Good times since chemo in November

Happy New Year to all,

It has been 2 months since my last round of chemotherapy and I am feeling well. I still have some side-effects occuring so I am pleased to have had this break from treatment.

Since the last day of chemo in November 2011, I have made sure I have done what was in my heart to do. I went to the kd Lang concert in Melbourne and had a fantastic view of the stage. It was a great night out!

I returned to work on 1 December 2011 and felt more like myself than I had for a long, long time!

I had a fantastic Christmas Day with all my family members - all 29 of us; with lots of noise, fun and food!

We travelled in the 'leap of faith', across Victoria and landed in Robe South Australia and had a lovely, sun-filled beach getaway for 6 days in early January 2012.

I had a wonderful day out at the Australian Tennis Open in Hisense Arena for some of the Round 2 matches.

I have caught up with family and friends and have had great wine and food throughout January, gaining a little weight along the way (side-effect unrelated to chemotherapy....)

However, I am now getting a little twitchy about the CT scan sceduled for 24 January. These tests always make me feel exposed, vulnerable and more emotional than usual. Prior to Chemotherapy last year, the tumours had grown fairly rapidly post-operation so I am apprehensive about the possibilities. I accept that this is beyond my control but I don't feel equipped for a bad result. One day at a time, we shall see...

I will also return to work on 25 January and report back to Peter Mac Hospital for an analysis of the CT results on 31 January. I'll let you know how it goes. In the meantime, enjoy some pics from me, taken since chemo ended.

Lots of Love,
Georgia

kd at Myer Music Bowl

First day on beach at Robe



Walking around Beachport (near Robe)






With sisters cruising around at the tennis



Hisense Arena watching No.1 Women's player



G posing again



Outdoor bar at the Australian Tennis Open



Back to work: December

Why celebrate going to work........?
On 1 December, I returned to work and I cannot begin to explain how good it felt. The school holidays actually begin on 23 December, then I will have a long break again until late January.
I had a blood test today 21 December, and discussed my progress with my doctor. I am doing very well, but need to watch my iron levels and some side-effects.

Why did it feel so good to go back to work....?
Because I could!
Because I wasn't on my way to hospital!
Because I wasn't having chemotherapy!
Because I wasn't lying in bed feeling sick with side-effects!
Because I was driving to work in the "Leap of Faith"!
Because I got to sit in my office again and at one stage I didnt know if that was a possibility!!!
Because I felt connected when I got there!
Because I feel healthy and great to be alive!

What happens next year?
On 24 January I have my next CT scan.
I go to work for the 2012 start to the school year!
On 31 January I see the Doctor to check the results- is the cancer still stabilised or have the tumors grown since chemotherapy ended in November? The answer to this question will determine the next step in treatment. It is possible that treatment will remain on hold if the tumours remain stable.If so, I will continue to be monitored via regular CT scans.It is possible that the cancer has been active and that my team of doctors will then need to meet in February to discuss my next treatment regime. We shall wait and see!

In the meantime, we will have a wonderful holiday season!

MERRY CHRISTMAS to all at Team Georgia
Love Your Life

Looking to the future: December, January and Beyond!

It's been a busy month. The past week has seen me in and out of Peter Mac Hospital. I have needle marks all down my arms from doing bloods, CT scans, heart tests, and more!

My results are in from the end of Picasso III Chemotherapy. The overall result shows that the cancer has stabilised and has been Progression Free (PF), for the duration of the trial. This is a very good result according to my doctor.

I am disappointed in one sense, as it leaves me basically where I started at the beginning of July. Healthwise, I am better than I was pre-operation as I was experiencing debilitating pain throughout April and May 2011 (Hysterectomy to remove a cancer-ridden uterus on 25 May 2011.)

I have been experiencing an array of Chemo side-effects from the accumulation of 6 rounds of therapy, but am told over the next few weeks these should gradually become more manageable. I am starting to regain my energy levels and am feeling positive about getting out more often.

Today, 30 November 2011, I had bloods done and met with the specialist to discuss my progress and future treatment. A return to work is to occur (finally!!!!!) and further blood tests and consultations will occur on 21 December to check my heamoglobin levels and general health. I will have a two month break from treatment with my next CT scan scheduled for the end of January to check on the tumors. From there, new treatments will be introduced based on these 2012 results.

For now, I am grateful for what I have and look to the future.

Love your Life,
Georgia

Cycle 6 Chemo: All done for the time being!

On Rememberance Day, 11-11-11, I am happy to announce I have now gone through the 6 chemo applications for the Picasso III Trial! It is now time for a small break in treatment. YEY!!!!!!!

It means I will now still have a series of very important tests over the next 3 weeks on my major organs to ensure all are functioning properly. Even more vital, I will have a CT scan to again assess the effectiveness of the treatment delivered in this trial. This will all be followed up by monthly checks and surveys over the course of 2012.

Following the final CT scan at the end of November, a team of specialists will meet and assess my progress and decide the next course of treatment as we head into 2012.

For the future, chemotherapy is definitely on the table; Ifosfomide is the next standard treatment, and this typically requires a stay in hospital as it has highly toxic side-effects. Another possibility is a hot off the press medication which is an alternative to chemotherapy and is given orally in tablet form. It is called PAZOPANIB. It would mean having a longer break (potentially), from chemotherapy. It is a treatment in the USA, but not currently available in Australia. My specialist may be able to apply for it  on compassionate grounds.

For now, I need to continue to manage the known side-effects from my latest chemo and still avoid contact with infection. Thanks for your understanding by staying away when illness has struck. Remember, Skype is a fantastic form of contact and I am loving it when some of you folk get in touch. Cycle 5 was rough and I am expecting the same for this one.

A special thanks to our wonderful friends who visited from Adelaide for my chemo session at Peter Mac today- you know who you are. It was such a treat, and the Movido lunch afterwards capped it all off!

Love your life,
Georgia

Taking it slow after Cycle 5 Chemo

Well, I'm certainly feeling it after 5 cycles of chemo. I feel like I've taken a pounding in my abdomen. I hope a lot is going on in there- like some death and destruction to some cancer cells. I am resting a lot as I react to some side-effects.

It seems like there is so much in the media at the moment in regards to fundraising for different cancer causes.The latest stat is that 1 in 2 people will have cancer at some stage in their life. There is also a big cycling fund-raiser for Peter Mac Hospital being launched at the moment. Everyone is affected to some degree ;we are all connected by our humanity and our vulnerability.

My plea is that we all may live healthy and happy lives every day and live the joy of life in every moment; personally I believe it is all part of the cycle of life. There is a season for everything.

I do believe in fighting against illness and being as healthy and as content as I can be. I do believe in doing damage to the LMS and pushing it back, and I intend to have further success!

Cheers,
Georgia

Glad Tidings as Cycle 5 Chemo Flows In

Greetings to you all,

I have results from the CT scan post Cycle 4 treatment. Again, all is well! We give thanks for this result.

The target tumours are stable, showing no growth since the CT scan post Cycle 2. YEY!!!!!!!!!!
We celebrated by going out to Vietnamese for a light post-chemo meal.

Chemotherapy for Cycle 5 began today (Wednesday) and we'll be back for more on Thursday and Friday this week. The side-effects during Cycle 4 were more persistant when compared to the previous cycles, so I am going to take this one cautiously. I met with the Doctor today and he felt I was handling the chemo extremely well, dealing with the side-effects in a positive/preventative manner where possible. It just is the reality that the toxicity levels rise the more chemo cycles you have so the effects are longer lasting over the three week period. It was great to get this feedback as I don't have much of a frame of reference.Apart from some international forums I am participating in, I haven't actually met an LMS contact in Australia yet.

I have one cycle to go after this one (Cycle 6). The Picasso III trial should close by the end of November, apart from having monthly checks to add more data to the study.

I thought you might like to see me out and about so here are some pics:

georgia with great niece

georgia for brunch at williamstown

georgia visiting roxy in geelong 

Love your life,
Georgia

A Leap of Faith

Today I received a wonderful package that arrived in the driveway.
I have called it : The Leap of Faith. It is a brand new Holden Cruze II 1.4 Auto SRi-V.
I have taken out a four year lease on this vehicle...

Enjoy:

"leap of faith"

Cheers,

Georgia