Going over the "chemo cliff"

Dear Friends,

While it remains to be seen if those of us living in the US will, like lemmings, stampede over the "fiscal cliff", it is almost certain that I will leap off the "chemo cliff" on Jan. 2. (sorry about referencing that very tired phrase, but my use sounds better because of the alliteration. Right?). 

The pancreatic cancer marker antigen blood test (CA19-9) I had last week, indicates that the tumor on my pancreas may be starting to "wake up". The marker was 38 last month and 160 last week. Any number over 37 is considered high. It was 1800 before starting treatment last January. (I am still unclear what "scale" to use when considering these numbers — linear? logarithmic? Pain scale? Richter scale? Fish scale?)

Well ... where was I?? .. oh yes ... that news was kind of a wake up call for us and burst the "denial bubble", as Barb calls it, that we've been living in and really enjoying the past few pleasant, cruising along, "feeling great" months.

I still feel great. I just would rather that tumor marker number had stayed low and I could stay off chemo. At our visit with Dr. Yee Friday he strongly encouraged me to start chemo — XELODA (the pills) — again. Three cycles of three weeks each (take pills for two weeks and go off for one week) for a total of nine weeks.

We discussed our upcoming holiday travel and family time in South Dakota and California (Dec. 22—Jan. 1) and expressed our preference to not be "chemo-ized" during that time. Dr Yee understood fully and agreed to starting Jan. 2 - the day after we get back from CA with another blood test to make sure I am a suitable candidate as far as other requirements like white cells, platelets, etc. Meanwhile we are ordering the Xeloda....

Another metaphor: I will be jumping off the pleasant "merry-go-round" onto the dizzying, up and down "chemo coaster" (Barb's term) again. Or maybe the "tilt-a-whirl" describes it better, since the chemo tends to make me dizzy.

Fortunately, I guess???, my side effects from Xeloda are not as severe as they are for many... the worst being hand-foot syndrome which sounds — and looks — like no fun at all. I will deal with diarrhea (certainly don't want to be on airplanes, at airports, traveling in cars, and family with that), dizziness, sleeplessness, fatigue, and some swelling in my legs.

Also last week I made an appointment Dec. 19 with the Cancer Genetics Program at the Penn State Hershey Cancer Institute. It's a program to provide education, risk assessment and the option of genetic testing "when appropriate" for individuals who are concerned about a personal or family history of cancer.

I have a lengthy family history questionnaire to fill out and may be making inquiry of some family members re cancer history in the Schrag and Preheim families. I'll blog more later on this.

Thanks for your love and blessings to all.