Summer School
Remember how I talked about the joys of my upcoming summer vacation? I assumed my new treatment would be ‘a breeze’ because it was a pill…an innocent little pill. As it turns out, I spoke too soon. I was completely wrong. Instead of enjoying a nice summer vacation, I’m stuck in summer school – studying something horrible like calculus. Well, it’s not quite that bad, but you get the picture. Fortunately, I only spent a few days feeling sick. Unfortunately, those few days were at the beach.
While I was struggling, I wondered how people could endure this treatment for months on end. My anti-nausea meds weren’t working, I couldn’t eat or drink anything. I finally found some medicine that brought relief and I was quickly back to my normal self, but I went to some pretty dark places during those four days. I doubted my strength and determination and was close to quitting the treatment. I was ready to throw in the towel after four days. Four days.
I tell you this because I want to pay tribute to those people who struggle with pain or nausea on a daily basis. It’s easy to say that you would be willing to go through hell to be healed, but it’s an entirely different thing to actually do it. There are some people who are in constant pain that can’t be relieved by medicine and I only wish I knew how they find the courage to continue their treatment. Apparently I’m not as tough as I originally thought and I have to say that that scares me just a wee bit. If I was in summer school, I’d be looking at a big red F right now. Let’s just hope I can squeeze out an acceptable C before the next round of tests.
July 24th, 2008 saat: 10:48 am
Kate,
I don’t know if you are interested…but my Mom struggled with her meds daily and had terrible nausea. The only thing that helped (Only thing) was medical marijuana. But, she couldn’t eat it or smoke it or use tinctures. Marinol just made her feel worse. The way she found that worked was thru a vaporizer. We bought a couple of low end vaporixers. They worked for awhile but mostly burnt the pot. We finally purchased a “volcano”. It was about $600 but it was SO worth it to my Mom. She was then able to go on outings, like RV trips ect.. where she could access the vapor whenever she started to get nausea. It was also easy on her lungs (not like smoking it, that made her cough and made her sick). Our doctor gave her a script fot it. I really saw what a dramatic life changing difference it made for my Mom. She was able to controll it so that she wasn’t “high” from it.
Katie
July 24th, 2008 saat: 3:41 pm
Hang in there! Pain and nausea are something I have been dealing with for years. While I never have gotten used to it, I have found ways to deal with it. I’ll keep you in my prayers!
Rachel
July 24th, 2008 saat: 4:36 pm
How about a shot and a turkey wrap…with fruit! For you I’d jump behind that bar again especially if it helped, well…helped anything.
I have no personal experience with chronic pain. Nor have I ever seen it in action on anyone else. Well, my mother when she battled breast cancer. But, carry on (I know, much easier said that done) a “C” is totally within your reach. Heart.
July 24th, 2008 saat: 8:15 pm
Kate, i was diagnosed with PC about 16 months ago. I was able to have the Whipple but elected to follow up with a powerful chemo and radiation. I was so sick for 6 weeks. By the end of radiation, I could only keep down water and sherbert. None of the usual meds worked. I was starting to seriously consider medical marijauna. By the end of it I had lost almost 30 pounds. I have recovered since then and remain NED. I found your site a short time ago and cheer you on and pray for you. I agree with you…no one can imagine how sick and bad you feel until you personally go through it. Good luck with this new little pill and I hope you find more summer beach days to enjoy.
July 25th, 2008 saat: 10:21 am
Holy Cow! From where I stand, you get an A+ for effort and for your willingness to share with those you may help and those who care about you. Thinking about quitting and quitting are two different things. You are not a quitter.
July 26th, 2008 saat: 1:07 pm
A big hug and an A++ from me too!
July 28th, 2008 saat: 2:36 pm
Way to stick with it, study hard, and get extra credit, Kate. You are my inspiration, role model, down-to-earth pal, and just plain cool chick! Looking forward to our next trip, even if it consists of laying around the hotel catching up on RnR…any adventure is more fun with you there.
Kelly
July 28th, 2008 saat: 8:41 pm
Kate, I was diagnosed with PC this past March. I had a distal Pancreatectomy/Splenectomy. I know what ya mean about fluid build up. What a fast track to hell that was! I am on Gemzar now. I want you to know your website has been an inspiration to me, and I check in almost daily to read your clever and entertaining posts.I pray for you and all of us who are in this battle together. You don’t deserve an F…you deserve an A+ for hanging in there. I often promise myself I won’t put myself through any more…but then we keep putting one foot in front of the other and march on in defiance of this sneaky sleasy disease. Enjoy the beach!
Sherri
July 31st, 2008 saat: 9:54 am
I love your writings, Kate… and I’m so sorry to hear that you’ve been having such a rough time with your chemo. Cheering you on from (near-) Boston –
Dorothy
August 15th, 2008 saat: 8:17 am
If you mean an “F” for fabulous, fighting, full of life, formidable you are right.
Hang in there,
Jason
August 19th, 2008 saat: 9:15 am
Hi Kate:
I read your blog posts and always look forward to an update on how you are doing. I hope the nausea and other side effects of your treatments have subsided and you are feeling better.
I’d like to make a suggestion regarding courage and how tough you are. Any time you are having doubts, go to your blog and go back to August, 2007. Start reading forward and read each of your entries and all of the responses.
Your courage, toughness, strength of spirit, determination, sense of humor and your ability to communicate is incredible!
Just think about the many, many people you’ve had a positive impact on through your postings.
Stay strong, keep fighting, and live each day to it’s fullest!
Ken
August 31st, 2008 saat: 8:31 pm
Hope you have a good Labor day holiday Kate. Thinking of you often.
September 2nd, 2008 saat: 10:51 pm
Kate,
Thank you for your nice comment on Sues blog. She started the Xeloda, almost made it through 12 of the 14 day cycle and became quite sick for about 6 days. But she started feeling real good about 5 days after stopping the treatment. Now she is on cycle 2 as of yesterday. The highlight of the week was her getting baptized. This was one of her goals since February. You can read about it on her blog update. We both pray and hope you are doing better. Sue still talks about you often. Thursday is 22 months !! Walter.
September 5th, 2008 saat: 9:13 pm
Just made a donation to PanCan after watching SU2C tonight. Thinking about you.