Nervous Energy

My mom took me to lunch today and then we did a little shopping at the mall. I needed a couple of tops that button up the front and sweat pants. Eddy and I worked on getting our business stuff buttoned up so I won't have to do anything until Sunday. We also met with the DA regarding the break in from October. Probably won't testify on Monday but it could be Tuesday or Thursday or not at all (we will know more on Friday).

I am signing off for the evening so I can get a lot of sleep (with help from my little friend Ambien!). Eddy will post on the blog when we get home in the late evening.

Thank you all for your warm wishes and support!

Race Weekend & Surgery Info

Eddy did well at Infineon Raceway this weekend. The race report should be up on www.finishesunlimited.net/racing sometime in the next few days for you to read, if interested. I believe this time there will be a video from the camera Eddy had on the bike (he is trying to figure out how to get it on to his computer).

We met with the surgery coordinator on Friday and I am set to have a VERY BUSY day on Thursday! I am able to have a little breakfast in the morning, but nothing after 6:00 am including water. At 10:00 am I head to the Dominican Breast Center to get wires inserted in the tumors. From the DBC, we head over to the Nuclear Medicine department at Santa Cruz Medical for the poison dye....I mean radioactive dye injections at 11:00 am. I need to be at the Sutter Surgery by 1:30 for the the pre-op stuff. Surgery is scheduled for 3:00 pm and is around two hours. Not really sure what time Eddy and I get to head home on Thursday, but my guess would be around 6:30 or 7:00 pm.

That is all I have for now!

Surgery Date Set

Finally, surgery is scheduled! Going in on May 1st and it will be a long day. First order of business is getting the wires placed in both tumors on the right breast at Dominican Breast Center. Then I am off to Santa Cruz Medical to get injected with radioactive dye in my breast. Doesn't that sound pleasant? Once I am radioactive, we head off to the Sutter Surgery Center for the big "show". The doctor starts with the sentinel nodes (which are near your underarm). A Geiger counter is used to locate the sentinel nodes, they are removed and sent off to the lab for analysis. While we are waiting for the pathology test on the sentinel nodes, the doctor will perform the lumpectomy (they actually call it a partial mastectomy, lumpectomy sounds much better to me). Dr Rose will remove the rest of the nodes IF the sentinel nodes come back positive for cancer (we are not voting for that procedure). Everyone think in your mind "NO NODES, NO NODES, NO NODES" and click your heels together. According to the doctor, I'll spend one hour in recovery and then get to go home for recuperation. Dr Rose said I should start to feel more normal on Monday, but I am supposed to take it easy for a couple of weeks (not sure how long the recovery time is if all of the nodes come out).

My mom, Linda, is coming from Oregon to help us for a few days with meals and whatnot while I am recovering from the surgery. Suzanne will also be here for support, doctor rides, etc. "Steady Eddy" will do his usual and keep me sane!

Well, off I go....dinner plans with Eddy's family.

Doctor's Appt

Good Morning Cancer Support Team!

Our doctor's appointment is now on Wednesday at 1:45 p.m. so Eddy can be there with me! Yeah!!! The doctor's assistant, Lesli, says there is a great deal of information to go over.

Wow, scary.....surgery is coming up soon! Kind of like waiting for "Bad Christmas" because you aren't getting what you wanted.

I have the most colorful bruise from the MRI guided biopsy! We have deep purple, red, blue and a very sickening shade of yellow. Looks like I was hit with a baseball bat, no wonder the biopsy hurt! Radiologist said it might take a few weeks for it to disappear.

Well, I need to get myself back to work on balancing the checking accounts....joy!

Genetic Test is Negative!!!!

The doctor just called, BRCA1 and BRCA2 test came back negative. No gene mutation for me, thank you very much!!!! Also good news for my family.

I have an appointment on Tuesday at 1:45pm to discuss surgery with Dr Rose....appointment might get changed so Eddy can be there with me, but I won't know until Monday about a new date.

I am thrilled....weekend should be great! Thank you everyone for the good energy....it worked wonders.

No Cancer on the Left!!!!!!!

I am sooo haaaaappppy right now! No cancer in the left breast, yipppppyy!!!!!!!! The genetic test is completed and on its way via Fed X to the doctor's office. Lesli is trying to get a faxed copy of the results so Dr Rose can go over it. I am assuming the test will be negative since no family members have had breast cancer.

Just one more little hurdle to cross with the genetic test results, then I can schedule surgery, do my radiation treatments and move on with my life!

Thank you for all the good vibes, positive thoughts and prayers....they must have worked!!!!!!

Human Pin Cushion

Well, pretty sure I am a human pin cushion! Wow! The MRI guided biopsy took a little longer than expected because the suspicious spot on the left side is high up and not easy to reach. Started out flat on my stomach but that wasn't working, repositioned, then the fun began. I am very glad that procedure is out of the way! The pathology test is due back in two days, cross your fingers and toes that the spot is nothing.....pleeeeaaase be nothing!!!!

Time for a little cat nap.

An Idea

A lot of you've asked how you can help me and I think I might have a way!

Over the last several years I've donated blood every 56 days at the local Red Cross blood drive. With my cancer diagnosis I am no longer eligible to donate blood. Giving blood is a good way to help the community and it is FREE (just takes 1-2 hours of your day).

What do you think about donating to help your local communities since I can't do it anymore? I know not everyone is eligible, but if you can donate that would be fantastic! I've included the link for the Red Cross, www.givelife.org, which has a zip code search for locations near you.

No pressure to donate, just an idea!

Friday...yippy!!!!

Made it to Friday, yes! I decided to look back at a few of our Maui photos to get my head back in a good "space". Eddy and I both agree Maui was our best vacation ever! We went to Lanai and rented a 4wheel drive Jeep Wranger, very cool. I kind of look tan in the photo but that is only because I am very dirty!

I am not going to post anything about the "big, white elephant" in the room today, just normal stuff.

Tomorrow Eddy is working on his motorcycle trailer, painting it, installing stuff, etc. I plan on working in the front yard....needs a MAJOR overhaul. Want to do a little weed killing, put down weed stop fabric and some kind of mulch. If I get that project done, then I can work on pulling out the rest of the ivy. I will also mow the lawn (weed patch).

Oscar (our geriatric cat) is at the groomer today get shaved because of bad mats. Poor kitty. I am getting him a sweater to wear at night so he isn't cold....I think it is lavender....he is going to look very fem!

I wish everyone a great weekend!

Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow

Yesterday was one of the worst days I've had since being diagnosed. I can't describe how sad I was and it was coming out in tears all day (the sobbing kind). I even cried when we were at lunch and I hate to cry in front of other people. What a day! As always, Eddy was my rock. I even got tears and mascara on his shirt first thing in the morning but he didn't care (kind of blends in with the paint). When he holds me I can hear his heart beating and it is very calming.

Today I am evil, but it didn't start out that way. I think I need to eat first thing in the morning because it makes me very cranky. I yelled at Eddy over the phone, hung up on him and I've been swearing like a sailor. Wish I had a sound proof box I could go into for some screaming! I plan on taking a walk in a few minutes to clear my head and start my day over. Can't scream walking around the neighborhood because they might bring me one of those white jackets that hook in the back!

Tomorrow is going to be a better day. First it is Friday and second I am willing myself into a great mood! I hope we can go do something fun this weekend....we've worked on estimates the last two weekends with no fun time.

Cancer Do's & Don'ts

I found this on the internet and made major changes since it was geared for kids with cancer. My thought is the information will help all of you.


Cancer patients often find it hard to talk frankly to family and friends. They find that some friends can't handle their situation and never call, they find that someone they hardly knew before becomes their best friend and helper. Family and friends in turn sometimes just don't know the right thing to say to or do for someone with cancer.

SOME IDEAS TO HELP YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS WITH CANCER
Clean their house for when they come home from the hospital or pay to have someone clean the house.

Get them a gift certificate for video rentals or groceries. You can even pick up groceries.

Drop off puzzle, books, magazines, etc. After surgery you need to take it easy, which is hard for a lot of people to do. Having a puzzle, books or magazines kind of gives you the excuse to take it easy.

Bring a favorite food or a meal. A family friend may arrange with other friends to drop off meals. Sign up and then actually do it! Do not call the day you are scheduled for meal drop off and make an excuse....order Chinese or something.

Send cards and silly, fun things (snail mail is great). Humor is the best medicine.

Suggest a little bit of exercise and then come with us! It is much easier to get motivated if you have a friend there with you. Walks are good!

Don't take "we don't need any help" as the final response...ask again. Don't say, "call if you need something" , they probably won't call. It is hard to say "yes, I need help". A better way to help might be to say, "I want to come clean your toilets, will 2:00 pm work for you?" or on Tuesday I am coming to do your laundry, will that be okay?" or "I want to drop off a a meal this week, does Friday fit your schedule?"

Emotional support. Just make a point to call, once a week or every two weeks. Sending an email works as well. When you have cancer you feel alone, it feels good to know someone is thinking of you.

It is much more comfortable if people just deal with cancer head on and acknowledged that something horrible is happening. It is okay to say "this sucks" , because it does.

Good Day!

I was in Los Gatos this morning picking up time cards from the crew and decided to call Jennifer and Sherry (worked with them at Norvell) about lunch. Instead of eating, we got some exercise! It was wonderful to see both of them again and good for me since I was feeling a bit lonely this week. Thank you Jennifer and Sherry!!!!

Have a little project I am working on in the evenings....one of those smocks you put on at the doctor's that actually looks good and fits. The last visit to the surgeon was the final straw! I was supposed to put the gown on with the opening in the front, which I did, but it was so big I could have wrapped it to the back and tied it closed. I found some fantastic material and will whip myself up something that looks better (at least that is my plan, I kind of don't finish some projects I start).

Well, off to finish payroll and enter bills so I can print checks.

MRI Scheduled

MRI guided biopsy is scheduled for April 15th at noon. My sister, Suzanne, is going with me this time. Eddy needs a break with the long appointments. This one will be well over an hour and he has already sat through enough lately.

Genetic test results are due back around 4/17, if all goes well with the insurance (could be a bit later). Geez, I hope this doesnt' come back positive....I could sure use a break.

On a side note, the guy that broke into our house in October is pleading innocent to the burglary charges, so now we get to testify on 5/5. Crazy, he was caught red-handed by us.

Time to get back to work!

Visit with the surgeon

Hello family and friends,
I am going to have an MRI guided biopsy for the spot discovered in the first MRI but not visibile in the ultrasound (left breast). Not sure about the date, waiting for the scheduler to call me.

The satellite lesion in the right breast (behind the original) is an cancerous. I just assumed it would be so I didn't get myself all worked up. Didn't even cry today.

The doctor also wants genetic testing done for the BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene mutation. I hope that my insurance will pay for the test....cost is $3120.00. The genetic test will help determine lumpectomy versus mastectony and information for current/future generations in our family regarding breast and ovarian cancer.

Please, please think positive thoughts that the spot on the left breast in not cancerous!
Thank you,
Cheryl

Dream

In my dream, I am at home alone and realize bad things want to get in our house. I run around locking the doors and windows. When I get to the lower three windows in the living room, one the tracks breaks and I am frantically trying to get it bent back into place. About that time I see Eddy crouched down outside the window. There are also two large German Shepards sitting next to me and they want to get at one another. Eddy can't get in the house to help me. I realize I am alone and have to help myself but Eddy is there yelling encouragments through the window. I am trying to hold the dogs back with all my might .......then I wake up.

My mind is working through some powerful emotions! Wow.