For those who remember what three ring circus I went through during my last hospital stay, then you'll know what I'm talking about when I mention my "Repeat Patient" button!
So in order to commemorate my last said hospital visit, and so that I will be at the ready for any future said hospital visits, I have decided that I am going to design one of those buttons you can wear! I do believe that the said button would compliment those beautiful designer hospital gowns that we all know and love! Here is what I think I will put on that said button......
Proud bearer of the...
"Repeat Patient" button!
Being told you have cancer = Frightening
Living, laughing and loving each day = Awesome
Having wonderful family and friends to support you = Beautiful
Surviving those 4,674,932 irritating questions every time you
grace the hospital doors, and having yahoos look at you like
you don't know what is wrong with you or what is going on = PRICELESS!
And while I'm at it, I think I will add a tiara to the design!
Queen Repeat Patient will not be accepting questions today!
Monday, April 19, 2010
Monday, April 12, 2010
Rise Up
Eddie Vedder's song "Rise Up" is one of my favorite songs to listen to especially now in this time of my life...to me the song says don't look back, but rather rise up, and move forward so that you can truly enjoy every moment.
The lyrics are below, or you can click on the highlighted "Rise Up" link above to listen to the video clip from YouTube......
Such is the way of the world
You can never know
Just where to put all your faith
And how will it grow
Gonna rise up
Burning back holes in dark memories
Gonna rise up
Turning mistakes into gold
Such is the passage of time
Too fast to fold
And suddenly swallowed by signs
Low and behold
Gonna rise up
Find my direction magnetically
Gonna rise up
Throw down my ace in the hole
The lyrics are below, or you can click on the highlighted "Rise Up" link above to listen to the video clip from YouTube......
Such is the way of the world
You can never know
Just where to put all your faith
And how will it grow
Gonna rise up
Burning back holes in dark memories
Gonna rise up
Turning mistakes into gold
Such is the passage of time
Too fast to fold
And suddenly swallowed by signs
Low and behold
Gonna rise up
Find my direction magnetically
Gonna rise up
Throw down my ace in the hole
Sunday, April 11, 2010
Second Round And A New Chemo
I know it's been a while since my last post; everything has been going well, and I have been feeling good! I had some additional fatigue with my first round of chemo, but nothing too major; I was able to enjoy working out in the yard and planting new plants for the season (although I managed to pull something in my back), and it was a blessing to be able to enjoy time with my family during Easter.
Tomorrow (Monday) starts the second round of chemo with a new one being introduced. Avastin will be added, and much like Oxaliplatin, it will work in the same way by cutting off blood supply, which is what those nasty little cancer cells love!
Basically, here is a little lesson in how this particular chemo works ~ Avastin binds to the target VEGF (Vascular Epidermal Growth Factor), rendering it unable to then bind with its receptor which in turn by blocking the formation of new blood vessels then interferes with the growth of the tumor. When cancer cells spread to another part of the body they try to form a lump or tumour mass. In order to do this, they need to rapidly stimulate the local blood vessels and capillaries to grow into the tumor mass in order to nourish the cancer cells with food and oxygen (a process called angiogenesis). They achieve this by releasing a chemical into the surrounding tissues called Vascular Epidermal Growth Factor. Avastin, being a monoclonal antibody which attaches to circulating VEGF, effectively blocks its ability to bind to its receptors in the tissues of the body, most importantly those surrounding tumors. Avastin, therefore interferes with the tumors ability to recruit new blood vessels reducing their ability to grow and spread to other areas of the body. There is also evidence that Avastin enhances the effect of chemotherapy. It is thought they make tumour vessels less "leaky" and so allows chemotherapy to reach the tumour more effectively.
So now you know how Avastin works......class dismissed!
~K~
Tomorrow (Monday) starts the second round of chemo with a new one being introduced. Avastin will be added, and much like Oxaliplatin, it will work in the same way by cutting off blood supply, which is what those nasty little cancer cells love!
Basically, here is a little lesson in how this particular chemo works ~ Avastin binds to the target VEGF (Vascular Epidermal Growth Factor), rendering it unable to then bind with its receptor which in turn by blocking the formation of new blood vessels then interferes with the growth of the tumor. When cancer cells spread to another part of the body they try to form a lump or tumour mass. In order to do this, they need to rapidly stimulate the local blood vessels and capillaries to grow into the tumor mass in order to nourish the cancer cells with food and oxygen (a process called angiogenesis). They achieve this by releasing a chemical into the surrounding tissues called Vascular Epidermal Growth Factor. Avastin, being a monoclonal antibody which attaches to circulating VEGF, effectively blocks its ability to bind to its receptors in the tissues of the body, most importantly those surrounding tumors. Avastin, therefore interferes with the tumors ability to recruit new blood vessels reducing their ability to grow and spread to other areas of the body. There is also evidence that Avastin enhances the effect of chemotherapy. It is thought they make tumour vessels less "leaky" and so allows chemotherapy to reach the tumour more effectively.
So now you know how Avastin works......class dismissed!
~K~
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