helping devo kick cancer's butt

update from Devo: treatment changes ahead

Posted on December 16, 2014 by nomadicsamuels

I was at the BC Cancer Agency today for my appointment before chemo today (Monday the 15th), as I always do. My blood work is good to go to continue with chemo tomorrow (Tuesday the 16th).

So, after meeting with Dr Connors it is decided that I will “officially” be taken out of the clinical trial. The reason for this is because Dr Connors feels it is in my best interest to continue doing the chemo regime that I have been doing for the past 4 months which is by IV drip: bendamustine & rituximab. If you remember, I missed doing the drug bendamustine for my second round of chemo. I only did rituximab due to the chemical reaction I had to the trial drug. The clinical trial company didn’t want me to do rituximab again with the bendamustine as I have done 6 rounds already. Dr Connors feels that it is in my best interest to do both, thus the reason I am out. I am totally good with this. I know my doctor and believe he knows what is best for me. I won’t be doing a CT scan tomorrow, only chemo & then again on Wednesday.

Moving forward my plan of attack is to do chemo maintenance in March and a CT scan to see where I stand. Chemo maintenance will be rituximab every 3 months for the next 2 years. It sounds daunting, but really isn’t. It has shown great success in keeping the cancer at bay. The side effects of rituximab aren’t as bad as bendamustine so it should be okay to deal with.

I am hoping that the next 2 days of chemo go well. I am hoping that don’t have the congestion side effects that I have been having for the past few months. I sound like I’m super nasally – like the teacher from Charlie Brown. It’s not an infection as I have seen an ENT doctor and she says it all looks good. I live on decongestions & Medi-pot a lot . The congestion has made me a little hard of hearing in my right ear which is not fun, so I pray it doesn’t continue or get worst. Fatigue is a factor too these days, and I hope that doesn’t slow me down over the holiday season.

Happy holidays!

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Finally!

Posted on December 15, 2014 by nomadicsamuels

Here’s an update from Devo for you all! Woo hoo! Great news!

I head down to the city today for my last round of tests & chemo.

Monday: blood work & doctor’s appointment. Eric is driving me down & back for the day.
Tuesday: CT scan at 9am & chemo from 10:30am to 3:00pm
I’m expecting a couple of friends, Deb Welsh & Deb Blucke, to visit during chemo. Tuesday overnight in the city with my friend Lisa Davidson. We are hoping to do a little Christmas shopping & dinner again at our new favourite place to eat “Peaceful Restaurant”.
Wednesday: Chemo for an hour, time to be determined and back up the highway to rest for the holidays.

Thank you very much for all of your help and support during my treatment – to say it’s been an adventure is an understatement. Casper has now been put away for the winter season. I went for a final ride today on the beautiful sun. Check out Casey racing after me – she loves her Auntie Devo.

Merry Christmas and happy 2015! I hope Santa is as good to you all as we all know he’ll be to me 🙂

Cheers, Devo

If you’d like to help Devo practically for her last round of chemo, PLEASE CLICK HERE TO PROVIDE A MEAL FOR DEVO. Only 2 dates left: December 17 & 19. Thanks so much!

Devon enjoying her last ride on Casper for the season. Thank you so much for such a wonderful gift!

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Update from Devo: one more round to go

Posted on November 28, 2014 by nomadicsamuels

This month, Devon did what she thought was going to be her last round of chemotherapy in her fight against cancer. When she went to see her oncologist last week, however, they agreed that she needed to do a 7th round in December.

If you recall back to Devon’s 2nd treatment, it wasn’t a full dose of chemo because of her severe allergic reactions she was recovering from – so that month only 1 round of chemo was done instead of the regular 2 rounds. So she is going for a 7th round so that she gets (in Devon’s words!) ‘the full meal deal’ / ‘the most bank for her buck’ / ‘the full enchilada’ / ‘the whole shebang’. Devon agrees that it is better to do the 7th round consecutively instead of taking a break and coming back to it.

Also at her last appointment with her oncologist, Dr. Connors, he told her the congestion she’s experiencing and feeling like she has a sinus infection is normal. It’s actually one of the side effects. She went to the ENT doctor and she has Devon on over the counter decongestions and we are all hoping it won’t become an infection. Devon is trying to stay healthy and resting lots.

Thanks so much to Lisa Davidson, who went down with Devon to the city for her appointments. “It was fun to hang with her! We did a little Christmas shopping & ate at a great restaurant that I had wanted to eat at for a while.” Thanks, Lisa!

Dates for last chemo:

Devon’s last round of chemotherapy will be December 15 to 17. She’s having a CT scan on December 16, so we will have results from that after Christmas.

Lastly, Devon was pleased to be was healthy enough for her last treatment to spend the weekend over Remembrance Day in Vancouver with Noah at a hockey tournament, which his team won! If you know Devon at all, you know how much she loves to watch Noah play hockey!

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Here’s how your support has made a difference!

Posted on October 17, 2014 by nomadicsamuels

We wanted to write a quick update to thank you, again, for your incredible support of Devon and her family during these past months. Its been full of ups and downs emotionally and medically, but Devo is winning! Her chemo is working and with only 2 treatments left to go, the end is in sight and Devon couldn’t be happier about it. Lately she’s been really exhausted and her immune system is really compromised. With the changing of the seasons, she is constantly battling sinus and ear infections – very painful and hard to kick even with the help of anti-biotics.

With just 2 treatments left, we want you to see specifically how your support from Devo’s fundraiser has helped Devon and her family:

MealTrain: this has been huge! Thank you to everyone who has signed up for it and helped out by cooking healthy food for Devo and her boys.
Dental appointments: Devo had to have her teeth checked as the acid reflux loosened her teeth and they were hurting. She’s ok but needed x-rays to verify.
Eye doctor appointments: due to burning from the inside out during her allergic reactions, she had swelling in her right eye and ear. Her eye is ok. Devon still has a hearing test in the near future for her hearing.
Medical prescriptions: Devon’s plan covers a certain amount towards prescriptions. Your support helped offset the costs of all her antibiotics, anti-nausea pills, prescriptions that helped with her reactions and pain relievers.
Gas, food and hotel costs while staying in Vancouver 3 days a month.
The purchase of Casper – Devon’s electronic bike that helps her get around town and outdoors for fresh air.
House cleaning once a month to help keep Devon healthy.
Naturopath appointments: Devon will be seeing a Naturopath after her chemo to help build up her immune system again.

Thank you so much for all your support! We made this video of Devon cruising on her bike, Casper. Enjoy!

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Sick of being sick

Posted on October 6, 2014 by nomadicsamuels

Devon has been suffering from a sinus infection for a while now and is currently on round two of antibiotics. Unfortunately, she now also has an ear infection.

She’s really uncomfortable (that’s putting it mildly!) and just tired of feeling sick. With her immune system so compromised because of the chemo she is incredibly susceptible to illness and it becomes harder for her body to heal.

Please pray for her speedy recovery. Encouraging words, notes and emails would be great for her right now.

Also, if you happen to be sick or are feeling a little under the weather, please consider visiting with her only once you’ve fully recovered. Thank you for understanding!

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The chemo is working!

Posted on September 23, 2014 by nomadicsamuels

What great news from Devon! She went to Vancouver on Monday to see her oncologist, Dr. Connors, to receive the results from her CT Scan. Devon is happy to report that the chemo is doing it’s job! She had a 4cm by 3cm node in her neck which has disappeared, thanks to the chemotherapy. The other nodes in her body are shrinking as well. AWESOME!

Devon is beyond thrilled that the chemotherapy is working – aren’t we all? She’s half way there and only has 3 more rounds to go (that’s 3 more months of treatment). Her blood work was good on Monday so she heads down to Vancouver again for chemo on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Devon also sent me the new dates for her meal train for October. If you’d like to support her and her family practically, please sign up to cook a meal or have on delivered.

Thank you to everyone for your incredible support for Devon and her family. This news is just what they all needed to hear to help her through the final few months of treatment.

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half way there!

Posted on September 16, 2014 by nomadicsamuels

Devon sent me the following to share with you on her blog to celebrate her being half way done her treatments:

Devon did the Terry Fox run this past week to help raise money for cancer research.

I went down this past week for my 15 day blood work and half way point CT scan. I hope to get the results at my next appointment with Dr Connors on September 22. I will be doing round #4 on the 23rd & 24th if my blood work is good.

I am at the half way point of my treatment! I am hoping that I continue to feel as good as I do. I have a few side effects that are bothering me, but nothing compared to what I faced in July after my reactions. The one side effect that is really bothering me is my heart burn/acid reflux. My throat is really hurting me, which I assume is from the reaction as I burnt from the inside out and my throat was very sore in July. I wonder if it’s actually the cancer shrinking. That is what could be bothering me, as it’s my glands that are sore. I went to the doctor in town and was told it looks clear and isn’t strep throat, so maybe the CT results will show more. I might have to see an ENT about it if it persists.

I did the Terry Fox Run with my sister Erin this week. It was a last minute decision and I am glad I attended. It was great to get outside and enjoy the sun. We walked the short course of 4.3km. I was a little out of breathe on some of the hills, but felt awesome at the end.

Thank you to everyone for your words of support, MealTrain and visits. It so amazing having you all in my life.

Cheers from Whistler!

Devon and Erin doing the Terry Fox run together last week in Whistler to raise money for cancer research.

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coping with side effects

Posted on September 1, 2014 by nomadicsamuels

Devon asked me this morning to update her blog with her current side effects she’s struggling with. So here goes:

Devon has a rash on her body, which his extremely uncomfortable and itchy all the time
Her body is swollen due to the Benzadmustine and it makes her uncomfortable
Mouth sores are sensitive and painful
Nausea
VERY irritable and she’s trying her best to control that and deal with it but its hard when its the drugs causing it. (Eric and Noah could also probably use some prayers for this side-effect!)

Meal Train Dates Updated!
Devon has also given me her September dates for the MEAL TRAIN. If you’d like to support Devo practically, please sign up to cook a healthy meal for her and her family. If you live out of town, never fear! There are options for you also on the meal train! Consider signing up and having a meal delivered to her (links and instructions are on the meal train website on how to do this).

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post-chemo update

Posted on August 28, 2014 by nomadicsamuels

Devon on the first of two days of chemo this month. What a trooper!

Devon’s chemo went better than expected despite having some redness from round 1 on Tuesday. Dr. Connors says its the capillaries that are expanded by heat causing the redness and hopefully they will go down.

Devon is busy resting and recovering at home and enjoying mom’s last week of visiting this month.

If you’d like to support Devon practically, we’ll have new dates added to her meal train after mom leaves in early September. She has little energy for cooking but needs to keep her energy up with good nutrition. We’ll let you know when there are new dates to sign up for.

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update from Devon

Posted on August 25, 2014 by nomadicsamuels

Its treatment #3 this week for me. I’m in Vancouver today (Monday) undergoing my regular blood work this month. If my blood work is good then I will be doing chemo at 10:30am on Tuesday and then again on Wednesday (time to be determined). My mom will be joining me for the 3 days in the city.

I am a little nervous about this round. The reason being that we will be reintroducing the drug Bendamustine to my cocktail of drugs. The first round of chemo I was part of a clinical trial and I I took 3 drugs: Rituximab and Bendamustine along with the clinical trial drug. I had a major reaction – burning from the inside out. I stopped taking the clinical trial drug until my system was back to normal. They thought I had the reaction to Bendamustine, thus the reason they started me up on the clinical trial drug again last round. After taking one pill of the clinical trial I was back in the hospital with the same reaction. So, for round #2 my doctor only gave me Rituximab allowing my body to heal. For round #3 I will be taking Rituximab (again) and reintroducing Bendamustine on Tuesday and then on Wednesday another round of Bendamustine. I am praying that the drugs are easier on my system than they have been. I also hope that the anti-nausea pills are helpful and don’t make me as jittery & anxious as I was in July for round #1.

August was alot better for me than July. I actually don’t remember a lot of the month of July as I was in bed most of it and the anti-nausea medication made me jittery. In August I was able to get out of the house more and enjoy some of the lakes and visit with friends. My mom has been here visiting for a month and we have been able to enjoy the time together. I even went to Sunset in West Vancouver to to enjoy the ocean with my family and my sister’s family.

Thank you to everyone so much for your support. It really helps knowing I have so many people behind me cheering me on.

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