Two Years

Tomorrow is the second anniversary of my diagnosis. Two Years!!! Sometimes I just cannot believe this is my life.

We had a pretty crazy June, but the weather has been very nice and I have been spending a lot of time sitting on the porch. I really like the porch. I have been working hard on trying to get the insurance company to support my Vitamin C therapy. Lots of paperwork, phone calls, negotiating, begging, crying - and the porch has become my office area. Depending on where I sit I can watch the neighborhood (true Alice Kravits style) or I can hide and avoid detection - just depends on my mood.

Two weeks ago I came down with another infection and after a visit with the doctor last Thursday to remove my stents, I have been feeling really, really good. The low grade infection that kept recurring was really dragging me down. And then this past Monday, I had a visit with the oncologist and then my fifth chemo treatment of doxil. My CA125 is up to 110, doubled since last month.

I hate the CA125. I hate the anticipation of the test, the anxiety, the fear, but it is the standard used by the oncologist to determine if there is possible cancer activity going on in my abdomen. BUT...the CA125 can also be influenced by irritation in the abdomen unrelated to the cancer, like infection. So, my hope is that the increased number is indicative of the urinary tract infection and not new cancer growth. It is either one or the other. So, in two weeks time, we will repeat the CA125 and then I will have a CTscan. The roller coaster is warming up and will be leaving the station soon.

So, the Fourth of July holiday is not a very exciting time for me. It certainly is a memorable time, but I think I will spend the day following my family's lead. The kids will surely want to set off something explosive and I know the dogs will be a little skittish and I feel a little Alice Kravits time coming on.....