Well, I've completed my first week of radiation...nothing to it really. Every Tuesday is my "doctor" day and Thursdays I have ultrasounds. They are watching the cavity of where the tumor was; watching it every week to see the progress. This has nothing to do with my treatment, and everything to do with research. Last week Dr. Jacobsen did say that this week the skin affected by the radiation will become more sensitive.
Today was my first day at the pool. I wore my swimsuit cover the whole time in order to avoid sun contact with my shoulder and breast area. I also have to make sure I stay in waist-level water as the chlorine would affect the area as well. Small obstacles as long as I get to be at the pool with my kids. Oh yes, and the head... three applications of sunblock in 2 hours. It was a bit too windy to wear my hat. My kids weren't even embarrassed; I'm very proud of them. It can't be easy for them to be at the pool with a bald mom!
I'm very thankful for being healthy enough to celebrate my daughter and son's birthdays in the same fashion as I have every year before. I still have one more birthday celebration to get through with my daughter, but I am feeling pretty good about it.
Thank you Paula for being such good company this week and driving me to radiation!
I'll keep you all posted as far as treatment goes, but right now I think it's just a matter of getting through the drive to and from Iowa City for 6 weeks. July 1st is scheduled to be my last treatment... and the countdown begins!
Monday, May 30, 2011
Monday, May 23, 2011
Blessed Beyond Words!
Shortly after finding out I had cancer I knew I wasn't alone... phone calls, e-mail and Facebook messages, flowers, cards, and gifts came in droves! I knew the best and most powerful gift anyone could give me was prayer. Little did I know that in the middle of my battling breast cancer 7,000 people would all be praying for me at the same time and many promising to continue praying for me as I continue my fight. Women of Faith this year was, and of course this is an understatement, A-M-A-Z-I-N-G!! Not just because of the love poured out for me by all of my sisters in faith, but because it solidified my belief that my faith in God is stronger today than it has ever been. Women prayed for me, shared their stories with me, and just gave me hugs to be close to me. drafted on 5/15 but not published b/c I didn't feel finished
Tonight I feel a little ashamed as I have not kept up with those of you who faithfully read my blog. I need to apologize for being away so long. Rest assured this has been because I have been able to get out into the public and regain most of my "pre-cancer" freedoms. I have been to school, out in public, to an event that rocked my WORLD, but back to the doctor a couple times a week too.
Doctor appointments have been post chemotherapy follow-up and radiation pre-game. Dr. Hohl does not see me again until the end of June; this is just another follow-up appointment. My new doctor's name is Dr. Jacobsen. She is my radiation doctor. Her team of assistants and nurses are very nice as well. I have been marked on, photographed, and imaged so much in the last week that I don't think anything in my upper body could stay hidden - X-rays, ultrasounds, a cardiogram. All the warm-ups are completed and tomorrow is the big day; 7:45 a.m. is when I begin radiation. My appointments will be at 7:45 until a 9:30 slot opens up on June 8th. Hopefully, my treatments will be wrapped up on July 1st. I'm hoping gas prices will go down fairly soon as daily trips to Iowa City are going to get expensive otherwise! But, if that's the worst of the treatments... I'll take it!
Bald is the new look for me! Some double takes and sideways glances have been the norm the last week. It's begun to feel a lot more like summer and hats, wigs, and scarves just aren't cutting it. My menopausal symptoms tend to add about 90 degrees to my normal body temperature and so there really is no other option. I figure others will get used to it just as I have.
Going back to work looks like a possibility this week. I'd be happy to see my students on their way into summer! It's been nice the last couple of weeks to be able to get in to see some of my students when visiting my sub.
Have you heard? Deodorants and antiperspirants are SO yesterday! Yeah, really... join me in only deodorizing one armpit. Funny thing is, I lose my hair and many want to shave their heads to show support; I can't wear any underarm aids and no one offers to show their support there!! : ) My doctor told me scented soaps, sprays, etc., and deodorant messes with the rays and so I am forbidden from them for 6 weeks. Most deodorants and antiperspirants have metal in them... REALLY- who knew!? I couldn't think of a better time of year to not wear deodorant... really! It's only six weeks, it's only six weeks, it's only six weeks!
Back to Women of Faith... My first encounter while there was the mother of a thirteen year-old girl who happened to come across my blog and learned of my breast cancer. Her daughter is a beautiful crafter and decided to craft a cute pink ribbon shaped zipper (yes, I said zipper) with a little white rose in the center for me to wear as a pin. Not only that, but she is selling them for $4.50 in order to send me the profits. Words cannot describe how humbled, excited, and impressed I was. The heart of this 13 year-old is already so full of love that she's beautiful...and I've never met her. God is already working through her and using her to spread love. I will take a picture of the pin tomorrow and post the web address if you'd like to order one for yourself...wait until you see them! It's pretty dark in here now or I'd do it this instant.
On top of that, the t-shirt sales of the Faith Like a Girl design spread like wild fires in the Iowa Event Center after the beautiful Christy Axmear sported her's on stage in front of everyone. Women of Faith made an offer for any woman who signed up to sponsor a child through World Vision. Anyone who signed up to do so would get a free t-shirt...just like the ones sported by the 100+ women in our group. They went from 50 people signed up to 500 in a matter of hours before the conference was over! Think of all the children who will be fed, clothed, and immunized because of what Janice Baldice (sorry about spelling) and Christy Axmear did just to design a t-shirt...AMAZING!!!
The stories women shared with me, the performances by the singers, and experiences shared by Women of Faith had me totally dehydrated! I was moved to tears so many times I really think Kleenex should think about sponsoring these events! Seriously, this was an amazing two days spent with my sisters-in-faith! They offered, and continue to offer, the best medicine for any patient... PRAYER!
Thank you to everyone who continued, and still continues, to check my blog. I guess it could be a good thing that's it's been awhile. I'm so busy being healthy I don't make the time to blog about being sick!
Tonight I feel a little ashamed as I have not kept up with those of you who faithfully read my blog. I need to apologize for being away so long. Rest assured this has been because I have been able to get out into the public and regain most of my "pre-cancer" freedoms. I have been to school, out in public, to an event that rocked my WORLD, but back to the doctor a couple times a week too.
Doctor appointments have been post chemotherapy follow-up and radiation pre-game. Dr. Hohl does not see me again until the end of June; this is just another follow-up appointment. My new doctor's name is Dr. Jacobsen. She is my radiation doctor. Her team of assistants and nurses are very nice as well. I have been marked on, photographed, and imaged so much in the last week that I don't think anything in my upper body could stay hidden - X-rays, ultrasounds, a cardiogram. All the warm-ups are completed and tomorrow is the big day; 7:45 a.m. is when I begin radiation. My appointments will be at 7:45 until a 9:30 slot opens up on June 8th. Hopefully, my treatments will be wrapped up on July 1st. I'm hoping gas prices will go down fairly soon as daily trips to Iowa City are going to get expensive otherwise! But, if that's the worst of the treatments... I'll take it!
Bald is the new look for me! Some double takes and sideways glances have been the norm the last week. It's begun to feel a lot more like summer and hats, wigs, and scarves just aren't cutting it. My menopausal symptoms tend to add about 90 degrees to my normal body temperature and so there really is no other option. I figure others will get used to it just as I have.
Going back to work looks like a possibility this week. I'd be happy to see my students on their way into summer! It's been nice the last couple of weeks to be able to get in to see some of my students when visiting my sub.
Have you heard? Deodorants and antiperspirants are SO yesterday! Yeah, really... join me in only deodorizing one armpit. Funny thing is, I lose my hair and many want to shave their heads to show support; I can't wear any underarm aids and no one offers to show their support there!! : ) My doctor told me scented soaps, sprays, etc., and deodorant messes with the rays and so I am forbidden from them for 6 weeks. Most deodorants and antiperspirants have metal in them... REALLY- who knew!? I couldn't think of a better time of year to not wear deodorant... really! It's only six weeks, it's only six weeks, it's only six weeks!
Back to Women of Faith... My first encounter while there was the mother of a thirteen year-old girl who happened to come across my blog and learned of my breast cancer. Her daughter is a beautiful crafter and decided to craft a cute pink ribbon shaped zipper (yes, I said zipper) with a little white rose in the center for me to wear as a pin. Not only that, but she is selling them for $4.50 in order to send me the profits. Words cannot describe how humbled, excited, and impressed I was. The heart of this 13 year-old is already so full of love that she's beautiful...and I've never met her. God is already working through her and using her to spread love. I will take a picture of the pin tomorrow and post the web address if you'd like to order one for yourself...wait until you see them! It's pretty dark in here now or I'd do it this instant.
On top of that, the t-shirt sales of the Faith Like a Girl design spread like wild fires in the Iowa Event Center after the beautiful Christy Axmear sported her's on stage in front of everyone. Women of Faith made an offer for any woman who signed up to sponsor a child through World Vision. Anyone who signed up to do so would get a free t-shirt...just like the ones sported by the 100+ women in our group. They went from 50 people signed up to 500 in a matter of hours before the conference was over! Think of all the children who will be fed, clothed, and immunized because of what Janice Baldice (sorry about spelling) and Christy Axmear did just to design a t-shirt...AMAZING!!!
The stories women shared with me, the performances by the singers, and experiences shared by Women of Faith had me totally dehydrated! I was moved to tears so many times I really think Kleenex should think about sponsoring these events! Seriously, this was an amazing two days spent with my sisters-in-faith! They offered, and continue to offer, the best medicine for any patient... PRAYER!
Thank you to everyone who continued, and still continues, to check my blog. I guess it could be a good thing that's it's been awhile. I'm so busy being healthy I don't make the time to blog about being sick!
Friday, May 6, 2011
Light At the End of the Tunnel
My last round of chemo treated me much as the last three...nothing being consistent that is! The tail-end of this last treatment came a little slower, but also a little gentler so I wasn't quite sure if it was "it."
Yesterday, Thursday, I awoke to have a normal-sized tongue and water tasted normal. These are usually good signs that the chemo has worked it's way out, along with a couple others but I won't give you those details! : )
I was excited as I went out in public, and by that I mean the exciting grocery store and the exciting pharmacy... places I have had to avoid for fear of contracting germs that might deter my from my next treatment. It's nice to gain some independence back. At the same time, it did not take me long to figure out that I have a lot of work to do in order to gain my strength back.
At my last couple of appointments I have had an increased heart rate, which we knew the chemo drug (adromyacin) can put pressure on the heart, I just didn't physically know how that would affect me. I've never had any issues with my heart, so I didn't understand how tired and weak it would make me feel when otherwise I felt just fine. So, it will be short, slow walks that will be on my agenda now that I am working on recovering from my chemo treatments. This is a task I am TOTALLY up for now that I don't feel sick anymore. I'm excited to get out from the confines of my home. I'd even like to make a visit to my students in the next week!
I set my mom's head spinning with all of this talk of going out in the public. She's been so protective of me and worried about me getting sick that this is not a comfortable topic for her. I think she even hates to leave for fear I'll over-do or get sick. I'd probably feel the same if it were my child, so I can't blame her. She's been a trooper for the last... I don't even know how many weeks. She's come into our home and had to not only take care of me, but put up with some attitude from my children and husband as they have at times resented her having to do the things they wish I could, and would normally, do myself. Our house will slowly transform back into some normalcy next week as grandma leaves, mom starts to do the things she used to around the house, and the kids regain their own chores grandma did FOR them. I think they will actually appreciate grandma more when she leaves than they have since she has been here!!!
The wedding last weekend was beautiful. The bride was beautiful and Jenna had an AMAZING time. She might have been slightly more excited than even the bride that the wedding day had finally arrived. I, however, couldn't have felt more lousy! I slept in the hotel room until 30 minutes before pics, applied make-up, peeled on a dress, and threw on a wig. Bloody noses were the name of the game the day of the wedding too; where those came from I haven't a clue! Grandma shuttled Jenna between our hotel room and the bride's headquarters so she could get her hair done and get dressed with the rest of the girls. I was able to stay for dinner and my speech for the reception. I am glad I was able to be there for Megan, but was glad to be back in my hotel room for sleep!
Spring has to be the "perfect" season to be sick. It allows for an underlying sense of hope just in sitting outdoors or by a window basking in the sunshine. There's new growth everywhere and a sense of newness that the fall or winter seasons just wouldn't provide. Obviously this is not something people probably think about when healthy, but it's something not to be overlooked or taken for granted. I love spring and I believe it is my new favorite season... allergies and ALL! : )
So, the next step for me is radiation. Monday I meet with Dr. Hohl one more time; I think just one more time at least. I assume just to check how I am doing after all the treatments and make sure my blood work all looks normal after my last chemo.
As I look back to my first phone conversation with Dr. Hohl, I am FOREVER grateful for how he took over my care as I transferred from Mercy, answered my questions on my level, and made me feel so much better about how my treatment would be handled. As I move on to Dr. Jacobsen it's bitter-sweet to be "done" with his care. He is truly a doctor who is his line of work for the right reasons!
Wednesday is a day of testing in order to plan my radiation, hopefully to begin the following Monday. I'm a lot more optimistic about this form of treatment as I don't think I'll feel as lousy as I have for the last 10 weeks. The worst I've been told is the fatigue. I've always said, since having kids at least, that tiredness is a state-of-mind... so we'll see if I'm about to learn another life lesson! It's a good thing I don't think I've already learned everything I need to know about life at 33! Cancer truly is an exception to most rules and contradicts most of what I've believed about life up to this point. It puts you in a completely different state-of-mind and makes you appreciate SO much more than anyone could ever explain!
Have a blessed weekend and I'll be back next week after my appointments to update again. Enjoy the weather and your family this Mother's Day weekend.
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