tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-240176072011-04-21T22:41:01.945-05:00Docnoreply@blogger.comBlogger671100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24017607.post-59112341058017886462008-07-26T12:16:00.003-05:002008-12-08T18:59:48.236-05:00

Beth and I were in an accident last night--we are BOTH OK, aside from a stiff neck (me) and bruised knees (Beth). Here's the story...We were hosting a neighborhood gathering last night. Throughout the summer, there is a schedule of Friday nights wherein folks in the neighborhood volunteer to host and provide a few munchies, and folks come and go with drinks and chairs. It doesn't usually get

Docnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24017607.post-34887723091228313832008-03-26T14:15:00.002-05:002008-03-26T14:45:55.729-05:00

I keep thinking about new beginnings. I am coming off of CSCC's spring break and I haven't really taken a break at all. So while I should be feeling refreshed and ready to hit another 10 weeks of work and teaching (and coaching and playing basketball and playing Ultimate), I'm not. I do feel like some things have changed--we did a deep-cleaning on the house, the new sofa is in place, I *think* my

Docnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24017607.post-21042248824013977182008-01-20T21:03:00.000-05:002008-01-20T21:36:42.421-05:00

I'm sitting at a meeting with the other UPA (Ultimate Players Association) national directors, as well as the UPA's competition director and assistant director. We are meeting to go over competition-related things for the 2008 college and club series. I believe this is the 6th time that I have attended this meeting. It's changed a bit since the first year I was the NWD (National Women's Director)

Docnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24017607.post-44595143589958037692008-01-01T21:25:00.000-05:002008-01-01T21:32:39.234-05:00

I didn't technically stay up for the passing of 2007. I was, however, awake. I probably turned out the light around 11:30pm. At that time, the "hood" was already ringing with firecrackers and gunfire. I'm sure the gunfire sounds nothing like what you'd hear in an Iraqi town filled with insurgents. But still, it was not pleasing to hear. At midnight, the action picked up. I knew this because as I

Docnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24017607.post-46618427935560823922007-12-29T23:01:00.000-05:002007-12-29T23:13:17.272-05:00

Many days go by that I wonder why I bought the house that I did. Most of the time I am frustrated that it's in constant need of fixing and/or that it never seems like enough room. Mind you I enjoy fixing things and I don't really know what I'd do with more space. Nevertheless, that feeling is there.Since I first moved in (3 years ago now), my bathroom faucet has dripped. Beyond the drip, it would

Docnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24017607.post-86824621246095002862007-06-11T18:46:00.001-05:002007-06-11T19:15:39.719-05:00

It's been 4 months--give or take--since I last posted. In many ways, not very much has happened; in other ways, tons of things have happened. Since February 16, I have seen the change of 2 seasons, traveled to Arizona (Hi mom and Dana!), watched OSU lose in the NCAA Basketball finals (to Florida), started to play Ultimate and softball again, and finished 2 quarters of teaching at Columbus State.

Docnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24017607.post-71926383322070414552007-02-16T15:13:00.000-05:002007-02-16T15:39:59.337-05:00

So I get a call the other day, from Grant Hospital, to preregister me for the MUGA that I am scheduled for on Friday (today). Um, I have a MUGA scheduled for Friday? This makes some sense--I see the oncologist next Friday--he probably wants the results before we meet. But somehow I totally missed getting this onto even just one of the many calendars I use (did I mention I think I'm doing too much

Docnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24017607.post-51504615113626900912007-02-13T10:39:00.000-05:002007-02-13T10:38:47.908-05:00

Well hello blog. It's been awhile. My lack of connection with you is a reflection of my over-committing myself. I wondered what would happen when the effects of the chemo started to lessen (and that has happened). Now I want to "do." But it's not the "do" that one might think happens after recovering from being beat up for 9 months. So blog, it's not like I've found better things to do then spend

Docnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24017607.post-1170039397120215482007-01-28T21:56:00.000-05:002007-01-29T11:40:37.280-05:00

Docnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24017607.post-1165633270828283272006-12-08T21:43:00.000-05:002006-12-14T16:41:16.606-05:00

So there is no doubt that Fred was indeed real life. I lived it, I experienced it, I felt the effects of that real life. But somehow I have now returned to Real Life. I never saw Fred, I never felt Fred--I only knew about Fred based on other symptoms that told me he was there. And dealing with Fred was very much a visual thing--I could see the poisons as they went in, I could see the effect of

Docnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24017607.post-1164811253161121772006-11-29T09:40:00.000-05:002006-12-08T21:43:16.376-05:00

OK, I’ve officially done it. Somehow I’ve become a crazy OSU fan. I’ve been living in this city for 13 years now, and I have resisted the temptation for most of that time. Sure, I’ve followed the football team—it’s hard not to, living here. And of course I follow the women’s basketball team, and more recently the volleyball team. I have “followed” the men’s basketball team, but generally I’ve

Docnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24017607.post-1163549372377800152006-11-14T19:07:00.000-05:002006-11-14T19:09:32.376-05:00

Docnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24017607.post-1163549195931575052006-11-14T19:04:00.000-05:002006-11-14T19:06:35.943-05:00

The hairs are ever more present and growing, dare I say as normal...

Docnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24017607.post-1163549082696048982006-11-14T18:54:00.000-05:002006-11-15T19:17:02.370-05:00

I now have days wherein I feel like I could do a little dance. I don't usually do it--I'm generally not in places where breaking into dance would be appropriate. It is, however, a sign of things. Deep in the midst of treatment, I wondered if my good days were as good as it was ever going to be--even beyond treatment. Being 2 months out from the last poisoning, I now can see that good days now are

Docnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24017607.post-1162598209943302532006-11-03T18:41:00.000-05:002006-11-10T21:56:13.003-05:00

I don't know if you remember, but Fred is the name of my tumor. Last weekend, several of my friends walked or ran in a 5K to raise money for cancer research (it wasn't the Race for the Cure). They had shirts made, with the pink breast cancer ribbon on the front, and "Drop Dead Fred" on the back. I like the phrase. I think Fred is dead, but it is still fun to tell him to drop dead.I went back to

Docnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24017607.post-1162341398039652532006-10-31T19:30:00.000-05:002006-11-02T01:28:44.423-05:00

I feel a bit like that little engine. I think I can. I feel like I'm getting to a place where my body is ready to move on and try out its new existence. I think I can. I stepped onto an Ultimate field again this past weekend. (when Beth reads this, she's going to kill me) It wasn't for long, and it was under what I consider safe conditions. My incision is healed, but the muscles aren't yet 100%.

Docnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24017607.post-1161734880257064132006-10-24T19:02:00.000-05:002006-10-25T19:38:58.753-05:00

I think I might be getting a sense of what it's like to be normal. I know I've said before that perhaps I needed to redefine normal. But I have sensed normal--the old-fashioned kind of normal. The DeAnna normal. It's not here all of the time, but it shows itself occasionally.I have a line now, that reaches from armpit to armpit, across my chest. As far as scars/incisions go, it's beautiful. It's

Docnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24017607.post-1161734531610998592006-10-24T19:01:00.000-05:002006-10-24T19:02:11.623-05:00

I now have chin hair, nose hair, and I'm getting my "moustache." Now all I need is hair that will grow off of the top of my ears and I'll be all set.Maybe getting hair back isn't such a good thing.

Docnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24017607.post-1159994611241802822006-10-04T15:32:00.000-05:002006-10-05T18:43:46.630-05:00

In theory, I am free of the beast. I haven't gotten the final pathology report on what all was removed during surgery, but based on what the intern said, things look really good. That handy-dandy lymph node that sent up the red flag was shrunken and shriveled and not really an organ of sorts anymore. Other lymph nodes were removed--from both sides--and I'll get the final tally on those later. My

Docnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24017607.post-1159756402292794822006-10-01T21:24:00.000-05:002006-10-03T18:28:52.873-05:00

I just noticed that my last post was on Sept. 12th...and it was titled Looking Forward. I've been looking forward a lot since that last treatment. I knew that surgery was out there and that I would find my way to that day. That day is tomorrow. I'm not sure how many know exactly what I'm having done--I will have some lymph nodes removed as well as a bilateral mastectomy. I have trouble "telling"

Docnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24017607.post-1158103871174411962006-09-12T18:22:00.000-05:002006-09-12T18:31:11.190-05:00

I have been thinking a lot lately, about the things I'm looking forward to post-chemo. Some of them are obvious, some of them may not be to an "outsider." I was going to write them down, so I thought I should write them down here. They are in no particular order...Eyebrows are going to grow back.Eyelashes are going to grow back.Arm hair is going to grow back.Head hair is going to grow

Docnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24017607.post-1157730526155932662006-09-08T10:41:00.000-05:002006-09-08T10:48:46.176-05:00

This date might always have some significance to me. I don't remember the date that I was first told that I had cancer, but I will remember that September 8th was the last day of chemo. I'm sitting in the treatment room right now--getting ready to fall into a Benedryl-induced sleep. I am happy this is it for awhile. Awhile because I will have to come back every 3 weeks for the antibody treatment

Docnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24017607.post-1156874890903226402006-08-29T13:07:00.000-05:002006-08-30T06:05:59.130-05:00

The last couple of days have not been what I would call stellar. I haven’t quite decided if I’m just in a bad funk, or if the current treatment drugs are finally catching up to me. Or perhaps I just pushed to far.I went to an Ultimate tournament this weekend. MOJO, my team, was traveling to compete in the Chesapeake Open. This tournament is held outside of Washington, D.C., in Poolesville,

Docnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24017607.post-1155862983113963282006-08-17T19:52:00.000-05:002006-08-28T16:36:00.820-05:00

I've reached the final four. In some ways I thought this day would never come. Well, I guess it hasn't--it's tomorrow. In any case, there is a part of me that feels like this is just a way of life--something that I always have to do. I'm not sure when I'll lose that feeling, but I would guess that will happen when I quit going in for treatments every Friday afternoon. Wait, that won't completely

Docnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24017607.post-1155266731109994982006-08-10T22:22:00.000-05:002006-08-12T07:38:15.716-05:00

OK, it's still not much hair, but it is hair and it is thicker than it used to be. No, it's not the normal color. It seems to be lacking full pigment. With the right lighting, it is definitely a halo.

Docnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24017607.post-1154719955177060882006-08-04T14:06:00.000-05:002006-08-06T22:11:50.966-05:00

I'm sitting in the treatment room, surrounded by many others that are at different stages of their treatments. I'm finding that not everyone gets exactly the same drugs--I get Tagument, someone else gets Pepsin, someone is getting adriamycin, I got epirubicin. But it's like therapy in here. The group sort of therapy. Everyone is comparing war wounds. What fell out when, what aches and pains

Docnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24017607.post-1153279441231071852006-07-18T22:15:00.000-05:002006-07-18T22:24:01.246-05:00

So it's been awhile since I have posted. It seems that when I haven't blogged you can rest easy that I'm probably doing OK. I seem to find myself doing more lately--which is great. I do tire so easily, and I'm still putting on pounds. The former is because the blood counts have been low, but they are getting better now (YAY Procrit!). The latter is because I do still get steroids at each

Docnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24017607.post-1151719967076920792006-06-30T21:08:00.000-05:002006-07-08T19:03:37.120-05:00

Sarah, Beth, Oscar, me, Miles, and Steph...at the National zoo. Matt took the picture. It was an AWESOME visit to see them, and to meet Oscar and Miles. Makes me ache for old friends. I almost stole the kids several times, but Sarah and Beth couldn't create big enough diversions...

Docnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24017607.post-1151719570823824942006-06-30T21:03:00.000-05:002006-06-30T21:06:10.840-05:00

This could be a long one…I had the second of the next 12 treatments today. I already had one this week—on Monday. I have to say (and maybe I did) that it seems to be an easier treatment so far. I’ve progressed with “normal” activity all week. I started a new quarter at Columbus State although that means that I’m done with Wednesday-night softball because of a time conflict. It’s been good to go

Docnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24017607.post-1151372202720414412006-06-26T20:36:00.000-05:002006-06-26T20:39:22.946-05:00

Maybe they are right, or maybe it's too soon to tell, but the Taxol does seem easier. It wasn't any faster today, but I was told the subsequent treatments will be quicker. The biggest effect that I have felt so far is from Benadryl. They gave me about 100 mL by IV, and it kicked in big time. I felt really bad for Jane (who had accompanied me today--good thing, not sure I could have driven home).

Docnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24017607.post-1151069759359220142006-06-23T08:32:00.000-05:002006-06-23T08:35:59.373-05:00

I was supposed to have a treatment today. The Poison Doctor’s office called to reschedule it for Monday. Apparently they don’t like to start new treatments on Fridays in case there are problems in the first few days. Um, I started all of this on a Friday, but OK—if they feel it can wait 3 more days then I can enjoy my weekend.I think I’m hitting the point where this entire process is getting

Docnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24017607.post-1150427776733964842006-06-15T22:15:00.000-05:002006-06-15T22:16:16.746-05:00

Ah, it’s a good week. I finally turned the corner sometime last Friday. By Saturday I was able to be up on my feet for the better part of the day, and it was the first day in 5 that I didn’t need a nap. Sure, I could have taken one, but I didn’t NEED it. And since then I have felt as close to normal as I can these days. I played softball last night, I moved some dirt around the yard and garden (

Docnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24017607.post-1149889552250192692006-06-09T16:40:00.000-05:002006-06-09T16:46:49.666-05:00

This is what Casey, Jake, Cody and Sidney do when I'm home recovering from treatment.

Docnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24017607.post-1149889162481348612006-06-09T16:38:00.000-05:002006-06-09T16:39:22.500-05:00

Treatment number 4—check. It’s a little hard to “talk” about—there’s that weird inside feeling that is indescribable, although I will say it makes me feel ill in some way. This has definitely been the roughest so far. I thought at first that I might slide through. Monday and Tuesday weren’t so bad. But by Tuesday evening, I was “hurting,” and have been ever since. Perhaps the onset of the fatigue

Docnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24017607.post-1149186615538315282006-06-01T13:29:00.000-05:002006-06-01T13:30:15.540-05:00

OK, so it’s been a long time since I’ve posted. I guess when it comes to the topic of this blog, that’s a good thing. It means I’ve been too busy to blog, which means that I’m doing stuff—fun stuff.I go in tomorrow for the 4th and final of what I call the BIG treatments. The triple cocktail of chemo drugs comes to an end. I can’t say for sure what the next 12 weeks (that start on June 23rd) of

Docnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24017607.post-1149186561319507412006-06-01T13:19:00.000-05:002006-06-01T13:29:21.370-05:00

Stephanie and I on opposing teams...the sun is blinding in left field...

Docnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24017607.post-1149185971605959632006-06-01T13:18:00.000-05:002006-06-01T13:19:31.606-05:00

Sarah's hit brought me in from third. No, I'm not that sweaty--we had gotten rained on...

Docnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24017607.post-1149185857854483082006-06-01T13:16:00.000-05:002006-06-01T13:17:37.876-05:00

I'm not sure that I hit this one too far--but I still got something left...

Docnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24017607.post-1148476280459246912006-05-24T08:04:00.000-05:002006-05-24T08:11:20.470-05:00

This is the sea of 31,900 people that ran/walked The Race for the Cure on Sunday. It was a record crowd (apparently). Is it proper to ask "Who won The Race for the Cure?"

Docnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24017607.post-1147786448075328662006-05-16T08:32:00.000-05:002006-05-16T08:34:08.093-05:00

I’m 4 days out from the 3rd chemo. 3 out of the 4 big ones are done. Whew. It’s again a little worse—in terms of the fatigue—but I knew that would be the case.Mom was in town for a long weekend—it was so incredibly great to see her. We had brunch with Beth’s parents Saturday morning (LOVED Judy’s coffee cake!). Saturday night was the cookout—planned so mom could also meet some amazing people. And

Docnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24017607.post-1147785725373835832006-05-16T08:22:00.000-05:002006-05-16T08:22:05.386-05:00

The "Fancy" doo-rag was a hit! Very comfy... 

Docnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24017607.post-1147741101489577222006-05-15T19:58:00.000-05:002006-05-15T19:58:21.496-05:00

Thanks...for being there. 

Docnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24017607.post-1147741024135565852006-05-15T19:57:00.000-05:002006-05-15T19:57:04.140-05:00

Mom and I...it was wonderful to have her around for the weekend! 

Docnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24017607.post-1147740956489157142006-05-15T19:55:00.000-05:002006-05-15T19:55:56.493-05:00

Apparently I need to be eating something when I'm at chemo...this time it was a brownie--provided by the nurses. 

Docnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24017607.post-1146793139802640482006-05-04T20:35:00.000-05:002006-05-04T20:38:59.816-05:00

If ever you think to yourself “I wish my life wasn’t so normal,” think again. There have been 2 recent times that I have screamed for normal. The first time (and this one lasted a long time) was during the biology project at work. It seemed like the never ending project. I guess it kind of was. I just kept hoping for a normal work day, where I would do into work, do my work, and come home from

Docnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24017607.post-1146245649476652972006-04-28T12:29:00.000-05:002006-04-28T12:34:09.490-05:00

I started to write a post last night and lost my train of thought. That's not uncommon, I'm finding, during the week after treatment. Apparently these drugs are similar to alcohol in their ability to knock out brain cells. Let's just hope it's not permanent.The thing I most wanted to post on was the yet unnamed lymph node. IT'S GETTING SMALLER! On a whim I gave it a poke last night, and wow, I

Docnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24017607.post-1145807373229897142006-04-23T10:49:00.000-05:002006-04-23T10:49:33.236-05:00

OK, there's the mohawk... 

Docnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24017607.post-1145807339962531222006-04-23T10:48:00.000-05:002006-04-23T10:49:10.406-05:00

So I got another chance to play with the hair. Decided against the mohawk, but I did have it for about 3 minutes! 

Docnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24017607.post-1145753591199573102006-04-22T19:49:00.000-05:002006-04-22T19:55:22.483-05:00

OK, so it wasn’t Jenn’s driving. After the first chemo, I drove with Jenn, Jane, and Adrienne out to DC to see Kerri. On the drive out, I didn’t do so good, but that doesn’t surprise me when I’m in a car that I’m not driving. [Haven’t I mentioned this scenario before?] In any case, last night after the second round of chemo, I felt some of the nauseousness that was there after the first round. It

Docnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24017607.post-1145752902060493212006-04-22T19:41:00.000-05:002006-04-22T19:41:42.066-05:00

Beth kindly went and picked up Dairy Queen during my second chemo. I'm not sure the other patients liked it so much, but I'm not sure if it's because they were jealous, or if it was just completely unappealing to them. 

Docnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24017607.post-1145752789602004442006-04-22T19:39:00.000-05:002006-04-22T19:39:49.606-05:00

Take a look at the sides of that doo! This is going to require some serious maintenance. 

Docnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24017607.post-1145752326900279002006-04-22T19:29:00.000-05:002006-04-22T19:32:06.943-05:00

OK, sure a few days ago I was seemingly complaining that the predictors of the start of alopecia (loss of hair) were wrong. No, I wasn’t complaining that I wasn’t loosing my hair (Dan :) ). I just think that when one is getting ready to experience something completely foreign, any insight comes in handy. And when that insight fails to prove itself, it’s disconcerting. I knew that it would fall

Docnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24017607.post-1145322734082747042006-04-17T20:09:00.000-05:002006-04-18T11:47:40.300-05:00

Strangely, I still have my hair. By all means I shouldn’t, or at least one would think not. I guess that “day” doesn’t fall on the same day post-chemo for everyone. Perhaps it’s because what I do have on my head isn’t heavy enough (ie. long enough) to fall out. Heck, maybe I just ain’t going to completely lose it. Whatever. I am still getting chemo, and I still might have to wear a hat on my head

Docnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24017607.post-1144680291419267072006-04-10T09:42:00.000-05:002006-04-10T09:44:51.450-05:00

I dried my hair to completion this morning with a towel. It was easy enough to do since I had Beth take the clippers to it last night. Guard number 4 was in place—and I had thought we’d work our way down to the number 2. But in the end, I decided this was short enough. My first thought when I saw it was how much I looked like Dana. I know he wanted me to also go blonde so he could see what HE

Docnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24017607.post-1144635427398231252006-04-09T21:17:00.000-05:002006-04-09T21:17:07.553-05:00

The doo a week after chemo. Hasn't fallen out yet, but the tingling scalp tells me it's coming! I think I look like my brother Dana... 

Docnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24017607.post-1144370852065180832006-04-06T19:47:00.000-05:002006-04-06T19:47:32.070-05:00

This is at my first chemo; the red line is fluid going IN, not out. I think by the next treatment, I'll be sans hair... 

Docnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24017607.post-1144357506943316642006-04-06T16:01:00.000-05:002006-04-06T19:35:24.586-05:00

fa·tigue n.Physical or mental weariness resulting from exertion.Something, such as tiring effort or activity, that causes weariness: the fatigue of a long hike.Physiology. The decreased capacity or complete inability of an organism, an organ, or a part to function normally because of excessive stimulation or prolonged exertion. I think the definition of fatigue is interesting. All of the above

Docnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24017607.post-1144174073540245792006-04-04T13:07:00.000-05:002006-04-04T13:07:53.556-05:00

I actually called my chemo doc that at my first appointment with him. What else can he do to me? His name is actually Sanjay Yadav. He’s a really nice guy—very genuine, very concerned, and very informative. He has already given me his cell phone number—to use even when he is NOT the doc on call. He laughed at my 3-ring binder. Yeah, I put together a binder with all sorts of information. Cancer

Docnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24017607.post-1143647740437524752006-03-29T10:50:00.000-05:002006-03-29T10:55:40.460-05:00

Ok, maybe that’s not funny. But it is good news, actually. Turns out that in the tissue that the doc took from my left girl there was as tumor—a very tiny mass, only about 4mm big (if you aren't into the metric system, that's well short of 1/2 inch). It was invasive (for those keeping score—invasive ductal cancer), which means it was invading the neighboring ducts and passageways to the lymph

Docnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24017607.post-1143074494663877822006-03-22T19:34:00.000-05:002006-03-22T19:41:34.676-05:00

DeAnna and I are back from outpatient surgery... After some chicken noodle soup and a toasted english muffin with butter, she's now curled up on the couch, doing just fine. She was a trooper (anyone out there surprised?). Let me rewind a bit and give you a quick rundown of the afternoon: noon arrival at Grant hospital, free valet parking, quick check in at the front desk. We were directed

Bethnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24017607.post-1142999491941182702006-03-21T22:48:00.000-05:002006-03-21T22:51:31.956-05:00

Saw the doc after all of those tests. I have to admit that I spent the weekend not very happy. OK, yeah, that sounds odd. But I wasn’t happy to have been through a round of tests and then have to sit tight for an entire weekend. It’s not even that I had to deal with the worst-case-scenario running through my head. Rather it was just the not being able to do anything (again). But Monday came, and

Docnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24017607.post-1142996176054990232006-03-21T21:18:00.000-05:002006-03-21T21:56:16.086-05:00

Tests, tests, and more tests. It’s been over a week since I had these tests, but I realized something about that today. It least was a time when I felt like I was DOING something towards dealing/treating/whatever. The last week or so, I’ve been playing the waiting game. There is kind of a plan of attack, but it’s about getting all the ducks in a row to get it started.The tests…the CT scan was

Docnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24017607.post-1142785897618850262006-03-19T11:20:00.000-05:002006-03-19T11:31:37.626-05:00

I still have not completed the story as to how I have gotten to this short hair. Yes, I know everyone knows WHY I now have the short hair, but there is more...those blasted tests. But before I head into that, I wanted to say that I feel so INCREDIBLY FORTUNATE for all of the people that I have around me. Friends have been sending messages that have stopped me in my tracks. Wow, I miss so many

Docnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24017607.post-1142717599597107682006-03-18T16:23:00.000-05:002006-03-18T17:51:40.740-05:00

I went ahead and cut the hair. It's one of those things--you get a wild hair someplace, and you just can't stop thinking about getting it completed. What's the harm in having some friends over to cut your hair while sharing a little wine? Well, you tell me--you can see the photo.After that mammogram and the ultrasound, I finally had the chance to meet my new doctor--the breast surgeon. It was a

Docnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24017607.post-1142716865105579252006-03-18T16:21:00.000-05:002006-03-18T16:21:05.106-05:00

Beth and I after Michael had finished up the new doo. 

Docnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24017607.post-1142716813458954842006-03-18T16:20:00.000-05:002006-03-18T16:20:13.463-05:00

Right before the hair cut. Yes, that's my kitchen. Why worry about messing it up if it's going to fall out anyway? 

Docnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24017607.post-1142394298293199882006-03-14T22:09:00.000-05:002006-03-16T23:14:55.263-05:00

Mammogram or bustI'm getting my hair cut next week. I hadn't planned on getting a hair cut any time soon...maybe a trim, or at most and inch or so cut off. I've been growing it out for the last 3 years. Once upon a time I would have the stylist use the #2 guard on the clippers, so I'm used to SHORT. But of course, with it that short, it's a little hard for the dude at the cash register to get the

Docnoreply@blogger.com2