Weeks 14, 15, & 16

Please excuse the break in updates! The bloggers have had a busy past few weeks so, once again, we’ll cover a few weeks in one post.

Weeks 14 and 15 continued cycle 5 for Sharron. Not much to tell other than continued, steady, positive progress. During Week 15, we discussed and evaluated the option of stem cell replacement therapy, since it is a decision typically made when cancer is in or close to remission. After discussions with several different doctors, it was decided that we would forego the stem cell therapy at this point. It is an antiquated therapy for myeloma, and drugs (such as the ones Sharron has been taking throughout chemo) are much more advanced and have shown to surpass the treatment effectiveness of stem cell treatment. Also, Sharron decided she did not want to undergo the intense procedure, which also comes with many risks and side effects. Her Kaiser doctors were supportive of that decision, and confirmed that we want to stay the course with the drugs being administered, since they are working well. One doctor compared it to a boxing match or fight- you don’t walk away when you’ve knocked your opponent down; you beat him into the ground until he’s really down. Or something to that effect! Sharron’s doctor also stated during an appointment that she has a slow but steady decrease in her protein levels (cancer indicators). In many cases and studies, slower responses mean longer remissions. Faster declines have shown shorter remissions and quicker relapses, so we are taking this as a good sign.

Week 16 began cycle 6, which was originally identified as the end of treatment cycles. After evaluating her current status and bloodwork more closely, Sharron’s doctor would like her to continue chemotherapy treatments for a few more weeks. This was not a shock, as 6 cycles is a benchmark at which doctors prescribe patient treatments; it can mean more or less than 6 cycles. The plan is to monitor progress over the next few cycles, and hopefully see a further improvement. At that point, Sharron could take time off, have a glass of wine, go on vacation with Val and the girls, and relax…chemo free! Her doctor also said that bodies can use a break from chemo, so she may take a break regardless of a further decline or not.

We’re looking forward to Mothers’ Day weekend and doing something fun with Mom! More updates to follow soon…

Week 13

This past week started up Sharron's 5th cycle of treatment. She had her usual meeting with her oncologist and her bigger dose of chemo, where they decided that for these last two cycles she would have chemo twice a week rather than once. This is to help a certain protein level in her blood to lower more significantly than it has thus far. Luckily she's still only feeling a little fatigue, and not any disruption to her appetite. The limp due to her hip pain is still lingering, but she is continuing her physical therapy and pushes herself to go for short walks. We will know more about the post-6 cycles plan in the coming weeks, and will of course keep everyone posted.

Over the weekend Sharron and Val went up to C.G. Di Arie Winery in the Sierra Foothills with some friends- it was a great way to spend such a beautiful Saturday! On Sunday they also went to mass at Sacred Heart Church.

Weeks 11 & 12

Hi all – since we were not able to post last week, we’re covering 2 weeks worth of news in this post. General news is that Sharron has still been doing great overall. There have been slight ups and downs but nothing major to report. She has had no nausea in weeks, a normal appetite, and continues to take the steroid pills as part of her treatment once a week. She says the steroid pills make her feel really good the next day. She is still having soreness in her hip, which we’re looking into with her doctor. A bone marrow biopsy to confirm the status of everything is still planned for the end of her treatment cycles. At this point, we wanted to clarify from previous posts that “remission” is determined by a series of tests/results that we have not yet completed. Of course as soon as we can confirm remission, we will send out the news.

Week 11 (March 15-21) marked the middle of cycle 4. Treatment was the quick “push,” which makes for a very short visit in Kaiser (i.e., no meeting with her oncologist). Week 12 (March 22-28) marked the end of cycle 4. Again, the plan is 6 cycles total, so she only has 2 left. Week 12 was an off week so not too much to tell. Due to her hip troubles, Sharron’s been a little less active in the last couple weeks. She is still attending physical therapy sessions to keep her stretching and workouts on track. In fun weekend news, Sharron and Val went to a play this weekend at the new Cosmopolitan theater downtown and then dinner afterwards at McCormick & Schmicks.

Week 10

This week kicked off Sharron’s 4th cycle of chemo treatment and an update from her oncologist on Friday. He said that her bloodwork is showing her to be on the way to the early stages of remission! This is huge and we will know more based on some pending blood tests, a bone marrow biopsy in the coming weeks, and the remaining tests that will be run upon her completion of all 6 treatment cycles. With this good news, Sharron went in and had her chemo treatment with no problems. She’s also continuing her work with a local physical therapist once a week to increase her muscle strength and endurance. A minor hip muscle strain came with maybe working out a little too hard, but the soreness is fading.

With this beautiful weather and her increasing energy, we even made a few shopping trips this week to get some new spring clothes! Sharron says she loves reading everyone’s messages/comments so keep on sending the love. :)

Week 9

We are halfway through Sharron’s treatment schedule! It’s looking like the first part of May will be the end of the 6 cycles projected by her doctor. He will evaluate her more in depth at that point.

Last week was a rest week from IV treatment, except for the regular steroid medication she takes at home weekly. We’re happy to report that it was an uneventful week in the way of icky things and cancer; rather, the week was filled with fun and normal things. Sharron and her girls went to lunch and to see “Slumdog Millionaire” (Sharron hasn’t been out much, let alone to a movie theater, in months!). It was a great thing to do on a rainy day and nice to get out of the house. Sharron and Val also met up with some friends for dinner and visiting this past weekend.

Our at-home physical therapist through Kaiser unfortunately had to stop Sharron’s home physical therapy (PT) since she is clinically strong enough and able to attend outside PT sessions. This was a bummer since it was very convenient, and she has been excellent at showing Sharron great exercises she can do at home with simple things like a beach ball, ankle weights, and Thera-bands. Sharron is continuing the exercises that she showed her at home, and taking plenty of walks when the weather is nice, until we decide if we want to trek into Kaiser’s PT center each week, or find a new local physical therapist.

All in all, another positive week!

Week 8

Wow, we realized we are almost halfway through Sharron’s treatment cycles, as next week is #9 and that will be 3 of 6 cycles complete. It is satisfying to see marked improvements over the last couple of months. We’re so happy (as we’re sure all of you are too) to generate such glowing reports each week!

There is not much to write about for Week 8 and no major setbacks. She had a small treatment on Friday and continued to work on her physical therapy. Sharron did seem to lose a pound or two, which was a bit discouraging considering she’s been diligent about eating and trying to pack on the pounds. Her body must be working so hard to fight those bad cells that it is burning the fuel we put into it! Here’s to hoping next week her weight will go back up again.

Week 7

We had a great doctor’s appointment to start Sharron’s round 3 of chemo last week. We met with her oncologist on Friday before treatment and he had lots of outstanding news to report on Sharron’s progress, based on her recent bloodwork. He said her progress is phenomenal for someone who has only had 2 cycles! The timeline will still be 6 cycles total (or 18 weeks), which is a standard course of treatment. Remission will be determined by a bone marrow biopsy at the end of the 6 rounds. Also, her treatments are only about 60% of typical chemo drugs and even so, her body is responding very well to that reduced amount. Also exciting news: she gained 2 pounds according to the doctor’s scale (our home scale says 4 pounds, even better). Although she’s eating very healthy, we’ve been incorporating some high calorie meals and snacks where we can and they seemed to have helped!

Visibly Sharron is doing amazing as well thanks to lots of beneficial physical therapy, she is walking with little assistance (just a cane for longer distances, but that is it!). She’s vigilant about getting her exercises in daily. There is no pain or struggle accompanying her movements and walking anymore.

Other fun things we did last week included a family birthday lunch at Debbie’s house and watching the Academy Awards at home with Val and the girls. If it wasn’t for the cold/flu season out there, we would get out with Mom to see some of those Oscar winning movies- hopefully soon!

Week 6

Not much to report this past week. This was a rest week so Sharron’s system got a little downtime, which was much needed. Still working on getting her weight back to where it should be (ADDING weight, that is!). She’s still working hard in physical therapy, and cutting down further on pain medication.

Although they didn’t go watch in person due to the stormy/rainy weather, Sharron and Val watched some of the Amgen Tour of California which rolled through Sacramento this past weekend. As many of you know, Lance Armstrong came out of retirement this year to ride in this race. His campaign, “Hope Rides Again,” is dedicated to those living with cancer and cancer survivors, so it was an extra-special year for this race, to us and others. Danielle went to watch part of Stage 1 on Sunday (2/15) near Lake Berryessa. Lance’s campaign supporters handed out chalk for people to write messages on the road, targeting the messages at those affected by cancer. We’ve included some of Danielle’s pictures here, including one of her next to Sharron’s name that she and friends wrote with the chalk, which we hope all the riders saw! Yay!

Week 5

Sharron seems to be making big headway as we check off the days. This past week started off strong but then took a slight turn, as Sharron got a little sicky here and there. As we hear with other types of cancer treatments, there are just good days and bad days as treatment progresses. Without warning she’s becoming nauseous but then it passes just as quickly. We think this is likely due to the medication building up in her system at this point. However, that is also a positive thing because she continues to gain her physical strength back. Luckily week 6 will be a rest week, so her body can recover a bit and hopefully her appetite will return. Not surprisingly, though, she is taking it all very well :)

Week 5 was another treatment week- Friday she had a quick “push” of IV chemo, we were in and out of Kaiser in about 30 minutes. The rest of Friday was spent celebrating Carolyn’s (Sharron’s niece) birthday. We watched “The Secret Life of Bees” (great movie!), had grilled Panini sandwiches, cookies, and opened gifts. Her mother’s 84th birthday was also celebrated with lunch at Crepe Escape earlier in the week. The weekend was nice but the rainy cold weather did not leave much room for getting outside. Sharron and Val had dinner with some friends on Saturday night, which was a nice change of pace.

Let's all send positive vibes for week 6!

More Info from Week 4

We also want to bring your attention to a recent story featured on NPR (aired on January 29, 2009) on the advancements in treatment of this little-known cancer. If you're interested, it is a great listen/read. We posted the link under the title "NPR Feature on Multiple Myeloma."

Week 4

This past week was the first week of Sharron's second cycle of treatment. She had another large dose of chemo on Friday and took it like a champ! During the treament her oncologist updated us on her progress and recent blood tests. Really good news! First of all, she responded so well to her first treatment cycle that the doctor recommended she only have IV chemo once a week rather than twice a week. Reduced chemo is great not only for fewer trips to the hospital but hopefully means less fatigue and increased appetite. Secondly, her red blood cell count is significantly higher (meaning more healthy cells to help fight off the bad ones) which means she no longer needs the red blood-cell stimulus injection she was taking once a week. Third, calcium levels in her blood are much closer to normal, meaning the calcium is staying in her bones where it should be. Lastly, her pain has gone down significantly (almost diminished) so she can go for longer intervals on minimal pain meds.
All of these factors together are outstanding news! We're not doctors but we attribute these things to Sharron's healthy body and lifestyle before the diagnosis :) Keep up the high-intensity prayers and well wishes, they seem to be working!

Big Thanks from Sharron

Hello all, we wanted to post a little message on behalf of our mom:

"I just want to tell you all how much I enjoy reading your comments! I look forward to reading them everyday. You all inspire me so much with your words of encouragement. I feel your positive energy and prayers, and I truly believe it is helping me on my path to healing - I'm feelin' the love! Thank you for taking the time to leave me little messages of support on this blog, and for updating me on your daily lives as well! In addition to the blog messages, thank you for the thoughtful cards and letters. (I find myself re-reading them often!) And a big special thanks to the St. Francis community for the weekly supply of fresh fruits and veggies.

I love you all,
Sharron"

Week 3

This was week 3, which means...end of round 1! It was an uneventful week for the most part. The past week was a "rest" week from treatment, so Sharron just enjoyed getting a pedicure, a couple more outings, including a trip to Roseville and the Fountains shopping center, and of course more visits from family and friends. She is continuing to get stronger and push herself in physical therapy, and assisted Val and Danielle with making dinner Sunday night. This next week will start a new cycle of treatment, so Sharron continues to make strides toward getting healthy and back on her feet.

Week 2

This was a good week for Sharron and her family. Sharron and Val's sister Annie had a Golden Globe party last Sunday night and were in positive spirits for her next treatment. This week's medication was called a "push", which is a shorter duration of chemo.  This was a smaller dose of Velcade over a 30 minute period.  Sharron responded really well and was feeling significantly stronger after Wednesday.  Her mobility is getting better and better, meaning less assistance from others, which is great progress.  A physical therapist has been coming to the house periodically and working with Sharron on exercises to keep her active. Her appetite is not where it should be but she is doing great at trying to find foods that appeal to her.  We're hoping to get a few more pounds back on her soon!

This past weekend, Sharron, Val, and John (Val's brother) took a couple of drives to get out of the house and enjoy the nice weather.  Saturday they went to the River Walk area and to Clarksburg to walk around a bit.  Saturday night they enjoyed a hearty steak dinner and the Cal/Stanford men's basketball game at the home of Debbie and Bill (Sharron's sister and brother-in-law).  Sunday they ventured out again, this time to Folsom Lake at Beale's Point.  It was a busy weekend but a great one.  Sharron really loved the change of scenery and getting some sun and fresh air.

This next week will be a rest week from chemotherapy.  We are hoping to accomplish some fun activities with her and enjoy her "week off"!

Sharron and Debbie on the beach in Santa Cruz

First Week of Treatment

Sharron began her chemotherapy treatment for multiple myeloma on January 7, 2009. A few weeks prior, she had a blood transfusion and an intravenous treatment of Zometa which would help to manage her anemia and high calcium levels. This medication should help minimize her pain because it pushes the calcium that was infecting her bloodstream back into her weakened bones where it belongs for strength. Her oncologist has prescribed a treatment plan that involves 3 medications over what will repeat as a 3 week cycle: Dexamethasone- a series of steroid pills, Velcade- an intravenous biological agent that blocks the growth of cancer cells, and Doxil- the intravenous chemotherapy drug that targets and kills myeloma cells.

Immediately following her first treatment at the Kaiser Oncology Infusion Unit, Sharron walked several laps around the room with her walker and minimal assistance. Her energy and attitude were high as she said “I think I feel better already!” She is on a steady amount of Zofran which is a medication that greatly minimizes the nausea that typically accompanies chemotherapy, so the biggest side effect she is experiencing is fatigue. With the increasing weeks of chemotherapy the doctors believe her pain levels should significantly decrease. This means that she will hopefully be able to take less pain medicine and feel more stable and mobile. Each day is different in terms of her energy and appetite, but on days when certain foods sound appealing we are trying to bulk her up as she has lost weight over the past few months. Everyone seems to agree that along with medication her diet, mobility, and attitude play significant roles in her healing. So with one week down we say- LET’S KEEP IT UP!

December 2008

We have recently received some information about Sharron’s medical condition and wanted to share it with you all, as you are an important part of our family and community.

After months of believing that Sharron had a pulled muscle, sciatica, and osteoporosis the doctors have given us a diagnosis of multiple myeloma- a plasma cancer. The prognosis is very difficult but it is a treatable cancer, and we are looking at several treatment options. Sharron intends to fight back, as others have, and eventually return to work!

Above all we ask for your prayers and thoughts during this challenging time. Treatments, care taking and recovery are all-encompassing at this moment, so we have limited time to take calls or receive visitors, although messages and notes are always greatly appreciated.

We are starting a Share the Care group in the next couple of weeks to help the family with errands, appointments, meals, etc. The foundation of this approach is to include everyone who wants to assist, when they can and so the primary caregivers don’t become overwhelmed with all the details of daily life. If you are interested in participating in any way, please contact carolynmblucher@aol.com and they will contact you with the meeting time and place.

Please know that sending your thoughts and prayers our way are very important to us and we thank you for all the years of love, friendship and support!

With Love,

Val, Sharron,
Danielle & Michelle