Summer Time

This week they mapped out my body for radiation.  This included several CT scans, some without contrast, and the last one WITH contrast (an injection that lights up certain areas, I’m assuming this would be the cancer spots) to help with planning and placement for radiation.  This also included 7 tiny tattoo marks that look like black freckles to make sure radiation is placed in the right areas.  The final prep pieces were some hardware:  a backrest shaped to my back that will hold a wedge between my arm and ribs, in the arm pit area; and a mesh face mask to hold my face in place while they radiate a lymph node on my neck.  

Radiation will start on the Thursday after Labor Day and go for 33 days, Monday through Friday.  It will be about 40 minutes in the office every day.  I’ll use the green tea spray that prevented burning last time, along with taking Tumeric and vitamin B-50– all from my Indiana radiation oncologist's bag of tricks.  The folks at Huntsman had never heard about green tea spray (which is sad, knowing that people are burned there every day).  I’ll finish radiation the week of Halloween!  

Today I saw Dr. Buys.  She was very pleased with how well my body has withstood the chemo.  She plans to keep the immunotherapy going during radiation and likely for a year or two after.  She hopes that the radiation will “mop up any remaining cancer” and that the immunotherapy can then prevent any of it from recurring elsewhere.  They’ll do a pet scan a few weeks after radiation, and then continue doing scans every 6 months for at least 2 years.  Today was my first day of receiving only the immunotherapy infusion.  It took an hour and didn’t require any premeds or add ons (no steroids, anti nausea, etc…).

That’s the latest on the medical side of things. 

Courtney and her kids came in town for two weeks. She came with me for chemo.

My sister, Amy, was in town, and planned a girls night for stocking help. She brought dinner, Sarah and Sammie. It was a lot of fun.

My brother, David, visited with his family.

I was able to fly to Connecticut (wearing a mask to stay safe on the planes) last week and meet Heath and Elizabeth’s baby Summer.  Newborn snuggles are the best!  It is so fun seeing your kids as parents.

I had the energy to go on family walks.  I was able to cook some of Heath’s favorite meals from his childhood.  Their black berry bush was producing like crazy, so we made 12 jars of jam.  Elizabeth made the best mixed berry cobbler I’ve ever eaten!  It was a great week spending time with them.  I also got to see Sharon, my friend from junior high and high school.  She lives in a nearby town.  She stopped by for a visit and spoiled Summer with fun welcome gifts.  

On my flight back, I arranged for a 24 hour stop over in Chicago and got to spend time with Garrett’s family.  He met me at the airport with my favorite Chicago pizza.  We made great memories.  It was so nice having a bonus grandparenting visit on the way home.   

It has been a great summer.  I'm so thankful to be finished with chemo.  I'm so happy that my hair can now start to grow back.  I'm really tired of wearing wigs.  They are itchy and hot.  I wear my hats with hair most of the time.  I'm encouraged that the doctor is talking about long term things, and about the possibility of irradicating this cancer.  I'm praying for this cancer to go away, and for lots more time.  I appreciate everyone's continued prayers.  The prayers have blessed me with energy to do all of the things that are important to me.  I'm thankful for my Savior, who is my Prince of Peace.  We feel of His peace, and know that He is aware of our desires.  

Bonus Round!

The quick update, I opted for 2 more chemo infusions, July 28th and Aug. 4th.  They will map my radiation on August 19th, and start radiation on Labor Day.  Radiation will be 5 days a week for 6 or 6 1/2 weeks.  

For the longer update, continue reading.  

Two days after my last post, we received the update on the brachial plexus area--the more complicated, inoperable area affecting my arm and hand usage.  That tumor/area had not shrunken as much, which was disappointing.  It is hard to measure, since it is so intertwined with the nervs and muscles.  We are hopeful that radiation will shrink it.  

We had planned to be finished with chemo, but when they went over the radiation timeline, it was going to interfere with a trip we had planned--spending a week with our newest grandbaby (more on that exciting news below).  So I volunteered for a bonus round of chemo, to buy more time preparing for radiation.  

Over these past few weeks a lot has happened!  We welcomed Summer Grace Tenney to the family. 

I'll share Heath's Facebook post:At 16 weeks, Elizabeth had a serious bleed, and they told us it looked like she was going to have a miscarriage. We waited for things to get worse and for baby girl to show signs of regressing, but she never did. It still feels so surreal that she is here, but we can’t thank God enough that she made it. Welcome to the world, baby Summer. I pray we never lose sight of what an indescribable gift your existence is.

We were so excited and relieved about Summer's safe arrival.  Elizabeth's mom was able to help with the first few weeks.  I'll leave next week after my infusion to meet Summer and help for a week.  I'll get to see my Chicago grandkids on my way home.   I've  had Courtney and her 2 kids in town.  Kira visited earlier this month.  It has been such a treat spending time with our grandchildren this summer.  

I sleep really hard at night, but during the day I have enough energy to do the things I enjoy.  I feel sustained by your prayers and acknowledge my Savior for watching over me.   He knows the desires of my heart and is granting me strength to make memories and enjoy relationships.  Thank you for your continued prayers.  

Making strawberry jam.

Pioneer Day at This is the Place Park.

 

Pomegranites

 They did MRI #3 Tuesday evening.  The results were ready Wednesday morning.  The measurements of my arm's tumor shrunk some more.  It started at 1.9 cm, about the size of a cherry.  MRI #2 it was 8 mm, about the size of a plump blue berry.  MRI #3 shows it shrinking further to 5 mm, about the size of a pomegranite seed/arile. 

My other tumor, the larger one that wraps around my brachial plexus, is harder to size, but the scan showed continued shrinkage in that area too. 

https://teachmeanatomy.info/upper-limb/nerves/brachial-plexus/

We were thrilled with this news.  The plan for now is to proceed with one more "round" of chemo, which means two more Tuesday chemo sessions.  The radiation encologist will look at my MRI and determine if my tumors have shrunk enough for targeted radiation.  If so, I'll begin radiation sometime soon after completing chemo.  They will continue with my immunotherapy, but give it every 6 weeks instead of every three.  

Thank you for your continued prayers.  They are felt, and I think they are a big part of my pomegranite gift.  My nerve pain is still gone.  My left hand is still slower at tasks, but it is improving.  My stamina is way better than expected at this point of treatment.  I've been able to enjoy visits from my kids, including neighborhood walks. 

My heart is full of gratitude to my Heavenly Father and my Savior for the blessings, miracles, and joy I'm experiencing.  I hope you experience lots of joy on this 4th of July weekend.

Only Two More Chemo Infusions to Go!

The quick update: today I finished part 2 of chemo round 5, next week is my skip week.  On Tuesday (my skip day), they will repeat my MRIs, starting at 7 p.m.  We should receive results by Wednesday afternoon.  I only have 2 more chemo infusions!

Kirsten, Weston, and baby Kira have been in town.  Kirsten came to Chemo with Scott and me this morning.  It was so fun hanging out with her.  We worked on stockings! She's designing her own, beach themed stockings, since they live near and love beach life!  Today included a mermaid tail and a jelly fish.  

These wonderful stockings have now had 46 loving people help with sequins; that includes my son, Will (aka Scott Jr.), who sequinned a Santa hat, and my nephew, Colton, who sequinned that same Santa's boots.  I'll share photos when they are completed.  I'm hoping to have 50 people before we finish.  It will be fun to share with my future grandchildren the story of so many loving hands helping make their stockings when I was fighting cancer.  I'll share with them that the cancer affected my fine motor skills and threatened to end my life way too early; but we beat it, and now we have these beautiful stockings to hold the memory.  

While I'm on the subject of fine motor skills, I am carrying a lot of guilt for not sending hand written thank you notes for all of the kindnesses that have been shown to me and my family.  Hopefully, I

have acknowledged appreciation through email or text.  I'm hoping my handwriting skills can return as treatments change.  I deeply appreciate every text, email, chemo day scripture, flower planted, weed pulled, leaf cleared, flowers sent or dropped off, video with memories, sequin sewed, needle threaded, meal provided, card sent, soft blanket shared, encouragement given, smile, prayer, FB comment of encouragement, ride, treat, PJs and anything else I have failed to imclude here.  I continue to feel so much strength, physical, and spiritual power from all of your daily prayers. Thank you, thank you, thank you!!

A miracle from this week, for some reason, my left hand became really swollen on Saturday.  I was concerned and messaged my medical team.  I had been wearing my compression sleeve and thought that maybe it was preventing the fluid in my hand from draining.  I prayed Saturday night asking for the fluid to clear up.  I also removed my compression sleeve.  Sunday morning, my hand was back to normal.  It was a small, specific request.  But I want to acknowledge my Savior who watches over each of us and blesses us in small specific ways as we pray for and notice the small miracles he blesses us with along the way.  I was able to prepare a Father's Day dinner for Scott, who is one of the best fathers and grandfathers I know.  He learned from the best-- his dad, Lynn Tenney, and my dad, Perry Fisher.  

Port Report... or Re-port report

The quick updates:  They placed my port 2 weeks ago.  I have 4 more chemo infusions, then they plan to do targeted radiation, then immunotherapy every 21 days for a year, hopefully eradicating this cancer!

Yosemite

 

Since my last entry, we enjoyed a week trip with Garrett’s family. We explored Stanford campus, where we lived for 2 years while Garrett and Scott Jr. were in preschool, and Scott was in business school.  We explored Fisherman’s Wharf, toured Alcatraz island, ate clam chowder in a bread bowl at the Boudin Bakery, and had hot chocolate at Ghirardelli Square.  We then drove to Yosemite, where we glamped for 4 nights at Under Canvas, a few miles outside of the park. 

We hiked to see several waterfalls, Mirror Lake, and a few groves of Sequoia trees.  It was a great trip, and I was able to hike and enjoy the trip.  My favorite hike was the Hetch Hetchy hike, 2.5 miles to the base of a waterfall, where you were cooled down by the spray of the falls, then 2.5 miles back out.  

Mirror Lake

I was also able to attend the annual Manhattan Beach Moms Trip, our 21st year!  We went to Deana’s parents’ beautiful ranch in Star Valley, Wyoming.  We hiked to a waterfall at Jenny Lake in the Grand Tetons, visited Jackson Hole, the Star Valley Temple, and a fish hatchery.  I taught the group how to make my roll dough,

and then we shaped it into dinner rolls, cinnamon knot rolls, and cinnamon rolls.  We always do a service, and this year, they all helped with my Christmas stocking sequining project.  These stockings have now had 42 loving hands assisting with them. 

I’m so glad I was able to attend Moms' weekend.  It is always such a fun and uplifting weekend.  

Right now, I’m sitting at my 8th infusion.  We are encouraged with the response my body is having to the treatments.  At our last visit with the doctor, she said we will do 4 more chemos after today, then some targeted radiation, and then immunotherapy every 21 days for a year!   We are very optimistic and feel like we are going to beat this round of cancer,  Thank you for the many daily prayers offered

in my behalf.  I feel uplifted and sustained by them.  I know that our prayers are heard and answered.  Thank you for helping these miracles happen in my life. 

 

Thursday Report, What's next.

Quick update:  Continue chemo & immunotherapy for 3 more cycles (chemo, chemo, skip).  Then probably targeted radiation, then immunotherapy for a year (every 21 days).  

 Thursday was a busy day!  Scott was out of town for work meetings, so my close friend Erin picked me up at 8:00, then dropped me off at my next stop at 3:15 (my first ride on the Front Runner).  

My lab appointment was at 8:30.  They can only access veins in my right arm because of my lymphedema in my left arm.  I didn't want a port, because I hated having one last time--it felt weird and is the only noticeable scar from round 1 of breast cancer 13 years ago.  I went along without one in case things didn't work; but since we are looking at over a year of vein usage, I'm giving in and getting a port in early June.  

Next was my doctor's appointment. I love my oncologist, Sandra Buys.  She is smart, compassionate, takes as much time as needed to answer questions and discuss options.  She was thrilled with the progress.  As my tumors have shrunk, I've been gaining water weight, with swelling in both legs, but more so in my right ankle,--the one I broke 5 years ago.  So, I'm now wearing compression on every limb but the right arm, which has worn out veins! She gave me a couple meds to help with that.  As noted in the spoiler alert at the beginning, we will continue with 3 more cycles of chemo, then most likely switch over to radiation, while continuing the immunotherapy for another year.  So we are hopeful in winning this battle!

After my Dr. visit, we went to the infusion area.  It was so fun having 4-5 hours catching up on things while we sewed sequins (now 26 friends have helped!) during my infusion. Erin's been one of my closest friends for 38 years.  We've lived in the same place or in close proximity 7 different times, maybe more.  She is a great cook, and I've learned so many culinary things by spending time in her kitchens.  I learned how to make cinnamon knot rolls from her probably 37 years ago.  We make caramel candy every December. She feeds huge crowds amazing meals, and never seems flustered.  She fills people with food, but she also fills spirits with her faith and goodness.  She is a treasured friend. 

Sewing sequins.

After my infusion, Erin dropped me off at the train station.  Thanks to help from my next door neighbors Tina and Mia, I took my first ride on the Front Runner, a train that connects between Provo and Ogden, maybe further.  It was really easy to do, and a fast way to miss heavy traffic.  I traveled down to the South Jordan stop, where Tina picked me up, because she was coming back from Provo.  We were both attending a dinner with Utah Academic Language Therapists who I have either recruited and/or helped train.  I think we had 14 people around the table, and letters from 3 others who couldn't attend.  It was so kind of Lisa and Connie to put this together and to comment on the ripple effect it has had as each of these Certified Academic Language Therapists (CALTs) are now helping lots of dyslexic kids.  It was a beautiful night, and I totally forgot to take a photo!  

Shrinking!!

 I just read through yesterday's MRI results in My Chart.  My oncologist will explain more at my appointment tomorrow, but the mass encasing my left brachial plexus was 5.6x4.0x5.7 cm and is now 4.2x1.7x5.0 cm and the mass in my arm was 1.6 cm and is now .8 cm, so I am thrilled with this news.  It is great to hear that my tumors and my body are responding well to our current treatment plan.  I assume we will continue with what is working.  Thank you for the prayers.  They are felt and are very appreciated.  I'll add more tomorrow, if there is anything else to add.  I feel so relieved that things are going in the direction we are hoping for!