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.

The Day After All tests Were Completed 8-5-10

What a roller coaster ride we were on yesterday. First thing, we couldn't wait to go back to the hospital to see what the doc had to say about the PT Scan. My doctor is the most thorough doctor I have ever had. She sat with us for several minutes and explained that both scans showed little or no change in the bone cancer growth. She says the three blood test that she does to watch the cancer cells (for those of you that want to know what those tests are.......Tumor Markers, CEA, CA 15-3(breast antigen), and CA27.29) have been changing in small amounts except the CA27.29. This one went from 106.3 to 133.4. She has always told me this is the one she watches the closes so when she saw the numbers were up she started scheduling the scans. Yesterday at 4:00 I went in for the MRI of the head. With this test they put your head in a catchers mask and tie you to the table. Then the machine glides you to the center, about 4 feet in. If I open my eyes all I see is white tube like stuff....very confining. I did tell the doctor that I would like to take an ativan to help relax me so I don't freak out in the machine. After all they have you inside for about 40 minutes. I did sleep through the whole thing but then I had to get up, get dressed, walk down to find Robbin and get back to the hotel! Funny thing is, I don't remember much of any of that. Robbin did say he feed me, found me some popcorn and turned the tv on so I could watch the final of "so you think you can dance". Don't remember much of anything. I slept like a baby all night. Most important to us is that the doctor didn't call us back last night which means she didn't find anything terribly wrong with the MRI. We are waiting for her to call this morning with the results. I'll sure let you know the results as soon as I can. We are going back home tonight on a late flight. Everyone here is so helpful and are willing to go the extra mile just to make us comfortable. Thanks to all of you when are praying and who are so very supportive. This is why I keep fighting this terrible thing call cancer! Love to you all!!!

Phone call just came in from doctor......the MRI shows NO tumor activity in the brain!!!! Praise God!!!!!

Thanks again for all the love and support from you. I cherish it all!!!

August at CTCA

Here I am again in Zion at Cancer Treatment Centers of America. This month is the time I have a CT Scan. For those of you that don't know what they are I'll give a brief description.....I drink a contrast that shows up on the scan which shows the doctor the bone image. Since I have this done every 3 months they can really keep an eye on any changes. And as normal they take blood to see if there is any changes. This time there was a significant change in the cancer marker called CA 27 29. My doctor ordered me to have my infusion but NOT the hormone shot. So off to the infusion room I went for an hour to get my "juice". Yummy! Haha The doctor also order a PT Scan immediately. I had to fast for 6 hours then at 5:00 I headed in for the scan. This scan is the one that I hate the most. They inject me with a radioactive sugar then I lay still for 1hour. Yea right! Me lay still!!! I did it tho because there is no way I want it to take longer than normal. After the still time they put me on a hard table, wrap my arms in straps, put a big rubber band around my feet(so they don't move), place my head in a very small padded thing that goes up to my forehead. Good thing I am not claustrophobic!!! After that I'm ready for 20 minutes in this machine that takes a scan of my body. The sugar attaches to the cancer in my body. This tells the doctor if there is any chances or different growths. Tomorrow morning I will call to see when I can go talk to my doctor about this scan. She will let me know what the next plan is. She had mentioned changing me to a chemotherapy. As soon as I know I will blog again. I was so hungry after this so Robbin took me to a great steakhouse. I did eat to much but man was it ever good! It's been a long day and I'm headed to bed. Please keep me in your prayers. God has me wrapped in His precious arms I know! Robbin has been lots of support and I so appreciate all he does for me. He even took me shopping this afternoon. He is very patient. Thanks babe! Love to all!

July at The Cancer Treatment Center of America

Can you believe it's July!!!! Wow, I sound like my parents, when I was young they always said...time sure is going fast. Anyway, Robbin and I got to Milwaukee yesterday evening, checked in to the hotel, ate dinner and were so tired we went to bed. I think it was 9:00. Today's appointments started at 7:45 and I was done by 1:30. Everything went so smoothly and fast that I wondered if I had forgotten something. All blood test were close to what they were last month so that was good news, the treatment was an easy one and the hormone shot wasn't to painful. As usual, everyone at the hospital was so welcoming and had smiling faces. I just love this place. It's my second home. I know they are here to take care of me and they are doing a great job of that. I always look forward to coming here. When we got back to the hotel, the first thing I thought about was a good coffee drink so off to the outlet malls we went. There is a great coffee store there, as some of you know, so we did get a blended coffee. It was so yummy....better than ice cream. The weather here is perfect. The high was around 80 with a little breeze. A great day for a walk. We return home in the morning. This trip is a fast one. Thanks to Robbin for his support in accompanying me and for all his love. And thank you to all supporters who make this all worth doing. Love you all!!

June in Zion

Once again I have come to Zion for my treatments. This month Mariann Bledsoe flew out with me and was so much support, too. Yesterday we went to one of the huge malls and spent about 6 hours walking around some really nice stores. And yes we both bought something. How does a women get out of a mall without a purchase? Today, I checked in at the hospital at 8:15 and my day began. While talking to the doctor, I realized once again why I am flying out here every month!! She is such a warm women with lots of information for me in every aspect that you can imagine. I feel like this is my extended family out here and just want to continue the treatment I am receiving. So the doctor told me that all blood test where normal and things are going like she hoped. We walked over for lunch then to start my infusion and shot. Mariann and I walked 48 miles to day!! Great exercise but it poops you out!! After I was done we rode back to the hotel and dropped our coats off so we could go shopping across the street at the outlet mall. Can you believe it?.......shopping for a few more hours!!! But really I had a great time with Mariann and as always she is a friend that everyone wants. I got her!! Thanks Mariann for all you do for Robbin and I. We are packed and ready for a margarita and dinner. Then relaxing for the night. We return tomorrow afternoon. I feel so good and pray that it continues. Thanks to all for the thoughts and prayers! God has taken me in His arms again and healed me. Thank You, God!! Love ya all!!

Test Results

I got to the hospital early again today. I checked in and started the appointments at 8:30. My doctor came in and told me that all blood test were normal and that the pet scan showed no changes. Wow were those good words to hear!!! She is happy that the femara shot is working like it should...that is an estrogen and progesterone blocker. It stops anymore cancer cells from developing. The infusion of zometa is also working fine....that is the med that heals the bone where the cancer is. It really lessens the pain in the bone. That is why I can tell when it is time for another treatment. Sherry was so much help today. It is always good to have someone with me just to lean on. When we were done at the hospital we decided to come back to the hotel and rest a little then go shopping and I wanted to take Sherry to Famous Daves. Yummy!!! We are packed and ready to get back home. I really miss Robbin! He has been such an inspiration and lots of help in prayer from the home front. Good news once again!!! Keep up the prayers. They really do work!! God is good!!!