WhatsupwithJan

Monday, October 31, 2005

WhatsupwithJan

WhatsupwithJan
Monday, October 31,2005-7:59PM
Jan's new pain medication routine appeared to be working as we started the day. She had one of her better mornings.We even went on a short walk, and she enjoyed it.These are the times when even the small ordinary blessings, we usually take for granted,become a huge gift meriting gratitude usually reserved for "bigger things".

However,this afternoon, around 2:00PM,the nausea/vomiting rollercoaster began again.This is not an easy battle and the skirmishes seem to never end. Just when we think we have our hand on the enemy's throat, he slips away and attacks from another angle. Jan will tell you that she has become an expert in carrying the "barf" bucket, although she is embarrased to be seen with it, when we are on our normal excursions to the lab and doctor's office. Tomorrow is a lab day and Wednesday we report to the "chemo" room for the "second round".

Thanks to Deb Carlson who carved and lighted a pumpkin, and then delivered it in time for our Halloween display.

A grateful smile to all :)
Pat

Sunday, October 30, 2005

WhatsupwithJan

WhatsupwithJan
Sunday, October 30.2005-4:09PM
Jan is still climbing hills today. The Oxycodone medication for pain may be the trigger for Jan's nausea and vomiting. So today,she will start a new routine of eating before she takes the oxycodone.A pharmacist suggested to one of Jan's friends that this medication should be taken on a full stomach. Hopefully, this will counterpunch the downside effects of the chemical, while continuing to allow the pain suppressing upside to work.

Jan's friend, Sandy, delivered beautiful cards and gifts from the students and staff of Zuni Hills Elementary School.She is very grateful for their kindness and misses being there with them.
Pat

Saturday, October 29, 2005

WhatsupwithJan

WhatsupwithJan
Saturday, October29,2005- 4:05PM
Jan is having another difficult day. Several episodes of nausea and vomiting. I am beginning to worry about her becoming dehydrated.
If this pattern of episodic vomiting continues, we may head for the Emergency room, so that she can be rehydrated through an intravenous liquid feeding. Emotionally, she is very labile and thinking about her relatives and friends will bring her to easy tears. Some of these reactions can probably be traced to the effects of the drugs in her system. I suspect that these effects will be markedly reduced when the medications used to suppress the pain and nausea are no longer needed.

She continues to write lesson plans and make phone calls related to her work. She may be taxing her system resources more than she knows. So I continue the gentle intervention of suggesting rest and relaxation as part of the palliative remedy that would now be most useful and helpful to her recovery.

As always, Thanks for your prayers..
Pat

Friday, October 28, 2005

WhatsupwithJan

WhatsupwithJan
Friday,October 28,2005-3:09PM
Another basically good day. Jan continues to feel weak and tired, and sleeps/naps many times during the course of the day. It is comforting to know that most of her pain and nausea is being controlled by the medications she is taking. She and I took a very slow walk around the neighborhood today, and she enjoyed getting out in the fresh air and connecting with the life of the city. She also spent some time responding to emails that often leave her in tears as she is very much affected by the love and kindness shared by the writers of such kind messages.

I am now beginning to see that this journey will not always be walked on a level terrain. There will be big and little hills to climb, a dear measure of joy on the downhill slopes and some evenstepping where the road is wide and level. And on occasion, I suspect that we will not even know what is over the top and on the other side of the next hill. But we will journey on-believing, hoping and sharing the love inspired by your prayerful support and encouragement. As Jan says,In the end, no matter what happens, it is all good....

Thursday, October 27, 2005

WhatsupwithJan

WhatsupwithJan
Thursday,October 27th,2005. 11:28AM
In her own words:"We are much more optimistic now that we know the cancer, although large, is limited to the liver. The chemo went well, and was nothing compared to the drugs I did the first time back in 1997. Those drugs were nasty going in, and took a couple weeks to feel human--just in time for the next treatment. So I am encouraged that these drugs will not be so nasty. I'm recovering from all the fasting and radioactive chemicals that have been in my body, plus the adjustment to the pain meds. Things are setttling down, and I'm feeling more human. Energy is weak, appetite slow but better, and at least I can sit and write here at the computer- my connection to my family, friends, and love. I feel the power of your love and prayers--they are working! Thanks, to everyone!"
Love,
Jan

Wednesday, October 26, 2005

WhatsupwithJan

WhatsupwithJan
Wednesday, October 26,2005. 5:05PM.
Jan just finished the 1st segment of the first cycle of her Taxotere
chemotherapy protocol. The drug and related medication (Zofran) to prevent nausea took about two hours to administer through the port-cath installed in her chest.At least,they don't have to scramble to find a vein every time Jan is scheduled for treatment.
she tolerated the procedure without any obvious complications and although she doesn't feel good, she didn't experience any significant nausea and/or vomiting.

We were buoyed by the news that the cancer, (a fairly sizable mass),was only in the liver. None of the scans showed any cancer in any other organ or bones. Hopefully, the Taxotere will act to shrink and/or destroy the tumor. Keep praying.

From a functional point of view, Jan is much better today. She is talking and interacting more normally, and she seems to be in better spirits. The doctor said that she will develop a tolerance for the pain medication, and the drowsiness and desire to sleep will all but disappear. And, it appears, that reality, is indeed, coming to pass.

Our next three scheduled chemotherapy sessions will take place on
11/2,11/9 and 11/23. And Jan's blood will be tested before each session for elevated or diminished white blood cells etc.
Pat

Tuesday, October 25, 2005

WhatsupwithJan

WhatsupwithJan
Tuesday-October 25,2005-2:40PM
Jan is having a rough day.She is experiencing Intermittent episodes of pain and nausea which have not been entirely controlled by the prescribed medication. Tomorrow, she begins her regimen of chemotherapy. The toxicity of the chemotherapy will significantly reduce her white blood cell count making her more vulnerable to infections etc. Thus, regrettably, she is unable to return to a job, students and co-workers she dearly loves.

We want to say thank-you and express our appreciation to Nick Battaglia,Terri Mainwaring and the entire staff of Zuni Hills Elementary School for the warm and kind concern and support given to our family.














Monday, October 24, 2005

WhatsupwithJan

WhatsupwithJan
Monday-October 24th,2005-4:00PM

Jan was having intermittent episodes of nausea today, and began vomiting around 1:00PM, so I insisted that we get an emergency apointment with the Oncologist. We saw him around 2:45PM, and he confirmed that (per the liver biopsy) the cancer was in the liver and was aggresive. Jan is scheduled to begin chemotherapy this Wednesday. She will be on a regimen of Taxotere- One day a week, three weeks on and one week off- to see if the tumor's size can be reduced and/or the tumor itself destroyed. They will do the scans again after the first session of chemotherapy to determine what if any progress has been made. If it is determined that the chemotherapy is working to destroy the cancer, she could spend an indefinite period of time on the chemotherapy regimen.

Jan will be exposed to the usual side effects of intense chemotherapy-loss of hair,nausea, brittleness of the fingernails etc. The fact that she has experience with high dose chemotherapy decreases the anxiety about what to expect from the experience, but doesn't decrease the less than friendly side effects associated with the regimen of chemotherapy she will need to endure. In the meantime, the doctor has prescribed stronger medications to relieve the pain and stop the nausea.

At this point we can only hope and pray that the treatment works.

I am feeling very sad now because Jan wants so much to live to see Veronica ( Nicki) receive her teaching diploma, and she wants to be there to experience Veronica's first classroom. She has a ton of her life invested in loving Nicki and helping her through the elementary, high school and college experience. I am so hoping that God will grant her the time to have this wish fulfilled. She also wants to see her grandkids, and enjoy Tyler as he grows in the development of his software skills and the sale of his projects. In the end, love is what is left, when everything else is gone...

Thanks for your continued prayerful support and may you all receive blessings more abundant than your years!
Pat

Sunday, October 23, 2005

WhatsupwithJan

WhatsupwithJan
Sunday evening-10-23-2005
Jan experienced some abdominal pain last night and this morning and needed to take an extra dose of pain medication this morning to relieve the discomfort. We went on a six mile bike ride this morning and she enjoyed the sun, fresh air and green shrubbery growing in and along the banks of Skunk creek. We also stopped for a few minutes and watched the skateboarders do their "stuff" at the Glendale Skate park located on Union Hills road.Otherwise, an uneventful and relaxing day here at the Thompson household.

Saturday, October 22, 2005

WhatsupwithJan

10-22-2005
Jan rested comfortably today, did some laundry and enjoyed a Notre Dame victory. No residual pain or negative side effects from the port-cath implant.

Friday, October 21, 2005

Jan's Journey-10-21-2005

At 3:30 PM, JansJourney said…

Today Jan's liver was biopsied at Boswell Memorial hospital. The results of the biopsy should clarify metastatic progress of any tumor in the liver and help in planning future treatment protocols. Jan also had a port-cath installed in her upper left chest wall. The chemotherapy will be delivered through this catheter. It is permanently installed, so that the nurse's do not have to find a non-collapsable vein every time chemotherapy is scheduled.
Jan had some nausea during the liver biopsy, but otherwise tolerated both procedures fairly well.
On Monday,Jan is scheduled for a full body Pet scan to determine the full extent of any metastasis.
Thanks for your prayers and kindness.

Tuesday, October 18, 2005

Jan's Journey

This site is dedicated to documenting Jan's journey as she passes through a new stage of treatment in her battle against breast cancer. Each day during Jan's course of treatment, I(Pat, her husband),
will post short updates on the state of her progress through the treament protocol.
Please feel free to post any responses or notes you feel would be appropriate to the situation.
Thanks for all of your prayers and emotional and spiritual support.