One Down and Seven to Go!

As I said to some of you, yesterday would have been a great day, if it weren't for the cancer! Being surrounded by friends and family made the kemo trauma easier to endure (almost a party atmosphere--OK, not quite). I'm looking forward to the title of my post being "Seven Down and One to Go!" (or, this one's for you, Kelly, 88 percent DONE!).

Thanks to all you for your encouraging words and positive thoughts and actions. Please know how much I appreciate your support. Right now I'm feeling fine, and I'm going to try to not let my body surrender to the poison (both cancer and kemo!) invading it--now my body just has to cooperate with my mind! Major visualization going on (reference Kemo post).

And, Kelly, thanks for doing this, and doing it so well!

1st Kemo Update

If a group of people can make a kemo appointment into an event (group hugs, group pictures, cheering and high fives, Chinese food afterward), does that mean their lives are seriously lacking in fun????!!!???!!! No comment!  ;-)

Today's kemo went well.  Kathy came out smiling and ready to go to lunch!  She said that the minute they started the infusion she started saying to her cancer cells, "Die, you F@#$%&! ers, die!"  (Sorry Kathy if I wasn't supposed to let anyone know you swear!)   True to predictions, she felt very energetic after the kemo and joked that she would go home after lunch to vacuum and dust.  Oh Kathy, if you feel that good, don't waste it on housework!

I will post the pictures soon.  They are on Melissa's camera.  She remembered to bring a camera for blog pictures.  I didn't!  Good thing one of the support team members is always prepared! 

Kemo, All the Kool Kids are Doing It!

Today is the first day of Kathy's kemo.  (She has decided to spell it this way.  She didn't tell me why, but here's why I think its a good idea.  "Kemo" looks like the name of a pet---in fact, it was the name of my cousin's ferret.  Pets can help you through hard times, which is what these treatments will do.  "Chemo" looks like something chemical and harsh, which it is.  I'd rather focus on the fact that it is helping, wouldn't you?)

The picture above supports this view, wouldn't you say?  It's from the cover of this book for kids.  (For readers new to blogs, the blue words are a link to another webpage.  Click them to go there.)

So, today is the first day of kemo.  She will have it every other Thursday for four times.  That takes us through February.  Then there will be a second round of four biweekly treatments with a slightly different cocktail. (I'll have a kemo, please, on the rocks!)  That should wrap up in April.

The plan is that Thursdays will be kemo days.  The doctor has predicted that right after the treatment Kathy won't feel too bad, and any side effects will be worst over the weekend. Kathy is planning to keep working as much as she can during this time and if the side effects follow the schedule the doctor has predicted, working will be easier.


Ok, everyone, send good thoughts, vibrations and prayers for powerfully effective kemo!

Let the War on @#$%& Cancer Cells begin!

@#$%&! Breast Cancer

Here is the short version of the story.  

There was a lump.  It got bigger.  There was a mammogram, then an ultrasound, and then a biopsy.  It wasn't good news.  There was an oncologist, an ultrasound of the other breast, appointments in many flavors, none of them good.  There are now dates calendared for chemo and plans discussed for mastectomy and reconstruction.  Breast cancer sucks.


Here is the good news.

Kathy is a stubborn, tough, strong woman with a New York attitude.  She has a husband, son, and daughter who will help her fight.  She has stubborn, tough, strong women friends with attitude (although not from New York!).  She has many, many friends and family who will be on her side in this fight.  Breast cancer doesn't stand a chance.