day 4 - Gopi's treatment

So, they started the chemo, which is basically a drip that lasts about an hour or so, three days ago. That was in the morning. That afternoon they started her radiation. The radiation actually lasted for about 3 minutes.
The next day, Gopi was really drowsy for most of the day. The doc says that this was not because of the chemo or radiation, rather they had given her some sedatives to minimize the nauseating effects of the chemo. The radiation was repeated again in the afternoon.
Gopi was feeling some discomfort and some soreness on day 2 and day 3. On the night of day three (yesterday) she started to run a fever (about 100.2) and so they gave her some meds and antibiotics. She was feverish, a bit cold and was sweating. So, the docs decided that they would not do any radiation today (day 4) to give her a break.
In addition to the treatment Gopi has been taking some ayurvedic medicine - Maharishi (mahesh yogi on TM fame) Amrit Kalash - which is two products: a jelly/jam and pills- which some studies have shown to help fight cancer and improve general health, and some capsules called (believe it or not) Cruel, which have been used for improving immunity in cancer patients (the Cruel caps have gold powder, silver powder and other herbs etc).
Today, we were lucky that we got connected with some devotees (Kishan Das) who run a prasad distribution business here for the students. So, we got hooked up with some rice, dahl, subji and chaps. We are happy. The hospital provides Gopi's meals and they have been great. They adjust her diet according to her requests every day and a dietician visits her every day and asks her if she is happy with her meal and what she would like different etc.
The kids are a hit here, especially Vrinda, who is very extroverted and young. She has made friends with the nurses on our floor and they play with her (when not busy), she's made friends with students who come and visit her in Gopi's room . One of them bought Vrinda a Rakhi (band) to tie on Gopala. The day before was Rakhi where girls and women tie this thin cloth/string band on the hands of men that they consider their brother. The men/boys are in turn supposed to give the girls/women a gift and promise to protect them.
And there is the ice cream stand. The med school here is ranked about 6th in India. There are students here from about 20 or so different countries, and quite a few indian americans from the US. Anyways there is really nice (certainly for India) cafeteria, with a food court above it that we frequent. In the cafeteria there is an ice cream parlor and they are so taken in by the kids, especially since they know Gopi is ill, that they often give them (and me) free ice cream....

D day

So, today it all begins. Well, I'm referring to gopi's treatment. The docs took her in to do some examination and mark the area where they will perform the radiation. They marked a square below her belly - about 6 or so square inches where they will focus the radiation
It is supposed to go on for 5 weeks. The first day there will be a chemo drip for an hour followed by radiation, then four more days of radiation. For a total of 5 days a week followed by two days rest, then it repeats again likewise for 5 weeks. After that, a break for two weeks and then two days of internal radiation (through the vagina) once a week.
Hopefully, things will go well and she won't have too many adverse reactions - nausea, diarrhea, hair loss are just a few on them...

On having Indian blood

25 Aug 2007

indian.... So, after getting a couple of blood transfusions, presumably with "Indian blood" since we are in India, Gopi says I guess, I have Indian blood in me now...

Cure -

Cure ???

It seems like there is no cure only attempts to reduce the damage and hope for the best.

The docs say that with stage three cancer there is 65-70 % chance of cure and that to for only five year i.e before the cancer comes back etc. That means that 7 out of every 10 people who get chemo radiation at this stage will make it, but 3 out of 10 wont.

Then there is the whole issue of side affects etc from the radiation etc.
However, when you are playing against a stacked deck what choice do you have? You can only play your cards and hope for the best.

For the first time in my life I am forced to feel the presence of death's knock on the door regualarly. Sure, I've been in accidents and close encounters that have shaken me. But, here I am (and Gopi more than me) is forced to face the ultimate test looming near.

Ayurveda has no cure for cancer either. they only work on strengthening your immune system and assisting one's body to fight the disease. Well, if one has time then this is the best option, but with Gopi's case I don't know how much times we have. I would probably opt for trying to figth it using Ayurveda (I say probably because I am not really in the driver's seat here, Gopi is), but Gopi has to make her own decision. However, she will take some ayurvedic rejuvenatives to stregthen here during the treatment and if she gets through the chemo , maybe some ayurvedic treatment later on......

Gerneral info on cancer

General info on cancer

This is just some stuff that I am gleaning from talking to doctors and people who "know"

There is no real cure for cancer.

The treatments out there seem to be two - surgery or chemo-radiation

There are four stages in cancer, well five if you count CIS(???) which is like a precancer stage. Each stage has an (a) and (b)

The stages are graded according to progress and development of the cancer

In the first stage either surgery or chemo-radiation is suggested. surgery because with early detection they can cut out the infected part and try and prevent spread.

In the second and third stages chemo-radiation is recommended. It is too late for surgery because the tumor has started to grow and spread.

In stage four surgery is the only solution. Basically, butchering, chopping off infected parts etc....things have gone out of control

Cervical cancer

4 Aug 2007

Cervical cancer So, the cat's out...... Gopi has got cervical cancer. We are now in the phase of acceptance. They ran some tests today- a systoscopy - to see how far and where it may have spread. We should know by this evening or tomorrow what the damage is. Gopi is being brave and trying to take it all well. Apparently, cervical cancer is common in India. The doc told me that 6 out of 10 women with cancer have cervical cancer. Apparently, it is still high in India and reducing in the west because of early detection. So, the lesson to be learnt is all you women out there have your cervix checked!!! The doc says that it may have been developin over the last 10 years. Anyways, we are waiting on further info...

Second round (or is it the third)

Second round (or is it the third)

I have often heard the phrase that when it rains it pours. Now, living in Udupi is certainly an example of that with its almost incessant monsoon rains etc. However, on a personal side, I have been experiencing just that. Well, to be honest, Gopi's been experiencing it and I have been along for the ride.
Essentially, Gopi has been ill since mid Febuary 2007. Rather, she has had a series of illnesses since then. First, the foot, then the lungs (TB), then the surgery. Somehow, I've had a feeling that it's not over.
Then last week ( a week ago from today), I was in Chennai trying to get my passport renewed so that I could work on getting Gopi and the kids visas updated etc. and I get a call from Gopi saying that she was experiencing serious pain in her pelvic region and was losing blood.( She had been having a urinary problem for the last month. We saw a couple of Ayurvedic docs apart from the allopathic doctors who were treating her for her lung issues.) So, she went in to the hospital for a check up and to have some tests done. That was last monday. By friday, I get a call from Gopal (I think this is the first time he's used the phone by himself) saying that his Mom was seriously ill. Luckily for us, there were two south African devotees (Mayapur Chandra and his wife Suvarna Manjari - really wonderful, delightful devotees) who we had befriended over the last few weeks, who stopped by to check on Gopi.
Anyways, the word from them and Gopal was that Gopi was losing a lot of blood (from her vagina) that she had thrown up a couple of times and that she had lost consciousness (fainted) a couple of times too. They rushed her in an ambulance to the KMC hospital, where she was treated earlier. I was still in Chennai trying to convince the local honchos to release my passport (as things would be there was date problem on my passport of 10 years -- my DOB siad 15th instead of the 5th).
Well, anyways, Gopi was admitted to the hospital and yesterday thet gave her some blood because she had lost a lot and her haemoglobin was low.
The docs say that all signs are indicating that she has a malignant growth on her cervix. We won't have the results from the tests for the next few days - to know for sure if it is malignant or benign.
I would be lying to say fear has not crept into my heart and mind. When she had her lung problems in the last few months, obviously I was concerned, but this time I am worried serious. I have faith that Sri Krishna has his plan, and from a philsophical perspective I am trying to be sober and unaffected. But as good old Jim Morrison once said - the future's uncertain and the end is always near.....


So , dear friends, please keep Gopi in your prayers and wish for her (and us - the kids and me) that the storm will pass...