Not Gonna Go Down That Road Again

Happy Dancing!!!!

Chemo done!  D.O.N.E!

No more side effects...no more side effect meds!

Bye-Bye!

Not that I am not grateful for the meds to help with all the side effects of chemo...just glad to see them go!

Looking forward to:

Spending time with family...I have really missed being around your smiling faces

Gaining back my strength

Getting outside

Driving myself

Food tasting good

Sleeping through the night

No aches and pains...well, almost none

Riversong

Nails growing back normally

HAIR

Grateful for:

Gary

All the donated meals

Good doctors

All the research and progress in fighting breast cancer

Good overall health...not a single illness while on chemo

All the cards, well wishes, calls and gifts

While it is not all over--surgery and radiation yet to come--I am so glad to be done with this aspect of my treatment! 

Thank you, Everyone, for all of your support.  I needed it.  I appreciated it...and I am sure Gary did, too.

A little information about lymphedema gathered from session with OT, lymphedema specialist:

   Chances for me to develop lymphedema (swelling in arm/shoulder areas due to inability of lymph nodes to drain the area) are small but are also a lifetime issue now.  Anyone having lymph nodes removed or damaged by radiation is at risk for this chronic problem.  The more lymph nodes removed or damaged, the greater the chances of developing edema months or years down the line.  There are exercises and restrictions that make it less likely to develop...I will have to discipline myself!  (Oh, darn, I can't wash those windows!)

Coming to a Fork in the Road

Yesterday was my second to the last chemo session!  Hallalulah!
Today we met with my surgeon, Dr. Nasim Ahmadiyeh.  We now have a better understanding of the surgery and the timeline for what is to come.
Best Case Scenario:
Surgery on April 19.  This will be a lumpectomy and sentinel node biopsy.  This means that prior to surgery, a mammogram or sonogram will be done to locate the area of the cancer and a dye will be injected that helps to locate the first few lymph nodes that drain the area.  During the surgery a cubical shaped area of tissue is removed from the site, hopefully providing a rim of  cancer free tissue.  A second incision is made to remove one to three lymph nodes, also hoping that no cancer is found in those tissues.  At the one week follow up appointment with the surgeon the labs will be available and hopefully I will get the all clear and will be done with surgery.
Four weeks following the surgery I will begin 5 weeks of radiation, 5 days a week.  So, it may all be over by the end of June!!!!

Slogging Uphill

Taxol...
It makes me hurt all over.  It zaps my energy.  It makes me C R A N K Y !!!!!
...not that I am complaining or anything...

Only two more rounds to go.