Christine Penner

Since September 4, 2019, I have been off of my chemo drugs. My blood is continually getting lower so I will now be off of my chemo drugs until the end of November. I will then check my blood again and have an MRI. It feels awkward being off of my chemo drugs for so long. Three months is a long time to be off. At the end of November I will find out where I am at. I felt a little off for three days at the end of October but feel much better now.   Before I was diagnosed with cancer I was working on my PhD at the University of Manitoba. After a year and a half leave of absence, I was able to restart working on it. I had the opportunity to change my methodology which helped me move forward. I am thrilled to say that I have completed my thesis and that it has been accepted. All I have left to do  now is to defend my thesis. I am so excited that I am close to my PhD graduation. I am grateful that I had the opportunity to finish it.  My dear little loved ones - M...

I met with Dr. Pitz on Friday, September 6, and was told that the MRI I took at the end of August showed that my brain surgery on May 30, 2019, had gone well. I was pleased to hear that. After three weeks of my daily chemo drugs I was happy to take one week off. When I went to have a blood test prior to starting my chemo drugs again, I was told that my blood level was low and that I would be off chemo drugs for another week. This happened two more times. I now have been off of my chemo drugs for three weeks. I hope that I will be able to start my drugs again at the beginning of October. I am grateful that I feel good. My parents are doing very well. My dad had a difficult month after his surgery in mid-August, but now is back to his normal self which I am grateful for. I had a lot of fun spending an evening with friends who were attending the Manitoba Basketball Hall of Fame. It was fun meeting two girls I had played basketball with at the University of Manitoba. We had a wonder...

On Friday, August 9, I met with Dr. Pitz’s nurse. I was told that my most recent blood test was good. This meant that I would continue with three weeks of chemo pills the following Wednesday, August 14. I enjoyed being off of chemo drugs for one week. I had an MRI on Monday, August 26. The nurses had difficulty putting a needle into my arm so it took a bit of time to get started. Eventually it worked. I now hope to see my doctor next week Friday. I   am grateful that I will finally hear about the gamma knife surgery that took place May 30, 2019.   In the middle of August my dad had a prostate surgery done at the Health Sciences Centre (HSC). My sister Bev, mom, dad, and I stayed at the Canad Inn right beside the hospital for night. It was helpful that after the first night we were right there to take dad to the hospital at 5:45 a.m. After his surgery dad seemed to be doing quite well. The next day dad was taken back to the Morris Hospital. Sadly, after one night in Mor...

On Friday, July 12, I had a blood test and a meeting with Dr. Pitz. It was nice to hear that my blood test looked good. As a result I now am on three weeks of chemo drugs, then take one week off. I was off for a week in the middle of July. I am feeling much better now that I am on chemo drugs as opposed to liquid drugs. My MRI has been scheduled for August 26. I will then have a better idea where I am at regarding my brain cancer. My parents are doing very well which I am so grateful for. At the beginning of July dad was moved to the hospital in Morris. We are glad that this new hospital is only 45 minutes away from home. He now is waiting to go to a nursing home in Steinbach. Meanwhile the family is going to see dad once a week. We always pick dad up and go out for dinner. Dad continues to get lots of visitors and enjoys meeting new people. It always is so beautiful seeing mom and dad give each other a hug when they see each other, as well as when mom leaves. They continue to have ...