Robin's Third Chemo - 1/25/05

 
It has been three weeks since the last update. For the most part, at least with respect to Robin's treatment, the last three weeks have been relatively uneventful. During that time, our son, John, got a "steady" girlfriend, Angelica, turned 18 (draft age), and got his driving permit. He has now become our chauffeur, and loves to drive Robin's car.

Robin's experience with the second Chemo treatment was similar to the first, but a little more intense and a little longer peak of the sickness phase. As before, the treatment was on Tuesday, she was okay until Friday, then got very sick and was "under the weather" until Monday. She gradually got better over the next week and felt nearly normal for the third week.

On Sunday, the 23rd of January, we went to Mass and Robin played the piano. After Mass, an interesting encounter occurred, and I asked Robin to write it down, since I was not there. Robin wrote:

"At church on Sunday, my good friend Becky Vargas and her son, Robert came up to say hello. Becky asked Robert to tell me what he had said during Mass, but Robert was being a little shy. So Becky told me that Robert said, "Look at Ms. Robin! Doesn't she look beautiful! She looks like she had an extreme make over!" I started to laugh and said that I thought it was just the effect of my new wig and new "retro" glasses---the combination does seem to make me look younger. Robert said "No, it's your skin. All the wrinkles are gone!" (Did I really have so many? Horrors!!) He continued, "It looks like you've had skin therapy!" I said that if there was an up side to cancer, then I would happily take it. John Andrew was standing right beside me and his comment was "Better living through chemicals!" We all laughed. Too funny! I find the whole cancer situation rather surreal, especially when people say I look so good. I have no idea what I'm supposed to look like..........I just see a bald (and surly) round headed person who is rapidly losing her eyebrows and eye lashes. My goal is to just not look like an alien!!!"

I think Robin had a smile on her face ALL DAY LONG.

On Monday, Robin started getting apprehensive about round three of the Chemo. On Tuesday morning, I went to work early, and Alexis Couvillion picked Robin up at our house and took her to the Deke Slayton Cancer Center where we met (it's not far from where I work (this week)). They checked her blood counts and everything was still within tolerances. We finally saw her oncologist, Dr. McClure, and she checked Robin over.

Dr. McClure said she didn't feel a tumor in the right breast and the left breast just felt "thick", but no discernible node. She seemed VERY PLEASED by how well the cancer was responding to the chemo (AND the prayers!!!). She said that fingers are not as precise a measure as she would like, so she was ordering another CT Scan (for the trachea) and sonograms of Robin's breasts.

The plan was for Robin to receive four cycles of this set of chemicals, then four of a different type. So we asked if we could obtain the literature for the next type of chemo drugs. Dr. McClure said that she thought she would stick with this regimen, since the cancer was responding so well. In fact, she said it was really a matter of deciding whether Robin got a total of four or six treatments (one more after today or three more). We were pretty excited. Robin (still hoping) asked if there was any chance that the chemo would completely clear the cancer. The doctor said that it does happen, but it is rare. She said that Robin would be having surgery. (I sense she is being very conservative, because the cancer might come back if the breasts are not removed. That would mean more chemo and more surgery. It seems like the surgery is the smart thing to do).

Well, after all that uplifting news, Alexis stayed with Robin as she received her third infusion. They didn't tell me much about it so I assume it was uneventful. Following the infusion, Alexis took Robin home. I think Robin slept most of the afternoon, then couldn't sleep Tuesday night. As I am writing this, it is Wednesday night, and she has been sleeping in her chair since 8:00. Other than that, she seems to be doing well. I'll try to write again after we get results from the scans.

A big THANKS to all of you who have offered to help. As I've said before we are trying to live as "normally" as we can, and at this time we are doing well. What we need most is for everyone to keep us in your prayers. We are convinced that the extraordinary progress that we've made so far is at least due as much to prayer and support as it is to the chemicals. I cannot tell you how much it means to us. Please don't stop now!!!

With great love and thanksgiving,

Larry and Robin

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PET Scan & Second Chemo - 1/5/05

 
As planned, Robin received a PET scan on Thursday, December 30th. Unplanned, her good friend, Roxanne came to visit from Austin and went with us. Robin was given a sedative and was taken at 9:00 to be scanned. We didn't see her again until almost noon. Roxanne was excellent company for me and we had lots of time to catch up while Robin slept calmly through her test. Of course, the results would not be ready until Tuesday, due to the holidays. Roxanne left soon after we got back home.

We celebrated New Years Eve like a couple of old farts. Robin still gets tired very easily, and John had a friend over, so we headed back to bed at about 10:00 PM. We didn't even stay up to watch the ball drop. Is that sad or what?

Robin's wig was a big hit on Sunday. Lots of people said that they really like her new "doo". The wig is very good, matching her hair color (at least the dye color) exactly, but it is a little straighter. A couple of folks said that she looked younger. One person actually told me that she looked "radiant" on Sunday as she was playing the piano. I was chastised by several people for saying that Robin looked like Yoda when she is not wearing the wig. One of our friends suggested she probably looks like G.I. Jane and another said she was more like Ripley in the "Alien" movies (played by Sigourney Weaver). My brother thought she would look like a Chihuahua. I don't want to be there when they discuss his thoughts face-to-face!

Robin had an appointment with her GP doctor on Monday (1/3/05) morning. This was their first meeting, and Robin really likes her new doctor, especially because she took time with Robin and asked lots of questions; in fact, the exam took about two hours. Other than her known problems, Rob passed her tests. She was given a bunch of new prescriptions, and she was on her way to work.

The next day was Tuesday, January 4th --- Chemo 2 day. Robin was not looking forward to this. We arrived at the cancer center at 10:30 and met with Robin's oncologist, Dr. McClure (of course, after more blood-letting). Dr. McClure checked the tumors in Robin's breasts and found that they have shrunk considerably (GOOD NEWS for a change). She seemed very pleased by the progress; maybe even a little surprised. Based on how well the cancer has responded, Robin asked if there was a possibility that she would not require surgery. The answer was an emphatic "No"! There will be surgery!

Then Dr. McClure discussed the results of the PET scans --- or, I should say, the total lack of results. The PET scan was supposed to indicate whether the inflamed lymph nodes close to her trachea were cancerous. Unfortunately, (or maybe, fortunately) the PET scan didn't show the node near Robin's trachea, nor did it show the ones in her breasts to be cancerous. INCONCLUSIVE! We felt like we had flushed $8,000 down the toilet. The doctor explained that all we could do now is keep an eye on that node and continue the Chemotherapy.

About noon, Robin finally was ready for the Chemo. Apparently, her blood levels were good, since she did not get a "blood-booster" shot. So they hooked her up and let it drip. She receives four bags of fluid: Saline to start the flow going, then anti-nausea medicine, finally two bags of different chemo drugs, one at a time. It all went well and we finally left about 3:30 PM.

Robin had not eaten since breakfast, so she wanted to stop to eat on the way home. Figuring she would be very ill soon, she wanted to eat Mexican food. We ate, went home, and Robin puked. We learned a valuable lesson. No Mexican food after Chemo, no matter how good you feel! Robin was really feeling the nausea, and went directly to bed.

It is now Wednesday evening, and Robin seemed to be doing well all day. She is back to eating bland food (mostly rice) and drinking lots of water. She woke up with the feeling of electricity coursing through her body, just like the last Chemo. That should last just a few days. She came home (after two choir practices) and went directly to bed. If this round of Chemo is like the last one, she will probably be very sick on Friday, but will slowly start getting better on Saturday. Just about the time she really is beginning to feel good again, it will be time for the next round of Chemo.

I'll close for now. I'll write again when there is something to tell.

Larry

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