Continuing Avastin
Chemotherapy October 2nd, 2009
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Just a quick update. I am continuing with my bi-weekly avastin infusions and they are going fine. I will have an MRI coming up in the middle of October – yet to be scheduled. Walking into the infusion center every two weeks is always a bit sad on several fronts. I typically pray for many people in there. I’m blessed to be in the position that I am with a GBM. So many people in there are just at the end of the road. It’s their time but I take comfort in knowing that this is God’s plan for them. Many of them smile and have joy in their eyes, still. Others are just very tired. I pray for all of them though. The team there is very good – they really know how to take care of their patients.
I am noticing over the past month or so that my memory is slipping a bit. It’s all short-term memory. I use my iPhone constantly. Examples – I’ll set a meeting for a Thursday and someone will tell me they can make it on Thursday (this will be on a Wednesday for sake of discussion). I’ll reply “oh, the meeting I set up is on Friday, not tomorrow?”. With confusion showing on their face, they’ll say no, it was Thursday. I’ll say ok, you’re probably right and I’ll double check my calendar. Or, I’ll ask someone on Tuesday who’s playing on Monday Night Football and of course if was “last night” because I’m asking on Tuesday! Dumb stuff! People say that they themselves do that all the time but I know radiation is catching up to me. My neuro-oncologist has noticed – and I’ve missed some appointments with a therapist I use for support as a result.
The positive? This doesn’t affect my professional life. I am laser-focused at work. I may let a few meeting times slip, but I have audible alarms and other means to stay on top of everything. I’ve also found some great brain teaser type of game for the eye phone that build up cognitive endurance. Between that and my professional life, I’m getting along just fine. It’s something that is evident to me now is all. It is what it is and I am taking steps to work on it. Just like physical therapy that I have every week, I have to work on this, too. Sometimes it feels a bit overwhelming – so much to do! However, this thinking goes back to living in today and, sometimes, just in the moment. I can choose not to fill myself with everything at once. Right now, I’m just posting this to my blog, period. That’s it. And I’m enjoying it!
Next week is an off week for treatment. I’m still having seizures – had one over the weekend last weekend but they are very minor. I’ve had so many minor seizures that I can walk through those just fine. I will say that the first few seizures after the large seizure back 4-6 weeks ago concerned me in the beginning. I wasn’t sure if they would evolve into something more significant but they haven’t.
Kids are great and Rachael is doing well.
I had to put this pic in here. Rachael took this of Keegan at a park and he looked so happy! She told me that 5 seconds before this a little girl was looking through the same window and he bonked her on the head so he could get in there. Bully. He apologized after the picture.
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Great post. Cute photo! I find it touching that you pray for others, when you have your own needs. God bless you!
As for your short term memory issues, that sounds like Chemo Brain/Brain Fog to me. It is a common side effect of treatment. My husband has experienced that. Here are some suggestions: 1) Take notes. Keep a pocket size memo book on you at all times. 2) Another option is a pocket size tape recorder. You might find it easier to state your thoughts than write them. For my husband, it was the other way around.
3) To exercise your cognition, do word puzzles: crossword, word search and/or Suduko. Be sure to stop and give your brain a break…especially if you are tired or become frustrated.
4) Research what you can on short term memory loss in Cancer for more tips.
I continue to enjoy your blog and wish you the best of luck!
Hey Mark, great to hear from you again. I know the feeling you get when you go into the infusion center. We have been going every 2 wks since April 1st. I look around and see some familar and new faces. But 1 things for sure, everyone is sick. I immediately say a prayer for everyone including my husband, Marc. We had a support group meeting a few weeks ago and our main topic was memory. We have 5 brain cancer patients in our group and we are all very close. We are a family. It seems everyone has short term memory loss. I personally think the radiation has a lot to do with it. But there are certainly alot of other factors. Its great you are working and that iphone is a wonderful gadget. Keegan is adorable. Thanks for the post and I look forward to the next. We are in limbo now waiting for Marc’s latest MRI scan results. We have an appt on Tues w/our Neuro-Oncologist. Marc is not as anxious as I am.
I have a few quotes that I posted recently on my Facebook page. “How much of human life is lost in waiting?” by Ralph Waldo Emerson and “It is strange…that the years teach us patience; that the shorter our time, the greater our capacity for waiting.” by Elizabeth Taylor.
Stacey – Baton Rouge, LA