Hello Super Fantastic Friends and Family,
Hope today finds you well and happy. It’s been a wonderful winter here in MN. Mostly sunny. Not too cold. Wonderful!
The chemo has been going quite well. (Understatement!) My tumor marker numbers have dropped from 354 to 234 and recently to 150, so it’s definitely working. I’ve been able to recover much more quickly than the previous chemo. I’ve completed 4 of the 8-10 sessions already. Yay! Still fighting the nausea. It comes more quickly—I usually leave my treatment nauseous—but it departs quickly, too. By Friday, I’m pretty good. It never fully leaves. But it’s manageable. They’ve been having me try numerous nausea drugs. But they only work a little and sometimes make me more nauseous or knock me out. (I slept through most of the last one—maybe they’re doing that on purpose to keep me quiet. Hmmm….) My Oncologist is checking into me trying Cannabis Oil (yep!). There’s a type that’s approved for chemo nausea. Hope it works.
I had a CT scan this Thursday. I won’t get the results until my next chemo (March 28th) but I’m expecting good results. Plus I looked at the CD of the scan and from what I can tell (which isn’t much) the liver lesions look smaller. Yay!
I still have my hair. Go figure. (God’s been very merciful!!!) It’s starting to come out more consistently now…a bit each day. Whether it will all come out or just get really thin is unknown. Guess we’ll see. I got it cut super short yesterday so it doesn’t turn into “comb-over” hair. Hate it. Oh well. At least I still have hair! Smile.
I found a cute wig. I went to a location sponsored by the American Cancer Society (ACS) …they let you have your first one free. (Yay!) Got one, then came home and didn’t like it. It was shoulder length. It’s strange to wear hair that long because mine’s been short for so long. It’s like playing dress up. So, I went back and traded it for a little shorter one. Plus, I didn’t cry while doing it. Success! In fact, it was quite hilarious. Some looked so silly on me even the lady helping me was laughing. Good times.
The ACS also has a free class where you receive a free skin care and make-up kit and they teach you how to draw in your eyebrows (because you become a naked mole rat and lose hair everywhere). I’m not the best artist. I still have my eyebrows and I’m practicing on them. I’m a little afraid I’ll look more like a Picasso painting than myself. But, hey, he was quite famous so we’ll see.
Oh yeah. My chemo brain is still ever present. Ditsy as ever! My short-term memory is horrid. So is my long-term memory. (If there’s a mid-term memory, that’s bad, too.) Really…I have no memory. Just kidding. Wait…what was I saying? Anyway, I do have trouble remembering things. Like words. It’s rough to not remember words. Conversations with me are mostly me just trying to describe a word trying to use other words that I can’t remember. Yet, I continue to talk. Too much. People just smile and try to guess what I’m trying to say. It’s like an annoying game of charades. I really should video one of my conversations. (Something for my future grandkids to laugh at.) Also, I “lose” my phone a lot. Usually it’s found hiding in my back pocket. Sneaky thing! [...]

Hello, Fabulous Family and Friends!
Happy Monday! (That’s what we call an oxymoron!) Thought you may like an update:
The laparoscopic right hemicolectomy went well. They took out my right colon (which includes the appendix) my hepatic flexure (the bendy part) and a portion of the transverse colon. So, waaay more than just 8 inches! “You have 5 feet of colon, so there’s plenty left to do what it’s supposed to do,” they said. However, it sounded more like, “Well, you’ve got 3 feet of leg, and we’ll only be taking 1 foot (no pun intended), so you’ll be ok, right?”
Anyway, surgery went well. I was in a lot more pain afterwards than I expected. After three C-sections, I thought this would be a breeze. Nope. When your insides are all cut up: It hurts. Who’d have thought?
Today is 5 weeks post-op. Feeling great, but after I eat, I start hurting some—but ibuprofen works, so I’m good. Oh, by the way, I know that some people were wondering...no, I didn’t have a colostomy bag. They took out the parts that had to come out, sewed the good parts back together, and then literally pushed it back inside. I only have a 3cm scar above my belly button and 3 other <1cm spots where the laparoscopic instruments were put in. Easy breezy.
Cancer was found in the removed tumor and in 1 of the 39 lymph nodes. I was hoping this meant that the cancer was now out and gone, but, unfortunately, that wasn’t so. The lab test on the 13th of this month, showed my tumor marker up again to 377, and an elevated liver test. The CT confirmed all of this. The lesions in my liver have all increased in size and number. Plus, the “spot” in my lung has increased in size.
So, with all that in mind, today I did my first infusion of my second round of chemo. This time, I’m doing FOLFIRI with Avastin (last time it was FOLFOX with Avastin). The difference being they swapped out Oxaliplatin with Irinotecan. The Oxaliplatin caused the cold sensitivity and the neuropathy. And since my neuropathy still hasn’t healed from the last chemo, they switched it up. I am very thankful. No throat closing up because of cold drinks; no hand cramping; no facial muscles contorting into parakeet beaks; and best of all, NO MORE JAZZ HANDS!!! The Irinotecan has its own issues—intestinal distress (that’s putting it mildly)—but there’s drugs for that. Whew! However, I still have to wear the fanny pack for 2-3 days. Bummer! Hate those things. Well, it’s no longer a fanny pack they give you. It’s a bag with a clip that you hang on a belt loop. It’s like walking with a full water bottle attached to your belt loop and we all know how great that works. Really, you should try it. Now run. Yep. It’s that good.
Anyway, this time it’ll only be 8-10 infusions (not 10-12) given every two weeks, with delays if my white blood cell count gets too low. And things have streamlined a bit. Two of the drugs I now get to take in pill form instead of infusion. That saves me an hour of infusion time. Yay!
So, this was not the outcome I had hoped for but I’m thankful to have an option to fight the cancer that’s still inside me. Cancer is bad. Cancer that makes it to your liver is really bad. Once it finds its way there, it’s everywhere. That’s why there’s no “cure”. The chemo kills as much as it can but cancer likes to mutate so it just quietly changes and hides and then reproduces like mad once the chemo stops. That’s “Sarah’s interpretation”. Well, mine has a lot more nastier descriptive words, but you get the point.
As always, I am VERY BLESSED. God has given me another year. I seem to tolerate chemo fairly well. I have a great family. I have the means to afford this mess. The sun comes out even when it’s cold. But greatest of all, there’s our AWESOME, AMAZING, WONDERFUL, FABULOUS, SUPER-FANTASTIC, RAD (if you don’t know what that means, you’re too young!), MIRACULOUS God!!! Even in the worst times, I can see His goodness. I am so very thankful that He has allowed me to know Him! To quote a friend whose husband is now fighting his own battle:
“We know God is on His Throne and know He hears your prayers and His love for us and our family is more than we can even grasp.”
Well put. God’s got a plan and a purpose. I just have to be patient and do my part and make sure I’m learning what I’m supposed to be learning. Rejoicing in the good and pleading for mercy and comfort through the rough spots. All will be well. Especially with such a fabulous group as you all to whine to. You’re incredible!
So, here we go again. Round 2.
Oh yeah, went wig shopping yesterday. Would love to say that it was so much fun and had a great time trying on different styles and colors. Nope. As soon as I asked how it worked and then started walking around to choose my wigs, I cried. All the wigs just reminded me of Carol Burnett Show skits. Thankfully, the employees jumped in and helped me. Found a wig that I think will work. Told them I’d call when I needed it—like when I start looking like a diseased feral cat. Hopefully, it’ll be a while. Last time, I didn’t really start losing my hair until the 4th or 5th infusion. But, I wasn’t supposed to lose my hair either. So maybe my hair really hates chemo and tomorrow I’ll wake up bald. Guess we’ll see! [...]

All went well. Dr. Said based on what he saw it was good to remove. Pretty tiny opening in colon could have been easily blocked. About pinky sized. Also could see the liver and some of the reduced lesions. Dont know if that means anything. Got things put back together without any issues. 1-2 percent chance of leaking in this type of procedure. Sarah could go home as soon as wednesday. Scott

Hello, My Fabulous Family and Friends!
How are all of you??? Hope you’re all well. We’ve had a gorgeous fall and a beautiful start to winter here in MN. I love this warmer weather. Bring on the global warming!
I’m feeling very well. The neuropathy in my fingers and feet (caused by the chemo) is s….l....o….w...l….y…. improving. I’m still dumb as a post, thanks to chemo brain—at least that’s what I’m claiming--but that’s “supposed” to improve, too. I certainly hope so. I feel very UNintelligent these days!
In my last update, my tumor markers were down and I was about to have my colonoscopy and CT scan. Here’s my attempt at a quick update:
The colon tumor is still there (but smaller). It was biopsied and the biopsy came back clear of cancer (however, cancer cells may still be hiding in the portion that wasn’t biopsied). However, the tumor is partially blocking my colon, which doesn’t cause any significant troubles at this time except that I can feel some dull pain in the tumor area after I eat.
The CT scan showed no clear evidence of disease progression but my liver lesions and lung lesion are still there.
Now the not-so-great news: my CEA tumor marker numbers have increased…9 in October, 41 in November and 203 as of yesterday. This is a little disheartening. However, the Oncologist explained that it’s likely a different form of the cancer and this cancer may have a different scale in regard to the tumor markers. For example, the cancer that reacted very well to the chemo may have produced 1 tumor marker per one cell of cancer. This one may produce 50 tumor markers for each cancer cell. Either way, I still have cancer. Bummer!
Surgery wasn’t going to be performed to remove the tumor. However, because it’s a stricture and could possibly block my colon, my Oncologist wants it done now to avoid an emergency surgery when I’m in the middle of chemo and my body won’t be as able to fight off infection.
So…I’m having surgery (a laparoscopic right hemicolectomy) this Monday (12/21) to remove the tumor. I was fortunate to get in so quickly. I can’t begin chemo until 4 weeks post op; so, the sooner the better. Our hope is that the cancer cells are in the tumor and will be excised with the surgery. However, if not, then I will be doing chemo again. Sigh. I have another CT scan in January to check for disease progression. My Oncologist predicted correctly that I would probably have to restart chemo 6 months after my last chemo. How much I wish he was wrong.
So, there’s the update. Not the best, but not the worst, either. It can ALWAYS be worse! This was expected.
As we all know, God is in control of all. I see his hand in everything that’s happened and I see all the amazing things He’s done to make this experience bearable. For example, He’s allowed me to see how wonderful all of you are. Thank you for being my friends and my support group and my go-to buddies. Your encouraging notes and prayers have been priceless. I know God hears them. Please continue them. They really help!
Oh yeah, the good news: I’ll be about 0.8 lbs. lighter with the 8 inches of colon they’ll remove. Yes! No-treadmill-required weight loss. Perfect![...]

Hello, Fabulous Family & Friends!
So sorry it’s been so long. It’s been crazy busy! Which is good. Means that my life is getting back to “normal.”
So, in summary: my last chemo was July 20th and it was a rough one. The chemo effects had stacked up enough to make me very sick. Glad it was the last. The doctor was right in stopping them. They were becoming more toxic than helpful to my body.
Anyway, made it through that rough spell and then my next adventure began: caring for my Mom (who came to care for me). She got bit on the calf by a dog while jogging. Two days later we had to bring her to the emergency room because she was septic. She spent 11 nights in the hospital (4 in ICU) and had to have a cut made from the back of her knee down to her ankle to remove all the infection. Then she came home. A week later we had to take her back for another 3 nights because she got C. Diff., a bad bacterial infection. Since then, it’s been surgeon and physician follow-ups and physical therapy. She’s much better now and can walk well but some days she still gets very exhausted and weak. So that’s how I spent most of August and September. Oh well. I told her we’re even now. She took care of me and I returned the favor. Checkmark. (smile)
So, what’s the future look like from here? I have to have monthly port flushes (I hate how that sounds!) to keep my port clear in case it needs to be used again for chemo. I hope that this won’t happen and I can get it out. But I think they wait for two years. Bummer! Oh well. I’ve already accumulated a lot of high-neck shirts to cover it up. Guess I’ll just keep looking for more.
I also get my bloodwork checked at each port flush and the last one was wonderful. In fact, my CEA tumor marker dropped another point to 4.6. Yaaaaay! Still dropping after 1 ½ months. Love it!
To keep a check on the cancer, I get a colonoscopy next month (oh, the joys of cancer) and then a CT the next month. These are to check that there’s no more cancer growing. I think that after these are done—and are clear (praying!)—I’ll be considered NED (no evidence of disease). I may also be considered a NERD but we already know that.
Those two tests will continue every 3 months or so, along with the blood tests and port flushes (sounds like I’m talking about a toilet!) to check for re-occurrence of the cancer. The chemo did a wonder on the colon cancer—better even than my Oncologist expected. (That’s because of God hearing all of you AMAZING friends!!!) But…(don’t you just love that word)…he expects that it may return in a different form. This is because I had it so long and it fully covered my liver and had moved to my lung (though only a 3-4 mm nodule that was quickly killed by the chemo). I could have one little cell of cancer floating around in me and changing so that it isn’t affected by the last chemo. If it does re-occur, I’ll have to do chemo again. And the next one will for sure take all my hair. Yes, my hair. Finally, got the short haircut. Hated it. (Note the above picture. Scary!) Whenever I looked in the mirror I saw Alice from the Brady Bunch or a little English boy from the 1600s. Everyone else loved it (or so they said…I have nice friends). Anyway, I’m learning to love it. It is way quicker and sassier. But in the morning I look like a troll doll. Oh well.
I still have a few side effects. My feet and fingers are always tingly and feel like ice. That’s supposed to go away. May take a year but it’s supposed to fade. Hope so. On the bright side, I can now taste food. Yay!!!! And I’m no longer nauseous. Double Yay!!! Oh yeah, still have the chemo brain. Bummer. But it’s very entertaining for others.
So, that’s what’s happening for me. Life seems almost normal again and I constantly think, “Did all that really happen?” and then “Will all that happen again?” But, we can’t tell the future so I’m praying and planning for the best. No need to fret until there’s something to fret about.
Oh wait, I forgot to add my commercial. Here goes: “If you’re over 40…GET A COLONOSCOPY!”
Short and sweet. Really. Do it! It’s so much more treatable if you catch it early. Forget 50. Go at 40. It’s not as bad you think. And it’s so much better to not have to do chemo. Trust me!
Anyway, thank you all for being such an INCREDIBLE support network. You guys made this such a more bearable “journey.” I can’t even express in words how fabulous you all have been. Thank you so very, very much! So until I have some great, or not-so-great news to tell you, it may be awhile before you hear from me. Just think happy thoughts about jazz hands, fanny packs and Nutella or my newest downfall: Almond Roca!!! Hugs![...]

Hello, Fabulous Friends and Family!

It's been a while and I have so much to say about these last 3 crazy weeks (trust me, super crazy!). But, alas, I must put that off until the next post. But I just had to write a quick update for you. [...]

Hello Fabulous Friends and Family,

Hope your week has gone well. You have been wonderful again with all your support and prayers. You’re all superstars to me. What a blessing to have each and every one of you! You make me very happy and your prayers have worked! God has heard them and has worked wonders in me. Thank you so very much for making this journey so tolerable![...]

Hello, Fabulous Friends and Family!

Thank you all for being so AMAZING!!! Thank you for your prayers (they REALLY help!) and your comments, messages, texts, emails, cards, gifts, food, flowers, hugs. Everything! Best. Support. Group. EVER!!! You should all add it to your resumes: “Highly esteemed member of the “Best.Support.Group.EVER!!!” I’ll be a reference. You’ll totally get hired! Well, maybe not. And maybe not put me as a reference. Who knows what I’ll say with this lovely chemo brain.[...]

Hello, Fabulous Friends and Family!

Sorry for the delayed update. It’s been a puffy-face, greasy-hair, cold-throat, prickly-finger, runny-nose, nausea-laden week. Yep. One of thoooooose weeks! I went out for a short walk and a neighbor noticed I was wearing gloves…in 75 plus degree weather. Try explaining that one. But, I’m feeling a bit better today so, yay![...]