Burritos as big as a chihuahua

Surgery ✓
Chemotherapy ✓
Radiation ✓

Back in December, when I got the initial results of the biopsy, Deb (the nurse navigator) called me and did an awesome job of meeting me where I was at with regards to what the future might hold.  She explained that they didn't have all the specifics of my cancer, but that there are four main methods to treat breast cancer and that my particular treatment could be a mix of any of them.  They were:

Surgery

Chemotherapy

Radiation

Hormone therapy

Lucky me, I get to have all four.  But today, I completed the third of these--and what I hope to be the end of the most life-interrupting.  I still have Herceptin infusions every three weeks till spring, and I'll have five years of hormone therapy, and I know I'll have frequent follow-ups, but these were the biggies.

At Columbia St. Mary's, they have a triangle on the wall of the radiation oncology department and when you're done with your last radiation, you get to ring it.  I walked out of my last treatment, excited to ring the triangle, and Greg was there, waiting for me with flowers.  I couldn't believe what an emotional moment it was and I teared up.

So radiation was done and to celebrate, the family (minus Cara) went to BelAir Cantina and ate burritos "as big as a chihuahua."

(Cara--dad wore his Hamline tee so it was almost like you were there with us)

They were fantastic--as were the house margaritas.  Unfortunately, before the radiation appointment, I'd had my pre-clinical trial bloodwork done, where they took six vials of blood. Note to self: margarita after losing that much blood is not the best idea.  That was a REALLY good margarita!  

I am a little embarrassed at how excited I am to be able to resume doing something now that radiation is over.  What is it?  This:

(probably not as excited as my family and friends are)

I'll write more in a few days, probably, including lovely details of my last week of treatments. But for now I really need to head to bed.  Must be that margarita.  :)

Super busy

Today I had radiation #21 with 7 left to go.  Yesterday was the first time I had any signs of radiation on my skin (other than the allergic rash to Aquaphor, but I don't count that).  I have an obvious sunburn kind of pattern on my chest and upper arm.  It's most obvious in the line at the top of the radiated field. The area feels hot to the touch and a little uncomfortable/pinchy. But after this week, I'll have 3 days off, 4 days of radiation, then a weekend and one last day.  I can do this!  :)

Last week Wednesday I had an appointment with Dr. Shah.  I got my MUGA test results.  Before beginning treatment (chemo and Herceptin), my left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) was 65%.  After chemo, it dropped to 56%, but she was not concerned about that drop.  I'll continue to have MUGAs every 3 months until next spring, when I'm done with the Herceptin infusions.  

I also learned that I was accepted into the Phase 2 Clinical Trial for the NeuVax (breast cancer vaccine).  It might sound strange that I'm excited to be getting 10 sets of 4 injections (can't say "immunizations" since I don't know if I'm in the control or experimental group), but I really kind of am!  Someday I'll know which group I was in, but not for several years.

My lab test results were pretty good.  My platelets dropped back down to my normal, but my hemoglobin is quite possibly the highest it has ever been.  It's certainly the highest it's been in my electronic medical history.

Hemoglobin 12.4 gm/dL
White Blood Cells 3.8 thou/mcL (a little low)
Platelets 86 thou/mcL

My weight is nearly the same, but my BMI was recorded as 25.0, which is the very bottom of "overweight"!  I guess that's something. :)

I've now been completely off the Zoloft for 2 weeks (started weaning off a month ago).  I think I'm doing fine, but I did notice that my bad dreams have returned.  Actually, all my dreams have returned (at least the memory of them), but I don't mind the GOOD ones!

My hair continues to fill in.  My eyebrows have both left me completely, and decided to start coming back.


Though I was feeling exhausted a few weeks ago, I seem to have adjusted to the feeling and I've had a lot of chances to do fun things lately.  


I visited with my former classmate Rohan and his wife.
I attended the (beautiful) wedding of my former classmate Katie.
I went to two parties--a birthday party for my friend Scott, and a book release party for my friend Dean.
I went to a mini concert featuring Silversun Pickups with Cara.

The younger kids started back to school yesterday and both seem pretty happy with classes and teachers.

Greg started back to teaching today and he, too, is happy with his classes.  :)

And I got an "add-on" contract to teach PH101 as an instructor (i.e.: not a TA!) at UWM.  That essentially moves me up to being 75% employed--at least until December!  My first class meets tomorrow morning.  Current enrollment is 68 students--the largest class I've ever taught.  I cannot wait!


And to close, we got Travis' Senior pics back.  The CD has 76 photos on it, and choosing my favorites is hard, but here are a few of them.