Chemo - Round Five

So, I'm a little overdue posting on round five which was last Monday. Despite our smiling faces, this round's been a little rough, so I haven't felt much like getting on and writing. I'm definitely feeling the effects of the cumulative fatigue and lower hemoglobin counts. My oncologist said I'm basically operating as if I were at high altitude, which is obvious by the way I huff and puff going up stairs. I did the elliptical for half an hour at lunch today - same course and resistance I always do - and I was dying.  It's super frustrating because I'm dying to get back into my routine and some kind of shape.  I feel like my muscle has all turned to jelly with all this inactivity.

Blond day

And I swear the taste thing is getting worse. I've been surviving on soup, scrambled eggs, sparkling water and peppermint lifesavers for the past week. It usually works its way out by the end of this week; I can hardly wait. The Embassy is hosting a race kick-off VIP BBQ this Friday, and I will be very upset if I can't partake in the spread! Speaking of the race, I just checked Team Canada's page and we are up to 97 participants and $7978 raised - not too shabby. Thanks to all of you who snuck a donation in there when I wasn't looking! Race day is this Saturday. Did I mention I'm carrying the flag for Canada in the opening ceremony?

Keep Calm and Carry On

Many of you have been asking about John... All is well. He finally passed his stone today at work. Hopefully it's another nine years before we see a re-occurrence.  Maybe we can celebrate cancer/kidney stone-free anniversaries.  So romantic.

Fat Necrosis

Good news today re the arm nodule - not cancerous! I had the fine needle aspiration this morning.  They stuck a needle into the lump guided by an ultrasound and pulled out some tissue. The pathologist on site whipped it off to his microscope in the back room and within a few minutes came back with a benign diagnosis. He said it is probably fat necrosis sustained from some kind of injury to the area, perhaps from the physical therapist working on it. I had no idea what fat necrosis was, but apparently it's the destruction of fat cells within the body. The fat cells are broken down in response to some kind of trauma and a mass of rubbery tissue can form. It will likely go away on its own or stay as is. As long as it doesn't grow or start doing tricks, I am not to worry.  Phew. 

In other medical news, we spent last Wednesday night in the ER. Nope, not me this time. John - kidney stone. It seems remarkably similar to labour without the cute little baby at the end. It has yet to pass. We're working on names as we speak.

Grin and bear it?

Lumps & Bumps

As I mentioned, I have some new lumps so I went to see my surgeon last week to see if she had any thoughts. She thinks the ones on my chest are actually stitches from the mastectomy/reconstruction and wants to continue to monitor. Like my oncologist, she didn't think the one on my arm was anything serious, but just to be safe she sent me for an ultrasound which showed a little nodule filled with fluid. The radiologist in turn didn't think it was anything too terribly nasty and basically gave me two options - wait it out and see if it goes away or do a fine needle aspiration and have it tested. I chose option B. I'm not keen to have any more procedures, but I really don't want to sit around worrying about it for weeks waiting to see if it goes away. Nine o'clock Monday morning they will draw the fluid out with a needle and apparently there is a pathologist on site who tests the sample that day to see if it is cancerous. Stay tuned and keep your fingers crossed.

In other news, I just ate a giant BLT with a side of fries and it actually tasted good. I think the metal is on the way out! Thank goodness because the broth and poptarts I've been eating for lunch this week were really depressing.

In other excellent news, check out this homemade card that a complete stranger who found my blog sent me just because.  Joan is an amazing papercrafter - my limited photography skills don't do it justice - but how thoughtful.

My other chemo angel Janelle is also incredibly crafty.  All my angel mail is like a piece of art; she even makes the envelopes.

It got me thinking that letter writing is such a lost art, well at least for me, which is a shame because it's so fun and I love stationary. I still get letters from my 90 year old Grandma in Nova Scotia and they are such a treat.  When's the last time you wrote anything more than a couple of lines (not on the computer)? Even my handwriting is sloppy from lack of use. I used to make cards when I young, but it's been forever. Ladies, you've inspired me, and I do have a lot of thank you cards to write when this is all over!

Do you check?

I thought this was a clever visual for what to look for during self breast exams.  I have to admit, I pretty much left the check to my doctor at my yearly appointment and considered myself covered. Thankfully for me, said doctor found the lump and I caught this thing early, but don't be like me - do the monthly exams! 

Cupcake Wars

A couple of creative minds at work came up with the brilliant idea of having a cupcake fundraiser for our Race for the Cure team.  Staff paid for samples and voted on their favourites. They all looked amazing - pink lemonade, champagne, margarita, cherry, raspberry, vanilla bean, to name a few. I didn't get a chance to bake due to my treatment, but I was able to sell some of the wares and they were very popular. The effort raised $452 for Team Canada - bringing us up to over $4000 with one month to go until race day! Nice work, Team Cupcake!

Team Cupcake