(posted by Greg)
The weather has made it harder for Monica and I to do our walkabouts but we are still getting out a bit. A friend invited us to attend a "Metaphysical Coffee House" at the Unity Church in Vancouver. Monica and I went and had a great evening out. We had an opportunity to visit with our friend and the entertainment was really great. I continue to be impressed by the quality of artists, musicians and actors in the city.
Today, Monica is going to get her hair cut. While there are still a couple of "thin"spots (but who I am to comment on hair), it has grown back in quite well and is in need of a trim.
Even though we won't be having the Bev treatments every two weeks, our medical appointment calendar is still quite full. We have 4 physio sessions before Xmas, a visit to the family doctor (who, hopefully, will be able to take Monica off the blood pressure medicine which she was taking because of the effects of the Bev treatments), a visit to G.F. Strong to evaluate the botox treatment and two visits to InspireHealth. We have already been assigned follow-visits with the oncologist in February.
I have booked the visits to InspireHealth with a nutritionist and with Monica's physician there. I have been made aware of a diet called the Restricted Ketogenic Diet that I am interested in exploring. The Ketogenic Diet (a very high fat to protein and carb ratio) has been used for many years to control seizures in children. Some researchers suggest that trials with cancer patients with gioblastoma tumours (Monica's type) should be held. [The theory is that the growth of tumour cells is restricted because they can't use the ketones produced by the diet for energy.] I am considering suggesting to Monica that she try this diet but first want to discuss this diet with the people at InspireHealth to ensure that it is done properly (and with any necessary help or supervision) and to ensure that it does not conflict with the medications and supplements that Monica takes. There will probably be more to follow on this subject.
Wednesday, November 21, 2012
Wednesday, November 14, 2012
Wednesday, November 14, 2012
(posted by Greg)
A busy week for Monica and I this week. Yesterday, Monica had to go the Cancer Agency .Lab for a urine test. Today we there again. We went at 9:00 for a Bev Treatment to be followed by a blood test. I dropped Monica off and went back home to get my cell phone (I probably could get away without it but find it helpful to stay in touch with the office and to be able to answer my work emails.). The trip home took me about one hour and I found Monica waiting outside for me when I returned. Apparently, the Bev treatment had been postponed (pending our Dr. visit) but we had not been informed.
We had nearly 3 hours before the MRI treatment scheduled for 2:00 p.m. We went to two local wool shops to look for some wool that Oma wanted. Just before getting to the 2nd shop, our car suddenly stopped. After about 45 minutes BCAA road assistance arrived and installed a new battery. After an unsuccessful stop at the 2nd wool shop, Monica and I treated ourselves to a nice lunch in a restaurant on W 10th called "Enigma",
After lunch we visited a 3rd wool shop on Main street (still no luck.) and returned to the Cancer Agency. Monica had her MRI and we were finished by about 2:30 p.m. The Dr. appointment was scheduled for 4:40 (he wanted to wait until he could review the MRI results) so we settled down for bit of a wait.
Monica received good news from the Dr. He was very happy with the results of the MRI which show things to be stable. Apparently, not many patients with tumours like Monicas survive to have a year's worth of Bev treatments. The Dr. feels that this is very good and, given how long she has been stable, he is of the opinion that Monica can stop the Bev treatments and begin a program of simply monitoring the situation with MRIs every 3 months. (He has only had one patient who survived Bev treatmentsthis long. This patient was taken off the Bev treatments a couple of years ago at the one year mark and is still kicking) Basically, he feels that, given her current stability, the risks associated with the Bev treatments are not justified for Monica.
As you can imagine, this was one of our happier visits to the Cancer Agency. For now, we have to continue to monitor Monica's condition but otherwise don't need to go back for 3 months. Yippee! (a Ned Durango expression.)
Tomorrow Monica and I are going to an afternoon symphony concert called "Tea and Trumpets"
A busy week for Monica and I this week. Yesterday, Monica had to go the Cancer Agency .Lab for a urine test. Today we there again. We went at 9:00 for a Bev Treatment to be followed by a blood test. I dropped Monica off and went back home to get my cell phone (I probably could get away without it but find it helpful to stay in touch with the office and to be able to answer my work emails.). The trip home took me about one hour and I found Monica waiting outside for me when I returned. Apparently, the Bev treatment had been postponed (pending our Dr. visit) but we had not been informed.
We had nearly 3 hours before the MRI treatment scheduled for 2:00 p.m. We went to two local wool shops to look for some wool that Oma wanted. Just before getting to the 2nd shop, our car suddenly stopped. After about 45 minutes BCAA road assistance arrived and installed a new battery. After an unsuccessful stop at the 2nd wool shop, Monica and I treated ourselves to a nice lunch in a restaurant on W 10th called "Enigma",
After lunch we visited a 3rd wool shop on Main street (still no luck.) and returned to the Cancer Agency. Monica had her MRI and we were finished by about 2:30 p.m. The Dr. appointment was scheduled for 4:40 (he wanted to wait until he could review the MRI results) so we settled down for bit of a wait.
Monica received good news from the Dr. He was very happy with the results of the MRI which show things to be stable. Apparently, not many patients with tumours like Monicas survive to have a year's worth of Bev treatments. The Dr. feels that this is very good and, given how long she has been stable, he is of the opinion that Monica can stop the Bev treatments and begin a program of simply monitoring the situation with MRIs every 3 months. (He has only had one patient who survived Bev treatmentsthis long. This patient was taken off the Bev treatments a couple of years ago at the one year mark and is still kicking) Basically, he feels that, given her current stability, the risks associated with the Bev treatments are not justified for Monica.
As you can imagine, this was one of our happier visits to the Cancer Agency. For now, we have to continue to monitor Monica's condition but otherwise don't need to go back for 3 months. Yippee! (a Ned Durango expression.)
Tomorrow Monica and I are going to an afternoon symphony concert called "Tea and Trumpets"
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