First of all, I want to thanks each and every one of you for your thoughts and prayers as I have been on my adventurous journey! I am also thankful for all of those who are in the medical profession who care so much for their patients. I must also give thanks for those who have traveled this road before me, you are my inspiration to go forward with my head held high.
I realize it has been a long time since you have had an update from me. There has not been alot going on. The last two treatments of chemo were very hard for me to get the enthusiasm to go to. Part of that was the cumlative effect of chemo and I was just generally tired. The other factors were that the side effects of Taxol were really taking effect, my fingers and toes were just genrally painful and it was hard to even type on the computer. My fingers and toes are getting better now, there is some residual pain that I can deal with and it looks as if I may loose a few fingernails as a result of the Taxol. The other factor was that I had a sinus infection those last two weeks. I didn't realize it because I thought it was just another side effect and the infection was more of a runny nose and cough. After three days on anti-biotics I felt more like myself again!
The next step on my journey is radiation treatment. Before that step though, I neededa follow up mamogram which I had this last Monday. The mamogram showed some spots that were of concern to the radialogist. She seemed to think that they were there in April, I questioned that if they were why were they not taken out with the lumpectomy and if they were new... wouldn't the chemo have taken care of them? So we had disucssions with Dr. Kollmorgan, my Surgical Oncologist; Dr. Triantafyllos ( Dr. T.) my Radiation Oncologist and Dr. Stroh, my Medical Oncologist who in turn decided on the course of action this new devleopment would take me. There were several days during which several options were considered; those being biopsy, MRI scan, BSGI ( Breast Specific Gamma Imaging), mastectomy or just going forward with Radiation. Just waiting as it was, my Radiation treatment was set back one week. The doctors determined that the MRI scan would probably cause more uncert ainty than answers. the insurance company would not cover the cost of the BSGI, going with a mastectomy is a little severe when you consider I just finished 16 rounds of the 'Cadillac" of chemo treatments. So on Monday, I will begin my radiation treatments... finally! They will be every week day over a period of 6 -7 weeks ( I will not have to go in on the holidays!).
I did have my permanent markers placed on me last Monday. These markers will ensure that the radiation treatments are accurately directed each day. So these marks look like little black dots,l which I have heard described as tatoos. Now anyone who knows me well, is aware of my intense dislike of needles. So I asked the technician if it would hurt, she said no more than a bee sting. Well, I have never been stung by a bee and if the pain is anyway like that of a tatoo, I will not be getting any tatoos and I will be endeavoring to avoid bee stings in the futre! Wouldn't you know it... I devloped a nice black and blue bruise where one needle went in, so now I am doubly marked ( for a short time).
My thoughts and prayers will be with each one of you as Thanksgiving approaches. Thank you for being a part of my life!
Lynn
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Thursday, October 2, 2008
Even the Energizer Bunny needs new batteries sometimes!
October 2, 2008
Dear Friends,
Even the Energizer Bunny needs to take time off and get new batteries, a new source of energy. I think that is where I have been at lately; running low on juice and needing to replace the old source of energy with new.
I am starting October with an update. Today I had my 14th chemotherapy treatment. If you remember, I was taking part of a clinical trial, which was testing the effectiveness of using Avastin with early treatment of breast cancer. This was a double blind trial and was unblinded for me today; I found out that I was getting the Avastin and not the placebo drug and am not part of the arm that would require an additional 10 treatments of Avastin. From some of the side effects I was experiencing I a was pretty sure I was getting the Avastin, frankly I am glad to not have to go in for those additional 10 treatments that would have lasted an additional 30 weeks. So I have just two more chemotherapy treatments with Taxol to go. I have learned that chemotherapy is a cumulative treatment; the side effects become more apparent as time goes on. I am beginning to experience pain/numbness in my fingers and my toes from the Taxol as well as peeling skin on my hands and feet from the Avastin. Therefore, I will be very glad to be finishing this stage.
The next stage of my journey will be radiation treatment, starting in mid to late November and lasting for about 6 weeks.
For those of you who are not exposed to the media, October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month ( It is a good thing I like pink) ! John Stoddard Cancer asked me to be a part of their campaign to help promote Breast Cancer Awareness and the Breast Cancer Care Coordinator, Edra Fouts, who have guided me through this journey. So, if you live in Des Moines, do not be surprised when you see my smiling face on a billboard, in the newspaper or TV! For my friends not here in the Des Moines area, I will post pictures on my blog site or send you a link if you would like as I get the proofs!
As always I cannot express enough how much your prayers and support have meant to me. Thanks so very much!
Love,
Lynn
Dear Friends,
Even the Energizer Bunny needs to take time off and get new batteries, a new source of energy. I think that is where I have been at lately; running low on juice and needing to replace the old source of energy with new.
I am starting October with an update. Today I had my 14th chemotherapy treatment. If you remember, I was taking part of a clinical trial, which was testing the effectiveness of using Avastin with early treatment of breast cancer. This was a double blind trial and was unblinded for me today; I found out that I was getting the Avastin and not the placebo drug and am not part of the arm that would require an additional 10 treatments of Avastin. From some of the side effects I was experiencing I a was pretty sure I was getting the Avastin, frankly I am glad to not have to go in for those additional 10 treatments that would have lasted an additional 30 weeks. So I have just two more chemotherapy treatments with Taxol to go. I have learned that chemotherapy is a cumulative treatment; the side effects become more apparent as time goes on. I am beginning to experience pain/numbness in my fingers and my toes from the Taxol as well as peeling skin on my hands and feet from the Avastin. Therefore, I will be very glad to be finishing this stage.
The next stage of my journey will be radiation treatment, starting in mid to late November and lasting for about 6 weeks.
For those of you who are not exposed to the media, October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month ( It is a good thing I like pink) ! John Stoddard Cancer asked me to be a part of their campaign to help promote Breast Cancer Awareness and the Breast Cancer Care Coordinator, Edra Fouts, who have guided me through this journey. So, if you live in Des Moines, do not be surprised when you see my smiling face on a billboard, in the newspaper or TV! For my friends not here in the Des Moines area, I will post pictures on my blog site or send you a link if you would like as I get the proofs!
As always I cannot express enough how much your prayers and support have meant to me. Thanks so very much!
Love,
Lynn
Friday, August 15, 2008
Reduce to the Ridiculous
Update August 15, 2008
Dear Friends,
I met my husband, John, at a Tom Hopkins Sales Seminar. Tom Hopkins has many great techniques for helping you sell; one is called “Reduce to the Ridiculous”. You use this when something seems too big to overcome, by reducing an obstacle to the smallest piece it is easy to overcome. Why do I bring this up now? Well, my third treatment of Taxol means that I am ¼ of the way through the Taxol Treatments! That is so much nicer than saying I have 9 more left to go!
We arrived and only had to do the complete blood workup, no doctor visit today! Then we went up the to Chemotherapy Floor and settled in, I got my fluffy slipper socks on, put on my fleece jacket and cuddled up with my blanket/pillow! The Taxol makes me feel cold and last week they had the Air Conditioning set at 68 degrees! John got his laptop out so he could work, filled up his coffee and I started reading a book. The Benadryl really got to me this week as I only had enough energy to read one chapter before the need for beauty sleep took over. Therefore, I slept through most of my treatment. I had wondered when I was doing the A/C treatment how so many could sleep through chemo… now I know their secret!
After getting home, the steroids started to kick in. They give steroids to reduce the nausea. There is a price to pay though, for the next two days I have such a rosy face that it looks like I have been out in the sun or went overboard with blusher! The other is that it makes my mind just race and I can’t sleep. I am currently writing this update at 2 in the morning. If my hemoglobin levels were higher, I would have some energy to put this ‘alert’ feeling to good use! By the way, my levels are still at 9.5 this week, so they did not go down any lower so I avoided a blood transfusion this week also!
Well, it is Friday at 3:00 pm… I am still awake and will just send this off to you all.
Thanks so much for your thoughts and prayers, they are appreciated!
Love,
Lynn
Dear Friends,
I met my husband, John, at a Tom Hopkins Sales Seminar. Tom Hopkins has many great techniques for helping you sell; one is called “Reduce to the Ridiculous”. You use this when something seems too big to overcome, by reducing an obstacle to the smallest piece it is easy to overcome. Why do I bring this up now? Well, my third treatment of Taxol means that I am ¼ of the way through the Taxol Treatments! That is so much nicer than saying I have 9 more left to go!
We arrived and only had to do the complete blood workup, no doctor visit today! Then we went up the to Chemotherapy Floor and settled in, I got my fluffy slipper socks on, put on my fleece jacket and cuddled up with my blanket/pillow! The Taxol makes me feel cold and last week they had the Air Conditioning set at 68 degrees! John got his laptop out so he could work, filled up his coffee and I started reading a book. The Benadryl really got to me this week as I only had enough energy to read one chapter before the need for beauty sleep took over. Therefore, I slept through most of my treatment. I had wondered when I was doing the A/C treatment how so many could sleep through chemo… now I know their secret!
After getting home, the steroids started to kick in. They give steroids to reduce the nausea. There is a price to pay though, for the next two days I have such a rosy face that it looks like I have been out in the sun or went overboard with blusher! The other is that it makes my mind just race and I can’t sleep. I am currently writing this update at 2 in the morning. If my hemoglobin levels were higher, I would have some energy to put this ‘alert’ feeling to good use! By the way, my levels are still at 9.5 this week, so they did not go down any lower so I avoided a blood transfusion this week also!
Well, it is Friday at 3:00 pm… I am still awake and will just send this off to you all.
Thanks so much for your thoughts and prayers, they are appreciated!
Love,
Lynn
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
Taxol Chemotherapy
Dear Friends,
I just want to send a quick update regarding my last chemo treatment.
Last Thursday, July 31, was my first Taxol treatment and it went well. Before they administer the Taxol they pre-treat you with Benadryl and Steroids. I was reading a book, as the nurse was getting ready to administer the Benadryl. She told me to “Read Fast” because the Benadryl makes you sleepy, yep, I slept through much of the treatment and the afternoon after returning home. I also received the Avastan/placebo treatment, we don’t know yet which one I am getting.
So, the treatment went well, and I am confident that I will be able to make it through the weekly treatments. However, a side effect may be that I will turn into ‘Sleeping Beauty’. The continued chemotherapy treatments leave my hemoglobin count low and thus leave me easily tired. I hope that the sleep will be a ‘beauty treatment’!
Thanks once again for your love and support!
Love,
Lynn
I just want to send a quick update regarding my last chemo treatment.
Last Thursday, July 31, was my first Taxol treatment and it went well. Before they administer the Taxol they pre-treat you with Benadryl and Steroids. I was reading a book, as the nurse was getting ready to administer the Benadryl. She told me to “Read Fast” because the Benadryl makes you sleepy, yep, I slept through much of the treatment and the afternoon after returning home. I also received the Avastan/placebo treatment, we don’t know yet which one I am getting.
So, the treatment went well, and I am confident that I will be able to make it through the weekly treatments. However, a side effect may be that I will turn into ‘Sleeping Beauty’. The continued chemotherapy treatments leave my hemoglobin count low and thus leave me easily tired. I hope that the sleep will be a ‘beauty treatment’!
Thanks once again for your love and support!
Love,
Lynn
Saturday, July 26, 2008
Getting Ready for the Next Ride
July 26, 2008
Dear Friends,
I am sorry you have not received a recent update from me, I know so many of you are wondering how I am but not want to ‘intrude’.
Going back to my amusement park analogy, I am off of the Adriamycin/Cytoxan with Neulasta (A/C dose dense) ride. Carefully disembarking and heading off to the next one. The A/C ride was intense. Like any good roller coaster, you start off feeling great and looking forward to the next rise and fall however; like anything else too much can leave you feeling a little icky. The cumulative effects do wear on a person.
One is that my taste buds have changed, the thought of my favorite foods no longer stimulates my appetite, the foods just don’t taste the same. In fact, I was telling the cancer care coordinator, Edra, that I think chemo has cured my cravings for chocolate. I do not know if that is a good thing or not though. However, I did have a wonderful meal last nite, we went to Applebees and I had a Sirloin Steak with Parmesan Crust and some awesome garlic mashed potatoes. To have a meal actually taste good has made me feel so good and hopeful for the future. Isn’t it funny how we don’t appreciate what we have until it is gone?
The other cumulative effect is the loss of energy. This is probably due to the loss of taste buds and my decreased appetite, which has left my hemoglobin at a borderline basis of 10. Not low enough for the doctor to be overly concerned, just keeping a careful eye on it. I am limited as to what supplements I am able to take due to the clinical trial that I am on, so I am working on including more iron rich foods into what I eat. It is a good thing I love Cream of Wheat! 50% of your daily iron requirement in a serving, so that is my breakfast every day. The other possible cause of the lack of energy may be the Neulasta shot, which is to increase white blood cell production. It leaves my joints feeling just so achy and sore from about day 3-5 after the shot. Just a fun fact, that Neulasta shot retails at something like $3800 a dose! Thank the Lord that John has a job that provides us with wonderful insurance coverage.
Now I’m standing in line and getting ready for my next adventure ride. I’m kind of wondering if I really want to get on, but knowing what a sucker I am for a great ride I will be ready and take that ride! This next round of chemotherapy is Taxol, which carries a whole different set of possible side effects. It will be interesting to see how I react, I have been told by one doctor that this is usually easier, but time will tell! This will be an IV therapy every week for 12 weeks. As part of the clinical trial for Avastan, that will be administered once every 3 weeks during the Taxol treatment. So for the math majors out there, that is 12 doses of Taxol and 4 doses of Avastan/placebo.
At the end of the Taxol treatment, the clinical trial will be ‘unblinded’. At that time we will know if I have been receiving Avastan or a placebo. If I have been receiving Avastan there is a 20% chance that I will be reassigned to a group that will receive an additional 10 cycles of Avastan. If I am in that group, I will receive Avastan once every 21 days for 10 cycles. Therefore, that will be like a surprise ending to this next ride!
Once again, I cannot thank my friends enough for your thoughts and prayers.
Love,
Lynn
Dear Friends,
I am sorry you have not received a recent update from me, I know so many of you are wondering how I am but not want to ‘intrude’.
Going back to my amusement park analogy, I am off of the Adriamycin/Cytoxan with Neulasta (A/C dose dense) ride. Carefully disembarking and heading off to the next one. The A/C ride was intense. Like any good roller coaster, you start off feeling great and looking forward to the next rise and fall however; like anything else too much can leave you feeling a little icky. The cumulative effects do wear on a person.
One is that my taste buds have changed, the thought of my favorite foods no longer stimulates my appetite, the foods just don’t taste the same. In fact, I was telling the cancer care coordinator, Edra, that I think chemo has cured my cravings for chocolate. I do not know if that is a good thing or not though. However, I did have a wonderful meal last nite, we went to Applebees and I had a Sirloin Steak with Parmesan Crust and some awesome garlic mashed potatoes. To have a meal actually taste good has made me feel so good and hopeful for the future. Isn’t it funny how we don’t appreciate what we have until it is gone?
The other cumulative effect is the loss of energy. This is probably due to the loss of taste buds and my decreased appetite, which has left my hemoglobin at a borderline basis of 10. Not low enough for the doctor to be overly concerned, just keeping a careful eye on it. I am limited as to what supplements I am able to take due to the clinical trial that I am on, so I am working on including more iron rich foods into what I eat. It is a good thing I love Cream of Wheat! 50% of your daily iron requirement in a serving, so that is my breakfast every day. The other possible cause of the lack of energy may be the Neulasta shot, which is to increase white blood cell production. It leaves my joints feeling just so achy and sore from about day 3-5 after the shot. Just a fun fact, that Neulasta shot retails at something like $3800 a dose! Thank the Lord that John has a job that provides us with wonderful insurance coverage.
Now I’m standing in line and getting ready for my next adventure ride. I’m kind of wondering if I really want to get on, but knowing what a sucker I am for a great ride I will be ready and take that ride! This next round of chemotherapy is Taxol, which carries a whole different set of possible side effects. It will be interesting to see how I react, I have been told by one doctor that this is usually easier, but time will tell! This will be an IV therapy every week for 12 weeks. As part of the clinical trial for Avastan, that will be administered once every 3 weeks during the Taxol treatment. So for the math majors out there, that is 12 doses of Taxol and 4 doses of Avastan/placebo.
At the end of the Taxol treatment, the clinical trial will be ‘unblinded’. At that time we will know if I have been receiving Avastan or a placebo. If I have been receiving Avastan there is a 20% chance that I will be reassigned to a group that will receive an additional 10 cycles of Avastan. If I am in that group, I will receive Avastan once every 21 days for 10 cycles. Therefore, that will be like a surprise ending to this next ride!
Once again, I cannot thank my friends enough for your thoughts and prayers.
Love,
Lynn
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
thought for the day
Tomorrow is cylce #3 of the Chemotherapy.
I feel so good today, full of energy and getiing alot done.
I found this quote the other day and thought it was so powerful that I should share it.
You become a worrier by practising worry. You can become free of worry by practising the opposite and stronger habit of faith. With all the strength and perseverance you can command, start practising faith.
Norman Vincent Peale
I feel so good today, full of energy and getiing alot done.
I found this quote the other day and thought it was so powerful that I should share it.
You become a worrier by practising worry. You can become free of worry by practising the opposite and stronger habit of faith. With all the strength and perseverance you can command, start practising faith.
Norman Vincent Peale
Saturday, June 28, 2008
Alternative to Scarves,Knit Hats and Wigs
Hi Friends,
I have to share with you a hat a friend sent to me! Anyway, this friend makes mob hats, some call them mop hats as reproduction items but you know what? They are also great for those of us in 'club chemo'! It is much cooler than a scarf, plus it covers the neck and shades the eyes! The same goes for the knit hats. I haven't gotten around to ording a wig yet, and don't know if I will.
Here are some pictures of me in the hat:
I have to share with you a hat a friend sent to me! Anyway, this friend makes mob hats, some call them mop hats as reproduction items but you know what? They are also great for those of us in 'club chemo'! It is much cooler than a scarf, plus it covers the neck and shades the eyes! The same goes for the knit hats. I haven't gotten around to ording a wig yet, and don't know if I will.
Here are some pictures of me in the hat:
Here is the information for my friend who sells these on ebay, just in case you would like a hat for yourself! Her name is :ooak_handcrafts . Here is one of her current auctions for a similar hat! You just might recognize the model! http://cgi.ebay.com/Womens-CHEMO-HAT-cap-You-choose-the-color-U-pick-color_W0QQitemZ190232896355QQihZ009QQcategoryZ45232QQtcZphotoQQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp1742.m153.l1262
Friday, June 27, 2008
2nd Cyle of Chemotherapy, Lessons Learned
June 24, 2008
Dear Friends,
Practice does make perfect! Well, if not perfect at least better!
I had my second cycle of chemotherapy last week and thought I would give you an update.
After talking to some friends on-line who had been through chemotherapy with the same drugs I am on, I found out that one possible culprit of my horrendous headache after cycle 1 was that the Cytoxan and Steroids were maybe administered a little too fast for my system. So it was slowed down and viola! No massive headache! The tickling sensation that occurred in my sinus’ was also less noticeable, or maybe I was more used to it then.
Remember when I had such a hard time chewing on ice cubes for the administration of the Adriamycin? Well, we went to Sonic’s, got a Slushee, and kept it in a thermal cooler and I used that to keep my mouth cold. It worked quite well! My mouth does not have the sores that developed the previous cycle as I was trying to chew ice.
As last time, my blood pressure did dance all over the place. I tried to keep the nurses laughing by telling them that they should start a lottery pool on what my next blood pressure reading would be. Some how I don’t think they saw that as funny as I did and I am now on a low dose of blood pressure medication.
The next day, John (my husband) gave me my shot of Neulasta. That was nice because I didn’t have to get dressed up and go to the doctor’s office, I just got room service! He was a little nervous about giving me a shot, but he did such a good job I didn’t even know when he was done!
At this point, I am halfway through the rough part of the chemothereapy, the AC dose dense portion. I have two more cycles of the AC dose dense, which I have been told is rougher than the next portion of chemo which is the Taxol portion which is 12 cycles. When on Taxol, I will not have to worry about keeping my mouth cold, take the wonderfully expensive and effective Emend to prevent nausea and take the Neulasta shot.
I don’t have much else to say on this update other than I appreciate your emails and try to respond back in a timely manner. If I don’t please forgive me. I continue to do well thanks to God’s grace and the prayers of my friends.
Love,
Lynn
Dear Friends,
Practice does make perfect! Well, if not perfect at least better!
I had my second cycle of chemotherapy last week and thought I would give you an update.
After talking to some friends on-line who had been through chemotherapy with the same drugs I am on, I found out that one possible culprit of my horrendous headache after cycle 1 was that the Cytoxan and Steroids were maybe administered a little too fast for my system. So it was slowed down and viola! No massive headache! The tickling sensation that occurred in my sinus’ was also less noticeable, or maybe I was more used to it then.
Remember when I had such a hard time chewing on ice cubes for the administration of the Adriamycin? Well, we went to Sonic’s, got a Slushee, and kept it in a thermal cooler and I used that to keep my mouth cold. It worked quite well! My mouth does not have the sores that developed the previous cycle as I was trying to chew ice.
As last time, my blood pressure did dance all over the place. I tried to keep the nurses laughing by telling them that they should start a lottery pool on what my next blood pressure reading would be. Some how I don’t think they saw that as funny as I did and I am now on a low dose of blood pressure medication.
The next day, John (my husband) gave me my shot of Neulasta. That was nice because I didn’t have to get dressed up and go to the doctor’s office, I just got room service! He was a little nervous about giving me a shot, but he did such a good job I didn’t even know when he was done!
At this point, I am halfway through the rough part of the chemothereapy, the AC dose dense portion. I have two more cycles of the AC dose dense, which I have been told is rougher than the next portion of chemo which is the Taxol portion which is 12 cycles. When on Taxol, I will not have to worry about keeping my mouth cold, take the wonderfully expensive and effective Emend to prevent nausea and take the Neulasta shot.
I don’t have much else to say on this update other than I appreciate your emails and try to respond back in a timely manner. If I don’t please forgive me. I continue to do well thanks to God’s grace and the prayers of my friends.
Love,
Lynn
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Hair Today... Gone Tomorrow
June 17, 2008
Dear Friends,
Today’s update will be short and sweet but heavy on pictures! This is the day I had my hair cut or shall I say ‘shaved’?
It was harder on Wally, who cuts my hair, than it was on me. He was finally okay with going ahead with the shave when I showed him that the hair was all ready dead at the roots. I was able to pull a good size hunk of hair out with no pain or effort, so he then realized that this was inevitable.
What I am having a harder time with looking in the mirror… is that me? Wally convinced me to go home without a scarf on my head, said that my head was attractively shaped. Now that is something I would have never known had I not had cancer!
I am just laughing at all of the funny caption ideas I can think of for these pictures… I would love to hear yours! Please email me with your favorites. I will add them to a blog that I started. Right now the blog is just a compilation of my emails. If you want to check here is a link to Lynn's Blog
Now for the pictures: Hair Today...
As always your support means more to me than words can convey!
Love,
Lynn
Dear Friends,
Today’s update will be short and sweet but heavy on pictures! This is the day I had my hair cut or shall I say ‘shaved’?
It was harder on Wally, who cuts my hair, than it was on me. He was finally okay with going ahead with the shave when I showed him that the hair was all ready dead at the roots. I was able to pull a good size hunk of hair out with no pain or effort, so he then realized that this was inevitable.
What I am having a harder time with looking in the mirror… is that me? Wally convinced me to go home without a scarf on my head, said that my head was attractively shaped. Now that is something I would have never known had I not had cancer!
I am just laughing at all of the funny caption ideas I can think of for these pictures… I would love to hear yours! Please email me with your favorites. I will add them to a blog that I started. Right now the blog is just a compilation of my emails. If you want to check here is a link to Lynn's Blog
Now for the pictures: Hair Today...
As always your support means more to me than words can convey!
Love,
Lynn
Monday, June 16, 2008
My First Round of Chemo
June 16, 2008
Dear Friends,
In keeping with my Adventure, Amusement Park analogy I am starting this update with a bit of education. This time it is some fun trivia, not detailed stuff about crap!
The therapy and the side effects of my first cycle were not as bad as I had imagined.
Now down to my (hopefully educational) description of my chemo experience.
The first thing you do is go in and have lots of blood drawn, just to make sure you are healthy enough that day for therapy. I am so very glad I had the power port installed, they just plug into that and take like 5-6 vials of blood! So much better than sticking my arm!
Then you meet with the doctor. Of course, my doctor complimented me on my pink shoes that I wore that morning! I wore my pink and Lucite pumps, just to kick a little extra butt out of the crap!
Then you head for where the chemo is administered. I had the choice of a private room with a bed or out in small clusters of chairs. I opted for the chair option as I’m not sick and don’t need a bed! Besides that, I had the opportunity to visit with others who were receiving their therapy at the same time.
Each chemotherapy ‘cocktail’ is custom blended for each patient, so what I had may be different from others going through treatment at the same time.
First, they started out with some steroids, which help reduce nausea. The wonderful side effect of this is that the next day my face looked as if I had spent the day in the sun!
Then I got the next two drugs, each separately. I don’t remember which was first and which was second (the two drugs to refresh your memory are Adriamycin and Cytoxan)…. I guess I should have taken notes! Anyway, during one of the drugs I was instructed to chew on ice chips to help keep the inside of my mouth from burning. This was extremely hard for me as my dentist told me when I was a teenager that chewing on ice was bad for the enamel on your teeth, so I don’t chew ice! That I regret and am going to overcome as the inside of my mouth was raw for 10 days however the plus side to that is that it is like having brand new taste buds!
Because a potential side effect of the study drug, Avastin, to induce high blood pressure they took my blood pressure before they started the Avastin in the IV. Well, you know me, I had to create some excitement and it took 5 nurses to get my blood pressure. Apparently, it had gone way up from when I checked in and they were not setting the upper value high enough. After all that, I had the last of my ‘cocktail’ and went home.
The anti-nausea drug, Emend, worked, I did not have any nausea with this round of chemo. The biggest side effects I had for that day was an extreme headache and I slept a lot once I got home.
The next day was an excellent day; I really did not feel to bad. Went for my Neulasta shot, which stimulates white blood cell production, that wasn’t very bad either! Next time John, is going to learn how to give me the shot himself, so we will not have to run to the doctors office the day after chemo. I must say he gets a certain ‘glimmer’ in his eye with anticipation of sticking it to me with a needle! He knows how much I dislike needles. For those of you who don’t know me well, I can’t even watch someone get a shot on TV without feeling light headed!
Days 3 and 4… now those were not good days for me. I spent the majority of those days sleeping, thankful I was not nauseated though. The headaches continued, but medication helped with that. Overall not too bad.
Days 5 and 6, were pretty good days for me. I was able to start the day early and work until about 2 pm before needing a rest.
Day 7 started out okay but in the afternoon all my joints just ached! I laid in bed the rest of the day.
Day 8 through today, I feel like my regular self again! Hooray! There is so much to do! And the ride is a ‘fond’ memory!
So very much like that “e ticket” ride, you are anxiously awaiting going on the ride, you take the ride and have some moments when you wonder “oh my gosh, what am I doing?!” You get off and say, that wasn’t so bad, I think I just might do that again!
Lastly, my hair has all ready started to change texture and should begin to fall out in the next week therefore being the proactive person that I am… I am going to go have my head shaved tomorrow. I have it on good authority that it really hurts when it just falls out in the shower, so I am going to beat this side effect to the punch and take the first step. John plans to take before and after pictures, so watch your emails tomorrow!
Thanks once again for all your prayers and good thoughts; they are helping me so much. They give me the courage, the strength and the faith to beat this crap but good!
Dear Friends,
In keeping with my Adventure, Amusement Park analogy I am starting this update with a bit of education. This time it is some fun trivia, not detailed stuff about crap!
Among the stronger memories of a vintage Disneyland visit were the letteredSo, chemotherapy for me is the real e-ticket ride! It is a ride that dares you to get on one and then repeat the experience!
tickets, A through E, which were used for admission to each attraction. When the
park first opened to the public on July 18, 1955, there was a Main Gate
admission price and each ride or attraction cost between 10¢ and 35¢ in
cash.
To address complaints that visitors were being "nickeled and dimed to
death," Disney introduced lettered tickets in October 1955, just three months
after opening day. The "D" tickets were added in the middle of 1956 and the
famous "E" ticket was introduced in June 1959 with the opening of the
Matterhorn, Monorail, and Submarine attractions.
The "E" ticket represented the best and most exciting attractions in
the park and the phrase made its way into popular culture. For example, when the
first American woman was a crewmember on the Space Shuttle was asked to describe
the launch, she called it "a real e-ticket ride."
However, the lettered tickets were phased out around 1982 in favor of
all-inclusive passes which allowed visitors to visit as many attractions as they
wanted to wait in line for. Today, of course, there are millions of people who
were born after the time when these lettered tickets were used and they have
only a dim understanding of what an "E" ticket was
The therapy and the side effects of my first cycle were not as bad as I had imagined.
Now down to my (hopefully educational) description of my chemo experience.
The first thing you do is go in and have lots of blood drawn, just to make sure you are healthy enough that day for therapy. I am so very glad I had the power port installed, they just plug into that and take like 5-6 vials of blood! So much better than sticking my arm!
Then you meet with the doctor. Of course, my doctor complimented me on my pink shoes that I wore that morning! I wore my pink and Lucite pumps, just to kick a little extra butt out of the crap!
Then you head for where the chemo is administered. I had the choice of a private room with a bed or out in small clusters of chairs. I opted for the chair option as I’m not sick and don’t need a bed! Besides that, I had the opportunity to visit with others who were receiving their therapy at the same time.
Each chemotherapy ‘cocktail’ is custom blended for each patient, so what I had may be different from others going through treatment at the same time.
First, they started out with some steroids, which help reduce nausea. The wonderful side effect of this is that the next day my face looked as if I had spent the day in the sun!
Then I got the next two drugs, each separately. I don’t remember which was first and which was second (the two drugs to refresh your memory are Adriamycin and Cytoxan)…. I guess I should have taken notes! Anyway, during one of the drugs I was instructed to chew on ice chips to help keep the inside of my mouth from burning. This was extremely hard for me as my dentist told me when I was a teenager that chewing on ice was bad for the enamel on your teeth, so I don’t chew ice! That I regret and am going to overcome as the inside of my mouth was raw for 10 days however the plus side to that is that it is like having brand new taste buds!
Because a potential side effect of the study drug, Avastin, to induce high blood pressure they took my blood pressure before they started the Avastin in the IV. Well, you know me, I had to create some excitement and it took 5 nurses to get my blood pressure. Apparently, it had gone way up from when I checked in and they were not setting the upper value high enough. After all that, I had the last of my ‘cocktail’ and went home.
The anti-nausea drug, Emend, worked, I did not have any nausea with this round of chemo. The biggest side effects I had for that day was an extreme headache and I slept a lot once I got home.
The next day was an excellent day; I really did not feel to bad. Went for my Neulasta shot, which stimulates white blood cell production, that wasn’t very bad either! Next time John, is going to learn how to give me the shot himself, so we will not have to run to the doctors office the day after chemo. I must say he gets a certain ‘glimmer’ in his eye with anticipation of sticking it to me with a needle! He knows how much I dislike needles. For those of you who don’t know me well, I can’t even watch someone get a shot on TV without feeling light headed!
Days 3 and 4… now those were not good days for me. I spent the majority of those days sleeping, thankful I was not nauseated though. The headaches continued, but medication helped with that. Overall not too bad.
Days 5 and 6, were pretty good days for me. I was able to start the day early and work until about 2 pm before needing a rest.
Day 7 started out okay but in the afternoon all my joints just ached! I laid in bed the rest of the day.
Day 8 through today, I feel like my regular self again! Hooray! There is so much to do! And the ride is a ‘fond’ memory!
So very much like that “e ticket” ride, you are anxiously awaiting going on the ride, you take the ride and have some moments when you wonder “oh my gosh, what am I doing?!” You get off and say, that wasn’t so bad, I think I just might do that again!
Lastly, my hair has all ready started to change texture and should begin to fall out in the next week therefore being the proactive person that I am… I am going to go have my head shaved tomorrow. I have it on good authority that it really hurts when it just falls out in the shower, so I am going to beat this side effect to the punch and take the first step. John plans to take before and after pictures, so watch your emails tomorrow!
Thanks once again for all your prayers and good thoughts; they are helping me so much. They give me the courage, the strength and the faith to beat this crap but good!
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
First Email sent to Friends, Cancer is an ugly word
In setting up my blog, I forgot to include the very first email I sent out to my friends.
I think it is important as it explains a little bit about how I feel about how the word cancer is used as a synonym for ugly things that are out of control and about to destroy everything that is good in life.
So, here it is...
Friends,
First, I want to thank you so very much for your love and support over the last week since I first received my diagnosis of breast cancer.
Cancer in and of itself is such a nasty word and is often used when describing something evil, I have therefore decided to call this breast crap. After all, crap you can handle and take care of and get rid of.
I had my appointment with the surgical oncologist today and found out the following.
The specific type of crap is :
Infiltrating Ductal Carcinoma, Moderately Differentiated, approximately 2 to 2.5 cm.
The Carcinoma did have hormone receptors.
We have tentatively scheduled a lumpectomy for April 29, at the same time they will biopsy what they call the sentinel lymph nodes.
Following the lumpectomy, there will most likely be a 5 week course of radiation.
Then either Hormone or Chemo Therapy, depending on the results of the biopsy of the lymph nodes and the size of the tumor.
This is all tentative, as the doctor gave me lots of reading homework to do.
I thank you so much for your prayers and support, they mean more to me than you will ever know.
Love,
Lynn
I think it is important as it explains a little bit about how I feel about how the word cancer is used as a synonym for ugly things that are out of control and about to destroy everything that is good in life.
So, here it is...
Friends,
First, I want to thank you so very much for your love and support over the last week since I first received my diagnosis of breast cancer.
Cancer in and of itself is such a nasty word and is often used when describing something evil, I have therefore decided to call this breast crap. After all, crap you can handle and take care of and get rid of.
I had my appointment with the surgical oncologist today and found out the following.
The specific type of crap is :
Infiltrating Ductal Carcinoma, Moderately Differentiated, approximately 2 to 2.5 cm.
The Carcinoma did have hormone receptors.
We have tentatively scheduled a lumpectomy for April 29, at the same time they will biopsy what they call the sentinel lymph nodes.
Following the lumpectomy, there will most likely be a 5 week course of radiation.
Then either Hormone or Chemo Therapy, depending on the results of the biopsy of the lymph nodes and the size of the tumor.
This is all tentative, as the doctor gave me lots of reading homework to do.
I thank you so much for your prayers and support, they mean more to me than you will ever know.
Love,
Lynn
Thursday, May 29, 2008
May 29,2008
Update 5-29
What are your plans for the summer? A trip to the amusement park? Some how paying good money to scare yourself silly on the rides and getting that icky tummy feeling from eating too much junk food is a ritual of summer. I am a fan of the amusement park, especially the roller coaster. You jump on, and then when the ride starts you think… did I really want to do this? What was I thinking? Well, this summer I may be thinking the same thoughts and having some upset tummy episodes, but my adventure will be through the miracle of chemotherapy.
I went to the doctor today for the final tests, EKG, MUGA, blood, urine, blood pressure etc and I am fit for Chemo.
Next Thursday at 10 AM my adventure begins.
I was accepted into the clinical trial I mentioned earlier. I just barely fit the requirements with the micro metastasis. The trial is a triple blind trial, which is good in that I am going to be getting at least the standard treatment currently used. This trial is studying the implementation of Avastin (brand name for Bevacizumab) in the addition to standard chemotherapy (Doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide; abbreviated to AC) for breast cancer. This drug has been all ready proven in colo-rectal cancer. The role of Avastin in fighting cancer is that it binds or starves cancer cells so that they cannot grow.
The other drugs involved will be:
Doxorubicin ~ this is an anti-tumor antibiotic and blocks cell growth by interfering with the DNA, the genetic material in the cancer cells.
Cyclophosphamide~ this is an Alkylator or DNA-Altering drug that changes the genetic material in cancer cells to keep them from reproducing.
Paclitaxel~ this is a plant alkaloid that keeps cancer cells from dividing or from making the proteins they need.
Neulasta~ This is a shot, given the day after chemo to help the body produce more white cells.
Anti-nausea drugs~ The doctor gave me three different prescriptions for this! They are Zofran, Emend tripack and compazine.
The term of treatment will be :
Treatment once every two weeks for four cycles.
Treatment once a week for 12 cycles.
This is a total of about 5 months of chemo.
However, at the end of cycle 8, the trial becomes unblinded . At that point there is the possibility that I may be part of a group that requires and additional 10 cycles of just bevacizumab.
After the Chemotherapy is complete, radiation and hormone therapy will be administered. More about that later though. One step at a time!
Thank you so very much to the cancer survivors who are so inspirational for me. Your stories of courage, faith and humor give me strength to look on this as an adventure.
I have the best of faith in my doctors and the medical staff who I have been working with. Each and every person has made me feel so very special and pampered. I want to send a special thanks to those of you who work in the health care service field.
Love you all,
Lynn
What are your plans for the summer? A trip to the amusement park? Some how paying good money to scare yourself silly on the rides and getting that icky tummy feeling from eating too much junk food is a ritual of summer. I am a fan of the amusement park, especially the roller coaster. You jump on, and then when the ride starts you think… did I really want to do this? What was I thinking? Well, this summer I may be thinking the same thoughts and having some upset tummy episodes, but my adventure will be through the miracle of chemotherapy.
I went to the doctor today for the final tests, EKG, MUGA, blood, urine, blood pressure etc and I am fit for Chemo.
Next Thursday at 10 AM my adventure begins.
I was accepted into the clinical trial I mentioned earlier. I just barely fit the requirements with the micro metastasis. The trial is a triple blind trial, which is good in that I am going to be getting at least the standard treatment currently used. This trial is studying the implementation of Avastin (brand name for Bevacizumab) in the addition to standard chemotherapy (Doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide; abbreviated to AC) for breast cancer. This drug has been all ready proven in colo-rectal cancer. The role of Avastin in fighting cancer is that it binds or starves cancer cells so that they cannot grow.
The other drugs involved will be:
Doxorubicin ~ this is an anti-tumor antibiotic and blocks cell growth by interfering with the DNA, the genetic material in the cancer cells.
Cyclophosphamide~ this is an Alkylator or DNA-Altering drug that changes the genetic material in cancer cells to keep them from reproducing.
Paclitaxel~ this is a plant alkaloid that keeps cancer cells from dividing or from making the proteins they need.
Neulasta~ This is a shot, given the day after chemo to help the body produce more white cells.
Anti-nausea drugs~ The doctor gave me three different prescriptions for this! They are Zofran, Emend tripack and compazine.
The term of treatment will be :
Treatment once every two weeks for four cycles.
Treatment once a week for 12 cycles.
This is a total of about 5 months of chemo.
However, at the end of cycle 8, the trial becomes unblinded . At that point there is the possibility that I may be part of a group that requires and additional 10 cycles of just bevacizumab.
After the Chemotherapy is complete, radiation and hormone therapy will be administered. More about that later though. One step at a time!
Thank you so very much to the cancer survivors who are so inspirational for me. Your stories of courage, faith and humor give me strength to look on this as an adventure.
I have the best of faith in my doctors and the medical staff who I have been working with. Each and every person has made me feel so very special and pampered. I want to send a special thanks to those of you who work in the health care service field.
Love you all,
Lynn
May 16, 2008
Update 5-19
Well it looks like it is going to be a long, hot summer; I think I will cut my hair very short! It is so much cooler and easier to maintain that way!
Translation:
I will be experiencing the chemotherapy journey this summer.
Being told that chemotherapy is the best next course for me to take was a shock. I was firmly convinced in my mind that I would be going the radiation route, I guess that is the optimist in me.
The reason for the chemotherapy recommendation is based on the pathology report. The overview of the report is:
Tumor size 2.2 cm Chemo is recommended for any tumor over 1.5 cm
Auxiliary Node had a mico-metassis , there is a chance the cancer has spread elsewhere
Hormone receptors Estrogen positive, Progesterone positive
Her2/neu ratio is 1.6, negative on FISH scale
Now I understand just some of the above, I get lost at the Her2 thing, but I know many of you know more than I do and will find the above stats fascinating!
That aside, I know that I will do well. John and I have been so very impressed with each doctor that will be working with us. What is really nice is that they work together well as a team, the fact that they communicate with each other makes it so much easier for us. The staff at Iowa Methodist and the John Stoddard Cancer Center have been so awesome, they even make a person like myself who gets the willies just thinking of medical procedures comfortable!
Chemotherapy will probably begin sometime in June, as I know more details I will let you know. There is a clinical trial I may qualify for and the timing is somewhat dependent upon that. I will also be having a port inserted to make the administration of the drugs easier. Again, I will do what I have to do, but if there is an easier way I am all for it!
Following this page I have several links for the doctors I am working with, the John Stoddard center other assorted links.
Thanks again for all of your support and prayers,
Lynn
On Friday May 16, 2008, John and I met with both a radiation oncologist and a hematology oncologist.
First up that day was the radiation oncologist. He is:
Dr. John Triantafyllos, MD (they call him Dr. T)
Here are links regarding Dr. T and the Radiation department at John Stoddard
http://www.iowahealth.org/body.cfm?xyzpdqabc=0&id=174&action=detailPhys&ref=3342
http://www.johnstoddardcancer.org/body.cfm?id=222
Next, we met with the chemotherapy oncologist. She is:
Dr. Ann Stroh, DO (pronounced straw)
Here are her links:
http://www.iowahealth.org/body.cfm?xyzpdqabc=0&id=174&action=detailPhys&ref=3228
Chemotherapy link
http://www.johnstoddardcancer.org/body.cfm?id=220
Possible clinical trial
http://ecog.dfci.harvard.edu/general/intro.html
the specific trial is
E5103
A Double-Blind Phase III Trial of Doxorubicin and Cyclophosphamide followed by Paclitaxel with Bevacizumab or Placebo in Patients with Lymph Node Positive and High Risk Lymph Node Negative Breast Cancer Activation Date: 02-nov-2007
Well it looks like it is going to be a long, hot summer; I think I will cut my hair very short! It is so much cooler and easier to maintain that way!
Translation:
I will be experiencing the chemotherapy journey this summer.
Being told that chemotherapy is the best next course for me to take was a shock. I was firmly convinced in my mind that I would be going the radiation route, I guess that is the optimist in me.
The reason for the chemotherapy recommendation is based on the pathology report. The overview of the report is:
Tumor size 2.2 cm Chemo is recommended for any tumor over 1.5 cm
Auxiliary Node had a mico-metassis , there is a chance the cancer has spread elsewhere
Hormone receptors Estrogen positive, Progesterone positive
Her2/neu ratio is 1.6, negative on FISH scale
Now I understand just some of the above, I get lost at the Her2 thing, but I know many of you know more than I do and will find the above stats fascinating!
That aside, I know that I will do well. John and I have been so very impressed with each doctor that will be working with us. What is really nice is that they work together well as a team, the fact that they communicate with each other makes it so much easier for us. The staff at Iowa Methodist and the John Stoddard Cancer Center have been so awesome, they even make a person like myself who gets the willies just thinking of medical procedures comfortable!
Chemotherapy will probably begin sometime in June, as I know more details I will let you know. There is a clinical trial I may qualify for and the timing is somewhat dependent upon that. I will also be having a port inserted to make the administration of the drugs easier. Again, I will do what I have to do, but if there is an easier way I am all for it!
Following this page I have several links for the doctors I am working with, the John Stoddard center other assorted links.
Thanks again for all of your support and prayers,
Lynn
On Friday May 16, 2008, John and I met with both a radiation oncologist and a hematology oncologist.
First up that day was the radiation oncologist. He is:
Dr. John Triantafyllos, MD (they call him Dr. T)
Here are links regarding Dr. T and the Radiation department at John Stoddard
http://www.iowahealth.org/body.cfm?xyzpdqabc=0&id=174&action=detailPhys&ref=3342
http://www.johnstoddardcancer.org/body.cfm?id=222
Next, we met with the chemotherapy oncologist. She is:
Dr. Ann Stroh, DO (pronounced straw)
Here are her links:
http://www.iowahealth.org/body.cfm?xyzpdqabc=0&id=174&action=detailPhys&ref=3228
Chemotherapy link
http://www.johnstoddardcancer.org/body.cfm?id=220
Possible clinical trial
http://ecog.dfci.harvard.edu/general/intro.html
the specific trial is
E5103
A Double-Blind Phase III Trial of Doxorubicin and Cyclophosphamide followed by Paclitaxel with Bevacizumab or Placebo in Patients with Lymph Node Positive and High Risk Lymph Node Negative Breast Cancer Activation Date: 02-nov-2007
May 8, 2008
Update May 8, 2008
Dear Friends,
If at first you don’t succeed, try again! It worked for me. The second surgery was successful and the surgeon was able to establish clear margins around the crap. HooRay!
I must say that my experience with Iowa Methodist was just as pleasant this week as it was last. This is the link to Iowa Methodist if you want to check out the staff; http://www.johnstoddardcancer.org/body.cfm?id=268 my doctor is Dr. Kollmorgan, you can read about him under physicians. Edra Frouts is the Breast Cancer Care Coordinator and she is under Care Coordinators.
The surgery was done Tuesday at 7 AM. Since they did not have to remove any lymph nodes, it was done under what they call a local-mac. I asked what mac was, but now I forgot! Basically I was asleep, but not as deep as general puts you under, so it was quicker in and out.
I have a follow up appointment with my surgeon next week. At that time, he will refer me to an oncologist who will determine the balance of the treatment. Since it was breast conservation surgery, radiation is almost a given.
Dr. Kollmorgan said that I might qualify for a clinical study called TAILORx, it has to do with Oncotype test. From what I understand, it is a gene study that helps determine if chemotherapy is beneficial for borderline candidates. Here are some links I found about the study;
http://www.genomichealth.com/oncotype/tailorx/default.aspx
http://www.breastcancer.org/treatment/chemotherapy/new_research/20060126.jsp
http://ecog.dfci.harvard.edu/general/gendocs/tailorx_oncodxfact.pdf
I know some of my friends like to research as much as I do. After all knowledge is power.
So far I am doing well, resting a lot as the pain meds do make me so sleepy!
Thanks again for your prayers and good wishes.
Dear Friends,
If at first you don’t succeed, try again! It worked for me. The second surgery was successful and the surgeon was able to establish clear margins around the crap. HooRay!
I must say that my experience with Iowa Methodist was just as pleasant this week as it was last. This is the link to Iowa Methodist if you want to check out the staff; http://www.johnstoddardcancer.org/body.cfm?id=268 my doctor is Dr. Kollmorgan, you can read about him under physicians. Edra Frouts is the Breast Cancer Care Coordinator and she is under Care Coordinators.
The surgery was done Tuesday at 7 AM. Since they did not have to remove any lymph nodes, it was done under what they call a local-mac. I asked what mac was, but now I forgot! Basically I was asleep, but not as deep as general puts you under, so it was quicker in and out.
I have a follow up appointment with my surgeon next week. At that time, he will refer me to an oncologist who will determine the balance of the treatment. Since it was breast conservation surgery, radiation is almost a given.
Dr. Kollmorgan said that I might qualify for a clinical study called TAILORx, it has to do with Oncotype test. From what I understand, it is a gene study that helps determine if chemotherapy is beneficial for borderline candidates. Here are some links I found about the study;
http://www.genomichealth.com/oncotype/tailorx/default.aspx
http://www.breastcancer.org/treatment/chemotherapy/new_research/20060126.jsp
http://ecog.dfci.harvard.edu/general/gendocs/tailorx_oncodxfact.pdf
I know some of my friends like to research as much as I do. After all knowledge is power.
So far I am doing well, resting a lot as the pain meds do make me so sleepy!
Thanks again for your prayers and good wishes.
My first email to friends April 24
I just want to update all of my friends on how I am doing.
I sincerely thank each and everyone one of you for your continued prayers and thoughts You have enveloped me with such love and positive thoughts that I am at peace with my ‘crap’ and have complete confidence that I am on the path to beat it.
My surgery will be next week on Tuesday the 29th, I don’t have a time yet and will not know until the day before. It will be an outpatient procedure, so I should be home that night. We will not now the results of the lymph node biopsies for several days after that.
Just some thoughts that have been rambling through my head that I thought I would share with you. They are my thoughts and not necessarily, those of everyone going through what I am.
First, most of you all ready know that I refuse to call this crap what the doctor’s call it, cancer. One definition of cancer is an out of control evil that takes over all that is good. I refuse to allow that to happen to me, crap I can handle and can fight. Therefore, I have come to examine the use of the word cancer in our language. What brought this to the forefront for me is that I was listening to one talk radio station and this host was referring to one of the terrorist leaders as being a cancer on society, going on about how he was out of control and would destroy every thing. Think about it.
Second, I have had several people say that they did not know what to say to me when they learned of my diagnosis. You know, I never really knew what to say before either. One thing I know I personally do not care for is “I’m sorry”. The person, who says that, had absolutely nothing to do with my getting cancer so what do they have to be sorry for? So maybe it would be better to say “I am sorry to hear that.” Or maybe you could say “ Do you like your doctor?”, Plus there is always “ You will be in my thoughts and prayers”. Then go on to celebrate what is good going on. Again, these are just my suggestions.
Third, I have so appreciated hearing from survivors and hearing their stories. These ladies give me hope, courage and faith. If you know of a survivor, you can relay their story to the newly diagnosed person. I was told by a couple of people to call this particular lady, who I had met in the past, but how do you start that call? I felt too awkward to call, so ask the newly diagnosed person if you can give their phone number to the survivor you want them to talk to . I was talking to my Breast Cancer Nurse/Coordinator about how helpful talking to survivors has been for me. She mentioned that this cancer is unlike others in that the women really bond together and support each other. It gives more meaning to the theme I see in the Breast Cancer Site regarding, Sisters, Mothers, Daughters. I always felt at a small loss not having a sister to grow up with or a daughter to raise, only to find out I had sisters just waiting to meet me at the time I needed them most.
Fourth, Ladies, Please get your mammograms. I had a small change in my breast but after researching extensively on the net, it didn’t look anything like any of the pictures I saw, or the changes that are associated with cancer. Frankly it looked like scar tissue had formed and I get those all over my body as I have aged. The surgical oncologist even said that it would have been easy to miss. I am fortunate that it was caught, I have heard of other’s who were not as fortunate.
Fifth, Cancer in and of itself is not physically painful. Weird isn’t it? I feel just as well as I did a month ago. Maybe that is why it can be so easily over looked.
In summary, it has always been my belief that everything happens for a specific reason. Early in my life, it took me a long time to figure that out and then to learn what the reason is. Several years ago, I figured it out. I need to share what happens to me in my life with others to help give them perspective if they themselves find they are facing some of the same challenges I have, or maybe they have a friend they can help. Much time is wasted re-inventing the wheel and that time costs us personally much in the terms of energy, hope and faith.
Thanks once again for your support.
Please feel free to share this information as you see fit. Anyone is free to email me or call me if you just want to chat or share your thoughts on my missive!
Love you all!
Lynn
I sincerely thank each and everyone one of you for your continued prayers and thoughts You have enveloped me with such love and positive thoughts that I am at peace with my ‘crap’ and have complete confidence that I am on the path to beat it.
My surgery will be next week on Tuesday the 29th, I don’t have a time yet and will not know until the day before. It will be an outpatient procedure, so I should be home that night. We will not now the results of the lymph node biopsies for several days after that.
Just some thoughts that have been rambling through my head that I thought I would share with you. They are my thoughts and not necessarily, those of everyone going through what I am.
First, most of you all ready know that I refuse to call this crap what the doctor’s call it, cancer. One definition of cancer is an out of control evil that takes over all that is good. I refuse to allow that to happen to me, crap I can handle and can fight. Therefore, I have come to examine the use of the word cancer in our language. What brought this to the forefront for me is that I was listening to one talk radio station and this host was referring to one of the terrorist leaders as being a cancer on society, going on about how he was out of control and would destroy every thing. Think about it.
Second, I have had several people say that they did not know what to say to me when they learned of my diagnosis. You know, I never really knew what to say before either. One thing I know I personally do not care for is “I’m sorry”. The person, who says that, had absolutely nothing to do with my getting cancer so what do they have to be sorry for? So maybe it would be better to say “I am sorry to hear that.” Or maybe you could say “ Do you like your doctor?”, Plus there is always “ You will be in my thoughts and prayers”. Then go on to celebrate what is good going on. Again, these are just my suggestions.
Third, I have so appreciated hearing from survivors and hearing their stories. These ladies give me hope, courage and faith. If you know of a survivor, you can relay their story to the newly diagnosed person. I was told by a couple of people to call this particular lady, who I had met in the past, but how do you start that call? I felt too awkward to call, so ask the newly diagnosed person if you can give their phone number to the survivor you want them to talk to . I was talking to my Breast Cancer Nurse/Coordinator about how helpful talking to survivors has been for me. She mentioned that this cancer is unlike others in that the women really bond together and support each other. It gives more meaning to the theme I see in the Breast Cancer Site regarding, Sisters, Mothers, Daughters. I always felt at a small loss not having a sister to grow up with or a daughter to raise, only to find out I had sisters just waiting to meet me at the time I needed them most.
Fourth, Ladies, Please get your mammograms. I had a small change in my breast but after researching extensively on the net, it didn’t look anything like any of the pictures I saw, or the changes that are associated with cancer. Frankly it looked like scar tissue had formed and I get those all over my body as I have aged. The surgical oncologist even said that it would have been easy to miss. I am fortunate that it was caught, I have heard of other’s who were not as fortunate.
Fifth, Cancer in and of itself is not physically painful. Weird isn’t it? I feel just as well as I did a month ago. Maybe that is why it can be so easily over looked.
In summary, it has always been my belief that everything happens for a specific reason. Early in my life, it took me a long time to figure that out and then to learn what the reason is. Several years ago, I figured it out. I need to share what happens to me in my life with others to help give them perspective if they themselves find they are facing some of the same challenges I have, or maybe they have a friend they can help. Much time is wasted re-inventing the wheel and that time costs us personally much in the terms of energy, hope and faith.
Thanks once again for your support.
Please feel free to share this information as you see fit. Anyone is free to email me or call me if you just want to chat or share your thoughts on my missive!
Love you all!
Lynn
Winlynn's Marvelous Adventure!
Hi, my name is Lynn and I have Breast Cancer (that kind of sounds like a 12 step meeting!).
I was recently diagnosed with breast cancer and I have been keeping friends and family up to date with emails. Well one friend said "Lynn, you should start a blog!" (okay that reminds me of the Beverly Hillbillies!) so here I am.
I welcome you to read my thoughts and share yours with me. If you have stories to share that would be wonderful, the support I have had from others is just awesome.
So this is the end of my brief introduction... what follows are the emails I have previously sent to friends and family.
I was recently diagnosed with breast cancer and I have been keeping friends and family up to date with emails. Well one friend said "Lynn, you should start a blog!" (okay that reminds me of the Beverly Hillbillies!) so here I am.
I welcome you to read my thoughts and share yours with me. If you have stories to share that would be wonderful, the support I have had from others is just awesome.
So this is the end of my brief introduction... what follows are the emails I have previously sent to friends and family.
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