It is Sunday and we are getting ready to go to MDA on Monday. We are cleaning house and have been washing clothes, so when we get back everything will be clean. My mom has been here, so she is a great motivator. I get a blood workup then that evening I'm getting a CT Scan on my abdomen. Then, I see Dr. Yao on Tuesday at 1:30 for him to give me my results from the tests. Our wish and hope is that the tumors are shrinking. I'll take any little bit of good news that I can get.
We are still staying at the Rotary House that is connected to everything that I go to, so we are not waiting on shuttles and sometimes it is so late when I get through with chemo the shuttles are not running. It is very convenient to stay where we are. Last time it was when the hurricane came through and I was so glad we stayed there. People were complaining that they didn't have their umbrella with them and I was just thanking my lucky stars I didn't have to get out in the rain. I'm always concerned about my immune system, especially after chemo. I can't get sick!!
I want to thank everyone for the phone calls, cards, sweet thoughts and prayers sent my way. Prayer is what is going to save me.
Have a good week everyone!!
Susan
Sunday, July 18, 2010
Monday, July 12, 2010
Getting ready for Houston
Hi Everyone,
I am getting ready to go to Houston again. We leave next Monday and I want to feel better organized this time. I left half of my makeup in Marble Falls and that just seemed to set things in motion.
Thank you all for your prayers on Facebook. Someone said I needed to have a sense of humor that it really helps. If you could see me without my hair and just my little cap, you really need a sense of humor. It is pretty funny.
Monday I have my blood testing and my CT scans of my abdomen. Please pray that everything is shrinking and that I get a good report. I've been having problems with my stomach and I hope it's not my liver. I'm probably just very anxious about my trip to Houston.
Thank you for your prayers and cards. They mean so much to me.
Susan
I am getting ready to go to Houston again. We leave next Monday and I want to feel better organized this time. I left half of my makeup in Marble Falls and that just seemed to set things in motion.
Thank you all for your prayers on Facebook. Someone said I needed to have a sense of humor that it really helps. If you could see me without my hair and just my little cap, you really need a sense of humor. It is pretty funny.
Monday I have my blood testing and my CT scans of my abdomen. Please pray that everything is shrinking and that I get a good report. I've been having problems with my stomach and I hope it's not my liver. I'm probably just very anxious about my trip to Houston.
Thank you for your prayers and cards. They mean so much to me.
Susan
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
2nd time to MDA
Before I went to MDA the second time, I got very sick with fever and we didn't know where it came from. I just know I didn't feel well at all.
Dr. Yao said my liver function was improving, so he thinks the chemo is working. I really hope so. I feel so much better this time after chemo than I did the first time. I have so much more energy and I am not near as weak. My chemo is still 8 hours long for three days which is long, but I sleep most of the time.
Next time I go, we take blood work, then we take CT scans of my abdomen. My prayers are that the tumors are shrinking. After I talk to Dr. Yao, I take my treatments. I asked him how long my treatments would be and he said we would evaluate every two months. He is all business!!!! As his PA's say, he is all cancer doctor.
We are staying at the Rotary HOuse which has a skyway and is connected to everywhere I need to go. Even when I shut a building down, I just go to my room, and if the gold carts are running, then Travis pushes me in a wheel chair.
I don't know if I told everyone, but I did try to save my hair, but the girl who cuts it tried to save it short, but it kept coming out. It is as short as you can get. When I was in Houston, I bought some cute little hats that color coordinate with my clothes. Sometimes, I'm self conscience, but this is real life and I can't worry about everything. A friend gave me a small cross before I went to MDA and I'm all about prayer. It is called a Clinging Cross and it fits into your hand. It is the coolest thing. I know I don't have to use it to pray, but it seems to make me stronger.
I am very fortunate that both of my kids, Jennifer and Travis went to MDA with me this time. I didn't want Gary to miss work. My kids are super supportive and are very positive. Right now the plan is to go to MDA every three weeks to get my chemo.
I will refer people back to my blog on FB. Thanks for reading.
Susan Hall
Dr. Yao said my liver function was improving, so he thinks the chemo is working. I really hope so. I feel so much better this time after chemo than I did the first time. I have so much more energy and I am not near as weak. My chemo is still 8 hours long for three days which is long, but I sleep most of the time.
Next time I go, we take blood work, then we take CT scans of my abdomen. My prayers are that the tumors are shrinking. After I talk to Dr. Yao, I take my treatments. I asked him how long my treatments would be and he said we would evaluate every two months. He is all business!!!! As his PA's say, he is all cancer doctor.
We are staying at the Rotary HOuse which has a skyway and is connected to everywhere I need to go. Even when I shut a building down, I just go to my room, and if the gold carts are running, then Travis pushes me in a wheel chair.
I don't know if I told everyone, but I did try to save my hair, but the girl who cuts it tried to save it short, but it kept coming out. It is as short as you can get. When I was in Houston, I bought some cute little hats that color coordinate with my clothes. Sometimes, I'm self conscience, but this is real life and I can't worry about everything. A friend gave me a small cross before I went to MDA and I'm all about prayer. It is called a Clinging Cross and it fits into your hand. It is the coolest thing. I know I don't have to use it to pray, but it seems to make me stronger.
I am very fortunate that both of my kids, Jennifer and Travis went to MDA with me this time. I didn't want Gary to miss work. My kids are super supportive and are very positive. Right now the plan is to go to MDA every three weeks to get my chemo.
I will refer people back to my blog on FB. Thanks for reading.
Susan Hall
Saturday, June 12, 2010
MDAnderson
Friends,
I apologize for the delay in the blog. Gary, Travis and I went to Houston on Monday, May 31 to be ready for the next day to see my new doctor. His name is Dr. Yao. He has a team of Physicians Assistants who are wonderful. His head PA is Jeanette and calls me frequently to check on me now that I am home.
The first day I went through another round of testing. The new CT Scan shows that the cancer in my liver has grown since April, so this is an agressive cancer which he will treat aggressively.
When I had another consultation on Thursday, he wanted to start Chemo that day, which I was ready to do what this doctor suggested. He is treating my pancreas and liver, which my Austin oncologist was treating only the pancreas. So, my chemo consists of 8 to 10 hours for 3 days. It gets pretty old but I'm doing what it takes to save my life. There were a couple of nights that we closed down the building because my treatments take so long.
The chemo makes you very tired and I've been sleeping especially right after the chemo. I'm beginning to be myself since I've been home.
My parents came this weekend and my mom will stay here with me in MF for awhile. My dad went back to Odessa this AM so this will give him a break also.
My hair is beginning to thin, so if you don't see me for awhile, you may see me with a turbane. It will be cooler this summer without hair. I always sweat so much but especially my hair.
I will try my best to keep this going for everyone. I don't want to lose you so please be patient.
Thanks.
Susan Hall
I apologize for the delay in the blog. Gary, Travis and I went to Houston on Monday, May 31 to be ready for the next day to see my new doctor. His name is Dr. Yao. He has a team of Physicians Assistants who are wonderful. His head PA is Jeanette and calls me frequently to check on me now that I am home.
The first day I went through another round of testing. The new CT Scan shows that the cancer in my liver has grown since April, so this is an agressive cancer which he will treat aggressively.
When I had another consultation on Thursday, he wanted to start Chemo that day, which I was ready to do what this doctor suggested. He is treating my pancreas and liver, which my Austin oncologist was treating only the pancreas. So, my chemo consists of 8 to 10 hours for 3 days. It gets pretty old but I'm doing what it takes to save my life. There were a couple of nights that we closed down the building because my treatments take so long.
The chemo makes you very tired and I've been sleeping especially right after the chemo. I'm beginning to be myself since I've been home.
My parents came this weekend and my mom will stay here with me in MF for awhile. My dad went back to Odessa this AM so this will give him a break also.
My hair is beginning to thin, so if you don't see me for awhile, you may see me with a turbane. It will be cooler this summer without hair. I always sweat so much but especially my hair.
I will try my best to keep this going for everyone. I don't want to lose you so please be patient.
Thanks.
Susan Hall
Thursday, June 3, 2010
Chemo
I had my first round of chemo therapy today. I will do 8 hours a day for three days in a row every 3 weeks. Jennifer is coming tomorrow.
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
Exhausted
Yesterday I was having tests run for 12 hours. We did not leave until after 9:00. I have slept most of the day today. I really like Dr. Yao. He is very straight forward. He wants to start chemo ASAP. There is still a discrepency in test resuts and lab work. I go back in at 8:30 tomorrow to go over the new test results from Tuesday. I have my list of questions ready.
Monday, May 31, 2010
MD Anderson continued
We made it to Houston. There was alot of traffic. I go in at 9:00 in the morning to start my tests. It's going to be a long day!
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