6 Months Since Surgery: Appointment with Dr. Bouton

I had my 6 month appointment with Dr. Bouton, my Breast Surgeon today. These follow-up appointments are annoying sometimes. I understand the purpose behind them. Afterall, life after cancer is never the same. Little bumps and differences are treated different than they ever were before. But doctor appointment after doctor appointment gets old! Better save than sorry though, right? So, another babysitter to get and another trip to the hospital, I go. In my five minute visit, Dr. Bouton did an exam and said everything looks great. He wants to see me back in 6 months. Lucky me!

3rd Annual SUPPORT THE GIRLs Fundraiser

I received an email a while back from Lisa V, one of the Breast Friends Support Group founders asking for volunteers for their annual fundraiser. I haven't gone to the group much and am not planning on going to the conference that the fundraiser is helping pay for so wasn't sure if I wanted to go. But I'm always looking for some kind of Adventure to blog about. LOL
I ended up signing up to help at the admission table for a couple hours. Then I called KBro and begged (OK... Maybe I didn't quite make it to the begging stage) her to come with me. It's been a long time since we have had a Cancer Date together so she agreed. Yeah!
It was a windy, freezing' night but after stopping by the bar (oops! Wrong place) and making our own parking space close to the Speedway Event Center door, we braved the temp to make it inside. It was fun to see people I recognized. First, KBro and I checked out the place- all the silent auction tables, the Boobie Shop, the raffle drawing table and the food. Then, we got a quick training on our duties for the evening. It was our job to sit at the table by the front door, visit, smile, welcome people and collect money. We were awesome at it!

While we were there, I bid on a couple of things, bought a raffle ticket, and got a few fun things at the Boobie Shop. I love themed things!! How cute are these things?

We also got to eat a bite of dinner and listen to the Front Fenders band! And we were even out of there before everyone got sloshed. (There was a bar in the corner) When we finished up our shift, we went out to Applebee's afterwards. I always love hanging out and chatted with my best Fargo girlfriend. With her youngest (but not for long LOL) in school we haven't hung out as much as we have in the past. I didn't realize how much I've missed her. Thanks lady for joining me in my cancer adventure this evening. You're awesome!!

Oh.... The next day, I got a call to say I had won one of the Silent Auction baskets.  Lucky day! Someone dropped it off to me. It's full of BC-themed items! So fun!

Support the Girls Program for the evening:

It's like drowning!

Even though I graduated from LiveStrong, I am still going STRONG in my workouts. Wahoo! It shocks my friends (and myself as well) that I have made a lifestyle out of it. LOL Who knew that I'd have to be diagnosed with breast cancer before I would figure out how to be fit? I'm one for always learning the hardest way possible. Grrrr!
Now that I am a Y member and a worker-outer, here's what my week usually consists of:
Monday- cardio and weights @ Schlossman with Robbie and Katie
Thursday- Pilates @ Fercho with Katie (and Angie C.  is usually there with us)
Friday- Zumba @ Fercho with Robbie and Katie (Angie is there then as well)
Every last Monday- we do a Step Class together @ Schlossman (ouch!)
When I have Herceptin- I end up missing Zumba so I do one of my McDonald DVDs (Totally sounds funny but I love them!)
Yeah! Go me!
OK..... Now the reason for the title of this post is because I actually HATE Pilates. Mostly because I can't do it. I thought that having a flat stomach meant you had a strong core. Pewwwwww! That's a crock! I have a completely flat stomach and I can NOT do half of the "core" moves in Pilates. Pilates is NOT like Zumba or weight lifting. In Pilates, there is no grunting or cheering or wahoo-ing going on. It has a calmer music background and the participants keep their anguishing pain to themselves. Everyone does the moves with such grace (minus me). And the whole time, I silently feel like dying. It's become a joke with Katie and I that Pilates is like drowning! You silently die and no one knows! LOL I hope some day I will actually go and surprise myself by being able to do some of the moves. Oh that will be the day! ;)

Thought this was an appropriate place to document my most recent measurements that I took. I'm shooting for those Barbie Doll Measurements. LOL Ok, not really! Isn't that 36-24-36 or something? Don't ask me how they think anyone who's had kids could get a waist that skinny. Wowzers!

	In the Beginning 09/12/12	6 week 10/29/12	12 week 11/28/12	19 weeks 1/17/13
Anthropometric Measurements
Weight	133.8	138.6 (muscle?)	136.4	136
Body Measurements	Didn’t do- Bummer!	Chest- 33 in	Chest- 33 in	Chest- 36 in Oops! That’s with my boobs on!
		Waist-  31 in	Waist-  30 in	Waist-  29 in
		Hips/Butt- 39 in	Hips/Butt- 37 in	Hips/Butt- 37 in
		Thigh- 23 in	Thigh- 21 in	Thigh- 20 ½ in
		Calves- 14 ½ in	Calves- 14 in	Calves- 14 in
		Bicep- 10 ½ in	Bicep- 10 in	Bicep- 9 ½ in

Herceptin #13: Be Grateful for your Lot!

My Cancer Adventure Day today was a day full of little reminders that I should be thankful for my lot in this icky Cancer world. Funny how God is always willing to speak to us if we are just willing to listen.

1. First, the RMCC asked me to fill out a North Dakota Cancer Coalition Patient-Survivorship Survey. It's to help them understand the challenges that cancer patient are experiencing. It had questions about the difficulty of setting appoitments, distance and travel costs, lodging costs, lack of insurance, out of pocket costs, lost wages, lack of personal support system, etc. Writing a 1, meant it was a minor challenge. Notice how many 1s I wrote! I have been a bit whiney lately about my stinky cancer adventure but obviously I have had it easy. It made me realize how very blessed I have been and how much more difficult it could have been. Funny how a survey could put life in perspective. LOL

2. Also while I was in the waiting room, I sat across from a cute little crying bald lady. She had to be younger than me and was by herself. I tried to give her privacy as she poured her heart out to one of the nurses. But couldn't help but overhear her list of trials she's been experiencing- throwing up, achy body, sadness, and being all alone. My heart went out to her. It didn't come to my mind until later but I wish I would have asked her if she knows about the Breast Friends Support group or if she wants to my on my GNO list. I can't imagine being deathly sick and doing it alone. In my Cancer Adventure, my symptoms have been minimal and I am very grateful for that!

Now onto Herceptin....

3. Another gentle reminder happened as I rolled my eyes. (I guess at that point I wasn't seeing the "I am blessed" trend) The eye roll was because when they took me back to the Infusion Center, there was no room in the Inn room for me. (or as one of the nurses called it... "The Hole" because it is the most crowded room at the center) I had already waited over 25 minutes to even get back there and then there still wasn't room for me. Grrrr! However, it turns out that one of the nurses was giving some extra care to one of the patients because the lady was all alone and having a hard day so they had me wait in the hall. I have been very lucky to have the support of friends and family through this whole ordeal. I can't complain about standing in the hall for a little bit. And besides I just went around and visited some of my favorite nurses while I waited for a chair. I love having a connection with these ladies. Love them!

4. Today, Linda was my Herceptin nurse. She was very impressed with my med list. "Normal" cancer patients usually have a humongously long list of medications on their chart. But mine (thanks Panwalker for taking all the unneeded ones off for me) is almost non-existent. I believe on my list, there is only a daily vitamin and Advil as needed. More proof that I am very fortunate in this Adventure of mine.

5. Nurse Linda heated me up good to prepare me for my IV. And I mean REALLY heated me up. (Which was great since it's freezin' here in Fargo and I am stuck here because of this cancer crap!) First, she had me turn on the heat on my chair. Then she covered me up with a heated blanket on my lap as well as one around my shoulders. She also put a heating pad under and over my hand and let me cook for a bit. Wowzers! But it must have been the magic because it worked. The IV went in on the first try! Yeah!
Although that is a miracle in and of itself, it also reminded me how lucky I am to have caught the cancer in the first place and early on to boot. God had been "warming us up" sort to speak for the little Adventure He was sending us on. I'm grateful for the prep in our financial, emotional and spiritual self's in order to kick Cancer's butt on the first try! We were very blessed!
6. This one was just funny! The man in the chair next to me (only separated by a sheet hanging from the ceiling) was watching some dumb Talk show. You know the kind- the one with the bouncers, the screaming wifes and the lie detectors. What better way to find out if that man is the Father than to get a DNA test on national television, right? Depressing! He had it up so loud that I'm sure that everyone in the Cancer Center could hear it. At first it was just irritating and annoying to listen to it but then I got to thinking how very blessed I am. In spite of my little bump in the road, I have a perfect life. That's the kind of things that should be on talk shows!
7. Heather, the Resident Artist came to visit me again.. She asked me if I'd like to do an art project. I love Artsy stuff! It was like I was in art class. I got a paint smock, gloves and supplies. We crafted, chatted, laughed and took pictures. All my favorite stuff. I've been a bit of a slacker on the artsy department since my diagnosis. It's like all that stuff I absolutely LOVE got put on the back burner. Today I made a little Shining star of HOPE. A little reminder that the stinky Cancer stuff is almost out of the way and I can get back to all the things I truly love! Thanks Heather!

Not bad for one morning of being willing to listen to God's voice, don't ya think? I have been so very blessed in my Breast Cancer Journey and I am grateful for my lot!

9 Month Survivor

Can you believe today is 9 MONTHS from the day I was diagnosed with Breast Cancer? There are lots of thoughts and emotions that come along with this milestone. The best way I can think of to honor this day is to list 9 things I have experienced or learned from this Breast Cancer Adventure so far.
In no particular order....
1. I SURVIVED! I read somewhere on the Internet of someone that hates to use that term. They like to say they are living or thriving with breast cancer. At first I was like.. "yeah, that's right! You go, girl!" But the more I think about( and live with) it, SURVIVING cancer is pretty accurate. It's not something you plan for, want, do cartwheels for or EVER enjoy. You SURVIVE it and keep going.
2. Now I can add BALD to the many hairstyles I have tried.
3. I got a boob job! Not the one I imagined I would some day never get to fix my "I breast-fed 4 children and now have small, mature" breasts but... sometimes you get things in life you never even imagined. LOL
4. I've made new friends I never would have met any other way.
5. I learned that you never "get done" with cancer. When you are first diagnosed with cancer, people rally. Cards are sent, hugs are given, meals are provided, encouraging words are spoken, prayers are raised, love is shown. Then you "beat" it and everyone moves on. Not saying that everyone shouldn't but for me I wake up every morning with parts of my body missing. Cancer has changed me forever! (or at least until the resurrection LOL)
6. I learned that I can be a hat person or a scarf person or wig person if I want to be!
7. My little family loves me no matter what I look like. (even if they are still waiting for me to look like a girl again. LOL)
8. My vocabulary was expanded. Not everyone understands words like Invasive Ductal carcinoma, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Bi-lateral mastectomy, Lymphedema, Sentinel Node Biopsy, BRCA1 gene, Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy and Remission.
AND
9. I got one pretty big item to add to my "Life List" of accomplishments. Go me!