172. Blood test for oral shingles result

The result came back for the Varicella Zoster Virus VZV (Herpes) Ab IgM.  It states that the virus is present and that I have antibodies to it but that there was no serological evidence of acute infection.   (The blood sample was taken after the infection had subsided.)  I do not know how to interpret these results.  Mary (former nurse) says this means that I did have oral shingles.  If that's the case it means that the ordeal is not directly related to my present medication which I was afraid of since having oral lesions is one of it's side effects. But it does mean that my immunity is suffering.  Anyway, the problem is resolved and I do not have any infection or sores in my mouth anymore at the moment.  Yes!!!

Perhaps a more upbeat topic next time? 😊  And tomorrow is my 68th birthday!  Going on to almost 3 years since my diagnosis.

171. I haven't posted in a long time. I wasn't sure to renew my blog for another year whether anyone would care to read what I've still got to say. But I've decided: let's give this a go for another year. So I'm back.

 I won't bore you with what I did last summer.  It's too far in the past already.  I'll get right down to the nitty gritty.

I was on 2 different chemo treatments since January of last year.  Both stopped working after a few months.  December 14th I got started on "targeted therapy".  I just began the second round of it.  My bloodwork was promising after the first round but there are of course no guarantees with this treatment either.  Right before the New Year long weekend I thought I was having an abscessed upper molar.  In fact, the whole right side of my mouth was infected to the point that my cheek was swollen also and I had severe nerve pain in my right jaw.  There has been some debate whether or not I had/have oral shingles. In case you are wondering about the symptoms: the right side of my mouth was covered in sores, with bleeding and extremely painful, especially at night.  My right cheek was swollen with red patches and blood vessels creeping up to my right eye.  Thankfully it has resolved since then and not done any damage to my eye or my hearing.  When I went to see the dentist she said that the difference between the left side of my mouth and the right side was "like day and night".  However she could not confirm it to be shingles.  She admitted she did not know.  I was prescribed antibiotics and a mouth rinse.  When I saw a periodontist a week later, he thought it might be shingles but couldn't confirm this either because by then the lesions had healed and there was no more pus or fluid coming out of it.  When visiting the periodontist the right side of my mouth was extremely itchy.  The itchiness disappeared after a few days.  Most symptoms have disappeared and I am free of pain now.  I have had a blood test done since for (oral) shingles but haven't received the results yet.  I'll keep you posted.

Back in a few days.  Keep warm and stay healthy.  SanTeh!

170. Chemo And the Oncologist said...

I met with my oncologist this morning to discuss my situation.  Of course the letter from the Edmonton surgeon was also discussed.  A briefer brief could not have been written.  He states that I have "lesions in my left lobe, new from previous" and that "I therefore have unresectable disease". (unresectable is jargon for inoperable)  My oncologist then showed me the most recent imaging, a CT scan and MRI, something she rarely does and in her opinion there are no lesions in the left lobe of my liver.  There are multiple tiny ones in the right lobe and in addition there is one seriously larger one also in the right lobe.  However, the multitude is a deterrent to having liver resection.  So maybe the poor man was put in a no win situation.  The way he responded leaves something to be desired though, especially since I had a phone conversation with him last February  where he assured me that he would operate on me if no one in Saskatchewan would do it.  What a let-down!  And no one can answer my question of what happened to the area where the NanoKnife surgery was performed.  Did it Poof disappear? Did it leave a black hole?  Is that the big lesion in the right side?  Strange!

I believe I have hinted in a previous post that I trained and worked as a dental therapist for a number of years.  Part of our training included sessions on taking and interpreting dental X-rays.  I am by no means an expert, far from it, but do have some knowledge on the subject.  Today, I was shown the CT scan taken before I had Nanoknife surgery with the image showing one smallish liver lesion at that time (summer of 2022).  Compare that with the recent CT and MRI:  the CT shows smallish and "vaguer" lesions than the MRI.  In fact on the CT scan the biggest lesion is not visible to me in any case, whereas on the MRI it is very obvious.  Will I be agreable to have any more CT scans for my liver do you think?  No way Jose!  For the liver an MRI is the way to go I say!

All in all I feel fine.  Seeing these images has reassured me somewhat.  If "the big one" could be reduced in size and if all the lesions could be held in check I could be around for a while yet.  It would be like winning the lottery to me!  

Tomorrow starts another chemo week.  We will see what the bloodwork says after this round.  If it is not favorable, I will in all likelihood be put on Chemo Regimen Number Three next time.  My options are dwindling.  But for now: "Always look on the bright side of life", a popular song by Monthy Python.  Be well!  SanTeh! 😎  

I had promised some posts on our last camping trips.  And I have been experimenting making sourdough bread.  Maybe this week if I feel up to it.

169. Chemo And the surgeon said: ....

I was diagnosed in summer of 2021 with colon cancer. 

I had a right hemicolectomy in fall of 2021, which was very successful.

After surgery a CT scan showed that I had a/one metastasis to my liver.

I endured 12 rounds of chemo after which I was more or less assured I would benefit from surgery to remove that liver tumor.

Upon finishing the 12 rounds of chemo I was told that the surgeons could not perform the liver surgery because it was too close to bile ducts and blood vessels.  I was referred to an Interventional Radiologist for NanoKnife surgery, which will only be performed when regular surgery is too dangerous or impossible. However, I could have been referred to Edmonton, where I would have had a better chance of surgical removal of the tumor.  For reasons unknown to me, this did not happen.

September 2022 I went up to Saskatoon for the Nanoknife procedure with very little consultation and preparation in advance of, or after, the surgery.  Before the NanoKnife surgery I had 1 liver lesion and 1 cyst.  3 to 4 months after, an MRI showed multiple tumors, 7 or 8 I believe.  Never ever was it mentioned to me that this is what could happen.  Great!  Terrific! 

In January I was put back on chemo.  The first chemo worked for a couple of months and then stopped working.  Since the end of August I have been back on oxaliplatin, my first chemo regimen.  Meanwhile my file was sent to Edmonton to a surgeon to see if my liver could still be salvaged.  Guess what his response was?  I have too many tumors in the liver to qualify for surgery. So no, I am Not getting any surgery.   My oncologist and I have put in a request for a second opinion.  But in all honesty my chances for surgery are slim to none.  Palliative is where I'm headed.

For the time being I am still feeling fine and I am grateful for that.  Monday I am having  chat with my oncologist to determine the next course of action, which will be no doubt: more chemo.  I could also stop all this.  I just don't know what to do. 

 I'll let you ponder the above for a while.  I wish I had better news for you.  Take care of yourself, and I will do the same.  SanTeh!

168. Chemo I'm ba-ack!

Sorry folks to keep you waiting so long!  I didn't mean to, but time just slipped by.  Went camping with Dave for the last time this year.  (More about that in another post.)  Still no word from the Edmonton surgeon.  No one is returning the calls I left on their answering machine and I get no reply.  Thankfully I have been appointed a very kind oncology social worker, who has called Edmonton on my behalf.  She was told that the surgeon says that my case is complex and that he needs time to review it.  Meanwhile my oncologist is getting impatient and just wants to get on with things, but no further treatment can be decided on till we hear from Edmonton.  So I am to stay on the 3 week chemo cycle for now.  Eventually also this chemo will stop working.  Yikes!  On the up-side: I am feeling fine.  Just had chemo yesterday (oxaliplatin). This morning was rough but I am good now, can use my hands again and I slept reasonably well last night.  That's always a bonus.  Thank You to all the people who e-mailed me to check and see if I was ok.  Yes, I am still here.  I haven't fallen off the planet yet!  SanTeh! 👻

 

Chemo Still Waiting

 I phoned the surgeon's office twice this week but only got to leave a message on the answering machine.  No one from the surgeon's office got back to me.  My oncology nurse also phoned and was told that my case is "in triage" at the moment (Does that mean it is being reviewed?).  On the up-side, I have not been refused surgery yet.  So I am still hopeful.  For now.  Wish I had better news for you. I went camping solo for the last time before the  weather turns nasty.  I may write a post about it shortly.  (Have to do something to distract myself.)  Stay well! SanTeh! And Happy Thanksgiving!

Chemo Still no word from the surgeon. I am thinking of phoning his office tomorrow.