Final Update... for now...

I've decided to let this blog slide into a state of limbo... I may pop back in every once and a while with tiny updates as I settle into a routine of follow-up mammo, mri, and oncology appointments but for the most part I'll just let it stand as is. I'll be starting a new blog for my website, beeboo, as I've enjoyed the simplicity of this online journal. If you want to see how I'm doing post breast cancer feel free to visit me at bethmellor.blogspot.com

Time has flown since I've completing cancer treatment. My energy level is back, as close to 100% as I'll get. I still get twinges of pain and aches on the botched surgery side but was told this would linger on... My hair WAS back in a weird, curly, gray, teddy bear texture so I went last night to get a fresh buzz. If nothing else the breast cancer has given me a new look as I'm most comfortable now with this close cropped cut. Thank you BC. The little "about me" photo to the right is how I hope I'll look for a long time to come.

If you're new to this blog because you've been diagnosed with breast cancer or know someone who has please feel free to dig in. Breakdown of the blog archive if you want to read up on a specific section: My initial diagnosis was in October, November contains dialog of the botched surgery (not at all normal for breast cancer patients!), December is the beginning of chemo, January & March are all chemo. The port was removed in April, radiation in May & June. Please feel free to email me if you want to chat directly.

And I'll end this with my original "about me" section. I'll be updating and don't want to lose track of the original entry. All the best and enjoy every day! Beth

I received positive diagnosis of Breast Cancer on Thursday, October 25, 2007 and met with my Breast Cancer Team for the first time on Wednesday, October 31, 2007. Not a Happy Halloween… Surgery was Friday, November 2, 2007. I am diagnosed as stage II (T2N1). I was supposed to start chemo on Nov 28th but it's been delayed by a surgery mishap. New start date is Dec 13, every 2 weeks for 16 weeks. First 8 weeks is a mix of 2 chemo drugs, Adriamycin + Cytoxan. Second 8 weeks is Taxol alone. They give me an injection every day after chemo treatment of Neulasta to keep my blood count up. After chemo is complete I move on to Radiation and Hormone Therapy. My husband James, 2 kids Phoebe & Sander and I live in a wild-kingdom with too many animals to count. I have a BA in Illustration and am the staff artist at a MA Veterinary School. I create jewelry in my spare time. My father, Herb Maynard, passed away in 2005 after a long battle with ALS (Lou Gehrig’s Disease.) My mother, Natalie was his primary caregiver. Throughout the illness she and Dad continued to make the most of every day, taking it as it came and relishing the time they had together. They are my inspiration.

Promised Photo

I promised a photo from the radiation party. Here it is.... the resolution is so bad that hopefully the other ladies won't get upset with this going live on the web. We were drinking pink champagne in fluted glasses. Quite the party at 8 AM. I came close to flashing with open gown but I guess that's appropriate for a breast cancer radiation party pic.



All is well. I've met with the surgical oncologist who doesn't think he needs to see me for a year now, the medical oncologist who I'll visit with again in 3 months (checking effects of tamoxifen) then every 6 months, and I'll meet with the radiation oncologist next week. I'm scheduled for my first digital mammogram in November, then a breast MRI in April '09. This will cycle every 6 months, mammo, mri, mammo, mri,... for about... ever. Makes me feel good to know that they're all watching out for me. And you too! thanks for thinking of me and continuing to check in. xox Beth

Weee......

I'm here, just busy with work, kids, etc. Radiation is DONE!!! I have to scan the photo the rad staff took of me and my morning radiation friends having some pink champagne to celebrate the last treatment. I'll get the pic up soon.

Appointment update. I saw the new surgeon for normal follow-up after radiation and he said all looks good so next check-up will be a year out. I see the medical oncologist June 23 (most likely start hormone treatment then.) I see the radiation oncologist July 3 for normal follow-up. I'll go for digital mammogram in November 08 and breast MRI in April 09, one or the other ever 6 months for....ever.... All is looking good.

I'm having a slight end of cancer treatment related mid life crisis where I'm contemplating buying a pink scooter named Stella for my commute to work. Hmmmm.....

And did I mention that I had no skin reaction to rad treatment? Nice. Off for now, thanks for thinking of me! Beth

Time flies when you're having fun!

I'm on my last week of radiation treatment, wahoo! It's unbelievable how quickly the time has passed. My skin is a tiny bit rashy but not bad at all. The radiation technicians say I'm doing amazingly well. The treatments this week (and three days last week) are a "boost" to the cancer site rather than the all over breast treatment (first 25 days.) I noticed that the breast being treated has tightened and shrunk a bit with radiation treatment. I was told that this could be a side effect. It was a tiny bit smaller after surgery anyhow and seems much more noticeable to me now. The unaffected side is a bit larger and sits lower. I said to the radiation nurses this morning that perhaps we should hit the other side with the rads to even things up. Ha.

My hair is still coming in. It the texture of teddy bear fur on the top, Phoebe loves to rub it. It's maybe a quarter inch long and sticks up on top but lays flat on the sides.

I went away with some other Mom's to the cape for an overnight last Friday to Saturday. The weather was beautiful on the cape although oppressively hot back home. We went out to dinner... played games... walked a long beach on the bay side... picked up shells... did a bit of shopping... sat on an outer ocean side beach and watched some seals frolicking in the waves... wonderful get-away (thanks again Sue!) Then we had a long drive home back to slightly cranky hubbies who had to deal with slightly cranky kiddos in 95 degree heat and humidity. All was better after a good night sleep Saturday night.

Hair

Updated photo 2 months out from the end of chemo. The pic was taken last week in the radiation oncology changing room after treatment. The hair is coming back... can you see it? Hair on head, eyebrows, eyelashes, yay, hair on legs, under arms, random bizarre chin hair, boo. Ah well, can't have your cake and eat it too.

A difficult week.

I've lost count of the radiation treatments. I'll map it out on the calendar tonight. All is well. No side effects.

Phoebe had a reaction to poison ivy, or oak, or something on our Mother's Day hike up the mountain and was in and out of school last week with full face rash. It's cleared up now. Phew.

And a young Princeton couple was killed in a car accident on Mother's Day evening. They have 3 children, an older daughter and two young boys who are connected to Sander through baseball and school. The dad was one of Sander's baseball coaches. It's such a horrendous tragedy that it's difficult to wrap your mind around it. My heart aches for these kids.

Why we have healthcare...

I just received a bill in the mail yesterday from the hospital. One month of chemo costs $25,465.40 so the four months of chemo treatment would total $101,861.60!!! This doesn't include surgical costs, radiation treatment, or hormone treatment. I received this invoice because my insurance company only made a partial payment so the hospital is looking for me to cover the remaining $18,846.10 - so much for that new car. Each single Neulasta shot is billed out at $9,423.05 - this is for one single 6 mg injection and I had 8 of them. I called the insurance people and have them looking it for me. The rep I spoke to seemed to think it's an invoicing glitch. Man, I hope so.

Update on the crazy eyebrows. I plucked them. Couldn't take it anymore. New baby brows growing as I type.

And, I've been off the sleeping pills for over a week now. I ran out of the pills and was going to call in a refill but thought I'd give it a shot on my own instead. It was very rough the first couple nights but now not so bad. I still wake up a few times a night but seem to be able to get myself back to sleep fairly easily. Yay.