IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME!

A recent trip back east provided lots of laughs and hugs.

I can't tell you how often I've thought of blogging about how Valerie is doing.... but it's been VERY often.

I'm not going to back track to fill in the past few months, but instead I'll just pick right up where we are now. Doing that though requires a bit of an explanation.  For the past year, Valerie has gotten her blood drawn every 2 weeks - or pretty darn close to every 2 weeks.  They track several different levels in her blood and one of those is a"tumor marker."

More laughs and hugs!

A bit about the tumor marker.  Apparently there are many different markers and they are affiliated with different cancers.  In March of last year, when she was first diagnosed, they ran a CA 12-5 and a CA 27-29.  They were both normal.  In July they switched to a CA 15-3 (no idea why) and it was elevated (normal is below 32 and it was 97).  The CA 15-3 is the one they have stuck with and it's the one they routinely check now.  It went as high as 161 back in September 2011.  By January of this year it was 28 and it has stayed below 30 until June, when it showed up at 33, one point above normal.

Valerie's 51st birthday - snorkeling!

We were advised not to worry (yet) but to watch and see if it steadily climbs up.  Well, it has steadily been climbing since June.  It is now 75 and the tumor itself has grown during that time as well.

We are pretty certain that we know the cause.  There were some medication changes that we think were the cause of that and she has started a new med (a low dose chemo different from the one she had taken before) that we hope will bring things back to normal.

We've started volunteering at a local nature center - it is
quite beautiful and a nice getaway.

She has, otherwise, felt good and strong for the most part.  She was determined to have an active birthday because she was unable to do much of anything last year.  So we spent July 15th on Catalina Island.  We rode our bikes, we went snorkeling, we played miniature golf, and we ate some good food.  So, there are definitely a lot more good days than bad - especially compared to last year.

Valerie has started going to yoga regularly and using a guided imagery cd that helps her sleep.  I've been going to therapy and arguing with people on facebook about politics (my other therapy).   We plan to go watch the final movie on the beach on Tuesday night - Jaws!

We recently took a tour of a local island that looks pretty
from the shore but really is a major oil operation.

It's a weird thing this cancer battle.  We know people who get diagnosed, have surgery, and are fine and move on.  We know other people who get diagnosed and have progressively gotten worse until their fight is over.  We are learning that our fight, at least right now, is a bit of a marathon.  We have to pace ourselves and deal with what we can right at each moment.  There are bumps in the road and there are scares along the way, but we keep making each other laugh and picking each other up and that's good enough for me.

P.S.  My cousin Timmy died last night from his battle with cancer.  Our most sincere thoughts and love are with my Aunt Bell, Uncle Wayne and their families.