From my perspective

On Friday, I did treatment number 14 of 21.  This journey of treatments has been pretty uneventful, thankfully.  Every day at 9:00 am I have to be in DesMoines at John Stoddard Cancer Center to receive radiation.  I have made it a bit less generic by providing my own "frock" instead of the UGLY hospital gowns that they provide.  They are heinous!  I also wear my own slippers because my first treatment I wore my shoes and regretted it immensely.  I understand that each treatment is pretty broad covering my entire right breast.  Starting on Tuesday, the treatment will be more narrow focused on the actual spot where the cancer was removed. The doctor continually asks me if I have burns or if I am tired.  I am a bit pink in the radiation area, but it isn't painful, maybe a bit itchy, but not intolerable.  The first day the process was long and not fun.  I had to lay perfectly still "from the top of my head to the tip of my toes, DON'T MOVE...

I got the phone call today that I need to be in Des Moines tomorrow at noon for my first radiation treatment, then everyday, five days a week for 21 treatments.  I am glad to be moving forward. I have worked hard to be ready to do this.  I got my Christmas decorations up, my gifts purchased, wrapped and under the tree, the promotions ready for the store, cards ready to go out, and menu for our Christmas planned.  We have a few programs and parties, but for the most part, I plan on watching Christmas movies and getting some brisk winter walks in. There have been some conversations recently with others who have either come through the cancer journey or that have advanced stages and in the fight.  I am humbled to have these opportunities and to have somehow earned the right to enter into these conversations.  There is much pain in these stories, but it seems like every story comes back to the people who had walked or are walking with them in the hard stuff....

It has been quite a bumpy journey this month.  My sister and I had the craft show at the beginning of the month where we sold baked goods.  We have done this annually for many years.  Our specialities are Dutch Letters and Pig-in-the-blankets.  It was a good show and we were very satisfied with the sales.  It is a ton of work, but since we have done it so many times, we have it down to a science.  But after that weekend I was experiencing some pain in my right breast.  It was like a stabbing pain that would make me catch my breath and audibly say "OUCH!"  A few deep breaths and some Aleve and I would go on. I had a follow up surgeon appointment on Monday, so I told him about it  He decided to drain it and put me on anitbiotics.  It felt better to have it drained, not so much pressure.  I found out later that they had cultured it and it was infected. My next appointment was on Wednesday to the Radiation Education and Simulation a...

So the long and short of this week is that I do not have to have chemo treatments.  My biopsy showed that I am a low risk of recurrence so radiation for four weeks will be enough.  And I will be done with all of it by Christmas. I googled Oncotype to try to understand the test that I was waiting for the results of.  Apparently, they determine the chance of cancer recurrence and the ability for chemo to lessen the chances.  The biopsies are on a scale of 1 to 100.  If the score is 24 or less, then chemo is basically ineffective and the chance of recurrence is low.  Seriously, I have a 75% chance of needing chemo.  This was a sock in my gut. This week started by going to church and hearing a sermon that challenged us to think about what if Jesus is coming back next year.  How would life be different?  Not pay bills?  Not worry about losing weight?  Not worry about anything because the end is near?  But, the reality, the urge...

I don't have any news to share.  I have many emotions and thoughts.  I don't know if I want to go into this week.  I have a radiation appointment tomorrow.  I guess it is just a talking appointment, so, whatever.  On Wednesday, we have a visit with the oncologist.  He is going to inform me if I am at a high or low risk on metastasis.  If I am a high risk, I have the privilege of undergoing chemotherapy.  I don't want to.  But I will because I want to kick this thing. My first appointment will be with a hair stylist to purchase a wig in case I lose my hair. If I am a low risk, I am going to book my buying trip to Vegas in January and possibly a vacation for Bernie and I for when the radiation treatments are over.  I would probably just not go to the oncologist appointment if I didn't have the potential to plan a vacation! Truth be told, I am planning on the chemo route.  I figure that if I am mentally prepared for that news, I will...

I had my follow up surgeon appointment on Monday.  Dr. Morgan said that I am healing normally.  I am to go back to work on Friday.  He is a good guy and I like him.  I hope we don't have to do any more business with him this year.  It is our 3rd procedure this year with him.  Bernie had a double hernia surgery in February.  I had an upper GI and a colonoscopy in August and now this lumpectomy in October.  It is a good thing we like him as a person. Today I had my first oncologist appointment, Dr. Wehbe.  He, too, is very nice.  He talks super fast.  I can track with him, but not if I am trying to write notes.  He said my cancer is hormone based.  Apparently that is about 50% of the breast cancers.  He said this kind of cancer feeds on estrogen.  So I will have to take hormone pills for 10 years at least.  These pills cause hot flashes and weight gain.  I dislike both of these things! He is sending t...