12th Radiation and Doctor's visit

I just got back a while ago from my appointments today. I would like to mention when I go into the building before I go back to the Radiation office I am greeted every morning also by Carrie and smiling Gracie who are just so sweet, there is Frances and Ada on that floor too, who have helped me so very much and are also the kindest ladies. There are the two Cathy's who help women with all these different programs, HONESTLY what a staff of remarkable people and all the wonderful people in my (Chemo) now Herceptin treatments, how fortunate I have been to be treated by these outstanding people and I truly do mean this from the bottom of my heart. They make going through this easy for me, I sometimes have to tell myself am I really doing all this.

My Doctor says everything is going really good, he tells me to do all my activities that it is good for me, and I told him, "Good, because I would be doing them anyway." I am very stubborn and you can not keep me down, I will go until I am laid to rest one day.ha. I am so grateful to be able to do all the things I enjoy doing again, you do not realize how just the simplest things we take for granite. Right now until I get through radiation I will have to pace myself a little more just until I get through this. But all is well!!!

Third Week of Radiation

This is my third week of radiation, and all is going well. I see the Radiation Doctor tomorrow, every Tuesday I see him to make sure everything is going good and if I am having any problems. They take X-rays every 5 days to check for positioning and every other day they put like this big square cold skin like thing it is called a boulus, but that brings the radiation beams to the surface areas and then without it, it will go deeper in, if that makes sense.
I am suppose to be feeling fatigued that is the worst of it, I do get tired but I just slow down a little. Between the Herceptin treatment, my five year pill and radiation, goodness all these can cause weakness and fatigue, but I think I am doing pretty good I try not to think or dwell on that to much and just pace myself until I am done with radiation.

I lead a very busy life and do not have time to be sick, I joke it takes a lot to slow me down so this is just temporary. You do not feel any pain or anything at all during radiation, they say they are so precise it only gets the area they are targeting and nothing else, radiation has really come a long way.

I have a wonderful Radiology Doctor who is very nice and caring, and all the staff is just so sweet they greet me each morning with a smile, Rachel, Anita, and Michelle. And my technicians Cat, Jennifer, Jeff, and Ineatta are so nice and fun to talk with. It is so crazy that I have met such wonderful people that have touched my life so and if it were not for me going through this I would not have known or met these people it is funny how life works. Then you can not imagine these people not being in your life, these things I know happen for a reason and my life is richer for having met all of these wonderful people and all the experiences I have had so far.

There will be lots of Doctor appointments over the next few years and they taper off by the fifth year its not as many they say. You have to remain positive always and not dwell on the "RECURRENCE" you have to be aware of signs that could be telling you something is not right, but not to constantly be thinking it is going to come back. I pray that mine will never come back but if it does I would just have to deal with it like everyone else and they get through it again. Of course none of us want it to come back and hopefully over the years they will find better cures.

I am waiting for the day when all my treatments are done, they will then run tests, and I want to hear the words YOU ARE CANCER FREE that is what I am looking forward to. I will probably volunteer at the cancer center one day when I am done with all this,

The prayers I have received and still do receive have given me strength beyond I could have ever imagined I amaze myself, you all have been so wonderful and caring how could anyone not recover from such support and love. I will always remember the wonderful feeling and comfort I have received from these prayers I have indeed become so strong our HEAVENLY FATHER hears our prayers and answers them. I am grateful for everyday I have, I do look at life differently now, do not take anything for granite!

Getting Ready for Radiation

This was such a crazy week and a very busy week. I went to my Oncologist appointment and talked with him about starting radiation then he sent me to the Radiologist downstairs to register. He gave me a prescription for my 5 year pills that will cost $400.00 a month, he did tell me to go downstairs and talk with one of the ladies that helps get the drugs reduced, so I pray that I will get excepted into this program because those are some very expensive pills, he said they are effective in helping prevent cancer from coming back.

The next day I had to get a heart test, echocardiogram because of my treatments with the Herceptin, it could possibly cause heart problems. I didn't hear anything from them so everything must be fine. The following day was my Herceptin appointment which they would not have let me do if something would have been wrong, so that was good.

The same day 30 minutes later I went to see the Radiologist and talked with him he explained what they were going to do and the side effects the most common one is fatigue but he said if I am active and are use to doing a lot of things it shouldn't be bad nothing like chemo anyway. He told me to do everything I was doing before, of course to use common sense and do not do something till your in pain or exhausted. That made me happy because I was doing it anyway!

Then came the fourth day Friday, by then I was tired of going to appointments, ha. Went to Radiologist again and got a CT Scan and positioned for Radiation, was getting nervous all over again about all this but I am better now. I know the Lord is watching over me and I feel a real comfort inside of me.

Next Wednesday the 26th I have more X-Rays and on Thursday the 27th I start my radiation everyday except weekends for up to 7 weeks at the longest may be 6 weeks not sure yet, The radiation treatment is really fast they say less than a minute so that is good, I will be so happy when I am done with this treatment!

I have endured this well so far and remain positive and happy and plan on living my life to the fullest and trying not to dwell on the "Recurrence" part of it, yet you have to be aware of your body and know when something is not right then you get it checked out right away.

This is a very scary thing to have but I truly rely on all the Prayers and Fasting, Priesthood Blessing and a lot of FAITH!!!! I know the Lord has a lot of work for me to do yet and I will not let him down and I Thank him everyday for my health and all that I have, and I can say "The LORD is on my side and onward I shall MARCH!!!!

I Love your prayers and encouragement they have helped me so much in getting through all of this. THANK YOU SO VERY VERY MUCH, I Love You All!!!!

A Daughters Love

My youngest daughter recently gave me a beautiful card I would like to share with you:

One tiny butterfly
shows what it means
to have enduring courage
and dignity,
so that even when the wind
takes it in an unknown direction,
it flies,
staying strong, staying brave.
One tiny butterfly
lifts itself up
with the light
deep inside its soul,
rising on wings of hope
for a safe
and renewing journey...
You're like that butterfly,
brave and beautiful.
I know your courageous spirit
will carry you through this
just like it has carried you
so many times before.
And I also know
I'm here for you,
to offer friendship
and comfort
and support,
so you'll soon have
all the strength
you need
to soar once more.

I have some very wonderful kids and their spouses too who truly love me and they keep me going especially my grand children!!!!!

Choices

In life we can be WEAK or we can be STRONG, I of course have chosen to be strong!!!

Who you TRULY are as person is best revealed by who you are during times of conflict
and crisis.

Happiness is a CHOICE not just a matter of GENES or GOOD LUCK.

If you can drive yourself crazy...you can drive yourself happy.

When life throws you CURVEBALLS, hit them out of the park.

Time not only HEALS, time REVEALS.


A PSALM FOR YOUR PSYCHE

I asked for strength...
And God gave me Difficulties to make me strong.

I asked for wisdom...
And God gave me Problems to solve.

I asked for prosperity...
And God gave me a Brain and Brawn to work.

I asked for courage...
And God gave me Danger to overcome.

I asked for love...
And God gave me Troubled people to help.

I asked for favors...
And God gave me Opportunities.

I received nothing I wanted
but i received everything I needed.