Hey Conductor! What's all the racket?
The C train is coming to a stop. It's the end of the line. Time to get off the train!
What? Really? ... yeah, I guess so. I've had chemo, surgery, radiation and more surgery. I've done everything I could do. Wow. I guess it is time to get off the train. But how am I going to live life off the train? It just seems so surreal.
End of the line! Ya gotta get off! Today is your first day back to work! Get back to your life!
Wow. This is exactly where I got on the train. Was it just a big loop?! Everything kind of looks the same but not quite the same. As they say in Thailand, " same same, but different".
It's certainly more beautiful than I remember! And the love, wow! A final thanks to all of you for your support in all the ways that you show it! See you out in the world!
Monday, April 5, 2010
Are you cured?
I get this question a lot so I thought I'd just come out and address it.
Short answer - I hope so, I assume so, but there is no way of knowing.
Longer answer - There are no reliable tumor markers for breast cancer. I will not get bone scans, PET scans, CAT scans, MRI's or any other test as a matter of course. I will have physical checkups with my oncologist every 3 months. I will take oral meds for estrogen suppression for up to 10 years. Am I cured? I hope so, I assume so..... and I will live life to the fullest!
Short answer - I hope so, I assume so, but there is no way of knowing.
Longer answer - There are no reliable tumor markers for breast cancer. I will not get bone scans, PET scans, CAT scans, MRI's or any other test as a matter of course. I will have physical checkups with my oncologist every 3 months. I will take oral meds for estrogen suppression for up to 10 years. Am I cured? I hope so, I assume so..... and I will live life to the fullest!
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Back Home....
Just a quick note to say that I am back home and (currently) feeling no pain! The surgeon said that everything went well. It was uneventful with no surprises and for that I am grateful! Thanks to Peter for excellent transportation service and for getting me settled back in at home!
Thanks to all of your for your support in all the ways that you show it. Looking forward to a weekend of rest, recovery and movies!
Thanks to all of your for your support in all the ways that you show it. Looking forward to a weekend of rest, recovery and movies!
Uff Da!..... or should I say, Ooph Da!
For those not familiar with the phrase:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uff_da
Uff Da is exactly how I felt a few weeks ago when my onc strongly suggested that I get an oophorectomy.... or more technically.. a bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy. I thought we were done! And yes, we are done with treatment but now we move into the "prevention of recurrence" phase of things.
In my case, estrogen suppression is a key part of "prevention of recurrence". The current thinking is that in my particular case, an ooph to pull me forward into true menopause followed by aromatase inhibitors provides a statistically significant improvement in odds. So, today I offer up my ovaries to the gods of survival and look forward to dancing on top of the planet for many years.
The past three days have felt like a quick holiday in between radiation and ooph surgery. I have felt well enough to hike up hills and walk along the beach. I feel very fortunate to have made it to the top of black mountain - a personal milestone that for me stands for strength and wellness. (Many thanks to Chris for setting the pace!)
My hiking will be curtailed after surgery but I look forward, again, to making daily progress by walking to Zoe's, then to the rose and crown, then up the Dish, then Windy Hill .. and then Black Mountain again! Wish me luck today!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uff_da
Uff Da is exactly how I felt a few weeks ago when my onc strongly suggested that I get an oophorectomy.... or more technically.. a bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy. I thought we were done! And yes, we are done with treatment but now we move into the "prevention of recurrence" phase of things.
In my case, estrogen suppression is a key part of "prevention of recurrence". The current thinking is that in my particular case, an ooph to pull me forward into true menopause followed by aromatase inhibitors provides a statistically significant improvement in odds. So, today I offer up my ovaries to the gods of survival and look forward to dancing on top of the planet for many years.
The past three days have felt like a quick holiday in between radiation and ooph surgery. I have felt well enough to hike up hills and walk along the beach. I feel very fortunate to have made it to the top of black mountain - a personal milestone that for me stands for strength and wellness. (Many thanks to Chris for setting the pace!)
My hiking will be curtailed after surgery but I look forward, again, to making daily progress by walking to Zoe's, then to the rose and crown, then up the Dish, then Windy Hill .. and then Black Mountain again! Wish me luck today!
Friday, February 26, 2010
Just had my last Radiation Treatment!
Yay! This is a huge milestone! If you are local, swing by the rose and crown this evening for a champagne toast - I should be there from @ 6 on.
Not quite off the Ctrain - more on that next week - but today I celebrate the end of treatments!
Not quite off the Ctrain - more on that next week - but today I celebrate the end of treatments!
Friday, February 12, 2010
20 Down, 8 to go - May be slower going from here on out
20 Down, 8 To Go.
For those of you doing the math, you'll notice that I skipped a treatment this week. My rad onc had me skip today's treatment because my burns were looking a bit too "angry". He and I are hoping that a 4 day weekend off from treatment will allow them to calm down so that we can resume treatment next week. I really hope so because I hate to slow down the process of killing cancer cells!
This week was a big transition week where the burns suddenly became more prominent and more important. I have heard of this step-function in seriousness but it was still a surprise to watch it happen day by day. The biggest area of concern is the clavicle area where thin skin, bony protuberance and a fold in the skin all converge to create areas of concentration ( we guess). I've also got a pretty good burn at the breast bone area where the skin is thin and a third burn at the "exit dose" area on the back of my shoulder. Yup, radiation goes right through you and creates what I call the exit wound. I'll be using all the recommended lotions and potions to help calm the burns down over the 4 day weekend. Hoping for 4 days of radiation next week!
In fun news, I'm still enjoying walks in my "five fingers" frogs feet and I finally got an iPhone. I really like consolidating everything into one device. ( Yes, I'm about a decade late to the game!) Listening to slacker radio on the go has been the most unexpected fun benefit!
Hope you all have a great long weekend and a Happy Valentine's Day!
For those of you doing the math, you'll notice that I skipped a treatment this week. My rad onc had me skip today's treatment because my burns were looking a bit too "angry". He and I are hoping that a 4 day weekend off from treatment will allow them to calm down so that we can resume treatment next week. I really hope so because I hate to slow down the process of killing cancer cells!
This week was a big transition week where the burns suddenly became more prominent and more important. I have heard of this step-function in seriousness but it was still a surprise to watch it happen day by day. The biggest area of concern is the clavicle area where thin skin, bony protuberance and a fold in the skin all converge to create areas of concentration ( we guess). I've also got a pretty good burn at the breast bone area where the skin is thin and a third burn at the "exit dose" area on the back of my shoulder. Yup, radiation goes right through you and creates what I call the exit wound. I'll be using all the recommended lotions and potions to help calm the burns down over the 4 day weekend. Hoping for 4 days of radiation next week!
In fun news, I'm still enjoying walks in my "five fingers" frogs feet and I finally got an iPhone. I really like consolidating everything into one device. ( Yes, I'm about a decade late to the game!) Listening to slacker radio on the go has been the most unexpected fun benefit!
Hope you all have a great long weekend and a Happy Valentine's Day!
Friday, February 5, 2010
Over the hump! 16 down, 12 to go.
Another quick update - Over the hump! 16 down and 12 to go.
Just flying under the radar trying to get through the next 3 weeks. Wake up, go to radiation, breathe normally, treat myself to a delicious post-radiation caffeinated beverage, do all my physical therapy exercises, walk at least 30 min per day, nap a little, read a little... Rinse and Repeat. Today I treated myself to a new pair of walking shoes, they look like frog's feet but they are very comfortable ( so far) !
http://www.vibramfivefingers.com/products/products_KSO_f.cfm
With the sun out I think I'll get a little natural radiation and take my frogs feet out for a walk!
Just flying under the radar trying to get through the next 3 weeks. Wake up, go to radiation, breathe normally, treat myself to a delicious post-radiation caffeinated beverage, do all my physical therapy exercises, walk at least 30 min per day, nap a little, read a little... Rinse and Repeat. Today I treated myself to a new pair of walking shoes, they look like frog's feet but they are very comfortable ( so far) !
http://www.vibramfivefingers.com/products/products_KSO_f.cfm
With the sun out I think I'll get a little natural radiation and take my frogs feet out for a walk!
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