New Treatments

Well I started my new treatment, a weekly injection, of a drug called Nplate which is supposed to boost my platelets. The previous treatments suppressed my immune system in order to stop my body from attacking platelets. And so far (3 weeks in) the new treatments seem to be working to boost my levels. However, there are already some major downsides to the new treatment:

• Nausea, Headache, etc. I have affectionately nicknamed this my "Chemo Hangover"
• Severe joint pain, especially in my wrists, hips, and knees (I feel like I am 80, not 30)
• I have to have the treatment weekly, indefinitely

Even though my doctor said medically, I could continue to train for my half marathon, it has been difficult and slow going since the pain in my knees and hips is worse when I run, and even walking long distances seems to be a chore. I started taking Glucosamine, but the full effects of the supplement are normally not realized for several (4-6 weeks).

To make a long story short, it looks like I will be walking most, if not all, of the half marathon in 2 weeks. I am trying not to feel defeated, but it is hard, when you set a goal and then these medical roadblocks keep coming up. I already had to withdraw from the first half marathon that I signed up for in 2010, because of my ITP. So I refuse to withdraw again, I will complete it, even if I need a wheelchair afterwards!!!!

Thank you for all of your support and encouraging words. I will keep you all posted!

Updates...

Sorry its been awhile. We have had a busy month or so...

Well I finished my 5 rounds of Rituxan Chemotherapy in early March, and was very optimistic about the outcome. My platelet levels were stable, and I was feeling great. My surgeon, (did I even mention I had surgery February 25th?) Any how, he released me to start exercising again, after 6 LONG weeks; starting with walking. I felt so strong, I wanted to run!!

I started back with Team in Training, April 2nd and "walked" 5 miles around the Lafayette Reservoir. It felt awesome, and I was so happy to be back training with my team. I then took the following weekend off so I could dedicate the weekend to fundraising for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

Last weekend, Saturday April 16th I walked 6.4 miles with Team in Training, and Sunday April 17th "ran" in my first official 10k race. The LARPD Run for the Parks. I had a wonderful experience, even if I came in second to last. (I thought there would be more run/walkers in the 10k besides me, but I was wrong, they were all in the 5k. And everyone in the 10k was booking it.) Oh well, it was an awesome time anyway.

Yesterday, April 19th, I found out that I had relapsed... My platelets are again at a dangerously low level and we have to try a new treatment protocol. BUMMER! I am now going to be doing NPlate, a weekly injection of Chemotherapy, which is better than an infusion over 3-6 hours every week, so I will take it! The only down side that I see so far with this, it that this treatment is indefinite. Once you start this treatment it is very difficult to come off it without a MAJOR drop in your platelet counts, it is a last resort treatment. I don't really like the sound of that. But, I am hopeful it will work, and if that is what I have to do to stay "healthy" I guess that is what I will have to do.

I am also grateful, that my oncologist did not ask me to stop training this time. I love training, and I was just able to start again, so I couldn't imagine if he had asked me to stop.

Thanks everyone for your support, and encouragement, I really appreciate it!

February Fun!

So let's see, since I last updated the blog. The next day 2/15 - I wound up in Urgent Care, I had some excessive unexplained bleeding, and after a few hours, a bunch of tests, and much to do about nothing they sent me home! (No worse for wear though, they stopped the bleeding). And thank goodness I have had enough of Hospitals lately...

Then Thursday 2/17 I had my 3rd weekly round of Chemo which went well and both Trevor and I got some good napping in - since after we were done we then had a LONG drive in the heavy snow to Tahoe for a fun and much needed vacation. We spent the long President's Day weekend in a cabin with 3 other families.

There was SO MUCH SNOW!! The men made a snow hill for the "kids" to sled on. And re-built it constantly to get the most jumps and turns they could. I think Trevor spent all day everyday we were there outside designing that sled hill. (Much like the BMX track in our backyard, but much easier to work with according to him.) The kids absolutely loved it, and sledding all day long in the driveway of the Cabin.

The ladies played in the snow with the babies, talked, and cooked great meals, and we just generally hung out and had a great time. A very relaxing weekend!

Besides the blizzard like conditions that made it impossible to get anywhere on the roads, and meant a 14 hour drive for some of our friends just to get there!! Then getting stuck in the snow, pulling trucks out of the snow, cars getting towed... But we won't talk about that we would rather forget about that part!




I love Chemo! JK -- But it is Valentine's Day

So, do I really LOVE chemo?

No, but I am so excited to tell you all about how well my newest chemotherapy treatments went last week. I started a new drug last week developed by local, Genentech, with funds from the LLS and TNT. How cool is that? http://www.rituxan.com/ Check it out, it is pretty cool.

So, I was at Contra Costa Oncology all day on Thursday for my treatment, and it went well besides the reaction I had to it (think -- hives, itching, throat swelling, etc.) but my chemo nurses stopped it right away with some steroids and we were able to keep going. This treatment compared to my last drug, was much better in terms of feeling better, and more awake. Normally I am passed out the entire treatment session and the whole rest of the day. With Rituxan I was awake for most of the treatment (5-6 hours) and then I felt great afterwards, better than I have in months. And my oncologist said I was responding so well to the treatments that we could go ahead with a surgery we have had to delay due to low platelet counts. Surgery is scheduled for Feb 25th, and that will pause my training a little, but excited to get it out of the way sooner than later in the training season. So, yeah, I kinda love chemo right now!

Training is going well, this Saturday, I ran/walked 3 miles with my team and Trevor biked 28 miles with his team. Cool thing about Trevor's training on Saturday was that one of his teammates actually works for Genentech and helped develop Rituxan, (my new chemo drug)!!! Very cool, such a great connection Trevor made, since they were able to discuss my treatments at length. Cool for him too cause he got to hear about how his hard work is paying off for one of his teammate's wife!

So I guess maybe I do have tons of LOVE for Chemotherapy today!

Happy Valentine's Day everyone, thanks for your support!

--Annalee

Our first Run!

Well, we had our first official "coached run" this past Saturday in Emeryville along the waterfront, it was beautiful. Even though I has just had chemo two days prior -- I did participate! (against my doctor's orders, but I felt it would be better for my soul than sitting it out.)

It was so great to listen to our Team Honoree, David, talk about his experience with chemo and training. Especially since he always talks about his miracle drug, Rituxan, which was developed her in the San Francisco Bay Area with research funds directly from TnT!

The reason I was so excited about hearing about his experiences with Rituxan, is because I will be starting 4 weeks of chemo this Thursday with that exact drug. He said I will "love" it! (As much as anyone can love chemo I suppose.) My hair won't fall out and I shouldn't have as many bad side effects. However, some of the down sides are that my old treatments were very short compared to the new Rituxan treatments. I used to go once every few months, for a couple of hours total. Now, I will be going once a week for the next 4 weeks and I will be on the IV for 6 hours at a time! ;-/

Oh well, this is life, and I am happy to have one at all! And happy I am blessed with great family, friends, TnT teammates, and the best DOCTORS & NURSES!

Minor Setback

Well, the training season has just barely began (1/31) and I already have my first health related setback. I saw my oncologist yesterday and found out that my platelets are extremely low and I have to have chemotherapy treatment today. The doc also said I can't train until my platelets are stable (which after treatment they should be within 24-48 hours). So hopefully I can still make the first big coached run of the season this Saturday in Emeryville. The doctor also said the current treatments seem to be less and less effective in raising my platelets and that he would like to try a new chemotherapy drug for my next treatment - so I will learn all about that today (and its lovely risks and side effects).

My doc could tell how disappointed I was in hearing

a.) I can't train right now, and

b.) the treatments are only sending me into remission for couple of months

-- so looked at me right in the eyes and said "I know you don't like me telling you No, but we have to treat you - this is the reality of your disease, it is going to interrupt your plans and your life sometimes... But, don't worry I WILL FIX YOU, I PROMISE!"

It was so comforting to hear that, I am so glad to have found such an awesome oncologist, it is such a blessing to have a doctor that cares about me and understands my disease, because so many before him didn't.

I know this disease doesn't have a cure, YET, but someday it will, I know it -- and my doctor promised me!! So for know, we will continue to treat it with the chemotherapy drugs that they have discovered via the LLS raising funds for blood cancer research. This makes our decision to join TnT even more meaningful - I truly do benefit from the research the fundraising supports.

Thanks everyone for the well wishes, I will see you on the other side - (after the chemo that is).

Annalee

Its been awhile.

Sorry blog that I have neglected you. But, Now I will be back!! Trevor and I have signed up for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Team in Training!! Trevor will be training for a 100 mile bike ride around Lake Tahoe, and I (Annalee) will be training to the Rock'n'Roll Half Marathon in San Diego!! We are very excited to push ourselves towards these goals while raising money for a worthy cause so close to our hearts. We will keep you all updated here at our blog along the way, and of course this will also force me to update my blog in general more often!

Take care!