Wanted to send out a (long over due) good vibes update. Its been almost two years since Barb got on the cancer roller coaster. For some reason I keep thinking that the ride would have been over by now, but its not. At last posting (Sept '08), Barb had just finished up her last treatment of Herceptin, and we were pretty much thinking we were done. We celebrated by hiking Half Dome in Yosemite! It looked like most of the "bad" was behind us. Things were looking up. The next step in treatment was for her to take estrogen inhibitors (for 5 years). Without going into the how and why, taking these meds will reduce Barb's risk of getting cancer again by 50%. Those are odds that you can't pass up. That's good! But.....
Those darn estrogen inhibitors are bad. Very bad! Barb's oncologist started her on one, and the side effects were so bad that it was almost unbearable for her. I felt so sorry for her. It was so bad that at one point I couldn't even give her a hug because it HURT to HUG!! So Barb has spent the last months trying to find the right meds that work for her with minimal side effects.
NEWS FLASH!!! ( or should I say.. HOT FLASH!) THERE ARE NONE!!!
They all have side effects and they all take a toll. Suddenly, the girl who hiked Half Dome couldn't make it up Mission Peak. For the first time in this two year journey she was showing signs of being beaten down, and almost ready to give up on taking meds all together. Losing her job could not have come at a worse time. Right in the middle of a major med change, the effects were horrible and she was feeling as low as ever. Thats when the layoff came. It sure didn't help things. Like Forrest Gump says; "thats all I have to say about that!"
But, dammit, no matter how far that girl is beaten down, she keeps getting back up! She is on the newest rounds of meds, and dealing with it. Good days and bad days. Bad days and good. Headaches have been so bad that that her oncologist scheduled MRI and PET scans to make sure that the cancer had not metastasized to her brain! See how it never ends!?!?!? All those scary feelings and apprehensions come rushing back. The MRI was at the place where they found the breast cancer two years ago. The place where the doctor told Barb, " you have cancer". Just to be sitting in that office (waiting for Barb) was creepy. Crappy. The good news is that the tests came back and Barb continues to be CANCER FREE!! The bad news is that all the side effects remain.
Barb is also 99% complete with her breast reconstruction. What started with double mastectomy in July 07, ends this month with "titty tats." Between then and now she has had a couple of out patient procedures. First to get a "tune-up" where the doctor "evened things out" so to speak. Barb most recently went in for "nipple reconstruction" where they amazingly created nipples out of thin air. Not really, but almost! Either way, She now has nipples. The last step is this weekend, when the plastic surgeon accompanies Barb to a local tattoo artist where she will get "areolas" tattooed around her new nipples. Hence, the titty tats!
Just wanted to put this posting up to let you know that we are still on the roller coaster. Most of you know what has been going on and have helped us through. We are blessed to have such wonderful daughters, family and friends. You continue to provide support in ways that friends and family do. You ride the coaster with us, and most times make us forget we are even on it! For that we are forever grateful. GOOD VIBES!!!!












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