A Good Checkup

This week I had a three-month checkup with Dr.Risbud my oncologist. My lab reports were good, the results of the physical exam were good, and I am tolerating Herceptin; at the end of the visit the doctor said, "I am very pleased". My next Herceptin infusion is on the 16th and the next checkup is in three months. According to Dr. Risbud I will continue to have a checkup every three months at least through the end of 2007 and probably will have a MuGA scan after the completion of Herceptin. The scan will be compared with the one taken before I started Herceptin in order to determine if the drug has caused any damage to the heart muscle. I don’t believe that it has so I am not worried about the test. In fact, if I have any worry it is about going off of Herceptin – but hopefully my HER2/neu genes will have their act straightened out by that time. The good news about having breast cancer is that there are so many drugs to battle and manage the disease.

You may be wondering what I am doing with my life now. Well, I have prepared my resume and have been thinking about what type of work I would like to do now. What I definitely know is that I want to keep Kaiser as my insurance company so that I can continue as a patient with Dr. Risbud. Years ago when I worked directly with clients I would ask them to complete a cost-benefit analysis when faced with a difficult decision. I’ve been working on my own analysis and I’m close to finding the answers to all my questions. In the meantime, I have been enjoying every day doing a little of this and little of that; my days are totally peaceful and I am very content.

Ok, here is another “one-year ago” story:

This is a picture of Alonzo and I taken at his going-away party on March 18, 2006 - three days after I found the tumor. Alonzo and I worked together at Alliance for many years and then he decided to pursue life and happiness in the beautiful state of Washington.



This is a picture taken last Easter - it was just a little more than two weeks after my second surgery. I had already cut my hair to prepare myself for when it would fall out during chemo. I remember how determined I was to not miss this holiday with my family. I went to church services and while the rest of the family stayed for class April took me to her home so I could lay down and rest.




And finally, this is a picture that Jack took of Connor and I a couple of weeks ago. If you keep in mind that over this past year I have also been bald - it's been a year of changing hair styles for me!



Last year at this time I think I was still experiencing some shock at what was happening to me and I know I was experiencing a great deal of fear. My fear was of the unknown - what I would have to go through to live. At that point I felt that I was untested - pure shock got me through the surgeries and stay in the hospital and from that point on I learned to put one foot in front of the other.

It has been a year of learning and growing for me - a time of testing - and at the same time a year of receiving every blessing I needed to face the challenges. It's been a good year.

Thanks for checking in on me and until the next time, don't forget to appreciate each day.