147. Chemo Looking for Security?

Other than one PET scan and several CT scans, I haven't had any radiation for my treatment to my knowledge.  So here's something I hadn't even considered...

One employee in possession of a Geiger counter, as a lark, used this gadget on a colleague undergoing radiation treatment and sure enough, the radiation definitely registered on it.

In another incident, a husband set off the security alarm in the airport when travelling shortly after having received a CT scan.

A cancer patient received a full body scan when going through security at a Toronto airport.  She was called aside and couldn't believe what she saw on the scanned image: her chest area and left wrist were lit up in red.  It was assumed that it was from radiation she had received on her chest and from radioactive materials used in an iv for the scan.  The perplexing thing was that the radiation had occurred almost 1 year prior.  According to a medical radiologist technician, there was no physical explanation for the radiation still being present, (something to do with half-lives, which I do not understand!), except if radioactive seeds had been implanted as part of the treatment plan, which the patient claimed they had not.

A male patient undergoing brachytherapy for prostate cancer states that radioactive seeds had been implanted and that it will take about 2 years for the radioactivity to be undetectable.  This man carries a special card for going through security.  Radiation may not leave your body as quickly as you may think and therefore it is advisable to have a note from your doctor on hand when you are planning to travel! 

Lastly: a few google searches mention cysts and hernias showing up on airport scans also! 😏 😄

Back within the week.  I may have news on possibly more surgery.  SanTeh!

146. Chemo April 16-23 was National Volunteer Week

 Last week was National Volunteer Week.  It is so nice to see the volunteers again in the Cancer Clinic after a long hiatus.  I can rest assured that I will not be lacking any snacks during treatment; a volunteer comes around 2 times during my 2 hour stay, with soft drinks, cookies, coffee or tea, what have you (which is probably more than during an airplane flight,  although I can not be sure because I haven't flown since 2019. 😌)

One very young volunteering person was Someone I just Have To Mention.  She was a girl about 12 years old who distributed a whole cart-full of socks, one pair to each of the 30-odd patients.  It wouldn't surprise me that she paid for it as well.  The photo speaks for itself!  Thank You Sweetie! You, and your Mom, are a Gem!

Working on some "stuff".  Possibly back tomorrow, but more likely on Friday.  SanTeh!

145. Chemo Survey Says....

A couple of weeks ago I received a survey in the mail.  It was directed from the Saskatchewan Cancer Agency to patients currently undergoing treatment, me being one of them.  The idea is for us patients to "help identify strengths, areas to improve on, and patient satisfaction with recent outpatient services provided by the SCA."  I filled out the survey and put a lot of comments with and thoughts into it.  The strength, in my opinion lies mainly with some professionals who really go out of their way to provide a service, such as, for example, the surgeon who performed the right hemicolectomy on me.  He phoned me on a regular basis up to a year after the surgery to see how I was doing.  Excellent two-way communication!  Unfortunately, he does not work directly for the Saskatchewan Cancer Agency but functions more on the periphery of it.  Where the services fall short and sometimes deplorably so, is where there is a break in the communication, or worse, no communication at all.  Often patients get information about their treatment, piece by piece or have to look up information themselves.  I was never given the option by my oncologist on surgery because oncologists only concern themselves with chemo or radiation treatments.  There is no integration between the different treatment options and I as a patient feel like I am often stuck in a maze having to find a way out on my own.

If you, or someone close to you, have been under the care of the Saskatchewan Cancer Agency and have questions, comments, concerns, you can contact me to add to my list I will be sending the SCA.  Anonymously of course.  Or you can contact the Saskatchewan Cancer Agency yourself.  Now that they are in the process of collecting info, it  would be a good time to do so.  Thank You!

In addition, browsing through the famous Mayo clinic website one time, I came across a comment from a cancer patient who received treatment there.  This person was asked for feedback on the treatment and services provided to him right after the said treatment.  No wonder that this facility has such a good reputation!  They are right "on the ball"!

Happy Easter Everyone! Back after Easter in a couple of days!

144. Chemo Back On LIne: PICC Line that is

This week the 4th CAPRINI treatment started.  The results of my bloodwork came back: it was encouraging!  The liver enzymes and CEA levels came down from last time.  They are not in the "normal" range yet by any means, but any down is good!!  I'll take it!

What is not so good, in a way, is that I had to have a PICC line inserted again because the cancer clinic nurses had difficulty locating suitable veins for the Irinotecan infusion in the previous treatments.  I am not too thrilled about the 46 cm line in my body, but shouldn't complain, because it is preferable to being poked several times.  The attending nurse was very relieved when I showed up with this contraption in my arm!  An added bonus is that I get to visit Sweet Chemo Lani every week to get it cleaned.  We can have a good visit again! 😄   (Sweet Chemo Lani in post nr. 10)

Also in the clinic yesterday, a prominent person was placed in the cubicle next to mine.  I could have kicked myself afterwards that we didn't have a chat.  I don't think I would have let slip by an opportunity like this last year!  Makes me wonder if my brain is "slipping" as well?

I have had a busy week.  Two weeks ago my left knee seized up to the point where it was extremely painful to lean on.  I ended up in Emergency where the Attending Physician drained off some fluid, which ended up being mostly blood.  Yes I had internal bleeding in my knee!  After the drainage it felt much better and I could walk a bit again.  I was promptly referred to an orthopedic surgeon who, after taking one look, stated it was getting better already and to just let it heal on it's own.  I quizzed him about what would have caused this.  He claimed this ocured because I am taking blood thinners.  But I have been on blood thinners for a long time already.  My oncologist was very interested in this "phenomenon".  We think it is a combination from being on the blood thinner and the chemo meds.  But, again, who knows? 😕

143. Chemo What this Chemo Treatment is like

 This is my second go at chemo treatment.  For information on the first set, please read post nr. 11.

I still need to get bloodwork done a couple of days before each treatment.  Again my treatment is over the lunch hour, so I pack my chemo bag with all the necessary things.  When I get to the cancer clinic an attendant takes my vital signs and shows me to my assigned recliner and chemo team.  As before, all seats are taken:  it's busy in there.  This time I do not have a PICC line but will get one next week because every time I have gone for treatment lately, the nurses have had a difficult time accessing a vein for the infusion line; it took several tries.  They start me off by giving me 4 pills against nausea.  Then after 20 minutes or so I get an infusion of Irinotecan for about 90 minutes, plus an injection in the back of one arm with medication against diarrhea from the infusion.  When the infusion is finished the nurses apply a "flush".  Instead of going home with an infusion bottle around my neck for two additional days, I get sent home with chemo pills (Capecitabine) to be taken with breakfast and supper for two more weeks.  Then I am off chemo meds for one week, after which the cycle starts over again, a 3 week cycle.  

So far I have not have any major side effects like nausea, vomiting, heartburn or diarrhea, Thank God!  But my hair fell out almost immediately and I feel groggy and disoriented sometimes.  Also, it seems to be harder on me emotionally.  I am to receive this treatment for 3 to 6 months pending on whether or not I will get a liver resection (operation).

Also of interest is that one of the above chemo drugs works on the principle of interfering with the growth and repair of the DNA of the cancer cells, and consequently with the growth and repair of healthy cells as well I presume.  So much for having long, healthy telomeres then? (for info on telomeres please read post nr. 127 On Longevity)

Back in a bit.  Ciao!  SanTeh!

142. Chemo Very Cautious Optimism

So my bloodwork came back: some of it good, some of it a bit worrisome.   My CEA level (cancer marker in the blood) has been on a steady rise since the end of October, shortly after I had a combination of Flu and Covid shot. (not sure if that is a coincidence).  Much to my dismay, the level peaked at the end of January at 40.4, very worrisome because a "healthy level" is lower than 5, suggested to ideally be lower lower than 2.5 even.  I am happy to announce that since I started chemo again, it has come down to 16.1 from 40.4. I am not out of the woods yet, but this at least is a hopeful development.  Because I am still not at the "ideal level" I suspect to be kept on chemo for a while yet.  What is a worry, is that the liver enzyme levels are way up high yet, an indication that all is not well, that there are possibly still blocked bile ducts somewhere, even though none were found during the gastroenterology exam.  Or what else could it be?  No one can give me a definite answer on this, because the experts can't agree...

I had phone conversations with 2 surgeons recently: one from Alberta and one from Saskatoon.  Both are convinced that I ended up with more tumors in my liver since I had the Nanoknife surgery 6 months ago.  Both recommend surgery to remove a big chunk of my liver.  Of course they would; they are surgeons after all.  However, one is in touch with the radiologist who did the Nanoknife surgery and the radiologist claims that whatever is showing up on CT scan and MRI is fall-out or damage from the surgery.  (Apparently, Nanoknife surgery on the liver isn't done that often and still in the experimental stage.  Lucky me! 😓  I asked for any  data on Nanoknife liver surgery aftereffects and was told "That's a good question".  I took that to mean: we are not sure and/or we do not know at present.)  So for the time being I am staying on chemo and after I've had another scan or MRI, what it will show will determine what the next course of action will be: stay on chemo or have liver surgery.  It's a big decision I think, one I'd much prefer not to have to make.  And my dilemma right now is that the professionals can't reach a consensus.  What to think or who to believe?  I don't know. Yikes!

Back in a while. Take care!  SanTeh!  Have to go swallow some chemo pills.  Ciao!