Round 1

Hey all! Sorry I haven't been posting, but as usual, my excuse is that I'm just tooooooo busy!! That's a good thing, right? Sorry to keep you in the dark. I'm on Facebook more than here, so the more up to date comments are there.

So, I have completed the first round of the new chemo. I have had 3 doses of the Navelbine plus the Herceptin twice and the Zometa once, and this is my "week off". I go back to start round 2 next week. As far as side effects, I haven't really noticed much other than a bit of fatigue set in last week. I had no nauseau or other issues any of the three weeks, so I think God is continuing to hold me so I can care for myself and my family. I am so blessed in that respect! He is the Almighty.

I have no other thoughts to share at this time being that it's late. I continue to thank God daily for my church families, my families, and my friends who pray for me and my family. I know that I need to update my prayer list to the right......there are so many to add. I love you all!

Update July 2009

First and foremost, I'm sorry I haven't been posting! I have been consumed with summertime activities, travel and doctor appointments. Things are good and many of you have written emails to "check" on me since I've neglected my blog. Thanks for your concerns.

Many of you received my email back in June about the "new" diagnosis, but for those who are not up to speed (since I haven't posted here since May), I have new metastasis to my lungs. I was withdrawn from the clinical study in June and finished that round of my chemo pills. I had an extra week off because I had a trip planned to KY. My oncologist is great to work with me for things like that! :)

Two weeks ago, I began my new treatment. I am now receiving my meds by infusion thru my port again. My chemo is Navelbine and it has little or no side effects. I have had two doses and get my third next Tuesday. So far so good. I am also back on Herceptin again. This drug is because my cancer is estrogen positive and it works with the chemo somehow. I also still receive the bone strengthening drug because the cancer is still in several places in my bones. Basically I go to the hospital on Tuesdays for 3 weeks, then have one week off. This treatment plan is scheduled thru December. I have an appt. with the nurse practitioner next Tues to see how the new treatment is going. I do not have any scans or tests scheduled at this point and I'm not sure when the next appt with the dr. will be. I am thinking I'll get more info on that next week.

I am still not in pain and I feel really good. It was great to visit with lots of family earlier this month when I was in KY. Thanks for all your prayers.....they really keep me going. Although I do not deal with physical pain or ill side effects from these drugs, I still continually fight a mental battle to not let cancer control my thoughts and my life. I do everything I can to continue to be who I want to be, not who the cancer wants me to become.

Also, for those of you who know about the problems I've been having with my vision. I think it has all been corrected! :) I saw the opthamologist on Tuesday and got a good report. I saw my optometrist today and was examined/fitted for gas permeable lenses. They should be in next week and I hope to not have to wear glasses all day anymore!

If you have not recently visited the family blog, I did post a few pics last week. I hope to write more at my next chemo treatment. We had a fabulous time on our travels to KY. Jeff and I had a weekend alone, and we had an extended family weekend (last wknd) at Indian Shores, near Clearwater. The whole family is sporting tans and we used SPF 50 sunblock the whole time, with several reapplications! VBS is this week at our church, so the evenings are long. Jeff's been out of town a couple days on business, but Mom's here til next week to help out.

We are having a great summer!

39 + 1, 10 x 4, 20 x 2 all equal........

Today I am 40 years old. Four decades old. My mind has been thinking of all the wonderful things and not so wonderful things that have happened over the years. I must say that I am so blessed that the adversities that I face are so small in comparison.

I am blessed today because I am celebrating another year of LIFE. A year ago, although I try to always remain positive, I wasn't sure if I would be here today. I am, and I am so thankful!

I am blessed today because I was supposed to go to the hospital this afternoon for my Zometa infusion (bone strengthening drug) but I had to cancel because Brandon became sick (stomach flu- yuck!). I am not thankful he is sick, but I am thankful that I am capable of taking care of him myself. I was able to reschedule for tomorrow morning, which is actually better. I have my doctor's appointment tomorrow morning as well, so only one trip downtown this week. Gunner will be disappointed he doesn't get to go to his friend's house to play this afternoon, but I'm glad I get to spend my special day with my boys. Jeff is not traveling today and will be home this evening with us too! :)

My friend Amy surprised me this morning with a balloon bouquet she delivered personally! I didn't get to visit because of Brandon's illness. She has become a great friend and, Amy, you're the best girl! Thanks for all you do to help me out and all you've done for my family over the past 15 months. You're a wonderful Christian woman and I'm glad to call you my friend! :)

I've received so many cards and Facebook notes on my wall. Thanks to everyone!

It's not bad, I'm not "over the hill", and I'm excited to begin my new decade. I think it will be the best one yet!

Love you all!

Dr. visit

I saw the oncologist yesterday and there are really no changes in my status at this time. I didn't get the copy of my PET/CT scan while I was there, but she said it was pretty much the same as the last one. Not BAD news, but nothing great. I am happy that there are no new places anywhere, but there's no improvement either. I knew I would eventually get to this point so I'm just a little bummed.

I asked about when I might need surgery. She said that there's no need unless I really want to do it or I'm having pain or problems with the tumor itself. She said there is no proven research in breast cancer that shows at Stage IV (metastatic) that removal of the tumor will benefit getting rid of the cancer altogether. So, surgery for mastectomy is my choice. Right now, my choice is no cutting on my body.

Also, she commented that if the next PET (June 10) shows about the same results, I will be changing my chemotherapy again. Unfortunately, I will go back to infused chemo. But for now, all stays the same.

I still feel wonderful (compared to the past year and longer). I just have to keep the mental battle in perspective and continue to do whatever I can with my diet and exercise to keep the cancer from growing and spreading. Your prayers are a definite blessing in my life as well, so please continue those! :-)

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Habakkuk 3:17-19 (NKJV)

Though the fig tree may not blossom,
Nor fruit be on the vines;
Though the labor of the olive may fail,
And the fields yield no food;
Though the flock may be cut off from the fold,
And there be no herd in the stalls--
Yet I will rejoice in the Lord,
I will joy in the God of my salvation.
The Lord God is my strength;
He will make me walk on my high hills.

Art

This is Gunner's picture of me seeing my doctor tomorrow morning.

On the left is a scale, then the doctor. I'm laying on the hospital bed getting my EKG, which I will have after I see my oncologist.

I thought this was precious, so I scanned it since he drew it for me to give to my doc.

"Pure Gold"

I have been walking several nights a week with our dog Goldie. Sometimes I even get the urge to jog! I thought about making this post a while back and put it off because I didn't want to sit and copy song lyrics.

Anyway, I've been using Jeff's MP3 player (I do not have my own) and one of my favorite songs to walk to is "Pure Gold" by Earth, Wind and Fire from their Illumination CD produced in 2004 (I copied the lyrics from the CD insert as they were written):

PURE GOLD by EARTH, WIND AND FIRE

WALK IN THE LIGHT
THAT SHINES SO BRIGHT
LET YOUR SOUL FEEL THE RIGHT
OF IT'S PURE GOLD
WON'T YOU WAKE UP, WAKE UP
WALK IN THE LIGHT
WON'T YOU WAKE UP, WAKE UP
BRING SUBSTANCE IN YOUR LIFE
WON'T YOU WAKE, WAKE UP
WALK IN THE LIGHT
WON'T YOU WAKE UP, WAKE UP
WHERE'S YOUR HEART
WHERE'S YOUR PRIDE
HAS IT ALL BEEN PUSHED ASIDE
LAVISH DREAMS, LIVIN' HIGH
WITH NO SUBSTANCE IN YOUR LIFE
IT'S A HARD WORLD I KNOW
SO DON'T GIVE INTO THE LIE'S
OU HAVE ALWAYS BEEN A STAR
EVERYTHING YOU NEEDS INSIDE YOUR HEART
CHORUS:
OOH, YOUR LIFE IS SPECIAL
REALLY SPECIAL, YEAH
YOUR TREASURE LYE'S IN YOUR SOUL
TRUTH IN LIFE WILL BLESS YA
(IT WILL BLESS YA)
RICHES COME AND GO
ONLY LOVE IS PURE GOLD
MANY HEARTS, MANY LIVES
HAVE BEEN TOUCHED
WHEN YOU REALIZE
THAT YOU'RE WORTHY
YOU'RE THE PRIZE
BUT YOU HAVE TO HEAL INSIDE
IT'S A HARD WORLD I KNOW
BUT DON'T GIVE INTO THE LIES
YOU HAVE ALWAYS BEEN A STAR
EVERYTHING YOU NEEDS
INSIDE YOUR HEART
(SEE YA) ALWAYS ON THE GRIND
(BUT 'CHA) NEED SOME PIECE OF MIND
(WON'T CHA) SLOW DOWN TAKE YOUR TIME
THERE'S A MILLION WAYS TO SHINE
(WHEN YOU) LET THE WORLDLY THANGS
(START TO) CONTROL YOUR DESTINY
(YOU GOTTA) WAKE UP MAKE A CHANGE
AND THEN YOU'LL FIND
YOUR STARS WILL ALIGN, YEAH
OOH, YOUR LIFE IS SPECIAL
REALLY SPECIAL, YEAH
YOUR TREASURE LYE'S IN YOUR SOUL
TRUTH IN LIFE WILL BLESS YA
(IT WILL BLESS YA)
RICHES COME AND GO
ONLY LOVE IS PURE GOLD
WON'T YOU WAKE UP, WAKE UP
WALK IN THE LIGHT
WON'T YOU WAKE UP, WAKE UP
BRING SUBSTANCE IN YOUR LIFE
WON'T YOU WAKE UP, WAKE UP
WALK IN THE LIGHT, WON'T YOU WAKE UP, WAKE UP
OOH, YOUR LIFE IS SPECIAL
REALLY SPECIAL, YEAH
YOUR TREASURE LYE'S IN YOUR SOUL
TRUTH IN LIFE WILL BLESS YA
(IT WILL BLESS YA)
RICHES COME AND GO
ONLY LOVE IS PURE GOLD

I bought the CD in the summer of 2006 because I've always liked Earth, Wind and Fire's music. Right after I got it, Jeff surprised me with tickets to see them in OKC. It was soooo hot that summer and I was pregnant with Brandon.......this was an outdoor concert. We absolutely enjoyed the concert and had a good time. I don't even remember if they performed this song, but I never really listened to the words of this particular track til I started walking a couple months back.

I just wanted to share it with you because I think you can take these lyrics and apply them to yourself in your own way.

I am so blessed to have so many friends who love me enough to pray for me during the battle of my life. Thank you so much!

Follow-up on "doubt"/upcoming appointments

Wow! I didn't mean for people to think I'm having a terrible time I apologize for how my last post has been received. I was trying to be POSITIVE in showing how I deal with doubt when it tries to creep into my life. I am doing fine people! I just wanted to write to help encourage others who may have doubt in their life.

I was upset when I wrote that post. I had found out that my dad's cousin's wife had passed away. She was diagnosed with breast cancer in January, I believe. I did not know her at all. I know I met her at a couple of family reunions many years ago, but I had been praying for her. I do not know the details of her disease, but I was angry that she was taken by this disease so quickly. My heart is still with their family during this difficult time.

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Tomorrow I have my monthly infusion for my bone strengthening drug.

Next week I have my next PET/CT Scan, MUGA scan and EKG. These are all due again for the clinical study I am in. I will also see my oncologist for an appointment as well.

Otherwise, things are going great. I feel wonderful.......even jogged about 3/4 mile the other night (just before writing the "DOUBT" post). Need to do that again. It sure felt good! I don't know if I'm even supposed to be doing that because of the bone cancer, especially in my right leg. I figure if I feel like doing it and it doesn't hurt that I should go for it. Don't know if I'll confess that to the doc next week..........

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Have a fabulous day! I'm writing quickly as we're getting ready to have a thunderstorm and I want to log off, plus it's time to get Brandon up so we can pick up Gunner at school.

Blessings to all!

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Isaiah 41:10 (NKJV)

Fear not, for I am with you;
Be not dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you.
Yes, I will help you.
I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.