Good News/Bad News

Im so excited, I just don't even know where to begin!  Today wasn't just a normal day… TODAY, I got some great news!

Today, I also got some sad news.

Im a PEST!

Ever since my Chest CT on Monday, I have literally called the Imaging center and my Surgeons office a TON!  I feel like the biggest PEST, but sometimes you need to be.

I even went by the imaging center.  I was told that they would not give me a copy of my report - that they sent it to my surgeon and I had to hear from him.  However, I was able to get the digital images of my scan.  To the average person… those pictures mean NOTHING!  lol  It's good to have them in case I ever wanted a second opinion, I'd have them with me!

I called my Surgeon's office twice yesterday and again today.  The un-known will kill a person!!

My Sad News...

I heard back from Regina in his office this afternoon.  She told me that my Surgeon, Dr. O'Donnell was in the hospital for his own health concern.  My sad news… They admitted him and he was still in the hospital.  She was very careful not to tell my WHY he was there.  That was the worst news of my day.  I guess even my Guardian Angel needs prayers!  So, right now, please pray for my Surgeon.  Dr. O'Donnell has done so much good for so many patient and children.  He is also a 'newer' Dad himself and I can't imagine what his Wife must be going through!  Pray that he heals quickly and is better than ever when he returns to work.  Please pray for his family and see to it that they are able to get rest and not worry.

Regina apologized to me for not getting back to me sooner. She told me that with his un-expected absence, they were running around trying to get all of his appointments rescheduled (Which I completely understand).  She told me that he will be back in 2-weeks.  She told me that she talked to Nurse carol and Nurse Carol was waiting to hear back from Dr. O'Donnell.  Considering the circumstances of him being out, she wanted to know if he would still like to view the scan images himself before they tell me anything, or if it would be ok for her to tell me something over the phone.

My GREAT News!

About 2:30 today I heard back from Nurse Carol!  She said, "I can't tell you anything more that is on this report than this one line that I will read to you.  I can't give you my opinion, etc."  "ok", I replied.  She told me that when I have my follow-up meeting with Dr. O'Donnell on Feb 4th that he will go over more with me.  She told me,"The report stated that there is NO evidence of Metastatic Disease to the Thorax."

You can read more about Metastatic Disease HERE  and why this is the BEST news I could have received today!!!

After reading that article, aren't you ecstatic that I don't have that!??????  I couldn't be more happier!!!!

Again, Nurse Carol told me nothing else!  She didn't tell me if the nodule has grown or remained the same, if I will continue to need more follow-up scans or what…. nothing else.  However, Im really happy that she did share with me that it hasn't spread, I was so worried about that.

Thank you to each and every one of you that has been praying for me.  Thank you for the positive e-mails, texts, etc.  You have really helped 'carry me' through this journey.

I hope to hear the word: REMISSION, at some point this year!!

Radiation update, Lung CT Scan, and Chlorine

Good Morning!

I hope you all have a great Saturday planned!

Today, Im going to a Baby Shower then Im off to make a new Thai Coconut Curry Soup recipe!  This is one of my favorite soups to order out at a restaurant... its about time that I learn how to make it!

I absolutely Love, Love, LOVE Saturdays!  It is one of the days that I have more energy since I don't have Radiation today.  I feel so much more accomplished by the time the day is over.  Although, I will be tired, I won't be exhausted and for that I love Saturdays!

Radiation Check-up

Each Thursday, after my Radiation Therapy, I have a Doctor's appointment with my Radiation Oncologist.  Dr. Dutton reviews my treatment, looks over my leg, and prescribes me any medication that I need.  This week she told me that my skin looks great.  She always compares it to her other patients (most who are older), so for that comparison she always tells me that my skin looks great!  It feels like a really bad sunburn.  The polka-dots are my 'pissed-off' hair folicules.  As expected, my hair is not growing back in the sunburn area!  Im SO excited for that!!  No more shaving my right knee!

Dr. Dutton also explained to me that she is really wanting to see a pink scar.  She told me that their goal is to not only target the 'margins' around the scar but to really target the scar itself!  She explained that when the incision is made during surgery that any Cancer cells that are close to the surface, will get 'dragged' or spread by the scapula down the incision.  Then, the incision heals creating scar tissue.  Scar tissue is naturally thicker.  Therefore, the cancer cells in the thick scar tissue are hard to get to - they really target that scar!  We don't want Cancer cells in thick tissue to start getting any ideas and grow!

Next week is my LAST week of Radiation!  Wahooo!!! Dr. Dutton told me that for my last week of treatment she will 'turn-up' the Radiation to really 'burn' those Cancer cells!! "Burn, baby, BURN"is what I say!!

My Left Lung

Remember in December when my Surgeon told me that they were monitoring the spot in my lung?  Well, on Monday January 20th, I finally have my Chest CT scan!  I would be lying if I told you that it hasn't been on my mind ever since that appointment!  I just can't wait to get it over with and hear the results...whatever they may be.  Its the unknown that eats me up!  Please pray for me.  May appointment is at Noon, right after my Radiation.  I will update you with the results next week, as soon as I get them.

Chlorine

Im my Cancer research I have stumbled upon Chlorine.  Did you know... A study carried out in Hartford Connecticut, the first of it's kind in North America, found that, 

"women with breast cancer have 50% to 60% higher levels of organochlorines (chlorination byproducts) in their breast tissue than women without breast cancer."  

You can read more about this study HERE.

When most people hear 'chlorine' they immediately think: pool water.  What's more interesting about my research is that a majority of the chlorine exposure does NOT come from pool water but from Chlorine inhalation.

"One of the most shocking components to all of these studies is that up to 2/3s of our harmful exposure to chlorine is due to inhalation of steam and skin absorption while showering. A warm shower opens up the pores of the skin and allows for accelerated absorption of chlorine and other chemicals in water. The steam we inhale while showering can contain up to 50 times the level of chemicals than tap water due to the fact that chlorine and most other contaminants vaporize much faster and at a lower temperature than water."

I share this with you today because this is a VERY easy fix!  I purchased a shower water filter for my shower about one month ago!  It was so easy to instal by myself.  Now, I don't worry about getting breast cancer from my hot shower!!  Plus, no chlorine in the water means my skin is a LOT less dry AND I've noticed a huge difference in my hair!  The filter only needs to be changed once per year too!  I bought the Shower Wise filter from Water Wise.  Sometimes they have the filter on sale for $69!  HERE is the link to their website.

Please pray for my Left lung nodule.  Pray that is is NOTHING and that my Chest CT results come back with nothing found.

Have a GREAT weekend!

My new SUV, a Holidays re-cap, with a Radiation Update!

Hi Everyone!!!

I hope you had a wonderful Christmas and a wonderful New Year!  I haven't posted anything in 2 weeks and I must explain that it is because the radiation makes me just so exhausted!  Not tired, exhausted!  I've started a couple posts over the last two weeks but, I wasn't able to finish them and post them because I would fall asleep! So sorry it has been so long!  I'm excited to get you all caught up!

The Holidays (readers digest version)

I had a wonderful Christmas Eve & Christmas!!  It was so fun because this year we had family over to our home and my parents home!  My husband's family came and stayed with us and my sister-in-law's family came all the way from Canada to spend the holidays in California!  Her family is SO nice and Im so happy to have finally met them!  I wish they all could have stayed longer!  I hosted Christmas Eve at my house, complete with a Hot Chocolate bar, appetizers, drinks, and an out-door s'more bar.  I was really excited to host a holiday event at our home - it seemed like the time just flew by!

My beautiful Neice and I on Christmas Eve!

Christmas at my parents was just as wonderful as always! We enjoyed having more company and everyone got left-overs to take home!  For Christmas my husband surprised me with a new SUV!  Yes, a SUV...with a red bow and all!  It was so thoughtful!  I've said from the beginning how thoughtful and caring my husband is, and he really is.  I truly believe that he would do ANYTHING to remove my Cancer diagnosis.  HE would take the Cancer from me if he could.  Buying me a new SUV is just another example of how far he is willing to go to see me smile.

I love the red bow!!

New Years was a blast!  True... it was New York but, it was as spectacular as any New Years for someone going through Radiation as it could be!!!!  My husband surprised me with dinner reservations in downtown sacramento with a front row seat to a spectacular fireworks show with another Fantastic couple!  He knows that I haven't been able to stay up too late, so the dinner reservations were perfect.  It was fun to be able to get dressed up as a couple and have dinner with another couple out!

The seats were great!

Radiation

Here's an updated photo of my knee area.  Can you see the redness that is starting to set in?  It feels like a really bad sunburn!

My weird 'Farmer's Tan'!!

I've made it to the half-way point of my Radiation Therapy!!  Only 3 more weeks left!  My last day is January 24th!!!!!!

So about 1 1/2 weeks ago it all caught up with me.  I really didn't like Radition.  Before I even started Radiation, three weeks ago, I was feeling SO much better after surgery.  I was walking around and in a lot less pain.  Then.... I started Radiation and it feels like the pain and immobility reset button got pushed.  In short, Radiation has been really discouraging.  Im in pain, I can't move around very well, and about three hours after therapy each day the exhaustion sets in.

Why didn't I like Radiation?... I mean after all it is helping me kill this Cancer!  What was it.. everyone was nice, and treatment is relatively easy.  I finally realized that I was going to Radiation each morning by myself... and I really didn't like it!  Well thats an easy fix!  Now, I have someone go with me to Therapy!!  Having someone with me really takes the focus off of "The Radiation"... and instead puts the focus on spending time with family or friends.  Hitting the halfway point combined with the fact that now Im NOT going to Therapy by myself has really allowed me to make my positive attitude even stronger!  I look forward to finishing out these last three weeks and getting my energy back!

Please pray that the Radiation is completely working to eliminate ALL Cancer from my body!

Thanks for reading!!