Road trip, day 2

This was the BEST day I have had in a very long time! First of all, it was the first Thursday in 18 weeks that I didn't have to go in for a chemo treatment. Awesome! The rest of the day just got better. We started with a delicious breakfast and then set off for Great Basin National Park.

We stopped at the Visitor’s Center to get maps and most importantly, Kent’s National Park card - at last! We got the maps, but they didn’t have the cards [sigh]. I got this cool bookmark, though [I’ve been using a Walker’s receipt!]:


These flowers are something like Bee Mustard - I thought they were beautiful - see the big bee? ;)



We drove on to Wheeler Peak Campground and then went on a 4-5 hour walk/hike in the woods. Our destination was the Bristlecone Pine, view area. There are Bristlecone pine trees that are dated back to 1100 B.C.!

Here is my fearless leader leading me up the trail!

Amazing sites along the way:




These were all along the path:

I loved the green middles!


Here are the Bristlecone pines





This is a dead one - the tree not the people! :)


On our return we stopped by this lovely lake:


We also had the most amazing/unexpected/probably never repeated experience as we were walking back to the trail head. We met a couple who were originally from Lebanon - and they are Druze!!! Druze are an offshoot of Islam that began about 1,000 years ago. Kent has been to Lebanon so he & they could talk about familiar places there. Also, when Kent and I lived in Jerusalem, we spent 2 weeks each semester in Galilee. The area has quite a few Druze living there and we’ve visited some of their sites.
All four of us were so excited to meet each other in this out-of-the-way place!

The other amazing thing - I made the entire walk on my own! I am so proud of myself. It was so nice not to feel sick and too tired to enjoy things! On our way out of the park, we stopped at the Visitor’s Center at Lehman Caves and Kent was finally able to get his National Park card - yay!!!

We had lunch in Ely, Nevada at a Subway. According to the cute “kid” who made our sandwiches, provolone cheese is the choice of the elderly! I got it anyway. :)

Our drive for the remainder of the afternoon was through the Nevada desert. It was amazing how many loooooong straight stretches of road there were. We measured one that was 21 miles before it curved! It was much more interesting and beautiful than either of us anticipated.

Here is a picture of some kind of mutated palm tree! Of course, what do you expect from the place where they tested nuclear weapons?




As we began this drive there was a sign that said “Please use headlights, next 89 miles”. This entire area is bordered by a military airbase. We are wondering if the headlights are like saying, “Hey, we’re friendly, please don’t shoot us!” ??? :)

We spent the night in Beatty, Nevada. It is just outside of Death Valley.

Road Trip

Day 1 - Wednesday, August 31, 2011

This was such a great day! That morning Kent and I decided to go on a trip until the following Monday or Tuesday. First, however, I went to a luncheon at Jan Kunz’s house - in my honor. Any of the sisters in the ward, who could come, were invited. They wanted to celebrate my last chemo treatment. I was so touched - I find it unbelievable that they would care so much!! There were about 10 of us there and we had such a good time. We laughed and laughed and ate REALLY good food. The best part about the food was that most people brought salads. SALADS. Do you know how long it has been since I’ve been able to eat a salad!!! Oh, man, I thought I had died and gone to heaven! Here are a couple of pictures of the sweet ladies. Love you all -- Julie, I'm sorry I only got your arm in the picture! ;)





Kent and I didn’t get off until about 2:30 or so that afternoon. We arrived in Delta, UT 2.5 hours later and had dinner at McDonald's - we’re so trendy. :) Actually, our next opportunity for a meal wouldn’t come until we arrived at the Nevada border - where we spent the night. So an early dinner was more to our liking.


Here is the luxurious motel we stayed in:
I’m really not complaining about the motel - it was clean and it had a bed and bath - that’s all you need! Actually, it would have been nice to have a good Internet connection. Poor Kent spent the entire evening trying to find a room for us for tomorrow night. [For those of you who know how well Kent usually plans out a trip - not having lodging for each night is quite remarkable!] We’re getting quite adventurous in our old age! :)

The motel was, appropriately, called “Border Inn”. The motel was in Utah and the restaurant/casino was in Nevada. We slept in one state/time zone and had breakfast in another. Great beginning to a great trip!

Tattoo Day

So, I went in for my "simulation" appointment this morning. It took about an hour and was pretty painless - even the tattoos.
One of the radiation therapists, Gary, took me through my upcoming radiation visits. I don't have to check in each day - I just go change and wait in a little waiting room for the therapist to come and get me. He showed exactly where everything is so I will know where to go.
Then he took me into an x-ray room. He showed me how I will lie on the table each treatment and what sounds the machines make and what the table feels like when it moves. He wanted to make sure there are no surprises when I start radiation.
The x-rays, CAT scan, and tattoos took about an hour total. I have six little permanent freckles now. Actually, on top of the freckles I'm covered with dots, x's, and lines drawn by the therapist and the doctor to take all the measurements for accurate radiation. They assured me it washes off!
Fortunately, according to Gary, I have "good skin" so the pokes for the tattoos were tiny and quick. Whatever makes "good skin" - I'm grateful for it.
I begin radiation next Monday. So, the next stage begins.

Medical Update

Hi, all - I realize that it has been quite a long time since I posted. I'm fine - really! In fact Kent and I just returned from a 6 day road trip. Before I tell you about the trip, let me give you a medical update:
I met with Dr. Rich, my oncologist, on Monday the 29th. Here is what we covered:
1. I have a little neuropathy in my feet. That means that my toes are a little numb and sometimes tingly. Hopefully, it will improve and not get worse. It is a side affect of chemo.
2. My fingernails are partially yellow - also a side affect of chemo.
3. My Vitamin D level is just under normal. I will be taking a Vitamin D pill daily and in 8 weeks I go back and see if my levels have improved. Why is this an issue?:
My cancer is estrogen positive. That means that estrogen helps cancer grow. Now that I am through with chemo I need to take some kind of anti-estrogen pill for the next 5 years. My choices are:
a medication that blocks estrogen receptors. The side affects of this med - hot flashes; possible blood clots; increased chance of getting uterine cancer.
The second option, and the one both I and Dr. Rich prefer, a medication that blocks the production of estrogen. The side affects of this med - hot flashes; bone loss; stiffness in my joints - usually worse in the mornings.

So now back to the Vitamin D issue. I have osteoporosis, so losing bone density from this medication is not a happy option. Dr. Rich had me go in for another bone scan the day after our appointment. He wants to see how my bones compare to last year. I haven't yet heard from him on that. So I need to continue taking my calcium and increase my dose of Vitamin D. I think Dr. Rich is also going to prescribe a bone thickening medication as well. Please keep my bones in your prayers.
5. Since my chemo is finished, I don't need my port anymore. I can't get in to see Dr. Tittensor until after September 22, so I don't know anymore than that at this point.
6. After radiation, I have follow up visits for several years. I start by going in every 3 months for a couple of years, then every 4 months etc. then once a year for a few years. As we discussed this part I think Dr. Rich could see that I was feeling a little discouraged about my future life. He told me - "Don't let chemo control your life. People who go back to normal activity and keep busy, recover much quicker and better than those who lay around watching soap operas and wishing they felt better. :) That is what I intend to do. In fact, I came out of that visit feeling lighter and more optimistic than I had in quite awhile. Thank you, Dr. Rich.

If I could ask another focus on your prayers, please - tomorrow I go in for my "simulation" appointment before I begin radiation. I'm nervous about the tattoos! :( Your prayers would help.

I will post again soon about our fabulous road trip!!

Last chemo! :)

Well - I've made it through chemo. These are the sweet nurses who took such good care of me all these weeks! They let me ring the bell and gave me a bottle of sparkling cider.
I'm finding my reaction to the end of chemo rather baffling. Everyone around me has been more excited for me than I have been. Maybe it just doesn't seem real yet ??
Anyway, I feel as good as I always have after chemo. Although, I do have some numbness in my toes - which I hope doesn't get worse and goes away!
I have a follow-up appointment with Dr. Rich in 2 weeks.

Chemo was on Thursday and Thursday evening we had Kent's annual birthday open house and included my last treatment into the celebration. It was so fun to see good friends, eat BYU brownies, and read funny/rude cards. It is one of the highlights of our summer!!!

Friday night we went out to dinner with friends - ate at Milagros - and got to hear Jackson sing for us. Today I have been sleeping quite a bit - perhaps I partied too much!
Even with all of the fun and happy times - there is this underlying "something" that keeps me a bit low. I still haven't looked at any of the information that Dr. Clark's office gave me about radiation.! Maybe actually reading it would make me feel better. Maybe it is simply because it is something different and unknown. Maybe, maybe, maybe . . . . . I'll let you know if/when I figure it out!

A little bit more about radiologist visit

OK, I'm feeling a bit better about my visit on Monday, so I'll share just a bit of info.
1. The reason I have to do radiation is:
2/3 of the women who have my kind of cancer and have gone through the exact same surgery/treatment would not need radiation - the cancer would be gone.
1/3 would NOT be cancer-free and would need the radiation.
There is no test they can do that will tell them which women fall into which category - hence everyone does the radiation - just in case.

2. Side affects from radiation "should be" easier than chemo. Here are the most common ones:
"Sunburn" to the radiated area - can get bad enough to blister and peel although they don't think mine will because I'm not doing it as long as some do. They also gave me a list of lotions I can use to help with that.
Muscle aches under the skin, from radiation - take Advil unless something stronger is needed.
Fatigue -- I "should" have more energy than with chemo but not as much as if I WEREN'T doing radiation.
Lymphadema in my arm. Retention of fluids - swelling etc. I've decided that this is what is making me anxious. I thought lymphadema showed up after the SURGERY. Since I've come this far without any issues, I thought I had put that concern behind me. Apparently not. The doctor will give me a prescription for a mastectomy sleeve that I have to wear whenever I fly. Hopefully, that will be the extent of it!

I think the rest of my anxiety is just the unknown - which seems silly to my logical mind, given what I've already gone through -- but there it is!

Anyway, I have an appointment in about 2 weeks to get an X-ray and Catscan of the area and then little tattoos to mark exactly where they want to do the radiation. One week after that I being 5.5 weeks of radiation. I go in everyday, Monday - Friday, for about 20 minutes or less and have the weekends off.

On the upside - I REALLY like Dr. Clark and his staff. So good!

Visit to Radiologist

Well, Kent and I met with doctor Clark today. We both liked him very much. He and his nurse were both very caring, compassionate, and nurturing. My reaction to this visit surprised me -- I have been anxious all day. Even after meeting with the doctor I am still anxious. I'm not sure why, since this should be much easier than the chemo was - even Dr. Clark said so.

For now, since I AM feeling anxious, I'm not going to talk about all that I learned today. I'll tell you later! :)