a centre for "survivorship"
We're just back from a restorative week in Florida. It was truly wonderful to be with loved ones, play outside in the sun and dispense with all cold weather gear.We arrived home at 2:30 in the morning to the snow and the cold. I'm sleep deprived and I don't wish to leave my house. But in a few short weeks, winter will be behind us and I can put my winter gear in storage (or just leave it out and in the way until I need it again). I feel very, very lucky to have escaped, even if I could use a nap this morning.This afternoon, I have an appointment at Ottawa's "survivorship centre" with a "cancer coach". The place has been op...
Source: Not just about cancer - February 21, 2013 Category: Cancer Tags: complementary treatment breast cancer things i do for my health good stuff Source Type: blogs
i have a dent in the back of my head
Now that the swelling has gone down, I have come to realize that there is a sizeable dent in the back of my head. I'm not sure if it's visible but I can certainly feel it.like - a chunk of the back of my head was scooped out with a melon baller.I find this both distressing and fascinating. I spend a lot of time feeling the dent and comparing the two sides. It's all I can do not to ask everyone, "Want to feel the back of my head?"This is probably another good reason to grow my hair out. It's one thing to have a scar that goes from my nape to above my ear. The dented bit just adds to the impression that I might be related to...
Source: Not just about cancer - February 12, 2013 Category: Cancer Tags: breast cancer brain metastasis weird cancer blog Source Type: blogs
lovely ways to spend time
Want to join in a reading challenge?I've posted details over at Frivolity. This year, I'm playing Reading Bingo!If you are reading this post on a site other than Not Just About Cancer (besides Facebook or a feed reader), you are reading stolen content. (Source: Not just about cancer)
Source: Not just about cancer - February 8, 2013 Category: Cancer Tags: community Frivolity show and tell books good stuff Source Type: blogs
diddly squat (the good kind)
As I mentioned in my last post, I had an MRI last Sunday.I have subsequently had a really trying week (changing appointment times, having to negotiate and fix many bureaucratic issues with staff who don't know me, treatment and two dentist visits, culminating in a spectacularly messy and traumatic root canal) but I've a phone call from my oncologist that put it all in perspective.Dr. G: "Guess what your MRI showed?"Me: "Well, you probably wouldn't have put it like that if it had showed anything bad...So...It didn't show anything?"Dr. G (sounding jubilant): "Nothing! No active disease, no residual disease just the effects o...
Source: Not just about cancer - February 7, 2013 Category: Cancer Tags: metastatic joy breast cancer lucky brain metastasis news cancer blog CT scan good stuff Source Type: blogs
almost there
I almost feel like myself again.And it took surgery to remind that feeling like myself is not bad at all.My head still hurts but I can live with that, knowing that it's likely temporary. I can't bring myself to get a hair cut (combing my hair really hurts), so I've decided that I'm growing it out. It looks pretty bad much of the time but I can live with that, too.The best part is the return of my energy. I can do things again, around the house and out in the world. Last week I went swimming, to an exercise class at the Cancer Foundation, to two yoga classes (one restorative and one yin, so not too taxing) and I walked lots...
Source: Not just about cancer - February 4, 2013 Category: Cancer Tags: metastatic breast cancer brain metastasis fear cancer blog good stuff chronic illness Source Type: blogs
good links to follow
Happy Tuesday. We have freezing rain and the buses aren't cancelled, yet there have been days when rumoured snowstorms have brought on cancellations. I don't get it.In other news, I've been wide awake since 4:55am, mind racing, so I'm a bit punchy.Here are some good links:Would you like a free download of the National Film Board documentary, Pink Ribbons Inc.? All you have to do is complete a short (3 min.) questionnaire. After you download and watch the film, you're asked to fill out another short (5 min.) questionnaire. Support the NFB by telling them what you think and watch a great movie for free!Healthline, a health r...
Source: Not just about cancer - January 29, 2013 Category: Cancer Tags: breast cancer community Frivolity show and tell cancer blog good stuff don't buy pink crap Source Type: blogs
remembering Frivolity
It's been a couple of months since I recorded this but I haven't shared.Listen (and watch, if you like) as Andrea and I discuss ways to become more frivolous. I think it's a really good time for me to remember that a little Frivolity is very good for the soul.http://getfrivolous.com/episode-5-future-frivolity/If you are reading this post on a site other than Not Just About Cancer (besides Facebook or a feed reader), you are reading stolen content. (Source: Not just about cancer)
Source: Not just about cancer - January 25, 2013 Category: Cancer Tags: joy lucky news show and tell knitting good stuff Source Type: blogs
all clear
I just got a call from my medical oncologist. My scans are all clear.I'd no reason to doubt that but I feel enormously relieved all the same.Dr. G says I'm now being treated like "a patient with two compartments." I'll continue to take a drug that has protected every part of me, except my brain, very well.And, until there are new developments, the only thing we can do the area inside my skull is to keep monitoring and decide how to treat tumours if and when they occur. My next MRI is in two months. Bring on the tube with the banging!If you are reading this post on a site other than Not Just About Cancer (besides Faceb...
Source: Not just about cancer - January 24, 2013 Category: Cancer Tags: metastatic breast cancer lucky herceptin fear cancer blog CT scan good stuff Source Type: blogs
mental health day
My youngest son is home from school today. He's not sick. He just didn't sleep very well last night. He's been out of sorts lately - hard on himself and everyone around him. It just felt like a day off would be a really good idea.We've a windchill of -35C at the moment (that's an almost as cold sounding -31F). It's warmer than yesterday but still not really warm enough to play outside.This morning, I pretty much left him to his own devices. As per my stipulation of "not a lot of screen" (I'm convinced that watching videos and playing video games compound his bad mood, which would defeat the purpose of a day off), ...
Source: Not just about cancer - January 24, 2013 Category: Cancer Tags: kids joy lucky things i do for my health my love show and tell family good stuff my kids food Source Type: blogs
limbo
I haven't even mentioned yet that I had some CT scans last Friday morning. I guess the whole experience was overshadowed by the CyberKnife drama and it's after effects.The scans themselves (done all at once but there were three) were a breeze. The technician got my vein (for injecting the contrast dye) on the first poke and all went smoothly. I'm an hold hand at these things and being nervous about the unknown of CyberKnife left me no room to worry about the scans. I was out of there in half an hour and promptly forgot about it, in favour of what loomed ahead.Now though, five days later, I'm worrying. I had my thorax, abdo...
Source: Not just about cancer - January 22, 2013 Category: Cancer Tags: metastatic breast cancer brain metastasis remission fear cancer blog CT scan cyber knife Source Type: blogs
eating out for CyberKnife
I really want to write a longer post about CyberKnife. In the end, I only had one session (and it felt like more than enough) but it might as well have been three because this "no side-effect" treatment made me really sick. Four days later and I still feel sick to my stomach. I was just remembering thinking that after chemotherapy, my breast cancer radiation would be "a walk in the park" but I hated almost every minute of it. And I had almost every possible side effect. I hate radiation. It's really worth it, though if it keeps my tumour from coming back. And if others appear, I know this treatment is there for m...
Source: Not just about cancer - January 21, 2013 Category: Cancer Tags: metastatic breast cancer lucky brain metastasis community activism show and tell cancer blog radiation cyber knife Source Type: blogs
update: looking up
The pity party is over. I'm feeling much better now.My energy levels have started to come back and my walks are getting longer and faster.I had a wonderful week in Florida that contributed greatly to healing. I even swam a bit while I was there. I can do the sidestroke and the crawl but my neck won't yet let me do the breast stroke.I did a bunch of balance tests today that I passed with flying colours. My balance wasn't really that bad but the tests I found challenging (pretty much the same as a sobriety test) two months ago were really easy to do today. I hope that translates into less falling down.I still have pain in th...
Source: Not just about cancer - January 18, 2013 Category: Cancer Tags: metastatic breast cancer lucky brain metastasis pissed off show and tell surgery cancer blog CT scan radiation cyber knife Source Type: blogs
