Plans

I will be starting chemo soon to shrink Sneaky the Sarcoma and the nodules in my lungs. Yes, biopsy results came back and preliminary findings say that the nodules are sarcoma.

The doctors would like to release me but are concerned about my living alone. My baby brother is staying at my house until next weekend. The rehab team is giving me a wheelchair to get around and will schedule s nurse visit every few days. After Jimmy leaves, someone else may come or I may stay at Ken's or Marcy's.

It is hard to process feeling of cancer spreading to my lungs while seriously considering how I will live. Doc strongly suggests that I assume I will not be able to walk for another 6 months. Bleh!

I am exhausted; painkillers and sleeping pills are kicking in.

Location:Dr Martin Luther King Blvd,Camden,United States

Needle Count: 80

Waiting

No, I still haven't heard about the results of the lung biopsy.
I know you are curious. Me, too.

Promise I will share when there is a plan!

Most relaxing day in weeks? Months?

I spent today re-reading my journal, watching bad television and feeling luxuriously relaxed. Besides an orthopedic resident who saw me around midnight, I have not seen any doctors nor had any tests. My body is in less pain than it has been since I was admitted to the hospital on Friday. Yay! I think it's because I haven't had to move too much. My nurses are very attentive and quick when I need support. Rounds are at 6 am and I will meet my team then.

My parents are coming to visit this weekend. Other folks have shared that they'd like to come, too. If you want to visit, that's great! Please check in with me first so that I don't overwhelm or exhaust myself and to make sure I am not in testing.

Love to everyone. Hooray for the doctors who figured out my pain drug regimen. It is easier for me to be hopeful when I am clean, in fresh clothes, pain free, and relaxed.

My, what a busy day!

This morning, two members of the physical therapy team assessed me at 6:45am. After that, I had a fairly constant stream of visitors for the next 5 hours. The nurse gave me a strong painkiller. Each member of my medical oncology team spoke with me individually about transferring to Cooper University Hospital for treatment by the renowned Dr. Lackman. The hospital chaplain visited with me for an hour; we had a lovely conversation about hope and joy. He reminded me of grandpa and I reminded him of his younger sister. Meanwhile, the nurses and nursing aides continued to check on me. The medical oncology team visited together and announced (again) that I would definitely be transferred to Cooper University Hospital (3 miles away in  lovely Camden) and that Dr. Lackman had committed to treating me. Yay! The nurse set about the process of transferring me.

I had not eaten or drank anything since Midnight Tuesday in preparation for the lung biopsy. Transportation got me to the CT area around 1:30; waiting for the biopsy team was my first break from everyone. It was blissful! Hospitals are terrible places to rest.  I cheerfully recognized one particularly calming nurse on the team from the last time the cyst was drained. Apparently they gave me a lot of sedatives, because I don't recall too much until I got back to my room. Athena, Susan (family counselor), Rachel & 2 year old Elsa, Monica, and Elizabeth visited with me as I devoured my lunch. I also had another flower bouquet. Yay!

The rest of the day  consisted of telling other people the transfer plans and waiting for a clean room at Cooper. My cousins Dino and James and Ken entertained me with stories as we waited for the ambulance. Ken trailed the ambulance to help me settle into my room while everyone else headed home. At Cooper, I have my own room and it has windows, lots more chairs, a big tv in front of the bed (instead of a tiny one slightly behind it). I think I am going to like it here. 

Needle Count: 78

Home again!

Yesterday, I got to leave the hospital with Athena and go to my south Philly apartment.  I had done well in Pt: I walked down the hallway, up and down a flight of stairs (with a cane) and back to my room. Then, the PT got crutches, and I did the same thing again, only I didn't go as far up the steps.  It was awesome, especially given that I had difficulty walking to the hallway and back in my first PT a few days before.

Lumpy 2 was full of necrotic fat cells, cell debris, and blood clots. Eew! In the hospital I got 2 shots of blood thinners in my belly every day, to help prevent further blood clots. At home, I have to take aspirin twice a day.

I had an appointment at radiation oncology yesterday morning,also. Because that department is in the first floor of the same hospital, I thought someone could just give me a wheelchair to help me go. Apparently, that's not how it worked at all. My Radiationn Oncologist came up to my hospital room.  She and another doctor explained that my initial appointment would be 8/ 23 and that daily radiation would start a week later and last for 6 or 7 weeks.  Dr K said she had consulted with my oncologist and they would like me to get the nodules in my lung biopsied as soon as possible.