Giving Thanks

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