Team Kyla

02/21/2022

Hi there! Long time no posting! Apologies. I just had my last chemo injection and I will be having my last steroids ! 8 months have gone by fast, yet not! Going forward, I will be continuing with my immunotherapy iv only. Unless my latest CT scan aren't good! Thanks to all the nurses and to my dear friend who has driven me every week! And also to my sweet husband and family who have put up with my ups and downs of the drugs! I am looking forward to introducing matcha back into my daily pleasures! Hee hee

10/18/2021

Hi everyone! A long time has passed since I posted. My apologies. My latest PET scan results 3 months into my treatment shows I am responding well! So relieved and grateful to have this immunotherapy treatment approved for me again and that I am responding. My right femur is apparently being stubborn and not responding as well, but it is still a good result!
So my walking has improved in the last few weeks, so that has been a huge thing for me. I can now go out for a walk in our neighbourhood with my walking poles, as long as I stay on the flat and don't go too far.
Amazingly, there is a volunteer driving society that has just expanded to Vancouver and Richmond!! So today is my first day in using them for my blood draws every other Monday!!! So grateful!
The poor Free Mason's are not coming back. If you know of anyone that needs a drive to and from cancer treatments, doctor appointments and tests, please check them out! The name is in the picture below. They have a rigid vaccine policy, so I feel very safe.
Thanks to my friend Susan who has been driving me every week on Tuesdays for the past 14 weeks!!! With not knowing the time of my appointment sometimes only the day before, she has been a lifesaver. Also thanks to Claire for her driving me to a blood draw recently. Lastly thanks for all the kind remarks on our caring bridge site. It has been both helpful for both George and I. I will try and get onto the Team Kyla FB page more often to post with updates when I can.
Hope everyone is staying safe and healthy! Biggest hugs to you all.

07/13/2021

Hi everyone! Long time since I posted . Day 1 of new treatment! So grateful I am approved for this by the government. Once a week for the first 8 cycles, so I will get to know the nurses again! No furry friends yet but I don't know if they are back! The BCCA and Vancouver Coastal Health have just switched ( as of June 19) to an online system!!! So no more paper note taking or chemo orders or appointment cards in the mail!!! Awesome eh!!!! Hope everyone is enjoying the summer so far safely. 💗💗💗

06/09/2021

All finished my immunization schedule for my 2019 transplant!!!! I had 4 pokes today, two in each arm. So glad I am done! Yippee!!! Thanks for all the kind words and support on my last post. Stay safe! 😄💗👍

06/02/2021

I am done! Done my PET scan for another year! Wahooo!
Not my favorite test as I still find it hard being in a small space.
This picture is me prior to going in, waiting for the injection to move about my body.
My technician today was super sweet and calm and reassuring. I even got to have some music playing to distract me. I did end up using some of my qi gong breathing techniques while I was in the donut and it did help me stay calm and still.
Results should be in a week or two.
No updates to report other than my oncologist has changed up my chemotherapy treatments. I am now taking chemotherapy every other day, which has been harder on my fatigue levels and some more side effects unfortunately. We will see how this plays out going forward cycle after cycle. I hope it will work out okay. More resting, meditation and Qi gong to build up my strength is what I have been doing.
Well, stay safe and healthy. Hope to see some of you later in the summer once 2 shots are in arms!!! In the meantime, you can always text, email or call if you want to catch up.
kyla.hicks@telus.net or 604-499-4535.
Biggest hugs to you all and thanks for all the well wishes for this test. 😄
Perhaps my next post can be of me and a new haircut! Coming up to 1 1/2 years of going from bald to having grown in hair, so would love to cut off the one inch of curls.... something to look forward to!!! Xo😄😄😄

01/13/2021

This morning I had some radiation treatments on both my sacrum and mid spine at the cancer agency. It was done by the same radiologist I had back in February 2019 (Dr. Pickles).
Thanks to Dr. Pickles for taking me back on for this treatment!!! So grateful.
The hope is this will help ease my pain, and even better, shrink the tumor in my sacrum.
I wasn't able to take a pic of the lead door, but I was able take a pic of the radiation machine. So amazing to me how complex the procedure is, yet so simple for the patient. Other than being all marked up with a marker, the treatment itself is painless and only takes 20 minutes (minus the prep time of an hour). For 24 to 48 hours after treatment there are side effects, but that is to be expected.
Again, so grateful for this treatment approved by my oncology team.
Thank you to the BCCA technicians in the CT scan and radiation area for taking good care of me this morning!
Stay safe and healthy everyone! Enjoy the sun!

12/24/2020

Last appointment of 2020! Thank you to all my BCCA nurses and technicians for all their gentle care! I was in and out in 20 minutes for my CT scan, even with contrast dye!!! Thank you also to my Team Kyla family who have continued to support me this past year with words of encouragement and love. Right back at yah. Stay safe and healthy! 😘😘😘

12/03/2020

Happy December! Just a note to say if you know anyone that has recently been diagnosed with cancer and is feeling like they need one on one support from the BCCA during the pandemic - there is options available besides phone consults with a counsellor. I highly recommend their RELAXATION class which is twice a week on zoom. The music therapist received funding from a grant for the classes to last until the end of the year! Hoping they will continue in 2021. It is a safe space, and truly is an hour of relaxation for cancer patients going through treatment. The Patient & Family Counselling Department will send you a zoom link once you sign up for the classes and there is no obligation to attend every class. Link is below. Please do share. Thank YOU.
Hope you are all keeping safe and healthy. Miss seeing so many of you in person. Biggest hugs.

Provincial Health Services Authority (PHSA) improves the health of British Columbians by seeking province-wide solutions to specialized health care needs in collaboration with BC health authorities and other partners.

11/07/2020

Waiting for George to pick me up! Quick in and out for my zaldronic acid today!
Masks are now given out to all BCCA patients (cloth masks not acceptable) and are mandatory. Great to add a layer of protection to others like me while getting treatment and can't social distance. Plus back to no visitors with the patient, which cuts down on the amount of people at the BCCA! As you can see, empty lobby!!!
Grateful Bonnie Henry has made this change. Hoping the BCCA doesn't run out of masks though. Thank you to my nurse today. Stay safe my friends. 🏵️🏵️🏵️

10/16/2020

Kyla 3.1 is one today! It has been a crazy year full of treatment, healing and personal discovery! So grateful for all the love & support from my family & friends. Thank you. Life is LIFE!