OT Long overdue update on how I am doing...

Priceless!
..

In message , Polly Esther
writes
Good for you, Judy. Good, good for you. Everyone should fire a doctor if
they've got it coming.
I didn't fire one but I did light a fire under a cold-hearted young
rascal.
I told him the next time I needed someone from his specialty, I was
going to Dr. X or perhaps Dr. Y.
"Good grief," said young doctor Uppity. " Dr X is the coroner and Dr Y
is a forensic pathologist."
"Right," says I, "and they both treat their patients a whole lot nicer
than you do".
I hear his manner improved a whole lot after that. Polly

--
Best Regards
pat on the hill

And you let the poor Gators go hungry?
Well. I'd like to take care of that. She's (Former DDS) a youn'un that did
NOT finish a root canal when we lived in B'splat...so I'm having it FINISHED
now. Shall I send her to you. She'd be a bitty snack for the babies.
My DDS here in FHs isn't AFRAID to go thru now calcified root to get the
job done.

Butterfly (Pretty much staying quiet until this settles down)

"Polly Esther" wrote in message
...
Good for you, Judy. Good, good for you. Everyone should fire a doctor if
they've got it coming.
I didn't fire one but I did light a fire under a cold-hearted young
rascal.
I told him the next time I needed someone from his specialty, I was
going to Dr. X or perhaps Dr. Y.
"Good grief," said young doctor Uppity. " Dr X is the coroner and Dr Y
is a forensic pathologist."
"Right," says I, "and they both treat their patients a whole lot nicer
than you do".
I hear his manner improved a whole lot after that. Polly

"Judy from Mass" wrote Great to hear this Rita, so far so good. All well
wishes going your way!
When you get some time I'd like to hear more about avastin, though I
doubt it would apply to me.
Getting a new doctor at the end of the month - I fired my last one!

And will continue Rita. very good news!
--
Estelle UK

You are never too old to become the person you should have been!
My photos are here!
http://community.webshots.com/user/EstelleUK11
"Rita L in MA" wrote in message
...
Hi,

I has been ages since I posted a message about my health. There really
hasn't been a whole lot to say, though. I'll probably make up for that
today :-)


So, last time I posted, I had just completed my chemotherapy treatment.
That was two months ago. Since then I have been on a non-chemo drug
that, in simplest terms, prevents the growth of cancer cells. There is
a lot more to it than that but that is its essence. In fact, I just got
back from having my latest dose. (More news about today at the end of
this message.)

I have started to go in to work at my office two days a week. Apart
from feeling like I am in a foreign country sometimes, it feels good.
The rest of the week, I work at home - another foreign country sometimes
:-)
Most days I feel really good, although I still get more tired than I
like to at the end of the day. This is improving slowly.

Probably the most humorous part of all this is the hair loss. I am
happy to report that my hair is now growing back pretty quickly. Most
of my adult friends tell me that it looks very "hip". Children, on the
other hand, tell the truth. One of my almost-four-year-old twin nephews
(Nick, if I remember correctly) observed when he saw me recently that
"You don't have some hair!". I thought that was pretty funny and then
last week my new young friend Alyssa (I had a very nice visit with her,
her younger sister and their mother) asked why I was wearing a scarf on
my head. When I told her, she asked if she could take the scarf off to
see. Once it was off, she asked "Are you a boy or a girl?". (I laughed
at that, too.) We sorted that out and then she decided that I looked
better without the scarf - very tactful child! Even CVS has an
opinion. I recently received a free sample of volumizing shampoo in the
mail from them. The laughing never stops :-)

This brings us to this week. On Monday I had a CT scan and I got the
results today. There has been a small amount of reduction in the size
of my tumor since the last scan. There has also been reduction in its
density. Much of the lymphangitic spread has resolved or reduced. In
short, not perfect but very good news. I will continue to receive the
avastin infusion every three weeks for the foreseeable future. If that
stops working or causes problems, there are other treatments "waiting in
the wings".

That's about it. As always, thank you for all the prayers and well
wishes. Obviously they worked!

Rita



--
Rita L. in MA - One eyed Mutant Ninja Quilter :-)

Rita L in MA wrote:
Hi,

I has been ages since I posted a message about my health. There really
hasn't been a whole lot to say, though. I'll probably make up for that
today :-)


So, last time I posted, I had just completed my chemotherapy treatment.
That was two months ago. Since then I have been on a non-chemo drug
that, in simplest terms, prevents the growth of cancer cells. There is
a lot more to it than that but that is its essence. In fact, I just got
back from having my latest dose. (More news about today at the end of
this message.)

I have started to go in to work at my office two days a week. Apart
from feeling like I am in a foreign country sometimes, it feels good.
The rest of the week, I work at home - another foreign country sometimes
:-)
Most days I feel really good, although I still get more tired than I
like to at the end of the day. This is improving slowly.

Probably the most humorous part of all this is the hair loss. I am
happy to report that my hair is now growing back pretty quickly. Most
of my adult friends tell me that it looks very "hip". Children, on the
other hand, tell the truth. One of my almost-four-year-old twin nephews
(Nick, if I remember correctly) observed when he saw me recently that
"You don't have some hair!". I thought that was pretty funny and then
last week my new young friend Alyssa (I had a very nice visit with her,
her younger sister and their mother) asked why I was wearing a scarf on
my head. When I told her, she asked if she could take the scarf off to
see. Once it was off, she asked "Are you a boy or a girl?". (I laughed
at that, too.) We sorted that out and then she decided that I looked
better without the scarf - very tactful child! Even CVS has an
opinion. I recently received a free sample of volumizing shampoo in the
mail from them. The laughing never stops :-)

This brings us to this week. On Monday I had a CT scan and I got the
results today. There has been a small amount of reduction in the size
of my tumor since the last scan. There has also been reduction in its
density. Much of the lymphangitic spread has resolved or reduced. In
short, not perfect but very good news. I will continue to receive the
avastin infusion every three weeks for the foreseeable future. If that
stops working or causes problems, there are other treatments "waiting in
the wings".

That's about it. As always, thank you for all the prayers and well
wishes. Obviously they worked!

Rita



Thanks so much for the update, Rita. (I wanted to know, but didn't want
to ask!) I'm SO glad the news is encouraging, and that you're feeling
good.

The stories of interacting with the children are priceless! Your good
humor tells me you are a very exceptional person.

Keeping the positive thoughts coming your way!
Michelle in NV

Rita,
Glad to hear there was some good news for you. Kids do say the
darndest things, dont they?

Keeping you in my P & T"s!

amy in CNY

I went to a different place a couple of months ago, told that doctor not
to say anything to her, but of course it was on my records - she called
him and said all the right things but her demeanor was bad - but it's
always been. She called me after I switched this time too. So defensive,
but she's done. Hopefully I'll like or at least get along with the next
one (and, you know, there's more where that comes from, if need be) Im
the first to admit I don't like doctors! But I don't need to hear "I'm
surprised you're doing as well as you're doing!" from the gal who's
prescribing my chemotherapy!
Judy from Mass

Polly Esther wrote:
Good for you, Judy. Good, good for you. Everyone should fire a doctor if
they've got it coming.
I didn't fire one but I did light a fire under a cold-hearted young
rascal.
I told him the next time I needed someone from his specialty, I was
going to Dr. X or perhaps Dr. Y.
"Good grief," said young doctor Uppity. " Dr X is the coroner and Dr Y
is a forensic pathologist."
"Right," says I, "and they both treat their patients a whole lot nicer
than you do".
I hear his manner improved a whole lot after that. Polly

Judy from Mass wrote:
I went to a different place a couple of months ago, told that doctor not
to say anything to her, but of course it was on my records - she called
him and said all the right things but her demeanor was bad - but it's
always been. She called me after I switched this time too. So defensive,
but she's done. Hopefully I'll like or at least get along with the next
one (and, you know, there's more where that comes from, if need be) Im
the first to admit I don't like doctors! But I don't need to hear "I'm
surprised you're doing as well as you're doing!" from the gal who's
prescribing my chemotherapy!
Judy from Mass


Yikes! That is a truly STUPID thing for your former doc to say. You
were right to fire her. No matter how bright she may be intellectually,
she's a real dope where it counts.

Michelle in NV

I was just about to pick up my cup of tea but I am glad I didn't otherwise
Polly would have to come down here and clean my monitor !!

Dee in Oz

"Patti" wrote in Priceless!

HI Rita! Good to hear that your situation is very good, even if not perfect.
Some of the most beautiful women I know are bald, or were bald. Yes, chemo
patients.
Hugs, Pat in Virginia

"Rita L in MA" wrote in message
...
Hi,

I has been ages since I posted a message about my health. There really
hasn't been a whole lot to say, though. I'll probably make up for that
today :-)


So, last time I posted, I had just completed my chemotherapy treatment.
That was two months ago. Since then I have been on a non-chemo drug
that, in simplest terms, prevents the growth of cancer cells. There is
a lot more to it than that but that is its essence. In fact, I just got
back from having my latest dose. (More news about today at the end of
this message.)

I have started to go in to work at my office two days a week. Apart
from feeling like I am in a foreign country sometimes, it feels good.
The rest of the week, I work at home - another foreign country sometimes
:-)
Most days I feel really good, although I still get more tired than I
like to at the end of the day. This is improving slowly.

Probably the most humorous part of all this is the hair loss. I am
happy to report that my hair is now growing back pretty quickly. Most
of my adult friends tell me that it looks very "hip". Children, on the
other hand, tell the truth. One of my almost-four-year-old twin nephews
(Nick, if I remember correctly) observed when he saw me recently that
"You don't have some hair!". I thought that was pretty funny and then
last week my new young friend Alyssa (I had a very nice visit with her,
her younger sister and their mother) asked why I was wearing a scarf on
my head. When I told her, she asked if she could take the scarf off to
see. Once it was off, she asked "Are you a boy or a girl?". (I laughed
at that, too.) We sorted that out and then she decided that I looked
better without the scarf - very tactful child! Even CVS has an
opinion. I recently received a free sample of volumizing shampoo in the
mail from them. The laughing never stops :-)

This brings us to this week. On Monday I had a CT scan and I got the
results today. There has been a small amount of reduction in the size
of my tumor since the last scan. There has also been reduction in its
density. Much of the lymphangitic spread has resolved or reduced. In
short, not perfect but very good news. I will continue to receive the
avastin infusion every three weeks for the foreseeable future. If that
stops working or causes problems, there are other treatments "waiting in
the wings".

That's about it. As always, thank you for all the prayers and well
wishes. Obviously they worked!

Rita



--
Rita L. in MA - One eyed Mutant Ninja Quilter :-)