No, not the kind of burn you feel from a great workout. This burn is from the radiation treatments. Each day my skin is turning more red/pink, cracked and worn. It is becoming very difficult to have any clothes touching my skin or lay on my side. If I hold some thing hot, like a cup of coffee near it I can feel the burn. No baths at all, shower is with cool water.
I have been doing some walking/running, but without a doubt the friction from the clothing and sweat make it much worse. :(
I had been using pure Aloe Vera but now have switched to a medication they gave me last year called Regenecare, HA
It is crazy how the radiation continues to work in your body well after treatments are finished. This is apparent as I see my skin getting worse each day. Hopefully soon, this will turn the other direction.
"breast cancer isn't always a pretty pink ribbon"
~ My journey of living life with metastatic breast cancer and "running to recovery"!
Friday, September 23, 2011
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Just two more days....
This Saturday is the first Denton, KOMEN RACE FOR THE CURE! I am not quite ready for this race but my daughter (in-law) Stephanie is! She is running, raising funds and awareness for breast cancer. She is close to her goal,please support her as she supports us! Thank u Steph!
Monday, September 19, 2011
Oncologist, Radiologist & labs...
Well, today I got both my doctors at the same time for my 2 week check up. It can be a bit intimidating with 3 guys ( hubby there too) in the room and we are all there to look at my chest. But... the good news is "it appears the rash is gone and the cancer cells are dead"! So, the chest looks good, albeit the burn is still pretty bad.
My radiologist seemed pleased. I told him the fatigue threw me for a loop this time and I have had a cough for a week ( concerned about my lungs). He said it will be about 8-10 more weeks to recover. However, "because I am young (LOL, I am about to be a grandma:) and active I should recover sooner".
The visit with my oncologist went like it usually does. I don't fit any mold and he is never quite sure what to do with me. Don't misunderstand that statement. We love Dr. A. and know he is doing everything he feels is best to keep me well and have a good quality of life. He told Chris and I "you two are living life and I want you to continue doing that"!
He is keeping me on my usual meds (Faslodex and Tykerb) for now. We have stopped the Lupron. I will be having a CT scan in 2 weeks and a PET scan in December to make sure there has been no further spread. Last set of scans were done in June and they were all clear.
First set of lab results today were all normal. Waiting on the tumor marker results.
So, all and all, things look good as of today. Some more labs and tests to check me out and hopefully I will be ok once again.
I still have a road to recovery in front of me, but each day is a bit better. Walked 3 miles last night with a half mile run at the end :)
Thank you everyone for everything..especially your prayers!
My radiologist seemed pleased. I told him the fatigue threw me for a loop this time and I have had a cough for a week ( concerned about my lungs). He said it will be about 8-10 more weeks to recover. However, "because I am young (LOL, I am about to be a grandma:) and active I should recover sooner".
The visit with my oncologist went like it usually does. I don't fit any mold and he is never quite sure what to do with me. Don't misunderstand that statement. We love Dr. A. and know he is doing everything he feels is best to keep me well and have a good quality of life. He told Chris and I "you two are living life and I want you to continue doing that"!
He is keeping me on my usual meds (Faslodex and Tykerb) for now. We have stopped the Lupron. I will be having a CT scan in 2 weeks and a PET scan in December to make sure there has been no further spread. Last set of scans were done in June and they were all clear.
First set of lab results today were all normal. Waiting on the tumor marker results.
So, all and all, things look good as of today. Some more labs and tests to check me out and hopefully I will be ok once again.
I still have a road to recovery in front of me, but each day is a bit better. Walked 3 miles last night with a half mile run at the end :)
Thank you everyone for everything..especially your prayers!
Thursday, September 15, 2011
Feels like home!
After 4 weeks of being out of commission from most everything, including exercise of any kind, I finally went for a 2 mile walk last night with Chris!
We were getting ready to go and I said " let me grab my shoes". I slipped them on my feet, stood up and said "oh, that feels good, feels like home" :)
The air is finally cooler here and it felt so good to be back out there! I came home just as I left, tired..but happy to have done it. This morning after teaching my class, two of the ladies from the group walked 2 more miles with me.
Back at home in my running shoes....
We were getting ready to go and I said " let me grab my shoes". I slipped them on my feet, stood up and said "oh, that feels good, feels like home" :)
The air is finally cooler here and it felt so good to be back out there! I came home just as I left, tired..but happy to have done it. This morning after teaching my class, two of the ladies from the group walked 2 more miles with me.
Back at home in my running shoes....
Monday, September 12, 2011
Supporting Stephanie
Friends and Family~ I had planned to run the 2011 Komen Race For The Cure in Denton this year. Unfortunately, I will not be running since having just finished chemo/radiation for stage IV breast cancer.However, my daughter-in-law is running and fund-raising for this event! Please help support Stephanie Minich reach her goal of $100 at her personal Komen web page.Thank you in advance for your support to raise funds for breast cancer research.
elayne
http://northtexas.info-komen.org/site/TR/RacefortheCure/PNO_NorthTexasAffiliate?px=10482416&pg=personal&fr_id=2196
elayne
http://northtexas.info-komen.org/site/TR/RacefortheCure/PNO_NorthTexasAffiliate?px=10482416&pg=personal&fr_id=2196
Elayne & Stephanie |
Friday, September 9, 2011
Give yourself a break!
This was a conversation I had last night with my husband;
Me; Chris, I still feel so bad. I am so tired, still having many side effects, and can't do the things I want to do.
Chris; Well, how long did Dr. A. say it would take after treatment before you would begin to turn the corner?
Me; 2-4 weeks.
Chris; How long has it been?
Me; ummm...it will be a week tomorrow. I guess I need to give myself a break huh?
Chris; ya think?
Me; Chris, I still feel so bad. I am so tired, still having many side effects, and can't do the things I want to do.
Chris; Well, how long did Dr. A. say it would take after treatment before you would begin to turn the corner?
Me; 2-4 weeks.
Chris; How long has it been?
Me; ummm...it will be a week tomorrow. I guess I need to give myself a break huh?
Chris; ya think?
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
End of Treatment!
Friday was my last day of radiation and chemo after 20 straight days ( (weekends off)! I am feeling better as the day to day hits are no longer a part of my regime.
My skin is burned over a fairly large area, but no complications as of yet. I believe using pure aloe vera gel helps tremendously! As soon as my treatment was over I would apply it immediately and then once or twice more during the day. Continuing to do so.
The Xeloda (oral chemo) messed my stomach up, made my bones and joints hurt, caused insomnia and incredible fatigue, but all that too is improving.
During the last week of treatment I also had to have a Faslodex injection. Those also tend to cause insomnia and bone/joint pain for the first 2-3 days. Needless to say I am a mess with sleep patterns and fatigue right now.
Overall I think I faired well. Only had to cancel 2 of my 4 running groups and honestly I don't think anyone would have come with the terrible heat we had this summer. Dangerously hot for runners. Can't say I was too upset about that.
Otherwise, I was able to continue teaching my GroupFit and Personal training classes, taking just the very last week off. Teaching all four sessions of my "Little Swimmers" was, as always a joy!
Exercise and nutrition...well, that went well for the first 2 weeks and then downhill. I am anxious to run again and have been drinking lots of smoothies, and veggie juices as my stomach is still not back to "normal".
The Thank you List!!
There were so many people who brought us dinners. Thank you to everyone, it was and continues to be so much help! Also to my "drivers" Matt and Vicki..a big thank you for your company and keeping me from falling asleep or getting lost. Chemo brain big time! To Vince, who I spent 10 minutes with every day as he administered the radiation. It makes such a difference when your health care professionals are as kind,patient and respectful as Vince was. Then to all of you for your thoughts, prayers, cards, emails and FB messages!
I prayed before my last radiation that I would be healed and never have to return to this place.Before I took my last dose of chemo, Chris and I again prayed the same thing.
So glad it is over and pray it remains so. Follow up with both doctors in 2 weeks.
My skin is burned over a fairly large area, but no complications as of yet. I believe using pure aloe vera gel helps tremendously! As soon as my treatment was over I would apply it immediately and then once or twice more during the day. Continuing to do so.
The Xeloda (oral chemo) messed my stomach up, made my bones and joints hurt, caused insomnia and incredible fatigue, but all that too is improving.
During the last week of treatment I also had to have a Faslodex injection. Those also tend to cause insomnia and bone/joint pain for the first 2-3 days. Needless to say I am a mess with sleep patterns and fatigue right now.
Overall I think I faired well. Only had to cancel 2 of my 4 running groups and honestly I don't think anyone would have come with the terrible heat we had this summer. Dangerously hot for runners. Can't say I was too upset about that.
Otherwise, I was able to continue teaching my GroupFit and Personal training classes, taking just the very last week off. Teaching all four sessions of my "Little Swimmers" was, as always a joy!
Exercise and nutrition...well, that went well for the first 2 weeks and then downhill. I am anxious to run again and have been drinking lots of smoothies, and veggie juices as my stomach is still not back to "normal".
The Thank you List!!
There were so many people who brought us dinners. Thank you to everyone, it was and continues to be so much help! Also to my "drivers" Matt and Vicki..a big thank you for your company and keeping me from falling asleep or getting lost. Chemo brain big time! To Vince, who I spent 10 minutes with every day as he administered the radiation. It makes such a difference when your health care professionals are as kind,patient and respectful as Vince was. Then to all of you for your thoughts, prayers, cards, emails and FB messages!
I prayed before my last radiation that I would be healed and never have to return to this place.Before I took my last dose of chemo, Chris and I again prayed the same thing.
So glad it is over and pray it remains so. Follow up with both doctors in 2 weeks.
Sunday, September 4, 2011
"Climbing Mount Brandon"
My story "Climbing Mount Brandon" has been approved, accepted and entered into a writing contest on Amazing Travel Stories. I hope you get a chance to read it and hit the "Like" button if you like it :) You can also rate and leave a comment if you wish. Hopefully you will enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it!
http://www.amazingtravelstories.com/travel_stories/climbing-mount-brandon
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