Well overdue for a blog update…so here we go. Let’s jump into cancer update. My feet and hands have gotten progressively worse on the Xeloda chemo, so my oncologist, Dr. Rinn, decide to decrease my dose to 2,000mg of the Xeloda (from 3,000) and added a daily chemo called Cychophosphamide (say that 3x fast). Hopefully that mixture will lead to relief for my feet but still keep the cancer contained. On Tuesday I got the results from my blood tests and my CA27.29 (cancer marker) was down to 59!!! That is a great jump…down 9 points from June (68). So of course I now question whether I should be changing my chemo regiment with good success on Xeloda. But we’ll just see what my markers do over the next few months.
In an effort to try and figure out this whole “balance” thing, I’ve decided to formally go down to 4 days a week at work (so take a decrease in pay). I was hoping social security or disability would help balance out the difference, but that isn’t looking promising. But I’ll keep looking into that, and in the meantime I’ll truly take 1 day a week for myself to rest, do acupuncture and massage, and take some walks with my hopefully healed feet. One of the most amazing things about working for Starbucks is how incredibly supportive everyone has been there. I can’t even imagine how hard this would be if I didn’t have such a wonderful boss and supportive co-workers.
We had a wonderful camping trip up on Mt. Rainier last weekend. It was so nice to be out in nature and unplugged. I’m now on 2 weeks of vacation! Brian and I are going to a cancer retreat at Harmony Hill down in Hood Canal. The retreat will involve meditation, yoga, group workshops and good food. I’m looking forward to bonding with some fellow survivors as well as learning some additional survival techniques for both Brian and me. On Thursday and Friday I’ll spend the days hanging out with a super cute guy named Desmond and getting some serious cuddle time in. Then Sunday I’m off to South Carolina to see my family! 5 days of poker, wine, hush puppies, swimming and boating. I’m leaving Brian and Desmond at home…so it will be a bittersweet trip. But it will give me 5 days to truly relax. Can’t wait!
So good news all around. Thanks for all of your love and sweet wishes on Facebook, it’s like a big ole fluffy blanket of a hug. xoxo