Hi Everyone;
Here is last weeks update and a brief overview of what's to come this week. Last week, I received a visit for my friend Catherine from DePaul University and she brought two beautiful hats from the class, where I was teaching before I found out I had cancer. It warmed my heart and head, to know the love that went into choosing colors and designs and the perfect hats to fit my life style. I am so thankful for wonderful friends and colleagues in education.
I had Chemo on Tuesday and this time we started steroids in advance. This helped a little with the joint pain; it took the edge off but not all the way. I am losing feeling in my finger tips and toes and the bottom of my feet. It feels like they are going to sleep all the time. Makes it very difficult to type and walk. I spend a great deal of time taking 3 to 4 Epson salt baths to relieve the discomfort. Also, I slept 12 to 18 hours a day, extremely fatigued. However, today I feel more alert, thank goodness.
My hair is gone and its not so bad but I did have a hard time when it finally started coming out in clumps and I asked Don to shave it down (yep, back on the deck we went) Hilarious I am sure for the neighbors to view. One good thing, I don't have to shave my legs or my armpits, heheheheheh. Crazy I did not consider all the hair when the nurse said body hair too. What was I thinking...hehehehehe
On Saturday, March 28, we celebrated my grandson's Donny's (Meg and Dave little boy) 3rd Birthday, he had so much fun with family and friends. I could not stay long as fatigue set in and Don drove me home for a 4 hour nap. On Sunday, my neighbors had a pot luck dinner for me and it was so nice to see everyone and get out of the house for a couple of hours. I had to leave to take another nap. Linda and Kelly hosted this party despite our side of the street was without electricity for 9 hours. The creativity of the neighbors from BBQ in the snow (yes it snowed yesterday) to ordering out. My appreciation runs deeper than words can express to the kindness from everyone.
Tomorrow I have several tests to undergo; Mammogram and Bone density scan, blood work, etc. also, I am going to try and make class at DeVry University. It is the last class for incoming adjunct faculty to become certified with DeVry. I am truly excited as I am scheduled to teach classes this summer (if I get released from my doctors). I hope so.
I am also hoping to have lunch with a friend on Thursday and my brother and sister-in-law are visiting on Saturday. My sister Mary is visiting on Monday. I look forward to the visits.
Beginning this weekend begins the down cycle of white blood count, this time I/we will be extra-extra careful so I do not end up in the hospital again in isolation.
How are things with each of you? Take care my dear family and friends and know I think of you often. I truly appreciate you entertaining me with reading my blog,as it does help me therapeutic wise and provides a snapshot of my disease. And I love receiving comments as it provides me a glimpse into your life. So tell me what you are doing to keep busy these days?
With love,
Margie

Hi Evertone:
We received good news at my Chemo treatment Yesterday and wanted to share with each of you as soon as possible.I am doing very well. The test CA 125 (the indicator for the presence of Ovarian cancer) showed in Feb prior to surgery, 2600; the ideal norm is 30, yes 30.... Therefore, mine proved a clear indication for cancer presence, in late Feb after surgery CA 125 showed the amount going down to 1700; today the great news is it is down to 250... awesome translation 1st round of chemo is doing its job!!!! I am so excited and pumped over this news. One day at a time! And Yes we will take those numbers going down. This is the first test indicating the fight is progressing nicely and I am kicking butt (with the strength of family and friends behind me)!I am on another steroids dosage pack to help with the joint pains in advance and hopefully will not be as bad as the last treatment because I know what to expect as well as the steroids. My hair is almost completely gone on my head and my eyelashes and eyebrows and nose hair (yes I said nose hair) and body hair Legs and arms are all thinning. All good signs the chemo is working. I received 2 beautiful hats from Co-Hort 5, Catherine saw me model them and both hats fit great and look great as well. Also, a meditation CD from Fr Tim was added to the goody bag and a beautiful card which I will keep as I reviw my cards often to gain the strenth and support I need from time to time. My many thanks to everyone for your generous kindness to me. I look forward to re-joining the class next session. Don, my husband of 32 years, continues to be my strength, my Chauffeur, my Chef, my handyman, my best friend, my everything. This disease as awful as it is, Don and I have shared more life experiences than most people face in a lifetime. I am truly blessed to have a wonderful husband and children who love and support me in all they do for me.This past week, with the support of my children; Meg painted our master bedroom, something I have been wanting to accomplish for about 6 months; it pays to procrastinate a little, hehehehehehe. And Dave, Meg's husband, replaced 2 hallow core doors with 2 solid wood doors upstairs. Don has replaced 3 leaving 1 more to go. It is looking beautiful, I must say everyone did a great job. My other daughter Maureen (Moe for short) watched Donny (Meg and Dave son) to accomplish this, I watched Little Moe ( Meg and Dave's daughter, as much as I could) and my daughter, Michelle, drove me around shopping and my son, Sean, hung all the drapes. It was a huge family affair to get things done and coordinated. Thanks to my family!Well, that it for now and I will try and keep everyone updated as much as possible and keep those 'mindless chatter' e-mails coming as I said it takes me into your world for a few minutes and I love catching up with you.
Love,
Margie

7 March 2009
Good Early Morning to Everyone;
Don and I were able to get out on Thursday, when the weather reached 64 degrees, the first time in months anyone in Chicago has seen a temperature rise above freezing. On our walk we saw some neighbors after all of us hibernated all winter. I love stoppoing and talking to each person along the way. We walked a little further, to our daughter Michelle house, and then back home. It was wonderful to get out and feel the sun warm blanket around us.
It is around 3:30am on the 4th day after chemo and the joint pain has decreased to a tolerance of highly annoying. It feels much like have aches and pains from the flu in your joints and all over but magnified 100 times. I am on steroids to help reduce the inflammation and joint pain and that seems to be taking the edge off the discomfort. I feel pretty good outside of the joint pain. I picture little PAC MEN (I know, showing my age by visualizing PAC MEN) munching away at the nasty cancer and leaving my body with each achy joint.
It appears my sleep pattern is a bit off these past few days as well. Therefore, I thought a few sentences of mindless chatter would help pass along the time. I hope everyone is well and drop a line on the blog. I would love to hear from each of you. I am grateful to the love and support from everyone.
Love, Margie

Hi Everyone:
I started chemo yesterday. A long day about 7 hours in total, next treatment will be longer about 8 - 81/2 hours. I have weekly Doctors appointment and lab work as well chemo treatments. I must say they keep me busy and watch me very closely.
My assigned nurse is fantastic and the best part is we know each other. So we have another connection/bond with caring through chemo therapy. I was placed on steroids beginning on Monday evening and again on Tuesday prior to the chemo. Well, if you thought I was chatty before, OMG I talked my daughter Meghann’s ear off until 9:30pm last night. I am usually in bed by 7:30-8:00pm. Heheehe I was talking so fast she laughed and said its ok Mom.
The symptoms I have is being a bit flushed (red faced) today and a unsettled tummy. Don and I plan on going for a walk today as my medical team recommend small amount of exercise as they find this to be helpful during treatment. In the next 7 to 10 days it will be a bit of roller coaster, therefore, I thought I would let you know now what is going on because usually I withdraw a bit when I am not feeling well. So please don’t take offense if I am unable to respond to individual e-mail or posting. But I think my kids will be keeping the page updated and the blog.
Love to all of you and thanks for the prayers, well wishes and most of all your love and friendship.
Margie