So Hard To Write The Words

My sister Jenn has been diagnosed with early stage breast cancer.  Weeks ago she had the suspicious mammogram.  The follow-up mammogram, the biopsy, and an MRI were the confirmations.  She'll have the second MRI with the dye as I did to confirm the cells are contained.  She'll know more in the next few weeks as she meets with her surgeon after the procedure.  Possibly just a lumpectomy without chemo, or radiation.  That is the hope.  DCIS - ductal carcinoma in situ.  Early stage.  Curable. 

I can't even believe the irony of this being breast cancer awareness month.  Both of us will walk the walk tomorrow with the Puckered Up Team - Making Strides Against Breast Cancer.  So many of you have been amazing supporters of this event.  So continue to spread the word.  All donations of any amount are truly meaningful and can still be accepted after tomorrow.

Left click once on the link below and then click underneath where it then says "Go to link" to get to the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer site.  The Puckered-Up for Tracy team is formidable.  Jenn and I are formidable.  Thank you all for everything you do to put cancer in it's place. 

http://main.acsevents.org/site/TR?px=17567407&pg=personal&fr_id=47475&fl=en_US&et=O9r7QjpzU_y-9wTg9rRSYQ

Medical Oncology & Cardiology Anyone?

I met Dr Syms yesterday.  Had my first check-up with him as my new oncologist since Dr Hammond retired.  Dr Syms - very nice guy.  Best news is my labs all came back spic'n span clean and I don't need another appointment for 6 months!  The crappy part is Exeter Hospital is moving forward with a contract with Massachusetts General Hospital medical oncology and terminating the contract with Dana Farber.  MGH does the radiation oncology and so EH feels it's a good transition to bundle both services.  My initial reaction is I'll probably follow Dr Syms to the Hooksett office of Dana Farber.  It's just it is such an amazing team at Exeter, it is challenging to imagine as a patient.  It is also challenging for all the staffs too.  What will my nurse practitioner decide to do?  The nursing team, the lab folks, the staffs in charge of the clinical trial - there really is such a bond to the whole group.  My positive is I am in the maintenance phase and don't need to be seen as often.  I have some time to decide.

Another good appointment was with my new cardiologist Dr Sutherland.  Even though my last ECHO was a slightly changed from my baseline 2.5 years ago Dr Sutherland doesn't feel there is anything to be concerned about.  These appointments had weighed heavy on my mind since 2012 hasn't been the most healthy.

Still building stamina, still get some tremors when tired, but I feel like I am coming out of the fog of months of antibiotics.  I do feel better.  My hair is still coming back.  My eyes don't want to slam shut at 2:00pm.  Great steps.  Each day I hold dear all the wonderful people that help me to keep going in a good direction.  Thank you so much for checking in on me.  All the good vibes feel wonderful!