My life since metastatic osteosarcoma diagnosis October 2002. I am Audra, a 34 yr old female. My husband is Glen and our 6+ year old daughter is Angela.
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Wednesday, March 12, 2003
With a week of recovery after her radiation treatments, throat infection and IV port infection, Audra ventured back to NY today to see the good doctor for her next course of treatment. Although a bit slower afoot than normal, Audra had a pretty good week of recovery. She even spent some time shopping during the week which ultimately exhausted her. Relaxing is the activity of choice and we're all getting some good at it. I just wish Angela would catch on a bit more quickly.
Audra's blood work confirmed that she was recuperating. All of her counts were back on the rise. After her CT scan which confirmed some small tumor growth in her lungs, the doctor assured her that nothing was life threatening. The doctor's assistant told Audra that she's not at the end of the line with treatments, there are still options. While there's no "cure" they are hopeful that one of the newer therapies can hold the cancer at bay. In addition, Audra still has a few radiation treatments to complete. While waiting for her blood work, some kid sat next to Audra and asked how she was feeling and what treatments she was taking. I thought it was a patient that she had befriended. It ended up being her radiation oncologist...he looks about 25 years old, he can't be more than 35. Very nice kid/man. He told her that she can finish up the radiation treatments whenever she feels up to it. He would work with Audra to try to minimize the irritation to the throat.
Before we left NY, Audra received an injection of Navelbine , the chemotherapy treatment that she and her doctor decided upon. That was chased with her monthly dose of Zometa to help build up her bones. So the going forward plan will be weekly shots of Navelbine and bi-weekly injections of Zometa. At the same time, Audra will restart her Gleevec. The doctor said he would be happy if Audra got up to 600mg of Gleevec per day (6 tablets). We're looking at weekly trips to the big city and if she decides to resume radiation, she'll probably stay a few days up there.
So to summarize: A few spots (spots = tumors) on her spine that have been radiated but are due for additional radiation. A tumor in her brain that was partially resected; the other part is still there. The spots on her lungs that seems to be growing ever so slowly...which the doctor confirmed is strange in itself. There are a few new spots somewhere else in her abdomen that didn't seem to concern the doctor. Her shoulder and hip have tumors that were radiated. There are some other small spots on or around her rib cage that haven't been treated yet. Tomorrow Audra, Angela and Pop-Pop are going to see the musical Annie which is being performed at the local middle school and I'm leaving for Myrtle Beach. Life goes on................
Wednesday, March 12, 2003
Sunday, March 02, 2003
Audra and I went to NY on Wednesday because she was feeling terrible and running a low-grade fever. They ran some test and prescribed antibiotics anticipating some type of infection, perhaps on her IV port. We headed back home late Wednesday afternoon. After 24 hours without any improvement, Audra and Angel headed back to NY on Thursday evening after Audra's fever spiked to about 102 again. Audra's low blood counts due to radiation and chemo, and an infection don't go well together. After a two days of continual contact with the cancer center regarding the fever, the tests taken on Wednesday confirmed that Audra's IV port was the source of an infection and probably causing her fever. Late Friday afternoon her IV port was pulled and she was started on IV antibiotics, in a new temporary IV port in her arm. Arrangements were made for Audra and Angel to spend the weekend in NYC so Audra wouldn't be too far from the cancer center. When Audra is home, she's worried about having to get to the cancer center a quickly as possible. When she's at the cancer center, she's thinking about how soon she can get home. She is much more comfortable being close to the cancer center despite her overwhelming desire to be home.
I decided to spend the weekend in NY perhaps giving Angel a break. Angela and I packed up Friday evening and headed to NY to stay with Audra and Angel. Angela stood the entire time on the train just looking out the window. It was completely dark outside but she was excited just to be on the train. First stop out of Trenton is Hamilton. At that stop Angela asked if we were almost there and announced that she had to go to the bathroom. An hour and a half later, in our hotel room, she finally got to relieve herself. I'm not sure if the thought of peeing on the train was "neat" or she really had to go. Regardless she stuck it out until we got there.
Angel had decided to stay in NY with Audra. Angel and Angela tooled around the city while Audra and I napped or watched TV. Besides the name, Angel and Angela have another thing in common, they like to eat. Seems like every time they went out, they came back with something good to eat, often leftovers from what they just had. I'm hoping little Angela doesn't take a liking to beer any time soon.
We're still NY so I'm going to run to get back to Audra at the cancer center. When I update this post later today, I'll tell you about a nice gift Audra received and what Angel and Angela ate as a snack.
Sunday, March 02, 2003
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