011

long time

Don't know if anyone ever read this bolg thing that Kim set up..... haven't written in quite a while... been busy with Tyler's baseball games, work at COD and volunteering at the resale shop.

Health wise-..... I am still "stable" which means the tumors I have are not growing and no new ones have been detected. I will go in in 3-4 weeks for yet another CAT scan to continue to monitor the tumors. Unfortunately I have a frozen shoulder- which could be due to when I had lymph nodes removed 10 years ago. It is really painful and I go for pt 3 times a week. I am suppose to do exercises at home 3 times a day- ha! Probably another month of pt. I am unsure if I will have full range of motion. Kinda limits what I can do with my hair! At least the hair thing is ok. I don't look like "chemo chick" anymore. I put the hats and wigs a way...hopefully I won't need them for a long time. The oncologist is kinda somber about the cancer returning. Our last visit was a little bit of a downer. I still go for the "nasty boy" shots once a month and an infusion for the bones every 3 months. this is so much better than Chemo.

I am grateful that I was able to go to so many of Tyler's bb games. The weather was pretty rough on me- but I sure was proud to see him pitch so well at the high school level. Last year I missed most of his travel games and this year I was determined to get to as many as I could. He starts travel bb next week- hopefully I will be able to go out of town with Tyler and Rob to see Tyler play.

As always- Linda is there for me- she kinda took over what my Mom did when I went through this the last time. I know she has sacrificed a lot to go to appts and treatments with me. Rob and Tyler have really helped out around the house. Tyler planted more flowers for me today while we worked in the yard. Nothing like seeing your husband vacuum and clean..... to me that is a sexy picture! My friends....couldn't go through with without all of your support.

Keep the prayers ansd good karma coming..... getting a little anxious about this new CAt scan.
xoxo, HTFM

Saturday, February 12, 2011

a 38!!!!

Hey there,

Linda and I saw Dr. Kash, my oncologist, yesterday. My tumor markers in my blood work have gone down- to a low of 38. This is good news. He believes that the "nasty boy shots" are the result of this. So...more nasty boy shots in my furture.

The Avastin I get every other week is causing some weird neurological issues- tingling and complete numbness in my hands and fingers, hurtful muscle aches in my arms and bad joint pains. So..... I may go off of the Avastin as I have been on it almost a year. Also, the pain may be caused by the flomata- a bone density drug. It is hard to believe that it has been a year since I have been re-diagnosed.... The year has gone by in such a blur. I remember- and still have all of the cards people sent me. I am fortunate to have so much support. But- I will take the aches and pains over going back on the toxic chemo!

I see my second opinion dr. at Rush in a few weeks. She may have some insight to the drugs I am taking, and may know of some studies being done at Rush. I really like Dr. Kash, but I am glad to have another dr. on board. Dr. Kash actually encourages people to look in to a second opinion and is not upset by patients going.

Keep up the good work all of you prayers out there! Keep sending positive karma my way!
xoxo, HTFM

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Same Old, Same Old...

Not much is new, since I have the "stable" label. I continue to have these weird aches in my muscles...and the Avastin still makes me a tired puppy. But if that is all I have to deal with- not all that bad :)

This Saturday, Linda volunteered to run a bake sale for the "File for the Cure Roadside Party." Our bunco babe- Kelli- and her husband opened a new tax business and are hosting a party, with proceeds going to the Susan G. Komen fund. So....some of us have volunteered to bake and have volunteered our kids to help out at the fundraiser. We are hoping for more baked good donations- so hopefully we can raise some $. Should be fun and it will give the kids another opportunity to volunteer as there will be raffles, food, a photo booth, games and face painting.

Friday I go in for my Avastin treatment and blood work. I need to get home so I can do my baking! Please keep the positive thoughts and prayers a comin'. Gotta believe!
xoxo,
HTFM

Sunday, January 16, 2011

"Life is Good"

Some of you may already know- but when I saw the oncologist on Friday he said that the tumors are stable and there are not any new ones detected!!!!!! This means that I do not have to go back on Taxol - the chemo drug with the nasty side effects!!!!! If my blood work continues to be good, I won't have to have a CAT scan for about 3 months. YEAH!!!! I will still continue on Avastin- a chemo drug- every 2 weeks, the "nasty boy" shots in my butt and a bone infusion drug monthly. The side effects of the Avastin is the tiredness but this is so much better than the Taxol. My hair is growing slowly, yet still curly and still no grays!

It was so nice sharing this news with Linda, my sister, and my friend Holly who came with me to the dr. I had the CAT scan on Monday and had to wait until Friday for the news. It is still sinking in that I am stable- (probably not mentally stable). I so appreciate all of your prayers, positive thoughts and good karma. I am not out of the woods, but I love this extended "chemocation."

xoxo,
HTFM

Wednesday, January 5, 2011

calling for all prayers and good karma...

I haven't blogged in quite a long time! I have been feeling decent of late- just really tired. I still go for treatments every other week- I get the Avastin by infusion twice a month and then the "nasty boy" shots and bone stuff monthly. I really hope I can continue this form of treatment....

Next Monday I go in for another CAT scan and then I will find out the results on Friday the 14th. The outcome of the CAT scan will determine the course of treatment- whether I have to go back on chemo or not. That is why the call for prayers and positive karma. I am hoping I can continue with the medicine I am on- my hair is short, curly and oh so much better than a wig or hat. My energy level is low- but better than when I was chemoing. I even started back working out- nowhere the level I was before, but I am trying. I would hate to disappoint my boyfriends at the health club- they are 69 and 70 but are so happy to see me back at it.

xoxo,
HTFM