Surgery is over~

Had my surgery this morning and all went well. The team of doctors, nurses and the anesthesiologist were wonderful and took good care of me. They listened to my concerns about nausea after anesthesia and gave me several meds. to combat that. I have had no trouble at all and was even hungry when I got home.

After the nurse prepared me and the doctors came in and talked to me and Chris they took me off to begin. They gave me a drug through the IV and said "this may make you a little dizzy". I remember spinning, not being able to move the way they asked me to and then woke up sitting in a wheelchair in a different room feeling VERY drugged and tired. Kind of weird :)

They kept giving me instructions like "take a deep breathe", "get ready to get dressed" and kept taking my blood pressure. Pretty quickly I came back to semi-reality and talked with my doctor. She said she did not see anything that concerns her and she removed tissue to have biopsied. The results should be ready in about 4 days. She does still feel I will need a hysterectomy. When, will depend on the biopsy results.

Chris brought me home and has taken good care of me while working from home today. My friend Jonna brought dinner over which was great. I have not had much pain but I have also kept myself pretty well medicated to offset the pain. Have just felt really tired and a little sore. So, overall everything has gone well today. Will write when I have the biopsy results. Thank you for all the prayers!

Surgery~ Thursday morning

Hi all~ I will be having surgery Thursday morning @ 8 am. My doctor will be doing another biopsy ( more extensive) to make sure nothing was missed from the first one done a month ago.

I am not looking forward to it but..... guess it needs to be done.

The anesthesiologist called today to touch base and I was able to fill him in on the fact that I don't typically do well with anesthesia and he said he will give me some meds. to help with that. One being Zofran ( yuck-used that one with chemo) and another I am not familiar with. I hope they work :)

My doctor has prescribed pain pills and nausea meds which I already have to use at home if needed.

Chris will be able to take me on Thursday and we have a couple of very kind friends that will bring dinner for us Thurs. & Friday! So, it looks like we are good to go.

I have not felt well since getting back from Tulsa over a week ago and had a terrible headache all day today. So.... lots of prayer needed here please. Please pray that the surgery goes well with no complications/side effects. That the results are good-no cancer or other problems. That my recovery will be fast and I can get back to running which I have only been able to do once in the last 10 days which of course makes me feel very "off" right now. Thanks for your prayers, love & support!

Isaiah 41:13
For I am the LORD, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.

Running Riverside Park in Tulsa

Chris and I headed to Tulsa for a long weekend to be with family and decided while we were there we would do our long run of 16 miles at Riverside Park in Tulsa, OK. This is an awesome place to run! We saw every running group out there, Tulsa Running, Fleet Feet, Runners World, TNT, Race for the cure and more, including getting to say hello to contestant Sean from this seasons "The Biggest Looser", who was out there running!

The weather was absolutely perfect and we were amazed at how many people were out there. Everyone was so friendly. The shaded, paved trails run alongside the river with restrooms, playground, sitting areas and beautiful sculptures lining the trail. My favorite was the one of a runner. The trails are split for bikers and runners, which is great!

At first we were not sure how far we had gone so we just picked a place to turn around and head back. At the starting point we found a map and realized we had run 9 miles so we just ran it again and cut a little off the end, making it about 16-17 miles. We did notice that we were able to guess our mileage ( accurately) based on how our bodies felt. Thought that was quite interesting. What a nice change of scenery and weather!

We stayed in a hotel with a hot tub and pool, ohhh that was wonderful!! I am looking forward to running there again :)

Pre-Op VISIT

Going in tomorrow ( Wed.) for my pre-op visit. I will have a procedure done next week on the 15th. This will be a d/c to check and make sure they did not miss anything from the biopsy done a few weeks ago.

I am still having pain in the area of where they did the biopsy and said the endometrial lining was too thick. I can not tell if this is a running injury or something else, so I would like to ask for prayer about this procedure next week.

It is considered day surgery, they will use anesthesia to put me out and say I will need to rest for a few days and then can resume normal activities. I have yet to ask what their definition of "resume normal activities" means :)

I tend to have a lot of trouble with anesthesia, so please keep that in prayer as well.

The following week will be time for my 6 month round of tests, labs and oncology visit.

Thanks all~

Why do you do this??

Chris and I are asked this question regarding training for a marathon all the time. So, I thought I would write and try to answer this question.

~ For our health. We have both seen the health benefits of running in amazing ways. We believe that this has been a huge part of my recovery and keeping me strong and healthy. I have been able to get my blood pressure back to normal and off all BP medications! Chris, along with nutrition and vitamins has been able to keep his cholesterol in normal ranges and also able to avoid medications. It keeps us in "normal " weight ranges for our age and height and we have strenght and endurance in other areas that we could see deteriorating as we are getting older.

~For our sanity. As most people these days we struggle with our share of stress and difficulties. When we run you can actually feel the stress being "lifted" off us. There is truth to that "runners high". It helps combat depression, fatigue, anger, stress. Everything!

~To be outdoors. It's funny, no matter what time of day we run there is always a flock of geese that fly over us in a beautiful V formation. We call them our running geese. It is beautiful and amazing that they are always there!

I can't begin to explain the beauty of watching the sun come up over the lake or seeing it go down as we run in our neighborhood. Just last night we were running and the sky was so beautiful it literally felt like you were running in a photograph.

~ For all the people you meet. We have met some of the most amazing people over these past 2 years. Runners are a different kind of people, and I am amazed at their positive outlook and willingness to push themselves beyond what should be human limits. Usually they are doing what they do for a cause greater than themselves and are always willing to help you reach your goals.

~ To accomplish something bigger than you ever thought you could do. Is it hard? Yes! Does it hurt? Yes! Can you eat anything you want ? No! Is it worth it? Absolutely! Accomplishing something that seems impossible is not only one of the greatest feelings you will ever experience it also gives you confidence and makes you realize what else you are capable of doing.

~Our time together as running partners. This is a very special time for us, we have plenty of time to talk but I think the best part of running together is simply enjoying the journey and experience together. We are so used to training together now that our footsteps are even in complete sync. I would feel lost without him by my side and can't wait to cross that finish line together. We keep each other motivated and disciplined.

~To be an example. I love when we are running and you see the same people out in the neighborhood that always say hello and wave. Many of them encourage us as they see us out there day after day :) I see young girls that are sitting on the sidewalk with their friends "just hanging out" and one of them looks at you with a big smile and waves. I hope she is thinking "I can do that"! One day some kids outside saw us running and one said " what are they always doing"? The other one said " they are running for exercise". I hope as the "older" generation we are being positive role models for the younger generations. I also hope that people will see that living with cancer does not always mean you can't accomplish your goals and dreams. It may just take a little longer and be a little harder but it can be done.

~ Because I can! There have been times in my life and in the lives of many who live with cancer, that we are unable to exercise or do much of anything physical for that matter. So, when I am blessed with the strength, ability and health to do this, I will keep running for me and for those that cannot.

~ Having the faith that " I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" Phillipians 4:13 I ask for His strength and give all the glory to Him!

another health update

Hi all~ I am feeling much better this week and based on the poll, health updates ranked #1 so that is where I will start.

The Cardiology side of things; I have been weaning off the beta blocker since my echo test was good, my blood pressure is back to normal and the heart palpitations have just about gone away. I am on my 3rd day with no heart meds and feel ok so far. The problem is I have been very unhappy with the care from my cardiologist's office and am doing this on my own. IF, I have any trouble I will find another doctor. Between stopping a medication that I believe was making the palpitations and BP worse I have also switched my coffee to 1/2 Calf and that has really made a difference. Overall I am very happy that all this seems to be back under control. I will be closely watching it.

The oncology side of things; I will have a battery of tests coming up in October and then my visit with my oncologist. It has been 6 months and I am a bit nervous, but these tests are always nerve racking. I am currently not on any medication for cancer except the Lupron injections that keep me in a medical menopause. I am sure we will discuss if he wants me to try something else as the Tamoxifen and Faslodex did not work for me. There are some other medications for hormone therapy to try.

The Biopsy, as you all know came back clear, however my gynecologist wants a DNC done on October 15th to make sure nothing was missed from the biopsy results. This will be done on a Thursday and they say I will need the weekend to recover. I asked what the definition of recover is?? Like, will I be able to run 18 miles the next weekend kind of recover?? We'll see..

October will be a bit rough and I am praying for all the tests to come back clear and that my training will not be interrupted too much. Thanks for caring and praying!

The Poll Results & 2 years later with this blog!

The poll is closed and so many of you voted, thank you for doing that as it really helps me to know what to write about. It has been 2 year since I began this blog and was quite hesitant to start it. However, it has not only been very therapeutic for me, it has been a great tool to communicate, connect and inform all of you with all that is going on here on this side of things. Your responses, support and prayers have played a huge role over these past 2 years and I am thankful for that and for this blog.

The Results;

1) More updates on my current health

2) A survivors mind, what we are thinking and how it is different from before cancer

3)Day to day life

4) The spiritual side of things

5) Coping tips for survivors, friends and family

6) Training for a marathon

THANK YOU!

Chris and I want to thank all of you for ALL the prayer support, e-mails, blog posts, calls and concern over this past week as well as over these last 3 years. We have had so much loss and many difficult times but we always know that our Lord is beside us at all times. And Today we all share in this celebration and praise!

We are not only grateful but I can assure you I (we) truly can feel when you all are lifting us up in prayer. We both were nervous with this scare but really felt a sense of peace while going through the biopsy and waiting for the results. We are so fortunate to have so many friends ( some of you I have not even met :), family members and a phenomenal church family! I apologize for not being able to thank you individually, but please know just how much all the support meant to us last week :) You are all appreciated and our God is so good!

Thanks All~

Biopsy Results

Received a call from the nurse and my doctor this afternoon with the words"Elayne, this is Cynthia, I have good news"!! No Cancer :)

I will have a procedure next month (DNC) just to make sure nothing was missed and will be discussing a hysterectomy with both of my doctors to be done sometime after December and the marathon.

Yeah- back to training! I had the biopsy Tuesday morning and walked 3 miles that night and was able to run a little bit this morning with my running group.

Thank you prayer warriors, family, friends and most of all~ THANK YOU LORD!

But the Voice of Truth tells me a different story  The Voice of Truth says, "Do not be afraid!"  And the Voice of Truth says, "This is for My glory"  Out of all the voices calling out to me  I will choose to listen and believe  The Voice of Truth 

Home :)

Hi all~ the biopsy is over and I am home and feeling fine. Chris just put some coffee on for me and that is where I am headed :)

The results will be in either Friday or Monday and the nurse promised she would call me right away. The biopsy itself only took 5 or 10 minutes but those are 5 or 10 minutes I could have lived without. Kinda rough :( but I didn't throw up this time!

My doctor asked how many miles I am running and when I told her 14 she said she would rather have the biopsy than run 14 miles! I said " oh, not me, I would much rather be outside running those miles right now than be here"!

Depending on the results I will either be having a DNC as the next step on the 17th or a hysterectomy. If it is positive for cancer it will be an immediate hysterectomy. If it is pre-cancerous or no cancer it will be a DNC followed by a hysterectomy in December after the marathon. :)

We are remaining hopeful and ask for continued prayer over these next days for the results to show no cancer.

Thank you all, your support and prayers have been encouraging and felt by Chris and I. You are wonderful friends, family and prayer warriors! I will keep you posted...

Biopsy today

I spoke with my doctor and I will have a biopsy this morning @ 9:00 at the doctors office. Prayers for good results, minimal pain and fast recovery are welcome :)

Thanks all!

Elayne

Seriously??

Hey everyone~ yup, this is one of those posts you don't want to get and I don't want to send but... here it is.
I had a sonogram done Thursday due to some pain I was having. Thought I had a bladder infection or a pulled groin muscle. Turns out there is a thickening of the endometrial (sp?) lining that is far above normal ranges. What they saw on the sonogram unfortunatly requires me to have a biopsy tomorrow, Tuesday morning to check for endometrial ( uterine) cancer. However since the biopsy was set up I have had more complications and will have to discuss with my doctor in the morning what she wants do.With that said, I could be looking at surgery as soon as tomorrow morning or sometime this week.

There are some other variables in this that I won't get into right now but there is a possibility that there could be some other causes for these problems. My Oncologist seems pretty optomistic and said that if it is cancer the typical procedure would be a hysterectomy. But, all my doctors are on it. The most likely reason for this to have developed is a prolonged amount of time on the drug Tamoxifen ( used for breast cancer). I was on it a total of 7 years. Five the first time and 2 the second.

Chris and I would like to ask for your prayers tomorrow and as we navigate our way through this. We believe in God's love, healing powers, that He hears us when we all come together and pray and that He is in control.

Either way, I am probably looking at a hysterectomy and recovery. You all know how disappointing this is to me on so many levels as I was really feeling good and getting my life back on track. Chris and I remain hopeful that I will still be able to recover, train and complete the marathon in December. My docotor said if it is not cancer, but I still need a hysterectomy I should be able to hold off the surgery till after the marathon. That is our prayer. I realize running seems like a strange thing to be thinking about right now, however one of the main things you learn as arunner is how to persevere, something I never want to stop doing.

If or when I have to have surgery Chris will post the updates on my blog for me.
Thank you all in advance~ Elayne & Chris

Might I add, that Chris has been by my side since I recieved this very dissapointing news Friday morning. The doctor has me on "bed rest" and Chris has been taking care of everything including mopping floors , cleaning bathrooms, cooking dinners and talking me "down" when I am "on the ledge". We have spent the weekend trying to prepare in case I am out of commission for a while. More as we know...

Getting Back~ Giving Back (don't forget to vote on the poll)

A very large part of my recovery has been my running and becoming certified as a Personal Trainer. Through all of this I have come to realize how much I love endurance sports and sharing them with others. Not only has this changed my own life, but the absolute joy I feel when I see it change others lives as well as their families.

I am convinced that God has not only blessed me with health and strength but the desire and abilities to share this with others. It is my joy and privilege.

Right now I am having a blast teaching a morning women's group called "Run Wild"( basically a running/boot camp :) and have a new co-ed "5k Learn to Run" group beginning Tuesday,Sept. 8th through the Parks and Rec. Dept. Here is the link if you are interested in a Learn to Run program!

Click on this link to check it out: https://ActiveNet10.active.com/corinthrec/servlet/registrationmain.sdi?source=adet.sdi&activity_id=2109&c=295A48B4615F.

"A JOURNEY OF A THOUSAND MILES BEGINS WITH A SINGLE STEP"

My New Old Car!

I am officially no longer a "soccer mom" minivan driver! It was great when I needed it, but I have been wanting to downsize for quite sometime now as I am usually the only one in the car. Therefore I definitely did not need a 7 passenger van with 2 built in car seats :)

So.... now I am the proud owner of a no car payment 1996 Nissan Pathfinder! I actually bought it from Tim when he moved to Prague. He needed the money and I needed a smaller car that could handle pulling our boat and camper ( not at the same time of course).

Tim put a monster hitch on it and it pulled the boat no problem! Sold.

After a 24 year old guy driving it for several years I decided I needed to "make it mine"
and "girl it up" a little :) Tim, don't freak!!

Girl Car!!

It's 2 years OLDER than my van, a little less mileage and just what I was looking for. Now, if I could just get that van sold...

The Longest Mile ~

Today started out like every Saturday morning for Chris and I. The alarm clock going off at 5:30 and both of us taking everything we have to get up and face hours of running. After all, we just went bed at midnight! Why do we do that to ourselves?

We roll out of bed and have a system in place; peanut butter, banana & honey on whole wheat toast with a Spark- Hydrate and two O2 Gold for breakfast- well, really for fuel.

Then we stumble back to our room to get dressed and ready to go. All the essentials put in the car; water bottles ( on ice of course), plenty of Excel gels and a couple energy bars. OK, shoes on, we are ready to go. It was a wonderful 66 degrees this morning. I was actually cold :) That however did not last long.

We run at a park that has a paved trail that is a mile and a half around. So today's run was 9 times around with an extra 1/2 mile added to the end to make a total of 14 miles- the furthest we have ever run and our 3rd half marathon, one "official" and two in training!

I won't lie, the end was tough but we even picked up the pace when we saw the end in sight! It was a great morning and "the longest mile" of our lives :)

Doctors Visit Today

I went to see my doctor today because I am having some pain that I thought might be a bladder infection. All the tests so far are normal and will get more results on Tuesday. She said she does not think it is an infection but wants me to have a sonogram next week to check for cysts. The other possibility is an injured groin which I think, we both think, that will be the answer :)

Here is the great news and just 2 more reasons to RUN!! My blood pressure which has been high for the last year or two probably due to the medication that damaged my heart was 116/69!! Last week at the oncologist ( went to get my Lupron injection) it was 120/73! It is ALWAYS very high when I go there :) This was a first-yeah!

Also, I had a bone density test done today and it showed no change from 2 1/2 years ago and is completely normal! Given the drugs I have been on ( like tamoxifen) and that I have been put in a medical menopause, this is great news! So, besides a sore groin and foot all is well and tomorrow Chris and I will attempt (d0) our longest run ever of 14 miles.

Don't forget to vote on the poll~ thanks everyone!

What do you want to hear about??

I have decided to put up a poll to see what all of you most enjoy or want to hear about concerning this blog. ( ELAYNE'S BLOG-RUNNING TO RECOVERY)

Please vote on the poll so I can get an idea, and feel free to leave a comment if you don't see what you would like to hear more about in the poll. You can vote on multiple answers and you are anonymous.

Thanks everyone! I hope this blog is helpful, inspiring, interesting or whatever you need it to be :)

CANCER SURVIVOR- 11 YEARS TODAY!!

I have tried to think of something really profound to write today but can't think of a thing to say except~

Today I am here and "here am I"~ the video says what I am unable to put into words.

Climb Your Mountain and Scream HOPE!

Eat Right to Reduce Cancer risk

When it comes to cancer there are no guarantees. However, some of these healthy habits may significantly reduce your risks:

• Focus on fiber. Eat foods rich in fiber, especially those made with whole grains, to help reduce the risk of several cancers.
  
• Find healthy fats. Meals containing olive oil or fish help protect against cancer, and avoiding fat from meat, dairy, and processed foods may decrease cancer risk.
  
• Go vegetarian. Lower cancer risk by eating plenty of fruits, whole grains, legumes, and vegetables (especially tomatoes and cruciferous vegetables like cabbage), which helps to optimize body weight, immune function, hormone regulation, and to avoid meat-related carcinogens.
  
• Avoid alcohol. Use alcoholic beverages in moderation or not at all to reduce the risk of many cancers.
  
• Get regular checkups. Many cancers can be prevented or discovered in the early stages with screening tests available through your doctor.

Will I dance with my son at his wedding?

I attended a wedding shortly after my 2nd diagnosis with breast cancer. I was doing pretty well, UNTIL the mother/son dance came up at the reception. It took everything I had not to run out of there. These are part of the tough moments when you see other people's lives and wonder about things like "will I dance with my son at his wedding"?

As you can see on June 12th "I danced with my son at his wedding"! We have victories everyday, sometimes they are huge and sometimes they are small. Either way, I hope you are seeing them and enjoying them each day. Click on the link below to listen to the song Kevin chose for our dance~ enjoy!

Love you Kevin. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e5gvSzbSMNg

Heart Monitor Results

I received the results today from my cardiologist regarding the heart monitor ~ "premature ventricular contraction" ( early beat, pause and release of blood flow= heart racing). Good news is that I don't need to worry about it ( fairly common) and still have the ok to train for the marathon! Bad news is they suggest I stop drinking caffeine, well I'll have to think about that one :)

The consensus so far has been No Coffee- No Way! I will cut back though :) This was good news and honestly, I was most worried they were going to tell me to stop running~ whew :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TWGqETd6oxk

I'm Free!!

After 3 long weeks of being hooked up to the heart monitor I am finally done! I woke up this morning to a text message on the monitor saying "your session is complete, please return immediately". Gladly :)

After having to pay such close attention, I definitely saw some things that line up with medications ( heart racing right before it is time to take my beta blocker, etc.) However, there were a couple of things I still don't understand and hope this monitoring will either explain or (hopefully) rule out any issues with my heart. I will post when I have the results.

Otherwise, feeling pretty well overall. Training is going well but my body is definitely starting to feel the higher mileage. We drop to 8 miles this weekend and then back to 11 next weekend.

More later...

I have Cancer~ Cancer does not have me

I found this on a "blog friends" blog ( thanks Daria!) Very Inspiring, hope you enjoy :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TWGqETd6oxk

Shooting For The Moon ~ by Art Ritter

As our family and many others struggle with a cancer diagnosis, live with cancer, or when we loose someone to cancer it takes it's toll on all concerned. This post below was written by a friend, Art Ritter, who is a hodgkin lymphoma survivor. If you are reading this blog you are most likely affected by cancer in one way or another~ read this for all of us "living with cancer". Elayne

Forty years ago today, the most amazing thing I have ever witnessed in my life occurred: Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin made their giant leap for mankind to the lunar surface. Just days before that, on my 18th birthday, Apollo 11 blasted off from its launch pad as we all held our breath – a birthday I will always remember. Even now, I often look up at the moon in wonder, marveling that we walked - in my lifetime - on this object a quarter of a million miles out in space. And we did it at a time when most calculations were done with slide rules, and with primitive on-board computers you would barely trust to do a simple spreadsheet or organize your recipes now.

I have thought many times since having cancer that if we can get to the moon in 1969, why can’t we have cured cancer by 2009? Is it that much harder than getting to the moon, harder than rocket science? Apparently so. I guess this is true in part because there is no single disease called “cancer”. There are so many different types, each with its own biology. Each type must be decoded and understood to beat it. As I recall, what we refer to as non-Hodgkin lymphoma is actually more than 20 different diseases. And there are four distinct types of Hodgkin lymphoma. And that is just for what most people consider to be just two major forms of blood cancers. Lung cancer, breast cancer, colon cancer, pancreatic cancer – each of these has multiple forms of illness, biologically similar but entirely different at the same time.

Of course, we have made much progress. In 1969, most forms of cancer were looked upon as a death sentence. Many people in my parents generation would not even say the word, calling it the “Big C”, as if uttering the name gave it some special power – kind of like the kids at Hogwarts referring to Lord Voldemort as “He Who Shall Not be Named” in fearful hushed voices. Now, there are more than 10 million cancer survivors in the USA alone.

If I had gotten my Hodgkin lymphoma as an 18 year old the day of the moon shot, my chances of surviving for five years would have been about 40% or even less. When I was diagnosed in 2002 with Stage 3 HL, my odds of living for five more years were about 80%, and someone with stage one of this illness would have better than a 9 in 10 chance of living five years. So with individual cancers, we have made some fantastic progress. I, for one, have benefited tremendously from this.

What will it take to cure the remaining cancers? I wish I knew. But perhaps it will take as massive a commitment as we made to get to the moon – a goal that seemed impossible other than in science fiction when President Kennedy threw down the gauntlet in 1962. But we did it – and not just in my lifetime but 40 years ago! If we made the same commitment today, it is hard not to imagine all cancers being curable within the next 40 years. What a huge difference that would make to so many millions of people and their families! It is obviously very hard, not at all easy, to cure cancer, but when have we shied away from great goals because they were difficult?

“We choose to go to the moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard, because that goal will serve to organize and measure the best of our energies and skills, because that challenge is one that we are willing to accept, one we are unwilling to postpone, and one which we intend to win …”President John F. Kennedy 12 September 1962

update- heart monitor

Day 10 wearing the heart monitor and I must say I am so ready for this thing to come off. I have had to "record" events every day but can also see a pattern now that I have to pay such close attention to it.

Most of the time I feel my heart racing I see the reasons, some anxiety, lines up with medications, etc. Then other times it does not make sense, like when I am tired and rest ( usually laying down). I lay down and my heart starts racing?? I sometimes wake up in the morning with it racing. So... hopefully at the end of 3 weeks I will know more of what is going on and why.

Funny Picture from the Race

This is a picture Tim sent me from the Race for the Cure in June. It looks much more intense than it really was :) See the lady running beside me ( she scares me)? I didn't even know she was there :)

Run For Your Life~

The American College of sports medicine Health & Fitness Journal found women who exercised at moderate to high aerobic intensity levels at least 150 minutes every week were three times less likely to die from breast cancer than women who did not

So.... RUN FOR YOUR LIFE!

Heart Monitor

Well, I have been wearing the monitor for a few days now and am already tired of it. All in all it really isn't that bad and the technology is really awesome. If I feel anything ( rapid heart beat, chest pain, etc) I just log it on this little monitor that looks like a cell phone. All the data goes to a company called Cardionet where I am being monitored 24/7. Then the doctor gets a report each morning including anything I recorded. It is pretty cool and they have not sent me any text messages saying there are problems so..... so far so good, but still have 19 days to go.

I did do a 10 mile run with it yesterday, and it really did not bother me too much. I am feeling much better now that it has been several weeks since my last treatments. I am looking forward to the results and hopefully I can continue on with my training and not worry.

That's about it for now~ Elayne

update

I spoke with my oncologist yesterday. He thinks the heart monitor is a good idea just to check while I am training but does not really think it is my heart. He is suspecting hypoglycemia. Monitor will come in the mail today and begin wearing it tonight for the next 3 weeks. I can take it off to swim ~ yeah!

We have decided that I am having too many side effects on the Faslodex so those injections are stopped. He will be starting me on another drug which will be oral vs the injection. Not sure which one yet either Femara or Arimadex.

Think I just need some "tweeking" of medications and prayers.. thanks everyone!

Cardiologist visit yesterday~

my half hour echo turned into a 4 hour visit at the cardiologist. Had an echo and EKG done. Now have to wear a heart monitor for 3 weeks.... NOT HAPPY ABOUT THIS :( But... this is what happens when you tell a cardiologist you SOMETIMES get dizzy,lightheaded, see spots and feel weak while running. OK my fellow runners does this happen to any of you?? Yes, I am fueled, hydrated and take my gel shots. Feedback appreciated from the runners/athletes and medical people out there :)

I am on a new drug, Faslodex ( have had 2 doses) and it seems to be messing me up in many different ways. The above mentioned problems did happen before the new drug but had gone away until I started back on the new drug.

My echo went from 52 % to 50%. Not heading in the right direction, doctor says I am low/normal and my heart rate is 59, also low but because I am a runner not so abnormal.

I am feeling similar to when I was on the drug Herceptin which did cause damage to my heart ( my echo then was 45%). So hopefully wearing this monitor will tell us something. I will also have lab work and another echo 1 week after my next Faslodex injection to see if there is any further change immediately following the dose.

There are just so many variables with the medications, heat, training, etc. that I unfortunately have to rule out the big ones first which always require lots of tests. Please be in prayer about getting to the bottom of this with us.

Thanks~ Elayne

Test on Wednesday

Tomorrow I will have another echocardiogram to check out my heart. This should be a routine test and hopefully all is still well in this area. Last time all the tests on my heart were normal so I am hoping for the same this time.

I believe my doctor will have me come back for another stress test too. It is always funny when they ask me if I am able to walk on the treadmill:) Last time I had the test done the doctor put the TV on and said "this is going to take a while to get your heart rate up".

I am sooo thankful that I am able! Please pray that these tests remain fine and for wisdom about getting off the beta blocker. Last time I was there the doctor said she does not know why I need to be on them, however I start to have trouble when I try to get off them.

I really want to stop taking them especially while I am training for this marathon but not sure what the right thing to do is at this point ??

More later on the test results...

5k Running group Races For The Cure!

This is the picture & article that was published in our local newspaper this weekend. We had a great time~ way to go ladies, I enjoyed training/running with each one of you! ~ Elayne

CORINTH, TX – TEAM MINICH participated in the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure in Plano on Saturday, June 6. The team's organizer is Elayne Minich of Corinth who put together a running and training class for the run and was helped by four other women from her church: Suzy Flute of Corinth,Val Holman of Corinth, Jonna Wilson of Denton, and Shannon Tilton of Denton.
The class was eight weeks of an intensive running endurance program geared toward getting all four women ready to run the entire 5k race, which is 3.2 miles.
Minich, a certified personal training and sports nutrition specialist, is an 11-year survivor of cancer herself, just coming through her second bout of it in 2008.
The project became an amazing journey for all women involved. All four of the trainees ended up beating their own personal times they recorded a week prior to the race.
“Every time I wanted to give up, which was often, I would look at Elayne for the personal inspiration she is, and kept going." said Flute. "If she could keep going, so could I. Running is not the easiest thing that I’ve ever done.”
Each of the women learned about running and how taxing it is on the body as injuries started to show up during the journey. But the same four women who started the class actually finished the race despite the setbacks. Wilson even finished the race with a knee injury.
But as they were standing there at the Race for the Cure and watching the Parade of Pink survivors at the Survivors Ceremony with the 0-1 years up to more than 25 years of survivors, the definition of completing a race had a new meaning. For the women who were survivors, it wasn’t just another race completed but another year that God had put them on the earth, said Flute.
Minich and her husband Chris are in daily training getting ready for the 26-mile White Rock Marathon in Dallas in December.

I know yesterday should be a happy day with it being the last Zometa treatment but my nurse Melanie gave me that nasty Faslodex shot first and then hooked me up to the Zometa. Matt took this terrible picture of me right after :)
Overall, yesterday went ok. I had never had the 2 drugs administered at the same time so Matt came with me just in case I needed to be scraped off the floor at Central Market, which is where we went after treatment and lunch. He is good company, makes me laugh :)

I did not feel so great last night but do feel better today. Just taking it easy.Still having side effects from the new drug that we are hoping will subside with time. The side effects from the Zometa usually hit during this week and then that is done!
It is going to 103 today with 109 heat index. Back to the treadmill, or should I say hamster wheel? I am NOT a fan of this weather... terrible for runners!
Thanks for your thoughts & prayers!
Elayne~

Last Zometa treatment tomorrow!

After one year of receiving Zometa to strengthen the bones from where the cancer was, I am having my final IV treatment tomorrow! Because my last bone scan was completely normal my doctor said I can stop ~ yeah!

I will also be receiving my monthly injection of Faslodex which is used as part of my hormone therapy. This will be my second time to get this shot, the first one came with MANY not so great side effects that I am trying to adjust to. This shot is a literal "pain in the butt" :)

Prayer request~ is that my body adjusts to this new medication, that the side effects are not as strong this time and that stopping the Zometa will be permanent.
Things have been VERY busy this month and I am praying for strength & energy :)
Thanks to all my family & friends!
Elayne~

Race For The Cure!!

After 8 weeks and lots of hard work the Ladies in my 5k running group participated in the Komen Race For The Cure along with Chris and I. These ladies were absolutely awesome, with all 4 of them beating their own time test from last week and setting new PR's! Suzy, Val, Jonna & Shannon- Great job today!

Here we are at the start of the race~ first at the start gate. What a crazy feeling when that gun goes off and there are thousands of people behind you. That lasts for about 2 seconds and then they are swarming past you :)

Jonna's husband Scott participated with all of us and helped calm anxious nerves at the starting line with jokes. He is really funny :)





Shannon's husband Peter and their 2 daughters also came and cheered us on. Peter ended up being the official "holder of stuff" for all of us. Thanks Peter!

Our son Tim and Val's son Kieth came and took pictures. This is Jonna & Scott crossing the finish line. Tim missed the rest of us :) Kind of hard with thousands of people to find one or two in the crowd.

Nastia Liukin & me :)

Nastia Liukin, the 2008 individual all-around Olympic gymnastics gold medalist, is the honorary race chair for Saturday's Race for the Cure.

I am so thankful for each day and the abilities that God has given me. Thanks everyone for shareing this day with me as I put my 11th ribbon on my hat and "ran the race" today!

"I run for hope, I run to feel, I run for the truth for all that is real,
I run for your mother, your sister, your daughter, your wife.
I run For you and me my friend~ I run for life!"
~ Mellisa Ethridge

5 days to the 5k!

This Saturday we will run the Komen Race For the Cure 5k. The ladies in my running group are ready!! and Chris and I have been working on our time to have a new PR ( personal record) for this race!
We have all received our packets with our t-shirts and bib #'s. I also received my pink hat that I will have 11 pink ribbons put on this year, one for each year as a survivor :)
I am so excited to see each of these women cross the finish line and reach their own PR! As of now, Saturday looks like a nice day weather wise, high of 84 and no rain.

Chris and I are continuing to build our mileage as we train for the White Rock Marathon. Last night we ran 8 miles down to the lake and back~ another beautiful run. As we reached the lake the sun was going down so we were able to watch the sunset as we ran. It's hard to believe we are only 5 miles from a 1/2 marathon( the furthest we have ever run) but still at the beginning of training~ yikes :)

Getting ready for The Komen Race for the Cure!

5k Running Group!

Just two weeks away is the Komen 5k Race for the Cure! This year I will run it again with Chris and the ladies I am coaching in my 5k running group. It will be the first 5k for several of them. It has been so much fun training with them over these past 6 weeks and I look forward to race day and watching each of them cross the finish line!
Today they came over for "garden pizza" and to watch 'The Spirit of the Marathon". A great documentary and motivation before any race day!

Surviving the Race~ I wrote this after attending the Dallas Race for the Cure 8 years ago. At the time I was a survivor of 3 years. This year I will participate as an 11 year ( 2x) survivor. It always amazes me when I am out there as to how many people, family & friends breast cancer affects. Things are a bit different now from when I wrote this so many years ago. My story has changed, my cancer has changed, my life has changed, and yet I am able to run with freedom from it all.

Surviving the Race

Waking early while it is still dark
Arriving with the "pink" pass to park.
Meeting at the survivor tent
Seeing faces of new found friends, as we happily celebrate each one
of us that has made the "race" another year.
Some are doing well, the years are going by,
Some have news their battle has once again begun.
Yet others have lost their fight.
There is a silent bond of courage between all of us.
We embrace, smile, and know
only "we" understand the meaning
of “another year at the race".

As the race begins and you see all the pink hats
You know that you are not in this alone.
Surrounded by thousands, all there for the same purpose,
to Race for you to Race for the Cure.
At the starting line there are runners
who will compete for a "winning" time.
But the true winners here are the "Pink Hats."
They are walking, running, and in wheelchairs,
some are helped by their friends
as she carries her oxygen tank for the 3.2 mile walk.

When the race comes to an end the hundreds of "Pink Hats"
flow to the front of the stage to form a "sea of pink".
There are tears of joy, tears of sadness, and tears of survivors
as hundreds of hands are held together up high.
We stand proud,we stand strong, quietly listening to a special song sung just for us
The SURVIVORS celebrating “another year at the race".


Elayne Minich, cancer survivor-3 years
Dallas Race for the cure,2001, 45,000 participants!
Edited 2009, survivor- 11 years

For Erika & Sarah

Let me introduce two of my nieces Sarah & Erika. They are two of the many reasons we have chosen to run the Dallas White Rock marathon. Both of these beautiful young ladies receive services through Texas Scottish Rite hospital for children which is the primary beneficiary of the White Rock Marathon!
This hospital supports many children and their families at no cost because of support through events such as this. The girls have had surgeries, physical therapy and their prosthetics ( which are very cool with tattoos and all) at Scottish Rite.
So.. Erika & Sarah, aunt Elayne,uncle Chris and cousin Kevin will be running and running and running for you!

SARAH & ERIKA

2009 Registration Is Open. Register Now!
Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children is the Primary Beneficiary of the Dallas White Rock Marathon For more than 10 years, Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children (TSRHC) has been the primary beneficiary of the Dallas White Rock Marathon. TSRHC treats Texas children with orthopedic conditions such as scoliosis, hand disorders, hip disorders and limb length differences as well as certain related neurological disorders and learning disorders such as dyslexia at no charge to patient families. The marathon provides financial support for TSRHC through race registration and sponsorships, allowing the hospital to continue to provide the highest quality medical care to Texas children.

7 with Kevin!

Last night we added another mile to our long run making it 7 miles now. Kevin ran with us last night and of course did fine for someone that has not been running. Remember, he is the one that showed up for the half marathon with one day of training under his belt and beat us all! :)

It was a great run with Chris and Kevin and it feels great to be training again! We got to talk all about Kev's upcoming wedding and enjoy the weather and run to the lake. This is about the half way point~ beautiful run!

On the medical side of things; I am feeling good overall, however I have had some side effects from the new drug ( Faslodex) that I am on and hope they will either ease up or go away altogether :) 

Have a great week!

Only 19.2 miles to go :) Yikes!

IN TRAINING!!!!

Well, it has been a long road to get here but we are now "officially" in training for the Dallas White Rock Marathon!
Yesterday was Mothers day and I felt that would be the perfect day to sign up for the marathon since I began running 2 years ago on mothers day :)
I will admit it was exciting and scary at the same time actually signing up but I am thrilled to be in a place right now to do this. Chris and I have been running for these past two years so we have a little head start on the training plan. Last two weekends we ran 6 miles for our long run ( 4 m. for our short runs) and will increase this Sunday to 7. We have a LONG way to go :)
Our son Kevin says he will be joining us along with his friend Steve. Chris's friend Joe from NH is planning to come down for the race too! He has already qualified and run Boston ( I think 2x) so he will be waiting for us at the finish line ( for a while :) Our sister-in-law Cindy ( who just did a triathlon)! is thinking about it too.
Please pray for all of us to remain healthy and injury free. The race is December 13th, 2009!
I had considered starting a new blog just for our Marathon journey but decided not to for two reasons; ~ the marathon journey IS a part of my journey of living with stage 4 metastatic cancer, and I hope that others living with cancer at any stage will have hope and encouragement. Also, I don't really want to monitor another blog :) So... much of this journey will be posted here on this blog. I hope you will follow along with us, pray for us and encouragement along the way ALWAYS helps!
Maybe you too will consider a race someday, weather it's a 5k or a marathon, you can do it!
Thanks everyone for being a part of our lives and this journey~

New medication this week~

Hi everyone~ this week I will be starting on a new medication ( Faslodex) that is part of the continuing hormone therapy. Most of you know I don't typically handle meds very well, so I would like to ask for prayer regarding this new drug that will be administered once a month by injection into the muscle. I expect running to be a little difficult for a couple of days.
Also, I did get my blood work back and my tumor markers are slightly elevated. My doctor, at this point said he is not concerned because of all my scans coming back clean and this test is just a tool and not definitive. I would sure like to see them back in normal range. They will probably check them again in about a month, so please also be in prayer about that :)
Otherwise, all the rest of my blood work was normal, including my iron levels and I am feeling good!
Chris and I are getting very close to committing to the White Rock Marathon, so we began adding a little distance last night with a 6 mile run to the lake and back. It was cool outside and just a beautiful run complete with cows, bulls, horses and goats all along the way!
Hope you all have a great week!
Elayne

Understanding the Impact of hormones on breast cancer

Hormones are produced by organs or cells in your body. Hormones, such as estrogen, affect bodily processes. Normal breast cells have receptors for estrogen and progesterone. Some, but not all, breast cancer tumors also have these receptors and need these hormones to grow. Such tumors are called estrogen and/or progesterone receptor positive, or hormone receptor positive. Breast cancer tumors are estrogen and/or progesterone receptor positive in approximately 60% of postmenopausal women. Lab tests of your cancer biopsy give your medical team this information. Receptors are very small parts of a cell. If estrogen is present, it will attach to an estrogen receptor and may make the tumor grow larger.
Estrogen does not cause breast cancer, though it may promote the growth of tumors. Here's how certain breast cancer cells live and grow with the help of estrogen:

Estrogen finds a specialized receiver in a cell, called a receptor.

Estrogen attaches itself to estrogen receptors. These receptors take the estrogen and bring it into the center of the cancer cell (nucleus) so that estrogen can give the signal for the tumor to grow.

" The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still."

Well, this is one of the most exciting posts I have put on my blog yet! Yesterday I had all my tests and today I had labs, Zometa, and my visit with Dr. A.

TEST RESULTS: in the Dr.'s words~ "PERFECT"! There is no evidence of disease in any of the tests, my blood work was normal ( waiting for iron levels and tumor markers). Most exciting is that the bone scan was completely normal, even where the cancer was in the rib and spine! My doctor said "something is working for you and we both know it may have nothing to do with chemicals"!
" The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still."
From here, my next scans and Dr. visit is in 6 months! I have only one more Zometa treatment left next month and then I am finished :) I will continue on hormone therapy, however they have taken me off Tamoxifen and are putting me on a once a month shot of Faslodex. A swab test showed that the Tamoxifen was not working as effectively as the Faslodex will. So, that will be a new drug introduced in 2 weeks. The lupron injections every 3 months will continue as part of the hormone treatment.

As far as my heart, I am still on a low dose beta blocker and will see the cardiologist in May or June. I have been completely cleared to train for a marathon! More on that adventure later :)

I want to thank all of you for praying for me, I felt complete peace these past 2 days. Also for everyone that has stood by me over this very long haul. This music/video is dedicated to all of you as a thank you for "standing by me"!

http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=2539741
Elayne

3 month tests and prayer request~

Hi everyone!
It's been 3 months and it is time again to have all my tests/blood work and Zometa treatment this week.
Wednesday morning; I will have to drink 2 bottles of that nasty contrast and head to the hospital for tests. I will then have more contrast by injection for the bone scan, CAT scan and a chest x ray. It is a long ,tough day but my friend Donise will be hanging out with me for the day:) She lives close to the hospital so we can go back to her house in between tests.

Thursday; Chris will come with me and I will have blood work, treatment and then meet with my doctor to go over all the test results. Another tough day.

Specific prayer requests;For peace and calmness this week, that these 2 particular days go smoothly with no complications and that the test results continue to come back showing NED ( (no evidence of disease). Specific areas of concern are my lower back/hip. Grouting the floors and planting my garden probably didn't help this much:)
Thank you all for your continued prayers, support and encouragement~ I truly appreciate it!
Elayne

Exodus 14:14

¹⁴ The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still."

#2 The Continuation Of Life~

I have found it interesting how therapeutic my garden has been over these past few years. I never imagined myself as a "gardener" but I have come to really enjoy not only working out there but the benefits of growing some of our own herbs & veggies.

I think the garden has from the beginning and continues to represent the continuation of life to me. With each season bringing changes and each year the newness of another crop.

We started the garden when my brother-in -law Jim was in the hospital with leukemia. When there was no way to feel any sense of control over the situation ,working in the garden seemed to help hold on to life. Now that I find myself in that same situation it brings me the same sense of peace and a holding on to life.

Genesis 1,11-12
11 Then God said, “Let the earth sprout vegetation, plants yielding seed, and fruit trees on the earth bearing fruit after their kind with seed in them”; and it was so. 12 The earth brought forth vegetation, plants yielding seed after their kind, and trees bearing fruit with seed in them, after their kind; and God saw that it was good.

First harvest of the season, lots of spinach!

#1 Prayer and time in The Word.

This one has been on my mind more in these last few days as I have realized how easy it is to cling to God and His word when you are in crisis mode and then when the storms seem to calm how easy it is to slowly fall away.

Which brings me to #1 in coping with stress and anxiety, Prayer. There is nothing and no-one that can bring you the comfort and peace that you need in these times,  except Christ.
I will admit at first I looked to Chris to tell me everything would be ok, to "fix" it. Not only can he not do those things, it is an unfair expectation on him. I went to the Lord and asked Him to keep me safe and strong and give me peace. It did not happen overnight, however it did eventually happen. He wanted me to trust Him first.
For any of you that have had to have tests done you know how  draining and anxiety ridden those days can be while enclosed in machines as they look to see if they find any more cancer. I found this to be the perfect time to spend in prayer. Hours go by like minutes as I have my "God time" :) I know many of you are praying for me at these times because I can truly feel it.

 Time in The Word~

One of the most helpful things a friend did for me was sent bible verses written on index cards for me to read over and over whenever I felt anxious or worried.  This was great because I could carry them with me and pull them out whenever I needed to. I still keep them close in my bible.
These are just a couple of ways I found and continue to find helpful. Spending time each day with God is where I am able to draw strength and have peace. It may be at home, in church or out in the middle of the lake on my kayak. Wherever it is.. He is.

Proverbs 3:5-6 says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding, and he will make your paths straight.”