Week 2

So lots has been going on-getting ready for time off work, getting my hair bleached blonde, trying to recover from chemo #1. I was feeling pretty cruddy the first week after chemo-it seems to have hit a lot harder & faster this time. It could be the different chemo I'm having this time. Regardless, if every time is like that, I don't expect I'll be doing much of anything for the first week afterwards. But the good news is that I won't be working for most of the time! This is my last week at work until probably July.
And my hair has already started falling out. I don't think it's much faster than last time, but I'm definitely going to shave it earlier. My scalp is already hurting, and I don't want to get to the point where I can't sleep (hopefully I'm not already at that point tonight!). So tomorrow I'm planning on going over to my hairdresser's & getting it shaved. It's too bad, bc I really liked the blonde! Ah well.
I'll try to update more while I'm off work! Let me know if you want to do lunch or a movie-especially during regular business hours!

Second verse, same as the first

So here we are again. For those of you who aren't in the know (and I apologize if I haven't been able to reach out to you, individually), my cancer's back a little bit. This has all come up pretty quickly, so that's part of why I haven't reached out & emailed everyone.

So last year, I felt a lump right above my collarbone on the left (same side I had the cancer on - get your lumps checked, people!). Went to my primary care doctor who recommended going to see my oncologist (who was in the middle of moving to the Mayo Clinic!), or my surgeon. When I went to see my surgeon for my regular annual checkup, she recommended a biopsy of the lymph node, which came back positive. Boo. So bad news there. But the good news is, after a bone scan, ct scan, and pet scan, they're pretty sure it hasn't spread anywhere else. So this isn't considered metastatic, but a regional recurrence. Dr. Susan Love is almost dismissive of it in her book, which actually makes me feel a bit better! My new oncologist (who had my old oncologist as her resident back in the day-small world!) wasn't happy that this showed up while I was still on tamoxifen, bc the tamoxifen is supposed to stop any remaining cancer cells from being able to uptake estrogen. So she recommended chemo & radiation and surgery-the whole shebang.

So in the last three weeks, I've had surgery (which was the most painful of my life), a port put back in, and today was my first chemo. I will be taking time off of work this time, too. My tentative last date is March 15th, and I'll be off through June. Possibly a bit into July, but well see how I'm feeling. Then I'll have radiation, then a different hormonal therapy to completely block estrogen production. So hopefully after all this is done, I'll be through with cancer for good.

My mom is putting together a food list, so I can focus on relaxing! If you'd like to do something, and that something might involve feeding me, let me know & I'll put you on the list! Don't worry, some of you are already on it ;-) And let me know if you want to hang out any time, since I won't be working & and all.

So I'll be trying to keep this blog up to date again. Maybe I'll even finally post about the third day of the walk! If I can remember that far back...

Day 2

Day 2: we walked from camp out into a cold & damp morning, up Bradley Blvd, to Old Georgetown Rd., and over west. We went through Bethesda, which is the point I took my first sweeper shuttle. The leg I took it on was marked as 1.9 miles, but given the time it took the other 2/3 of Team Turtle (and the other 1950 walker talking about it), the leg was actually closer to 3. They corrected it at dinner that night - apparently we walked (er, traveled) close to 23 miles that day - loooooong day! Walking into the rest stop where I picked up the bus was one of the more amusing cheering people - several guys with plastic lawn chairs & a couple of cases of beers - they handed them to those who wanted them (of which I was not one, believe it or not - first off, it was one of the Lite style American beers, and second, I was terrified of getting dehydrated. Also it was pretty early in the day still - hadn't even hit lunch yet!). So I got on the bus & met Jon & Candy at the next stop - had a little sit-down and got a little shut-eye (no, I didn't fall asleep, just shut my eyes). Once Candy & Jon got there, we walked up a lovely street with some beautiful (and I'm sure, expensive) houses. When we hit lunch, we all sat down & noticed lots of people walking around with those foil blankets you see on marathoners at the end of their races. Luckily, I had thought to bring both my sweatshirt and raincoat (talisman against too much rain), as well as a headband to keep my ears warm. After lunch and reapplication of foot blister care, we took off again to parts unknown (because I didn't have a GPS). It was a tough rest of the day, for me, at least. At one point I tried to catch another bus so I could have a longer rest at the next rest stop, but I couldn't find one that would take me to the next rest stop - all the vans at that point were just going back to camp! Eventually I made it to the last rest stop, and waited (for about 30 seconds) for Jon & Candy to show up. After a decent rest (and 2 bathroom breaks), we headed off on the last leg, which was a bit longer than the average leg length - close to 3 miles, I think. Also, it was through a residential neighborhood. I soon realized I was probably not going to make it this whole leg. Not because of my feet, either! I was so diligent about drinking enough water & Gatorade, that my bladder was full to bursting, and being in a residential area, there wasn't anything like a 7-11 to duck into - or even a patch of wood to jump behind a tree. So about a mile, mile and a half (generous) in, a van came by and I jumped out & waved it down while hollering back to my team "Ican'tholditanymoreIreallyhavetogoI'llseeyoubackatcamp!" So we eventually made it back to camp & to the portapotties. And let me tell you, I've never been so happy to see a portapotty. I was really disappointed that I didn't make it that last leg that day. But I suppose I would have been more disappointed if I had been arrested in Potomac for public urination. After availing myself of the facilities, I got a call from my mom - she, my dad, my niece, my dentist & his wife (Old family friends! Not just our dentist!) had come over to cheer us on - and what timing - they pulled up shortly after I did. So I had nice little chat with them. They made a "Go Team Turtle" sign, which they waved at Jon & Candy when they were leaving, neither of whom was quite sure what they saw. Apparently that gave them enough to talk about the last few hundred yards, that they forgot about their feet hurting! That night at dinner some people gave their testimonials, and that was heart-wrenching. One woman's mother had just died a few months before, and another woman talked about her story, which is kind of frightening in its mundanity. She found a lump, got a mammogram, and had to have chemo, surgery, and radiation. After the testimonials at dinner, there was a dance party. I honestly don't know how anyone could have gone! I had to go back to the tent and fall asleep - we had to be up and packed (including packing our tent away) by 8:00 the next morning! I think I was asleep by 9:30.

Coming soon (I hope) - Day 3!

Day 1 of the 3-Day Walk

The highest highs & the lowest lows! So the walk went well! It was hard, I got blisters (like I knew I would), but it was a great experience, and I'm so glad I did it.

The local ABC station did a story on the walk, watch the video if you have some time.

Friday morning we got up super-early & my mom drove me & Candy up to Nat's Stadium, where we met up with Fremont, I got checked in, and watched the sun rise with 2,000 of our new co-commiserators, er . . . best friends. After a moving opening ceremony, we were off! Well . . . eventually . . . it was probably 30 or 40 minutes before we managed to get out of the starting gate - they scan everyone out before they go off, and when you get to camp - presumably to make sure they haven't lost someone somewhere along the course! 2 of us decided we immediately needed to use the restrooms. Hey, there was coffee, followed by a long wait, and my mom always said "Don't ever pass up a chance at a restroom." Which would become a sort of theme for the weekend. So off we went, stopping in for a cup of joe & a sausage biscuit at a McD's we walked right past (along with half the crowd). Day 1, we walked from Nat's stadium in SW DC (or is it considered SE? It's right on the dividing line), up north along the mall, where Team Turtle took advantage of a lone port-a-potty on the Mall, alongside the Solar Decathlon houses. First, but not last, nearly bursting bladder of the weekend. We walked past the Washington Monument, up past Union Station, through the tunnel in the Dept of Labor building, through Georgetown, through DuPont Circle and up to lunch at the Scottish Rites temple, notably featured (so I've heard), in the latest Dan Brown novel. After lunch we walked up north, past Dumbarton Oaks, the VP's house, embassy row (brushing up on our flag knowledge), and American University. We then caught a bus that took us to camp, which was at Avenel Park in Potomac, MD, right behind Congressional Country Club. I was diligent about attending to my blisters, so I managed to keep the couple that I got small. The best thing in the world for blisters is Second Skin. It's a hydrogel that you put on your blisters and hot spots. It's the best thing ever - better than my former go-to of moleskin (I still love you, moleskin!). I finished this day a bit discouraged, and not really liking the experience - basically we got back to camp, had to put our tent up & get our luggage, then we went and stood in line for dinner (For. Ev. Er.), then went & stood in line for showers. I don't think I had even gotten into the shower by lights-out time (9pm). They didn't turn the lights off until about 9:30, though.

Next Time: Will I feel better about the situation on day 2? Will my feet hold up? Days 2 & 3 summaries to come!

One Foot in Front of the Other

I have to get to bed, so this'll be short. Tomorrow's the big day! I start The Walk. Tomorrow is 20 miles. And it starts eeeeaaaarrrrrllllyyyyy. I have to be up in 6 1/2 hours. Wish me luck! And hey, come out & cheer for us! Here's the information on the walk. Somewhere in the middle there is info on the cheering stations. Or come to the closing ceremonies on Sunday! It's on the Mall, so there should be plenty of room! Do send a text message if you think you'll be there! I'll keep an eye out for ya! And cross your fingers for the weather to clear up . . . it's not looking so great at the moment. Sigh! And I started my period and my back hurts. It's like the Perfect Storm! Ah well. See you guys on the flip side. Ciao!

The End of Treatment!

Uh, ok, it's been almost 2 months since my last post. Man, I never was any good keeping a diary, why would a blog be any different? At any rate! My last radiation treatment was August 14th - hooray! The last two weeks were booster shots, just to the area of the scar tissue. And they didn't start with that (and finish with the whole-area shooting) too soon - a had a spot that got all burned & sore, right on my collar bone. The spot is still a bit darker than the rest, but at least it's healed. The whole are got a big peel-y, and now it's mostly regular colored, but the booster-shot area is also still darker. It's slowly lightening up, though. Maybe by next summer it'll all be the same color again! Agh, my chest is a patchwork of colors and scars right now. I really wish the port scar would go away - it still has that pinkish color of a scar that's not a couple years old. Hopefully the scar tissue will loosen or soften up a bit, too - I scratched it accidentally the other day and OW! Grumble grumble.

So, like the last day of chemo, I brought in cupcakes for all the radiation nurses, techs, and the the valet parking guys. Hey, they specifically have a sign that says 'no tips' for the valet guys. So cupcakes, it is. Just doing my part to make the world a little fatter . . . .

A week later I went to the beach, which was nice, if only just b/c I was on vacation. I did some hammock sitting & reading, but unfortunately, not as much beaching as I would have liked - I managed to hit probably 8 of the coldest August days in the Outer Banks ever. Also, the rainiest. I did manage to get a couple of training walks in (one about 5 miles - was planning on going longer, and going on the beach (!), but it started to rain, so I was cold, wet, and my ears started hurting), and then another dodgy day I managed to go 7 or 8 miles. My training . . . has not been all it should be. Next week should be interesting . . . . today I'm planning on about a five-miler, and then walking over to Del Ray for the art show, which will be another 3 miles, assuming we walk the whole thing. Tomorrow, we're planning on a big long walk. And then Friday is the start of the 3-day. I still haven't checked in online, b/c I needed a doctor's note saying I was ok to do the walk, which I mailed in a week ago. I guess I'll have to do the last minute check-in thing at Nat's Stadium. There is more info (including cheering stations!) online So if you work near DuPont Circle, come out & cheer on Team Turtle Friday between 8:45 & 11:45! There's also Glover-Archbold Park on Friday, a couple of places in Bethesda on Saturday, and DuPont Circle again on Sunday - as well as the Closing Ceremonies, which are on the mall this year. It will be a sea of pink. Of course, I'm planning on wearing pink, so keep an eye out for my shirt. Or perhaps you'd like to order one yourself.

If you want to donate, it's not too late! Go to my page on the 3-day's website, or (if that link doesn't work), go to www.the3day.org, hover the mouse over 'DONATE', then click on 'find a participant', and search for me (as Elizabeth Scott). The right Elizabeth Scott is on Team Turtle & walking the DC walk. Click on me, and then knock yourself out. Hey, you don't need a new car! The kids can fund their own education! Seriously, though - any amount is great! Thanks again! And wish me luck - I'm getting the most serious pedicure I can find next Monday (10/12).

Woah!

Oh my goodness! I didn't realize it had been quite so long since my last posting! Summer has been going well, if fast! I can't believe we're almost halfway through August already. I am about 5 1/2 weeks through radiation. So just another week and a couple days to go! Radiation is a little boring - certainly a letdown (in a good way!) from chemo. The biggest hassle is just getting to the hospital. Once I'm there, I scan myself in & go change to the robe. Rarely, I have time to sit down and read more than a page or two in the myriad (old) magazines they have there. It would be nice if they were more up-to-date, but hey, I didn't read Martha Stewart's Thanksgiving issue. Or Real Simple's Valentines issue. So it's all new to me! At any rate, they come & get you, then take you into the room, where you take the robe off and lie down, and, for me, with my head to right & left arm up over my head. Then the techs do a bunch of tugging & pushing at you & the sheet to get your tattoos lined up with the lasers. After a couple of minutes, they step out of the room, and you get zapped. Then they come back in, and move the head of the machine around, leave, & zap you from a different angle. Repeat, two more times. After about 10 minutes, you're done. Then you go home and crater. I get so tired in the afternoon! I suspect part of it is the natural desire for a siesta. Oh, the spanish have it right.

So all that description above applied up until Monday. Now, once I'm in the room, all I'm doing is the boost, where they have a metal plate with a cut-out that is shaped like the scar area. They zap you straight on with this for about 10 seconds or so. And that's it! And I'm up & out! Apparently for this part of it, they have to keep outlining me with this paint-pen every day so they can line the plate up. I guess the tattoos are no good for that. So if you see me & you see a big blue line above my neckline, just smile & nod! It'll be gone after next week, when I'm through!

I'm guessing my last day of radiation will be next Friday. It was originally scheduled for Thursday, but I had training for work up in Philadelphia last week. I was supposed to double-up one day, but they had trouble with the machine. I don't think I'll bother doubling-up now, if they don't want me to. I have enough trouble getting out of bed when I get do as it is! You have to have your radiations at least 6 hours apart, so I'd have to be in there before 9am (I know, not that bad), but subject to their schedule. So I'm not going to worry about it! I think. I'll talk to them tomorrow & see what they think.

So here's to 7 more doses! Just a few more! And I'm glad that's about it - I'm starting to get a little bit of irritation - especially on my collarbone. I think that spot really would have gotten to the bad point if I had any more shots to it. I do have a tan-line under my arm, which is funny! It looks like I fell asleep in the sun with a book or something on my arm. And I'm a little disappointed in the hair growth under there! I guess it's stopped, but it took a long time for it to stop! Just in time for radiation to be over! Ah well. Soon . . . the peeling! Just in time for the beach!

Post-Chemo, -Surgery, -Fundraiser, Pre-Radiation

Hola amigos, it's been awhile since I rapped at ya. So since I last touched base, we were done with the fundraiser. Hooray! I had my appointment with the radiation oncologist a couple of weeks ago now - you lie there forever while they mark you up with a sharpie. You can't move, and I had my arm overhead. Sounds easy, right? Well, no. Try lying perfectly still for about an hour. Don't move your arm! Don't move your head! Don't move anything! It's uncomfortable. But the absolute worst was the tattooing! I don't think my pain tolerance is that low, and I've gotten over a lot of my fear of needles, but oh my god, OW!!! I know that it's a different needle they use, b/c they just give you a dot & it's not electric, or however the tattoo artists do it, but oh my god. If that's how it feels, I don't understand how people can get those itty-bitty roses or tweety bird or whatever, let alone whole sleeves. I need to find someone who's had both. I suspect the radiation tats hurt a lot more than regular ones. So maybe that full-back tat of the hula girl is out for me . . . .

So before I am trapped here in DC for the better part of the summer, I took a little jaunt down to Bermuda, courtesy of Sylvia! Thank you so much!! It was so nice to get down there again & see everyone. I got to meet a couple of not-so-new-anymore kids & a couple of new ones! It was great. But too short! I guess it always is! Sigh! I had my favourite ebi tempura nori maki at Yashi sushi. God, it was good - like I always remembered!

I had one more pre-radiation appt yesterday, and got marked up even more with Sharpie - this time all the way up almost to my neck. Now I have another purple bra. Greeeeaaaat. Hopefully it'll mostly come out. And hopefully they won't mark me every time I go for radiation, which starts Monday. 3:15! So a relatively late appointment time, which is good! So I guess starting today I'm off antiperspirant. I have to switch to just deoderant, b/c antiperspirant has aluminum something in it. I think the aluminum whatever can scatter the rays. So don't worry, folks - I'll be sweaty, but stink-free this summer! Another reason I'm driving to work for the summer.

Fundraiser OVER!

First off, buy my t-shirts! See www.cafepress.com/LizTurtle. But more on that later . . . .

And not a moment too soon! It was fun & it went well, but man, was it ever stressful! That is not a line of work I think I could do. Wow! Mad props to the people who do it. Especially Nichole, who helped me out - which is really understating it. She taught me everything I know! Thanks, Nikki! And next time you need any personal actuarial work done, you know where to go!

So thanks to everyone who could come to the fundraiser - and thanks to those who couldn't come, but bought raffle tickets! The evening was a success! I don't have final numbers in yet, but the total tally should be over $3,000 once everything is finalized. Hooray! So we are getting the other 2 members of Team Turtle up to par.

My big announcement is the t-shirts I have for sale now through Cafe Press. All of the net profits will be going to Team Turtle. There are various colors & sleeve-lengths (ok, only 2 of those - short & long), and they also come in men's and women's styling. I also have a tote bag & a mousepad. I admit it, I made those just for me. I'm sure I'll be the only one who buys them. But please buy one & if your friends ask where you got such a funny shirt, and where can they get one, please direct them to my cafepress shop! That address again is: www.cafepress.com/LizTurtle. This link is also on the toolbar on the left!

Tomorrow morning I go in for my tattoos for radiation. My first tattoos! Aw! They'll be doing all the physics stuff - getting the angles, etc. set up so when I go in for actual radiation they just line up the machine with the tats & start shooting. But before radiation starts, I'll be enjoying a long weekend in Bermuda! Oooooh, I can't wait!! I hope I can catch up with everyone. I will be staying with the hostess with the mostess - Sylvia! Can't wait to see you, girl! And your little girl! And boy! I head out Friday. Ah! It'll be so nice!

Oh, and check out the pictures my good friend & amazing photog Seth Kaplan took at my shutterfly page: lizturtle.shutterfly.com/. Ignore the bad ones of me.

Gimme a Head with Hair . . . .

Hooray!! My hair has been coming back - it's still pretty soft, like baby's hair, but it seems to be getting a little bit of texture. But even more importantly (and excitingly!) I have eyebrows again! And eyelashes! The eyebrow hairs are pretty soft & thing (again, like baby's hair), but I have discernible marks over my eyes. I'd post a picture, but meh. I still need makeup, of which I have none on at the moment.

Tomorrow I have my port out. If I remember, I'm going to ask them if I can keep it. I have no idea if they'll let me or not . . . . If they give it to me, it'll probably wind up in the trash shortly thereafter. I just want to see what it looks like when it's not under my skin. So one more time under the knife! Sigh. And then Tuesday is my fist appointment with the radiation oncologist. All sorts of fun! After that doctor's appointment, it's back to work for me. It's been so long! Sigh. I guess we all have to go back & earn a living at some point, though, eh?

Clear Margins!

I saw my surgeon on Tuesday who told me that hooray! The margins were clear! Such a relief. So I won't see her again until December. Today I went & saw my oncologist & everything went well there, too. Although before meeting with her I had a mammogram, which I do NOT recommend one week out of surgery. God. I didn't really think about it, my surgeon just said to her assistant "Get her a mammo before starting radiation." And I was just trying to get it scheduled at the same time as something else. But yeah . . . I should have scheduled it in about 2 weeks. Especially b/c the tech flattened, then raised the screen, repositioned me, flattened, raised, repositioned . . . so my boob got squished about 8 times more than it needed to. Ouch. So the radiologist who reviewed the films said that you could see the air pocket in there. Heh. I took a peek at the images on the computer & you could see a big old hole in the middle. Interesting stuff! My one (relatively minor) irritation is that they didn't take out the port. So I'm going in on Monday to get rid of it. I've just tolerated it these past few months, but I really don't like it & now that I don't need it, I really want it gone. I just can't stand it. Argh! It will be nice to be done with that, too.

My oncologist said that my achiness is something called 'post-chemo rheumatism'. So I feel better that it's not just from my trying to get in shape. It should go away . . . eventually. Hopefully sooner than later. In the meantime, I'll just grunt & groan when I'm getting up from a chair, & walk around like an 80-year-old. Siiiiiigh. Also, I am in a study for bisphosphonates to see if that lowers metastasis in bones. There's a 2/3 chance I'll be getting a pill, and 1/3 chance I'll be getting an IV. I'm hoping for the IV. The pills you have to take in the morning, and you can't eat or drink for 1/2 or 1 hour after you take them. And you have to sit up in bed after you take them, or you risk really bad heartburn. Argh! The IV you only get once a month for 6 months, then every 3 months for 2.5 years. I'd rather deal with it once every 1 or 3 months.

And in fundraising news - I've already hit my goal! And even before the fundraiser!! Which means the fundraiser money can go to bringing the rest of my team up to their minimum. Yay!! Thank you EVERYONE!!! I really appreciate it!

Stupid Human Tricks

So, the surgery was last Wednesday. Things went well, I think! I find out tomorrow if the margins were clear. Fingers crossed!

The surgery was, by far, the most interest I've had so far. I've been having hot flashes from my premature menopause, which sucks, b/c you're down in the OR wing & everything's cold & they've given you these hot blankets (warmed in some kind of blanket oven), and then you get hot & start tearing everything off. I had a student (of some sort) putting my IV in . . . or trying to put my IV in, I should say. She started at the wrist & hit a nerve, I guess, b/c I could feel it up in my fingers. OOOOOWWWWWWW!!! They stopped that one & started another one on the back of my hand. So I've got bruises all over my hand and wrist. When they started wheeling me into the room, they started what they called a light sedation, and they would start the serious stuff when I was in the room. Well, I don't really remember being wheeled away. I've become such a lightweight! But, I wasn't under deep sedation, so I have vague recollections of the surgery. No feeling of it, thank god, but I woke up a few times. Once I woke up with that vague feeling of needing to change positions, so I tried to roll over, but hey, my arms were strapped down. Oh, right. Surgery. Another point (I have no idea what sequence these are in), I woke up & looked at the really bright surgical lamps overhead. Another time, I woke up & there was a sheet over my face! Which was more disturbing in retrospect than at the time. And I woke up, but didn't have my eyes open, when they did a half-roll with me to get me onto the recovery bed. I heard something about the recovery bed being wheeled in & I thought "Do I need to do something to help them get me into that bed?" but they did it all. Which was good, b/c I was pretty out of it, and probably of more help by just being still. After some time in the recovery bed, they wheeled me over to the recovery easy chair. When I was transferring myself, I realized I had just about sweat through all the sheets on the bed! They were completely sopping. I couldn't even wear my underwear home, they were so damp. Ugh! The sweats are not good, and most especially not when you can't throw the covers off yourself!

So tomorrow I'll find out all the (hopefully) good stuff, like that the margins were clear (hope hope!). And in the meantime, I have a new stupid human trick. Apparently I have fluid build-up, which makes sense. But there's also some air trapped in there, too! So when I jiggle around, you can hear the fluid sloshing about. It's kind of disturbing. Ask me next time you see me. If you buy me a beer or three, maybe I'll even let you hear it.

Surgery Tomorrow!

I'm having my surgery tomorrow. It's nice to finally have this thing out! I'll be having a lumpectomy & also am getting my port out. I'll be really happy to get rid of the port. Me no likey. Hooray!

And in other news, the silent auction/raffle fundraiser will be Tuesday, June 16th! Save the date! And bring your money!

My 3-Day Walk

Sorry for the delay (Liz R., I'm on it! Finally!)!
***************************
Dear Friends & Family,
As most of you already know, I was diagnosed with breast cancer last fall at the age of 35. It was pretty terrifying at first, but I've got great doctors (I can't say enough good things about all the doctors and nurses at Georgetown) and my treatment is going really well. I'm finished with chemotherapy, and the tumor has shrunk considerable, which means a lot less tissue will have to come out when I have my lumpectomy - thankfully! Afterwards, I'll have radiation to clean up any extra cells that might not have made the trip out of my boob to the pathology lab. I tell you, having cancer sucks. It's going to end up taking up the better part of a year, time I could be putting to better use. And chemo is a real energy suck – I spent more time sleeping & napping over the winter than ever! And, of course, the whole no-hair thing – did you know that hair continues to fall out for a few weeks after chemo is done? So I'm still bald and am continuing to lose what little remains of my eyelashes and eyebrows! But, for all my complaints, I've had it relatively easy. For one thing, it was caught early. For another thing, not too long ago, treatment for breast cancer (even early stage cancer) involved a radical mastectomy, and chemo that would have you flat on your back for months, when you weren't in the bathroom, sick as a dog.
My cancer was caught early and the treatment is working because of advances made in the areas of detection and treatment. And how are all these advances made? I'm glad you asked! Through the efforts and support of organizations like Susan G. Komen For the Cure, and the National Philanthropic Trust Breast Cancer Fund, the beneficiaries of the 3-Day Walk, in which I will be participating this October, in the Washington, DC walk. Every major advancement in breast cancer research, treatment, education, and prevention in the past 25 years has been touched by a Komen for the Cure grant, and the National Philanthropic Trust Breast Cancer Fund provides ongoing support to breast cancer initiatives. Thanks to the hard work and support of organizations like these, there are many more options for treatment these days, and the treatment itself is more targeted and less debilitating – I even worked throughout chemotherapy, with just the occasional day off! But (there's always a but, isn't there?) for all the advances made recently, there's still work to be done, which is why I'm walking. My goal is to raise $5,000. I know that with your help, I can raise even more than that!
Until there's a cure, the best way to ensure survival is through early detection. So, please, everyone (you guys, too!), feel your unmentionables! Don't just do a monthly exam – feel them when you're getting dressed, or getting undressed, or soaping up in the shower. Get to know what's normal for you, at all times of the month. And if you find something, get it checked out. Most of the time, these things turn out to be nothing, but better safe than sorry!
So please consider donating to my goal, or someone else's – these are wonderful and worthy organizations. If you'd like to join my team and walk with me, please get in touch and I can give you information on the walk. One last thing – a donation to my goal isn't for me. It's for your mother, your sister, your daughter, aunt, niece, father, brother, friend. It could even be . . . for you (ooh, spooky)! So keep getting to know those breasts!
Love, Liz

To donate online, go to http://www.the3day.org/, click on 'Donate', and search for me (as Elizabeth Scott).
One last thing: if you have any goods or services (sports tickets, weekends at vacation houses, anything!) you'd be willing to donate for a raffle and silent auction I'm having soon, please let me know! And keep an eye out for invitations to this fundraiser and other events!

Watch This Space!

I know I haven't updated recently, but there is news a-brewin'! Keep an eye on this space for information coming soon!

In other news, my recovery is continuing! I am getting my energy back and I've started training for the 3-Day Walk I'm doing in October. And wow, am I out of shape! I've done several 3 mile walks and . . . oooowwwwww! I'm glad I started early. And my surgery is scheduled for May 27, so we're in the countdown period! 2 weeks from today! Er . . . yesterday, actually, I guess.

Ok, I should be in bed now, not blogging. Good night, y'all!

Liz's Makeup Tips and Update

Do you ever feel like you look a little ghostly? Do you start at your own reflection in the mirror? Do small children cry out at your pale visage?

Freaky!

Well, fear not, I'm hear to help you out so your eyes will pop!

Step One: put some makeup on, dude. Eyeliner & under-eye concealer, especially, can do wonders.

Getting there . . . .

Step Two: We can't all be blessed with Brooke-Shields-style eyebrows. Some of us got it, some of us don't, and some of us had it & will have it again, but in the meantime don't. If you fall into one of the last two groups, then you'll want to apply eyebrow pencil or powder.

Better yet!

Step Three: Put on those falsies!

Wrong:

Go get a glass of milk, crank the 9th Sympony, & try again.

Right:

Flutter, flutter!

Step Four: Put on your best wig & go out for a rockin' good time!

Rock and roll!

Further updates:
I met with my surgeon & I have various scans & poking & prodding over the next couple of weeks. Surgery is scheduled for May 27th - outpatient! Well, assuming we go ahead with the lumpectomy as planned. I met with the plastic surgeon yesterday & I'm more confused than ever. First off, he said I had perfect breasts. A plastic surgeon told me that! That's right, fellows, you missed out on a set of perfect boobs - symmetrical & perky! BUT (and isn't there always a but?), he said for this reason, reconstruction after a lumpectomy (if needed) is more difficult than if the boobs were saggy or flat. So with reconstruction, the nipple could ride up, and then he'd have to graft it lower, so it would be level with the other one; attendant with this is possible lack of sensation. And of course, depending on how much tissue is taken out, I could wind up with different size boobs. The plastic surgeon, (being a plastic surgeon), would prefer I just get a mastectomy, so he can start from scratch. Which would mean a lot more surgery than I was prepared for. Also would mean making a nipple from scratch, too (although I've heard there are nipple-saving mastectomies). On the other hand, there's the fact that mammograms post-lumpectomy are harder to read, because of the scar tissue (with a mastectomy I wouldn't need mammograms on that side, anymore). Also, there's the tummy tuck that comes with reconstruction . . . . I don't know. I was happy with the path I chose, but now I'm confused all over again. And there's always the possibility of having the lumpectomy, and the margins not being clear, and winding up with a mastectomy anyway. So I don't know. I have a lot to think about before the 27th.

All Done (Well, With Chemo)!

Hooray! I am done with chemo! I didn't have very much neuropathy at all since the penultimate chemo, so we went ahead with the last one. My oncologist was very happy at the progress, and said she thinks my surgeon will be pleasantly surprised. I have to admit, I had an odd feeling leaving the infusion unit for the last time - not sadness exactly, but sort of a bittersweet feeling. Don't get me wrong, I'm glad to be done. I guess b/c all the nurses were so nice, but I really, really don't want to ever have to see them again, in that context. Mom & I made cupcakes to show our appreciation. I hope they enjoyed them!

So at any rate, I am so glad to be done with chemo, though I still have a couple of days of feeling like crap ahead of me. Sigh. Yesterday I was doing ok until mid-afternoon, when I started my slow crash - we went to the mall & got me some under-eye bag concealer (when did I develop such dark circles??) and then swung by Lush real quick for some fun soaps - just a little treat! I got 2 - Figs & Leaves, and Ring of Roses. Yum yum. And since we got back, I've been feeling pretty cruddy. I've taken a couple of 2-hour naps today, and there might be a third coming up before bedtime. We shall see. I figure tomorrow will be a bad day, and Tuesday probably won't be so hot, either. I'm intending to sleep in the rest of the week. The cumulative effect is alive & well!

So to sum up: the good news is, I'm done with the chemo portion of our cancer journey. Next stop: the OR. Again!

One More Down, One More (Probably) To Go

Last Thursday was Taxol #3. Once again, I got drunk off the Benadryl drip & provided endless amusement for my mom & Nichole. I'm glad the two of them seem to get along, since I spend a fair portion of my treatment passed out. Nichole & I actually started a puzzle this week - there's usually a puzzle started in the waiting room - and it's usually got the easy parts all done, leaving things like foliage, or sky, or open water. This time we got to pick a puzzle & start it! Which means a grand total of probably 10 pieces got put together, since we were just starting & trying to sort the edge pieces out, sort the colors, etc. before the nurse came & called my name. Ah well! It was a painting of the NY skyline (pre-2001).

Friday & Saturday were fun girly-shopping days. Relatively, I mean. Friday, Mom & I went to Sephora & bought me a proper eyebrow pencil & some faux lashes. They are all getting really thin. I will take some before & after shots soon & show them off. I need to get better at putting the lashes on, though. B/c when I embrace the bald look in the summer, I'm going to need something on my face. Sephora has a bunch of fun lashes, too. I wish I had known about that before my wig party! I could have passed off a few hints (matching acid-green? Purple & feathery? Sparkly lined? Such fun!). Saturday, Mom & I went to pick up my compression sleeve. So now I really have no excuse to not start working out again . . . I need to see if there's a breast cancer yoga tape or something. I'm not supposed to put that much weight on my arms, but I'd really like to get back into it. I must do some research. Tips or advice much appreciated! At any rate, I got a hot pink sleeve & gauntlet (glove) set from Lymphediva's. A couple of women with breast cancer or a family history of same started this company to make fun sleeves. They basically said "I don't want to wear an Ace bandage. Why not make some fun & colorful ones?" And so they did. And I've gone with hot pink for my first one. It was a tough choice - they have a lot of fun patterns. I thought the black would look cool, but I also thought it might be bad (hot) in the summer. So hot pink it is! And it is cozy. Now I just need a full-body one!

Today wasn't such a good day. I took one of my oxycodones (which is a higher dosage than I'd had before - I think this is part of the problem) right after getting up, thinking I was going to eat quickly enough that I'd be fine. Besides, I rarely have an upset stomach when taking pills on an empty stomach. Well, after one of my many naps today (every time I shut my eyes, an hour or so would pass before I opened them again - pretty much all day long), I realized it wasn't staying down. So hey, my first bout of hurling. Luckily, though, it didn't last very long - no endless heaving (sorry, TMI!). But I really haven't felt very good since. And now since I napped most of the day away I'm afraid I'll have some issues sleeping tonight. Sigh! But my doctor said that that might have been my last chemo - if I'm having worse itching issues she might think about skipping the last round. If I had to have chemo tomorrow, I'd be rooting for no more. But I would rather complete the full cycle. My doctor upped my anti-seizure meds, and I feel like it might have helped already. I haven't really had any itching to speak of. The big test will be next Friday/Saturday. If I can make it through the weekend without going insane, then I will be very happy.

Ow (Radio Remix)

I am so uncomfortable. The overall body soreness/pummeling feeling seems to have ebbed a little quicker than last time - though it's not gone. I'm exhausted and just . . . uncomfortable. Not in pain too much (tho a bit in the lower back), but still . . . can't get comfortable. The ride home on the metro was fun today. Stupid metro was backed up - I passed on my first train, but the second was just as packed. I didn't feel like waiting another 5 minutes, so I took it. Now I'm home being uncomforable. And itchy. My feet have started itching. Sigh. Not as badly as my hands were last week, but maybe that's just because I've (thus far) been able to resist scratching. I'm really hoping it's just the power of suggestion, and not actual neuropathy in my feet. Fingers crossed! My hands have had about the same level of itching for the past 5 or 6 days or so. It would be nice for it to go away. Stupid neuropathy. I'm not even sure I'm spelling that right. Ah. I am.

Well, I plan on eating dinner (mac & cheese I made yesterday), and then maybe going to bed. My plan would be perfect if it weren't for that big pile of clothes waiting to be folded on my bed . . . .

Taxol #2

Well, I had my second Taxol treatment yesterday. I don't seem to have had as much of a reaction this time as last time. So far, at least. My face got a little red & warm, but not really itchy. I haven't taken a Benadryl, but I did rub some hydrocortisone cream on my face. I think I got just as drunk off the Bendryl drip yesterday as I did the prior time.

What I'm really hoping doesn't come back is the itchiness I started getting in my hands last Friday (just a week ago). My hands just started itching randomly & nothing would help. At first I thought "I just need some lotion." Well, I slathered my hands with lotion & they still itched. Turns out that's a manifestation of the neuropathy that can happen with Taxol. And this is something that can be permanent! Argh. My doctor told me to take vitamin B-6, which can provide some protection to the nerves. She also gave me a prescription of an anti-seizure medication that helps dull the firing nerves. The itching had started going away before my appointment, so I'm just hoping it stays away. B/c man! That itching! Drives me crazy!!

Today I also went for an acupuncture appointment. It was interesting. I'm not sure what I was expecting, but it was different! She did what's called 'cupping', where she takes these glass cups & lights something inside them, then puts it on your skin over the needle (I think). The flame eats up the oxygen, so you wind up with a vacuum & it sucks your skin into the cup, so it stays. My big hope is that it'll help with the soreness that should be coming on tomorrow night. Hope hope! I really don't want to hurt like that again!

And in good news: Progress is being made! So hooray! I get to stay on the biweekly program. Which means my definite last chemo will be 4/16. 2 more to go! Yay! And hey, maybe there won't be much for my surgeon to take out.

I have also signed up for the 3-day walk here in DC in October! Keep an eye out for my fundraising letter! And if you'd like to join my team & walk with me, drop me a line & let me know!