Radiantly healthy!

(Having fun at the Auto Museum in Gateway)

I am done with exactly 25 radiation sessions... and I feel great! My skin is burned a bit but is already healing and my energy increases every day. It is so nice not to have to get up and be at radiation at 8am - I feel like my life is back in my hands.

I am riding my bike every day... I even ride it to my exercise class! I am planning a small vacation and (gasp!) even lesson planning and getting ready for school to start.

Our GJHS book club is still meeting every Wednesday at the Bistro (15th & Chipeta) - if you need something good to read please stop by at 4pm. Di has some great new books! I'd love to see you there!

Radiation is over - July 8th 2008

Entering the danger zone...

Laying on the table ready to radiate...

My wonderful doctor... Dr. Miller...

My hair is coming back!

Summer hit and I checked out! I figured it was time to update the blog! I have completed 3 weeks of radiation - EVERY morning! 2 more weeks to go. It is going fine - my skin is a bit red and sore and I am tired - naps in the afternoons are a great thing! I am enrolled in a exercise program and am working on getting in shape. I also have enjoyed hiking with my kids.

My hair is growing! Not quite long enough yet to spike but it is getting there! There is a great debate on what color it is.... definitely dark brown... and blonde spots (my opinion)... and grey spots (my kids opinion). Honestly, I don't care what color - any day with hair is a good hair day!

The GJHS relay for life team was very successful! Many great people came out and walked with us. I got a swing at the "Smash Out Cancer" car... using a sledgehammer... I smashed out the windshield and won $10!! Yeah, a little pent up aggression there!

A bit of catching up to do!

It has been a bit hectic since my last (and final!) chemo. The chemo, as everything else has been, was eventful! My friend Kate was with me and took the following notes….

LAST CHEMO – March 27, 2008
"Cappi Making a Scene"

Roses are red.
Spring grass is green.
During Cappi's last chemo,
She caused a scene.

10:30 AM – wheezing – everyone rushes in ….O2 sat = 99% Dr. Mike Berguin came to listen to chest; Dr. Kim Gibson took over.50 mg Solumedrol (corticosteroid) – anti-inflammatory Benadryl – for wheezing – upper airway reaction

What happened was…. During the download of one of the chemos (I actually got three different ones every three weeks for 6 times) I got an allergic reaction. I didn't know… I get "loopy" from one of the anti-nausea drugs and just started coughing and it was tough to breath but I just kept talking! I figured it was spring and I was getting an allergy (not real clear thinking on the loopy drug.) Finally the nurse came over and realized what was happening. She kind of scolded me for not telling her. I asked her if she didn't hear me coughing and making a racket… she said she just thought we were LOUD… I said "I'm a Librarian!!!"

It was a bit intimidating with doctors and nurses surrounding me and pulling out the "EMERGENCY KIT" and shooting drugs into my IV. The Benadryl knocked me out and I slept through the rest – I don't even remember going home though I am told I woke up, made another appointment, and got home. Thank goodness Kate & Larry were there with me. The worrisome part of this is I am supposed to get that chemo until December. Yeah, I am done… but not really. I get the herceptin for a full year, through the port, every three weeks. I am also supposed to get something else (tamoxifen?), pill, for 5 years.

The herceptin is not supposed to have the side effects with it so my hair is SUPPOSED to start coming back and my fatigue should start getting better. I do have an appointment with the oncologist before the next download – I'm a bit worried about the allergic reaction and why.

I've also met with the radiation doctor. They put little tiny tattoos on me showing the area that has been (will be) radiated so I am never radiated again there. It might cause cancer! But come to find out the "expander" that they put in has some metal in it so I can't be radiated until it is removed.

So I have reconstruction surgery scheduled for April 23rd. I should be back to work on Monday the 28th if all goes well. I guess after I heal they will start the radiation, every weekday, for 5 weeks. They didn't really tell me when I would start???

We are in the throws of planning our "Relay for Life" team at school. Our "Welcome to the Jungle" team is coming along! Big plans! If you want to help check it out at...
http://gjhs.mesa.k12.co.us/RelayforLife.htm

Thanks again for all the comments, emails, and kind words! I am the luckiest (if not the quietest!) Librarian in the world.

Happy Easter

The easter bunny came by my house a day early and left a wonderful basket for my 4 kids! They were thrilled this morning. We are headed to Grandma Leota's for an easter lunch later, the sun is shining, and life feels good.

My two youngest are outside now hiding and hunting eggs for each other! (Its the chocolate for breakfast that I am worried about!)

I am preparing for the final chemo. I have a doctors appointment on Wednesday, the chemo on Thursday, and a "rest" day on Friday. Then I will start the process of feeling better! The idea that they won't be "zapping" me again is wonderful. I am tired of being tired.

After that last photo I thought I would post what it really looks like. This is the chemo in the IV drip bags that is connected to my port - an "input" in my chest so they don't have to do an IV in my veins each time. It really is not bad and I don't feel anything. It just hits me later...

I hope you all have a happy easter and get a chance to get out into the sunshine!

After today only ONE more to go!

It is 10:30am and I've started the chemo download. There is something that they give me for nausea and it makes me dizzy. Actually... it makes me feel like this....

Hee hee!

I am really looking forward to being done with this part of this process. The side effects are really not a lot of fun. And I want my immune system healthy - it seems like my kiddos are always coughing or something! I am hoping to spend as much time with them next week during spring break as possible. I miss them more than anything. I am thankful for all the people who have helped take care of my boys while I concentrate on getting healthy.