Day 146: The Final Countdown

The only music I seem to have in my head these days is the cheesy song by the synth, hair-rock band Europe called "The Final Countdown."  See their photo below.  This is not the soundtrack I want to have as I cross the chemo finish line, but I can't help what has been programmed into my brain after years of listening to bad Top 40 radio stations during my youth in the 1980s.

Europe.   I wish these guys would just get out of my head!

ONLY ONE MORE TO GO!
I just finished my seventh chemo treatment on Thursday.  Only one more treatment to go - I can hardly wait!  I am really looking forward to getting my old energy level back and feeling a litte more like a member of the living.  These past seven treatments have put me through the ringer more than many people realize. Even though I'm out and about and I fix myself up for work, family, and social events, I still haven't really felt that well. So, I am looking forward to having a healthy body back!

As per my typical self, I had a pretty busy schedule over the last couple of weeks.  I'll talk about some of the things I did below but the best news by far was that when I went back in for my seventh treatment, my blood counts were better.  I am still on track for getting my very last chemotherapy treatment on May 5th. Woo hoo!

My sister, Suzy, joined me for this past session.  Afterwards, we lunched at RL restaurant and then hung out at my place for a bit. Here's a snapshot from our lunch. Thanks, sis!

Bonnie G Coming to a TV Program Near You...
On Friday, I was interviewed in my home by WGN on early cancer detection.  The show will air in a couple of weeks and I'll be sure to update you on when it will be on the air.

Great Books & Keeping up the Healthy Way of Life
I am a pretty healthy person. I try not to eat too many animal products and, when I do, I try and eat grass fed farm-raised products.  The book "Omnivore's Dilemma" opened my eyes to the ugliness of industrial farming and the toxicity in our food that is sanctioned by the FDA.  I read this book over three years ago and have drastically changed my eating habits since then.

Since discovering I had cancer, I have been extra conscious of what I eat. But there are also a slew of books out there on how to treat your body to prevent cancer from recurring.  This past week I zipped through a tremendous book called, "Anti Cancer: A New Way of Life" by David Servan-Schreiber, a seven year brain cancer survivor and an MD. 

Servan Schreiber talks about what fuels the growth of cancer cells and, in combination with conventional methods of surgery and chemotherapy, how to combine that with cancer fighting foods that can cut off the source of supply to cancer cells.  It's also just a more intellectual way to remind us all to eat more broccoli and drink green tea!  Just look at how beautiful these photos are!

Art and Easter.  A Perfect Combination
Saturday, Joe and I went to the Smart Museum at the University of Chicago to check out a beautiful Rothko painting and then met up with friends Robyn and Drew at the MDW Art Fair.   It was an impressive warehouse full of galleries and DIY artist shows in an out of the way neighborhood near the Back of the Yards on Iron Street.  For my information on this show, you can read about it at: http://mdwfair.org/

Joe and I saw one particular painting we are enamoured with by an artist named Ann Toebbe.  We are still talking about potentially purchasing this gem.   The image below does not do it justice.

Ann Toebbe's "Ich Weiss Nicht Mehr Genau"

Easter & Family
On Sunday, we headed to Wheaton to see my family.  We were a little late and missed the Easter Egg Hunt.  I am sad that I missed watching my nieces hunt for Easter eggs, but it sounds like some of the squirrels got to them first!

Two of my five nieces.  Aren't they cute?!

Me and Mom.  How lucky am I to have such an elegant mother?!

Joe and I in the Vermeer lighting of my parents' living room

It's Sunday night ane Joe and I are about to head into our den to watch "Upstairs Downstairs" on Masterpiece Theater. What joy these BBC dramas give us in our little corner of the world.  Why can't all drama be this good?  I don't know the answer to that question.  All I know is that we love to get lost in the drama that makes up 165 Eaton Place. Thank you, Jean Marsh and Eileen Atkins, for creating such a wonderful setting for such a wonderful production.

The cast of the new "Upstairs Downstairs"

You'll be hearing back from me in a couple of weeks after my chemotherapy treatment is over!

In the meantime, my very favorite day of the year will pass: May 1st.  MAY DAY!  The celebration of spring and a great excuse to shower everyone with flowers. That is next Sunday. Let's hope it's a beautiful, sunny day.

Peace and Love and Joy and Health...and Hope!

- Bonnie

Day 137: Low Blood Cell Count = Low Spirits

For the last week or so, I have apparently been suffering from an acute case of "Neutropenia" and all I can think of is the 1973 rock opera "Quadrophenia" by The Who.  I never knew what the word quadrophenia meant before last week (it is a term misused to describe schizophrenia) -- and, to be honest, I wish I never knew what the word neutropenia meant either.

This past chemotherapy treatment cycle was the absolute worst thus far.  I was all set up and ready to get my SIXTH treatment (as in, 3/4 of the way done!) and while I was waiting in the chemo infusion room, the nurse came in to tell me that my blood counts were extremely low this cycle.  Specifically, my "neutrophil" levels were at around 800, compared with the low end of the range which should be closer to 1,500, so mine were half of the low-end of the range. 

I know, I know. Your next question is "Bonnie, what in the heck is a neutrophil?"  And, of course, me having never taken chemistry in my life and only having taken 7th grade biology (somehow I slipped under the radar of science requirements in high school & college), I had to look this up on Wikipedia.  The only English explanation I could cull from the scientific description was the following:

Neutrophils are the most abundant type of white blood cells in mammals and form an essential part of the innate immune system.  Low neutrophil counts are termed neutropenia. This can be congenital (genetic disorder) or it can develop later, as in the case of aplastic anemia or some kinds of leukemia. It can also be a side-effect of medication, most prominently chemotherapy. Neutropenia makes an individual highly susceptible to infections.

Translation: Low Neutrophils = Neutropenia = high probably for infection, sickness, etc.

No wonder I had been pretty tired leading up to chemo.

So, my doctor almost halted my infusion that day, but fortunately decided to keep me on track and give me the treatment on the condition that I came back in the next day to get a "booster" shot that creates new white blood cells (an aside: this "booster" is called Neulasta and costs $8,000 per shot - I am so happy I have insurance). 

Today is exactly one week following my treatment, so here I am seven days later and I am finally starting to feel better.  The real crux of the problem is that the combination of the Neulasta shot and my chemo drug, Taxol, caused some bad side effects for me.  Neulasta prompts your body to create new white blood cells, which are made in the bone marrow.  And, Taxol, has a side effect of bone pain as well, so the impact is compounded.  So, for the last week my bones were in extreme pain.  I was also exhausted and felt pretty run down.  I wasn't able to work out and I was exhausted every day.  Of course, I felt okay walking out of the chemo treatment, but after I got the Neulasta shot the following day, I was pretty much out for the count.

Hopefully when I go back in for my penultimate treatment next Thursday my counts will be high enough for me to avoid that booster shot.

I want to thank my sister Colleen, brother Bob, and my dear friend Brian for hanging out with me during parts of my treatment last week.  It was really fun to have you all there at different times during the day. 

Positive in the Face of Cancer: New Friends
So, the one upside I have experienced about having cancer is that I have been able to meet some amazing, amazing women through this process who are also breast cancer survivors.  One of the people I have met if named Tiffany.  My fertility navigator, Kristin Smith (who is also amazing!) referred me to her as a resource when I was diagnosed. Tiffany is 29 years old, was diagnosed last year at the age of 28 and has been through almost everything I have been through, only a few months earlier.  She is such a trooper and is beautiful, athletic, and has a great attitude.  She was recently interviewed by the Chicago Sun Times on the topic of oncofertility and I am pasting the link below. It's a quick read - plus, there's a picture of Tiffany and her husband Dave!  But, I also want to say that I think the article is a bit of a downer about her chances of having kids. I mean, Tiffany and Dave have more than a "slim chance" of having their own children, in my opinion.
Link to article on oncofertility

Night at the Museum: An Evening for Young Adults Touched by Cancer
The evening of my chemo treatment, I attended the new Bodyworlds exhibit at the Museum of Science and Industry with my friend and parallel universe cancer survivor, Heather.  It definitely lifted my spirits. My doctors, my new cancer surivior network of friends, and lots of other inspirational people where there.  Here's a picture of me and Heather at this event.  It was fun running into a lot of people there -- all who are so upbeat, supportive, and cool.

All's Well that Ends Well

I seem to be doing pretty well now, but I shudder to think about what may lie ahead for me next week at treatment.  Let's hope these little quadropheliac neutrophils are back on track by then. 

More later.

Peace and Love and Health and Joy.