Our Usual Routines

There were no hospital visits this week, so Teresa’s main job was dealing with the arthritis-like joint pain that resulted from the latest chemo treatment, which targeted the bones. When the nausea wells up, it’s time for a Gravol. On the whole Teresa is feeling somewhat better - she’s putting on some weight, and is enjoying Susan’s cooking.

John's mom (left) and Teresa (on couch)

We celebrated Christmas with a family dinner last Sunday Dec23, since Susan had to work a shift in the hospital on Christmas Day. That’s how it is for nurses, since they are “essential services”. John’s mother came by, and Susan prepared a wonderful feast of turkey, mashed potatoes, beans, brussels sprouts, turnip, and salad. Mom managed to get up for the meal, but was either laying on the couch or in her room for the rest of the time.

Kathryn and Ian, after a great Christmas dinner

Other notable events this week included the delivery of a nice floral arrangement from Mom’s friends at the Brampton West Alliance Church. Very much appreciated! Mom’s youngest sister Nelly visited on Dec27 with her husband Fred and daughter Miriam. We enjoyed a really good evening, and Mom managed to participate for the entire visit.

Ian reading a rather large Christmas card

Here is a list of our usual routines …

Mom prepares a simple breakfast of plain yogurt every day, and washes some dishes if she’s feeling up to it. She also takes phone calls from her children, relatives, and friends. These calls are a real encouragment to her, and come from as far away as Japan and Holland. Teresa also likes reading on the living room couch (National Post newspaper, plus the Narnia books by C.S. Lewis). If there is something worth watching on TV, that’s always an option as well.

Susan prepares lunch every day, and dinner on the days that she’s not working. She also helps Mom to take a bath, handles the laundry, and keeps the entire house clean. Susan and Teresa often engage in spirited conversation, something they both enjoy.

John handles the more pedestrian tasks such as checking on Teresa’s house, picking up the mail, banking, and printing off Teresa’s e-mails for her. For those of you who send personal e-mails and are wondering if Teresa reads them, rest assured that she does! John also assembles and heats up supper for Mom on the days that Susan is working. Running a microwave counts as work, right?

The next chemo treatment is scheduled for January 9. Thanks as always for your prayers, phone calls, and e-mails.

Chemo #5

Teresa went for a blood test this past Monday to make sure she was in suitable condition for her fifth chemotherapy treatment (out of eight) on Tuesday. Oncology staff found that Teresa’s blood was anemic, so on Tuesday received a blood transfusion and chemotherapy simultaneously. Mom felt a lot better after the hemoglobin boost, but the chemo treatment still weakens her. Teresa continues to spend most of her time resting in bed, and reading when she’s able.

Chemotherapy is tough on a body, since it’s basically a chemical “carpet bombing” of all fast-dividing cells. The goal is to kill cancer cells in particular, but the entire body suffers. If you’ve ever sprayed your lawn with Killex or some other weed killer, you get the idea.

When you spray Killex on your lawn it kills all vegetation a little bit (i.e., your grass), but since broadleaf weeds absorb more of the poison, they will die while the grass recovers. The most obvious casualty of chemotherapy is hair loss, since hair follicles fall under the heading of fast-dividing cells. However, there’s no reason why hair loss should stop a person from looking good:

Chemo hats - John's favourite

Chemo hats - Teresa's favourite

Teresa’s spirits are definitely improving since moving into our house, plus she’s gained seven pounds! The sound of Ian rattling around as he leaves for work, the beeps that signal a fresh pot of coffee, Oliver the budgie tweeting on about something – these are the sounds of life and activity. It’s depressing to deal with chemo sickness by yourself.

Mom relaxing in her room

As always, we appreciate your prayers for Teresa. If you’d like to send her an e-mail for encouragement, she would certainly appreciate that. Returning a phone call or message is more difficult for her, however, as it requires significant energy.

If you have any particular questions, please contact me (jcmolendyk@rogers.com) or leave a comment below, and I’ll try to address your questions in future posts.

Initial post

Greetings, and welcome to this initial post on TLC - Teresa Lassche's Cancer. This blog’s purpose is to inform family, friends, and other interested persons about how Teresa is doing with her chemotherapy treatment.

Teresa / Mom was diagnosed with an aggressive form of breast cancer back in July 2007. After surgery for removal of the breast tumour, further tests showed that the cancer had spread to the lymph nodes. Teresa’s oncologist (cancer specialist) recommended an aggressive program of chemotherapy to prevent the cancer from spreading further.

August 2007 - with Susan

At the moment, Mom is halfway through her course of treatments.

Since chemotherapy can make a person quite ill, Susan and John Molendyk prepared a bedroom for Mom when she would be too ill to live on her own. On Monday Dec. 10, Mom moved into our home. The room is on the main floor, close to a small bathroom. Besides a bed, the room contains an easy chair, dresser, and TV. (Many thanks to Eveline Sloan for all her renovation/decorating help!)

Picton, August 2007 - with Nicolas, Leslie, and Bethany

On arrival, Mom was feeling quite poorly. Under Susan’s ministrations, she is now feeling and looking much better, however she remains weak. Mom’s getting over a cold that was bothering her quite a bit, and a prescription morphine elixir has helped a lot to ease the throat pain. Mom’s oncologist saw her on Tuesday, and is satisfied that she’s doing fine, which is to say that she’s no sicker than expected during chemo.

The daily regimen includes lots of sleep, with small, easily digestible meals, and plenty of liquids. When she’s up, Mom can relax and read in the living room, kept warm by the gas fireplace.

I plan to update this blog weekly. We appreciate your ongoing prayers for Teresa!