Tuesday, August 21, 2007

Aug 21 - Radiation is over !

On Jan 2 when my surgeon lowered the boom it all looked so bleak ahead. June 11 I finished chemotherapy, July 13 I started radiation, Aug 20 I finished radiation. What looked like an insurmountable set of huge mountains are now hills in the background. Not without its side effects lingering still, the worst treatment is behind me.
Thanks this week to my merry drivers Mary, Robbie, Jackie, Ann, Ali and Ted.
My big sis Liz arrives from Cambridge Thursday and after a few days of acclimatization and a bit of socializing, we are off to the Banff International String Quartet Festival Monday for a week. As resident audience with some 600 others, we'll hear 10 quartets perform for 6 days in one of the most idyllic music centres in the world. What's not to like.
On Monday we return for my Herceptin shot Tuesday morning, after which Ted joins us for 5 days in the S.Okanagan to drink wine, eat well,visit friends, and celebrate our 40th wedding anniversary at historic Naramata Inn and Spaaaaaah. Quite a milestone and we haven't slain one another yet. A miracle considering the past 8 months.

Thursday, August 16, 2007

Aug 16 - Run to the finish 5-4-3-2-1

Approaching the finish tape on this radiation treatment. This week I thank Mary, Robbie, Jackie, Ann and Ali for their limo duties! It has been great to spend time en route to treatments with all my wonderful drivers and has made the time pass quickly.
The radiation is taking a bit of a toll this week, week 5, with itching and what looks like a bad sunburn. The staff have reacted fast by providing a steroid cream for the itch and modifying the treatment pattern to avoid the area of skin which is deteriorating. I am still feeling good and not too tired at all.
This Monday I also had another uneventful Herceptin treatment. If I don't have to wait for a seat in the chemo room, I can be in and out in an hour. Mary bravely accompanied me this time.
With radiation, if I'm early, I am often treated early too. They are improving the turnover in both clinics. Some days, my team has not had lunch at 1:30pm but they are always bright, cheery and compassionate towards the clients.
This week I recognized the young mother who attended the same info session as me, two weeks after my surgery. Like me, her hair is just starting to grow back and she looked well and bright, pushing her 9-month-old baby in the pushchair. This must have been a much tougher 6 months for her. I feel fortunate that this blip in the road hit me at this stage of life.
Sadly our friend Julie's sister was diagnosed with BC and had surgery this week too. She too is doing well. Having been given 24 months to live after contracting Hep C seven years ago, Wendy is beating all the odds.
The odds are l in 9 for BC in Canadian women, a horrible statistic.

Thursday, August 9, 2007

Aug 9 - Two thirds done with radiation THANKS!

I am faring well in the radiation schedule. The fatigue that often hits at half way point has not hit yet. The itch and sunburned effect have started.
Thanks to my drivers for their daily drives - Jackie, Elaine, Marie, Ted, Don, Joy and Ann. I am so much enjoying my social visits en route with them all.
Last weekend, Heritage weekend, we spent on our annual outing to Gull Lake. Mostly hot and sunny, with a few rain showers. We got out walking but the boat was sick so no problem keeping out of the sun on the water this time. Nancy and Colin are the ultimate hosts and we enjoyed our time with them, visiting the farmers market at Bentley for fresh produce and BBQing lamb and beef to satisfy my craving for meat. My visit to Calgary Farmers Market Thursday reaped a benefit of freshest veggies and the sweetest local Alberta strawberries, nothing like the imported Californian ones.
We enjoyed several lively rounds of Harry's game which kept me awake each evening. I slept like a babe in the new queen bed and left Ted to sprawl in his beloved VW camper.
Also picked up the new logo for our Chinese association, designed by local Chinese artist Dayu Liu. He sells cards at the market but will custom write names on cards, etc. too.