27 August - Alimta cycle 6 today

Hi everyone, it ha been wet and raining heavily the past few days. When I complained while sending Nicole to school this morning at 6:45am, Jo said Thank the Lord, else we will be suffering with the haze. This was how the day started.

Got to Dr Kong's clinic this morning and everyone there was cheerful, met a few people. There were 2 that were new. When I was taking my weight (86.4kg I have put on so... much) and my blood pressure, overheard Jo asking the nurse how the blood test result were. I had hoped that it would be a dramatic change, as I had asked for this morning but it was not.

All the other blood test reading, red blood cells, haemoglobin, white blood count, platelets, etc are all doing vey well. They are in the good normal range. However the cancer markers have increased at a very slight rate from the last reading. The CEA has moved to 18.4 from 16.8 and the CA125 to 64.3 from 50.1(the prior 2 readings were in 32.7 which was in the normal range).
Reviewed with Dr Kong the result and the x-ray still show that the cancer is STABLE. From the xray, though it is hard to tell, my sister Rose (now can read xray like the doctor), did find 2 small cluster that appear to be smaller. Dr Kong wanted me to stay with Alimta and will continue to monitor before using the oral medication unless I start feeling worse, CEA marker reach 30 or CT scan show it is not controlled. Reason is that Alimta is a slow acting drug, (like a marathon runner vs sprinter), try to give it mileage and act. When we move from Alimta to Oral, we cannot move back to Alimta. Cancer cells build a resistance to the medication over time, the oral medication is the trump card we are holding now. Need to use it wisely.
The oral medication works in 60% of the cases; in these cases there are some that are sustaining, others are slow improvements and in some tremedous reaction that the cancer cells are killed very quickly.
I will continue to pray and put my faith in God, my Father. I ask that you help me do this.
I have to be very grateful to God for what he has done and how he has covered me during my chemotherapy treatment. The few people we met this morning started chemo about the same time as me, all have improved and down to a less frequent chemo treatment. They however have developed numbness in the finger and toes, which is quite common. One of the lady was 'puffy', she may have deep vein thrombosis, had to go for a scan to see if there was a clot. For them I pray they get better and I am thankful to my Father he has spared me these 'scary' side effects. I am not sure how I would be if these had affected me. I still have a half inch area on the right half of my lower lip down to my chin, that the nerves are still not recovered from the wisdom tooth removal. It still has that numb feels when the dentist gives you an injection before he extracts or does major drill to fix a cavity. It will go away over time, the nerves are not damaged, can still feel a sharp/numb object, one or 2 objects in the area.
This reminds me; Had a lecture from the oncologist today, ALWAYS CALL him before you do any surgery even minor or major dental treatment. I was God protected. Due to the Chemo medication you are on, there may be very adverse side effects, also the platelets may be low and blood may not clot, Dental treatment carry high risk of bacteria infection. So from now on, I will have to insist the doctors call my Oncologist and he agrees before doing ANY surgery.
I thought the other doctors will know what to do, but I am special and need to be treated in a special way.
In all, the blog is long. I did not plan on this. expected to be a few lines only. I ws disappointed that there was no miracle, but all the other events and people I met today did show me that God has been good to me and He has covered me with His precious Blood and Love.