Happy After-Thanksgiving and Pre-Other Holidays to you all!
How are you all? I am hoping all is well, but I do know that my sister-in-law, KC, is going to have a third try to fix her elbow in about 10 days. An out-patient procedure, but none-the-less, not so fun. I'm sending good karma your way, KC! I really hope no one else is going through similar situations.
I have completed nine radiation treatments and have 16 to go. So far, I've not really experienced any side effects...my skin is intact where the beams are aimed and my energy seems to be increasing every day, thank goodness! The docs say that both skin changes/damage and energy loss - when radiation related - don't usually begin until a bit later in the process. Right now, I have my fingers crossed that those side effects don't begin at all.
My last treatment is scheduled for December 22 - and if everything continues on schedule, our plan is to be packed to leave for home immediately after my last treatment. We haven't actually checked to see if we'll be required (medically) to stick around for anything, so we'll see what happens as the days progress.
It's hard to be so far away from home and Jim for so long. I miss Jim everyday! Joy has a wonderful home and has done everything possible to make me feel at home - including letting me bring Booker (African Gray parrot) and two cats (Mogwi and Sneakers) to live in her previously no-pet home. That takes a pretty big heart and I appreciate it so much. Booker is on my shoulder constantly when I'm in the house. The cats have moved right in and seem to be pretty much at home - even Sneaks has come out from under Joy's bed to explore and lounge in front of the fire!
For turkey day, we were so happy that three of our four human kids could join Joy, Jim and I for a feast, much laughing and hanging out on Friday. I did a little cooking on Thursday - desserts of course! On the big prep day, Jim and Joy cooked all day while I played executive chef from the couch. Not sure why, but it was a low energy day for me. I made it through without any naps, but my idea of being able to help with the cooking went out the window. I'm sure Joy and Jim think that I'm just a sloth. They were kind, however and didn't call me names - at least not out loud or in front of the kids!
Sometimes it's surprising what you get if you ask for it. Today I asked the radiation tecnologists if I could take a picture of the machinery that is doing its best to be sure I don't have any more local cancer cells. I thought I'd get a "we'll have to check with higher ups," or "we can't for liability reasons." But instead the response from all three was "sure!" "No problem!" I'm waiting for a camera to arrive - when it does, I plan to take a picture of the machine I fondly call Mr. Magoo and post it for you to see.
Do you remember Mr. Magoo? He's the cartoon character old man with terrible eyesight and coke bottle lenses. He is so cute, slightly bent over to squint at things and mumbling all the time. The radiation machine is one eyed (I couldn't get my head around calling him "cyclops." I wanted to greet it everyday with a little smile rather than fear). The one eye is very thick and the machine makes buzzing, clicking and other mumbling sounds as it's doing its work. I imagine Mr. Magoo standing really close to me, squinting his eyes behind his thick, thick lenses to look closely to see just who is climbing on the table, then clucking a greeting at me. This vision has made it much easier for me lay still for the treatments.
Follow-up to the Strange Smell in the Car story: Thanks for all the suggestions you sent. You were right (and we were too) - it was a dead thing in the engine area. Specifically, it was a dead rat under the windshield wiper cowling. The rat had been there long enough to make a nest and start to chew on the cabin air filter. Long story short, we ended up taking the car to Toyota maintenance, spending a day and $600, but the odor and all of the reasons for it are gone. I felt really sorry for the service techs - after their usual high tech forays hadn't found the cause of the smell, they had to resort to "sniff" testing along the hood of the car to find it! Ugh!
That's it for now. The weather in this valley has gotten colder since I arrived, but there have been many sunny days. I've discovered that the route from Joy's to the Sutter Cancer Center is covered with beautiful birds - red-tailed hawks, harriers and red-shouldered hawks by the handfuls everyday, snowy white egrets, cattle egrets, blue herons, lots of blackbirds, Canadian geese, and even some American white swans on migration!
I hope your days are filled with new bird species to add to your life lists! I hope yours are easy sightings that make you smile as you go through your day. Thanks so much for your support - you make me smile as I spy new birds and go through my days!
Showing posts with label radiation. Show all posts
Showing posts with label radiation. Show all posts
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
One Down - 24 to Go! November 16, 2010
Hi Everyone!
Well, it's been a little while since I wrote last (am I supposed to say "blogged?") and I have the same excuse that most everyone else has...it's been a busy couple of weeks. Oh, and I still have a few chemo effects charging around, too.
I have been lucky enough to be able to work between 2 - 6 hours most days, some days better than others. My pattern has been to get up feeling pretty OK, to work in my office and be couch potato in the afternoon. Weekend before last I slept a 13 hour night, napped twice during the day on Saturday and slept another 10 hours that night! Didn't do that much better this last weekend. Although I do love football, that much TV is just wasted time! But, I think my body is sending clear messages...I'm not totally back on my feet yet.
Speaking of chemo changes: I am much less dizzy than I was in the week that I managed to faint. That fact likely means that my bone marrow is making more red and white cells, as it is supposed to do. My low energy level tells me that I am probably still anemic, but not being dizzy is a start. Yeah!
I still have peripheral neuropathy (numbness and tingling in my fingertips and toes), which is a side effect of the Taxol. I'm told it may take months to go away - and, for some people, it doesn't. I hope the latter isn't me: it's really weird to try to place your feet properly when walking or to hold on to something you really can't feel. Folks who are diabetics and others who have heart disease or other issues, can have this problem. Until now, I never knew what they were going through. It doesn't hurt (at least for me), but it is so weird!
The title of this blog refers, of course, to the fact that I had my first radiation treatment today. It was easy enough and weird enough, but I think it will quickly become routine. Several minutes of positioning by the techs, recording of numbers (91.5, 87.5, etc.), techs leaving the room, the machine beeping and whirring, and presto-chango, all done. Maybe 20 minutes total and this one was longer since it was the first. No pain, no sensation whatsoever. Just calm, steady position holding for a few minutes on my part - I asked if I could breathe while the radiation was being delivered and was told "we recommend it." Hah!
I left you at last blog with the correct impression that I had some remaining questions about the radiation dosage prescribed for me at the Sacramento office. I want to let you know that my medical oncologist coordinated a very nice second opinion for me with a radiation oncologist in San Mateo. This doc reviewed my chart, read all my surgery notes, chemo details, looked at my pathology slides and talked to the pathologist. Then, he called me and told me that what was prescribed was exactly what he would do in his shop. He explained that the difference in dosage was due to the timing of the recommendation - the longer treatment period (and higher dosage) had been discussed before I had the mastectomy and all the tumor was removed (clean margins).
I feel comfortable now in my Sacramento radiation location - and am very grateful to the wonderful docs in San Mateo for helping me get my questions answered. Sometimes the health system does work!
Jim and I loaded the car yesterday with two cats and one bird (Booker) and a bunch of my junk and moved me into Joy's house. I've spent a little time today getting organized and settled here. The cats are doing well, though they and Booker are still nervous. Sneakers is under Joy's bed...apparently for the day today. Isn't it amazing how cats learn about where their litter box is and just go for it?
It was hard to leave Sal (our lovely Double Yellow-headed Amazon parrot) and the dogs at home. I'm not sure how they'll interpret it and I'm most worried about Sal since he's been so strange since I've been hairless and wearing hats/scarves the past several months.
Jim is here until Friday morning and that's a real treat for me. We get time together and I appreciate every second of it. It will be hard and harder once he goes home and we start the long time apart!
BTW: we are thinking that something has crawled into the engine or vent system of my lovely Toyota and died. I had a weird noise experience last week when I started it - kind of a rattling, bumping sound from the front passenger side. The noise went away without any obvious resulting problems... until the last couple of days. Now we have a very foul odor, which seems to be getting worse and we both think we've got something really dead lurking somewhere. Unfortunately, there is nothing obvious to be seen. Do you have any ideas of what to do?
We will likely take the car to a dealer and have it disassembled to find what the issue may be. In the mean time, don't ask for a ride with us unless you have a really bad cold or allergies!
With thanks for all your good thoughts and prayers and with hopes that you have a wonderful week!
Well, it's been a little while since I wrote last (am I supposed to say "blogged?") and I have the same excuse that most everyone else has...it's been a busy couple of weeks. Oh, and I still have a few chemo effects charging around, too.
I have been lucky enough to be able to work between 2 - 6 hours most days, some days better than others. My pattern has been to get up feeling pretty OK, to work in my office and be couch potato in the afternoon. Weekend before last I slept a 13 hour night, napped twice during the day on Saturday and slept another 10 hours that night! Didn't do that much better this last weekend. Although I do love football, that much TV is just wasted time! But, I think my body is sending clear messages...I'm not totally back on my feet yet.
Speaking of chemo changes: I am much less dizzy than I was in the week that I managed to faint. That fact likely means that my bone marrow is making more red and white cells, as it is supposed to do. My low energy level tells me that I am probably still anemic, but not being dizzy is a start. Yeah!
I still have peripheral neuropathy (numbness and tingling in my fingertips and toes), which is a side effect of the Taxol. I'm told it may take months to go away - and, for some people, it doesn't. I hope the latter isn't me: it's really weird to try to place your feet properly when walking or to hold on to something you really can't feel. Folks who are diabetics and others who have heart disease or other issues, can have this problem. Until now, I never knew what they were going through. It doesn't hurt (at least for me), but it is so weird!
The title of this blog refers, of course, to the fact that I had my first radiation treatment today. It was easy enough and weird enough, but I think it will quickly become routine. Several minutes of positioning by the techs, recording of numbers (91.5, 87.5, etc.), techs leaving the room, the machine beeping and whirring, and presto-chango, all done. Maybe 20 minutes total and this one was longer since it was the first. No pain, no sensation whatsoever. Just calm, steady position holding for a few minutes on my part - I asked if I could breathe while the radiation was being delivered and was told "we recommend it." Hah!
I left you at last blog with the correct impression that I had some remaining questions about the radiation dosage prescribed for me at the Sacramento office. I want to let you know that my medical oncologist coordinated a very nice second opinion for me with a radiation oncologist in San Mateo. This doc reviewed my chart, read all my surgery notes, chemo details, looked at my pathology slides and talked to the pathologist. Then, he called me and told me that what was prescribed was exactly what he would do in his shop. He explained that the difference in dosage was due to the timing of the recommendation - the longer treatment period (and higher dosage) had been discussed before I had the mastectomy and all the tumor was removed (clean margins).
I feel comfortable now in my Sacramento radiation location - and am very grateful to the wonderful docs in San Mateo for helping me get my questions answered. Sometimes the health system does work!
Jim and I loaded the car yesterday with two cats and one bird (Booker) and a bunch of my junk and moved me into Joy's house. I've spent a little time today getting organized and settled here. The cats are doing well, though they and Booker are still nervous. Sneakers is under Joy's bed...apparently for the day today. Isn't it amazing how cats learn about where their litter box is and just go for it?
It was hard to leave Sal (our lovely Double Yellow-headed Amazon parrot) and the dogs at home. I'm not sure how they'll interpret it and I'm most worried about Sal since he's been so strange since I've been hairless and wearing hats/scarves the past several months.
Jim is here until Friday morning and that's a real treat for me. We get time together and I appreciate every second of it. It will be hard and harder once he goes home and we start the long time apart!
BTW: we are thinking that something has crawled into the engine or vent system of my lovely Toyota and died. I had a weird noise experience last week when I started it - kind of a rattling, bumping sound from the front passenger side. The noise went away without any obvious resulting problems... until the last couple of days. Now we have a very foul odor, which seems to be getting worse and we both think we've got something really dead lurking somewhere. Unfortunately, there is nothing obvious to be seen. Do you have any ideas of what to do?
We will likely take the car to a dealer and have it disassembled to find what the issue may be. In the mean time, don't ask for a ride with us unless you have a really bad cold or allergies!
With thanks for all your good thoughts and prayers and with hopes that you have a wonderful week!
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Part Three - Coming Up October 27, 2010
Greetings Everyone!
Right now in Crescent City it's a beautiful, sunny, somewhat windy, fall day with rain projected at 70 - 90% today and maybe a total of one inch by the time the storm moves on. Last week we had huge wind, lightning and rain storms that brought big tree limbs down, cut our power twice in 24 hours and filled our gutters (again) with all the tree debris that's been accumulating since the last storm. One of Jim's big home owner jobs is to take my electric blower (yes, mine - and, it was a birthday gift, too!), get on the roof and blow all of the mess off of the roof and out of the gutters. He's already been up there once this season, and it immediately stormed and clogged the gutters again. I argue strongly against this dangerous little home chore when the roof is wet - which is pretty much all the time at the moment. I don't always win. Cross your fingers for dry days this weekend - that's usually when the urge to roof climb strikes.
So...the last chemo is doing its best to make me miserable, but beginning to fade. I was able to work last week (Tuesday through Saturday - yahoo steroids!) with energy falling as the week went on. By Sunday, I was a couch potato and slept most of the day. Monday I actually managed to pass out - an unexpected event, since I am usually really able to monitor being dizzy and manage it to not actually faint. Got surprised, but not injured. A better day Tuesday and today, so far. The good news is that I should be able to climb back up and out of this in a few more days - and the GREAT news is that I don't have a cycle to start again next Monday!!
However, the next part of this journey has begun...information, set-up, planning and scheduling of radiation. I've really been re-immersed in the numbers that got us started on this journey again, which (lucky you) I've decided to share. Here goes:
But, I wrote in this vein today partly because this is how I'm dealing with stuff...and how I plan to keep dealing no matter what happens. Radiation - big scary machines that do invisible things to kill cells - is another step on this journey and has me thinking again about this little trip Jim and I (and you) are on. I want to have all the information I can find that 's accurate and informative. I wish I'd paid better attention in statistics those many years ago so I could really understand the statistics in some of the research I'm reading. I wish I understood cellular biology and angiotensin growth factors and many other clinical/biological things that are being researched that may come to apply at some point. None-the-less, my plan is to do the best I can with the cards dealt and to know about as many of the cards that are not yet face up...and sprinkle a little denial into the mix once in a while. I will be a partner in my health care and I will be making the decisions about what happens to me. This won't be happening "to" me - it's happening in me and with me and I'll be right there asking questions and trying to figure out the next best steps for me. Right now, those steps involve a big scary machine and hormone therapy to get to a cure.
And, just so you know...Jim's giving me about another week to "get over" chemo and then he has a work-out, shape up plan that sounds grueling. Studies do show that women with breast cancer who exercise and stay at the correct BMI (ahemmm), live longer than those who don't. Any of you remember me when I worked out hard 6 - 7 days a week? Well, Jim does and he's making plans for my re-addiction to the whole exercise thing. Maybe whining will divert him for a little longer.
Thanks to Susan, Kelly and Karen for the great lunch today. Happy Birthday, Susan!
BTW: It's raining! :)
Right now in Crescent City it's a beautiful, sunny, somewhat windy, fall day with rain projected at 70 - 90% today and maybe a total of one inch by the time the storm moves on. Last week we had huge wind, lightning and rain storms that brought big tree limbs down, cut our power twice in 24 hours and filled our gutters (again) with all the tree debris that's been accumulating since the last storm. One of Jim's big home owner jobs is to take my electric blower (yes, mine - and, it was a birthday gift, too!), get on the roof and blow all of the mess off of the roof and out of the gutters. He's already been up there once this season, and it immediately stormed and clogged the gutters again. I argue strongly against this dangerous little home chore when the roof is wet - which is pretty much all the time at the moment. I don't always win. Cross your fingers for dry days this weekend - that's usually when the urge to roof climb strikes.
So...the last chemo is doing its best to make me miserable, but beginning to fade. I was able to work last week (Tuesday through Saturday - yahoo steroids!) with energy falling as the week went on. By Sunday, I was a couch potato and slept most of the day. Monday I actually managed to pass out - an unexpected event, since I am usually really able to monitor being dizzy and manage it to not actually faint. Got surprised, but not injured. A better day Tuesday and today, so far. The good news is that I should be able to climb back up and out of this in a few more days - and the GREAT news is that I don't have a cycle to start again next Monday!!
However, the next part of this journey has begun...information, set-up, planning and scheduling of radiation. I've really been re-immersed in the numbers that got us started on this journey again, which (lucky you) I've decided to share. Here goes:
- In April, I was diagnosed with invasive lobular carcinoma of the right breast;
- In June - after two lumpectomies - I had a mastectomy and extensive axilary node dissection. All cancer that was seen was removed. The margins (edges) of the main tumor were "clean." However, 23 of 24 nodes were positive for cancer.
- The extent of cancer that was found caused me to be "staged" at Stage 3. There are four stages given, based on the size of the initial tumor and whether or not lymph nodes were found to contain cancer. Because of the larger size of the tumor and the large number of positive lymph nodes, I moved right up to Stage 3. (Stage 1 is very early and, of course, Stage 4 is a late catch.) Stage 3 is considered "advanced" disease - but because I had no evidence of distant metastasis (as in bones, liver, etc.), I am not at Stage 4 or "late" disease.
- Statistically (based on data from 2001 and 2002), women in my situation have about a 49% five-year survival rate overall. This means that, with treatment, its about a flip of a coin for me. Not the best number, but still hopefull since I have no obvious mets. And, survival rates are improving every year...
- Both Jennifer Brown, the medical/chemo oncologist, and Janice Ryu, the new radiation oncologist, confirm that survival is increased when chemotherapy, radiation and hormone therapy are given after mastectomy. Dr. Brown told me she has gone for a "cure" with the chemo and has been very aggressive. I believe her.
- Dr. Ryu has prescribed 5,000 rads total dose of radiation over 25 daily treatments. This is a lower number of treatments than I've heard proposed before, so I'm still gathering information about how "aggressive" she's being. I plan to ambush my oncologist on Friday with this somewhat sensitive question. At this moment, I start radiation on November 16.
- Hormone therapy is given to women whose tumors test E2 and P2 positive, which mine did. Dr. Brown says that the tumor type that I have is actually very responsive to hormone therapy and that this is one of the most important components of the total treatment plan. For me it will be an aromatase inhibitor, which is a newer class of drugs designed to remove all the remaning estrogen from my body. Like menopause didn't do enough, already! I'll take hormone therapy for at least five years - so I'm told today. Who knows what will change and/or be new in that amount of time.
- By December 22, I should be done with radiation, chemo and nicely adjusted to hormone therapy. The side effects of all of this year will march on for a little longer after that. But, as my friends said today, then normal life - real life - begins again at our house.
But, I wrote in this vein today partly because this is how I'm dealing with stuff...and how I plan to keep dealing no matter what happens. Radiation - big scary machines that do invisible things to kill cells - is another step on this journey and has me thinking again about this little trip Jim and I (and you) are on. I want to have all the information I can find that 's accurate and informative. I wish I'd paid better attention in statistics those many years ago so I could really understand the statistics in some of the research I'm reading. I wish I understood cellular biology and angiotensin growth factors and many other clinical/biological things that are being researched that may come to apply at some point. None-the-less, my plan is to do the best I can with the cards dealt and to know about as many of the cards that are not yet face up...and sprinkle a little denial into the mix once in a while. I will be a partner in my health care and I will be making the decisions about what happens to me. This won't be happening "to" me - it's happening in me and with me and I'll be right there asking questions and trying to figure out the next best steps for me. Right now, those steps involve a big scary machine and hormone therapy to get to a cure.
And, just so you know...Jim's giving me about another week to "get over" chemo and then he has a work-out, shape up plan that sounds grueling. Studies do show that women with breast cancer who exercise and stay at the correct BMI (ahemmm), live longer than those who don't. Any of you remember me when I worked out hard 6 - 7 days a week? Well, Jim does and he's making plans for my re-addiction to the whole exercise thing. Maybe whining will divert him for a little longer.
Thanks to Susan, Kelly and Karen for the great lunch today. Happy Birthday, Susan!
BTW: It's raining! :)
Monday, September 27, 2010
Where Have I Been? September 27, 2010
Hi Everyone,
Actually, I didn't mean to be a non-blogger for these past couple of weeks...during my last chemo (September 20), I was on my iPad giving you a blow-by-blow description of what happens from IV stick to lab draw to chemo. I discovered, however, that the iPad isn't completely compatible with this blog program and I was unable to save a portion, return to it, and still have all the tools available to me to continue writing. I thought I saved what I had written, but it isn't posted on the site today so I think that effort was totally lost. Oh well!
My first round of Taxol was really lousy. Several medication changes were made for the last one which helped a lot. A new stomach medicine so I have less upset and can eat some. More steroids so the really achy, flu part of things is reduced in the first week. The result was that I did feel better last week - in fact I was able to WORK on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday! I actually got something done!
Unfortunately, the slide started on Friday (which was still an OK day, just not a working day) and continued through the weekend. Not as bad, however, as the first round...tired, bone achy and quite dizzy. I spent much of the weekend on the couch watching college and NFL football - ask me who won out of our state teams...not many! Nebraska won, though!
Time is going by quickly. Hard to believe it's the end of September! I have two more chemo treatments and then I'm done! After the chemo is rest for about a month or six weeks. I'm really hoping to get back on my feet then. Am starting to make decisions about where to get radiation - San Mateo through the same program or Sacramento. I'm lucky enough to have family/friends with homes in both locations - it helps a lot as I'll be able to consult with both doc groups and get a sense of who will be best to work with.
Sorry for the break in communication! I hope you are all doing well, enjoying apple pie and other wonderful fall goodies. BTW: for those of you who live up north as we do, did you know that Michelle at Vita Cucina makes the BEST blackberry pie ever! It was my birthday "cake" earlier this month and I've never had pie so good! Try other kinds too...I'm sure they're fabulous!
Actually, I didn't mean to be a non-blogger for these past couple of weeks...during my last chemo (September 20), I was on my iPad giving you a blow-by-blow description of what happens from IV stick to lab draw to chemo. I discovered, however, that the iPad isn't completely compatible with this blog program and I was unable to save a portion, return to it, and still have all the tools available to me to continue writing. I thought I saved what I had written, but it isn't posted on the site today so I think that effort was totally lost. Oh well!
My first round of Taxol was really lousy. Several medication changes were made for the last one which helped a lot. A new stomach medicine so I have less upset and can eat some. More steroids so the really achy, flu part of things is reduced in the first week. The result was that I did feel better last week - in fact I was able to WORK on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday! I actually got something done!
Unfortunately, the slide started on Friday (which was still an OK day, just not a working day) and continued through the weekend. Not as bad, however, as the first round...tired, bone achy and quite dizzy. I spent much of the weekend on the couch watching college and NFL football - ask me who won out of our state teams...not many! Nebraska won, though!
Time is going by quickly. Hard to believe it's the end of September! I have two more chemo treatments and then I'm done! After the chemo is rest for about a month or six weeks. I'm really hoping to get back on my feet then. Am starting to make decisions about where to get radiation - San Mateo through the same program or Sacramento. I'm lucky enough to have family/friends with homes in both locations - it helps a lot as I'll be able to consult with both doc groups and get a sense of who will be best to work with.
Sorry for the break in communication! I hope you are all doing well, enjoying apple pie and other wonderful fall goodies. BTW: for those of you who live up north as we do, did you know that Michelle at Vita Cucina makes the BEST blackberry pie ever! It was my birthday "cake" earlier this month and I've never had pie so good! Try other kinds too...I'm sure they're fabulous!
Saturday, June 19, 2010
Home Again! 6/19/2010
Home again we are! And, so glad to be here! We have so missed being in our space and, even more, with all of our very special babies. Michelle, who takes care of house and pets, does a wonderful job...but it's our home and we have missed all of its nuances.
I'm doing well post-op. Little pain, mostly just tired. Path results were both OK and bad: mastectomy got all of cancer in breast, but axillary nodes were 23/24 cancerous. Still, chest xray, bone scan, CT of chest, abdomen and pelvis were negative...no distant metastasis. And, no other nodes were seen to have cancer.
My medical oncologist said I'm "cancer free" and that treatment should be aimed at full " cure.". The quotes are mine on her exact words...the surgery supposedly got all the cancer in my body and remaining circulating cells are supposed to be killed off by chemo, radiation, and long-term hormone therapy. Keep your fingers crossed!
We go back to doctors for more post-op follow-up on Thursday next week, for chemo education, some blood work and finally for starting chemo on Monday 6/28, if everything is OK. Chemo will be rough - every two weeks for four months. Then I'll get a month to rest and then 33 radiation treatments. If all goes well, the hard part will be done.
We're still working on logistics, but we think that we will start by going to San Mateo for about 5 days out of every 14...for chemo and other required medical follow-up. Once I'm in the routine and know more about how I will feel with the chemo, we're thinking that maybe Jim won't have to come every time. He is my rock, so it will be a big transition but we also need to try to have something a little normal in our lives right now. His boss is being absolutely wonderfully supportive so no pressure from that side at all. We really appreciate it - and still want to stay on track as much as we can on most life fronts. Trying to balance, as always.
That's it for now. We've been home an hour or so. Birds, dogs and cats are settling. Jim's in his garden checking for weather damage and hoping for tomatoes. Nap time for me! Love to all, Susan
I'm doing well post-op. Little pain, mostly just tired. Path results were both OK and bad: mastectomy got all of cancer in breast, but axillary nodes were 23/24 cancerous. Still, chest xray, bone scan, CT of chest, abdomen and pelvis were negative...no distant metastasis. And, no other nodes were seen to have cancer.
My medical oncologist said I'm "cancer free" and that treatment should be aimed at full " cure.". The quotes are mine on her exact words...the surgery supposedly got all the cancer in my body and remaining circulating cells are supposed to be killed off by chemo, radiation, and long-term hormone therapy. Keep your fingers crossed!
We go back to doctors for more post-op follow-up on Thursday next week, for chemo education, some blood work and finally for starting chemo on Monday 6/28, if everything is OK. Chemo will be rough - every two weeks for four months. Then I'll get a month to rest and then 33 radiation treatments. If all goes well, the hard part will be done.
We're still working on logistics, but we think that we will start by going to San Mateo for about 5 days out of every 14...for chemo and other required medical follow-up. Once I'm in the routine and know more about how I will feel with the chemo, we're thinking that maybe Jim won't have to come every time. He is my rock, so it will be a big transition but we also need to try to have something a little normal in our lives right now. His boss is being absolutely wonderfully supportive so no pressure from that side at all. We really appreciate it - and still want to stay on track as much as we can on most life fronts. Trying to balance, as always.
That's it for now. We've been home an hour or so. Birds, dogs and cats are settling. Jim's in his garden checking for weather damage and hoping for tomatoes. Nap time for me! Love to all, Susan
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