Ding...Round 5 Begins

Hi Friends,

I visited UCSF on Monday to check in with my doctor there and to get blood test results after finishing another round of Sutent. When the medical assistant took my blood pressure, it was finally within normal range, and seems to have regulated some. I will still have to monitor it regularly. The not-so-pleasant side effects from being on the blood pressure medicine also seem to have regulated, which makes me a much more pleasant person to be around! Thank you for all of your prayers on that matter. I actually met with the nurse-practitioner, Tammy, who I had heard about but never met. She was very nice and had already discussed my case with Dr. Ryan. My blood test results were okay, although there are a few things we will have to keep any eye on. My potassium is low, so I will make sure I have foods high in potassium in my diet. My creatinine is high, which means that the blood that is filtered by my kidney has a slightly high level of waste still in it. I was assured that it is nothing to be alarmed about, especially when you only have one kidney doing the job of two, but something to keep an eye on. My thyroid level is also high, so we will wait one more round, and if it is still high the next time, I will have to add thryoid medicine to my list as well. I start the next round of chemo on Thursday night. After this round, in mid-June, I will have scans done to see if there is any change or progress, as well as having a MUGA scan of my heart done to assure that the chemo is not affecting the way my heart pumps, which can happen after being on Sutent long term. (I have been told that long term means several years, so this is just a for a baseline. The plan still remains that I will only be on until November, unless the unexpected occurs.)

For the last two years, Matt and the kids and I have participated in the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life by walking in support of those we know who have or have had cancer. Last year we walked for an hour as a family, then I went back and walked in the early morning, as the luminarias were just dwindling, and had a quiet time with the Lord as I prayed for those same people. Little did I know that cancer may have already invaded my own life.

This year, I have joined the team we walked with last year, and will participate in the Survivor's Lap, as well as walking laps with my family, and being there for the lighting of the luminarias. As a team member, I am also trying to raise money for the Cancer Society. If you would like to go to my personal page and learn more, donate to the hope of a cure, or purchase a luminaria in honor or memory of someone you know, you can do so by cutting and pasting this link into your address bar: http://main.acsevents.org/site/TR/RelayForLife/RFLFY09CA?px=10862144&pg=personal&fr_id=13653. From there, you follow the guidelines provided based on if you would like to donate online, download a form to mail in, purchase a luminaria, or just learn a little more.

Before I finish, I want to share with you a little excerpt from an incredible book I just finished, Same Kind of Different As Me, by Ron Hall and Denver Moore. If you can get your hands on this book, you will be blessed. In the book, Ron (who is white) asks Denver (who is colored, and not sure if he can trust Ron) if they can be friends, and this is Denver's response:

"I heard that when white folks go fishin they do somethin called 'catch and release.' I just can't figure it out. 'Cause when colored folks go fishin, we really proud of what we catch, and we take it and show it off to everybody that'll look. Then we eat what we catch...in other words we use it to sustain us. So it really bothers me that white folks would go to all that trouble to catch a fish, then when they done caught it, just throw it back in the water. So, Mr. Ron, it occurred to me: If you is fishin for a friend you just gon' catch and release, then I ain't got no desire to be your friend. But if you is lookin for a real friend, then I'll be one. Forever."

I want to thank all of you for sustaining me, for being the kind of friends and family that didn't just catch for awhile, then release, but are real...forever. You have blessed me beyond measure.

Danene
May 13, 2009

Misery is a Choice

Hi, Friends,

I found this past week that I may have met my match. Throughout this cancer journey, I have been able to handle the inflamed feet, the aching and tender hands, the gray, wiry hair (okay, so I'm frowning on that one), and so on, all of which have not lasted too long or haven't even shown up on this last round, which ended last Wednesday. But my newest foe are the side effects that go with the high blood pressure medicine I am on, and they may just take me down! Gas, cramps, bloating, diarrhea...if you only knew how humbling that is to share. It's been a long week and it has affected everything from family to work to daily plans and sleep. I'm in touch with the nurse at UCSF, and we are working together to find out how to stop all of this, which all ties in with the chemo and the steroids/lack of adrenal glands. I see Dr. Ryan, my oncologist, next Monday at 11:30, so hopefully we will find a solution at that time.

Sunday, our pastor shared some principles for living through tough times. What appropriate timing for me to hear those, as I was feeling a little sorry for myself. I was reminded of many wonderful verses that take us the way of the cross through those tough times. I was also reminded that 'trouble comes to all; misery, however, is a choice.' Wow. I'm not the only one living with troubles, and I definitely don't want to make the choice of taking those troubles to the misery level. A timely message for me!

I'll update you again after I meet with Dr. Ryan next week. Thank you all for your continued prayers.

Danene
May 4, 2009