Good News!

Today's doctor visit went well. My CAT scan results were very encouraging. My lungs and abdomen are clear. The lesions on my liver are also shrinking. I still have spots on my bones, but in a few months I'll have another bone scan to see how things are going there. My leg is feeling better so I feel good about it. I'll continue on the same treatment as long as it keeps working. I'm thrilled! The power of prayer is an amazing thing! I think it's important to trust modern medicine as well, but without God giving me strength, I wouldn't have made it this far.

I'm still doing PT too. I'm making progress, but it's slow. I tried to rush it a few weeks ago and strained myself, so now I'm just doing a little at a time. I'm just so excited about walking, I want to do it now! Actually what I really want to do is ride around the block on a bike. When I was a kid, that's all I did all day long. If things keep going well, me and my husband are going to buy bicycles and go riding togther.

Scan Time

Well, I had my CAT scan this morning at 9:00. This scan is to determine if my current chemo treatment plan is working. I sure hope it is. We will find out Thursday so I'll post an updated blog then. Please pray that we get some good news. I'm not expecting to magically be all better, but I would at least like to hear that it's working and that it hasn't spread any further. I'm praying all the time.

Here is some encouraging news. In November, my tumor marker number (determined by blood work somehow - I still don't totally grasp how it works) was over 300. On February 1 my number was down in the low 100's. That has to be good. The nurse practitioner told me she thought it was a good indication that the treatment was working. I'm so ready for some good news! I hope that Thursday's post is a really happy one! :o)

PT Updates and a Few Random Thoughts

My physical therapy is going great. I can feel my leg getting stronger every day. In fact, I walked into chemo yesterday with my walker. We left the wheelchair at home! Around the house, I'm still alternating between the chair and the walker, just to ensure that I don't overdo it.

I'm really getting used to this bald thing too. Every night in the tub, all I have to do is shampoo my head and dry it lightly with a towel. It takes about one minute. A few months ago, I was so obsessed with having the perfect color and highlights. I also spent about twenty minutes every morning straightening it. Never again! After chemo, when my hair comes back, I'm keeping it short. :o)

I have another scan scheduled on the 22nd. I should find out about a week after the scan if this new chemo regimen is working. Let's pray that it's doing some good. I feel great, so I think that's a good sign.

Physical Therapy - More Good News

I started physical therapy for my leg last week. My first visit was pretty much just questions and answers, and some simple exercises to determine my current strength. The physical therapist said that I was stronger than she anticipated, which made me feel really good! My second visit was all exercise and I was able to do all them! I'm really hopeful that I will be out of my wheelchair in a few weeks. I also have exercises to do at home so I can continue building my leg muscles. Yesterday, I took some baby steps with the help of a walker. Yay!! Hopefully in a few weeks I'll be blogging about walking either with a cane or on my own. That's what I'm praying for.

Good News

Last week, I had an X-Ray on my leg (the cancer is in my left femur at the joint). I've not been able to walk without a lot of pain, so I'm in a wheelchair. Well, yesterday at my dr appt/chemo treatment, I learned that my leg is not any worse and I will start physical therapy next week. Hopefully I'll be up walking and out of my wheelchair really soon! Yay!

I've taken my good health for granted for so long, it's amazing how many "little" things I miss. Here is small list of some of those little things:

*Steps - Thankfully my house is all on one level. There are two steps going into the garage and my husband and brother-in-law built me a ramp. God bless them!

*Anything not on the bottom shelf in the kitchen if pretty much off limits. Thank God my husband is a good cook and very picky housekeeper. He's done pretty much everything around the house since my surgery.

*Sleeping on either side is impossible. My mastectomy was on the right side, and my bad leg is on the left, grr. So I have to sleep on my back.

*Turning corners - I have to laugh as I write this because I'm already very ungraceful. Watching me try to turn a tight corner and bumping into the walls is pretty funny.

*Going to the bathroom - I won't get too graphic on this one, but having a raised toilet seat has helped A LOT!

I've promised God that if he heals my leg, I will praise Him for every step I take. I will never take good health or the ability to walk for granted ever again! :o)

Cancer is STILL Not a Death Sentence

No matter what happens, I'm not giving up and I'm not going to stop fighting. On New Year's Eve my oncologist called me to come to his office. I knew the news had to be bad or he would have told me over the phone, right? Well, it was bad. Not only did I learn that my chemo wasn't working, I was also told that the cancer had spread to my liver. Scary stuff. My husband was with me and we just looked at each other, stunned. Other than my left leg not working well (I'm getting around in a wheelchair right now) I feel great. I was sure that the treatments were working.

However, my oncologist is still optimistic and immediately planned for a new combo of chemo drugs. I started them the following Monday (1/4). My next chemo treatment is tomorrow. Thankfully, breast cancer gets lots of attention and funding, so there are many treatment options available. Please keep me in your prayers. I believe in the power of prayer and God is the supreme physician. My oncologist is also a very positive and aggressive doctor. I'm thankful that he is committed to making me better. Please pray for him as well. Hopefully the combination of prayer and meds will make me cancer free. I hope that a year from now, I will be healthy and I can tell my story to others struggling with this awful disease.

Thanks for reading. I'll keep you posted on my progress.

Cancer is NOT a Death Sentence

Sorry it's been so long. I've received a lot of news over the past month, and I've been digesting it all.

Since I was a kid, I've always assumed that getting a cancer diagnosis meant you would die. Well, my attitude has really changed.

All of my scans came back. The good news is that my organs are healthy and cancer free. The bad news is that the cancer has spread to some areas in my bones. So the pain in my leg is not arthritis or a pulled muscle after all. My doctors are very optimistic; my young age and good health are two huge advantages. My oncologist also has me on aggressive therapy (chemo and radiation). I feel really good about it. I've already had several radiation treatments, and one chemotherapy cycle. So far, everything is going very smoothly. I'm not walking very well, but the radiation should alleviate the pain and pressure in my leg soon. Other than the leg pain, I don't feel sick at all.

My faith in God and support from family and friends are really helping me through this. I've asked God to heal me so I can help other people struggling with cancer. I truly believe that God hears works miracles, so please pray for me.

Thanks for reading, and I promise to write posts more often. :o)