The month of November has been extremely busy for me. I had a visit to MDAnderson, which I received a good report, then my birthday which lasted a week, then I had a cousin from California visit me for a week. Now it is time for Thanksgiving. We are cooking at home, but everyone is cooking something to contribute to the meal.

I had chemo last week and I could really tell a difference. I had taken a chemo vacation for two weeks then I had chemo. I could feel it draining my body. I know it is helping me, but it is so hard with the side effects.

This is wishing everyone a Happy Thanksgiving and eat lots of turkey!!!

Susan

Visit to MDAnderson

My mom, dad, and Jennifer went to MDAnderson with me for a check up. Every time I go it is for a blood work up and a CT scan of the liver and abdomen. When we saw Dr. Yao, he was in a great mood which is an indicator of good news. He showed us pictures on the computer of my liver when I first went to him and now. The comparisons between June and November of my liver was astounding. The new chemo has really helped my liver and the cancer is still there but is shrinking a lot. It is really scary to see how little control we have over our bodies and how cancer can eat up your organs. I'm very grateful for my doctor and the chemo. But more, I'm grateful for all the prayers that have been sent to God for my recovery. I give all the glory to God for how I'm feeling these days. I feel great, but still get tired. My cousin, Barbara from California is visiting me for my birthday and I am really enjoying her so much. We are both close to our families and have so much in common. We are having my birthday party this weekend at some cabins in Castell near Llano. It is going to be a lot of fun and the weather men say Saturday is going to be beautiful, but Sunday it will be cold. Good timing. Again, thank you for your prayers because that is what is helping me the most. Have a good day.

Susan

Dear Friends,

Yesterday, I had chemo and all went well. It's always the after effects that get me and unfortunately I don't remember this one. Travis called me before we got home and I told him I'd call him later. I did, but have no
memory of it and got mad at him for something. This morning I could not find my phone and finally found it on Travis's bed. I don't remember being in there at all. I remember watching TV and that's about all I remember. I don't even know if I ate anything last night.

Fortunately, I feel great today. I'm going to San Antonio tomorrow to see Jennifer. We are going to LaConterra and if I get tired I can always sit down. I will wear my new wig for her. It is amazing how differently you are treated when people know you have cancer. When I wear my wig people aren't for sure. But when I just wear a scarf people are super nice to you and usually give you special treatment. I find that very interesting.
Don't know much, just trying to do better on my blog.

See you soon.
Susan

Dear Friends,
Everything is going well. Whenever you do chemo, there is always side effects. Even though I am doing chemo one day a week, the side effect is my bones hurting. The pain medicine makes me itch and it is hard to get your rest when you are hurting and itching.

I've had two friends that just found out about my cancer that I used to work with. I do miss working with my friends, but I don't have time to work. Like today, I go to the doctor for a shot for my white blood count. That will take half a day. My chemo day is Thursday. I'm still chasing my potassium and magnesium. I am trying to be faithful in taking all of my medicine when I should.

One exciting thing I did over the weekend was get a wig. I tried on a lot of them before I picked one. My mistake was taking Travis and
Gary with me. But I talked to Gary before we went in and told him to not say I looked good in everything. He has a good eye with color and we finally found one that looked like me.

Please keep me in your prayers and thoughts. I go to MDAnderson on my birthday, November 8-9. I will see if this chemo has helped.

See you later.

Susan

First Great Weekend

I had my first new round of chemo last Friday. It took longer for the first time so they could see if I was going to have a reaction to the new chemo. My dad from Odessa came down to take me. Once again, I am so blessed to have my parents take care of me so Gary and Travis can work. Unfortunately, I did have a reaction. My left side started twitching, like my arm and leg. Once they gave me meds to stop it, I was asleep for hours. I scared my dad so bad because I looked so bad. I'm glad no one was around taking pictures because I'm sure my head was hanging down with my mouth wide open. When I have chemo, my memory is terrible. I can't remember names, and I couldn't write in my date book when I was leaving. I WAS in bad shape. Thank goodness Gary left work a little early and came by to see how I was doing. I think that relieved my dad.

The next day, Saturday and Sunday, I have never felt so good. Especially since December. When I began feeling so bad in January, I would rest and try to recuperate on the weekends so I would feel like working the next week. It did not work.

On Sunday I felt like going to church for the first time in months, went to Lampasas so I could see where Travis was living, went out to eat, and did a little grocery shopping. The shopping did me in, I was tired. Gary did go with me to the grocery store so I wasn't at the store by myself. I usually have a babysitter with me.

I'm sure the chemo is helping, but every time I see people out around town, they tell me that they are praying for me. The last chemo I had, I thought the side effects were going to kill me. My attitude was horrible. I give God the glory to everyone who is praying for me and my family. The next time I go to MDAnderson is on my birthday, Nov. 8. I'm praying for GREAT news.

Thanks again for your cards, letters, thoughts and prayers. Have a great week.

Susan Hall

Since late August and first of September I've had a rough time with the side effects from chemo. The chemo was going to cure me or kill me. I would go three days for chemo every three weeks and my body couldn't keep up. My electrolytes, magnesium and potasium were very low. I was even in the hospital to get infusions. The only good thing was I got a unit of blood. The longer I was in the hospital the worse I felt. I was a HORRIBLE patient. I thought I would have my doctor, but they have hospitalists now, which I don't like.

I did go to MDAnderson last week and received a good report. When I go, I get a blood test, then I go for a scan of my abdomen, which you have to wait for hours. They have a huge waiting room and it is absolutely full everytime I go. Then, I had a day off. We went to the Cheesecake Factory and mall which was fun. I walked a lot for me. In fact, I was sore. My doctor, Dr. YAO looked at my blood test and had me go to the emergency room for an infusion of magnesium. This was before the Cheesecake factory. We didn't get home until 3;30 am. Very tired. I fell into bed. We stayed at the Marriot and they have great beds. The next day we saw Dr. Yao and he said my tumors in my liver are shrinking. He never says how much, but at least they are not growing. He did change my chemo to one day a week. I will have two weeks off before I start again. I was super excited about having the time off. I've just got to have my body keep up with the chemo.

I even went to a Bible study at our church on Wednesday and it was so nice to go somewhere besides a doctor. I was very tired afterwards, but came home and took a nap.

My parents are home and are taking care of themselves by going to their doctors and keeping up with their appointments.

Thank you for your cards, thoughts and prayers.
Susan

blood pressure

Last week was very interesting. There are so many side effects with chemo that I can't even keep up with them. The oncologist in Austin checks my blood every week to make sure that my white blood count is high and not low then they check calcium and magnesium. I was having so many problems with dizziness, weakness, and energy. It always felt like I was light headed and going to faint. Well, that meant that my magnesium was super low.

When I went in Monday they were going to get blood from my new port. The thing was I was sitting down and was blacking out. I didn't even know they got blood. Also my blood pressure was super low. When I stood up my blood pressure went even lower. They wanted me to sit in a wheel chair, but I was unresponsive. When I did sit down, unfortunately, I threw up. By this time, they had brought Travis and my mom in. They asked Travis if this was normal and he said NO Way. After being evaluated, I was given an IV of fluids.

I had to go the next day to get an IV of magnesium. It was an extremely busy week, but if that's what it takes to keep on chemo schedule, I guess I will do it. I felt better after the fluids and magnesium. These are just some of the side effects of chemo.

I go tomorrow for a doctor visit and they will check my blood to see if I'm ok for chemo. If everything is ok with my blood, I will do chemo. I'm very fortunate that the chemo does not hurt, it's just the side effects that I do not like.

My mom has been here taking care of me and making sure everything is running like it should. Please pray for my parents. They never dreamed that they would be taking care of me like this. They have seen me in different stages or different side effects. I've only been sick three times this two weeks but they don't like to see it. My dad will come to MF and take me to chemo. What would I do without them?

Everyone: take care and see you around.
Susan