About a cat.
Posted by: Susan on: May 24, 2012
- In: Family
- 2 Comments
I know I have not added to my blog for a while. Life around here has gone very quiet. I have settled into a “once every 3 week” routine for my treatment and other than that just watching my arm with the lymphedema. I spend my days either in the garden or reading, watching TV, or catching up on some shows I have missed over the years. Nothing really out of the ordinary happens except, on Sunday, my son Adam lost his best buddy, his cat Winston.
Winston has been a part of our family for 20 years. When I got divorced the first thing Adam asked for when it was his birthday was a cat. We decided to save a life and went down to the pound to look at cats. Adam held a few kittens but then he spotted Winston. Winston had the biggest roundest eyes I have ever seen on a cat and he turned those eyes on to Adam and it was all over. Love at first sight.
They were buddies right off. Wherever Adam was in the house Winston was too. My other son had a cat called Snoopy who sadly also passed away last year. At first Snoopy and Winston were not too friendly but became good pals, but always it was Adam and Winston. When I bought Adam a chair for his computer it had to be wide enough to accommodate both him and Winston, so Winston could sit by him and watch while he played.
I remember when Adam got a new queen sized bed and after a few days I asked him how he liked it. He said there wasn’t enough room because Winston liked to stretch out when he slept!!
A favorite memory my husband has is when Snoopy used to sleep on the back of the couch by the window in the sun. Winston would only take so much of this inactivity then go over and bat Snoopy on the head so they could dash around and play together.
Winston will be missed. My son is devastated right now and rightly so, he had a love affair with Winston and Winston loved him right back. Our whole family is feeling lost. 20 years is a long time to have a pet. To have him hang on so long is testament to how much he loved Adam.
R.I.P.
I don’t care.
Posted by: Susan on: May 2, 2012
- In: Cancer
- 2 Comments
You can put this whole rant down to chemo brain if you like, I blame everything on chemo brain lately.
Since I was diagnosed with cancer I have come to realize what is important to me. Family. Friends. That is all. Possessions are not important. They can be replaced. Family and friends cannot.
People worry too much about what other people think. Keeping up with the Joneses. I don’t care. I wear what I want, regardless of the fact that I have no hair, my head covering of choice is a ball cap. If people want to stare, go ahead, I don’t care! If it is raining outside and I want to go for a walk, I will do so. If I want to take pleasure in watching a robin in my yard, I will watch him until he flies away.
If I want to watch a reality show and crush on an opera singer, I will, maybe more than once!
I have made my mistakes in life but I have made my peace with God, so all I care about now is my family and friends.
Yes I mentioned that already. You have to realize that chemo brain is real. I forget names. Sometimes I cannot spit out the word I want to say no matter how hard I try. I tell stories more than once, mostly people are patient with me, which helps. I hate being told I have already said that, even though I know it is probably true.
Did I mention it was foggy outside this morning. Kind of like my brain!
There are three things that I have accomplished in my life that I am most proud of. My daughter and two sons. I am very blessed in that respect. I may not have any money, but boy, I am rich in other ways. They mean more to me than anything and have been wonderful during this last year as I have gone to hell and back.
So now I think I will go out today in my fox hat, or shall it be my bear hat. Who cares? I don’t.
Oh by the way I know I don’t write well, my nouns, pronouns, adjectives and spelling probably leave much to be desired but I think as long as I am getting the message across, does it really matter that much?
Good News all around!!
Posted by: Susan on: April 30, 2012
- In: Cancer | Lymphedema | Tamoxifen
- 4 Comments
My oncologist called today telling me the pathology we asked for came back 0/8, 0/8 so no pills for 5 years!! Also the results from my MUGA were very good, so my heart is in good shape. Got my arm fitted with the sleeve and glove today and it didn’t take much of a bite out of my wallet.
I am a very happy camper today.
I have lymphedema.
Posted by: Susan on: April 27, 2012
- In: Cancer | Lymphedema
- 3 Comments
From Wikipedia: Lymphedema (lymphoedema in British English), also known as lymphatic obstruction, is a condition of localized fluid retention and tissue swelling caused by a compromised lymphatic system.
The lymphatic system returns the interstitial fluid to the thoracic duct and then to the bloodstream, where it is recirculated back to the tissues.
Tissues with lymphedema are at risk of infection.
Ok so I was made aware of this AFTER I had my mastectomy. It happens because of the lymph nodes that were removed during the surgery. I have religiously been doing exercises that were shown to me when I went to a class to teach which ones were the most effective to use to prevent this.
On April 7th I was pulling on my heavy duty rubber gloves to do the dishes and my left glove felt tighter than my right. Upon inspection of my arm it did indeed seem like it was a bit thicker than my right. I called the hospital and talked to the on call oncologist who said as long as my arm was not red or hot to just hang tough till Monday then call my oncologists office and have them make an appointment for me at the lymphedema clinic.
That appointment was today. After measuring both my arms it was found that my left arm was 9 1/2 % bigger than my right. The lady I talked to said not to beat myself up as I had been doing the exercises but sometimes getting lymphedema was just the luck of the draw. Seems like I have heard that a lot lately. I had twelve lymph nodes removed during surgery, she told me she has had patients with just one removed and they still got lymphedema.
She marked both my arms and measured and then checked my range of motion in both arms. I had no trouble till my left arm was raised and pulled to the left, then my shoulder screamed a bit.
Seems I have to wear a sleeve and gauntlet during the day now, so Monday I go to get fitted for one. For the time being she fitted me with a temporary sleeve and it actually feels quite good. I will also do the new exercises she showed me and hopefully I can maintain this so it does not get any worse.
She said I did right by calling right away when it started to swell as a lot of people ignore it and that is when the trouble starts.
Just wanted to write this because if people think just by doing the exercises they will prevent getting lymphedema I am living proof that you can get it even if you do.
Things I have to be careful about: heat, bites or scratches (have to carry polysporin in my purse), heavy lifting, also to do housework and gardening in increments rather than all at once. No problem there! Also no sleeping on my left side. That might be a problem as I am a restless sleeper but I will make the effort not to turn on that side.
Amazing all the things I am discovering on this journey of mine, hope some of this knowledge I am gaining can help others.
Posting pictures of the sleeve and gauntlet. Will post more on this Monday when I get fitted for mine. Say tuned.
Now I know what to do with those pesky dandelions!
Posted by: Susan on: April 25, 2012
- In: Cancer | Chemo
- 3 Comments
Windsor scientists who’ve recently confirmed that dandelion root extract inhibits the growth of tumours in mice have landed a $157,500 grant to help study whether it kills cancer in humans.
The part that got me was this: The Windsor researchers have shown in the lab that the extract causes cancer cells to “commit suicide,” while not harming healthy cells, something that usually happens when toxic chemotherapy drugs are used.
Wouldn’t it be wonderful if there was a natural way to kill cancer cells without all those nasty toxic side effects?
Full article here: Read more: http://www.windsorstar.com/health/Windsor+scientists+land+grant+study+dandelions+effect+cancer/6488106/story.html#ixzz1t4Erbs5N
I know there is a long way to go in this research but we can hope can we not for others in the future?
Went for my second MUGA today.
Posted by: Susan on: April 24, 2012
- In: Cancer | Chemo
- Leave a Comment
It was a beautiful day today and I went to the hospital to get my heart checked out. Now that I am only on Herceptin every three weeks I have to go and make sure it is not bothering my heart, this is usually checked every three months. It is called a Muga scan and here is the official explanation: A MUGA scan (Multi Gated Acquisition Scan) is a time-proven nuclear medicine test designed to evaluate the function of the right and left ventricles of the heart, thus allowing informed diagnostic intervention in heart failure.
All seemed to go well without any hitches although I am not sure if I should be passing wind for a while as they injected some nuclear stuff into my blood and I may blow up!! 
As usual all the nurses and people I came into contact with at the hospital were really kind and treated me well. Probably won’t hear the results until I see my oncologist on May 10th. That is also the day I will be getting the results of the second run through of the pathology I asked for. Also on Friday going to be assessed at the lymphedema clinic. More on that after that visit.
Other than that I am still feeling some of the effects of the chemotherapy, my fingertips and toes are still numb although I did not lose any nails, they don’t look normal yet. My hair is VERY slowly growing back, still just a peach fuzz, I am excited to see anything though.
Going shopping tomorrow for some heavy duty suntan lotion, long sleeve shirt, straw hat and gardening gloves. Now the weather is finally co-operating I want to get out there and enjoy. Maybe sing along with the robins.
April 12/2012
Posted by: Susan on: April 13, 2012
- In: Mammogram
- 2 Comments
It started off ok. It was raining cats and dogs and I remember thinking if it was colder it would be quite a snow storm. Oops. In the afternoon the temperature started dropping and sure enough the snow came. I got a couple of pictures from the Weather Network that were taken by someone in Calgary at the time of the storm just to give you an idea.
My son and I had already made reservations to go out to a piano bar so like real troopers off we went out into the snow. The roads were terrible. Slushy and slippery.
The place we went is called Aussie Rules and usually you have to book way in advance to even get in, but last night it was almost empty. I can understand why people would not want to go out in that mess especially on a work night, but it was strange to be in a place that is usually hopping and be told we could pretty much sit anywhere we wanted.
We ordered food, putting aside all thoughts of eating right and just going for it for the craziest things on the menu. My son picked a wrap after looking at a burger that had two pounds of meat in it and thinking maybe he shouldn’t!! I had the weirdest burger ever. Built inside a fresh bun, from bottom to top was, a juicy thick hamburger, a slice of pineapple, sliced beets, a fried egg, tomato and lettuce!! It was too big for me to get my mouth around it so I had to cut it into pieces and eat it. Was good though.
The entertainment started at eight and boy, can those piano players go. You take requests up to them to play and they will play anything, rock, country, jazz…anything. They get the crowd going, making them clap hands, sing, yell, stand on their chairs and of course when they shout Aussie, Aussie, Aussie, the crowd has to respond with Oy, Oy, Oy!!! The entertainers did mention that anyone that had showed up were true Canadians, not afraid of a little snow!!
There were a couple tables of ladies there for ladies night and one birthday party table but other than that, and us, the place was empty. The ladies had a few drinks and started to loosen up and that was fun for my son and I to watch.
The drive home was not too bad as there was not much traffic on the road and it was mainly just slushy. All in all not a bad night but my son and I agreed next time we should go on a busier night, but then how were we to know Mother Nature was going to throw snow at us on April 12/2012!!!!!!!
Finally some good news!
Posted by: Susan on: April 9, 2012
- In: Cancer
- 8 Comments
No radiation therapy needed.
Less than One Percent!!
Posted by: Susan on: March 29, 2012
- In: Cancer | Hormonal Receptors | Tamoxifen
- 5 Comments
Today was the day I went to see my oncologist. Mainly I wanted to find out why his helper had said last visit that I needed hormone therapy after he had told me I did not.
In Alberta things have changed since even I was diagnosed. Before (as in BC) when people were said to have any number PR like me for instance 5/8 PR it was widely ignored as being false positive. This is what my oncologist did last June.
Like I said though things change and the oncologists in Alberta said that although people who show as PR are LESS THAN ONE PERCENT, it should not be ignored and they should be treated as if they presented with ER and given tamoxifen for five years.
LESS THAN ONE PERCENT.
ME!!
Thought it was bad enough when I was in the 30% crowd with HER2. Now I am down to less than one percent. Lovely.
So my son suggested that they should go over the pathology one more time and then we should discuss what to do as even the oncologist said it was up to me whether I want to go forward with the treatment or not.
They agreed and we will meet for the results on May 10th.
Tamoxifen is the drug of choice and just reading the side effects scares me.
The known, serious side effects of tamoxifen are blood clots, strokes, uterine cancer, and cataracts. Other side effects include menopause-like symptoms such as hot flashes, vaginal dryness, joint pain, and leg cramps.Oh Joy! I know that all side effects do not effect all people but remember I am living with my husband who had a stroke.
They have said if I choose to go on Tamoxifen they will pay for the treatment and also I may only be on it for 2 1/2 years and they may switch to a different drug after that.
Meanwhile I am going on with my Herceptin treatments every three weeks and see the radiologist about taking radiation treatments on April 9th.
It may all seem like I am down in the dumps about this but I actually feel better after talking it through and seeing my options. Also happy that they are going to go through the pathology again. I also think his helper that sprung this whole thing on me on my last visit is going to get a talking to as she did not make it clear at all, and just upset me. My oncologist did apologize several times for that.
The main idea of writing this blog was to show people what we as cancer patients go through and I hope I am not discouraging anyone, just telling the truth as I see it.
Really all I want to do is go through everything they throw at me so I can say OK I tried everything I could to fight this cancer, and hopefully I will win the battle!!
A date to look forward to.
Posted by: Susan on: March 18, 2012
- In: Cancer | Chemo
- 2 Comments
Who could not love this face? 
This is a picture of my son Robert.
On April 9th he will turn 28. That particular day we have to go for a consult with a radiologist but no matter, we have bigger plans later in the week.
I wanted to do something special for him this year. He has cooked, shopped, taken me to appointments, given me countless hugs, seeming to know exactly when I need them. So on April 12th 2012 we are going to “Aussie Rules”.
Aussie Rules is a dueling piano bar here in Calgary. Here is the description on their page:
Aussie Rules changes the perception of piano bars forever by combining comedic shtick with great party songs that everyone knows and loves. At Aussie Rules you can hear songs you’ll remember from the 60′s to the present, from country to rock, even some of today’s pop, hip hop and R&B hits. The party keeps going and the music never stops, building a great energy that will have you singing at the top of your lungs and dancing in the aisles.
Haha not sure about the dancing in the aisles part but I think it is going to be a real fun night!
Will be sure to be back on the blog after that night to let you know how we did 
Aussie Aussie Aussie
OY OY OY!!!!!
