Calgal your back from Ireland!

FloridaLady

Ok...give us the scoop how was your trip.  We need a little trip away from bc. I've never been to Ireland but would love to go. Also, give us a little update on what is next for you.

Flalady

CalGal

Hi FloridaLady -

Thanks for asking.

Ireland is wonderful!   Beautiful, and there's much more than the lovely green hills with cows and sheep.   There is a jagged, harsh coastline, beautiful in its own way.   Another part just seems to be rocks and bogs, with few trees ... eerie and kind of pretty.  Many areas had charming cottages, often with a bike leaned against it.  A few places had thatched roofs.  Lots of pretty hanging flower baskets.  I loved touring the castles, Gothic churches and neo-lithic mounds ...  Lots of clouds, pretty clouds, sometimes sun, but most days there was some rain - very brief or lots of it.  

DH and I spent a few days in Dublin (the largest city is way less than 1 million)!   Then DH drove (on the other side of the road) and I navigated.   We saw a lot of the country.

People are friendly and quite up to date and interested in the US presidential race and other political, economic and social issues in the US.  

It was a total get-away.  No cell phone and no checking e-mail!   After using up my second Neupogen syringe (the first shot DH gave to me on the plane), barely any bc/medical concerns. Although my gel products have been working (no neuropothy and still have enough hair to stay natural), I'm on 2 drugs that cause hair loss and one that causes hair-thinning. So, I brought a wig to be safe.   I didn't need it.  But, there were at least 3 very windy days, where I was at a high elevation and couldn't help but to have it cross my mind, that if I had a wig on, I would have been very worried about it flying off!

Towards the end of the trip enroute to the nicest hotel, I felt bad and knew I had a fever.  I was disappointed, but al least it was the comfiest bed.  DH was scared and noted that this place in the middle of nowhere had a heliopad (and was making his contingency plans for me if I didn't get better or if my fever got too high).  Next day, I felt great and no fever!    It might have been the repeated exposure to cold, strong rains and wind.   Plus, somehow, I wasn't needing as much sleep as usual!  

So back to the US, was really back to the bc reality after a grand escape from it.   My treatment is weeks 1, 2 & 3; with week 4 off.   So, for my trip, all I did was delay starting treatment again by 1 week.  Yes, I had angst about that ... but you have to enjoy life as we deal with this bc ... and my onc was fine with that and even encouraging.

Of my many mets, one was stable, and the rest shrunk!  Unfortunately, there is one new met and there was increased uptake on the shrinking mets.  Onc and I discussed options.   We decided that I'd continue with my current treatment (Abraxane, Avastin, Gemzar & Zometa) and hope for continued shrinkage - and if all but one shrunk, I could get RFA again!

I had treatment yesterday.   Today I'm by no means feeling normal, but am feeling much better than yesterday ... 

CalGal

FloridaLady

I so glad you got to enjoy your trip with no major issues.  It sounds wonderful...I will put it on my "to do list" for sure. I love history and learning about other places.  I have yet to meet anyone who has made the trip come back disappointed.

You did come back to the bc world with a thump!  Sorry you got the good news and bad news delivery again.  (I get result today of my latest scan.) I need a little bc get-away...I'm waiting for it to cool off and the storms go away.  I can not travel far because I can't set or walk very long with my neuropathy, so it will have to be a local get-away...

Glad you returned to us safety,

Flalady