Vacation

Suzan asked me to let all of you know that she will probably not be able to blog during her vacation.  Truthfully, when you are on a beautiful tropical island, far, far away from work, home, problems, worries, why do you need to blog? (That's my opinion, not hers)  I know she wants to share the beauty of the island and the pleasure she is experiencing from being there, but she can do that when she gets home, and it will be fun to relive it again with us.

She did want me to let those of you who may be concerned know that she is there, having a great time . . . . sleeping well . . . . and storing up energy that she will need when she gets home.

I would like to thank everyone for caring for and supporting my sister during this trial.  Her friends have sustained and taken care of her when those of us who would like to, live so far away that we can't.  It has helped us too, knowing that she has such special, wonderful friends.

I am ready to go

I am ready to go. If it's not packed, I'll get along without it or buy it. Anything that's not done will have to wait until I get back.

I did work a few hours today so I would not be so stretched and rushed at work tomorrow. I have several meetings but I did my best to hand off the important stuff to someone to keep moving forward.

Sehara's not very happy with me. She knows I'm going somewhere -- she's been stuck to me like glue. I know she'll have a great time at Mel's and be very comfortable there.

We'll be in St Lucia by Tuesday afternoon. We'll spend a couple of days there before moving on to Bequia. Many have asked what Bequia is like so I included a link to images below. My plan is to relax, sleep a bunch, do some snorkeling, read (I love my Kindle) take long walks or runs . . just enjoy the island and the people. I hope to blog a little and post some pictures -- it all depends on the internet access.

Images of Bequia

See you all when I get back . . .it will go all too fast I am sure.

Packing for my vacation

Mel and I had a nice run this morning with the dogs. My mission today is to pack for my trip. I am so excited. I have work to get done this weekend as well so I don't have anything weighing on my mind while I'm gone.

I plan to blog a little while I am on my trip, it depends on Internet access. I am not sure if we will have access until we get to Bequia. We will not be settled in Bequia until Friday. I do not have International turned on for my cell phone, so I cannot use it either once I leave the country.

In other words, don't worry about me. I'll be in safe hotels and places enjoying the break from work and treatment.

Time to get packing . . . 

Radiation Schedule

I had my appt with Dr. Dorn today to plan radiation and also have a radiation simulation.

Radiation starts April 4 and lasts 33 days. I go to MSTI for radiation for 6 1/2 weeks 5 days a week (Mon-Fri). The only reason I will have a break is if my skin gets too blistered.

Today the radiation was simulated (I had a practice run) so the radiation Doc could do his thing and document what the settings should be so only the breast tissue is treated. I received 3 very small tattoos they will use to make sure I am set up the same every time I go in for radiation.

I was given special lotion to use 3 times a day on the skin that is impacted. Somewhere around 4 weeks I will receive another type lotion that has lidocaine in it to help with the pain. I will have a sunburn that continues to get worse until I am done. (Sunscreen is not allowed)

I will start getting fatigued around week 4 and the fatigue could continue as long as 6 weeks after radiation is complete. Dr. Dorn said the best thing I can do to reduce the fatigue is to continue to be as active as possible. Running, lifting, hiking -- anything to keep me going. In other words, continue my normal work out routine.

Each radiation treatment will take 1 1/2 to 2 hours out of my work day. The radiation treatments themselves only take 15 to 20 minutes, however you have to leave the office, drive to MSTI, park, change clothes, do radiation, change back into work clothes then back to work.

I will work from home at least 2 days a week during this time to help keep my hours up at work and have the option to work more days at home if needed. When I work from home it saves me 1 1/2 to 2 hours a day. I will probably put some time in on the weekend (4 or 5) so I can compensate for the lost time and still have time to work out.

I will also put a request out for meals 1 or 2 days a week starting week 4 to make sure I eat healthy meals and save some energy. More to come on that.

I am very lucky to only have to do radiation and not chemo. It is only 6 1/2 weeks of a minor inconvenience to continue to have a long and healthy life. So remind me of that when I get tired, cranky and whiny :) I am sure I will have my days . . . .

Celebrate!! My Risk of the Cancer recurring is LOW. I do not have to have chemo

I just came back from my appointment with Dr. Kreisle. One of the few times in my life that I am thrilled I have a low score. My score of recurrence came back as a "9". With this test any number between 1 and 18 is considered low risk of recurrence. This means I do not have to have any chemo!! Just the radiation!!

I will be taking Anastrozole (Brand Name is Arimidex) to block any other estrogen that is in my body. I will take this once a day for 5 years. I see Dr. Kreisle again in 4 months.

I see Dr. Dorn tomorrow (3/16) to set up my schedule for radiation.

I also met with Amy, my Financial Advocate. She was so very helpful. I've been very stressed about finances. She gave me some paperwork to fill out for St. Luke's and explained how everything will work. I don't need to get into details here, but I continue to be amazed at the resources MSTI provides. As scary as cancer can be, MSTI does everything they can to take away as much stress as possible and make your journey positive so you can focus on your health and recovery.

I slept on my right side for a few blissful hours last night

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh - I slept on my right side for a few hours last night. It was like heaven. After a few hours I got a little achy and woke up, but it was what my body wanted and ohhhhhhh soooo appreciated.

Sleeping on my right side or on my stomach is my preferred sleeping position -- I believe denying myself of this sleep habit is contributing to not sleeping well.

Good news - I'm healing and it is changing. I still wake up with hot flashes or whatever else is waking me up but it is getting better.

I had a very busy weekend. Cindy C. sacrificed a good part of her Saturday to help me find a new swimsuit for my vacation. Boy was that an experience. . . I would not have found something without Cindy. I would've just given up and swam in shorts and a t-shirt. She was so patient and helpful. We had a fun wonderful day despite the challenge of my pickyness (is that a word?).

I had a great walk with Mel, visited B.T., did the normal stuff around the house and lots of paperwork.

I am anxious to hear the results of the test when I go to the doctor on Tuesday. I am praying for low risk of recurrence and no chemo . . . .whatever it is, with all of you I will get through it.

Suzan and Anurag - Managed Services Booth at IT Leadership Meeting

Picture of me and Anurag (my counterpart at TCS). We are sitting at our booth at the IT Leadership meeting. I am dressed in a salwar kameez. It's hard to tell in the picture.

Thank you everyone for all the birthday wishes!!

I had a very nice birthday even though I was working out of town. On my ride to work everyone in the van sang Happy Birthday and gave me a nice card. Many people wished me Happy Birthday at work. It was also one of my co-worker's (Stephanie) birthday. The entire Leadership team sang Happy Birthday to both of us. I received many emails and well wishes through out the day. I also had an afternoon break with my old team. They brought cupcakes and a nice card. We had a wonderful visit. It was great to catch up with all of them.

Erika and I had a good work out after work. After our time at the gym we had dinner at a nice little restaurant along with some good conversation.

I've had some long days but the trip was worth while. I missed all my MN colleagues. I don't miss being here every other week, but I do miss the people.

Thank you everyone for making this a very special day!!

March 10

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SUZAN!!!!!! 

HAVE A WONDERFUL DAY!!!! 

Traveling for work Tues-Fri

I am traveling for work this week. I am so glad I don't have to travel as often as I did last year. It's been so nice to be home. It will be great to see my old team members. I do miss them.

I'm a little worried about getting too tired. It will be very full days at work plus dinners in the evening. I am still very dependent on ice - it helps me relax when I get a little achy - especially in the evenings. I did pack some baggies I can put ice in if needed. I am wearing clothes that hopefully will not show the bulk of the ice bags under my clothes. I can tell I am healing and getting better, it is really not that bad. I just want to make sure I am as healthy as possible all the way through treatment.

I'll post when I can, but don't get worried if you do not see updates until this weekend. I will be around many people that are aware of my situation and will make sure I take care of myself.

Would you like to join me and run the Susan G. Komen - Boise Race for the Cure - May 7?

Update: - list of people that responded on the right side of the blog. This is a race that men, women and children participate, please encourage/pass on to men and kids as well as women.

Janice (my sister) asked me if I was going to participate in this year's Susan G. Komen race for the cure. Many years back I participated in the race. It is fun and very inspiring, however it got so big I had a hard time running in the crowds of people, especially since I'm not an elite runner, just an average jogger. I walked with some friends one year and about went nuts with all the people around -- I wanted to push them over, out of my way. I don't think of myself being claustrophobic, but in these types of situations I believe that is the case. I get a little panicked in big crowds, especially if I cannot see around them.

That being said, the race will be at the end of my 5th week of radiation. This is around the time the doctor warned me I may start getting very tired and also very sore from the radiation. At this point my skin will be like a very bad sunburn and possibly even get blisters. (BTW - if I do get blistered they sometimes stop for a few days).

So I'm thinking this might be a good goal for me and help me keep running even if I am tired and sore. If I am not tired and sore (I am hoping for the best) -- it is still a good goal and a fabulous cause.

I am going to sign up for the race. What I would like to know is if there are enough people that would like to join me so we can have a team. We don't have to run together, you can walk, or if you are fast you can run with the elite runners . . .but it might be more fun as a team. It would be nice if a few plodders ran with me to keep me from pushing people over :)

If you think you'd like to be part of a team please let me know by Saturday March 12th by:

• Posting on this site OR
• Email me at suzkg3@gmail.com
• If you have ideas for a team name please send that as well
• If you have friends, family, anyone else that would be interested that would be great, the more the merrier

If there are enough people (minimum of 10), I'll create a team page on the site. The Susan G. Komen site sets everything up for you so you can register on the team and also solicit donations.

All the information about the race can be found here   http://www.komenboise.org/

If you sign up before March 31st, you also get a pink "imagine" bracelet.

If you have not participated in the race or know it's purpose, please check out the link above. Below is a few paragraphs on the Boise affiliate.

Boise Affiliate story

The Susan G. Komen for the Cure Boise Affiliate is a 501(c) 3 non-profit organization, operating with the assistance of hundreds of volunteers, a full-time Executive Director and two part-time staff members.

In 11 years, we have granted over $3.4 million dollars that stays in our local service area and is dedicated to breast cancer awareness, education, screening, support and treatment in Idaho.

The first Komen Boise Race for the Cure®, was held in 1999. With over 6,500 participants, it was the largest ever participation level for a Komen first year race. Over 16,000 people participated in the 2010 Komen Boise Race for the Cure® - the largest in our race history.

Up to seventy-five percent of our proceeds are awarded each year through a grant process to local organizations. Each grantee conducts a program that offers breast cancer education, screening or treatment to residents of our 19 Idaho county service area.

The remaining 25 percent of our proceeds is directed to the Susan G. Komen for the Cure® National Research Grant Program to fund research on a national and international level.

Rainy, relaxing Saturday

Today's been a very relaxing day. Mel and I did not run or walk this morning because it was raining. I ran a couple of errands, did some laundry, getting my stuff ready to go to MN next week -  just the normal weekend thing. I just got back from taking Sehara and Hailey on a leash walk.

I am very sore from running yesterday, but I still believe it was worth it. Regardless of when I decided to start running, I think I would be sore so I might as well start now and work my way up to my normal running pace. Many people asked if I was wearing a good sports bra -- OF COURSE :) . I may be a little hard headed and stubborn but I do not like pain so I'm as bound up as I can be. I had ice on as soon as I got home.

Ericka and I went to the Flicks Friday night and saw The King's Speech. It is a fabulous movie. I loved it. It is hard to explain without completely ruining it. It's about friendship, what it's like to be royalty and living a public life, what it's like growing up with a speech disability that was medically misunderstood at the time - just a good movie. It was funny, sad and heart wrenching at times. It is one of the best movies I've seen in a long time.

I did sleep better last night. Probably a combination of getting a little more exercise and just being tired. I do have more energy today. Sleep is soooooooo important and makes me a much nicer person to be around.

I ran at lunch today

Sehara told me I was being a baby and it was time to at least try running. I think it was a little self serving on her part however I put my running shoes on (and a pair of colorful running socks Bron sent me) and gave it a try. I was very tentative at first. I can definitely feel an ache in my right breast when I run but it is not too bad. I wasn't very fast either. I didn't want to bounce too much. I am kind of a "plodder" when I run anyway, so this was definitely a slow jog, but it worked. I also made an effort to keep my gait smooth.

We ran down to Healthwise and then on the trails past Healthwise. Fortunately the trails were dry until you got to the steep hill so we were not causing any damage and Sehara could run off leash at that point. The only time I was uncomfortable was on the small parts of the trail that have a steep decline -- I slowed down to almost a walk at that point because my gait made me bounce too much.

I got enough aerobic effect to break into a sweat (or was that the hot flashes). Either way, I felt like I was getting some real exercise. I know this will help me sleep better so it is worth it.

Time for another celebration!!! One more step in the right direction!!!

I need normal sleep

I am so very tired. Most of it is because it's been weeks since I had normal sleep patterns. Part of it is probably stress of the unknown, however I've always relied on exercise to keep my stress level down. If I get regular vigorous exercise I typically have great sleep patterns. I have been walking (thanks to Mel and many others) and on the stationary bike but that is not the same as running or the elliptical machine. I am not really breaking a sweat when walking or on the bike. 

I am sure hot flashes are waking me up occasionally but they are not that bad at this point. You know, I am cold all the time in the winter and it is kind of nice to be warm instead. :)

I also like to sleep on my side (mostly the right) and my stomach. I am guessing that even though I put pillows on both sides at night so I stay on my back, I'm rolling over at night and waking up. I am definitely not ready to lay on my right side and it would be torture to lay on my stomach.

Tuesday I was so tired I was on the verge of tears all day long. I do not remember ever being that exhausted. The good news is I slept 6 hours straight that night. The next day the pain was negligible, I could think, I almost felt like skipping down the halls -- but you know skipping would mean I would have to bounce so I didn't skip but I really wanted to. I felt sparkly and smiley.

But now it is Thursday and I didn't sleep much last night. I had to get up early and be at work by 6am. We had many meetings today and I left at 5pm. Then I went to my much needed hair appt (that I canceled a couple of times due to tests and surgery -- I was looking a little mangy). I got home around 8pm. Oh the day was too long. Hopefully I will sleep tonight.

The doctors did offer drugs but I asked them to give me a couple of weeks (until my March 15th appt) and let me see if I cannot start at least run walking or something. I did promise I would call if it got unbearable.

So - I would appreciate prayers or positive thoughts to sleep and also to be brave and strong enough to start running at least a little -- or getting on the elliptical. Something that makes me sweat and gives me those oh so wonderful endorphins. Endorphins are such a wonderful thing and I miss them.

BTW - I am working at home on Friday which will help a little.

Good night all - I hope you sleep well.

Radiation Oncology

I had a good appointment with Dr. Dorn. Again, I'm back at work so I'll give the short story and hopefully get a chance to catch up with details later. I really like Dr. Dorn as well. I am very happy with all my doctors.

I will have 33 days of radiation. The radiation will be 5 days a week for 6 weeks and 3 days. They have the technology to be very precise now so only the breast tissue will be impacted -- not the lungs or anything else that could be potentially damaged.

If I have to have chemo, that radiation will come after or possibly simultaneously. They used to always do chemo then follow up with radiation. Now they know it is possible to do them at the same time. Radiation will not make my hair fall out, make me throw up or get sick etc. Some people do start feeling tired after about the first 4 weeks.

I can schedule the appointments before work, after work, at a lunch hour -- something convenient for me. It's like taking an x-ray. My skin will get tender like a sun burn. I will be able to work but may have ice packs some days.

The tentative start date is Monday April 4th. That will be decided after Dr. Kreisle gets the results back from his test and decides if I need chemo.

The benefits:

• Reduces my chance of recurrence
• Equivalent to removing the breast (mastectomy)
• I will never have to shave under my right arm again -- the hair will never grow back
• I cannot travel for work to MN (or anywhere else Mon-Fri) during that time period - Sehara will love that :)
• I can do my normal exercise routine during that time, they strongly encourage it

That's all I know for now. Now I wait for my appointment on March 15th.