August 28, 2008 - Radiation and Photography

Radiation -
Well, I've had two real radiation treatments now. Both were like an x-ray, meaning I felt nothing. Yay. Let's keep it that way. At my first session yesterday, they called Dr. Kim to come check everything out before they did the radiation, but he didn't come. They did the treatment anyway. I thought about that on the way home and wondered if it was ok (especially since they never said anything to me). They called him again today, and he showed up. He was there about 10 seconds.

They really do a good job of keeping everything on schedule at the radiation oncology center. The process is pretty quick. The entire appointment is 15 minutes or less. Here's the rundown....

• Sign in at the front desk.
• Go straight to the women's dressing room and change into a gown (waist up only).
• Wait in the dressing room for them to call my name over the intercom.
• Go to the radiation room and say hello to the two techs who will do the treatment.
• Lay on the uncomfortable table and uncomfortable custom pillow, made just for me, situating my hand on top of my head on my uncomfortable pillow.
• Allow the techs to situate me on the table by lining up all the x's that are taped all over my chest and sides.
• Listen to great music while they clear the room.
• Wait for the big machine to buzz for awhile and then watch it travel over the top of me, within about 12 inches of my face, and then listen for it to buzz again from the other side.
• Have the techs come back in the room and tell me I can remove my hand from the top of my head and relax.
• Go back to the dressing room to change and be on my way.
• Do it all over again the next weekday.

Photography -
I started my photography class tonight at the college. I am SO EXCITED!!! I will be using a Mac to do the Photoshop work. I haven't used a Mac since Clayton and I had a Mac IIci, which, embarassingly enough, we still have! It's in the original box in the garage. I think we used it in the early 90's. I cannot wait to learn this stuff. My first assignment is to take portraits this week....no lessons yet... he just wants to see where each of us stand, photography wise. We watched a video on pixels, which was pretty interesting. I am so happy I signed up for this class.

Thanks for reading, and thanks for the comments. I have awesome friends.

- Sandy

August 26, 2008 - Radiation Day (...Or Not)

I had an appointment for my first radiation treatment today. After it was all over with, the tech told me that tomorrow it will be real. I guess this was just a trial run to make sure the simulation was properly set up. Hmmmmm.... OK.

Tomorrow I get zapped for real.

As I laid on the radiation table this morning, I got teary-eyed. I couldn't figure out why, at first. I think I'm just overwhelmed with this entire experience. It's such a long process, and I just want it to be over. I think I just realized that I still have nearly 7 weeks to go before I will see the end of it all.

I need a boost. I think I'll feel better once my hair starts coming back. I think I see some peach fuzz. I'm kind of tired of being bald, and I don't like what I see when I look in the mirror. My awesome husband took me to lunch today to cheer me up. I felt much better until I heard from a family member in need of something. I had to give some tough love, and I'm never any good at that. Now I have guilt.

Looking forward to a happier tomorrow!

August 19, 2008 - X Marks the Spot

I saw Dr. VanderMolen yesterday to get results of the CT scan taken on Friday. My sister had gone to the appt with me, and the usually quiet doctor asked my sister where she was from. When he found out she was from the Corona/Norco area, they started sharing stories. Apparently the doc's father has a ton of property in that area, and he's had buildings named after him. And my nephew goes to the same high school that Dr. VanderMolen graduated from. Once they were done sharing their stories, I finally got my turn with the doc. :-) 'Hey - Remember the patient over here?' It was actually nice seeing a chatty side of him.

Anyhoo, this scan that was done on Friday was done as a comparison to the one taken a few months back. Good news. None of the earlier spots that were thought to be scar tissue or tiny cysts had changed....except one small cyst that had been on my ovary is now gone.

This morning I went to have my simulation for radiation therapy. There were 4 people involved in the 'Chest Marking' (not a technical name for it....it's my own name for it). I got the option of being tatooed for life or being x'd with a permanent marker for the next 7 weeks. I chose the latter. Little did I know that there would be about 10 x's, that they would be purple, about 1/2 inch large, and that one would be in the middle of my chest. No low cut shirts until October 11th. Darn!

The simulation process is kind of strange. They have you lay down and put your hand above your head. Then they start taking the air out of this large pillow you're laying on. It creates a mold of your body in that position. Each time I go in for radiation, I'll have to place my shoulders, arm, and head into this mold so they can radiate me from the same position every time.

My treatments start Tues 8/26 and continue weekdays through Friday 10/10. I will really be glad to have this behind me.

For some reason, my left hand is aching today. When I looked on a reflexology hand map (which I really know nothing about), it showed that that represents a problem with my shoulder. Hmmmm. I did wake up at 3 am from a sore shoulder, and I didn't get back to sleep until 5 am. I don't do well with a lack of sleep! Today is a groggy, draggy day. (another new word...draggy)

More later...

Me

August 13, 2008 - Radiation Oncology Visit

I went into the office yesterday because there was an all hands meeting. I was there about 4 hours, and by the time I got home, I was wiped out. Not sure why. It was nice to see everyone. When I got home, I had to take a nap.

Clayton and I met with Dr. Brian Kim today. He was recommended by Dr. Nguyen and Dr. VanderMolen to be my radiation oncologist. LOVED HIM! I'll do 33 radiation treatments.... one every weekday, with weekends off. That's 6 1/2 weeks of treatment, provided my skin can handle the treatments and I don't have to miss any time. I am scheduled to have what is called a simulation on Tuesday morning. There's a team of people involved in the process, and they'll use laser beams and other things to set coordinates and mark specific locations. Dr. Kim says this is much easier than chemotherapy. Nice! Although, I might have some fatigue. I will travel 25 to 30 minutes each way for a 15 minute appointment. Not sure when the treatments will start, but if they start the week after my Tuesday appointment, then I should be finished during the first few days of October. The best thing..... NO NEEDLES! Yay!

More later....

August 11, 2008 - Dr. VanderMolen Returns

I'm getting criticism from my daughters for not updating my blog. Can you believe it? All that I'm going through, and all they can do is think about their own reading needs?

Kiddin, of course.

I saw Dr. VanderMolen today. He's back from his Hawaiian vacation. He didn't look too relaxed, as that office was hoppin! My blood counts were good, but it's time to do another scan of my internal stuff and compare it to what was done a few months back. I will do the scan on Friday. I still have to make my radiation oncology appt, which I will do first thing tomorrow. Well, actually... first thing I will go to work. Wow. Haven't been there in awhile. I guess I'll wear the wig, cuz showing up bald will give me more attention than I need right now. Then I'll make my radiation oncology appt.

Cassie is laughing as we are taking pictures together. She wants to post one on my blog, but I had promised not to put any bald pics on my blog. I'm sticking to that decision. Let's see.... post a photo of myself bald, with my beautiful 24-year-old daughter? Nope. The decision is easy in my mind. (Glad I made that 'no bald photos' promise early.)

Thanks so much to those that have donated on my personal page to the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure. For those that don't know about it, the info is in the right margin of this blog.

Thanks again for reading, and I'm glad my daughters look forward to the updates!

- Sandy

August 6, 2008 - Anniversary Card

On Friday, 8/8/08, Clayton and I will celebrate 16 years of marriage. I got up this morning in a cranky mood, and Parker told me to check my email. I eventually made my way into the office and - OH MY GOSH - you all just have to see this. No, really, you have to see it. It was an instant mood changer. It's an anniversary card from Clayton....

http://sendables.jibjab.com/view/1G1ZiJJF3OK5UcVD

(Video has sound, so I hope you do too!)

August 5, 2008 - Update and Request for Donations

Saw Dr. VanderMolen's vacation replacement on Monday. Dr. Nguyen said my red blood cell count is low (which is why I'm so fatigued), and he said he's pretty sure my tummy has been so upset due to the steroids they gave me pre-chemo last Monday. He also said it's time to start radiation. He recommended Dr. Kim at Hoag, so I need to set up an appt with him. I asked about doing my radiation treatments a little closer to home, but for medical communication purposes, it's probably best if I stay with Hoag Cancer Center. Good advice, but if I don't like Dr. Kim, I'll be moving on.

Dr. Nguyen called today to say my potassium levels are low and that I should eat lots of foods with potassium. Okie dokie, doc. Fortunately, I was eating a potato when he called.

I got an email today from my boss about the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure, which is coming up on Sept 28, 2008. She asked if I already knew about it, and I had seen it on TV, but I didn't know my company was pulling together a team. I joined the team today to try to help out. I figured, what the heck, I will be able to walk a 5K by 9/28, and I've got some really generous friends out there. No pressure at all, but if you want to give a buck or ten to a good cause that's near and dear to my heart, please visit my personal donation page at https://www.kintera.org/faf/donorReg/donorPledge.asp?ievent=271499&supid=228307733. It's amazing how easy they make it to give money these days. All proceeds go to the Susan G. Komen Foundation. I don't get a penny. However, if you want to give me some cash, my web page is dub dub dub dot give sandy cash dot com. Kiddin (of course!).

I plan to do the 5K co-ed run/WALK .... notice the word walk in caps! I'm hoping my hubby will do it with me (but I have a feeling that's the day he leaves for the Leadership Center - ugh).

In advance, thank you for donating. Thank you for considering a donation. Thank you for donating to other causes, even if you can't support this one. Please send good thoughts and lots of prayers that the Susan G. Komen foundation meets their goal on 9/28/08. If you're up to it, come out and cheer us on, or volunteer yourself. Thanks so much!!!

- Me

August 2, 2008 - Post Chemo Tummy

Howdy y'all. I was kind of hoping that after my final chemo I'd feel better by the end of the week. I figured I'd have bad days on Wed and Thursday and maybe Friday, but then I'd feel better by Saturday. WRONG. It's Saturday, and my tummy has been extremely upset since Thursday, and it's not gotten any better. I feel OK one minute, and the next I'm doubled over in pain - searching for a place to lay down. My toes and fingers are really numb, and it's irritating. The bottoms of my feet are peeling like an orange....thick skin. Very strange.

Gosh, I'm a whiner.

Thank God the chemo is OVER. Now if only the side effects would go away.

Clayton is at Costco, bringing me home some fish that he will barbeque....YUMMY.... a bright spot in my day!