Whoopee

Five tough games of Pickleball under my belt this morning and although I am a little tired, I am not wiped out. I really have to feel that this treatment is working for me to come back so fast after all of those IL-2 doses in Cycle 5. Back in the hospital on Tuesday for Cycle 6. Then I am done!!!

Pinch me...is this real??

Just got a call from my oncologist and all of my blood tests (even the kidney function test) are back in the normal range. That has never happened before in cycles 1-4. I am elated that all organ systems have weathered the on-slot of 10 doses of IL-2. Raise a glass and celebrate for me!!

Apologies to all. So sorry for not posting for the last few days but all my available energy has been spent on being with my 4 adorable grandchildren and the rest of the family. One night I even fell asleep and never finished getting undressed. Wish I had had a camera with me yesterday. Dash and Kai were walking ahead of me around the block, and they began holding hands. From the back it looked like the best of a Hallmark card. It brought tears to my eyes. Caption:"Best Friends Forever"

But the big news is that I am home in Corvallis!! Tired but doing very well. My appetite is back and my mouth sores going away. Waiting to hear the results of my blood tests and hope that all the rest is progressing back to normal.

Going Home

It is only Saturday and they are letting me go back to Becca's. Every doctor is flabbergasted how well I have done this week....the number of doses and the less severe side effects. I did have a bit of a set back last night with a nasty bout of diarrhea that the nurses and I thought might keep me from going home today, but luckily that was not the case. I will be outside just in time to celebrate the hottest day of the year in Portland...92. Really looking forward to a couple of days with all the kids before I go home.

Photographic Evidence

Becca here...

Mom is intent on proving to Catherine that Max exists in his full big smiles and muscles glory. Funnily enough, she almost wasn't able to disprove Catherine's theory that he was made up. Earlier in the day she has snapped a pic of him with her camera but when we went to download it he had disappeared all vampire-like. Luckily we were able to track him down and give technology another go. So there you are Catherine... :-)

Just like Max, some of Mom's side effects began to reappear as soon as Catherine left. (Maybe she should have just permanently stayed ;-) ). It started with a rough night: between a bad reaction to benedryl and a broken/beeping pump I don't think either Mom or Amy slept a wink.

Couple that with a shot of Demerol after an episode of chills/rigors and Mom got to entertain me yet again with a totally loopy, slushy-mouthed, falling asleep every couple of words conversation. Katie (one of our favorite nurses) and I passed the time for a awhile comparing nonsensical things that she had said to each of us that morning. But by mid-afternoon she was pretty much back to her clear-headed self, other than the effects of exhaustion.

The return of the diarrhea was more of a bummer, but even that was much better behaved than in past cycles. And her BP, though lower than normal obviously (99/44 or so) kept steady.

She had her 7 am dose but then they held off at 3 pm. Amazingly Katie thinks she'll still get one or two more this week which would either tie her for the most or be the most she's received in any cycle. So much for stopping early this cycle!! Amazing what coming back to this at full strength can do.

Hopefully tomorrow is more of the same.

8 for 10 of 14 doses. Amazing.

7/7/14

Catherine here ... again! Molly just completed 7 doses out of 7 (the max she received last time). Only this time she is doing terrific!! I have come to the conclusion that all these side effects Molly has 'experienced' before are an illusion, as I see no evidence of these thus far. Much like her story of this wonderful, gorgeous male nurse who has cared for her before (also a no-show while I've been here!!). Molly's blood pressure continues to hold quite well (one dip this afternoon), but good enough to go for 8 out of 8 this evening. All other side effects so far have been well-managed, and Molly's mind has never been more clear. She's strong, focused, and her humor is at key pitch! So - keep those good thoughts and prayers coming ...

Amy B. takes over here at the hospital with Molly from this point on (what a delight she is as well). More good news to come I am sure....

Molly's Guardians

This is Catherine Mater typing for Molly, and I think Molly's Guardians are doing a terrific job, indeed!! So - I came on Monday, expecting to be put through the grill - as we all know that each time Molly goes through a session it just seems to get more difficult for her. The big surprise (at least for me) is that Molly is doing really (almost unexpectedly) well. She's been able to sleep (she says the best sleep she's ever had going through these sessions); has eaten regularly (with little or no side effects); has had only one minor episode of chills (which were controlled within a half an hour); and has managed to keep her temp within very reasonable range (no higher than 99.3). No bouts of diarrhea (amazingly!!!) The staff here at the hospital is truly amazing .... not a mean one in the bunch; great personalities! The one thing we are really watching right now is her blood pressure - results which will determine whether she gets her fifth dose this evening. So - 4 for 4 so far and doing great (as only Molly can do!).

Remembering Stefan

Today is the 7th anniversary of my husband's Stefan's death from colon cancer. It seems strange that I am beginning treatment on this day at the same hospital he was in with some of the same nurses. I look back and remember all the wonderful times we had together and take inspiration from how Stefan faced his illness with such courage and a wonderful sense of humor. I feel that he is with me in my room, cheering me on in this fight.

Starting Cycle 5 of IL-2 on Monday

I am heading off to the hospital on Monday for cycle 5. I feel stronger than I have in a long time and hope that will help me get through these two rounds with minimal side effects and to be able to have more doses of IL-2. Keep me in your thoughts and prayers and send me all the healing blue energy that you can. I have a positive feeling that doing these remaining rounds will have the desired effect of fighting off the melanoma for the time being. Becca is back from her month in Europe and will keep you all up-to-date with her wonderful posts.

Thanks to all of you for being such wonderful, caring friends.

Reasons for a Happy Birthday

Today is my 67th birthday. Ten years ago few people thought I would make it to my 60th birthday and here I am 10 years later doing well. It has been 10 years of great sorrow and joy. Sorrow in the loss of the two men in my life who loved me unconditionally but joy in the marriage of my two children to terrific spouses and the births of four beautiful grandchildren.

Through all of this, I have had so much to be grateful for.....my skilled doctors and to the medical researchers who have developed more and more effective treatments for melanoma, my incredible children who have become friends and invaluable advocates and sounding boards, and all my dear friends around the globe who have supported me, sent me love, healing thoughts and understanding, and have readily volunteered to cared for me at my worst.

It is hard to believe but I am also grateful to this terrible disease for teaching me so many things...to live mindfully and laugh often, to appreciate the smallest joys in life, to realize that I have lived a life that has touched people in so many ways that I never imagined, and to see that I have within me the courage, strength and will to persevere through whatever life has to throw at me.

Thank you all for enriching my life!!

Just back from Hawaii

Just back from a wonderful week on Maui with Jon, Lori, Dash and Finley. We stayed at Hanua Kai Resort in Lahaina. It was a perfect place for all of us: 2-bedroom condo with kitchen, Kid friendly swimming pools and a lovely beach. Most of the week was very windy (15-25 mph trade winds) but that kept things cooler and didn't keep us from the pool or beach. I was amazed at my ability to keep up with a very active 3-year-old and not be completely exhausted at the end of the day. I played golf once and was pleased that I played well and outscored the father and son that I was partnered with. My favorite part of the trip was from 6 to 7 am when Dash climbed in bed with me and we snuggled and pretended in our bed "tent".