No news is good news

Victoria came with me on December 20th to my 9 month surveillance tests with Dr. Lingas.  Essentially the bloodwork analysis and chest / abdomen and lymph node checking are all to check the status of my cancer...to try and assess whether the chemotherapy has been successful at killing the remaining cancer cells post resection surgery.  The bloodwork is a CEA test which looks for the carcinoembryonic antigen or a protein in my blood that is evidence of colon cancer.  The physical exam looks for evidence of spread or invasion to lungs, abdomen, pelvis and lymph nodes under my armpits.

Surprisingly I was not as anxious as I would have thought I would be...and I owe it to the fact that with a newborn baby at home I have no desire to focus on anything negative with my own health and have been 100 percent, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week consumed with Benjamin and Victoria.  Or perhaps it was because we spent a lot of time talking with Dr. Lingas about babies, breastfeeding, sleep and NOT cancer. 

But...alas the reason for the appointment with Dr. Lingas eventually manifest itself and we discussed the state of things.  Although she did not have the CEA test results back she did have the CBC (complete blood count) analysis to analyze how my recovery from treatments is coming along.  The bloodwork shows that my immune system is recovering...my white blood cells look to be restored to normal, my neutrophils are normal.  For the red blood cells and platelets the news is a little less positive with my counts still being lower than normal.  Not dangerously low or anything to worry about as they are trending upward but still evidence that the 7 months of chemo really wiped out my system and that it will take time to recover.  As for side effects we talked about some of my appetite, my GI system, my bowel movements - yes - a frank discussion of my bowel movements.Obviously we are all acutely interested in the health of my colon and whether there was any negative warning signs...blood, abnormal stools....all the symptoms I had experienced prior to the diagnosis of Stage 3B Colon Cancer and prior to my colonoscopy and then colon resection surgery.  I am happy to report to you (as I was to Dr. Lingas) that my bowels are working great...never been better actually.
We discussed other side effects that I am still struggling with such as my neuropathy, my fingers being a complete mess, my fatigue and extreme weakness in my hips and legs.  She examined my lungs, my pelvis, my abdomen, my armpits, my neck...all seems clear.  And we talked very openly, candidly about future surveillance.  She knew I was already scheduled for a colonoscopy in March, one year after my original diagnosis but I told her frankly that I wanted to stay as aggressive as we can in terms of surveillance.  You see I don't want to go 6 months or a year only to discover that there has been a recurrence or a spread of the cancer and that if we had have caught it earlier through surveillance we could have had positive outcomes or greater opportunities to resolve it.  So Dr. Lingas supports me having further CT scan in March as well.  We discussed the benefits and cons to either CT scanning versus MRI testing and decided to stick with CT scan.  My naturopath had suggested looking at a less radioactive approach than CT scan but if it is the best option for surveilling my type of cancer then let's stick with it.  So...three months from now will be a critical milestone in terms of my cancer journey.  One year surveillance with both scope and with CT will give us a good picture of my battle and our success at kicking the crap out of those damn cancer cells.

Oh yeah..as for the CEA test Dr. Lingas and I have a deal.  She will ONLY call me during the holidays when she checks the results of the test if there is something concerning in the results - if the CEA levels are elevated.  Otherwise and although it may sound cliche..."no news is good news".  (and it is December 29 so I am assuming...no I am stating that all is well and that the CEA test showed no elevation of the cancer markers in my blood).

Until next post I hope and wish for all of you to be surrounded by love, peace, joy and laughter...and of course great food and drink!!! After all it is the Christmas season!

CEA...like the CIA...it's all about surveillance

This post is a return to discussion of my cancer journey as I am preparing myself mentally for the next round of surveillance tests, at the 9 month post-surgery and diagnosis mark.  December 20.  Another significant date.  You see it is on December 20 that I have another special blood test, the CEA test (Carcinoembryonic Antigen), and meet with my Oncologist.   If you remember from a previous posting, the CEA test is a blood test that is part of the surveillance protocol specific to colon cancer.  Cancer of the colon typically secrets a protein known as carcinoembryonic antigen and 70% of colon cancer patients return positive markers for this protein . http://www.lifelabs.com/Lifelabs_BC/Patients/MedicalConditions/Colon_Cancer_-_CEA.asp
So...elevated levels of CEA in the blood can indicate recurrence of the tumour or metastatic spread to other areas of the body.  My last CEA test in August showed no elevation of this marker.  Now, some weeks after the completion of my chemotherapy regimen, this test will be important to gauge the success of the drug therapy at preventing recurrence or spread of the cancer.

One week before Christmas...great timing.   I realize that with the birth of my son recently I have been entirely focused (thankfully) on something other than my cancer and this upcoming next milestone.  But I would be lying if I didn't recognize that there is always in the back of my conciousness this anxiety about this test.  I guess I accept that this will be my "fate" for the next several years - trying desperately to NOT think about the battle, to NOT fear the worst - and focus on the positive, life-affirming things in my world. So...until then I remain focused on my life with Benjamin and Victoria.  You cannot get more life-affirming than having a newborn baby to nuture, to watch develop and grow. 

My health is slowly (and I emphasize slowly) improving.  Ironically, I have been stricken with a bad cold - ironic because I endured 7 months of treatments, a complete bottoming out of my immune system, being at high risk for infection and being on alert for any fever or cold/ illness that could be serious for someone immune compromised like me without getting sick other than the drug side effects.  Then, within a month of completing these treatments I get this.  Oh well.   It is what it is.  I am starting a new supplement regimen now to restore and rebuild both my GI system and my immunity.  This includes bovine colostrum supplements, Vitamin C powder, Plant Sterols, probiotic supplements and lots and lots of ginger, garlic, green and white tea.  I recognize that it took 7 months to pretty much destroy my GI tract and immune system so it will take some time to restore my systems to health.  My energy level is getting better each day.  My taste buds are coming back - YIPPPPPEEEEE!!!!!!!!  Unfortunately my fingers and toes are still a friggin' mess.  I have difficulty typing, writing, holding anything in my fingers that requires fine motor skills and my nails are just a disaster.  They are rippled, cracked, hurt and will take months to grow out.  And I have discovered a new side effect that is not getting better at all - when I close my eyes when standing such as in the shower I become immediately imbalanced, disoriented and almost dangerously unsteady.  But, again, it is what it is.  I am determined to recover, keep my diet healthy, get physically fit as best as I can, continue to manage my mental and emotional health through activities like the registered massage therapy and this blog (I use this blog as my own release, my own therapy if you will).

Until next post, much love and good health to all. 

Look who decided to join us

It has been a few weeks since my last post but I have a pretty good reason for my "silence"...you see I / we have been a bit busy lately.  Many of my Blog followers may have already heard the news through the grapevine or through emails and messages sent out but for those who haven't yet heard...Victoria and I are proud to announce the arrival of our beautiful and healthy son, Benjamin Edward Brown, born at 1:02 pm, Sunday November 25, at St. Joseph's Hospital in Toronto via unplanned C-section and weighing in at 6lbs and 11 oz.   We were supported by our midwives from Midwife Alliance, and our super awesome doula, Kinsi (sp?).  Victoria went into labour in the afternoon on Saturday November 25 and then active labour by about 11pm.  Our midwives and doula arrived at our home shortly after midnight and they helped me support Victoria who slowly dilated and increasingly got nearer to being ready to push.  But, Baby Benjamin had other plans I guess as he never fully dropped into position.  Our midwife, Abir, worked to stretch Victoria and have her progress but after after a few hours of pushing, consults with the doctors at St. Joe's to determine if Ben had dropped enough to be assisted out, and agonizing exhausting painful labour for Victoria, it became a more urgent situation.   Little Benjamin apparently pooped in the womb and his heartrate went into distress.  Benjamin decided to force his mother and I to veer from our birth plan after approximately 14 hours of active labour on Victoria's part but in the end it all worked out for the positive. 

 

And a special shout out to all the staff, the nurses, doctors at St. Joseph's - they are just spectacular.  Like the treatment I received on the Surgical ward after my surgery in March and the compassion with which I have been cared for by the Oncology team over the past several months...every staff member we interact with at St. Joe's is just great.  Truly this is a special hospital.

We are all doing well.  Victoria is slowly recovering from the events of the day almost a couple of weeks ago.  Benjamin is thriving (as his Nana would lovingly say), feeding well, and sleeping like a Champ for the most part.  He has decided he wants to sleep soundly throughout the day and be alert, fussy and needy from about midnight to early morning.  It's been a couple of weeks of wonderful firsts...first bath, first poop, first pee all over his Mom and we look forward to every day of firsts with our son. 

Attached are some pictures we had taken in the hospital...you will see that he inherited his Dad's prominent nose, piano-playing fingers and bend-it-like-Beckham feet and Mom's beautiful eyes, mouth, chin and forehead.

Also, a huge shout out to all of you who continue to show us much love and support.  We appreciate it!

But, lastly there is someone that deserves special recognition. Victoria:  I am entirely in awe of your truly amazing strength for what you endured during the labour.  You sacrificed so much and faced it all with such calm strength that you awed not only me but all those who supported you for those 14+ hours.  Thank you.  And seeing you with Benjamin, watching him thrive every day just further reinforces what I have known for some time now.  You are as wonderful a mother as you are a wife and partner to me.