This is a diary of my breast cancer diagnosis and treatment. I've been adding it in reverse order so the most recent information is at the top.

Thanks for the cards, e-mails and flowers. I do appreciate being in your thoughts and hearts and prayers.

Nancy

October 29, 2006

I guess you have figured out that not much has been going on so I haven't been posting as much. I did get a really bad cold that turned into bronchitis and a probable respiratory infection. Once I got some antibiotics and some good cough medicine, that did the trick. I still have a residual cough at night but I feel lots better. Jonathan & I have been trying to eat less/better. I haven't gotten much exercise with this chest funkiness, but I am about to get into the pool for a little while. I will also be doing some more physical therapy for a few weeks to work on strengthening my arms and getting more freedom of motion in my right shoulder.

In a couple hours I am meeting with two of the ladies that went through treatment with me. We met last year and have been helping each other through all the chemo and hair loss and radiation and such. Well we have all finished the bulk of the hard stuff and are getting together at Teshima's restaurant to celebrate. I was at a local gift store (Kathryn's of Kona) the other day and found a couple amethyst bracelets with chinese beads that are for good health and inner peace. I got one for each of them.

I have a follow-up brain MRI November 27th and in bunch of doctor's appointments in early December - oncologist in Honolulu, neurologist in Honolulu, heart echo here in Kona, and a follow-up with my surgeon. When we go to Honolulu the first week in December, we will leave from there to go to Truckee for a week. We will celebrate my birthday with some friends and Wet Woodies at Gar Wood's on the lake.

October 11, 2006

Here's a picture from last weekend that shows I have hair. It's pretty light (that means gray) but it seems to be darkening as it gets longer.

October 10, 2006

Wow. It was a year ago today that I had a core needle biopsy. There are quite a few "anniversaries" in October. I'm not sure whether to celebrate or block them out of my mind. I'm happy that I've made it through all this so far. I guess we have more strength than we think.

The infusion of Herceptin on September 26th was uneventful. The place was a bit of a zoo that day so it took a long time. I baked brownies for the patients and nurses and took them with me. Had to remind them again that I don't get Benadryl any more. Since Jonathan was traveling I need to be able to drive myself and don't want to do that all sleepy on Benadryl.

Just got back yesterday from our trip to the mainland. We went to Houston first and had a new MRI done for the neurosurgeon there, Dr. Lang. We got a call this morning from MD Anderson (at 6:am no less) that the news is good - no change! He would like to see me again in 6 months and do another one.

We went from Houston to San Francisco for Jonathan's sister, Jennifer's, wedding. It was held at the Cliff House on the outdoor deck overlooking the Pacific Ocean. We had a beautiful sunny October day and the wedding was just lovely. I got quite a few comments about how good I look, so I think folks expected me to look sick. My hair is growing out fast too so maybe that was a surprise for people. When Jonathan downloads the pictures from his camera, I'll find one and post it here so you can see my hair.

I picked up a cold somewhere along the line and started getting symptoms of a sore throat and a stuffed head in the afternoon yesterday. I took some Tylenol and something to help me sleep and got some good rest last night. Feeling a bit better today but a bit run down.

Coffee pickers are starting the next round tomorrow morning and the lead guy said he'd help me get it loaded and hauled to the processor.

Tom just left for the airport for his trip back to Denver. It was great to have him here to keep an eye on the farm and watch the cats. (Yes, Molly, he did brush Sandy every day.) He even did a few things around the farm for me so I wouldn't be so far behind. Thanks, Tom!

It rained all afternoon today which is good but made it a little soggy for getting in the pool. Tom took a dip after lunch in the rain anyway. We went out to Keei Cafe and had a great lunch and of course, for dessert, their new lilikoi (passion fruit) cheesecake with chocolate macadamia crust. Yum. If I'm feeling a bit better in the morning I want to try getting a few minutes on the treadmill. Way too much good food over the last week.

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