Clifford F Grimes | Team Denise!

Tag: Clifford F Grimes

Tuesday, July 7th, 2009

Tumor Markers #3

At my infusion last Friday, they pulled some blood for the “regular” blood work I’m supposed to have to track my tumor markers. I’m actually supposed to have the tests run every 2 weeks, but it’s too expensive for me, so I only get it done about every 4 weeks.

On April 15, my baseline CEA tumor markers were 63.1 ng/mL (nanograms per milliliter)

On June 03, my 2nd draw CEA tumor markers were 35.9 ng/mL

My numbers from the July 03 draw are 12.8 ng/mL

12.8…

FREAKING 12.8!!!

Another HUGE drop – a 23.1 Drop!!!!

12.8 is still “high”, but Not As High – norm is 0.0 – 3.0 ng/mL and levels higher than 3 ng/mL are not normal.

Still I wish I was confident with just how much this meant, but this (CEA: The Test) has answered Some questions…

I’m just hoping that this all means Something… Something Good… Please mean Something Good… I don’t want to think I’m going through all this for nothing, only to have the rug pulled out from under me in the end. Mr. Sack pulled the rug out from under me. Seems like I always get the rug pulled out from under me, and I’m Tired of it.

I’m gonna go ahead and be excited anyway cuz Dr. Deleon sure was excited!

My other numbers:
CA-125: 15 U/mL (Reference @ 0-35)
CA 15-3: 33(c) H U/mL (Reference @ <32)
CA 27.29 (see CA15-3 above): 40(e) H U/mL (Reference @ <38)

I’m thinking those numbers are looking close-to normal, but I don’t have any others to compare then to, so these will be my baseline…

I’m going to have PET/CT scan #3 the 2nd week of August, So we should have some idea of “what is what” then… Just Hoping it’s better than PET/CT #2…

Til then my Dragons are Still Protecting Me! And Their Riders are carrying light sabers!

Tags: Cliff Grimes, Clifford F Grimes, Clifford Grimes, Dallas, Mr. Sack, Tumor Markers

Posted in Burzynski Clinic, Emotions, Gene Therapy Drugs, hope, Medical Procedures, Results, scared, Tests | 21 Comments »

Saturday, July 4th, 2009

Zometa Infusion #2 – Reaction Timed Out

The good news is that the reaction was Nothing like last time…

The bad new is… well, bad news is that I still have cancer…

Seriously, my fever fluctuated from 98.8 to at 99.1, and the aches are there – but they are minimal, and very tolerable compared to last time. Muscle aches, exhaustion and thats “about it”. I have spend most of the day on the couch and minimal puttering around the house. Had a 4th of July party to go to, but didn’t feel like getting out.

Mom, of course, called several times, Carol B called to check on me, and my neighbor, Julie touched base a few times.

Not much else to do… as Mr. Sack used to say – It Is What It Is.

And cancer is what it is.

Happy July 4th…

Tags: Cliff Grimes, Clifford F Grimes, Clifford Grimes, Dallas, Infusion, Mr. Sack, Zometa

Posted in Dealing with Gene Therapy Drug Reactions, Gene Therapy Drug Reactions | 1 Comment »

Friday, June 26th, 2009

Off On A Hunt – Finding An Infusion Center

It was a Busy day today…

When I talked with Barbara T (the Financial Manager) at the Burzynski Clinic and told her that the charge of $1000 per infusion AND an Additional $1500/month to “handle” the (3 small vials of) Zometa was just more than I could afford, she told me “Well, we have to survive here”.

Excuse me? How About Me Surviving Here? If I can’t afford to stay at the Clinic, then I can’t pay for You to “survive” and if I’m dead, then I certainly am not paying for Your “survival”..

Then she looked me in the eye and Said “You are the one getting your medicine for free, right?”, like because I am getting financial assistance with my meds, that means I have the $2500/month extra to spend on other (unexpected) charges?

Nooooo… I’m getting the financial assistance because I don’t have health insurance and because I can’t afford the meds… I was Told $4500/month for my PB and my Case Management, I Signed a Paper Stating $4500/month, and That is what I have budgeted for.

If you can call applying for financial assistance, compiling info on organizing fundraisers and getting ready to sell on eBay “budgeting”… more on eBay (TeamDenise) later…

I guess they must have more patients than they can handle to not care if someone is unable to afford their services due to unexpected And Substantial increases in charges.

I want to live, I Believe in the Burzynsky treatment – I would NOT have stopped my chemo path and come to the Clinic if I did not believe. I Want To Live.

I swear, I’m starting to feel like this unconditional faith is similar to the years of faith I put in Clifford and look how That bit me in the big behind! Big.Time.

So… due to Those financial issues, I had to go by my (Totally Awesome) PCP’s (Primary Care Physician of the past 15yrs – Dr. Ronald Taylor) office and get him to write a prescription for Zometa for Novartis Oncology (the company that has granted me financial assistance with my monthly infusion of Zometa – the drug for the bone cancer).

I had to confirm that North Cypress Medical Hospital’s Infusion Center would accept physical receipt of my Zometa and would be able to give me my infusion and what the charges would be for receipt, compounding the drug into IV, infusion and storage (3 months per shipment). I was given a preliminary “ok” , but I have learned that “preliminary” is Not a confirmation, so I am not all excited… I was also given a cost range of $160 – $210, but – again – I have learned take numbers at face value where medical is concerned, so I will wait for a formal confirmation.

But it Seems like it will be doable…

We Shall See.

Tags: Cliff Grimes, Clifford F Grimes, Clifford Grimes, Mr. Sack, Zometa

Posted in anger, appreciation, Burzynski Clinic, Burzynski Clinic Financial Charges, Cancer, Dr. R. Taylor, Emotions, frustration, Gene Therapy Drugs, hope, venting | 2 Comments »

Wednesday, June 24th, 2009

CUT ME SOME SLACK.

I swear, I am so STRESSED Right Now, if I get One More Thing on added to my “Gotta Get This Done NOW” list, I think I am going to blow a flipping gasket.

I HAVE BREAST CANCER which (according to test results) HAS SPREAD TO MY BONES and I HAVE NO HEALTH INSURANCE. I am (STILL) FIGHTING for Treatment and Medicinal Assistance. I am SCARED OUT OF THIS WORLD. I also Have To WORK FULL TIME. THAT is where my time is going.

This is Tough.

I’m Alone. Yes, I have my Mom & Dad (in Corpus Christi, 4 hrs away) and my Friends – the ones who have “stuck around” (a phone call away)… but after the day is done and the lights are out, I Am Alone. And the dark is a very scary place when you’re alone and contemplating your mortality…

Clifford is a Waste of a SACK of TURD for how he did to me.
At least good turd can be used as fertilizer.

It.Just.Sucks.All.Around.

Tags: Cliff Grimes, Clifford F Grimes, Clifford Grimes, Dallas, Mr. Sack, Slack

Posted in anger, Coping, Emotions, frustration, scared, tired, venting | 7 Comments »

Sunday, June 21st, 2009

Happy Father’s Day, Dad…

Happy Father’s Day to my Dad.

Again, like Mother’s Day, this is not at all what any of us had in mind for a Father’s Day, but I am so Very Fortunate to have have you and Mom by my side me on this awful journey

I know that you & Mom are supposed to be enjoying life and being in a “good place”, not having to take care of others. Both of y’all have given up so much in taking care of your Mother, and Mom’s Mother, and then Mom’s Father and his wife, and now me…

You Know that this I not what I wanted… it was supposed to be Clifford with me, not you & Mom… he, the one you thought of as your own son, betrayed us all with his empty promises and shallow judgments.

How can I ever say it enough… Dad, Thank You.

Thank You for putting up with Mom being gone so much to come here to care for me, Thank You for putting up with me, Thank You for all you do, Thanks you for “being there”.

Love You, Dad!

Tags: Cliff Grimes, Clifford F Grimes, Clifford Grimes, Father's Day, Mr. Sack

Posted in appreciation, Dad, Emotions, Family, happiness, Mom, Special Days, Special People | No Comments »

Thursday, May 21st, 2009

Zometa, You Are a Cruel Mistress

So…

Zometa.Kicked.My.Ass.

I was told that I would “probably” experience “slight” flu-like symptoms for a day. What I got was symptoms of Major Flu From Hell.

I ran a fever that went up and down and up and down and up and down – 101.7 was the highest, but it felt like 107 cuz I was burning.

My body ached like I had been beaten with 2x4s. It took everything I could muster to even turn over in bed. Going to the restroom was a major ordeal.

Thank Goodness Mom was here to help me out, I’d be lost without her. Being single sucks, but – realistically – who would be able, or want, to handle this… ~sigh~ Certainly not Clifford, he proved his mettle, and it was not metal.

I am told that the first treatment is the worst, that each one becomes easier. Let’s hope.

I’m back off to bed, still recovering.

Tags: Cliff Grimes, Clifford F Grimes, Clifford Grimes, Mr. Sack, Zometa

Posted in Cancer, Gene Therapy Drugs, Mom | 6 Comments »

Sunday, May 10th, 2009

Happy Mother’s Day, Mom…

Happy Mother’s Day to my Mom.

Not quite what any of us had in mind for a Mother’s Day, but I am so Blessed to have have her with me.

Mom, I know this is the time of your life that you and Dad are supposed to be enjoying life, not having to take care of others. Both of y’all have given up so much in taking care of Dad’s Mother, and your Mother, and then your Father and his wife, and now me…

This I not what I wanted… it was supposed to be Clifford with me, not you… I waited so many years for him, and we all rejoiced in the promises that he made me… but he turned out to be weak and shallow and heartless.

How can I ever say it enough… Mom, Thank You.

Thank You for driving back and forth from Corpus Christi to take care of me, Thank You for putting up with me, Thank you for all you do, Thank You for being here.

Love You, Mom!

Tags: Cliff Grimes, Clifford F Grimes, Clifford Grimes, Mother's Day, Mr. Sack

Posted in appreciation, Burzynski Clinic, Dad, Emotions, Family, love, Mom, Special Days | 1 Comment »

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