Back on Xeloda, Tumor Marker Down

My tumor marker was down to 2180 last week. Two weeks ago it was 2818. It is still way above the normal range which is something like 10 - 50, but it has trended downward since I started Xeloda in late June, so we are encouraged.

I have been very tired since last Friday and have had some flu-like symptoms. Still, I worked all day Saturday. I said to myself, you have to do the bookstore today - just do it. A young girl in town named Kelsey who's in junior high came in to work and she was a big help. She ran the register and I was able to get a lot done. I also did my radio show on Sunday afternoon. Now that I'm on Xeloda, I think of the song by The Clash called "My Sharona", to which I sing "My Xeloda". I told my listeners it's a song to fight cancer by.

I started back on the Xeloda at half dose on Sunday. I knew if I were working in the bookstore all day on Saturday, that it might aggravate the hand-foot syndrome if I started sooner. So far, so good - my feet aren't swelling.

Today, I was really tired and had flu like symptoms, but I had to go into the bookstore at 2pm. I took some Tylenol and Immodium and felt much better this afternoon. Once I got to work I felt better - I think the over-the-counter meds kicked in. My appetite was really good tonight so I had a nice steak dinner.

I have chemo on Thursday morning at 8:15am. We'll leave from Grand Junction that day for Denver to attend a mineral sale Friday morning, then we'll head back home to Ouray afterwards. We'll get to see Robert's son Ian for dinner Thursday night. Ian graduated from Colorado State University last December with a degree in art and got a really good job in Denver last February. We are very proud of him. He graduated magna cum laude.

I am pooped and need to hit the hay. We have a meeting at 9:00 am to renew our lease at the bookstore.

Thanks again to everyone for all their support.

Just up here in Colorado enjoying some sunny weather. It finally quit raining here.

Sincerely, Caroline