Not much new.........

There really isn't much new and exciting to blog about these days. I guess that is a good thing.

I have had 6 radiation treatments so far. I am getting the hang of the procedure and what to expect each time I go. That I can have everything finished and be back home within an hour is a huge blessing to me. I see the radiation oncologist on Tuesdays, so today, after my treatment, he and I will have a pow wow and discuss how things are going. I'm not experiencing any real issues with the radiation so far, although I do detect a bit of skin tenderness. Who knows if it is from the treatment or not, though.

I had a Herceptin treatment yesterday, too, so that made for a busy day. Going every three weeks is really different from making my weekly trips like I did for chemo. New faces are mixed in with the familiar faces; I wish that wasn't the case, as we all know why they are there.

Please pray for one of our church families this week. The James family, Mark, Suzie, Kelly and Travis lost their dear son and brother, Cameron, last year this Friday. Please pray that God would envelope them with His love and peace as they still feel such a void in their family. Cameron is home with Jesus now, free of the cancer that shortened his young life. While that is a comfort beyond measure, the pain of his loss is still so overwhelming for his family. Thank you for being willing to help uphold this dear family. And again, thank you for all the prayers that you have brought before the throne of grace on behalf of our family as well.

COME BOLDLY TO THE THRONE OF GRACE (Fanny Crosby)

Come, ye who from your hearts believe
That Jesus answers prayer,
Come boldly to a throne of grace
And claim His promise there,
That, if His love in us abide
And we in Him are one,
Whatever in His Name we ask
It surely will be done.

Come lovingly and trustingly,
Take Jesus at His Word,
For He has said, “the prayer of faith
Was never yet unheard.”

If in the "fountain filled with blood"
Our sins are washed away
Come boldly to a throne of grace,
Rejoicing that we may
Come boldly to a throne of grace,
And bless the Lord our King—
Who fills our grateful hearts with praise,
And tunes our tongues to sing.

Come lovingly and trustingly,
Take Jesus at His Word,
For He has said, “the prayer of faith
Was never yet unheard.”

From every precious, golden hour
We spend in fervent prayer,
We gather strength from day to day
For each returning care;
And, while with true, believing hearts
We bow before His throne,
There’s not a promise He has made
But we may call our own.

posted by Kim @ 8:20 AM 0 comments

Am I glowing yet?

I had my first radiation treatment this afternoon. As expected, it was relatively short and painless. I say relatively, since they did need to retake one more x-ray, and the longer my arms have to stay above my head, the more pain is involved. But, I was in and out in seemingly no time at all. Good thing, too, because it was really hot in there.....they had a problem with the A/C unit, and there were huge fans all over the place. Hoping for a cooler time tomorrow.

After my radiation treatment, I had a follow up appointment with my surgeon. It was quick and much more painless than the last time I saw him (when he removed the drain and staples!). He said everything looked as though it was healing nicely. He also told me that I need to continue doing those goofy arm exercises until I have regained all the mobility in my arm. Yes, sir! I finally got my hands on a copy of the pathology report, one month post surgery. It didn't tell me anything that I didn't already know, but it's nice to finally have it to put in my chart.

So, I will continue to go for radiation treatments Monday through Friday for 6 and one half weeks. That takes me to the end of October. I know it will be here in the blink of an eye. I received my cancer diagnosis eight months ago today, and that seems as though it was only yesterday. So much has happened in eight months.....so many lessons to learn.....so many things for which to be thankful.

".....for I will turn their mourning into joy, and will comfort them, and make them rejoice from their sorrow." ~Jeremiah 31: 13b

posted by Kim @ 4:16 PM 2 comments

False start

Sounds like one of Justin's football posts, doesn't it?

I thought I was having my first radiation treatment today. I was even talking to a friend on the phone as I was walking into the building for my appointment. But, instead of getting "zapped," they took a few more x-rays. The radiation oncologist came in to check my scar, and he decided he wanted to give it a few more days to heal (there are still scabs, etc.). So, my new start date is Monday, the 18th - one month to the day of my surgery and 8 months to the day of my diagnosis. I have mixed emotions, of course. I had gotten myself all psyched up for the big event. But, again, God's plans are not my plans (good thing!), and He knows better.

My recovery from surgery and subsequent pneumonia seems to be nearing completion. I had a follow up with my primary doctor yesterday. My lungs sounded fine and dandy to him. He wanted me to get both a flu shot and pneumonia shot before I left. Because I can't take shots in my left arm anymore, I got them both in my right arm. What fun! I go next Monday, after my radiation treatment, to meet with my surgeon for a follow up. Doctors, doctors, and more doctors!

So, I am free of appointments until Monday. And for that, along with so many other things, I am thankful.

Please don't forget....if you haven't had a chance and still want to support Jaybird's walk for breast cancer this weekend, visit her webpage and make a donation. She'll be walking 60 miles Friday through Sunday, plus camping at night all because she cares and wants to help fight this nasty disease. If I could be there, I would be walking by her side. Instead, I'll be praying for her stamina and comfort, for good weather, and that her husband and 3 sons won't miss her too much while she is away. Thanks, again, J - "But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches and glory by Christ Jesus." ~Philippians 4:10

posted by Kim @ 3:44 PM 1 comments

Help Jaybird reach her goal!!!!

Next weekend, my friend Jaybird and her brother are going to be walking....and walking .....and walking........20 miles a day for 3 days to be exact! Are they doing this because they love blisters, sweat and sore muscles? Of course not!!!! This selfless act is being done out of love and a desire to raise money for breast cancer research. You can read more about the 2006 Breast Cancer 3-Day benefitting the Komen Foundation here.

If you feel so inclined, please visit J's webpage and make a donation to help her reach her goal. Every little bit helps. She would really appreciate it and, so would I!

posted by Kim @ 3:54 PM 0 comments

Busy week of doctor visits.......

After a nice weekend in Longview, visiting Ryan and eating at favorite restaurants until ready to burst, the girls and I came home Monday evening. The relaxation ended then, as Tuesday dawned and with it came the first of many doctor appointments for this week.

Tuesday I headed back to the oncologist for my "post-surgery" visit and another 3 week dose of Herceptin. I am firmly convinced that "Tuesday after a Monday holiday" appointments are trouble waiting to happen. First of all, the traffic on the tollway was worse than rush hour on the Dan Ryan. Then, I had to wait an hour to see the nurse practitioner. Then, they didn't have the pathology report yet, and when Janice (the NP) called the surgeon's office to get it, the office manager refused to fax it, as they had "no record of Dr. Holmes" in my file. Plus she then lectured Janice about government regs and HIPPA laws. Not a good way to start the week. We ended up calling the Pathology department at the hospital to get the report faxed over, but it will be a bit longer before I see it, as the doctor needs to review it first. Sigh......patience is a virtue. The rest of the appointment went fine; I got my Herceptin as quickly as they could drip it into my port and hightailed it out of there.

Today, I was back at the Cancer Center for my radiation "planning session." What a different type of appointment from all the others I have had! The radiation therapist who took care of me today is named Brian. He is from Trinidad, but he spent 5 minutes trying to convince me he was from Ireland! I found out that he has 4 children, he has 3 liberal arts degrees, but he is a radiation therapist because he needed to feed his family. He and his wife homeschooled their oldest 2 from grades K-3. He used to live on Long Island and has been in TX for 3.5 years. Lots of information.........all given while he was writing all over my chest with a Sharpie marker!!!

In addition to the Sharpie marker, they did a CT scan so the doctors can formulate a specific radiation plan for my body (during which time I held up both my arms over my head for at least 30 minutes!). They use all sorts of fancy 3D imaging to try their hardest to avoid shooting radiation where it doesn't belong. So, there is a lot of measuring, marking and the like. I got my first tattoos today - 8 of them. Brian told me they would pinch a little. Ummmm......no.......a few of them hurt like the dickens! He also assured me I would NOT end up looking like "Lydia, the tattooed lady." He kept his word. While the spots are permanent, they are also very small.

There are a few more steps in the planning process before I actually start radiation treatments. If I remember correctly, there are 2 more visits I will need to make to insure that everything is lined up correctly. The staff wasn't sure exactly when I would have my next appointment, but they should be calling me tomorrow to set it up. All in all, it wasn't too difficult going through all of these different procedures today. They were different, though, and for some reason I felt more like a cancer patient today than I have in a long while. Reality check. But the Lord had Brian take care of me today, and his humor helped lighten the load.

One of the other things Brian did this morning was to take my photograph when I first arrived. I was dressed in a gown by this time, so this wasn't to be a glamour shot but more of a mug shot. Brian's comment about my photo - "You have a good nun face!" ACK! I don't know if it's the hair style (what can you do when your hair is barely an inch long?) or the overabundance of gray or what, but a nun face??? Somehow that didn't give my morale a huge boost, although it was pretty funny as he went on and on about all the nuns he has known. I don't think I will be giving up my wig just yet anyway.

Tomorrow, I meet with the genetic counselor to go over the results of my (expensive) BRCA tests. Friday I do NOT have a doctor's appointment, but Kathryn does go to the orthodontist and the girls have piano, so it will be a busy day. Tonight, I think I will rest. It is amazing to me how sore I am from stretching out my arms overhead for 30 minutes and also getting 8 tattoos.

A nun face???????

posted by Kim @ 4:49 PM 8 comments