Start of Chemo

As the med techs call it, we had Day One of Cycle I.  We arrived at the oncology clinic with our bag packed:  1 DVD player, 1 IPod loaded with music, 2 novels, 2 daily newspapers, 1 Sudoku book of puzzles, 1 computer loaded with games, chips and crackers, and 2 bottles of water.  Those items took us through 7 1/2 hours of chemo.  Long, long day for both of us.  Only one of the drugs caused discomfort, while the rest went in without a hitch.  No nausea yet; Doc says if it comes it'll be tomorrow not tonight.  Tonight we hope to sleep better than last night.  All is going good so far.  Remember, one day at a time.

And so, It Begins

The PET imaging results are in and we had our second consultation with the oncologist, Dr. Rodriguez.  The cancer hasn't attacked any major organs, but instead in located in the lymph nodes.  That, in itself, is good news. Without treatment, it would be 0% survival rate; with treatment, he predicts a 30% chance.  But, he said you never know.  He has no idea how the chemo will react with the lymph nodes.  The way he describes it, we'll be battling World War III.  Monday will be the first of the chemo cycles, a cycle being two weeks on, then one week off.  There'll be four cycles and will take us through October.  At the end of the cycles, more PET scans follow to see if anything improves.  As I said in an earlier post, one day at a time.

Deja Vu

It began quite innocently.  Larry developed a swollen left leg.  One could tell he was retaining a lot of fluid.  We both thought that perhaps it was a complication of falling into a deep hole months before.  When it didn't get any better, he made an appointment with his GP.  Dr. Nash sent him for a CAT scan which showed four enlarged lymph nodes.  Nash referred him to Larry's urologist who helped with the previous bladder cancer.  He ordered a biopsy and the result was carcinoma; Larry's bladder cancer returned.  Now our lives are in the hands of the oncologist.  Deja vu all over again.  We suffered through this once, and we believed we had it licked.  Not so.  Life's unfair and then you move on...  Carcinoma, biopsy, chemo, cancer:  ugly, ugly words when they disrupt our personal lives. Several days ago I attended the funeral of my last remaining uncle.  There, during mass, the choir sang a heart-rendering hymn that stuck with me, the chorus especially.  This now becomes our mantra for the ensuing months.

One day at a time sweet Jesus
That's all I'm asking from you.
Just give me the strength
To do everyday what I have to do.
Yesterday's gone sweet Jesus
And tomorrow may never be mine.
Lord help me today, show me the way
One day at a time.

Wish us well and keep us in your thoughts and prayers.

Fourth of July on the Lake

Happy Fourth of July to everyone!   Busy, busy weekend for us on the Lake....lots of visitors, weekend guests!  The weather this year cooperated up until Sunday night when we had a torrential downpour with hail of all things.  Our 4th annual "Golf Cart Parade" was held on Saturday.  As you can tell from the photos, we enjoyed being kids again! 

Tennessee Fishing

Yesterday we arrived home from our annual fishing trip to Reelfoot Lake in Samburg, Tennessee. The cypress trees populating the lake make for a tranquil setting. The bluegill weren't cooperating as they usually do, but we did manage to bring home 80-some fish.

Montauk Trout

This past week hubby and I were fly-fishing the Current River in Montauk State Park in southern Missouri.  The weather was perfect and the fishing was excellent!  More and more I am learning the art, and it is an ART, of using my fly rod.  It looks so graceful when others use it; as for me, I'm lucky I don't become entangled within the line!  Practice makes perfect...

Opening Day

This weekend Memorial Day brings the boats out...what was an empty cove is now full of pontoons and runabouts.  Mother Nature has cooperated by giving us temperatures in the high 80s, but the water still is a cold 67 degrees--too cold to wet your feet!  That is only a "minor" annoyance for most boaters.  The outboards are humming and the grills are burning and the liquor is flowing!