2009 May | Team Denise!

May, 2009

Saturday, May 30th, 2009

Surprise Attacks

The side effects of the meds are just Ripping through my poor intestinal tract.

I’ve been lucky this past week, cuz each day I’ve been fine until after I got home from work. Then the gurgling would start. And then the diarrhea.

Friday though, it started around lunchtime. At Work.

Today (Saturday) it’s been all day.

I have pooped more in the past week than I knew I was capable of. And not just “oh, gotta poop”, but Lots of gas accompanied with surprise attacks of “if I don’t get to the bathroom Right Now, I am in Big Trouble”. And I have had some Close Calls.

Thank Goodness for Immodium.

No fun, no fun at all.
But Still Better Than Chemo!

Tags: diarrhea

Posted in Dealing with Gene Therapy Drug Reactions, Gene Therapy Drug Reactions, Gene Therapy Drugs | 2 Comments »

Friday, May 29th, 2009

Burzynski Clinic Monthly Charge – May 2009

Going over my Burzynski Clinic expenses for May 2009…

Consultation @ $750.00

Nutritionist @ $350.00

PET / CT Scan (Houston Imaging) at $1,200.00

Xeloda @ $2,897/month

Zolinza @ $2,217/month

Tarceva @ $4,200/month

Sodium Phenylbutrate (aka PB) and “Case Managment” @ $4,500/month

Zometa @ $1,087/month

That puts my total medication expenses for May at $17,901.00

Wow…

Tags: Monthly Charges

Posted in Burzynski Clinic, Burzynski Clinic Financial Charges, Finances, Gene Therapy Regime | 3 Comments »

Thursday, May 28th, 2009

Changes

I’m seeing some more changes in my (left) breast. My nipple seems to be peeking out, not so much pulled inwards and has regained much sensitivity.

The areola also seems to have “loosened up” somewhat, especially on the inner side. It is less “puckery” and more normal looking and feeling.

Not sure if these changes are totally due to the chemo, partially chemo and partially new treatment, or totally new treatment – but they are good to see!

I can only Hope they are due to the new treatment.

Tags: breast changes

Posted in Chemo, Gene Therapy Drugs, hope | No Comments »

Wednesday, May 27th, 2009

How Dry I Am

My skin is so dry. So very very dry. A different experience for one with (normally) such oily skin. I’m guessing a reaction from the new drugs. I was told to expect a pimply rash, instead I get dryness that resembles windburn.

My lips and my face especially – cheeks and the area around my lips and onto my chin. I Finally found a skin cream that works – Pond’s Rejuveness. Works wonders on my face. And Nivea SOS Lip Care for my lips.

Now to figure out how to deal with the little sores that have popped up on my tongue and inside cheeks, I’ve been told to swish with apple cider vinegar….

I’ll say it again though…

Better Than Chemo!

Tags: Dry skin

Posted in Dealing with Gene Therapy Drug Reactions, Gene Therapy Drug Reactions | 2 Comments »

Tuesday, May 26th, 2009

Nightime Pain

Last night my (left) breast hurt so bad that it woke me up… It was sharp, stabbing pains that lasted about 20 minutes.

I haven’t felt anything that bad, just some occasional sharp pains long before my diagnosis. At that time, I had been told “cancer doesn’t hurt”, that what I was feeling was the “staph infection”, so the pains didn’t concern me. HA.

Anyway, last night I just laid there and wondered what was going on.

Then, after a while, it stopped.

I hope the cancer was starting to die. That is was dying. I don’t like to wish intentional pain on any creature, but this is one “creature” that I wish to totally eradicate.

To DIE.

Tags: breast changes, pain

Posted in Coping, Gene Therapy Drug Reactions, scared | No Comments »

Tuesday, May 26th, 2009

Drug Financial Assistance – Off And Running

So, I have downloaded, filled out, provided my last year’s tax return gotten Dr Deleon and Dr Weaver to provide their authorizations, DEA No/State License info and a prescription request for each medication.

I have submitted everything needed and talked with reps from each company.

I was told by each one that I was “initially pre-approved”, but that there are no promises.

I am hoping hoping hoping. Any assistance would be a blessing, but assistance from all four would be be Awesome and a Huge stress-relief which I need to help me beat this monster disease.

Yes, I am Hoping, Hoping, Hoping.

Tags: Genentech, Merck, Novartis, Roche, Tarceva, Xeloda, Zolinza, Zometa

Posted in Burzynski Clinic, Financial Assistance, Gene Therapy Drugs, hope | No Comments »

Monday, May 25th, 2009

Relief from Hand-Foot

I’ve found that regularly immersing my hands in cool water regularly offers a great deal of relief from the Hand-Foot Syndrome…

Feels good…

Tags: Hand-Foot Syndrome

Posted in Dealing with Gene Therapy Drug Reactions | 3 Comments »

Sunday, May 24th, 2009

The Cancer Diet

I’ve lost 20 pounds this past month. Sure, I need to loose that, And More.

But not quite how I had hoped that it would come about.

Oh well, gotta look on the positive side – lost some weight!

Tags: Loosing Weight

Posted in Cancer, Diet, Gene Therapy Drug Reactions | No Comments »

Saturday, May 23rd, 2009

AminoCare – A Division of Burzynski

Seems Burzynski’s research has branched out over the years. Check out AminoCare.

Of course, it’s all about the timeless search for extended quality and quantity of life – giving the body back what it has lost due to time and disease…

AminoCare A10 – The Genetic Solution for Anti-Aging”. Aminocare® Products L.P. is the latest division of the Burzynski Clinic. It is the result of over thirty years of research and practice of Dr. Burzynski and his team. The goal of this newly developed division is to promote prevention of the effects of aging and extend longevity from a whole new approach, one that focuses on genetics

I’ve acquired some of the “AminoCare A10“. It was strongly suggested that I add this to my daily dietary regime… At $120 for 120 tablets, and 4 tables per day, it’s a rather pricey item to try blindly. However, my Folks taught me to be a Big supporter of vitamins and minerals, and I have personally included herbs in my daily regime. So, I’ll try it for a month and see how I feel…

Tags: Aminocare A10

Posted in Burzynski Clinic, Nutrition | 1 Comment »

Saturday, May 23rd, 2009

Reactions – PB, Tarceva, Zolinza, Xeloda

My hands are red and tender and the skin is very dry. Have the first signs of Hand-Foot Syndrome, some dry blisters on the palm and index fingertip of my right hand. Also, a quarter-sized blister on the bottom, outside edge of my right foot. This is from the Xeloda.

“Chemotherapy-induced acral erythema (also known as “Palmoplantar erythrodysesthesia syndrome”) is a swelling and numbness of the hands and feet that occurs with certain types of chemotherapy”

More info with photo here and here and here.
Those are extreme cases, mine have not, and Hopefully will not, get to that stage.

Also, my poor lips, so very dry and chapped.

But this is NOTHING compared to chemo.

Tags: PB, Tarceva, Xeloda, Zolinza

Posted in Gene Therapy Drugs | 4 Comments »

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