Radiation Treatments Begin February 8, 2011

Robbin and I arrived yesterday evening and wow it was cold!!! Last week, the day we went back home, it started snowing and it snowed 27"! That put the area on National Guard alert. There is 10' drifts and will take a long time for it to melt.

It didn't take long for us to get unpacked and get comfortable. This time I brought my dog Molly. She was nervous on the plane but settled down once we went to bed. She is lots of comfort for me since she is such a mama's girls and always on my lap.

Today my appointment started at 9:45....saw the oncologist, then radiology for my first treatment. The oncologist has changed my treatment because the cancer is not responding to the faslodex treatment and are actively growing again. She has put me on xeloda which is a chemotherapy drug. I take one everyday while I'm here then will change the dose before returning home. There will be a few side effects from this...sick to my stomach for a few days, fatigue and my hands and feet can get a terrible rash and then start peeling. Then off to radiation...I included some pictures of the radiation machine because it is totally amazing! The mask they put over my face keeps me from moving even a millimeter. They took several x-rays today so I was under that mask for an hour or so!!! Once a week that will be happening. Seems they are very thorough. After the x-rays the doctor checks them and the radiation begins. I didn't feel a thing! Some of the side effects are sore throat, hair loss where the radiation goes through my hair, cough, and fatigue. I certainly feel fatigued tonight!! Most of that is from the travel yesterday and then the long day I had today.

We rented a car this time and are staying in a different hotel.....one that has a kitchenette so we can cook some meals. We got some groceries and have our new little studio apartment. I'll be very comfortable here. Before we left I had a box shipped out here with some sewing projects so I can have something to do during the days. I'll be taking pics so will put a few on later. Hope everyone is warm and staying healthy.

Love to all!!

January 2011 At CTCA

I certainly hope that your new year is going well and you have good health throughout the year. Robbin and I arrived January 30th and returned home February 1st. This trip was a very productive trip. My appointments began at 7:30am and we got back to the hotel around 8:00pm. It was a very long day. My doctor wanted me to see a radiologist to see if it is possible that radiation, on some of the bones that are involved with cancer, would relieve some of the pain that I have been having. I have to say this is the worst month I have had. My first appointment was an MRI of my neck. The pain is in the neck and goes up to my scalp. The radiologist, Dr Chang, also called for another MRI of my brain. He wanted to make sure that there is no tumors on the brain and there was none. Thank God!! He did say that two vertebras were totally involved and impinging on the spinal cord. The radiation will slow the growth of the cancer cells in the bone structure causing the bone to shrink and taking the pressure off the spinal cord. My treatments will start the 8th of February and finish the 25th of February. This means I will be staying in Zion for 3 weeks! I am ready to do this so that I have relief for some of the pain. I also am changing from the faslodex shots to a chemo pill called xeloda. The cancer cells are becoming resistant to the faslodex so it's time to change to a true chemo pill. The side effects are very minimal. I will not loss my hair! Yea!! Sooooo.....I will continue to blog when I start my radiation treatments. I know that a lot of you want to keep up with my treatments and I will make sure I do that. Without your support I can't do this so keep up the good work, friends and family!! Robbin and I fly out monday and will get settled in....grocery shopping, car rental, etc. He will be staying with me for a week. I can't thank him enough for all the support and help! Also, I will be taking my dog Molly and my sewing machine and projects. You know me, I can't sit still and will need something to do so why not do my favorite thing, sewing?! That's all for know....look for more as the days go by! Thank you for all the prayers!! God is the great healer!

2011 Happy New Year from Chicago

Tuesday Dec 28, 2010....
"2011" OMG...Unbelievable!!! The past twelve months have gone fast. This means that I have been coming to Cancer Treatment Centers of America for 18 months. I continue to believe that God has led me to this Center. The way I feel and the progression of treatments makes me know that there is more to just taking meds and living a good life. With the guidance of God anything is possible!!

Robbin and I had to come out a day early because of the holiday travel. A month ago I made my doctor appointments and of course there are lots of travelers so to get a flight that we wanted was not available. So what did we do for a day???? Go shopping or go to the restaurant??? Ok, we did both. Although we did enjoy some R&R for the afternoon. We have been under some major stress, so the rest felt so good!!! Then to the bar for some visits with some friends we have met here. they are so friendly and always congenial.

Tomorrow we will go to the hospital in the morning for blood draw. In doing this I will get the results when we see the doctor thursday. I always have to wait till I get home to get the most important result.

Wednesday Dec 29, 2010.....
The blood draw went well and we were back at the hotel before 11:30. Both of us were so tired we just laid on the bed and before I knew it we were asleep. Must have needed some rest!!! After some lunch we worked on our computers, got bored and decided to go see True Grit. If you have the time, you really need to see it. One of the better movies I've seen.

Tomorrow I start appointments at 10am and my treatment is at 2:00. After that we'll go to the outlet mall to walk for a couple of hours. It really does help with the shots I get. I'm sure I'll be going to bed early.

Thursday Dec 30, 2010.....
All went well today. As always it seemed to be a long day and when we left I felt tired and sore. We got back to the hotel and because it was raining hard, we had to stay in. I am very sure about walking after my two shots so all I could do is walk inside. Needless to say I didn't get to much in. My doctor told us that my cancer marker is going up. She isn't to worried about it because she does Pt scans and MRI's every 3 months. They report that the cancer on the bone is stable if not decreased in size. Stress can effect the results and I'm sure that's what is happening. I didn't sleep well because of severe pain in my right shoulder. Pain pills help relieve some pain but I just was very uncomfortable all day. The doctor told me that if the pain continues I could start some radiation to help decrease the tumor so the pain decreases also. I will meet with a radiologist next month and make my decision then. I would have 10 treatments which means I would have to stay here for two weeks. That would be hard to do but with the pain I have, it certainly would be worth it. I am considering this.

Friday Dec 31, 2010.....
Still raining and the weather is calling for 27 decrees. That means freezing rain and icy roads. We leave the hotel at 4:00 so I'm hoping it doesn't start freezing until we get to the airport. We arrive in Denver at 8:30. We will be home to celebrate the new year. Robbin and I wish you all a blessed New Year!!

It's December in Chicago

December is such a beautiful month!! Patti and her fiance' Rob came with Robbin and I this time. We had planned to go to downtown Chicago to show them the Christmas lights and oh my, there were tons of people. We arrived here friday night, rented a car and drove to Chicago saturday morning. Of course all the Christmas shoppers were out in full force. One of our favorite restaurants is Gino's East Pizza. No one should come to Chicago without going there!!! We went back for more shopping Sunday and another favorite restaurant, The Tilted Kilt Sports Bar so of course we watched the Broncos ;( and Chicago Bears. That was fun! Oh and the food, well, it's another place you don't want to miss!! Sounds like all we did was eat and shop. LOL Monday I had a mammogram then we went shopping again. Yes day three!!! Rob and Patti finished their Christmas list and we got a good start.

Today we arrived at the hospital at 9:30am and the appointments started. My doctor came into the room and she had all good things to say. All but one test was back and the results were steady from last month. This month I started taking 2 anti-hormone shots, which the doctor says research shows is more effective. My prayer is that I don't have reactions to this. So far all that happened is a headache which was controlled with Aleve. We got back to the hotel, had dinner and I got packed and got PJs on. I'm ready to come home. We will get home tomorrow around 3:00.

Thanks Robbin, Patti and Rob for keeping me entertained. We did lots of laughing and made some great memories! Thanks to all my followers also. I couldn't do this without you!!! Love to all!! And Merry Christmas!!

It's November at CTCA

Seems this month has been so stressful. My mind plays games with me. For some reason I felt like there was something more going on with my cancer. As always God shows me His way. This month my doctor wanted me to have a Pet Scan and a CT Scan. Why? Some of the cancer markers that she watches, had changed just a little. This isn't alarming to her because the numbers have only gone up no more than 30 marks. She says if they double that's when she will be concerned. Hugh relief! She watches the markers so closely that any change and she begins more detailed testing. Well, with two scans yesterday, I just felt worn out and sick to my stomach. Also had a bad headache. This is so normal because of the radioactive formula for the pet scan and the dye for the ct scan. That's a lot of foreign stuff in me! Today my appointments started at 9:15. I saw my whole team today but was most interested in seeing my breast cancer doctor! She entered the room and my heart sunk. She began telling me that the blood tests haven't changed and then went into the results of the scans. All the cancer activity on the bone shows a decrease. What? Did I hear right? Yes, I did and all I could say when she said that was Praise The Lord! I'm telling you, it felt so good to know that all is going well. Especially after my feelings of despair. She does want to start a double dose of the faslodex. This is because studies show that double dosing decreases the activity of the tumors. So next month I will start those. Whatever it takes. I'm here because I feel the team of doctors here have saved my life and I will do what they want me to do. I believe this is my second home and second family. It is so comfortable here. After we got back to the hotel, Robbin and I went for a long walk together. The weather was so nice and to have my soul mate here with me just made it a perfect day. As I have said every month....thank you again for all the support and prayers!!! God bless you all!!!

Beautiful Colors in Zion

October already and the fall colors are so beautiful!!! As we flew in the trees were gold, red and orange. This area has thousands of trees which makes it so colorful. Robbin and I came out a day early so we could drive into Chicago. One thing we've never done is go to Navy Pier so that's were we went. The pier must be a mile long with lots of big white birds. Not my favorite! As we got to the end we notice several light houses. On the walk back the skyline was like nothing I've ever seen before. Very beautiful!! We then went to Gino's Eastside Pizza!! Yum..the best pizza you will ever have. Wednesday we arrived at the cancer treatment center early. Saw the doctor and all tests were good. I will get the final reading of the most important cancer maker soon. This is the one that they follow very closely and it's the one that went up two months ago. Seems I get very impatience waiting for this one! Wednesday wasn't the best day I've had. When I got up I just didn't feel the best which throws my whole day off. But as always I continue to push as hard as I can. We arrived home Thursday afternoon around 2:00. It has taken me a couple of days to get this blog to you because of the rest I required after this treatment. One good thing about that is I just got a call from my care manager about the blood result I was waiting for. She said it is only 5 points up from last month! This is a huge relief for us. Thanks again to all for the thoughts and prayers.

September at CTCA

Fall in this area is beautiful. The weather is cool, trees are starting to change color, evenings you need a jacket. My good friend Marti Hudson came with me this month. Whenever the two of us get together you better be ready to keep up. We are power shoppers and we know exactly what we are doing. Get out of our way! LOL! We got a cab on Thursday to take us to downtown Kenosha. This nice little city is located on the Michigan Lake. There isn't to many shops but the ones they do have are just sweet. We walked around for about 5 hours then got a cab to take us to Mars Cheese Castle. We didn't have much time but at least we got to see it. This is a place you could spent lots of time in. If you go you might have them ship your cheese home. It gets heavy! This morning my day started at 9:00. All the regular stuff with a little brake for lunch. Marti had pack us a nice lunch so we walked across the street to the park. She didn't know that birds are not my favor animal. There was lots of seagulls that wanted to eat with us! Yikes! We finished and headed in for my infusion. Everything went like it was suppose to. The doctors PA met with us and checked me out. She said I was doing good and would see me next month. This treatment is making me feel good about the quality of life I have. With the strength I get from all of you supporters, I can continue doing the things I love. God Bless You All.