A lot of great friends

You know, when faced with a horrible disease I can't imagine going through it without such great friends and family. Although today could have been a really horrible day I was reminded over and over how many people really care and it means a lot to me. All the good thoughts are helpful and I never tire of hearing them!

They had scheduled the biopsy for Tuesday morning but then they found out they misscheduled it so I will find out tomorrow when it is.

Medical Update~ PET Scan results

Met with the doctor this morning and got the results of my PET Scan. The main thing was to compare the results with the PET scan that I did in May. I had a few spots on my lungs and the hope was that they would stay the same throughout my chemo. That would mean that they were not cancer (as the chemo was not effecting them). The next best would be that they dissappeared (they were cancer but the chemo made them dissapear) and the worst would be that they grew (they are cancer (most likely) and the chemo didn't work). Well, lucky me, one of my spots grew from 10mm to 20mm and another one grew from 7mm to 10mm. So I was taken off of the chemo that I have been doing since it does not seem to be affecting the spots on my lungs. There was no other spots of cancer anywhere else.

To verify that it is cancer I am going to get a lung bioposy next week and then they will know for sure what we are dealing with. It is still considered breast cancer, not lung cancer. Assuming it is cancer I will be on oral chemo, two weeks on, one week off, for 6 months or more. Radiation is also on hold for the time being.

This pretty much sucks and is not what we wanted to hear but I will continue to fight this and keep my sense of humor about it. Any good thoughts would be appreciated.

I'll post when the biospy is scheduled. They will go in through my back, CT guided and then pull out the sample. They will have the results within 48 hours of the biopsy.

This really annoys me

I'm so tired of getting this from people:
Oh, you have cancer again?
Me: yes, same kind, breast cancer.
Them: oh, well, are you going to have surgery this time?
Me: I had a double mastecomy last time.
Them: oh? and it came back?

This is what I get from the conversation: if I had been smart I would have had a mastectomy the first time and since they think I didn't it's not that suprising that the cancer came back. Like they think I wasn't smart enough to get it done. (Of course, I don't look like I had a double mastectomy, very nice reconstruction job).

Now, it is everyone's choice what type of surgery they get. I had three doctors reccomment double mastectomy and I didn't want to go through this again so that is what I did. And it still came back.

Anyway, what I am trying to say, less than elegantly, is that I am so tired of people thinking I didn't do it right the first time. But, there is no right way for everyone so of course I did it right. But, I was also very aggressive in my treatment, 29 chemos and a double mastectomy. No, I didn't have radiation but is because radiation isn't typical when there is nothing left to radiate and you don't have it spread to lymph nodes and you have chemo. The risk of getting another type of cancer from radiation outweighed the benefit of radiation at that time knowing what we knew.

So I'll be getting a PET scan next Wednesday to double check everything, then hopefully 2 more chemos and then a month off and then radiation.

I fight like a girl

“I Fight Like A Girl”
“I fight like a girl who refuses to be a victim. I fight like a girl who is tired of being IGNORED and HUMORED and BEATEN and RAPED.
I fight like a girl who’s sick of not being taken seriously. I fight like a girl who’s been pushed too far. I fight like a girl who OFFERS and DEMANDS RESPECT.
I fight like a girl who has a lifetime of ANGER and STRENGTH and PRIDE pent up in her girly body.
I fight like a girl who doesn’t believe in FEAR and SUBMISSION. I fight like a girl who knows that THIS BODY and THIS MIND are mine.
I fight like a girl who knows that
YOU ONLY HAVE AS MUCH POWER AS I GRANT YOU.
I fight like a girl who will never allow you to take more than I offer.I fight like a girl who FIGHTS BACK.
So next time you think you can distract yourself from your insecurities by victimizing a girl, THINK AGAIN.
She may be ME and
I FIGHT LIKE A GIRL.”
-Author anonymous

Cost of chemo

Thank goodness for insurance (although it still costs sooo much money). I got my bill for chemo the other week and the total for 2 types of chemo, a shot to keep up my white blood cells and anti nausea meds and saline, etc. is a grand total of $13,364.02. Yes, $13 thousand dollars and I am in and out in about 4 hours including a doctor visit (that is not on this bill though). I think we really need to look at our health care.

If the government is taking over car companies why is everyone so against them taking over healthcare? Not that I necessarily agree with taking over car companies but for healthcare, something needs to happen. It's not working the way it is right now, that's for sure.

Chemo this morning

I don't want to jinx it but I feel like this chemo is going pretty well. I just get really tired. I am also going to knitting tonight which is good!

I was thinking, does anyone have any questions about cancer? Treatments? Anything like that? I feel like I have a lot of info to share but don't want to overburden anyone.

Back from vacation

I survived the car ride after chemo and no trips to the ER. It was such a great vacation. I slept most of the way out there and then it was very relaxing. I took it easy out at the cabin (which is pretty easy to do anyway) and it was so nice. I wish it hadn't been so hot but better than rain!

I also want to thank whomever left the gift in the Biscuit book! Thank you thank you thank you!

Chemo next week and then only 2 more after that!