Journaling Gaye

 September 30, 2022 This has been an up and down and eventful week.  Gaye was feeling "off" in that her footfall was awkward and her left hand was not grasping well.  Phil (Lynne's brother-in-law who is a retired radiologist who read Gaye's MRI) noticed that there was quite a bit of swelling in her brain from the secondary tumors which was causing shifting in her brain and suggested we talk to her oncologist about taking something to reduce the swelling.  Upon talking with her oncologist he agreed that this could help and might relieve some of her symptoms and put her on a steriod.  His hesitation was that with steriods there are concerns because they can and do cause unfavorable side affects (interfere with sleep patterns, large increases in eating urges to name a few and there was no guarantee that this would relieve her symptoms).  So Gaye began steroids' on Sunday (one Sunday night and then 3 for the following day).  The oncologist checked in with ...

  September 23, 2022 Gaye had both a blood test and MRI done this week and then a discussion with her oncologist.   The news was disheartening, as she already suspected, since she was starting to have symptoms that were not normal for her.   She noticed that her balance (footfalls) and coordination (hand grasping and poor response to command) were different.   Cognitively she is good.   The oncologist shared that while the surgically removed tumor had not grown considerably, the two smaller tumors had.    These are located in another part of her brain and explain the different symptom she is experiencing this time.   Basically, the radiation and chemo were not slowing the growth of these tumors.   So, she will discontinue the current chemo regimen.   Apparently these two tumors are not operable either. There are possible studies/clinicals at UCLA that might apply to Gaye’s tumor and so her oncologist will send the researchers Gaye’s ...

 September 3, 2022 Well, Gaye has completed one week of the higher dose of her chemo maintenance treatment and done well.  She had no stomach issues (no nausea) and sleeping went well.  Eating and energy are good as well.  Feeling positive about where she is right now.  In fact, we (Bob, Lynne and Gaye) have decided to book a Fall Foliage cruise from Montreal to New York - an 11 day river cruise (October 11-21) with hopefully lots of beautiful fall colors.  We figured if we kept it more local (not international, as in not off the continent that is) that this was doable.  And of course cruising makes it so simple.  We are excited and were able to get some last minute rooms on Oceania.  This will be between chemo treatments so picking the best possible timing we hope. Gaye's main sadness is her hair right now, so we went and got her "hair done".  Think she is going to be pleased with the results.  Tried a lot of styles but this one re...