Good Morning,

Once again, it has been quite awhile since I have posted any news. Sorry about that. Truthfully, I think it was just a bit overwhelming that I was starting this regime once again. It has been a little harder this time to get all that positive energy flowing. Right now I am depending on Pac Man to kick the hell out of this tumor! I do feel very fortunate that as I am waiting in the waiting room and I take a look around at some of the people who are also waiting that I look healthier than most and that includes some of the visitors they have with them. Sometimes I play a game before they get to sign in who exactly is the patient!! If you ever decide to come with me…look your best!


The good news is that Ed is till my nurse and I couldn’t be happier. He is so kind and thoughtful. He never makes you feel that he is in a rush. He always sits and talks for a little bit before we take the blood and then wait for the results before the chemo comes up from the pharmacy, which always seems to take forever!

I hope all of you had a wonderful time time celebrating Thanksgiving.


I am very thankful and grateful for all of my soldiers and supporters as we get to celebrate another Thanksgiving together. Off to the Bahamas the following week! CAN’T WAIT TO GO!!
Much love,
Tricia

New News

It has been a bit since I have posted anything to my blog because I really did not have anything new to tell. That has now changed. I had a cat scan a week ago and go the results this week. The good news is that the tumor has not spread anywhere else, but it has grown. The pesky little bugger!!! I will start a new round of chemotherapy starting on October 13th when I get back from California. Yes, I am leaving on Sunday for sunny San Diego to visit with my Jerrys. It will be a wonderful way to relax and gear up for the next phase of treatments.

Please know that I am staying positive because as my doctor has said we don't know what new advances in the pipeline may be coming my way. I ask all of you to put your powers together once again and walk with me.

Once again my gratitude and love is sent to you all.

Tricia

Combat Report June 7, 2010

To my most loyal of soldiers I have a field report for all of you. We have won a battle, but we did not win the war. What that all means is that the tumor did not shrink off the Hepatic Artery, so it could not be removed. What they did do is called an interoperative radiation protocol. They moved any and all organs that were in the way so that the radiologist could directly zap the tumor. Unfortunately, that was all that they could do. The next battle will be to go back on the chemochotherapy regime I was on October, November and December...three weeks on and two weeks off and this will continue throughout the year. I will continue to get various cat scans to determine if the cancer has spread anywhere. So as to quote,my son Jeff," the rest of this war will be a great big crap shoot!!!" You all know what that means... please, keep me in your thoughts and prayers whenever you can!

Lots of love,
Tricia

Tomorrow is the Day!!!

Well the evening has finally come that we have all been striving for. Surgery is tomorrow morning at 10 am. The day will start at 8am and then I hope they will give me the good drugs and I will be off to some peacefull and beautiful beach in Hawaii. I must say that I am somewhat anxious and can't wait for tomorrow to be over and I get to open my eyes and know that that is all behind us now.

Writing this blog has given me so much hope and courage to know that all of you wonderful and generous people have kept me close to your hearts and in your prayers. Walking in this journey can sometimes be a lonely place and then I would turn to my blog and read all of your comments and know that I was certainly not alone. I was loved!! I thank you for that.

Please keep me in your prayers tonight and tomorrow so that God will say,"Enough, already, I hear you, I hear you!!!

My graititude and love to you all, my special soldiers.

Tricia

Thursday May 13

The tests have been done, the appointments kept and the news is that the tumor has shrunk enough so that I am ready to have the surgery!!!I have an appointment on May 25th for preop and to meer with Dr. Fernandez, who will be performing the surgery. The final stage is at hand. The surgery will be done on June 2nd ( no time yet). For now I have been told that I will be in the hospital for about a week and then 6 weeks recuperation at home.

This news tells me that all of my loyal soldiers have carried me forward to the outcome we were all praying for. I never felt like I was in this war alone and now I know for certain that I wasn't. I had all of you!!! Please know, that as you were praying for me I kept all of you close to my heart and also in my prayers.

With love,
Tricia

Just wanted to let all of you know that, yes, I am still alive. They told me to expect to feel like you had been hit by a truck…so in my mind I pictured a pick- up truck, not the 18 wheeler that mowed me down. Seriously, it has been a very difficult 6 weeks. The nausea, vomiting and extreme fatigue has been quite overwhelming!! The good news is that this week I seem to be turning the corner. Little by little I am getting my strength back. Food is still a bit of an issue, but I am hoping that too will soon get better.
I will be going for my next cat scan on May 6th and will get the result on May 10th (my Birthday) so I am taking that as a good omen. The best news from the cat scan would be that the tumor is completely gone and the next best result would be that it shrunk enough so that it is off the hepatic artery and I will be able to have the Whipple Surgery. I am very optimistic that I will have one of these results, after all I have an army of soldiers behind me!
Thank you all for your cards, notes, dinners and most of all your prayers, love and support. I couldn’t have done this without you!!!
Much love,
Tricia

Week 2 and 3...Almost Halfway There!!!

Greetings My Loyal Soldiers!!!

Hard to believe that almost 3 weeks are already done. Three more to go! I wish I could tell you that it has been a piece of cake for it has been more like a roller coaster ride. One day you feel pretty good and the next day not so much. The worst is the exhaustion. It is very hard to explain because it is like no other kind of tiredness I have ever experienced. Christopher doesn’t understand when I get so mad that I am tired. What he doesn’t realize is that I am basically a nosy person and feel that I am missing something when I am sleeping!! Food too has become a bit of an issue, but I am really not complaining about that because dropping a few pounds would be a good thing! Hell of a way to do it, but again who’s complaining? Not I!!!
I am so overwhelmed and honored that there are so many members or rather soldiers on my blog. God must be saying about now, “Who is this Tricia? Ok, ok, I am listening!”. Thank you all for your love and support.
Take care,
Tricia

Week 1 Almost Done!!!

I thought I would let you know what the week has been like so far. The radiation has not been so bad. It takes two decades of the rosary and then they come in and say, “ok, all done.” The chemo…not so much! You would think in this day and age they could come up with a pump that can distribute the chemo that weighs less than 25lbs!!! Alright, I lied, it only weighs 5lbs, but when it is hanging off your chest wall it sure feels like 25lbs!
I am very excited about all the new soldiers in my army. It gives me such strength to know that there are all these good thoughts and prayers coming my way. You have no idea how much your comments mean to me, even if they sometimes make me cry. They are good tears because I am feeling the love and encouragement. Thank you all for that.
I met with Dr. Huong, who is the Oncology Chief of Radiation at MGH and he was very encouraging. He said that the tumor shrinking the way it has is very unusual, but then I am a little unusual! All of that is a very good sign for the radiation to make the tumor small enough for me to be able to have the Whipple surgery. It is funny how life can change your outlook on things so that you are excited about having a major surgery.
Hoping week two goes as well for we are back in the kicking-cancer’s-ass-business, and business is booming!!!
Love,
Tricia

And so it begins....

On Wednesday of this week I went to MGH to have yet another cat scan which thus meant also trying to drink what they call a vanilla smoothie that has nothing whatsoever to do with either vanilla or smooth!! However, the cat scan showed the tumor has shrunk just a little bit more. Yay! I then had to sign away the life that I am trying to save. Good grief, do they have to list every single thing that could happen?

I will be starting this coming Monday. I will go to the chemo center every Monday and be connected to a pump that will last till the following Monday. When I am all hooked up and have my designer bag (hah!!) attached, I go to radiation. I will have radiation every day at 1:15pm so think good thoughts. I am also entered into a brand new clinical trial that will add a pill to this whole mixture that they believe is very promising with the treatment of pancreatic cancer.

Please know that I am very anxious to get this whole thing started. I am very sure and confident that this is the right thing for me to be doing. Please continue to keep me in your prayers or thoughts as I truly believe all of you are a big part of my success. It is so comforting to know that I am not alone in this journey.

Thank you all!!!

Love
Pat

February 4 Update

Good Morning my neglected Soldiers!

I am sorry I have not felt well enough these last couple of weeks to keep you posted as to what is going on. My last post gave you all the good news about the tumor and that I would be starting the chemo/radiation quickly. After I posted all of that I got a call from Dr. Ryan explaining that the new protocol that he wanted me to get into would not budge regarding the number of chemo treatments one had to have to start their program. I had to have another round of chemo with the gemcitabine (the one I have been having all along). I have already had two rounds and will have the third round tomorrow and then there will be a two week break and I will start the chemo/radiation on February 22nd. It has changed from 5 days to 7 days a week of chemo through the pump and 5 days going in to MGH for the radiation. Doesn't sound like much fun, but it does sound like a way to the cure and that is just fine with me!

I know that through this next round I will be able to feel the love and prayers of my incredible Army.

Take care,
Pat

The Day Has Come

Good Evening all my fellow soldiers!!!!!

Christopher, Jeffrey, Connie, Reggie and April accompanied me to the all important meeting with Dr. Ryan. I think when he walked into the room he was a little overhwelmed, however that did not stop him from saying immediately ... "the NEWS IS GOOD!!!" Let me tell you the news was not only good it was fantastic. Are you ready?

THE TUMOR HAS SHRUNK BY HALF!!!

I believe that the power of prayer and love have accomplished this. And that means all of you!! Thank you, thank you, thank you! I did not do this alone, it was a combined effort of us all.

Now we are on another journey together. Tomorrow I will go in to be measured for radiation and will then start the chemo and radiation combo on February 1st. Please know that I am ready for this. If we kicked ass this last round that tumor better watch out because we are really going to step up our game and do some major ass kicking!! Soooo get ready we are own our way!

Love to you all!!!
Tricia

Big Day Tomorrow!!

Monday JANUARY 18TH

Christopher and I went to Mass General yesterday morning and I had the Cat Scan I
have been waiting so long to have. I felt like it would never come and now it is done and we hear the results late tomorrow afternoon. Christopher is taking me to the Celtics tonight so the night will pass quickly.

They decided to give me another chemo bedfore I meet with the Dr. Ryan and I take that as a hopeful sign. We will be a large group. My sister, Connie, Reggie, April, and of course Christopher and Jeffrey will be with me. (Our own small army) I will post the news when I get home.

Take care,
Tricia

Januery 7,2010

To all my fellow soldiers!

Yesterday was my last chemo treatment until my cat scan on January 17th and then my appointment with Dr. Ryan. April and Christopher ( at the last minute ) were able to go with me. I as was so glad to have Christopher to be able to go with me! It was an uneventful event as everything went went according to plan. It was my last visit with Ed as my infusion nurse as he does not work on Mondays. I am sorry that I want have him. He has been so positive, kind and full of hope. I looked forward to seeing him and will miss our talks.

The most important news to share is that my blood worked showed that the markers have shrunk once again!!! According to Terry, my oncology practitioner, that is great news, but even more important she said, " The way you look and feel and have tolerated the chemo is even a greater indicator!" I will take that. She forgot to say that all of my soldiers with their prayers, love and support have helped to make this all possible. I know I have said this before, but it needs saying again...your comments, support, love and dinners have been my inspiration.

Thank you, I love you all!!
Tricia