Updates

Okay, so I'm clearly jazzed about the Avon Walk. Beyond that, there is some stuff to tell.

I went in for a DNA counselling session on Wednesday. I was given the coloring book version. As I was talking to the couselor, she gave me quiz questions to make sure I understood! I hate quizzes! I did alright but to say I fully understand this stuff is just not the case. In short, it's highly highly unlikely that I am a DNA carrier. The only reason to proceed at all is my young age to have gotten breast cancer. So, they took blood, they're proceeding and I'll find out in about a month.

The reason to investigate is multi-faceted. The short answer is that if I'm a DNA carrier, I'm more vulnerable to getting cancer again. If I am, I will likely look to future surgeries to be preventative against cancer. However, I was told that odds are only in the 3% -7% range that the tests will yield any results in that direction. It's just a stone I don't wish to leave unturned.

The conselor recommended a colonoscopy. I'm quite sure I spelled that wrong. It's nothing any oncologists recommended but I'm going to do it. I hear it's a hideous test and I'll spare the details here. That's another long story about why to do it. Again, very very remote reason to do it but anything followed by a percentage sign to me means to do it "just in case".

On Friday I have my first mammogram since the last one I had which detected the cancer. I thought I was fine but I've been freaking out a bit. Saturday is a slower day obviously so I've had more time to hear my own thoughts today. I'll be okay. If I were given the option to back out, I'd still go. I feel a safety in getting checked but also fearful of course. Barbara is going to try to come with me. If she can that's lovely and if not, I'll be fine I'm sure. There's a British pub nearby and a bistro with a good wine list close by.

I've started a gym routine. It's to get my strength together, get healthier and to get ready for the walk. I am moving heaven and earth to get to the gym three times a week. So far so good but it's only January. I do a lame workout but with time, it'll improve I'm sure. I'm already getting better.

I'm good. I actually felt done with cancer but with the scary DNA consultation, tests in process there and now my mammogram, I do feel I'm again facing it. This will always be part of my life I suppose. I have much more to celebrate than to lament.

Thanks for reading if anyone still is.

Avon Link

Okay. So the Avon Walk. I'm doing it. It'll happen. If somebody is reading this and I haven't sent you a link via an e-mail, I think I posted it below. I sort of cut and pasted everything. Let's give this a shot. It tells in short, what's up, who's with me, when and how you can help the cause. If this link doesn't work, then I've reaffirmed that I am not technically savvy. Here goes!!


Click here to visit my personal page.If the text above does not appear as a clickable link, you can visit the web address:http://info.avonfoundation.org/site/TR/Walk2008/Chicago?px=3840911&pg=personal&fr_id=1450&et=pnVYC0LM9e1KF49hdYx7cQ..&s_tafId=261526

Avon Walk

This is just a quick note to let anyone reading this know that I'll be doing the Avon Walk. It is May 30 - June 1. My friend Gayle is joining me as she'd planned. Since we've been planning this, her mother was diagnosed with breast cancer.

I'm going to an information meeting on Wednesday evening so will be back here with information and sorry but also requests for funding. I have a packet here but haven't gotten to reading it yet.

I just started working out at the gym. It's crazy to find the time. I'm hoping to find creative scheduling ideas.

I'm good. My hair is short and dark which is weird but it beats wearing a wig. I don't know if my previous hair color will return or not. I feel physically good and am looking to new health habits.

It's going to be a way better year than '07! Happy New Year!

More Endings

Maybe this will never fully end. I've been told that.

I started tomoxafen two days ago. I saw the chemo oncologist on Monday.

Wednesday I took the day off of work to get my port taken out. It was outpatient surgery and ultimately not a big deal. I only had local anesthetic. I am glad it's gone. I was given it in a container to take with me. Yuck. I will likely toss it.

My hair is coming back nearly black. I don't know if it'll stay that way. I figure in a month or less I'll be walking around without my wig or scarves. I will probably have to have my hair cut and styled even though it's crazy short. I look unkempt at best when I take off my head coverings.

I'm good. Work continues. Boys are fabulous. My house is one mess after another. Ted is working too much but making good waves in the world. Life is good.

Ruth

The End

I had my last radiation treatment today. That says it all I think.

I will begin tomoxafin very soon. I am seeing the chemo oncologist Monday to get that going.

Thanks for checking in.

Of Course

I thought I was going to be done with radiation the Monday after Thanksgiving but of course, there's a catch. I will be done with the main radiation treatments. There are seven more called "the boost". Why cancer treatments get catchy titles, I don't know. I can tell you others if you ask.

Essentially, I will get seven rounds in a more local area on my body. It's not even regarded as a lot of radiation; supplemental even. I think that's why it got overlooked in communicating to me. For me however, it means seven additional days to haul downtown, seven days of running out the door earlier than I'd like from work, seven days to pay for parking, three days to pay for the additional help of picking up the boys, and seven more days of being separated from the boys for extra time. It truly sucks. There. I'm done with that.

This has added more stress to my life than I'd anticipated but....I'm feeling physically good. I'm tired today but I'm chalking that up to stress, work and schedule.

I'll be done December 4 unless I screwed up again. Well, actually Northwestern missed the communication with me. Did I mention that?

This will soon be behind us.

I'm getting hair! I'm not sure what's going on with the color! It looks darker. There's always an option for Clairol down the road, right?

Happy Thanksgiving. Mine will be good. I hope the same for anyone reading this.

Radiation

Catchy title, huh? Is anyone still reading this?

I started radiation yesterday. I am at a brand new hospital. It just opened less than a week ago. I am the fourth radiation patient.

The clinic is not fully up and running. For me that means hardly anyone around, new everything and a very good lack of commotion. I hope it also means that I'll be in and out quickly. I was promised I would be.

I'm handling things as Isaac and Toby make sure that I have no other options. They keep me in check.

I have a babysitter picking up Isaac and Toby on Tuesdays and Thursdays. It looks like I can get home on time but it gives me extra time two days a week. The boys love the sitter so it's good. It also gets them together a bit earlier which is good.

I have five weeks of treatments, five days a week. I'm going directly from work. It means no staying for extra whatevers including taking care of business. Home and work are definitely impacted but it is what it is.

This isn't about radiation but.... Toby had his birthday party on Sunday. It felt like the most normal event in our house thus far. It's so simple and so essential. We haven't had too many guests except people there for the purpose of communing with me through the ookiness of chemo or whatever. It was nice to have people there just to eat cake, get goody bags and to look at the little blonde boy blow out his candles. I wished with him.

Thanksgiving will be with Larry and Mary in Chicago. Thanks to them for that invitation. The Saturday after Thanksgiving will be in Indianapolis for a belated Thanksgiving with my family. I thought I'd miss this one but now I won't. I can keep my record of never missing a Thanksgiving with my family in Indianapolis. Thanksgiving will also signal the almost end of radiation as well. The Monday after should be the last one.

Again, so much to be grateful for and still some muck to wade through. It's less wading than I've been through thus far it seems.

Call, write, whatever. Or just check in here.