Hello Hello Hello - Sorry it's been so long - Where it used to be that Cancer Treatment got in the way of Life, now it seems Life is getting in the way with Cancer Treatment :)
Work stuff doesn't take a break at my convenience and wow has it hit...in the past couple months have had...
- Personal Care Audit, where it seems they think I owe them $10,000 - because I wasn't in the building with the documentation when they 'stopped by' - this I found out while on the way home from the hospital from the latter surgery...
- Fire Marshall inspection while I was in the hospital - one phone line to let the fire department know that we're on fire is not enough - need two - translation...$3000 new fire panel....
- State Survey while I was at Physical Therapy appt...3
- IRS field auditor popped in while I was at physical therapy last week -
- New Construction - waiting for architect to finalize plans so we can get started...
- Unemployment Claim - appealed, have phone log to back up the fax, but of course, they say they didn't receive it - SO someone who has no right to unemployment is getting it, and we're paying fo it...
- Relicensure Application due ...
- What Else? - I'm not sure ...I 'reassured' Kelly that the only one left is the Devil himself - she didn't think that was very funny...I'm sure, since she's the one there that gets to greet and deal with these visits... although, if Satan darkened our door, I'm sure Kelly would handle that one with cool too! She's been amazing!!
Moral of the story is that all of these things are doable, but typically they would only occur one at a time, or not at all ...
So, I'm going to St. Louis every day for radiation therapy - needless to say, takes 4 to 5 hours out of the day SO, THERE'S NOT MUCH TIME LEFT OUT OF THE DAY TO ATTEND TO THE DETAILS REQUIRED TO ADDRESS ALL OF THAT "JUNK" AFOREMENTIONED.
OK, that was venting, maybe whining...but really, I'm dealing with it pretty well... I believe that if I weren't going through the Cancer Stuff, I'd be really stressed about each of those things - but, it's just something I gotta do... it'll get done when and how I can do it - no time to belabor the process, because there are deadlines for everything - so just cranking it out (probably half-assed) but it is what it is....half-assed, can I say that here?
SO, now the good stuff, as a reminder, my oncologist told me "You Don't Have Cancer" - I thought the pathology report looked good - for what I know, but she was delighted and that may even be an understatement!!
So, I don't have cancer anymore, just gotta finish the cancer treatment - As I already mentioned, doing radiation now...
Total 28 treatments, about 30 minutes each - most time spent aligning everything, then with each treatment a CT Scan is done to make sure I'm in the exact position as when they did the planning , so the treatment is very precise. Treatment itself is 9 minutes, and yes, I can fall asleep in there, just like the tanning bed:)
I have the Matt & Jeff duo, very kind and capable therapists delivering this treatment - they've been extremely gracious to my 'guests' - allowed to watch the procedure and they explain everything... Let's see...after today...
17 down - 11 to go, Engagements are limited - anyone wishing a
'ticket' to the show - contact Di Di for scheduling:)
And remember with the final treatment, we get to ring the bell! So, might have to have a group session that day and a celebratory lunch or happy hour or...?
Mark your calendars...April 5th
CAUTION!! - next segment contains reconstruction details aka stuff about the boobs (there, you've been warned)
OK - I'm sporting the uni-boob, it's filled with 750 cc of saline and for those of you who remember The Brood, it appears that alien pets could erupt from this thing any day! Actually, it's not that bad anymore...skin doesn't appear so stretched:) But it is like having a softball glued to my chest. So, now you may have a visual (sorry) and a better understanding of the infamous tissue expander.
As far as the 'other side' - the one that didn't do anything wrong, felt jilted, and rebelled - well it's a gnarly looking scar with some extra skin hanging around awaiting the day when it too can be an alien dwelling dome. For now, I stuff! Actually, I have a silicone prosthesis that I can and have gone swimming in-wooo hooo!
I suspect it too may become another one of those things that falls into the Glen can't wait for all this to be over, so we can have 'fun with it stuff' - I think he really wants one of my wigs - but can't imagine what we'd do with this thing - if you have any suggestions, let us know:)
Think that's all for now - Love to you all!!!!
On to the HAIR - as I've told my closest friends, the hair fairy has a sick sense of humor ...where one's hair is typically short and curly (use your imagination) It is stick straight and so conversely, the hair on my head couldn't be any curlier!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
it was also very grey, but my beautiful daughter Melyssa took care of that for me...I even have highlights, wooo hoooo -
Thanks for the continued encouragement and support... It's hard to believe it'll soon be a year since this ride began!
Re-cap: June Diagnosis
6 months Chemo
Surgery (2)
Radiation (28 Treatments)
To Do: More Surgery (May & ? September)
Herceptin (IV antibody 9 more months - Monthly)
Hormone suppressing therapy (oral med for 5 years)
And.. Get on with Life. Enjoy every Day. Recognize and Appreciate my many Blessings. Support and Assist others who are affected by Breast Cancer.
Here's a poem that a fellow BC Sister's daughter wrote for her - Beautiful Sentiment...
The Climb
We all start at the beginning and tirelessly forge our way to the top.
Our minds will us onward when our bodies beg for us to stop.
Not everyone will make it. Some will succumb to exhaustion and defeat.
But somewhere atop that mountain, one woman emerges, standing steady on her feet.
One long journey now behind her, she breathes a proud sigh
For she knows that she can conquer any mountain, no matter how high.
