Our blogstar chaired the last Curriculum Committee meeting of the year today. In fine style, she ended the meeting at 3 so we could get over to enroll in our new insurance.
Exciting, but not as entertaining as some curriculum committee meetings documented on youtube! (I am always amazed by what I find when I do off the cuff searches--like searching youtube for curriculum committee just to see what was there!)
The semester is winding down and Kathy is getting closer to the end of her year of treatment. Hooray!
Stringing You Along...
Posted by
Kelly
comments (3)
...and leaving you hanging.
That's what I have done lately. That is kind of how cancer treatment is, too. Now, I didn't plan it that way. I didn't leave the blog with no new posts to make a point or anything. Just the normal end of the semester crush. But it is true that the nature of cancer treatment is sort of like that too. For example, you find a lump and you make an appointment, then you wait. Then you have a test and then you wait. Then you have another appointment and schedule another test and then you wait. There is a sense of urgency, and always a next item in the future stringing you along. On the other hand, there is a lot of hanging in wait for the tests to be read, for the doctor to be available, for the next test or the next appointment.
Now that the kemo is done there have been more tests and more waiting and more scheduling and more waiting. The end result is two pieces of really good news.
That's what I have done lately. That is kind of how cancer treatment is, too. Now, I didn't plan it that way. I didn't leave the blog with no new posts to make a point or anything. Just the normal end of the semester crush. But it is true that the nature of cancer treatment is sort of like that too. For example, you find a lump and you make an appointment, then you wait. Then you have a test and then you wait. Then you have another appointment and schedule another test and then you wait. There is a sense of urgency, and always a next item in the future stringing you along. On the other hand, there is a lot of hanging in wait for the tests to be read, for the doctor to be available, for the next test or the next appointment.
Now that the kemo is done there have been more tests and more waiting and more scheduling and more waiting. The end result is two pieces of really good news.
- The kemo worked really well to shrink the tumors!
- The surgery is scheduled for June 1st, after the end of Kat's semester!
An Update
Posted by
Kelly
comments (3)
I happened to run into our blogstar last evening when I stopped by the hospital to visit my Aunt (Aunt Betty had a knee replacement). Wow did Kathy look great! Being finished with kemo certainly agrees with her! This week she has her MRI and another mammogram and then once the doctor has all of that information, they will schedule surgery. While we were discussing how nice the hospital room was, Kathy said she thinks her surgery will be outpatient. Really??!?!? That seems a little cavalier of doctors! "Having a mastectomy? Oh, yeah, that's just a little outpatient thingy."
She will find out more details by next week and you will all be the first (well, not really! maybe the fifth or sixth!) to know.
We were also talking about the surgery horror stories that people tell you. "It was the most painful surgery I ever had." Someone always has to say that. Why do they do it? On the other hand, if you have some helpful hints from your own or a loved one's surgery, please share. You never know what hint will be like the Q-Tip trick that I posted about before.
She will find out more details by next week and you will all be the first (well, not really! maybe the fifth or sixth!) to know.
We were also talking about the surgery horror stories that people tell you. "It was the most painful surgery I ever had." Someone always has to say that. Why do they do it? On the other hand, if you have some helpful hints from your own or a loved one's surgery, please share. You never know what hint will be like the Q-Tip trick that I posted about before.
The Next Phase
Posted by
Kelly
comments (1)
Great end of kemo party everyone! Thanks for coming and celebrating with Kathy!
So, the kemo is over. What is next for our blogstar?
This week she will have appointments in preparation for surgery, for example, another breast MRI. After that, they will have the information they need to proceed with surgery. It sounds like that will be sometime in mid to late May. Then again, it might end up being after school ends for the semester. Actually, that is probably one of the more difficult things about the treatment Kat is undergoing. The calendar is very fluid and it is controlled by someone else! To read more about breast cancer surgery at the American Cancer Society website, click here.
Speaking of the American Cancer Society, some of you may be noticing that there have been no Relay for Life activities on campus, yet. There may be some people planning to participate, but I had to sit it out this year. Since it is May (Paint the Town Purple month!), I encourage you to still make a donation to Relay. One of my nieces is participating in the RFL at her college (Here is her website!) I am very proud of her for doing this as a student with such a heavy workload ;-) If you prefer to keep your donations local, HERE is the website for RFL Salinas. I'm sure any of the teams would love to have your support!
So, the kemo is over. What is next for our blogstar?
This week she will have appointments in preparation for surgery, for example, another breast MRI. After that, they will have the information they need to proceed with surgery. It sounds like that will be sometime in mid to late May. Then again, it might end up being after school ends for the semester. Actually, that is probably one of the more difficult things about the treatment Kat is undergoing. The calendar is very fluid and it is controlled by someone else! To read more about breast cancer surgery at the American Cancer Society website, click here.
Speaking of the American Cancer Society, some of you may be noticing that there have been no Relay for Life activities on campus, yet. There may be some people planning to participate, but I had to sit it out this year. Since it is May (Paint the Town Purple month!), I encourage you to still make a donation to Relay. One of my nieces is participating in the RFL at her college (Here is her website!) I am very proud of her for doing this as a student with such a heavy workload ;-) If you prefer to keep your donations local, HERE is the website for RFL Salinas. I'm sure any of the teams would love to have your support!
Happy Birthday Kathy!!!!!
Posted by
Kelly
comments (5)
Choose your version! It's Kathy's favorite song today!
By the way, thanks to all who attended the virtual party last weekend! We had close to 175 visits to the blog from Thursday afternoon through the end of the weekend! That is a LOT of support!
By the way, thanks to all who attended the virtual party last weekend! We had close to 175 visits to the blog from Thursday afternoon through the end of the weekend! That is a LOT of support!
It's a Party!!!!
Posted by
Kelly
comments (24)
WOOOOOOOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!
The last kemo was today. The taxol infusion finished, they flushed the "sludge" and our blogstar was out the door!!!!
Let's all join in a celebration of a MAJOR MILESTONE!!!! Virtual champagne, anyone?
How about some cheese and crackers?
Play the music of your choice and let's all dance like there is no tomorrow. That's the one thing cancer teaches us. Carpe Diem! Kathy, you've done a great job and we're all here with you at your virtual "Kemo is Over" party!!!!!
In case you aren't sure what music to play, here is what Cheryl will be playing!
The last kemo was today. The taxol infusion finished, they flushed the "sludge" and our blogstar was out the door!!!!Let's all join in a celebration of a MAJOR MILESTONE!!!! Virtual champagne, anyone?
How about some cheese and crackers?
Play the music of your choice and let's all dance like there is no tomorrow. That's the one thing cancer teaches us. Carpe Diem! Kathy, you've done a great job and we're all here with you at your virtual "Kemo is Over" party!!!!!In case you aren't sure what music to play, here is what Cheryl will be playing!
Less Than 48 Hours...
Posted by
Kelly
comments (4)
...until the last kemo!!!
I'm sure the time has felt endless for Kathy, but can you believe she is almost done? It doesn't seem like that long ago that we met in the parking lot of the oncology center with presents and rowdy cheering. By this time on Thursday we can all be cheering that this phase of treatment is over!
Seems like there should be a party, but maybe Kathy wouldn't be feeling up to it. Let's have the a virtual party here on the blog! Click onto the blog on Thursday afternoon and join the party. As of today there were about 650 hits. Invite all Kathy's supporters to click onto the blog and lets see if we can harness the healing energy of at least another 100 by Thursday night.
Here are a few words from Kathy last week.
The nausea from this kemo seems to be a bit more pronounced than the last one, and I guess the next one will have the nausea fairy visiting me even more, but hey, it will be the last one! And, so far, my feet and fingers haven't gotten all tingly and numb (the side effects they told me about vs. the nausea that was supposed to disappear!). I have to say, I'd rather spend a couple of minutes with the toilet than walk around numb! Everything's relative. :-)
Hey Kathy, we're wishing you a restful 36 hours. Save up all your energy for this one last fight against those @#$%&*! cancer cells. They know they can't last against you. You know martial arts for goodness sakes!
I'm sure the time has felt endless for Kathy, but can you believe she is almost done? It doesn't seem like that long ago that we met in the parking lot of the oncology center with presents and rowdy cheering. By this time on Thursday we can all be cheering that this phase of treatment is over!
Seems like there should be a party, but maybe Kathy wouldn't be feeling up to it. Let's have the a virtual party here on the blog! Click onto the blog on Thursday afternoon and join the party. As of today there were about 650 hits. Invite all Kathy's supporters to click onto the blog and lets see if we can harness the healing energy of at least another 100 by Thursday night.
Here are a few words from Kathy last week.
The nausea from this kemo seems to be a bit more pronounced than the last one, and I guess the next one will have the nausea fairy visiting me even more, but hey, it will be the last one! And, so far, my feet and fingers haven't gotten all tingly and numb (the side effects they told me about vs. the nausea that was supposed to disappear!). I have to say, I'd rather spend a couple of minutes with the toilet than walk around numb! Everything's relative. :-)
Hey Kathy, we're wishing you a restful 36 hours. Save up all your energy for this one last fight against those @#$%&*! cancer cells. They know they can't last against you. You know martial arts for goodness sakes!
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