Jennifer's Cancer Journey

 I am still in the learning phase of how MD Anderson does things. Basically, stuff just pops up in MyChart and you show up. The difference between MD Anderson and Methodist is how they schedule chemo. The only schedule them 2 at a time and I have a call with the doctor or PA every other treatment. This is good, because I had some questions to ask. They got answered the best they could. I am getting IV fluids when I disconnect in hopes of it helping me some. I am also getting another prescription to work on heartburn/nausea...at least it is supposed to. I have only tried Tums for heartburn and they don't work. I have cycles through so many nausea meds and they do NOT work. Speaking of nausea. I am at the point of infusion where I get hot, twitchy, itchy, and nauseous, so I am going to leave this right here.  What you see above is my schedule, so you know how and when to pray. the port flushes will be cancelled, but I can't do it in the app until they send me a reminder. I am se...

I put this on facebook, but felt like it should be here. S ometimes knowing the why behind things makes it better...well, not really. So many people have said FOLFIRI is easier than FOLFOX. This makes me wonder what is wrong with me. While I surely didn't sail through FOLFOX, this is just hitting so much harder this time. So, I did some digging and came up with this. I mean I really already knew, but I just hate feeling so darn bad! FOLFIRI’s main “tough” drug is irinotecan. Your body clears irinotecan using an enzyme called UGT1A1 enzyme. If you’re an intermediate metabolizer (I AM) → you don’t clear it as efficiently That means more active drug stays in your system longer Result: More fatigue More GI symptoms (constipation or diarrhea) More “overall toxic” feeling Sometimes more pain or inflammation-type symptoms So yes — being an intermediate metabolizer can absolutely make FOLFIRI feel harder than expected. Avastin adds another layer bevacizumab (Avastin) doesn’t feel like c...

 Quite a bit has happened since my last update. The hard part is that chemo literally knocks me out for almost a full 7 days, so I don't get around to updating.  Home insurance did their thing and the crawl space has been remediated!  God showed up in a very unexpected and big way and I also have 4 brand new tires. I have never had 4 new tires on my car at the same time. I am just still in awe and speechless about how it came about.  Last Sunday was Easter. I thoroughly enjoyed my morning, despite the fact that it was still physically hard. I find it frustrating that it was hard being as far away from a chemo treatment as I could be. I got to spend the rest of my day with part of the family AND the carrier of my first grandchild! Y'all, in case you missed it, Samantha is pregnant! I am over the moon excited, I just wish my body was as excited as the rest of me. For grins, here is a photo of all (but not all) of us. We will ignore Hannah's choice for Easter dress. LOL...

  My last update was about my visit to the MD Anderson ER. Well, a lot has happened since then. I know it has been a week, so let me recap. I was diagnosed with a UTI and given antibiotics. While on the way home Caleb was headed to get checked and was diagnosed with the flu.  So, I stayed home sick after my visit. We had been looking for a smell in the house for a while. It seemed to kind of come and go. Anthony took apart our kitchen sink pipes to clean them out. They were gross. I was gagging through this process. The smell seemed to go away for a day or two, but always came back. Well, upon coming home from the ER that day, I was determined that there was a rotting carcass  under the house in the crawl space. I looked pretty late in the day that Thursday. It was NOT a rotting carcass. It was a busted sewer line. The whole crawl space was filled with...well, you get the idea. Plumber couldn't come until Friday, so the plan was to use as little water as possible, since e...

 Can I just say that the MD Anderson Acute Care Clinic is top notch! My final rodeo shift did not go as planned. I went and gave it my all, but left early. I had been in pain for a few days. However, when I got home and took my temperature, I knew something was up. According to my paperwork, 100.4 is an ER visit. I was 100.3. I called the number I was given. They told my my temp was borderline, but given my pain, I needed to be seen. So...back in the car around midnight to head all the way back to the same area I had just come from. Marc did not want to go. He wanted to send Hannah with me, but I objected. If I am given bad news, I want to filter it before presenting it to my kids. He reluctantly got in the car to go with me.  I dropped myself off at the entrance and sent him to park. They took my vitals, gave me an ekg (my heart rate had been at about 100 all day and was 118 at check in), and then took me to my room. They took all my blood and set me up with fluids and tyleno...

  Adding in a photo that I like and having a wish I was there moment...also, because when I share this, I can't choose the photo that I want to show up.  Today is the day! I am here. I have had my blood work done AND a video call with my doctor. I have developed Neutropena. Thankfully, it will not stop my infusion this time. My ANC was 1.25. It should be above 1.5, but we will proceed with chemo unless is it 1 or below. Prayers that it never drops that low. I do not want any delays! There were so many "LOW" values on my results. They are also changing my nausea premed in hopes that it helps more than zofran. Going in, I would like to think I know what to expect, but who really knows.  UGH...the 30 minute infusion of the Irinotecan feels like pure torture! I feel like I am frying from the inside and I think it has only been 10 minutes! I logged into MyChart to look at my test results. Sometime this morning my bill has been updated. It was nice only seeing small payments th...