# 36 SO, HOW AM I FEELING?

IT'S BEEN A LONG HAUL SINCE MY FIRST SERIOUS HEALTH ISSUE WAS ADDRESSED IN JUNE 2015.

Currently, I am getting stronger every day. I am sleeping a lot less so fatigue is not much of an issue anymore. My blood tests show improvement.  

My vitals have been good at all my visits - BP steady at 100/60, fasting blood glucose 91. My last mammogram was normal.

I still have some issues with diarrhea, nausea and vomiting on occasion since my gall bladder removal. Doctor Carmen said I will learn in time what not to eat. So far I discovered I cannot eat processed tomato products and citrus fruits.

I am eating better (no high cholesterol food) and less per sitting because I fill up quick since the gall bladder removal. I miss bacon! I weighed 197 while going through chemo. I now weigh 155. Yahoo! My goal is my high school weight of 135!

Funny story to tell: Since I am losing so much weight my clothes are too big. I was walking from one room to the other at Tubbys  and my pants fell down to my ankles. Luckily I had tights on underneath!

My hair is growing back. Should be long enough to spike soon! Still penciling my eyebrows on though.

 

Since I lost my hair from treatments I made a boat load of my THC's by TAM (Thinking Hiker Caps by TrailAngelMary - crochet hats with brims) to keep me warm over the winter I also made matching cowls for each hat. I am now working on hats with cowls to sell at Trail Days. I have changed the pattern I found on line 2 years ago to make it better. Every hat has wire in the brim so it can be shaped and cord lock on yarn at base of hat so it can be loosened or tightened. 

How difficult has it been? Challenging at times but a good positive attitude can make all the difference. And thank all of you for all the prayers. I believe in the power of prayer. 

SO, how am I feeling?  Better every day!!

"Cancer is very invasive and destructive to your body. After you have finished your treatment, then, your body wants to go to war with yourself trying to reconstruct all the damage caused by radiation. It's a very long process.
Please, in honor of someone who died, or is fighting cancer, or even had cancer, say a prayer."

To all those who are fighting... I am with you always

# 35 3 MONTH VISIT WITH WOMEN'S CANCER DOCTOR

HAVE YOU HAD A RECENT PAP SMEAR? IT'S TIME!

OCTOBER 26, 2014 DR WILLIS, PAP SMEAR

 Colposcopy performed on Feb 4, 2017.

 Dr Willis said "NOTHING SCARY THERE"

# 34 LEG UPDATE, CARDIOLOGIST

11/14/16 I visited my cardiologist office. Doppler was done on both legs. 
In the follow-up with Dr Dave' on 12/2/16 he said there is 100% blockage in my right leg and 85% in my left leg. He said it got worse because of the radiation.   No wonder I lost my balance a lot and couldn't walk a block without calf muscle pain!

Procedure was scheduled for right leg for 12/19/16.  

My daughter Tina with me

Procedure was scheduled for left leg for 2/1/17. So, to date 3 procedures have been done on my legs. This procedure included removing blood clots. I developed a hematoma in recovery which they took care of but they had to keep me overnight. In other words I leaked! (A hematoma is a localized collection of blood outside the blood vessels.)  Big lump at site of incision and LARGE area of black and blue too! Here's the contraption they put on to press the hematoma down.

THE RESULT - I CAN WALK AGAIN! PAIN IN CALF MUSCLES GONE!

Next up - stress test. 

Thank you to the staff. Here are pictures of some of the staff.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         

# 33 THANK YOU FOR THE PRAYER SHAWLS

A BIG THANK YOU TO FRIEDA LUXENBERG FOR THE GORGEOUS AND WARM PRAYER SHAWL.

 AND

A BIG THANK YOU TO TWO OF MY AVON CUSTOMERS, PAT SHUPE AND HER MOTHER MARY THORPE FOR THIS BEAUTIFUL PRAYER SHAWL. 

MAY GOD BLESS  AND KEEP YOU ALL. MERRY CHRISTMAS.

# 32 GET RID OF HIGH CHOLESTEROL FOOD!

LABOR DAY WEEKEND I had 5 days of what I now know was GALL BLADDER ATTACKS. I was bundled over in pain when I ate. On Tuesday I called my doctors and they all agreed not treatment side effects but gall bladder. I went to the emergency room on Tuesday and was released on Wednesday with instructions to eat liquids and follow up with surgeon to schedule gall bladder removal.The sonogram showed my gall bladder was full of gall stones.

On Thursday I researched what causes gall stones - HIGH CHOLESTEROL FOOD. I had eliminated a lot of high cholesterol food from my diet already but learned I was eating some foods I did not realize were high in Cholesterol. Here's the documents I created from my research.

FOR THE NEXT MONTH UNTIL THE OPERATION ON NOVEMBER 1, I was losing a lot of weight. I wanted to lose weight anyway but it also has made me weak. So, sleep a lot so my body can recover from the cancer treatments.

The operation on November 1 resulted in two weeks of no lifting, taking pain pills, sleeping, and more fluid meals. I have had my follow up appointment with Dr Carman on November 16. He said my nausea and vomiting is normal. He said I wouldn't feel normal for another 2 to 3 weeks and not to rush into solid foods and to take the prescription I already have for acid reflux. That is keeping the food down.

To date I have lost 25 pounds!!.

THANK YOU TO DR CARMAN, Surgical Associates and all the staff at the emergency department of West Shore Hospital.. 

Robert Carman, Jr., DO

 

 

Robert M Lasek, MD Emergency Room

 

 

THANK YOU EMERGENCY ROOM STAFF AND HOSPITAL STAFF

THE VIEW FROM MY ROOM

# 31 PET SCAN RESULTS AND BRAIN RADIATION FINISHED

BRAIN RADIATION COMPLETE. FOLLOW UP IN THREE MONTHS.

THANK YOU DR WEKSBERG AND THE STAFF AT THE WOMEN'S CANCER CENTER RADIATION DEPARTMENT

SAME DAY I VISITED DR VEYTSMAN AT THE MEDICAL SCIENCES BUILDING ONCOLOGY DEPARTMENT AND SHE GAVE ME GREAT NEWS. I AM CANCER FREE! YAHOO! FOLLOW UP CAT SCAN EVERY 3 MONTHS. PORT WILL STAY IN A YEAR - FLUSHING EVERY 6-8 WEEKS. I know Dr Veytsman is concerned that I am still smoking. I am still trying and won't give up till I'm a quitter. Thank you Dr Veytsman and all your staff for being friendly, caring and personable.

THANK YOU DR VEYTSMAN

THANK YOU RECEPTIONIST CHERYL

THANK YOU NURSE NAVIGATOR AMY AND NURSE JULIE

THANK YOU SCHEDULER BRENDA

THANK YOU SOCIAL WORKER RHONDA

# 30 RADIATION AND CIGARETTE UPDATE

BIG THANK YOU TO THE TWO NEW STAFF MEMBERS AT THE RADIATION FACILITY AT THE ORTENZIO CANCER CENTER FOR THEIR FRIENDLINESS AND CARE EVERY TIME I HAVE GONE THERE FOR THIS ROUND OF RADIATION. 

THANK YOU KRISTIN AND TRAVIS

ONE MORE DAY of brain radiation followed by appointment with Dr Veytsman to find results of pet scan done on Monday. Still trying to defeat cigarettes. Halfway there from 50 cigarettes a day. Below is the chart I am on now.

 

AND A BIG THANK YOU to Duck Fart, AT 2001 who is in town for awhile and checks on me every day and brings me food every day. It's been a great help while my energy has been so low during this round of radiation.

# 29 BRAIN RADIATION IS KICKING MY BUTT!

The first day of brain radiation took a while because lots of marks need to be placed on the mask because my head position needs to be the same every time. During my cervical cancer and lung cancer radiation marks or tattoos were placed on my body but now they are placed on my mask. 

I mentioned to the techs that this must be hard for those that are Claustrophobic. They said it is hard for some that are not even claustrophobic. They said I do great. Except for the first day the treatments only take a few minutes.

So far the worst side effect is fatigue. I am only awake about 6 to 8 hours a day. Dr Weksberg said to try and exercise when I feel tired, it may help. He said the fatigue should go away within a few days after treatment ends. Last day is next Wednesday.

On treatment table before tattoos

On treatment table after tattoos

 

# 28 TO THE BEACH WITH MY FRIEND CELEBRATING OUR LIVES

My bestie Carol and I went to the beach together to celebrate our lives. Me beating cancer and her making changes to make her happy again. What a great time with a great friend. Thank You Carol.

We met with friends Tammy and Punch for supper. And briefly with my friend Suzie. All moved there from this area. They have become real locals and are anxious for the tourists to go back home! The worst they say is the bicyclist and bikers who don't pay attention. Suzie told us a story about her getting out of her car and pulling the damn ear phones out of a cyclist ears!! She was cheered by other locals in vehicles near her. Go Suzie.

We also went kayaking in Indian River Inlet, went to a pool hall to practice, and hung out at the campground pool.

I'm anxious to go back again!

Enjoy the video of pictures and video!  

And a big Thank You to the SOBOS Sonic, Lavender, and Wednesday who got the bicycles inside and the kayaks on top of the van for us.

 

# 27 SET UP FOR BRAIN RADIATION

On Thursday, August 4 I had my brain radiation set up done. Dr Weksberg said the MRI showed no cancer but there could be microscopic cancer that isn't seen on the MRI. So, since the type of lung cancer I had is known to spread to the brain, they are doing preventive radiation - low dose, 10 treatments. 

Dr Weksberg told me about the potential side effects of brain radiation - sore throat, fatigue, hair loss and 6 months to a year down the road memory and/or concentration issues. He said, for instance, I will need to make a list for the grocery store. I laughed and said, "I have to do that now!"

He then explained the mold will be over my face. I thought to myself, thinking of the previous molds that were under my body for the other radiations, Hmmmmm!

As the techs started the procedure they said they would be putting a softened form over my face and stretching it. It was a little weird. Felt like Hannibal! When they finished I saw the mold and asked if I could have it. They said yes, it's yours. They said lots of people do fun stuff with them. 

Radiation is scheduled to start after I return from my vacation to the beach.