from Nysh...

I’m a little weary of this subject at this point (as I’m sure all of you are) to go into many details. Suffice it to say that I met with my oncologist yesterday and the plan is to start chemo on September 15th. It will be a different combination of chemo agents with a slightly different schedule but will run into the first of January. They have assured me it will not be as rough as my last experience, extreme fatigue and hair loss, but not the nausea (we’ll see). I still plan on going to Mississippi for my mother’s 95th birthday this weekend, but will only be able to stay a week. And I still plan on going to Seattle in October. Otherwise, life goes on…

Nyshie

Maggie & Ben here...

Hi all,

Nyshie met with her radiation oncologist today to go over results of the PET scan that she had on Monday. They found two more tumors in addition to the one in the lymph node near her lung. One is in her pelvic cavity and the other, which is 4 cm, is above her spleen. So, unfortunately, she will have to start chemo fairly quickly. She and Paul headed out of town today for a little R & R, camping, fishing, etc. She will meet with her OB/Gyn oncologist on Tuesday to schedule treatment.

I'm sure she will do an update next week once she has more information. Nyshie is doing pretty well, looking at this as another difficult time in the long course of her treatment.

Loving,
Maggie & Ben

Holding pattern…

As timing would have it, both my oncologist and my radiation oncologist left for 10 day vacations last Thursday, which is putting everything on hold for a bit. Based on conversations with them before they left (and thanks to my friend Gerry Lee), I have decided to get a PET scan, hopefully next week. This will show if the cancer has spread to any other lymph nodes outside of my chest/abdomen/pelvis. If so, chemotherapy might be the treatment of choice (not my choice). I don’t have an appt. with them until the 26th so I won’t know anything until then (unless I can bribe the PET scan tech to give me some info). Anyway, I will keep you all posted.

Love,
Big Giant Grandma Nyshie

Taking the summer off…

I’ve been following the doctor’s orders and really enjoying the summer. Spent two weeks on the Mississippi Gulf coast for my family reunion and scattering Henry’s ashes on the beach. And no, at that point, there was no oil on the beach there. We ate shrimp/crab/oyster po-boys the entire time. What’s the worst that could happen? It could give me cancer???







Paul and I had an awesome trip to Jackson Hole over the 4th to see Eric and Jess. Beautiful weather, but lousy fishing. AAHHHH, the Tetons!







Then off to Florida unexpectedly to help Chad and Maggie adopt the new “Baby Nyshie”. Wonderful week being Vivian’s nanny.





And just when I thought my life couldn’t get any better, up pops that nasty “C” word again. Briefly, my CA125 has increased from 36 to 79 as of Friday. A CT scan done this past Sunday (don’t ask) revealed no new tumor growth in my abdomen or pelvis, but one stinkin’ lymph node in my chest is enlarged. Saw the doc today and he’s 99 % certain it’s the “return of the ovarian”. I will most likely have a needle biopsy within the next week and hopefully we can zap it with standard radiation or the cyber knife. We’re still waiting to hear back from the insurance company about my appeal of their denial of the cyber knife treatment. I will post more timely updates as new information is available.

The road goes on forever and the party never ends…

Love you all,
Big Giant Nysh