Perspective changes everything.

A DISCLAIMER FOR THE FOLLOWING POST--- I DON'T HAVE A TUMOR IN MY BRAIN!!!


Doc: Andy we have some bad news for you.

Andy: Ok Doc what is it I can take it.

Doc: Well it’s really not good news.

Andy: Well Doc, you’ve already told me I was going to die once. How much worse can it get than that?

Doc: You might have another tumor, this time in your brain.

Andy: If there is a tumor, wouldn’t that mean we caught it early?

Doc: yes.

Andy: So we can treat a small tumor right?

Doc: Yes.

Andy: So where is the bad news? We might have a tumor, but if we do it is treatable, I am having a hard time seeing the not goodness here.

My conversations don’t really go like this, my doctors are awesome and are always upbeat. I have only had one doctor tell me that I might not make it, and that was a long time ago. After scans, that doctor changed their tune as well.

All in all, cancer is not a fun thing to have. Treatments cause side-effects, cancer causes side-effects, and stress causes side-effects. All of which I have, but I will only admit to two of them, which in turn increases the side-effects of the third.
But I have been having some problems lately with dizziness and nausea. If I didn’t have melanoma, it wouldn’t be a big deal and most likely we would wait it out to see what comes of it. But because my Doctors want to be proactive and keep ahead of the cancer, we are doing scans. One of melanoma’s favorite places to spread is the brain, which causes dizziness and nausea. But so does about fifty other things.

Bottom line, I am doing ok, and life is good, just a little fuzzy right now. Oh and Morgan is playing soccer we have some video, as soon as I figure out how to cut it into small pieces I will put some up.

Merry Christmas and have a lovely day.
Love Andy.

Pain, stress, and getting your tricycle kicked in the ditch. I know, a typical day for anyone.

This may sound odd, but this is a good day, and I am happy to be a part of it. It is strange how when you get a chance to realize that we truly are mortals, it only lasts a short time (in perspective). I am feeling a lot better than I was last year at this time. My energy level is up, I am not in near as much pain, just annoying things going on, like not being able to wear a shirt because my radiated skin hurts (don’t worry Alan, I won’t post a picture). I don’t think anyone would appreciate me wandering around the country-side topless. Other than that I am doing exceptionally well.
We went dove hunting the other day, yes I kill little birdies and eat them; because they taste good, that’s why. Anyway, no doves so far this year, they all just disappeared, maybe because they knew I wanted to eat them. I will keep my eyes open for some more legal fowl to hunt and eat.
I don’t know what else to tell you, other than we are all doing well, having the same problems that you all have, school, work, family, you know, that thing called life. We laugh when we can, cry when we must, and try not to whine. In the words of the genius Red Green, “ remember, I’m pulling for you, we’re all in this together.”
Merry Christmas and have a lovely day,
Love your friend Andy

Have you ever had deja vu?

Well, we made it. Sort of. If surviving the first week of school(for the kids), going back to work(with kids), and ending a long series of radiation treatments making it, I guess we did okay. I was thinking that we would just go back to the schedule we had before summer vacation and things would be calmer, quieter, and more stable. Boy am I delusional. This has been the week from... I won't end that sentence. I think you can put in any expletives that you feel would be appropriate.
As I went back to work in the elementary school, I found that what I left in June was waiting for me with gusto, just the only difference is location. And trying to help my kids through the whole shift of new schools has made me learn more patience. Andy finished his treatments at Huntsman and has a break until we have scans again in October.
We really didn't slow down or stabilize. In fact, we have cranked it up. My classes at WSU for this semester have turned into my worst nightmares. Let me think about this, math is frustrating and difficult. Public speaking is HORRIFYING!! Yes, that's right I have public speaking as one of my classes. This was an accident. I thought I was signing up for interpersonal communication. What I got is PUBLIC SPEAKING. What have I done. Don't answer that.
Morgan has soccer on Tue.,Thurs., Fri., and Saturday. On Wednesday the girls have music lessons in Logan, then we scream home to make it to Young Women's just in time. I have scholarship meetings on Friday and gathering time (public speaking class) on Tues. We all have homework, housework, yard work, and have I said we are fixing the fascia on the house this weekend, and possibly painting the house as well.
Okay we are over doing things. Oh well, that's where the deja vu comes into view. I feel like we are exactly where we were in the spring. Crazy schedule and chaos surrounding us. There a platypus controlling me...what...a platypus controlling me...gotta stop...don't stop...

What's up?

Andy said I needed to write a blog to update everyone about our life. I thought my lame attempt at screenwriting did a good job. However, I will write a boring and correct estimation of our life at this point. (Deep breath in and deep breath out)Here we go. Andy has been doing radiation treatments for the new (little)tumor under his collar bone that is in a lymph node. We leave every morning at 6 to be down to Huntsman by 7:50 so Andy can lay on a machine and be baked like a large potato in a microwave. Oh sorry, I need to write a boring explanation ignore the last comment about potatoes. Andy is radiated for about 20 min. then we leave and drive home by 10. We have done this since the 1st of August and will continue until the end of August. Andy then takes a nap during the trip down to Huntsman, on the way home from Huntsman, and when we get home for about an hour or so. If he isn't in pain or sick, he then goes into work for a couple of hours. On Thursday he made it for a whole 4 hours. I was really amazed and proud of him (I'm not kidding about this).This treatment has taken a toll on his energy level. He sleeps most of the day and night. The docs told him to try to exercise for 15 min a day to help combat the fatigue. So he has started to do a low impact kettlebell exercise program. I think this is great. I don't know if it is really helping but we will try anything. We will be done with this treatment schedule on the 29th of this month. Just in time for my fall semester, job, and the kids schools all to begin. I did take a couple of classes this summer. They were 7 week block classes. That was the fastest, craziest, and non educational semester I have ever taken. The kids are excited and ready for school to start for them. They all go to new schools this year. Morgan is in the intermediate. Caity is in the middle school, and Shaeli is at the high school. I can't believe that last sentence! Is that real? Alas, it is. My babies are almost as tall as me and growing daily. I don't know if I am ready for school to start for them. I never cried when they started kindergarten but I may cry this year. They are so big and grown up in so many ways. They are my encouragement, pride, beauty, and heart. I am amazed at their whole beings. They are everything I wish I was and they make me strive for better things in this world everyday. Andy is my half that makes me a whole. My kids are my hope and joy. I have to leave this blog with a comment that Morgan made yesterday while we were eating at Wendy's.
Morgan: "If you're called a vegetarian because you don't like to eat meat. Are you a meatetarian if you don't like to eat veggies?"
Out of the mouth of babes.

The tale of Sleeping Beauty: act 1

Setting: Early morning before dawn the alarm clock rings out loudly as a second alarm from a smart phone rings also. Sleepy Andy and Peggy both reach out to turn off the alarms.
and... scene.

Andy: UGHH!!
Peggy: Here we go again.
(Peggy gets out of bed and takes a shower, meanwhile Andy turns over and falls asleep.)
Peggy: (singing)What's up pussy cat, whoa, whoa, whoa, whawhoa...
(Peggy get's out of the shower and enters the bedroom to find Andy snoring.)
Peggy: Andy you need to get up. You're gonna make us late. It's already 5:45.
Andy: zzzz
Peggy: Dear I've been thinking about buying a boat. I feel that we need something for us as a family to do something that we enjoyed when we were younger. It might be the thing to help motivate you to get in shape.(quietly under her breath she says)that way the boat doesn't have to be a cruise liner to get your butt out of the water.
Andy: Wahd ya saying?
Peggy: Hurry get into the shower!
(After a quick shower and getting dressed, Andy and Peggy are off to Salt Lake to Huntsman. In the car listening to radio Peggy looks over at Andy who is fast asleep)
(Peggy has an idea to subconsciously plant the idea about the boat to Andy while he sleeps. She gets the ideas from one of her psychology classes she took during summer semester.)
Peggy: So...remember when we were first married and we went boating every morning and evening. That was great. Us and our friends, we were crazy. So...the boat thing would be fun. I would like an inboard type. We don't have to water ski the first year, just putt around the dams and teach the kids water safety.
Andy: Hmmm.
(Later after radiation treatments and on the way home from Salt Lake Andy is again sleeping and Peggy continues with the boat strategy.)
Peggy: Can you imagine how cool our kids would be with their friends if we had a boat. We could invite them to a weekend thing with us, maybe borrow one of our parents trailers and camp at Willard Bay then boat around all day. That would be fun.
Andy: zzzz...Hmmm...
(Finally at home. Andy and Peggy pull into the drive and Andy wakes up.)
Peggy: Well one more treatment down. Can't wait to do it again tomorrow.
Andy:(yawning) Yeah... (walking into the house Andy stops and turns to Peggy) I had the craziest dreams today.
Peggy: You did?
Andy: Yeah... I think we need to buy a boat.
(Andy walks into the house. Peggy giggles.)

Radiation Shmadiation

For the last few days I have been receiving radiation, which will continue through the month of August. It has been kicking my butt a lot harder than I expected this early on. But there is some good news. I now have another seven tattoos. That brings me to eight, total. Ha, Scott, how many do you have? I am turning into quite the rebel. Maybe I will even get my ear pierced. Oh wait I’ve already had a hole in my ear, and it took a bunch of surgeries to get it fixed. So, no piercings.
Ok a little confession. I am not a rebel. (Don’t tell Scott though.)
Apart from the hot (ok burning) feeling in my chest, and the exhaustion, I am doing great.
The drive to Salt Lake everyday is getting old fast, and its only been 4 days so far. Tomorrow is my last one for the week. Then I get to do it all over again next week, and the week after that, and then some more. But the end result is possibly having my new tumor dead, I am more than happy to make the drive every day.

On the upside, the people I have talked to so far doing radiation have all lost weight, which is something I need to do. So in a nutshell, radiation, heat, tired and lots of travel.
Oh, Peggy, and the kids are doing great. This is the last week of school for Peggy, finals week. So say a special prayer for her. (she has tests tomorrow and Saturday).

you can watch a video of a glimpse of our family party here:



Merry Christmas and have a lovely day.
Love Andy

What a pain in the ..... Lungs?

Ok, so its been a while, but only a little while.  I did some research, and it turns out, we are pretty active blogger.  I will be the first to admit that we have definitely slowed our blogging, on a good note, you are not getting short updates that are only one or two lines.  So it could be worse.  Oh, wait a minute I was going to update you on the goings on of the Layne family. 

So here it is untamed and uncut, just like on Animal Planet.  K, two tumors are "non-visible" one shrank another 50%, and I have a new little buddy, in my clavicular area.  I don't know where they come up with these crazy words.  (I really do but wanted to say that). 

So for those of you who would like it a little more tamed and a lot more "cut?".  Anyway, sorry about the sad attempt at humor.  We met with the oncologist yesterday, and we had a great news, not so good news scenario.  The great news is that two of the three tumors, including the largest are no longer "visible."  That means the scan I had did not detect any cancer there.  (and it can detect really tiny cancer pieces)  The other good news is that the remaining tumor has shrunk close to 50 percent more.  which means they shrunk 30 percent the first time, and 50 percent the second time so it is about 35% of what we started out with.  I know crazy math.  pay attention, later there might be a quiz.   

Now for the not good news, the remaining tumor wanted a little buddy I guess.  and its hard to say no to a tu mor year old, he he he, ok really bad pun there.  6mm X 7mm, so not too big.  The not too big actually limits treatment options.  Where I have already had success with Ipilimumab (ipi) in the past I would be a candidate for another round of treatment.  But with this small of a tumor it is kind of an overkill.  So back to the radiologist we go, which is where we were today. 

Ok break for some heart to heart.  The Lord has really watched out for me lately, especially yesterday.  While trying to co-ordinate my future scans, appointments and labs, we tried to get an appointment with the radiologist.  My next already scheduled appointment is Sept 1st, not soon enough to deal with the aggressiveness of melanoma.  So with vacations for the summer and getting current patients follow ups done, the soonest they could get me in was the end of august, not good.  Keep in mind this was done with one scheduler to another, they were doing the best they could, but it was getting confusing with the questions they were asking me so I just went downstairs to get everything done in person.  Which worked out really well for me, I had only been there a couple of minutes when the radiologist came up front to the receptionists, how often does that happen?, can you say NEVER!!!!!  well we talked with the radiologist she made room for tomorrow and planning on Tuesday. 

Today, we met with her. I will be doing radiation everyday for the next 4-5 weeks.  I won't try to kid you, I am a little nervous, but this one shouldn't be as bad as the last one.  I will have side effects and potential problems, but we are still fighting and we still have options.

Great news NO QUIZ!!

Merry Christmas and have a lovely day,
Love Andy