Gene Testing & Follow Up

I have tested negative for BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene mutation. This means I do not have this genetic mutation and therefore I have not passed this down to our children. I am very thankful for this! I may still have a mutation in another cancer predisposing gene that has not yet been discovered but for now this is all we know.
Today I had my follow-up with my oncologist. I did not like walking back into the Cancer Center but at least I wasn't there for more treatment. When you walk into the waiting room everyone looks at you and then you at them. Today I was once again the youngest (or at least I'm pretty sure I was). My oncologist's nurse said she liked my short hair and that is suited me :)  Good thing because I don't have a choice!!
My follow up is going to consist of a yearly mammogram and MRI staggered 6 months apart and quarterly doctor's appointments. I was surprised  with this as from what I have heard most women do not get offered MRIs but fortunately my oncologist worked with inflammatory breast cancer during her residency and knows how aggressive it is. The lastest article written March 21, 2011 states that the median overall survival has significantly improved from approximately 15 months to 40 months; studies document that approximately 28% of women with IBC are alive and free of disease at 15 years. 
http://www.cancernetwork.com/breast-cancer/content/article/10165/1822129?pageNumber=1
Lord willing I do pray that I will be in the 28% group alive in 15 years but I know that if I am not I will be heaven praising Jesus. So either way I win!!

Happiness depends on happenings, but joy depends on Christ.
     -- Life Application Bible

All Done!!!

Yeh, I am officially done treating this inflammatory breast cancer!!!! I had my last radiation treatment on Thursday but this almost didn't happen. I saw the radiologist on Wednesday and after he looked at my burning skin he said we should probably stop. I didn't say anything but was thinking NO I will have my last treatment no matter what! Well he opened up my chart and either the diagnosis or the prognosis changed his mind because then he said we better finish the treatment plan and have the last radiation. He said to call him if I blister as I would need some Flamazine. So far no blistering but very itchy. Interesting to know that the nadir (or worst possible side effects) occurs 7-10 days after treatment is finished..meaning you keep burning for awhile!!
Now what? That's what I want to know. I have some follow up appointments and I will have to find out how they monitor me. From what I understand the follow up monitoring isn't the best in Canada but I will find out.
Some of the wonderful women at work took me out for a celebratory finished treatment dinner. Thank you!
Thank you to everyone for all your prayers, support, meals and love you have shown us during this difficult time. I will always remember you.

But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. 
They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary,they will walk and not be faint.
Isaiah 40:31

4 More to Go!

I have only 4 more radiation treatments to go!! And as you can guess I am very excited to be done. It has been time consuming driving to Kitchener every day and the schedule kept changing (but I managed to get that straightened out).

I have a "sunburn" that gets worse with each treatment but the doctor said as long as the area doesn't turn gray I will be able to finish all the treatments..yeh!
I have been working more and some customers even tell me how much they like my new haircut! A few people don't even recognize me. Wait till I show up without the wig and all my gray hair! Yes my hair is growing back but unfortunately it is mostly gray but at least I do have hair and my eyebrows are back too.
I am starting to run again but it is going to be a long process...I have no cardio endurance.

What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit
his very soul?

   -- Mark 8:36

Radiation

I had my first radiation treatment today. It doesn't take long but they x-ray you the first time and every week thereafter. At first I thought that's alot of radiation from the x-rays but then I realized that radiation is what I am going for. A little bit more isn't going to make any difference!
The woman organizing my appointments called me first to see if I wanted a 7:45 am or 5 pm appointment. For those of you who know me can guess I passed on the 7:45 am!!! Fortunately she said the schedule would open up so I can go a bit earlier than 5pm.
One interesting thing was the woman puts a wrist bracelet on me and I ask if I get a new one each time. She says  no you need to wear it all the time. What??? Then she explains that you can cut if off but you need to bring it with you each time or wait and get a new one. Well I must admit this is more environmentally friendly then getting a new one each time as I did at the GGH.
I am trying to work a few short shifts (5 hours) and it is working out well. Several well meaning customers have told me how much they like my new haircut, not knowing that it is a wig. I am looking forward to getting this phase over with.



“Joy is the experience of knowing that you are unconditionally loved and that nothing--sickness, failure, emotional distress, oppression, war, or even death--can take that love away.”


Henri Nouwen

Tattoos

So at my appointment last week at Princess Margaret Hospital it was decided that nothing different should be done for my radiation. Today I had my appointment with the radiologist at Grand River Hospital and I received my first ever tattoos!! Five small "freckles" to act as markers for the radiation. First they position you and make a mold so that each time you come you stay in the same position. Then they use the CT scanner to determine where they will put the markers. Then they use a black indie ink to tattoo you. It does hurt a little because of the needle but not for long. I can't imagine getting a sleeve tattoo...way too painful!
Radiation hopefully will start next week. Today one of the four radiation machines broke and they are not sure how long it will take to get the part so we will see.

Without faith... nothing is possible. With it... nothing is
impossible.

     -- Mary McLeod Bethune

Last Self-injection!

Well I am all done chemo and have my last self-injection tonight! I am so happy to be finished chemo...no more toxic chemicals being injected into me to kill off any cancer cells. Seems rather barbaric to inject toxic chemicals into a body and hope the body survives but I guess it is the best we have yet.
I have an appointment with an oncology surgeon at Princess Margaret Hospital on the 20th. He will decide what, if anything, we will do about the other side that may have had cancer. This will determine if I need radiation on both sides or not. I also managed to get an appointment at Women's College Hospital on the same day (save an extra trip to TO) for the genetic study. It will be a busy day but I will be glad to get it over with.
Thank you to everyone for your continued prayers and support. You are awesome!

We must shift our interest from the seen to the unseen. For the
great unseen Reality is God.
     -- A.W. Tozer

Last Chemo Wednesday!

Yes, my last chemo is Wednesday and I get to ring the bell!! I can hardly believe it. After 8 more self injections at home I will officially be needle free for awhile and my body is going to be thanking me for that.
This paclitaxel has a cumulative effect which is catching up with me. I am tired and 4-5 days after treatment you feel like you have been run over by a Mac truck. I have slept a few days all day. Yes everyone leaves in the morning and I go back to sleep and they come home and I am still in bed!! It doesn't help that my hemoglobin is low again...I kinda slacked off after getting it up the time before by eating a lot of red meat. These last 2 weeks I think I have had red meat everyday with help from David! Tomorrow I will find out what my level is.
So just to add a twist to everything my oncologist whom I saw yesterday has now decided that something needs to be done with the CT scan (done in August) that showed an enlarged lymph node. The MRI was negative but was also done after 4 chemos were completed. Dr. M. is not sure what to do so she is thinking of sending me to an oncology surgeon at Princess Margaret to have him decide . This needs to done in December if possible before radiation starts!! I never realized before how much cancer is NOT an exact science but I am learning.

If I didn't have spiritual faith, I would be a pessimist. But
I'm an optimist. I've read the last page in the Bible. It's all
going to turn out all right.
     -- Billy Graham