Archive | March 2015

Clinical Trial Roadblock

Unfortunately, the test that was done awhile ago that found that FGFR2 mutation is not acceptable for the clinical trial. It was a new test that is currently in research. I will have to have another biopsy so that can test it the acceptable way for the clinical trial. Let’s hope and pray that they find the FGFR2 mutation as that is mandatory to be considered for the trial.

I’ll go to Mass General for this biopsy. They’ll be calling soon with the date and time.

Yesterday I had my last chemo for a while. I requested removal of the cisplatin so I feel pretty good today. Ray and I are going to join in the St. Pat’s celebrations today at Pappy’s and the Prospect. Will meet up with some family at Pappy’s and friends at Prospect. Looking forward to a good day.

Kitchen backsplash is in. Bruce and Ray hope to get started on putting it up on Sunday. Can’t wait to see it up. According to Ray it is a process and as different things are done, there is a 24 hour wait period for things to set. So it’ll be a while before it’s done.

Julie will be home on Wednesday! Can’t wait to see her and spend some time with my wonderful daughter!

Maybe the snow will stop by then! LOL! Hopefully by our beach vacation July 4th!

You are my strength! Thanks for all your prayers and support! Love to all!

Clinical Trial

Mar20

Ray and I went to Boston Wednesday and met with Dr. Zhu and his APRN Michelle. They gave us a lot of information that we needed to digest and think about. Today I notified them that I want to do the clinical trial.

First of all Dr. Zhu did not want me staying on the cisplatin. This is the drug that caused my hearing loss. He was very concerned about further toxic reaction to the drug. So I had chemo today and only had the gemzar. So it didn’t take as long.

Today was my last chemo for a while. One of the requirements of the trial is that I don’t have chemo for at least 4 weeks. It’ll take at least 6 weeks to start on the trial. In the meantime, I need to go to Mass General for a lot of testing, i.e., physical exam, blood and urine work, EKG, ECHO, vision test, etc. Passing all these tests is necessary to be accepted in the trial.

The clinical trial is for a drug that specifically attacks the gene mutation that was found in my cancer. This is my chance to have a longer survival rate from this deadly cancer. If it doesn’t work, I can go back on the chemo that I’ve been taking for the last 10 months.

Ray and I will be back and forth to Boston a lot over the next several months as they monitor me very closely in the beginning and at least once a month after all is considered to be going well. They take CT scans every 8 weeks as opposed to every 3 months to see how the drug is working.

Hoping that I get accepted into the trial and have good results with this new part of my journey.

As always, thanks to everyone for their continued prayers and support. Love you all!

Happy St. Pat’s Day

Mar16

Had chemo on Friday and met with Dr. Hong. All is well. Talked to my nurse Katie and think I might have had a little bug last week as she was sick the previous week with a head cold and extremely tired. That actually made me feel better.

Ray and I went to the Marco Friday night for a few hours, after taking a nap. A guy from the town was retiring so there was a bunch of guys down there wishing him well. We just missed Jason. Most of them went down right after work. Ray and I went at 6 and we were home by 9.

The St. Pat’s Day parade was postponed to this coming Saturday. The Prospect had corned beef and a band so we went there on Saturday from 2 to 7. Met Aunt Wilma there. Jay and Heather and a lot of their friends were there. Saw a lot of East Hartford people. We had a good time and the corned beef was really good! Needless to say I was pretty tired by the time we got home, but it was worth it.

Had a nap filled day yesterday. Plan to do some writing today and send an email to Mass General so we can get an appointment set up to meet with Dr. Zhu. I may start putting shelf liner in my new cabinets today. Ray hooked up the water line and ice maker for the fridge yesterday. Stone/Tile for the backsplash should be in today.

Party for Hank, Bill and Teka at the Marco Thursday to celebrate Hank and Bill’s retirement and Teka’s 50th birthday. It’ll just be us Agnew kids and any of our family members that can make it – probably about 20 of us.

Thanks to everyone for their messages of love and support!!! You are my strength!

Energized

Mar11

Did a lot of sleeping last week. Thank goodness I started feeling energized by Sunday and better every day since then. Had a busy day yesterday – went to Walgreens, made a banana bread and went to Home Depot with Ray last night to buy a few more items for the kitchen.

Making the banana bread was more of a challenge than I thought. Since my kitchen is spread between the dining room and Jay’s old bedroom I had to search for spices and baking pan. Then I needed measuring cups and realized they were in the new dishwasher-that was running! I grabbed them out of there. The effort was worth it as the banana bread came out awesome!

Yes, dishwasher is up and running. The molding is finished except one piece that we had to order and picked up last night at Home Depot. The fridge and stove may be up and running by the end of the week. So we’re getting close. I hope to begin moving things into the cabinets and drawers soon. Waiting on the tile to arrive. That’ll take another week and then the installation will take a little time.

Looking forward to St. Pat’s Day Parade Day on Saturday. Won’t go to the parade, but hope to meet up with family for lunch and some socializing. Also looking forward to dinner with my work friends Thursday night. These are the things I like to save my energy for.

Today is supposed to be a high of 55 – yes, Spring is finally knocking at the door!

Love to all – thanks for your prayers and support. You are my strength.