Today being October 1st, it reminds me to take time to notice the leaves. We've been very busy at the clinic lately, what with H1N1 infections and now giving flu shots and all the kids getting every stray cough, cold and crud that floats their way. It's easy, I think, for everyone to get caught up in what is happening at work this time of year. The kids are back at school meaning that they, too, are going full throttle with homework, tests, report cards soon and, of course, fall sports (a little soccer anyone?). But this is the most gorgeous time of the year, and I entreat all of you to stop once in a while to catch your breath, take a walk (now that it is no longer hot & humid, you can't use the weather as your excuse), and notice the leaves. We'll have plenty more yellow ahead, but now is the time to pay attention. Sure, it will get better and better-brighter and more vibrant as the days get cooler and shorter-but today is exquisite too.
I found myself driving around Charleston with my Mom earlier in the week explaining some of the gifts that having cancer has given me. I was down in my old hometown to be with my Mom while my stepdad had exploratory brain surgery. Unfortunately, we didn't get good news-he, too, has cancer. We're still waiting on the official biopsy results to know more about the type of chemo and radiation he'll have depending on the tumor type etc. I told my Mom that I like to think about each day and remember where I was last year and what I was doing (usually either in the hospital having chemo, or recuperating from chemo, or getting ready to have more chemo). Then I like to celebrate that I'm not doing any of that now by contemplating exactly what do I want to do TODAY, October 1st, just in case next October 1st is different from today. I know it might sound silly, but the perspective is really helpful. It is really freeing to consider what I want to enjoy today just in case next October 1st isn't so fun. So here's what I did today that I really enjoyed-woke up at 5am, snuggled until I was sure I couldn't get back to sleep, drank coffee while watching the daylight creep into my bedroom, had a terrific row while listening to REM, drank coffee containing chocolate syrup and whipped cream while visiting with Holly once she woke up, wrote postcards to 3 loved ones with cancer, wrote a Thank You card to my friend's mother who prays for me at a pilgrim site in France (I swear I am not making this up), treated a few sick people and told a few that they weren't as sick as they thought, enjoyed a fabulous walk at lunchtime up and down the street behind my workplace, ate a peanutbutter sandwich dribbled with extra peanuts, treated a few more sick people, then came home to start this blog entry. Holly and I will go hit the local sandwich place for dinner when she gets home in a few minutes.
So you pick the thing or things you want to do today that you just might not be lucky enough to do next October 1st.
Photo-my Mom and Brian just before we left for his surgery. I should have taken an "after" photo since he was up showered, shaved, and ready to go just a mere 24 hrs later.
4 comments:
I come across your blog yesterday while searching for answers to my wife's recent diagnosis of AML. She too completed chemo for breast cancer 18 months ago (triple negative with insitu ductile). Followed by mastectomy and radiation. She also has inversion of chromosome 16. Your story provides hope. She is in MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, and finishing her first round of chemo. But the docs are talking like transplant is not far off, mainly due to AML being secondary. My wife says that when the likelihood of secondary leukemia is less than 3 in 1000, it is really hard to accept when you are one of those 3.
Dear Hopeful Husband- She will do well. Inversion 16 is a marker of an excellent outcome for AML. That is why my BMT doc let me decide on transplant vs chemo. He actually thought the survival #'s at 5 yrs were similar based on work out of Chicago (Northwestern I think). I hope she does well. Just curious, did she do dose dense chemo for her Breast Ca with neulasta as I did (AC-T every 2 wks)? My theory, not based in fact or data, is that may be too hard a regimen for the bone marrow.Seemed to be for mine anyway. Good luck & keep in touch please-taf
She had four infusions of a combination of 5-FU/Cytoxin/Ellence, each infusion delivered in one session, four weeks apart. Then she had four cycles of Taxotere on a similar schecule. She had one injection of neulasta following each of the first regimine, but not sure if she received it after the Taxotere.
The Docs at Anderson are obviously looking at improving protocols. But they seem concerned that the secondary AML may be more of a neg factor than the "good" chrom 16 inversion. They may be pressing for transplant before running out many chemo cycles. Only 1 or two post her initial induction cycle. Seems like rushing things.
Dear Hopeful Husband- She has her work cut out for her but I have seen people do well both from the MD side of my life and the personal/patient one. I guess one more thing in my case with the whole BMT vs Chemo issue-neither of my sisters was a match. There were 5 matches in the registry for me, but after consulting the specialist in secondary AML in Chicago, my doc felt it was a pretty even choice. BMT has some neg side effects obviously. I am happy with my choice even if I get a recurrence tomorrow. Happy to be cheating death each day. Good luck, Teresa
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