Memory Lane

This is where Dusty and Ann and the other dedicated, talented nurses
do so much of their work....returning voicemails, calling in prescriptions,
charting, and calling patients back, calling them, "Honey, sweetie, and
making them feel good and taken care of!"

This wooden cross was hand crafted by Big Daddy Lane,
the late husband of Mrs. Linda Lane and my dear friend,
Amy's beloved Daddy.  Mrs. Lane mailed it to me
after learning about my diagnosis.  I have it with me almost
always.  Today it found the perfect place on
Jakki's quilt beside an amazing verse.

My caregiver. 

You would think that HE is the serious one in our relationship.
To the contrary, he is the SILLY, FUN one!

He has taken great care of me, both emotionally and physically.
His Momma would be proud of him. 
I know his family in the upstate is proud of
what a great husband and daddy he has become!

Tracy stopped by after learning some WONDERFUL news
from her surgeon (also my surgeon).  How great to
have the company of a dear friend on a special day!



Ronnie.
I love you!
Thank you for being such a good friend!



My Dad took this picture of me and my oncology nurses!
Dusty is on the left.......Ann is on the right.
They have taken the BEST CARE of me - HANDS DOWN. 
I can't express how much I adore these ladies!
Thank you for the professionalism and the humor and the expertise!

Three of my SCOA angels!
Ann, Norma, Dusty
You three ladies bring humanity to what you do......
you show each person you care for individual attention
that takes extra effort on your part, but makes a world of
difference to each one of us.
I love y'all!



Daddy went by and picked up the girls from home where they were with
Mrs. Vance.  She had them dressed and hair-do'd....and I'm so glad
Daddy was able to help get them to the Bell Ringing Time.



An artsy moment with Grandaddy and Molly

Ringing the Bell is the way that you commemorate your last chemotherapy treatment!
I was thrilled to have some family there with me to make the moment even more special.



So many more people have been behind the scenes...this collage is just quickly put together
with the pictures I had from my treatments at SCOA.

As Elmer Fudd says, "That's all folks!"



The Eve of my Last Treatment

My mind is just a goin' goin' goin'. 

I've heard that when you finish your chemo, it can feel like you're walking off a cliff.  I can imagine that to be true.

Tomorrow's my last treatment, so right now, I'm feeling really excited that the end of chemo is near.  I look forward to thanking my care team tomorrow for a job super-well done.  My Dad is going to come to meet Charles and I at the end of the treatment.  I look forward to ringing that bell!

I did read a few websites today that leave me with mixed emotions.  This one, http://www.medscape.org/viewarticle/719468 , is one of the more encouraging ones because even though it says Triple Negative Breast Cancer is more aggressive and brings a less positive prognosis....the odds basically are 77% that I won't have an early recurrence, which is now my biggest fear in life.   I will never forget reading that survival time for a person with TNBC after an early recurrence is an average of 9 - 17 months.  I couldn't see straight for a few minutes after that.  That helped to ensure that there will never be a day that I won't think about the chance of recurrence.

Another thing I looked up this morning was to find out if my suspicions were right that I don't qualify to take what some people call "the cancer pill" like many people do for 5 years after their chemo treatment.   It is called Tamoxifen....and since it involves hormone inhibitors, and my cancer is not hormone fed, I will not get that extra protection against recurrence.  (Another added security/treatment that some receive is herceptin...but again, Triple Negative cancer doesn't respond to this therapy.)

So, once my radiation treatments are over, it will be up to me to do the only two things there are to do to increase my chances against recurrence.....exercise and eating healthy.  I'm saying this "publicly" so that I can feel more accountable.  Changing long time habits and creating new ones is not as easy as writing about it!  :)

I desperately want to be here as long as possible with Macy and Molly and Charles and my friends and family. 

On this eve of my final treatment, I'm also feeling very lucky.  I truly mean that.  So many cancer patients endure so much more than just 6 chemo treatments and radiation.  I truly respect the incredibly difficult journey that some have to endure.  

Thank you to each of you who read my blog.  There's no way to measure what your support means to me.  I couldn't be a lucky duck without you.

A Funny First

I was waiting at a drive thru window yesterday, bald and with no hat as I go most places, and had bent over to get my wallet, and heard the lady say, "How are you doing today, sir?"  I thought it was directed to a customer inside at the counter. 


When I looked up, I realized, it was to ME! 



That is a first! 



Made me really think about what the back of my head looks like. 


I mean, is this (below) really all that confusing?

I didn't THINK so!

Doctor's Appointment

I had my 'in between treatments' appointment today. 

Dr. Butler said my bloodwork looked 'great' meaning my white blood cell counts were good. 

I asked him a handful of questions:

• Side effects of runny nose and hot flashes.....He said the runny nose would just have to work itself out....and he gave me a prescription for helping with the hot flashes.  I was happy to have the prescription until the pharmacist told me that a side effect of the medicine is that it increases your appetite.  :(  Ugh.  I don't need that!
• When will radiation begin?   About a month after my last treatment.....and the computer will generate the number of times I will go....he said five or six weeks...and that I could go after school.
• How long do you think I had the cancer/tumor before I found it?   He said probably five years.  Mercy...isn't that crazy to think about?
• How often will I be screened for recurrence?  He said three month intervals....I think they increase the intervals over time.

My last chemo treatment is this coming Monday!  I'll get to "ring the bell" ... I'm looking forward to that! 

Out and About

Not many people say anything to me about my baldness when I'm out and about.  And only a very few folks have even let it show that they notice my big ol' white, bald head. 

Today, I was grocery shopping and because the only way I know to grocery shop economically is to buy for a two week period at a time, the cart was pretty full.  I let the lady behind me in line go in front of me with her single item....and she was so thankful.  She commented on how much food I was buying, and I laughed and said, "I don't get out much."  She must have thought I meant because of cancer and so she asked me how was everything going and how was I feeling.  I smiled and said, "Oh, it is because I have twin one year olds that I don't get to the grocery store often."  She was very kind and said she wished me the best.  It felt really good and I could see the sincerity in her eyes.

Then, in the parking lot as I was putting the groceries into my car, I heard, "So, how long since you were diagnosed?"  (Before I ever saw a person.)  I looked up and smiled to answer a lady with short hair and a big smile....who I later noticed was wearing a sleeve to help with her lymphadema.  She was a super nice lady and shared with me that she was a survivor of 4 years and was doing great. 

I'm writing this post to say that if you see someone out and about walking around like baldy baldersox here, they may really like it if you acknowledged what they're going through.  So many people have said to me that they really don't know WHAT to say....so, as I was thinking back on the day, I thought I'd share about these two ladies.  I was glad that both of them decided to speak to me. 

Have a great day!

Local Hero & Heroic Family

One of my friends from school has been through over three years of chemo with her sweet son.  She has been faithful during my treatments checking on me, bringing us treats and just listening to my concerns.   She and her family have endured an unbelievable amount of trying times as they helped their youngest member of the family through his fight with luekemia. 

His humble Momma has shared some of what it was like to go through such a difficult time.  She shares it matter of factly and I have been amazed as I learn more about what it was like for her family during that time. 

My little hero went through much more than I will and he is doing FANTASTIC.  I love his hugs.  Before my surgery for my port placement, he brought his port to school to show me.  It was so cool that I was learning from him....and it really did help me understand what it was that the doctors and nurses were going to be using for my chemo.
Here are some pictures from our recent visit...these guys are great for many reasons, but for Macy and Molly especially.  See, they have energy that I just don't have.  They're FUN, and it was great to see them playing together!

Chemo #5

We're down to ONE MORE TREATMENT!  Wooooo hoooo!  I can't believe it!    Here are some highlights from #5. 

So far, the side effects have not been as difficult as some rounds.....lots and lots of hot flashes ... my taste buds don't work.... grumpy (poor Charles) and t-i-r-e-d.....but the joint pain that usually bothers me after the shot hasn't really reared its head....and I'm so glad!

Charles was my escort to Chemo #4. 
He worked on the laptop a lot that day.
I was really glad he was there.

I invited my team to come see what chemo was all about....but, due to
surgery and travel, we couldn't all get together.  Thank you, Julie and Cynthia
for coming to eat lunch with me!  We missed you, Jakki and Andrea.

Jakki, your quilt, and our coworkers' words have
been with me each time.  This is my view
during treatment.  I love seeing my
friends' words.

Hangin' out and gabbin'

Genetic Test Results

Negative!

I do not have the BRAC1 or BRAC2 gene mutation which is great news for me and for my relatives. 

I'll have a follow up appointment sometime soon, and will post what I learn then.

Thanks for checking in!

:)

4th Chemo Treatment

I was very fortunate for my 4th treatment to have TWO chauffers!  My friend, Julie, offered to take me and Tajia joined us right around lunch time.  Tajia drove me home. 

It was great to have these ladies' conversation and company and smiles.  Thank you both for taking care of me!

Julie and Tajia making fun conversation.



Baldy Baldersox with two supportive friends.



The biggest comb-over job, ever.
Tajia, thanks for sharing your hair!