Good News

Very encouraging news! I had a CAT scan a few weeks ago, and I'm still improving. My tumor marker number is also down to 57 - normal people are usually around 38 and below, so I'm on my way to "normal" haha. I will continue on the same treatment for now.

I'm back in the office every day except for chemo days. I promised myself that I would go back to the office when I could walk using a single point cane. I've been on the cane for a few months now. I'm hoping that in a few more months, I'll be able to walk without any help. I'll get there!

Me and my husband are also going to New York to visit his family next week. It will be my first road trip since September. I'm so ready.

Updates - Good News

Well a lot has happened since my last post. First, the really good news: I had a CAT scan at the end of April and it showed that the chemo is still working. The liver lesions are continuing to shrink "significantly" according to the report. My tumor marker number is also down to 70.5 (it was over 400 in November). I'm very happy and thankful for this news!!

Next, the good, yet slightly painful news. I've been in physical therapy since January and have worked through a lot of pain to get up on my feet. I made some great progress but some time between my February and April scans, I fractured my leg. I have no idea exactly when or how, but my oncologist suspects that it's a combination of the disease and the radiation that weakened the bone. I was referred to an orthopedic surgeon and he immediately checked me into the hospital for surgery. I had a rod and two screws put into my leg, and it already feels much stronger. I still have the staples in my incisions so I'm pretty sore.

I'm really excited about getting up on my feet again. I've tried to be really positive throughout this whole experience, but for the first time since January, I feel very confident that I'm going to get better. I think that God has a plan for me and is making me stronger every day for a good reason. I'm going to keep praying and thinking positive thoughts.

Just Say It Out Loud

I don't go out too much for a few reasons. One reason is because I don't want to expose myself to yucky germs while I'm doing chemo. Another reason is I'm still building up the muscles in my leg and right now, I'm getting around with a walker. My oncologist wrote me a prescription for a four-point cane so hopefully, I'll be strong enough to get on it soon. My physical therapist is going to help me practice with it next week. Well, when a thirty-something reasonably healthy-looking woman is on a walker, people ask questions. I don't mind being asked questions because generally, people mean well and they are very kind. Since my diagnosis though, I've said "I have cancer" out loud maybe three times. Last week my husband took me out to dinner for our anniversary and the restaurant owner wanted to know what happened to me. At first I just joked that I had a bad leg. Then she asked again what happened, so I just said it - "I have cancer." She was very sweet and told me that she would pray for me. I thanked her and told her that prayer had gotten me through it so far, and that my treatment was working. It sounds so strange to say those words.

Most of the time, I don't even feel sick. If my leg wasn't messed up, I would feel totally normal. I'm very thankful that I've felt good through all of this. I can't help but fantasize sometimes that it's all just a big mistake. I wouldn't be mad or sue the doctors if it did turn out to be a mistake. I've learned a lot from all of this and I think I've become a better Christian because of it. I know that's silly because it's definitely real. Blood work and scans don't lie.

I went to my first breast cancer support group meeting last month, so I'm sure they can all relate to my feelings and help me work through them. Overall, I'm in good spirits and I really believe that God has a special plan for me. I think I'm going to beat this! I should probably just say it out loud more often though. Maybe by talking about it more, I won't be so freaked out by the way it sounds.

Hair You Take for Granted

I've adjusted to losing my head hair. I'm actually enjoying the low maintenance of it. However, I didn't realize I would lose my eyelashes and eyebrows. I must say that it's just plain weird-looking, haha. I went out with my family yesterday; they are really cool about wheeling me around the mall in my chair. :o) I always wear makeup and my wig when I go out so I will look "normal." Well, the wig pretty much matches my old hair style, so my bare brow area is covered by the bangs. However, the lack of eyelashes is just weird! I attempted to put on mascara and I swear, I have about five eyelashes on each eye - not enough for mascara, haha. So I guess I don't look "normal" anymore, even with a wig and makeup. Oh well, I'm still thankful that my treatment is working and that I feel good. If I have to go through a period of time without eyelashes, I can deal with that! :o)

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.