It's been 3 weeks already - I can't really believe it. Been such a whirlwind experience, especially this week. Unfortunately I spiked a temperature last Wednesday which for any healthy human being would be fine except because the chemo is doing it's job (yayy!) I have no immune system to fight off the infection AND because it's an infection in the blood my PICC line (the thiing they put all my chemo/fluids/antibiotics through and makes me look like I'm in the Matrix) needed to come out. That was a weird experience but the nurses were so lovely, patient and distractingly talkative that it wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be. But now I obviously need the PICC line put back in so that will happen sometime in the coming days. And for those of you who know how traumatric the last PICC line insertion was for me - stress less because even my doctor suggested that I have some sort of sedation before the procedure as last time my anxiety didn't help them. But apart from that I have remained reasonably well.
My hair has only just started to fall out and I often need a few nanna naps during the day. I haven't lost my appetite yet and haven't had any nausea. So I'm going pretty well and the doctor assures me at this point in time the chemo looks like it's doing its job!! oh yeah and just one more thing, I'm being overloaded by people wanting to come and visit me which is great to know so many people believe in me and support me, except at the moment while I'm not feeling too flash and my counts are low I'm going to be keeping visitors to family and close friends. But as soon as I start feeling better I'll want to start socialising again so I'll let you know when that is. smile emoticon but thank you for the continued love - I'm so blessed to have such an amazing support network. I think that's it for this week. And ofcourse I must sign off with #fuckcancer
Tuesday, 17 March 2015
Friday, 13 March 2015
Update #2 by Lauren
I've decided I'm going to keep these weekly updates from me. Up to you whether you read them or ignore them.
So guess what... My hair is pink!! This morning I was able to get some time out of hospital to go down to the Beyond Blonde Salon to get my pink pixie cut. And wow, what an amazing cut. I'm so happy with it. So thank you to Ross for being amazing and pampering me for the morning and to my other hairdressing friend John who gave the awesome colour. As I finished my chemo cycle on Friday unfortunately this awesome hair will probably be gone by the end of the week, but yolo right?
So the plan is that this cycle of chemo I finished on Friday will work it's magic over the next 4/6weeks and get me into remission (cancer free). And, if everything works and goes to plan, from there head straight into another bone marrow transplant which will be done at the RAH. They've already begun looking for another donor and I think they have found 4 possible donors that they need to tissue type further. So now it's just a waiting game to see if the chemo can do it's stuff. I've begun to feel quite tired and lethargic and often have to have an afternoon nap so the likelihood of visitors over the next 2/3 weeks I'll probably just keep to close family and friends. Otherwise I've been feeling good and have been occupying my time making 1000 origami cranes, teaching the nurses how to drip pole dance, reading, watching movies and YouTube cat videos.
Again, thank you for all the messages of support and love that I've continued to receive. They help so much during the times where I feel abit lost and it means the world to know I have people outside rooting for me.
Anyway I think that's it for this week. So yeah I will continue these weekly updates but completely up to you if you follow them or not. You can also update yourself at laurenkupdates.blogspot.com.au and in the meantime #fuckcancer
Lauren
From Dad: A few photos from this week incl Lauren's week 2 quote and pink hair by Ross:
So guess what... My hair is pink!! This morning I was able to get some time out of hospital to go down to the Beyond Blonde Salon to get my pink pixie cut. And wow, what an amazing cut. I'm so happy with it. So thank you to Ross for being amazing and pampering me for the morning and to my other hairdressing friend John who gave the awesome colour. As I finished my chemo cycle on Friday unfortunately this awesome hair will probably be gone by the end of the week, but yolo right?
So the plan is that this cycle of chemo I finished on Friday will work it's magic over the next 4/6weeks and get me into remission (cancer free). And, if everything works and goes to plan, from there head straight into another bone marrow transplant which will be done at the RAH. They've already begun looking for another donor and I think they have found 4 possible donors that they need to tissue type further. So now it's just a waiting game to see if the chemo can do it's stuff. I've begun to feel quite tired and lethargic and often have to have an afternoon nap so the likelihood of visitors over the next 2/3 weeks I'll probably just keep to close family and friends. Otherwise I've been feeling good and have been occupying my time making 1000 origami cranes, teaching the nurses how to drip pole dance, reading, watching movies and YouTube cat videos.
Again, thank you for all the messages of support and love that I've continued to receive. They help so much during the times where I feel abit lost and it means the world to know I have people outside rooting for me.
Anyway I think that's it for this week. So yeah I will continue these weekly updates but completely up to you if you follow them or not. You can also update yourself at laurenkupdates.blogspot.com.au and in the meantime #fuckcancer
Lauren
From Dad: A few photos from this week incl Lauren's week 2 quote and pink hair by Ross:
Thursday, 5 March 2015
Chemo Day 4 finished
Chemo started for Lauren on Monday - 6 days straight and then a break for a week (I think). Plan is to get her into remission as soon as possible via the chemo and then go straight into a bone marrow transplant (to be done at the RAH) - after one possible detour - after remission and before a second bone marrow transplant she'll possibly be having her remaining 3 wisdom teeth removed. Minor in comparison to what's going on for the cancer stuff. Is a glass half full or half empty? - what would your call be if it was you in the picture? - basically it's a 50/50 chance the chemo will get her into remission. Lauren has the view the glass is half full as she's determined to knock this over this time. No doubts, just do it #fuckcancer.
Her friends are carrying her this time around. Their visits are all important to her - just remember no visit if you're not well or recently had a cold/flu and aqium must be used entering the ward and her room - also, just check with her via her mobile before coming so she can manage visits and treatment and rest time. Nice to see her managing her treatment and visitors etc. Some highlights this week (for me anyway) was seeing the 'fuck cancer' cookies from Julia H - awesome!
I believe the lady baking them has had a sharp increase in sales for 'fuck cancer' cookies in the last 24 hours alone!!! (see facebook - Alyce in Cookieland)
Last Sunday (her last night before chemo started) her friends from AC Arts stayed until 10:30pm and turned her room into a fairy light, poster crowded walls.
Put Lauren on a nice high before starting treatment - that high is still continuing with other friends visiting her. As we've been saying, she doesn't look 'sick' as per the photo Sunday, so come in with a smiling face and enjoy the visit. BTW, she loves the 'big monkey' Leo.
Also, was impressed with her white board quote and garden.
Some of you around when she was seven and first diagnosed would know the story of the garden and weeds to describe what cancer is and what's happening - have to dig up the SAFM interview with Amanda B, I think - does anyone know how to put and interview from a CD onto this blog? Contact me or Lauren if you know how.
Her friends are carrying her this time around. Their visits are all important to her - just remember no visit if you're not well or recently had a cold/flu and aqium must be used entering the ward and her room - also, just check with her via her mobile before coming so she can manage visits and treatment and rest time. Nice to see her managing her treatment and visitors etc. Some highlights this week (for me anyway) was seeing the 'fuck cancer' cookies from Julia H - awesome!
Last Sunday (her last night before chemo started) her friends from AC Arts stayed until 10:30pm and turned her room into a fairy light, poster crowded walls.
Also, was impressed with her white board quote and garden.
Monday, 2 March 2015
Update #1 from Lauren
So I've found that a lot of people are asking me the same questions and because obviously it's a pretty overwhelming time for me I thought I'd start a weekly update to keep you all up with it.
But thank you for all the love and support I've been receiving over the past week - it means so much to me to know I have people there behind me if I ever need them! And if I don't immediately reply to your messages it's not because I don't love you or appreciate your messages it's just that I'm in a hard place at the moment and sometimes I don't want to look at my phone.
Anyway so update #1: today I start chemotherapy... Yes I'll loose my hair, yes there will be good days and there will be the shitty days. I am allowed visitors now except just check in with me on the day to make sure I am up for it because there will be days where I just don't want to see/speak to anyone. Also if you've been sick in the past two weeks you're not allowed in and also if you're sending gifts no flowers or plant products. Just thought I'd clear that up.
Some things to look forward to is this weekend I'm hopefully getting a pink pixie haircut to celebrate my hair falling out and I have all these movies I've been meaning to sit down and watch for ages and now I have the time to do so, so looking forward to that. I'm also planning to win something out of a puzzle book just for lols and giggles and to keep my brain working. I have plenty of stuff to keep me occupied and already a cupboard full of chocolates and goodies for those midnight munchies. smile emoticon
Anyway I think that's all for update #1. Again thank you all again for all the kind words and heartfelt messages - I do read them and I do enjoy them it's just I receive so many I can't reply to all of them smile emoticon I think you'll understand. So until next Monday #fuckcancer
But thank you for all the love and support I've been receiving over the past week - it means so much to me to know I have people there behind me if I ever need them! And if I don't immediately reply to your messages it's not because I don't love you or appreciate your messages it's just that I'm in a hard place at the moment and sometimes I don't want to look at my phone.
Anyway so update #1: today I start chemotherapy... Yes I'll loose my hair, yes there will be good days and there will be the shitty days. I am allowed visitors now except just check in with me on the day to make sure I am up for it because there will be days where I just don't want to see/speak to anyone. Also if you've been sick in the past two weeks you're not allowed in and also if you're sending gifts no flowers or plant products. Just thought I'd clear that up.
Some things to look forward to is this weekend I'm hopefully getting a pink pixie haircut to celebrate my hair falling out and I have all these movies I've been meaning to sit down and watch for ages and now I have the time to do so, so looking forward to that. I'm also planning to win something out of a puzzle book just for lols and giggles and to keep my brain working. I have plenty of stuff to keep me occupied and already a cupboard full of chocolates and goodies for those midnight munchies. smile emoticon
Anyway I think that's all for update #1. Again thank you all again for all the kind words and heartfelt messages - I do read them and I do enjoy them it's just I receive so many I can't reply to all of them smile emoticon I think you'll understand. So until next Monday #fuckcancer
Sunday, 1 March 2015
Some home time today
Hi folks,
Lauren is coming home for 2 hours today - from 2:00pm - - 4:00pm. Then she's having take-away in hospital tonight for dinner with some friends. It's the last time the hospital will allow her to have take-away for a while. Home cooked meals are OK going forward, just not take-away. She starts chemo tomorrow. Aim is to get her into remission and then all going well, straight into a bone marrow transplant which will be done at the RAH. Very different system to the children's treatment protocol. Grandma arrives Tues morning, which Kate is over the moon about. She's already organised to stay here Monday night so she can go to the airport and get to school on time - Kate - the new organiser!!!
Results of bone marrow biopsy - 90% blast cells present in the marrow - not a good reading. I think it was 20% in the blood from last Saturday's blood test (different test to the marrow test).
She's fine in herself. On Friday she had lunch with her AC Arts Colleagues which was good for her. We decided to take some extra time out and grab a coffee before heading back to the RAH. (Coffee shop had an interesting sign on display - appropriate!!
Got to run again as she's keen I'm there before 2pm so we maximise the time at home - time to clean her room!!! Imagine a picture of a bomb going off - that's her room. Clean clothes on ground, others in wardrobe, hidden I guess!! Can we request someone with a marrow this time who's tidy? Maybe it might help her keep room tidy cells! :)
Lauren is coming home for 2 hours today - from 2:00pm - - 4:00pm. Then she's having take-away in hospital tonight for dinner with some friends. It's the last time the hospital will allow her to have take-away for a while. Home cooked meals are OK going forward, just not take-away. She starts chemo tomorrow. Aim is to get her into remission and then all going well, straight into a bone marrow transplant which will be done at the RAH. Very different system to the children's treatment protocol. Grandma arrives Tues morning, which Kate is over the moon about. She's already organised to stay here Monday night so she can go to the airport and get to school on time - Kate - the new organiser!!!
Results of bone marrow biopsy - 90% blast cells present in the marrow - not a good reading. I think it was 20% in the blood from last Saturday's blood test (different test to the marrow test).
Friday, 27 February 2015
mmm, we might be a little late back to hospital today!!
Lauren was so thrilled about seeing her AC Arts friends today at lunch, I'm thinking of being late (on purpose, for a change) so she can spend more time out. Was like seeing a bird discover its wings for the first time this morning when she left the hospital
Pre-treatment testing finished
Lauren has had numerous tests this last week. She's still 'healthy' and active. Just stuck in a hospital whilst they do these tests. Today she's coming out at 12:00pm to have lunch with her AC Arts colleagues - she was in her third and final year of the course this year. She's looking forward to getting out and spending time with them
Chemotherapy commences on Monday for her. Basically to get her into remission. Lauren is managing her own treatment this time and holding all the discussions with the medicos - who are all totally professional. We were a bit concerned coming from Women's & Children's Hospital since last treatment to Royal Adelaide. Have to say it's different as you'd expect, but just as caring with equally dedicated staff. In fact, haven't seen a hospital yet without dedicated, professional staff. If any government thinks it's fair to eliminate penalty rates for nurses they're in for a rude shock as I for one will stand up for the nurses. What they do and how hard they work in under-recognised in our (& many other) society.
Then at some stage, will mean another bone marrow transplant. Have no idea when yet. I guess they'd be searching the donor list globally again to find a suitable donor. There is s new drug out which targets a certain rogue cancer cells which carry a certain protein. I can't remember the name - Lauren's the expert this time!! Anyway it's been found she has that protein in her cancer cells but being a random selection for the trial of this drug, she hasn't got onto this program. It would still mean a bone marrow transplant, but because the drug can target just the rogue cells with the particular protein, it means not all her cells are killed off and therefore she wouldn't have lost her hair etc. Anyway not to be and Lauren is comfortable with the treatment regime.
She might be coming home over this weekend as she is able to get out and about. We'll find out later today if this is the case. (If spelling errors etc, I'll correct them later, have to run!!). Once treatment starts she'll be in for at least 4 -6 weeks - I'm assuming that's ignoring the transplant time frame. Will find out more next week.
Michael
Chemotherapy commences on Monday for her. Basically to get her into remission. Lauren is managing her own treatment this time and holding all the discussions with the medicos - who are all totally professional. We were a bit concerned coming from Women's & Children's Hospital since last treatment to Royal Adelaide. Have to say it's different as you'd expect, but just as caring with equally dedicated staff. In fact, haven't seen a hospital yet without dedicated, professional staff. If any government thinks it's fair to eliminate penalty rates for nurses they're in for a rude shock as I for one will stand up for the nurses. What they do and how hard they work in under-recognised in our (& many other) society.
Then at some stage, will mean another bone marrow transplant. Have no idea when yet. I guess they'd be searching the donor list globally again to find a suitable donor. There is s new drug out which targets a certain rogue cancer cells which carry a certain protein. I can't remember the name - Lauren's the expert this time!! Anyway it's been found she has that protein in her cancer cells but being a random selection for the trial of this drug, she hasn't got onto this program. It would still mean a bone marrow transplant, but because the drug can target just the rogue cells with the particular protein, it means not all her cells are killed off and therefore she wouldn't have lost her hair etc. Anyway not to be and Lauren is comfortable with the treatment regime.
She might be coming home over this weekend as she is able to get out and about. We'll find out later today if this is the case. (If spelling errors etc, I'll correct them later, have to run!!). Once treatment starts she'll be in for at least 4 -6 weeks - I'm assuming that's ignoring the transplant time frame. Will find out more next week.
Michael
Wednesday, 25 February 2015
Quick update
Lauren has been having tests this week. No treatment started yet. Bone marrow biopsy yesterday. Results not in yet. She's getting a PIC line in right now - this will allow the medicos to 1) obtain bloods for checks going forward 2) Allow the insertion of drugs easily once her treatment is decided on and starts. Lauren is in charge of her treatment choice this time. At 20, she's an adult and determines what they do and how. Very proud how she's managing it all. I'm biased, but she impresses me like no other. Will update when more known.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)