A Couple of More Goals Met

Today was a day that we have been planning for a few months.  Three month old Leigha Caroline and Nathan Benjamin Graff each received a special blessing at our church service.  In this blessing their name is put on the records of our church as a child of record. {It is not the same as a baptism, since we do not believe that children need to be baptized until they are older,} This has been a goal for me personally, because I have been advised to not be in larger groups until last week because of my lowered immune system.  I also drove to and from Sandy (about 35 minutes both ways), attended the service, and spent some time with Suzanna and the babies.  I did well.  However, I came home and went straight to bed and asleep for about 2 hours.  I think the time was long enough and it was wise to go straight to bed.  I feel much better.

Leigha Caroline, Benjamin, Nathan Benjamin, Suzanna, Sara (SE)
Sunday, September 28, 2014

Tomorrow I begin radiation treatments.  I go to see the oncologist about the estrogen treatments on Tuesday.  There has been a problem getting a sleeve that fits correctly for the lymphedema, so I will be going to the therapist and seeing about that tomorrow also.

Final "Run Through" Before Radiation Begins

Yesterday I had the 2nd of 3 "planning appointments" for the radiation treatments.  Friday is the 3rd one.  It is the final "run through"before the treatments begin on Monday.  I am told it will be just like on Monday, except it won't be the treatment.  It will be to check to make sure all is set up right.  It will be longer-about 20-30 minutes.  Then I will begin the real thing on Monday.
I have an appointment with the oncologist on Tuesday too.  We will be discussing the 3rd treatment which is to include a daily tablet for 5 years, because the cancer I had was estrogen fed.  I will understand more after the appointment.  That is the purpose of the meeting.

First Radiation Appointment and Other Updates

Onward and forward!!!  Last Tuesday I met with the radiologist to learn about the next adventure of radiation treatments.  I found that I will have 33 treatments over about 6 1/2 weeks.  I will go in daily Monday thru Friday for the treatments which will take about 15 minutes.  He told me the biggest side effect is "fatigue". The other one can be burn from the radiation.  I will see the doctor weekly during the treatments and they will do blood work at that time.  I also found that there is preparation before we can start the treatments.  I had one of those appointments last week and another one tomorrow.  The therapist did a MRI and marked my skin so that they can make sure they are lining the machines up right and the same each time.  My understanding is that they will tattoo dots for that purpose tomorrow.  A specialist has used all of the information including what the doctor wants to target and developed a plan.  They will be checking that tomorrow before the tattoos.

I am continuing to feel better and to gain strength.  I still get very tired (way too quickly to suit me).  I went to a special activity for the Primary (our church's organization for children ages 18 months to 11 years) girls who are 8-11 yesterday.  I am president for the stake (9 congregations) and we had been planning it for about 6 months.  It was my first time being in a larger gathering.  We had about 100 girls and 40 adults there. It was so good to be with them.  It was also the biggest thing I have done in a long time.  So I came home and slept for awhile before Suzanna and family came for a short visit.  I could tell that I am feeling better in the way I felt with SE, Leigha, and Nathan.
I began treatments at the lymphedema clinic on Monday (a week ago).  After a lymph drainage treatment-not as bad as it sounds-more like a massage in areas where there are more lymph nodes-the therapist wrapped my arm.  It was harder to do some things all wrapped up from fingers to shoulder, but it didn't bother me too much.  On Thursday, she measured me for a compression sleeve and glove.  They should be here in a few days.  I have exercises to do daily, as well as, wear the sleeve.
Oh, yes.  I have fuzz growing on my head!!!  Yeah!!!
Thank you for keeping me in your prayers and remembering me with cards, emails, helping to keep things nice here at home, etc.  I so appreciate your and your love and service.  

More Strength, Different Activities, and a New Diagnosis

I realized last night that I hadn't posted for almost 2 weeks-12 days.  How time does fly at times!
I am feeling better-definitely better than when taking the chemo treatments.  Last week I was stronger than the week before and felt better too.  Yeah!!!!! This past week I have done more.  However, that is all that I have done besides resting.
On Tuesday I was a little concerned because there was a tender place on the calf of my right leg and a little knot.  The doctor scheduled me to have an ultrasound which proved what we thought, no blood clot and the leg is fine.  Good news!  On Wed I attended a meeting for an hour in the morning and in the evening had one here for about 2 1/2 hours.  Both of these were for Primary (my church's organization for children 18 months to 11 years old) I work with the leaders.  On Thursday I had an appointment with the lymphedema clinic.  My oncologist had referred me earlier, but I felt so bad on the days I had appointments and it wasn't bothering me, so I had decided to wait until later.
I do have lymphedema. This occurs sometimes after lymph nodes under the arm are removed, as they were when the tumor was removed February 28th.  I begin treatment on Monday.  I will have a treatment each day that week with my arm being wrapped, the next 2 weeks it will be 3 times a week, and the next 3 weeks once a week. How my arm responds will determine what else is involved.  I will be fitted with a compression sleeve sometime in that process and the therapist says I should wear it the rest of my life.  Yeah!  :-(  I was just reading a little about it and read that sometimes one might feel it another attack on her body.  That is exactly the way it felt-feels.  I know it could be so much worse and am grateful it isn't.  However, we have to get by the original feelings of things, don't we?
On Tuesday evening I attended a workshop called "Look Good Feel Better" by the American Cancer Society. They have it every first Monday here in Provo, but having my treatments on Tuesday, I never felt well enough to go.  They have samples of make-up for those cancer patients attending to try out and take

A picture of me with a fun wig
with auburn highlighted
hair color. Regret that my
eyes were closed.

home, as well as, instruction on scarf tying, hats, and wigs. Two other ladies were there also and it was great fun.  I tried on a fun wig, was encouraged and interested in the scarves, and tried the whole make-up thing which I hadn't done since I had so much reaction about 7 or so years ago.  The surprise the next day was the left cheek area of my face began to breakout.  I know that coconut oil heals and helps, so I began using it immediately and it has healed almost completely.  So I will be very careful about make-up.  I may try more using only one new thing at a time in awhile,  We'll see.
This past week I also did more in meal preparing and, in general, just felt better.  I am so grateful.  The hard thing about feeling better is that I have thoughts of many things to do and am just not up to doing them.  So I think about doing them in the future.  If I did too much, I felt really tired and sometimes felt "bad" so I laid down to rest and sleep when I needed to do so.
I am so grateful to feel better.  I am looking forward to one day regaining my regular sense of taste, no numbness in my toes, regular healthy finger and toenails, etc.  Oh, yes, I am eager to have normal hair on my head again.  In the last week, I have noticed that there is some hair growing,  It is really fine and like "peach fuzz".  That is exciting, however, I reluctantly decided that I have several months of wigs, hats, and/or scarves ahead of me.
I have heard from various sources that radiation will not be as bad as the chemo.  I am hoping so.  However, I also have heard that fatigue is the greatest complaint.  My appointment with the radiologist is on Tuesday, so I will know more then.
I am so very grateful for the wonderful blessings I have had and still have.  I know the Lord has blessed me in many physical ways, as well as, lifted my spirits when I asked Him to do so.  I know that your prayers have made a difference and I appreciate your love, prayers, and service.  Thank you.

Eight Days Later!!! Celebrate Today!

As you know, my last chemo treatment was last Tuesday-a week ago!  I was so happy and grateful to finally get to that last treatment.  I was a little nervous that I might not be able to have it but all was well.  

I knew that I still had to go through the weekly cycle of that treatment.  It was much the same.  I really felt bad some days, rested a lot, and spent more time in bed than I would have liked.  My fingers and toes felt more weird that usual and some days I felt very "beat up".  However, I worked to stay positive and asked Heavenly Father to forgive me for feeling sorry for myself and to help me stay "up-beat" and positive.  As always He did.  

This week-yesterday and today-I believe I am feeling better.  I don't feel as sick.  I have to be very careful to not over do, because when I do, I feel sick. This week and next I have no doctors' appointments.  Hallelujah!  In fact there are only 2 for this month. I know that will change soon as I will go for radiation 5 days a week for 6 weeks.  Today I celebrate today!!!

Thank you for your continued love, prayers, and support.  I love and am grateful for you.  

Let's Celebrate Today!
Celebration flower from the Rowberry ladies
 and sparkling juice from Central Utah Clinic.