CT scan

I got a notice in the mail that I have a CT scan at 9:20 am on Dec 13th.

That's a Sunday. Not that I care.

I'd be happy to go at 4:00 in the morning if that's the only time they could take me.

Ongoing adventures of Adam & Tara

Adam's Facebook page says:

Adam is driving around Switzerland. Next stop: Zurich.

The one before that says:

Adam is in London for a weekend of 'football'. Saturday (EPL): Chelsea vs. Blackburn at Stamford Bridge. Sunday (NFL): Patriots vs. Bucs at Wembley.

Where are my postcards? I did get a rather noisy call from a pub in London though. My sister & brother-in-law were there for the NFL game as well, so the phone got passed around. I love talking to drunk people at 4:00 in the afternoon! (our time, not theirs).

More sweaters

Here are a few more sweaters that I made to sell at this weekend's craft sale.
All of this crocheting is really aggravating my carpel tunnel syndrome!

Drugs

When you have cancer, you learn a whole new language – one that includes both the generic and brand names of treatment drugs. Since my diagnosis in 1998, I have received the following:

Adriamycin (Doxorubicin)
Cyclophosphomide (Cytoxan)
Taxotere (Docetaxel) - twice
Tamoxifen (Valodex)
Femara (Letrozole)
Arimidex (Anastrozole)
Fulvestrant (Falodex)

That does not include Neupogene (a white blood cell booster), steroids, anti-nausea pills, antibiotics, anti-depressants and complimentary naturopathic remedies meant to reduce the side effects of the cancer drugs.

It looks like I’ll be starting a new drug in a few months, once they have another look at my lungs. Some of the possibilities include Xeloda, Naveline, Abraxane, Ixempra, Gemzar and Fareston.

This weird cancer language also includes terms like: tumor marker, cancer stage, aromatase inhibitor, extrogen receptor, metastases, port-a-cath, and ablative therapy. What sounds like Klingon to most people becomes common place for those of us who are riding the cancer roller coaster.

Common breast cancer terms and definitions

Cancer Survivor Inspiration video

"You don't get to choose how you are going to die. Or when. You can only decide how you are going to live ... Now"

Joan Baez

I found this quote on Daria's blog in the video called Cancer Survivor Inspiration. It's worth clicking on the full screen button.

Test results

The news from my oncology visit on Friday wasn’t great. There are two new ‘nodules’ (aka tumors) on my lungs; I believe he said there was one on each of the bottom lobes (but to be honest, I'm a little fuzzy).

The good news is that we’re not rushing back into chemo. I have no symptoms (coughing, shortness of breath) so my onc suggested we wait a few months and have another scan to see how aggressively (or hopefully non-aggressively) the cancer is progressing.

While it’s disappointing, (OK, it sucks), it didn’t come as a huge shock. The doctor reminded me that this is a chronic illness that needs to be managed. A particular treatment will work for awhile and then things will ‘flair up’, which indicates the need to consider a new drug.

The worst part is having to tell my family when the news isn't good. I talked to my sister and mom yesterday, and I just got off the phone with Adam in Holland. That's the part that makes me want to scream!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Note to self: Don’t get test results on Friday the 13th again

No apologies for the dark cartoon; it's my way of coping. I'm picturing myself as the person in the mask, not the chicken.


Anka dropped off some homemade soup and rice pudding so I'm going to go self-medicate with food.

Granny Fest

Despite not yet being a grandmother myself, I am part of a Grandmothers to Grandmothers group. Because several of us in the group are not grandmothers, we call our group Ammas for Grammas. (Amma is a term to address older women as a term of respect in many countries).

Grandmothers to Grandmothers is part of the Stephen Lewis Foundation’s campaign to support grandmothers in Africa who are raising their grandchildren due to the high incidence of aids related illness and death.

One of the questions on the minds of some of the people who hear about the campaign is: Why not help Canadian grandmothers and Canadian grandchildren? Shouldn't we be helping our own first?

I won’t deny that there are people in need, even in prosperous countries like our own, and we have a responsibility to take care of those who truly need our help. But in addition, I think it’s important to reach beyond our own borders and help those who are in even greater need.

I’ve seen first hand during my travels to countries like India, Nepal, Tanzania and South Africa that so many people on our planet do not have the options for assistance that we do. While it’s not a situation that I’d wish on anyone, people in need here do have options; options such as shelters, food banks, unemployment, and social assistance.

For those in similar situations in developing countries, there are very few places to turn. They have limited access to education, therefore little hope that the future will be different. If they are not able to support themselves, they die. The people that are most affected are children and the elderly – the people that the Grandmothers to Grandmothers campaign is focused on helping.

Yesterday I attended a ‘granny fest’ gathering of the various groups in the Ottawa-Gatineau region. There were workshops on group development, advocacy and fundraising, and it was a great opportunity to connect with other groups and hear about their events and challenges.

Peggy (our group's head Amma), Anka (craft-maker extraordinaire) and I also had an opportunity to test the waters in preparation for our craft sale on November 29th (more information to follow).