Great Week

I am having a great week! Eddy and I had a heart to heart earlier in the week and I feel so much better knowing where he is coming from and how he feels.

This week I was busy with a lot of appointments. The lymphedema therapist (Jeanette), the radiation oncologist (Dr Kim), the chiropractor (Dr Marie Royer) and the lymphedema massage therapist (Sonja Morgner).

Jeanette was able to get the insurance to cover a pump and jacket that will help the lymph fluid move in my body. The pump "decongests" your trunk first then moves on to your hand and arms. At each of my visits with Jeanette we use the jacket and pump she has, now I will be able to decongest myself daily! I'll post a picture when the equipment arrives so everyone will get an idea of what it looks like.

I'll post more later!
Cheryl

Bone Scan.....

CLEAR!!!! Yippy. I met with the oncologist the other day for a follow up and for my Tamoxifen prescription. During the appointment I asked the fifty million questions I had and mentioned the hip pain. After a brief discussion and an exam, I got a referral for a bone scan to rule out new tumors. I was extremely relieved after the scan that the radiologist actually gave me the all clear when I expected a wait for the answer. What a relief to know the cancer hadn't moved to the bones.....big sigh.



This month I am schedule for a multitude of appointments, which is nice since the insurance year is ending and I will start with my nice $2500.00 deductible and $7500.00 out of pocket max again in January. I see the occupational therapist for the lymphedema, the physical therapist to help straighten my back out and stop the numb fingers at night, the gynecologist for my annual exam, blah, blah, blah....the list goes on!



I am coming to terms with the lymphedema but still feel like it is a huge pain in the ass and just note fair (yes, I realize life is not fair but I think I've hit my quota for my entire life). My compression sleeve and glove aka torture devices are becoming less noticeable on some days but still not making it through the night with the gigantic oven mitt! The occupational therapist is helping me get this special jacket that will help "decongest" my arm with the aid of a pump.



Off to bake some cookies!
Cheryl
ps-Spell check wasn't working so try to ignore the spelling mistakes.

This is why finding a cure is so important!

While I was going through chemo, Judy emailed me, sent e-cards and called to make sure I was doing well. Although I never met her in person she helped me with a very difficult time in my life. A great woman is gone and I am beyond sad. Cheryl


Judith Lee (Reynolds) Baker

August 2, 1948 - December 3, 2008
Age 60 of Morgan Hill, CA, Judith passed away on December 3, 2008 due to metastatic breast cancer. Judy was born August 2, 1948, in Dayton, Ohio; the second child of Ernest and Dorothy Reynolds, both now deceased.She is survived by her husband and soul-mate, Melvin J. "Mel" Baker, and two great loves of her life; son, Scott, of Apple Valley, Minnesota and daughter, Melinda "Mindy" of Morgan Hill, California, as well as her constant feline companion, "Binxwell J." She is also survived by her brother, John (Mary Frances) Reynolds of Toledo, Ohio; nephew, Jason and niece Katie and their respective families, and by her brother-in-law, George (Debbie) Baker of Huber Heights, Ohio; and nieces, Jacquie and Shannon. Many cherished friends also survive her.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Judy's memory to the Gabriella Patser Program, Palo Alto, California, which benefits uninsured and underinsured women under the age of 40 who are in need of information/screening for breast issues.

I AM DONE WITH RADIATION

Whoo-hoo! Yippy! I AM SO EXCITED!!!!!!!
Thirty four of thirty four treatments completed with very little skin irritation, just slightly red and chapped.

I have an appointment with the medical oncologist 12/10, a follow up with the radiation oncologist in 30 days and several appointments with the occupational therapist over the next month for the lymphedema. It doesn't sound like I am done with treatment but believe me the hard stuff is out of the way.

Follow up sounds like a mammogram every six months, an MRI every other year and possibly blood work (not sure about that part yet). After my 12/10 appointment with Dr Edwards I should have a better idea of the game plan for the next five years.

If I haven't mentioned it before, you are not considered cured until you hit the five year mark. The statistics for my type cancer (stage 2b, grade 2) show about a 76% survival rate and I plan on being in the 76%! I have way too many things I want to accomplish and cancer is not getting in my way.

I better get back to work!
Have a great Thanksgiving.
Cheryl

Tuesday

ONE MORE RADIATION TREATMENT AND I AM DONE!!!! Yippy. Everyone needs to celebrate tomorrow. I am so excited to be finished with the assault on my body and to start the new year on a positive note. What a long, difficult road 2008 has been for us.

I start on Tamoxifen in a few days (blocks the estrogen receptors in the breast tissue). For the next five years I will be taking some kind of estrogen blocker to reduce my risk of the cancer coming back.

The surgeon says I will be considered "cured" in five years if no cancer returns. There is fear lurking in the back of my mind, which I am sure will rear its ugly head each time I go in for a mammogram and/or MRI, blood work, etc. My plan is to see a therapist over the next few months to help me deal with my frustrations, anger and sadness along with the new things that make me happy.

Signing off for today....tons of stuff to do.
Cheryl

Three More to Go!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am soooooo excited to finish radiation on Tuesday!!!! Everything is a little red and irritated so it will be nice to get the treatments done. The radiation oncologist gave me a little tube of Aquafor (not sure if that is spelled correctly) to help with irritation over the next week or so.

My energy level is pretty low. I get extremely tired around 2 or 3 in the afternoon, hit my second wind and peter out around 8:30.

Tuesday I plan on posting all of my eyebrow "art"....stay tuned! I've had so much fun thinking of what to write in my eyebrow space. It is actually getting difficult to do the writing since my brows are growing back in. I also have very tiny eyelashes sprouting....they are microscopic. The good news is I should have brows and lashes by the end of the year.

Eddy and I spent the weekend with our friends, Mark and Debbie, at their cabin in Arnold. Until we got there, I didn't realize how much I needed a break from what was going on in our lives. I am sure Eddy needed the change as well since he has been dealing with all the permit issues on the new spray booth himself and trying to make sure we keep the entire company working through the winter. Until you are an owner of a company, you really don't understand the enormous financial responsibility that comes with the job.

Time for bed!
Cheryl

Ten More to GO!!!

I had my 24th radiation treatment this morning along with another x-ray to map the main tumor areas. Next week will start what the radiation oncologist refers to as a "boost". I will receive radiation just to the area that contained the tumors, not the entire breast. The treatment finish line is near....I can see it!

Getting pretty good at drawing on my eyebrows.....I just have to remember not to rub them off during the day! This week I might write Cancer Sucks where my eyebrows should be and see if the radiation techs notice. Won't that be too much fun?

My hair seems to be getting a bit thicker, but I can still see scalp. It seems I am a salt and pepper color. You really can't see it well in the photo because it is so fine and very light.

Look at all of those freckles. Either my hair was hiding freckles or I got more during chemo, not sure which is the case. Recently had a check with the dermatologist and he says nothing to worry about right now in regard to my skin. Thank goodness, I didn't need another issue on my plate.

Time for filing and paying bills.

Cheryl