Tag Archives: Medicine

Everyday is a Blessed Day!

11 Friday Jan 2019

Posted by in Cancer, Leukemia, Photography

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It’s been nearly five years since my diagnoses of CML, a form of Leukemia.  If I had received the diagnosis back in the 1990’s I would have been told to go home and make my funeral arrangements.  With today’s modern medical advancements, which I’m highly thankful for, those of us with this diagnosis are able to live a somewhat normal life for many years.

There is a “go-to drug” called Glevic that is prescribed to most all new patients.  This drug worked for me for a while but stopped and I had to find something else.  The next drug caused more problems than the actual cancer did.  This new drug I’m on is working for now but is causing fluid around my heart and lungs but not as bad as the previous drug.

Is my life back to normal, no.  There have been many changes that had to be made to make my life a little better.  Because of the fluid around my heart and lungs, I’m no longer able to do a lot of the things I used to do.  Basically, I had to stop anything that would cause me to get out of breath with exertion.  That doesn’t mean I’ve given up.  I still try to walk and stay active. Every morning that I wake up I feel blessed to still be here. I’ve got a lot to live for and I hope I’m here for a while to come.

Retirement Is Close At Hand

07 Saturday Jul 2018

Posted by in Cancer, Leukemia, Nature, Photography

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I’ve been absent of late and for a good reason.  Although the doctor stated during my last oncologist appointment that my medicine is not working, I’m still feeling pretty good so I’m taking advantage of it and getting some things done around the house.  With that being said, I had to increase the dosage by 100mg and it’s starting to take a toll on my breathing.  Not much mind you but just enough to where I know that eventually, I’ll have to have more fluid drained from around my lungs.

I’ve got 39 more days to work and boy am I ready.  It can’t come fast enough. I’m supposed to meet with HR on Tuesday to discuss my retirement and post-retirement insurance.  More about this later.

The last four years have really played havoc around my house.  I’ve been fortunate to have a wife who is willing to cut the grass around the house but the other duties have gone by the wayside. My deck on the back side of the house needed cleaning four years ago and now it’s, well, pathetic.  The deck was black with mold and some of the hand railings needed to be replaced.  For the last three weeks, I have spent the afternoons and weekends cleaning this deck.  I have finished with the inside now to do the outside and then paint or stain next.

I have found the time to do a little bit of photography in the last few months.  I’ve really taken a liking to lightning pictures.  I’ve spent hours waiting on a storm to come through just close enough away that it would make a good picture while staying far enough away that I won’t be a target for a lightning strike.  I’ve had a few storms to come through.

There was a Fourth of July celebration up the street and I was fortunate enough to take some pictures of some fireworks from my front yard.  I didn’t get all I wanted because at the same time I was trying to get my drone off the ground to video the event.  My phone kept locking up so I had to settle with just the pictures.

I am currently sick with a sinus infection.  I went to the doctor today.  The drainage is making me cough and my chest is hurting.  I had plans on washing my truck and cleaning the outside today but that didn’t happen.  Maybe I’ll feel like doing it tomorrow.

Until next time.

Today’s Thoughts 4/7/2018

07 Saturday Apr 2018

Posted by in Cancer, Leukemia

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I took my first dosage of Bosulif on Tuesday, April 3rd, and so far I’m not experiencing any fortuitous side effects that I’m aware of.  I have called my oncologist to let him know that I have started taking the drug but he has not told me when to come back in for any followup tests.  I would imagine that he would want to see me in two to three weeks, at least time to see if the drug is working.

For those that may be interested, I’m going to post the side effects of this med later on in this post but first I’m going to recommend someone else’s blog.  BeautyBeyondBones is the blog that you need to go take a look at. She is recovering from Anorexia.  Her blog is about her recovery and she has several books about cooking and she has published a book about her journey from Anorexia to Recovery.  You should go and check her out.

Side effects of the drug Bosulif.

Important Safety Information and Indication

Do not take BOSULIF® (bosutinib) if you are allergic to bosutinib or any of the ingredients in BOSULIF.

BOSULIF may cause serious side effects, including:

  • Stomach problems. BOSULIF may cause stomach (abdomen) pain, nausea, diarrhea, or vomiting. Tell your doctor about any stomach problems
  • Low blood cell counts. BOSULIF may cause low platelet counts (thrombocytopenia), low red blood cell counts (anemia) and low white blood cell counts (neutropenia). Your doctor should do blood tests to check your blood cell counts regularly during your treatment with BOSULIF. Call your doctor right away if you have unexpected bleeding or bruising, blood in your urine or stools, fever, or any signs of an infection
  • Liver problems. BOSULIF may cause liver problems. Your doctor should do blood tests to check your liver function regularly during your treatment with BOSULIF. Call your doctor right away if your skin or the white part of your eyes turns yellow (jaundice) or you have dark “tea color” urine
  • Your body may hold too much fluid (fluid retention). Fluid may build up in the lining of your lungs, the sac around your heart, or your stomach cavity. Call your doctor right away if you get any of the following symptoms during your treatment with BOSULIF:
    • – shortness of breath and cough
    • – chest pain
    • – swelling in your hands, ankles, or feet
    • – swelling all over your body
    • – weight gain
  • Kidney problems. BOSULIF may cause kidney problems. Your doctor should do tests to check your kidney function when you start treatment with BOSULIF and during your treatment. Call your doctor right away if you get any of the following symptoms during your treatment with BOSULIF:
    • – you urinate more or less often than normal
    • – you make a much larger or smaller amount of urine than normal
  • The most common side effects of BOSULIF include: diarrhea, nausea, low blood cell counts, rash, vomiting, stomach pain, respiratory tract infection, fever, abnormal liver function, tiredness or weakness, cough, and headache

Tell your doctor right away if you get respiratory tract infections, loss of appetite, headache, dizziness, back pain, joint pain, or itching while taking BOSULIF. These may be symptoms of a severe allergic reaction.

Tell your doctor if you have any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away. These are not all of the possible side effects of BOSULIF. For more information, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

Tell your doctor about the medicines you take, including prescription medicines, non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. BOSULIF and certain other medicines can affect each other.

Before you take BOSULIF, tell your doctor if you:

  • have liver problems
  • have heart problems
  • have kidney problems
  • have any other medical conditions
  • are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. BOSULIF can harm your unborn baby. You should not become pregnant while taking BOSULIF. Tell your doctor right away if you become pregnant while taking BOSULIF
  • are a woman who may become pregnant. Use effective contraception (birth control) during and for at least 30 days after completing treatmentwith BOSULIF. Talk to your doctor about forms of birth control
  • are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if BOSULIF passes into your breast milk or if it can harm your baby. You and your doctor should decide if you will take BOSULIF or breastfeed. You should not do both

Indication

BOSULIF is a prescription medicine used to treat adults who have a type of leukemia called Philadelphia chromosome–positive chronic myelogenous leukemia (Ph+ CML) who no longer benefit from or did not tolerate other treatment.

 

Please see Patient Information and full Prescribing Information.

Today’s Thoughts 323/2018

23 Friday Mar 2018

Posted by in Cancer, Leukemia, Photography, Weight Loss

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Clyde waiting for me to come home.

 

Good news!!  I’m down three pounds this week.  I’m trying to keep my carb intake to about 35 but I’m not doing so well. Maybe I’ll do better next week.

My meds still have not arrived.  I guess I’ll call my oncologist on Monday if I don’t get it this weekend.

Tomorrow I plan on doing some cleaning up in my backyard.  After which I plan on flying my drone.  My son is coming home tomorrow sometime so I want to make sure I’m here when he get’s here.  Next weekend is Easter weekend and all my kids should be home.  I’m really looking forward to that.  I can’t believe they’ve grown up on me.  Two in college and one living on his own.  They sure do grow up fast.

Oncologist Update; 3/21/2018

21 Wednesday Mar 2018

Posted by in Cancer, Leukemia

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My oncologist called this evening wanting to know if my new meds had come in.  They had not.  He told me that my BCR-Abl numbers had greatly improved which is very surprising being that I’ve been off my Sprycel for nearly two months.  Too bad my body can’t handle the medicine any longer.  Once my new meds get here, which should be within a few days, I’ll start taking it.  The side effects looks pretty bad, diarrhea, fluid retention in both the heart and lungs, low red blood counts, liver problems and multiple other issues.  Bosulif will be the third medication that I will be on.  There are only a couple more that is out there that is approved by the FDA.  I’m hoping this works with minimal side effects402d22500b1841198233ebb8058faf26-bosulif_200_312