Taking a break from Cancerland

Happy New Year! I hope your holidays were as full and blessed as ours were. We had a great time with family and friends celebrating Jesus' birth.

I saw my oncologist around the beginning of December just to check in with her after my (CLEAR!!!) scan. No real news. I will continue on the Tykerb until the end of March, which will have put me on it for a year. Then I will have a scan in June to see if NED will hang around even without the meds in my system.

When I am in the midst of treatments, scans and doctor's appointments, I often say I am stuck in "Cancerland." It's not a very fun place. So I am happy to take a break for now, until June at least. Ready to be just plain, old Michelle for a while instead of that chick who has breast cancer again!

Hugs and love to all.

Special prayers for Bill, still stuck in Cancerland. Thinking of you always, my friend.

Still dancing with NED!

Just got an e-mail from my wonderful oncologist -- no sign of disease on my scan! One node in my groin area keeps lighting up but it has already been biopsied before so we are just going to keep an eye on it.

Thanks to everyone for all the prayers. They worked!

Love to all,

M

Checking in, scan tomorrow

Good morning! Hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving and that you all were able to spend some time with those you love.

I have a PET scan tomorrow (12/2), so please pray that the scan comes back clear. For some reason, I am feeling more anxious than usual about the results of this one. I never enjoy the scans, especially the part about no food or drink beforehand, but something is bugging me about this one. Hopefully it's nothing, but you all know I am not shy about asking for specific prayers.

Please, please, please pray that my scan is ALL CLEAR!

In the breast cancer world, doctors don't use the term "cured" or "remission," but they will tell you there is "No Evidence of Disease" or NED. I'm enjoying spending time with Ned right now and I hope he is not planning on leaving me anytime soon.

Hugs to all,

M

Slightly crispy but happy

Yep, that's me. I am finished with radiation! I have one spot on my collarbone that is pretty burned and quite painful, but that's it. Not bad for getting zapped with some pretty strong radiation 28 times!

All in all, this wasn't too bad. The worst part of the whole thing was the inconvenience of driving to Midtown and back every day. All the staff in the radiation oncology department at Emory Midtown were amazing; they were so fun and made each treatment a lot more tolerable.

I am looking forward to getting some energy back; this whole thing has left me pretty drained. Thanks to all for the love and support. I couldn't do this without you.

Next up: PET scan on Dec. 2 and then appointment with oncologist Dec. 7 to determine what's next. For now, still taking five horse pills a day (Tykerb) and staying busy.

Happy Fall!

Halfway home

Today I completed No. 14 of 28 scheduled radiation treatments. I go five days per week at 2 p.m. each day to Emory Midtown to get zapped. So far, it has not caused any major skin irritation. Just feeling a bit fatigued and run-down.

Will finish radiation around Oct. 18. Then will get a break from Cancerland until another scan at beginning of December.

Hugs to all.

Ready to roll

Just a quick update -- I am all set up and ready to start six weeks of radiation on Thursday. Still hoping for minimal discomfort, so keep that in your prayers.

Love to all.

On the right path

By now, most of you have already heard my good news this week: the results of my PET scan from Monday were good -- no evidence of disease! Looks like the chemo really did a number on the beast. Take that, you stupid, nasty, tryin'-to-kill-me cancer cells.

Next up: radiation. I have my "simulation" appointment tomorrow (Thursday). I think this is where they put you on the table and set up in the computer exactly how they want the radiation delivered each time. It should make the daily appointments (likely starting next week) quick and painless.

Please pray that my side effects will be tolerable.

That's all for now. Love and hugs to all.

Matthew 7:12