Hi,
I haven't said much lately about my cancer. It is back to letting me know that it's here. I have more flushing- a few times a day. I was going weeks without seeing flushing just a couple months ago. I also sweat profusely from my scalp, usually in the mornings. My digestive symptoms are coming back, with a little nausea, and when I go to the restroom expecting only urine to show up, I get something extra. That's normal carcinoid cancer.
When I would read about carcinoid a couple years ago, some writers would make the distinction that diarrhea includes more frequent stools. That's a good point to make with respect to carcinoid. In fact, that was my first symptom. When it continued more than one week, I made a mental note of it, but didn't say anything to my doctor until I had developed symptoms as if my bile duct from the liver was blocked. Then it turned out that the symptoms were related.
My last Chromogranin A was 15.3. I am going to have it done on Tuesday morning, June 8th, to see what it is at its highest. Then I will go in and have my treatment that afternoon. I will see if my numbers have gone up higher. The 15.3 was done halfway through the month after my injection of Octreotide. That might have been considered an average CgA for me, but this one will be at the time CgA should be the highest.
[I forgot that I need to explain Chromogranin A to new readers. CgA is the marker put out by carcinoid tumors. A number below 50 is normal. I have been below 50 for several months by God's grace and His blessing on my medication.]
I'm continuing getting ready to retire. I filed my form with the school. I completed the PARS packet to get the Early Retirement Package--which was appoved, Thank God! I will get an extra $30,000 spread over the next 5 years. The union had a retirement dinner Friday for 74 retiring teachers. Last year there were only 12 retiring. So we are keeping 74 more jobs in our district.
I feel very good about retiring. This is the beginning of the next chapter of my life.
Love,
Sharon
The bloodwork that was done on my Chromogranin A level came back at a 7. That is the lowest it has ever been. God is good all the time!
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