Day 9 of Radiation

Getting closer to being finish with this radiation stuff. Only 5 more treatments and Robbin & I will be flying home. I'm still feeling lots of pain in the throat, the pain in my bones is gone and all I can think about is real food!! It isn't fun being on a liquid diet but I will do what it takes to be pretty much free from pain. We now have the weekend off and not much is planned. I may be able to sew all day. Wow that would be nice. Robbin has been so patient with all of this. He is at my side for whatever life gives us. I'm very fortunate that I have him!

We have a friend, Rena, who hooked us up with some harley friends, Sandy & Jeff, Margarita & Mike, that live close to where we are staying. Tonight Robbin and I drove to Sandy & Jeff's house for a home cooked dinner that was sooooo good!!! These friends are people that we all need as friends!! They invite us into their home, feed us, send a bunch of home made food with us, and gave us their cell numbers. I'm so amazed at how they are so willing to help us! We didn't know them!! We are now life long friends and can't wait for them to come to colorado to stay with us!! We want to thank them from the bottom of our hearts and tell them that they give us hope!!! And for Rena, you are amazing also!! You gave us comfort in finding someone here that we could call if we need anything. Thank you for that!! We are so fortunate to have friends like all of you!!

Have a wonderful weekend and again Thank You!!!

Day 8 of Radiation

YEA!!!! I'm halfway through!!! The radiation is burning my throat so I'm on a liquid diet. And of course I'm craving pizza from Gino's! Robbin will have to take me the next time we are here. The doctor says that my throat will get worse so he did give me a prescription for carafate. I really really hope it works. I'm very uncomfortably and it's hard to talk. I'm sure Robbin doesn't mind me being quite. haha Every time they give me radiation they are taking some kind of xray. This is done so that the radiation is still pinpoint. Very precise!!! I know, once again, I am in the right place.

The weather here has turned very warm. A lot of the snow is melted and the ponds are full. I'm wondering where the rest of the water will go? The ground is so saturated and the rivers are full. There are several lakes around and the residents are concerned about flooding.

Molly is the best dog. Today I took my sewing machine to be fixed. We decided to take her along. She acted like she's done this several times....just knew what to do. I found a quilt shop that repairs sewing machines so Robbin took me there. It took the guy about 5 minutes to fix it and I was on my way. Well, ok Robbin was on his way to the car while I looked around the shop. It was a big shop with lots of fabric and I hope to get back soon. Don't tell my quilting friends that I may buy some fabric...I would loss our bet.

Hope you all are happy and healthy. Thanks for the blog comments. Travel safe Bryan and Luke. I'll be praying for your safe return. Love to all!!

Day 5 of Radiation

Happy Valentines Day!!! And Happy Birthday to my valentine Robbin!!

I had a couple of days off of the radiation treatments and chemo pill. This morning was my 5th treatment out of 14 so we're just about half done. I am counting the days thats for sure. Each treatment is getting easier and much shorter than the first few. This weekend was just nice and quite and relaxing. We went out to dinner for Robbin's birthday but I couldn't stay out to late. My energy is zapped!! Robbin and I have decided that he will stay with me the entire time that I'm here. I don't feel comfortable being here alone. So nice of him to stay that long.

Tonight Robbin and I are cooking a steak and potatoes in the room. Found some good looking filet wrapped with bacon. Yummy!!! Hope you all have a fun evening with your special love!!

I did start a sewing project and got two blankets made for Desirae and Trinity that was suppose to be done for Christmas but couldn't get the right fabric. So we will be mailing them tomorrow. I miss the grandkids so much!!!!!! We always get them on tuesdays and it seems like weeks since I've seen them. ;( My sewing machine quit so I'm searching frantically for someone the repair it. I have lots of things to get done while I'm here and have time to do them.

Molly is getting more spoiled than ever. The girls that work here will take her in the office while we are gone. She loves them.

Thanks again for all the thoughts and prayers. I feel them!!! God is an awesome healing God!

Day 3 of Radiation

All is still going well. My radiation today was so much easier. It took about 30 minutes today because of more xrays. Tomorrow and after I should be in and out within 20 minutes. After my treatment I saw the doctor and he was happy about how things are going so far. Last night was my first dose of chemotherapy and I have not had any reaction to it. Tonight was my third dose and I really thought there should be some symptoms or something. I'm really hoping and praying that this will be the normal reaction for me. NOTHING!!! Robbin and I have been to the grocery store everyday. It's pretty funny that we need so many little things, salt, pepper, flour, sugar, coffee creamer, etc. I do believe we don't have to go tomorrow. Meals have been just like home, well kind of. We just don't have as big a kitchen and cupboards aren't stocked like home. Robbin is still a good cook and is making sure I have some good meals. I'm not sure I want him to go home. That means I would have to do all the cooking, laundry and driving. Really, he has been so very helpful and I will miss him. He is planning on coming back the last week I am here. That will be nice. This afternoon I was able to start binding on a project that is the most beautiful quilt I've made. I'll be hand sewing on it probably until I go home. Hopefully it will be done by then. Good night all and hope your day tomorrow is good. I know mine will be. God is good!!

Day 2 of Radiation

Today went much better. I was only in my mask for 30 minutes and it will get better from now on.....20 minute sessions. The picture I added today is the actual mask that they put on me. I'm thinking it will be my best friend here. Any ideas of what to name it?? The weather is so cold here again today that they advised people to stay in. Wind chill factor was -12!!!! My doctor is starting me on Xeloda tonight. I'm a little nervous because it could make me sick. I really don't have time to be sick. My box from home came today and it is my sewing projects. I found a table in the office that I talked them out of. After my machine gets warm I'll be able to sew. I'm missing my home already so I really need to focus on the reason I'm here. I so appreciate all the comments that you have sent. Keep it up! Our first home cooked meal is a hamburger. Robbin is my cook so I don't have anything to worry about there. Take care and look for more later. Love ya all!!

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!