...news I CAN'T 'lose'!

Saw Leslie at the Breast Care center today...she is as awesome as everyone has told me. She was surprised this was our first meeting. Had some great things to tell me, one was that my cancer is gone. I am a 'survivor' but not to label myself as such. Cancer is a strange disease. Being cancer-free is everyone's goal, but not to say that it could and very well might occur again. Her main goal as well as mine is to be 'cancer-free' for the next 30 years! WOW. Something to look forward to in my 'golden years'! She examined me and found nothing, that I am healing so well was music to my ears. She will see me every 6 months until 2011; then I will be checked every year. MAMMOS are a must every year as I knew already. Her concern was the cough. Told me to STOP using any/all perfumes/colognes for a month and see how my cough is. Imagine!! I think I will try it. She said my body, tastes and overall being was dramatically altered with chemo drugs. I have sensations in my mouth that are sometimes very uncomfortable. Hot burning sensations on my tongue, making a lot of foods very un-appealing. She said it's attributed to the chemo drugs and may take many months to years to get back to 'normal'. She said I was ok in making the decision NOT to do the last four rounds of Taxol. Also gave me some exercises to do with my arm so that lymphodema doesn't set in. Arm and hand measurements were very good. They need to do this every 6 mos. to be sure that the lymph nodes haven't 'erupted' even though they are gone. Lymphodema isn't pleasant. I have seen it first-hand. She also told me that the Prozac in such a low dose is a good thing. NOT to expect miracles, the Arimidex has a lot of side effects that can be very uncomfortable. SO I only have 4.5 years to go on it....guess I can make that sacrifice to stay well!!
I AM ON THE ROAD TO WELLNESS...ready to take that journey one step further. With the love and support of all of those around me, this will be a 'walk in the park'!!

...check me out!

Today I had a check up with the oncology radiologist. She said all is well and I'm 'lookin' good'!! Music to my ears. She re-read the mammo from March and said she's certain it was too early to have one done since I was very scarred from the radiation. I will follow up with her in 4 mos, right around the time of the next mammo! Tomorrow I will have an appointment with the Nurse Practioner, Leslie at the Breast Care Clinic. I hear wonderful things about her...we shall see. Saw my gyn a week or so ago. She's happy with my weight loss, my Vitamin D levels were low, so I scheduled blood work to be done last week. Follow up was good, levels look good! I NEED SUN, that's all!! She prescribed Prozac (holy cow!) for my nasty hot flashes from the Arimidex. One of those lovely side effects you get when you take a new med. I told her I didn't want to be a 'walking zombie' and she assured me the dosage wasn't high enough to do that! PHEW!
I'm looking forward to good weather, celebrating life and wellness with my nearest/dearest. Gearing up for a trip to the Big Apple for my birthday end of May and we've booked Palm Desert, CA for November!! THAT will be my 'wellness trip'! A little R&R with loved ones and friends. Can't wait.
It's been a journey to remember. My hair is slowly growing in, I got a new wig and I get a lot of compliments and folks are floored when I tell them it's 'temporary hair'! I think it looks natural and I feel comforatble in it. STILL not comfortable enough to go bare-headed! Not that brave yet.
I am looking forward to our RELAY FOR LIFE walk in June..and me walking the SURVIVOR'S WALK with my loved ones. The family/friends are on board to walk this with me and for that I am grateful.
Looking towards the future and no more CANCER. New beginnings...

...Spring has sprung

The good weather is FINALLY here. Perhaps all that wetness contributed to me feeling lousy most of the week. OR it could be to that new med, ARIMIDEX. My bones are achy, but that is a side effect. I'm also nauseous, so now I know I have to eat something before I take that. The hot flashes are also a nuisance, they come in full force at night. Again, another side effect. My appetite is so-so. Some days I can't get enough food, other days I could care less if I ate. My hair is not coming in like I want it to, I feel at this point I will probably be lucky if I am able to go without a wig by JULY!! UGH.
I got the results of my latest mammogram in the mail, and although it looks like all went well, the radiologist wants to be sure that I book another mammogram in six months because, as stated on his report: "your mammogram did NOT show any significant abnormalities, but there is an area in your right breast that I feel should be re-examined in 6 months..." And then he goes on to say that the 6-month follow-up is an extra precaution to re-check a specific area of your breast...
WELL....SHOULD I BE NERVOUS ABOUT THIS NEWS? Barry said if it was anything really significant, the oncologist would be in contact with me. I think maybe when I see the radiation oncologist next week, I will mention this little tidbit of information!! Will it ever end?
Spring is a time for new beginnings...I am taking it one step at a time to assure myself that I am OKAY. I will be fine. It just may take a bit longer than normal!!