December 2, 2022

It has been a crazy two days. Yesterday was my first consultation with the Vancouver Cancer Clinic. So much information – Pat and I were both scrambling to make notes as he gave us the information. I have a long road ahead of me – a year to 14 months. There will be three series of chemo treatments; the first will be every 2 weeks for four cycles, then a second series every three weeks for four cycles, and finally another one every three weeks for thirteen cycles. These will be followed, or interrupted, by radiation for an unknown number of treatments.

Obviously there are side effects. I’ll lose my hair after only a few weeks of treatment but it will grow back. I will experience fatigue and nausea (usually no vomiting) but I’ll take anti-nausea drugs to help with that. The other thing I’ve heard about is “chemo brain” and after today I think I might have early onset.

We thought I needed the echocardiogram before I could start treatments but when I talked to the hospital this morning it doesn’t need to be in place until the start of the second series of chemo so there is a chance I can start treatments next week, or at least very soon. The echocardiogram was to have been done locally but the technician here is away so now I’ll have to go to Comox for that.

I have my bone scan appointment set up for Monday in Comox and I’m trying to get the echocardiogram for the same day. No one is answering the phone or returning my call – so I wait and hope it doesn’t mean another trip across to the Island on another day. Fortunately Pat remembered we needed the TAP (Travel Assistance) form for our free ferry trip; we had to get it from Oncology before they closed at 2:15. And then I realized that the 12 Days packages wouldn’t get out until Tuesday unless they went out today so Pat made another trip to take them to the Post Office. It has been snowing all day but fortunately the roads are clear.

I also got a call from the hospital to set up an appointment for my X-Ray. What X-Ray? I explained that I thought I was to have a CT scan, not an X-Ray, so she had to check back with Oncology to see what the mix-up was. Again I’m waiting to hear from somebody about this. 

The appointment in Vancouver in mid-January is with the radiologist regarding the radiation treatments. Pat and I are hoping we can do this by teleconference but we’ve heard nothing yet. I think we made a good case – 5 hours down and 5 hours back, and possible issues with two ferries, all for a one hour appointment.

There isn’t much I can do but wait for someone else to do what they need to do. But I’m getting my hair cut tomorrow; our thought is that when it starts to fall out it will be less mess if it is shorter. I’m not quite ready yet for the buzz cut that will come later.

Wednesday, November 30, 2022

I didn’t quite manage to have all my packages in the mail by the first of December but I’m close. I finished up the last of the projects this afternoon and I’ll try to get all the wrapping finished tonight.

We were up about five this morning; I thought there might have been a hurricane going on outside the door. It turned out to be high winds that were blowing sleet directly onto the front windows. I don’t think I’ve ever seen such a storm. The power flickered just enough to shut down our computers but the rest of the electronics were okay. We both went back to bed and I actually was able to sleep until seven. The first word from BC Ferries was that all the ferries, with the exception of the evening run, would be cancelled because of crew shortages but they managed to get the crew they needed for the noon and afternoon runs.

Before starting on my sewing for the day I collected all my knitted and crocheted donations so they can be dropped off at the Salvation Army. I have a bit more yarn that I’m going to use for some of my own projects but as far as I know I don’t have any extra yarn to use for donation. I do, however, have a lot of crochet cotton so I’ll be on the lookout for something to use that for (other than the curtains I already have started and may never finish).

I have all the necessary items sorted for my phone appointment tomorrow. I also have a list of questions and I’ll be looking forward to getting some answers, if that is possible.

This afternoon we watched Alex’s curling game on YouTube. We’ve seen the last end of one game and two full games. The teams may not be professional but they do make some good shots – we’re very impressed with Alex’s shots (and not just because he’s our grandson). During one of his games I got my time in on the treadmill but today I was busy stitching down binding. It didn’t go very quickly though as I have my glasses off to do the stitching and about every six stitches I need to put my glasses back on so I can see the shots.

Pat has an online performance tonight so while I’m busy wrapping and packing I’ll listen in.

Tuesday, November 29, 2022

We had a lovely weekend on Texada. Although we thought we had planned perfectly it turns out the Cancer Clinic in Vancouver is very responsive to referrals. We were nicely settled in with a fire going Friday morning when a call came through on Pat’s cell. Our coverage over there isn’t great but we managed to get the details on some upcoming appointments before the call dropped. They had left two messages at home before they found the cell number and I’m so glad it worked. It seems if the phone sits on the counter by the sink it will ring and if you walk over to the window in the living room you can actually talk and be heard! Other places you might hear it ring but not be heard or you won’t hear the ring at all.

While I sat in front of the fire I finished a lot of things for my 12 Days packages. I’m working now on the very last piece and I hope to have everything wrapped ready for the mail on Thursday. We went out late yesterday afternoon and I was able to pick up the last items I needed for birthdays and Christmas packages. I’m waiting on a package from amazon and then all the gifts will be ready to go.

I sometimes listen to Christmas music when I’m working on Christmas gifts but this year I’ve been obsessed with my African safaris. Today it is snowing out so I decided it seemed more fitting to be listening to winter carols than to be driving around in Africa.

I decided to get back to my scheduled cleaning tasks today. I did three loads of laundry and cleaned two bathrooms, including scrubbing the floors. Both Christy and Kathryn took care of some cleaning when they were here but it was time to do it again. It’s the first time I’ve swept and scrubbed (Pat has been handling the sweeping and vacuuming) since my surgery and it didn’t hurt at all. I guess that means vacuuming will be in my future.

But for the rest of the day I’ll get back to my quilting.

Thursday, November 24, 2022

Although I’m almost finished my Christmas shopping I can’t help but admire all the neat stocking stuffers that arrive on my Facebook feed. I keep thinking I should add them to my list for next year.

When I search for the websites the ads are coming from something called ScamAdvisor.com always seems top of the search results. This would seem to be a legitimate way to verify those “perfect stocking stuffers”. And, sadly, in all cases so far the websites are listed as untrustworthy.

On a happier note I searched the site for myowncreations.com and I’m 100% trustworthy!