= Health Updates – Ovarian Cancer Surgery and Beyond =February 20 - August 9, 2012Chapter 1: The Journey Begins

Note: I am chronicling this ovarian cancer recovery journey from the beginning.I hope what I'm going through will help someone else along the way!

February 2012: It snuck up behind me and hit me on the back of the head with a 4x4! On Monday, Feb.20 I began to not feel well during the day - felt tired more than normal and took a nap. The next 2 days I felt more tired, began to have pain in my abdomen and napped both afternoons. On Thursday the 23rd. I saw my family doc who found a UTI and put me on antibiotics. By Saturday the pain in my abdomen kept getting worse, so called my doc who told me to head to the ER if it continued. Wanda took me to Athens Regional on Sunday morning the 24th. because my abdomen was swelling and the pain was increasing.

I was blessed with a great ER doc who ordered an abdominal CAT scan. I put down the barium enema smoothie - for those of you who have had one, you know how great they taste, latex glove with a hint of WD-40 - and about 2 hours later was wheeled down the hall. Went through the scan and my doc came back in with the big surprise! I have a tumor, larger than a football, taking up my whole abdominal cavity. The blood work gave me a very high white blood cell count and he wanted me on IV antibiotics. I asked to see the scan, so the 2 ER nurses helped me with my IV, thankfully put another gown on my backside so I didn't flash everyone, and we entouraged over to the nurses' station and looked at the computer. I was stunned at how big it was. Doc said I could go home and stay on the oral antibiotics, but he would rather admit me for IV antibiotics because the w.b.c. count was so high. I agreed, and they wheeled me to the oncology floor and put me under Dr. Thomas. There is a certain procedure to operating on something like this, and he said they would get me an appointment with surgeon Dr. Salmieri, who was highly recommended, and would remove the tumor before getting it biopsied. Dr. Thomas, my oncologist, was very positive that if it wasn't benign, that 6 rounds of chemo would be all I would ever need.

The one thing that I can't help but focus on and be deliriously joyful about is the fact that a second CAT scan was ordered. And they didn't even use my cat! Because the tumor is so large, they wanted to make sure my chest/organs were not affected. When I was given the results, all I could do was laugh! Arterial plaque is normal for someone my age - no extra buildup like my docs have been so worked up about. My heart and lungs are perfectly fine! In other words, except for this football in my belly I am healthy as a horse! And you can't keep a good horse down!!

The folks at Athens Regional were totally awesome! I was taken great care of by a fabulous group of doctors, nurses and techs plus all the folks who do the tasks behind the scenes to keep ARMC running smoothly. Thank you all!

I have perfect peace about the whole scenario. I know everything in life happens to us for a reason, and I will have another experience in which I can encourage and comfort others coming along behind me. I have absolutely, fabulously great clients, super family and wonderful friends who have already sent well wishes, and whose help has been offered should I need it. I feel I have an army of help surrounding me to see me through this experience. I thank you all in advance.

On a positive note, it's a good thing I'd scheduled my cataract surgery for Monday, Feb. 27th. and told everyone I'd be out for about a week, because it helped opening up my work schedule so that jobs wouldn't fall behind. We cancelled the cataract surgery, since I was attached to an IV tube and monitors and couldn't get there. I've been calling clients, family and friends in the days since I got back home to let them know what happened, and to schedule ongoing work around the new surgery and recovery. I will keep this page updated during my progress through this speed bump of life, and plan to look at this whole episode humorously. I hope you can laugh with me through this because I feel it's going to be good material for a stand-up comedy routine some day!

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March 8: Met with the surgeon on Thursday, March 8. Lawrenceville is in Gwinnett County, a suburb of NE Atlanta, so it was a long drive with lots of traffic. One of those places that gives true meaning to the phrase, "You can't get there from here" . . . at least not directly!

I am very impressed with my surgeon, Dr. Salmieri, and feel very confident that he will do a great job of getting this tumor removed completely. He said the CAT scan showed 3 positive things: no lymph node swelling, no fluid in the abdomen, and the oomentum (fat layer covering the intestines) was normal and thin - all signs of benign growth. My surgery is scheduled for April 4, in the wee hours of the morning! Will have to leave in the middle of the night to get there, but they're going to put me back to sleep anyway. Pray for Wanda, as she's a night owl and it's going to be harder on her to get up and drive me than it will be for me. Surgery is supposed to last 1-1 1/2 hours, and I should have a 3-5 day hospital stay. He felt confident that I could get right back to work after I get home from surgery. He also told me I could drive a week after I got home, but Wanda immediately said NO! Wish I would have had a camera trained on Doc's face when she said that - he was surprised. Then he grinned, looked at me and said, "Number One Daughter!" We got a laugh out of it. I see my family doc for a "Medical Clearance" appointment (are we all getting paranoid, politically correct, or what!), then toward the end of this month go in for my pre-op appointment to Dr. Salmieri and Gwinnett Medical Hospital. That one is going to take the whole day. At least my siphon holes in my arms will be healed by then so they can poke new ones to take more blood!

As soon as I could after I came home from Athens Regional, I got my hair cut - I call it my hospital cut. I am so thrilled with my new hairdresser, Christine at Studio Main! This is only the third haircut in my whole life that I've really loved - she did a fantastic job! She asked me a lot of questions before she started on my hair, realizing that between the Hashimoto's Disease and the prednisone I've had to take, that it's thinning a lot. She cut it in such a way that it really frames this aging face and makes my hair look fuller. She has a customer for life! And it's soooo easy to take care of.

Here it is! Very short hair - my Hospital Cut! Hasn't been like this in a long time. I love it!Thanks, Christine, at Studio Main! You did a fantastic job!!

I'll keep this updated as my journey progresses. I'll post the funnies that are fit to post as I go along.

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March 12, 2012: Kept my "Medical Clearance" appointment Monday morning, 3-12, and also got my blood drawn for my yearly thyroid testing. Also had liver tested, and it turned out with o.k. EKG was fine, too. Family doc will set up hospital bed to arrive a day or two before surgery so I can get acclimated to it ahead of time. Also won't have to worry about scheduling when I don't know if it will be a 3-day or 5-day hospital stay. My best client and friend, Bill and his wife Beverly, reserved us a hotel room a mile from the hospital for the night before surgery! What a great gift and a blessing. Thankyouthankyouthankyou! At least we'll be able to sleep extra hours the morning of April 4 and won't have to drive 1 1/2 hours in the dead of night!

Also asked my family doc about joining the gym to start building up my arms and legs to help maneuver me after surgery when I won't be able to use my abdomen. He gave a hearty approval, so Monday afternoon, purchased a 6-month family membership! Made my first visit this afternoon, and worked out for a half hour mostly on my arms. They're draggin', but I'd forgotten how GOOD it felt to work out! It can be addictive! Will work 3 days a week for the 3

weeks I have to build up my muscles the best I can during that time. The folks at Madison Fitness Center are great!

And thank you all for your calls, thoughts and prayers!

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April 3 & 4: Again, thank you to my friends for the hotel room near the hospital the evening of April 3! After taking 2 Ducolax, and drinking 7 servings of Mirolax, I was in NO condition to be driven 2 hours through the back country of Georgia to get to the hospital Wednesday morning! They wanted me to drink 14 servings of Mirolax, but after drinking half of it, Waste Management went into full panic mode! Called the surgeon's office and they said what I'd drank was enough, thankfully!

Got up early Wed. a.m., showered, dressed and headed over to Gwinnett Medical. They took me right into the surgery prep area and got me denuded, gowned, hooked up and ready to go. Surgery was postponed over an hour due to an emergency and some paperwork mixup, but after all was clear, Dr. Salmieri came in and talked with us all, then shortly after that my transport team came to take me away, ha ha, ho ho, he he! And we chanted that, laughing down the hall!

I was amazed that my operating table was a Toshiba, same as some of my graphics equipment, and we all got a kick out of that. Then a nurse lifted my IV, showed me a syringe, and said she'd

give me something to relax me. Welllll!!! It did more than relax me - must have been sodium penathol, because the NEXT thing I remember it was Wednesday afternoon, and I was 6 floors higher in a different room in a different bed with a 10 1/2" zipper on my belly covered by a big white bandage! I learned quickly to hit the morphene pump to stop the pain from being so bad, and it was tolerable. They say I was awake earlier talking to the surgeon, but I don't even remember him being in the room. Apparently the lights were on but NO ONE was home - ha!

I slept like a baby Wednesday night, awakened every couple of hours by nurses and techs coming in drawing blood, checking vitals, etc. - but was able to fall back to sleep quickly. Thursday morning at the leisurely time of dark (5) thirty, I was awakened and given my meds. I was awake enough to sit up and start my day. I was able to walk 3 times down the hall, assisted by my nurse who held the gown closed in the back for me (thankfully for us all!), and pushed my IV/Meds pole.

I was treated like a princess the whole time I was at Gwinnett Medical by the most wonderful folks who took care of me. I met so many wonderful people while I was there who really care about those of us who have to reside there for various causes and lengths of time. I especially love my nurses LaToya and Ann and my techs Vivian and Annette! Miss Annette and I were a real pair headed around the halls. She kept me from flashing the civilians who frequented the halls, and kept me in check! I did have a habit of wandering off, pole in hand, by myself down the hall and she'd fuss at me - but in the end we had a good laugh about it all!

I was finally able to get my shower and put on a real nightgown - with no open back flap - and felt more comfortable taking off down the hall on my own. I found the less I hit the morphene pump, the more lucid I felt, the less dizzy I felt and the easier it was to navigate the halls. They had a big sign on my door "Caution, High Risk of Falls" and I asked them once I got rid of the morphene pump if they could change it to "Medium Risk of Falls" but they wouldn't listen.

By Saturday, they'd begun to take away more and more of my tethers, like the morphene pump, then the IV, and FINALLY the dreaded oxygen clothes-pin finger monitor! I think that one bothered me most of all since I only had 9 fingers to work things with.

I want to thank everyone for my beautiful flowers, and all the cards. They really brightened up my room, and kept me thinking of you all every time I saw them.

Wanda stayed Friday night into Saturday, then Saturday night into Sunday, and after I was awakened by my dark-thirty morning meds appointment, we both sat at the window and had our own Easter Sunrise Service. We had a beautiful view of the sunrise from the 8th. floor window in my hospital room.

It reminded me that all of what I am going through now has been sifted through God's Hands and it's a task I must do while here on Planet Earth. I was used during this time already to encourage others around me in both hospitals, to make them smile and laugh, and hopefully I was a blessing to those who took care of me more than they were a blessing to me. As I look towards the chemo part of this amazing journey I'm on, God has already put in place a good friend who is a 2-time cancer survivor, and given me a new ovarian cancer survivor friend to help me through the next phase.

I have also learned that in this 21st. century, the big C-word is no longer the end of the road, but merely a speed bump to go over in order to get on with life. I've already learned that there are many others out there who have conquered cancer and have lived cancer-free for decades after treatment, so you won't get rid of me that fast! I'm here to stay as long as God has planned for me to stay.

I want to thank the wonderful folks at Madison Fitness for allowing me to start working out 3 weeks before surgery on just my arms and legs, and for training me on the machines for those. I already miss the gym, and look forward to getting back once I'm cleared to go! MY GYM SESSIONS PAID OFF BIG TIME!! I can tell a huge difference in how I recovered from surgery and how I've been able to maneuver in and out of bed! I'm also grateful that I'd started eating healthier and have been taking supplements. I honestly believe now that we really ARE what we eat as I've felt the biggest difference between this surgery, and the previous one 37 years earlier. Then I wasn't doing what I've been doing now, and at 37 years older I am recovering much quicker than I did back then with laparoscopic surgery!  

My friends at the Madison Artists Guild sent this awesome arrangement a few days after I arrived back home.

My next phase will be my post-op appointment and I understand will get my staples out. Then it will be on to cataract surgery squeezed in (hopefully) before chemo starts. I have a tentative date for cataract surgery of April 30 mid day. As soon as I know more will post.

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                                                   The Staple Remover: 4-16-12Monday morning bright and early (4/16) we headed westward out of town through the back farm-country towards the suburbs of Atlanta once again, to my appointment to get the staples removed. I'd taken my usual Motrin with breakfast, and fortified the space between the seatbelt and my tender, zippered belly with a folded towel. This was one of the trips where traffic was relatively light, so we made it in 1 1/2 hours instead of the two hour ordeal. The countryside was beautiful with its fresh late spring greens of all types and the flowers blooming. Had to keep Wanda's "cow blinders" on since she tended to gaze at the grazers! Does funny things to the trajectory of the car - wherever she looks, she drives! So, we zig-zagged our way west.

When we pulled into SEGO/Dr. Salmieri's parking lot, it was packed chock-full of cars! The Lord blessed us with an empty space on the back side, close to the door. When we got in and seated, the receptionist made the announcement that Dr. S. had an emergency surgery first thing which was running appointments behind. We settled in for the extra 3-hour wait. I met two really great people and we got to chat for over an hour, which made the wait go a little faster. One gentleman waiting for his wife worked for a company that services the machinery that

makes the glue strips for the boxed packaging. How cool was that! He and I both got a laugh, especially when I told him that I designed the graphics to go on the packages he glued shut! A lady sitting beside me, chimed in after about 45 minutes of our conversation, and she said what a small world - her husband was a machinist who made parts for the older machines in the packaging industry. It's a small, small world after all!

Towards the end of lunch hour, I was finally called in, and the nurse pulled my zipper - it twinged a bit, but it actually felt better immediately to have the metal out of my belly! When Doc came in I told him I hoped I wasn't too rowdy in the OR, and he just laughed. He told me he wanted to meet with Wanda and I in his office to go over my prognosis.

Got dressed, back to the waiting room, which was now thinning out and much less crowded, and shortly we were called back to Dr. Salmieri's office. He showed me the results of the lab tests - negative, negative, negative - including the fluid he irrigated the abdomen with! He'd taken both ovaries/tubes which were encased with the dreaded Adenocarcinomas, which gratefully were Stage 1b ovarian cancers. He stated that since the lymph nodes were on the blood vessels, and that mine weren't straight like normal (told you I was weird), that he left them alone because he could have done more damage than good. He took the appendix while in there. He also moved things around, checking my liver, bowels, and other organs while in there to visually inspect the abdominal cavity for any other signs of cancer. He said it was clean. Regarding aggressiveness, he said they were in the middle or moderately aggressive.

Then we discussed chemotherapy. It's going to be more extensive than originally thought. 6 rounds, comprising of 4 weeks each with 3 weeks chemo sessions and 1 week off. So it's going to be a total of 18 chemo sessions in Gwinnett. So, the rest of my year is pretty much taken over with my health. He also wants me to have a PET scan, which is scheduled on Apr. 26, 4 days before my Apr. 30 cataract surgery (yay - finally!!). At least I'll be able to have that at Athens Regional. I also have to have a (groan) colonoscopy, but I can have that done locally. Next up is an appointment with a Cancer Genetic Counselor at Giwnnett Medical to test for the BRCA cancer gene. This is for Wanda's sake, plus for the rest of my life-watch while still here on the planet. Since my maternal grandmother and my mother both died of cancer, it's a good precaution and will probably dictate how the rest of my treatment goes.

I have to admit, I am feeling that chemo is a overwhelming mountain to climb. 6 months of 3 treatments each and not knowing how my body will react is scary. I can only trust that the Lord will see me through this as He has the actual surgery and that I'll be able to breeze through with no sickness, exhaustion or some of the other side effects. Since Doc said I can go back to the gym on a limited basis, I intend to be proactive once again and do so along with fortifying my body with good food and extra vitamins/supplements. Again, I have to look to the Lord and remind myself that since this is a "job" I have to do while here, then He is in charge of how I come through. I will continue to work through everything as I can. I may be a bit slower than before, but will do my best to keep going. It will also help keep my mind off what's going on with my body, keep me in touch with my clients/friends, and keep me creating!

So, as I catch up on work, I am taking time outs to make the medical calls to begin to set up the tests and appointments that I'm responsible for - to be done before chemo starts. I have been truly blessed with a dear friend who is a survivor who wants to take me to my first chemo treatment and walk through it with me so I won't have any surprises. And if you see me downtown or around, and I'm sporting a colorful scarf or cap, you'll know that the hair decided to

run away from the chemo treatments as I have a pretty good possibility of losing it to chemo. I may get sassy with my scarves/hats - so be forewarned!

And one great note: when we finally were able to wend our way home in rush hour traffic after what ended up being an all-day appointment, I found that my two hour trip home to the hinterlands east of Atlanta was much easier than the trip in that morning. That trip home was without the benefits of Motrin, as I hadn't taken any since breakfast! So having the zipper pulled was another major step in the healing process.

This little fellow came FedEx. It was from my Aunt & Uncle, Lynne & John Berkstresser!Lynne named him Dr. Bendova! How cute is that!

When I know more, once again, I'll post my information and schedules to keep you updated. I can only hope that somehow this will encourage anyone coming behind me who is facing this life-changing health situation.

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                                         PET CAT SCAN and Cataract Surgery 

April 26: We headed to Athens this time to Athens Regional Medical Center's imaging building for my PET scan to test for any cancer in the rest of my body. It took awhile to get in and there were a lot of folks in the waiting room. When we were finally called, I asked the tech if they would use a cat for my PET scan since I'm allergic to dog dander. She chuckled and said they had lots of animals for the PET scans. I was put in a cubby room and set up with an IV port, and she had a small "IV" which consisted of a syringe. Then came the radioactive isotopes in a ginormous syringe that looked more like a soup can with a needle on one end and a plunger on the other! She injected both into my arm and told me I'd have to wait for an hour till the glucose/isotopes circulated completely through my body. Since Wanda and I had been happily chatting all along, I thought this would be great for us to chat while waiting, but she was exiled from my room and made to wait across the hall at the family room. They were concerned that I would contaminate her with radioactive waves. I kept looking, but I never glowed while waiting. Finally the radiologist came in and took me across the hall to the PET/CT machine. He said he was going to do a CT scan first to image the body, then do the PET scan overlay to show the location of anything that showed up. I got a laugh out of it because I actually got my pet cat scan after all!

It took somewhere around a half hour in the machine. I am claustrophobic to some degree. The machine was just a little bit wider than I am, and taller - well longer since I was prone on the table. Now my last CT scan I was told to hold my breath. So when I started going through the machine, I tried to hold my breath, but realized pretty quickly that it was slower than the last one and it was going to take longer than I could hold my breath; so changed to shallow breathing. After the CT scan he told me that we'd be starting the PET scan and that it was going to take awhile. So I lay there vewwy, vewwy still, and whenever my head was in the belly of the beast I had to close my eyes and pretend I was on a Disney ride and the tune, "It's a Small, Small World" jumped into my mind, so I kept singing it in my mind and imagining that I was back on that ride, because I was in a very small, small space! After what seemed a small eternity, I was finally ejected and back into a real room again. The radiologist was really helpful and pleasant to work with, and walked us to the front desk so we could leave. Whenever my surgeon, Dr. Salmieri, gets the results, he'll call me and we'll get chemo scheduled. I trust that nothing will be glowing on the pet cat scan because that will mean there's no more cancer in my body!

The next morning we headed back to Athens to my pre-colonoscopy visit with Dr. Mejias' office. He'd done my brother's diverticulitis and daughter's gallbladder surgeries so I wanted him to do my colonoscopy! He asked what my problem was for being there and I told him I needed to make 2 doctors happy by getting a colonoscopy! He wants to schedule that just before my first chemo treatment so that my surgery area will have the maximum time to heal before the procedure. At least I'll be able to have that done here in Madison and not have to travel!

April 30: A full 2 months after it was first scheduled, I finally got to go to Georgia Ophthalmologists in Covington and have my cataract surgery.  I wasn't allowed to eat or drink anything past midnight, even though I tried to squirm out of it and at least have coffee since my surgery wasn't scheduled till 12:20 that afternoon! My sis-in-law picked me up, with my sister in the back seat (came up from Florida to visit), and we trucked on over. They were running late so it was awhile before they called me in. Once in things went pretty quickly. Dr. Bigles checked the cataract again and said they may have to use the laser on a higher setting (layman's terms)

because it was so dense. The nurse and anesthesiologist came in, Dr. Fortenberry, and got me prepped. The nurse took me into their OR and I got on to the operating table. I asked if they were going to tie my head down to the table and they said they don't do that. I replied that I would have to be vewwy, vewwy qwiet. Dr. F laughed and said he LOVED Looney Tunes when he was a kid. We started reminiscing about Bugs Bunny, Elmer Fudd, the Road Runner, Wiley Coyote, then started talking about the Carol Burnett show and Tim Conway cracking Harvey Corman up. We had everyone in the OR laughing hard when the surgeon, Dr. Bigles, came in. I told them all at that point we'll have to quit because it was time for me to lay there and be vewwy, vewwy still! It took awhile for him to get the cataract out, and it was the most amazing light show with iridescent hues of pinks and blues! I kept focusing on the light show and talking to the Lord through the surgery, and before I knew it the surgery was over with. I asked the surgeon if there was any piece of the cataract left that I could see, but he said that they completely break it up and it "goes to cataract heaven." I told him no way, that they went to the other place down below! When Dr. Fortenberry came into the recovery room to check my vitals one last time, he introduced himself to my sis's. When he was leaving he said, "If you can't remember my name, just remember Dr. F." I retorted, Dr. Fudd! He laughed and told me to remember what hunting season it was! We got a good laugh, then I waddled slowly out to the truck and we came home the quiet back way.

I have what they call a shell over my eye. It's shaped like a hard patch, but is clear plastic with ventilation holes. I was able to take it off yesterday evening and start using the drops again. I have to put it back on for napping/sleeping and will have to continue the rest of the week. After that I should be good to go. I almost cried this morning when I realized that I could see the numbers on the alarm clock with the left eye, which I haven't been able to do for almost a year. What a blessing to be able to see out of both eyes again! No more one-eyed graphic artist! And in a week or so will have great vision in both eyes!

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Wanda had gotten me a balloon bouquet when I came home from surgery. The Get Well has stayed afloat for 4 weeks!

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                                                      May 18: I CAN SEE!!!Wow, what a difference 3 weeks makes! When I first went back for my post-op appointment, I was concerned because my vision was pretty blurry in the surgery eye. They kept telling me that it was swollen and that it would take time for my vision to clear up. By golly, they were right! As time has passed, my eye has gotten better and better. It did hurt for almost a week, and I had to limit my work time, but the first of this week I was able to start working full days again. When I went back for my second checkup, I was able to read all but 2 of the letters on the 20/20 line with both eyes! How awesome is that!?!?!?! And what a blessing to be able to see with both eyes again. I drove last Monday for the first time in over 2 months, and I could actually see way down the road. Haven't been out after dark yet, so will find out about night driving down the road

(pun intended!). I have one more eye exam, then will be able to get my right eye lasered to sharpen my vision in it once again.

And I got back to the gym! Started back this past Monday, and went again Thursday after work with Wanda. I am sore this time back since I've literally done nothing physical for 5 weeks...but that's a week ahead of schedule for healing from the abdominal surgery! It really felt good to start working with the weights again. Next Monday I'll start working more machines and that includes the ab machines. Time to start rebuilding muscle all over and getting my strength back.

On a shopping trip to Athens, while waiting for the restaurants to open, we stopped by Stein-Mart to just kick around and window shop. I was so delighted to find they had a wide variety of hats and scarves (thinking of upcoming chemo), and I found 2 really cute hats. Now that my hair is short, I can wear them without having a bad case of hat-head! While we moseyed around the rest of the store, a white frilly broom-stick skirt caught my eye. On my way over to look at it, I brushed another rack and the blouse on it was a blue-green color and looked like it would match the skirt perfectly. And I was so excited when I got into the women's dressing room to try them on that THEY FIT! They actually fit! And they match the white hat perfectly! I already have a pair of sandals that will match. And I will wear this new, smaller sized, outfit to my first chemo session.

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                                                      June 2: Chemo Schedule . . . at last!May 19, we packed up and headed north to Blue Ridge to stay the weekend with my favorite Aunt and Uncle, John & Lynne who drove down from Pennsylvania. They rented a 2-story log cabin on the top of a mountain with an awesome view. Met them in downtown Blue Ridge and had lunch, then did a little shopping at the fudge shop, a really neat furniture and knick-knack store, and the Amish grocery store - which was the best. Got the absolute best apple butter I've ever eaten in my life, and all natural ingredients! Wanda said the sweet potato butter was to die for! Then on the way to the cabin, with Uncle John's direction, we stopped at a roadside business called Mercer's. They are a big peach/apple/goodie store and we got some fried pies, chocolate-coconut éclairs, cookies and other fattening but delicious goodies! And WOW, the fried pies were awesome. My first ever. The éclair was so rich I could only eat one bite. I knew if I ate a second bite I would be sick. We spent most of Saturday evening on the back balcony porch, watching the sun set and the fog roll in. And roll it did. It looked like a dam had burst upstream and was rolling down the valley. It came crashing up against the house and we watched everything turn white as it flew up over the top of the cabin. It then slowly subsided, and it looked like white water on the ground in between the trees and large shrubs, licking at the base of the house. Then another wave of fog came flowing down the valley. It was one of the most beautiful sights I've ever seen. And peaceful! We had a really wonderful time with family and it was really hard to say our good-byes and head home Sunday evening.

                              I hadn't heard anything from my surgeon's office regarding my PET/CAT scan, so called the end of the week to see what was going on. Don't know what the communication deal between SEGO and ARMC was, but they had the results resent (or sent) to them Friday. Praise the Lord there were "no abnormal findings" on the PET scan. On the CAT scan, they saw a "persistent density on the right lower region, possibly a hematoma." Soooo, off we go again for another CAT scan (you know I love cats!) sometime during the first part of my chemo regime. June 11th. I have 3 medical visits. I will have my right eye touched up so that I will have 20/20 vision in both eyes, then it's off to the Rheumatologist for my yearly visit and probably more tests, then since I'll be in the Covington area, a stop to Newton General for my pre-chemo blood work. Will be seeing 2 vampires this trip in 2 different labs! Have a call in to my colonoscopy doc's office to schedule that a.s.a.p., which will probably be right after I start chemo since my time is pretty filled up beforehand. Between the vampires and the waste management shutdown (again), if I don't lose 5 pounds, I'll be surprised!

I finally have my chemotherapy schedule. Starting Thursday, June 14 at 10 a.m., my chemo will take place EVERY Thursday for the next 18 weeks! No break. That means I'll be done with it sometime in October instead of the end of the year, which is a good thing. The bad thing is that it's EVERY Thursday for 18 weeks straight. That will give me a 4 day work week if I don't get sick from the chemo, and I am trusting that I won't. The cost is going to be harsh at $450 each treatment for my co-pay. I joined a Christian healthcare-share program, so will see how much of it they will pay, as I make monthly payments to them. It's one thing I had to give back to the Lord again. If this is one of the jobs He has me doing for Him, then He will provide the funds. It's His responsibility to take care and provide for the things needed for the job.

Since I've never been through anything like this, I am so thankful for my good friend Jane who has been through cancer/chemo twice, and will be taking me to my first treatment. She's had lots of great advice so far, and I will be learning a lot from her. Whenever I'm into my chemo and see how I react, I will post again.

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Chapter 2

June 15 - First Chemo Session

Wow! What a day! I got up early to make sure my morning routine was complete before my dear sweet friend Jane Preston picked me up at 8 a.m. sharp. I had packed a bag with the usual, Walkman, book to read, sketch pad/pencil/eraser (of course!), and a towel for multi-use as a pillow, shawl or whatever. Also found a great nut/craisin mix at Publix and packed it with some bathroom cups for scoops . . . to share. Jane brought me a fabulous present with lots of little fun goodies in it. My favorite was the SLUTS cup. What a laugh. It's an anagram for Southern Ladies Under Tremendous Stress = SLUTS. She also brought a wonderful tea and extra water . . . and packed us a lunch. How great is that!!!

My chemo bag pole (a.k.a. dance pole) and my SLUTS-ware! As you can see the abdomen swelling hasn't gone down, although the shirt is one I haven't been able to wear in over a decade, and the jeans are a new, smaller size.

          

We actually got there in record time. Had never gone that early before and made it in exactly an hour. Our best time was right at 1 1/2 hours. Since we had extra time and since the Mall of Georgia was only 15 minutes away, we snuck over to Home Goods for a few minutes to browse, and I found a couple of great items to use as food props for photography I need to do for a line of frozen vegetable packages I'm currently working on.

After finishing up there, we got to SEGO and walked into their Chemotherapy Suite and met my fellow chemo cousins for the first time. Lura, our chemo nurse, has already been a sweetheart over the phone with me in answering so many questions I've had. She had me sign in, weigh in (ugh - have gained 11 pounds back of the hard-lost 50 since surgery!), and pick a chair. Jane sat next to me and we piled our bags between us. We had introductions all around, and Lura gave us a quick introduction of what to expect since I can't get to their classes on a different day. Jane has also been a wealth of information. Since I don't have a PICC line installed, she

installed the IV on my right hand (what was I thinking?!? or not?!?) and got me started on the IV fluid bag and the first of 4 meds pre-chemo drugs of Taxol/Carboplatin. The first 2 were anti-nausia, third a steroid, and the fourth was benedryl. I got drowsy during the benedryl, but didn't fall asleep. By then we'd all started talking and were having a fabulous time getting to know each other, cracking jokes and generally having a great time! Jane met 2 neat ladies and found out they all had a couple of close friends in common, and that was a blessing to me to see her meet 2 new friends! Over lunch, Jane got out the sandwiches she'd made for us - delicious - and pita chips, which were great, and I pulled out the nut mix which several of us enjoyed. I'm going to take 2 containers next SEGO trip with more cups to be able to share more. The wild part of the 10 am to 4:30 pm day in the Chemo Suite was that I never pulled out the walkman, book, or sketch pad. Conversed the whole time.

After my session was over, we scheduled the next visit - which will be in Gwinnett Medical at 8:30 a.m. next Friday to get my PICC line installed. I will make sure they place it somewhere that won't interfere with my gym visits! Then Chemo starts at 12:30 p.m. at Gwinnett, as Lura will be on vacation that week. Some who have been on their chemo for awhile were able to skip, but I couldn't, so since Wanda will be driving we're going to sneak back over to do some shopping in between hospital visits.

Side effects? So far, no nausea at all. I took my nausea pill last night as told, but I don't think I will need it today, and not sure if it makes me drowsy or not, so will wait to see if I need it. I don't know if insomnia is a side effect, but woke up a little after 1 this morning, tossed and turned, tried to go back to sleep . . . and it's 6:15 and I am still wide awake. That's only 4 hours. I may either have to take a nap this afternoon or go to bed really early tonight! The only thing I felt when the Taxol started was my body temperature go up like a looooong hot flash, as if my core temp has gone up a degree or two. It's lasted into this morning, but it's something I can live with. Also have developed a bit of a sore throat, but I can keep that under control with extra liquids and chewing gum. Still don't know about the hair yet. That is still firmly attached, and I understand it happens later on, if at all, since my chemo is at a lower dose.

The only other thing I have learned is that I will have to have weekly blood tests for the next 17 weeks in addition to my chemo, and that my family doctor's office can draw that, so it will be an extra doc visit 2 days before chemo, so I'll have 1 1/2 medical days on schedule till I'm through. I have another CAT scan scheduled for Tuesday in Athens Regional as the CAT part of the CAT/PET scan showed a hematoma. They want to see if it's gone. If not, it's probably another trip to Gwinnett Medical to have it drained. Other than that, I'm up to 50 pounds on the ab crunch machine with no problems, no twinges, strains or pains. Since I found out about the hematoma, though, I'll stay off that one till I get the results, and stay on the arms/lets build.

The first chemo treatment was basically like my hospital stay and surgery - another awesome experience where I've met the most wonderful people and the Lord has carried me through in His hands and His power. And the greatest blessing was spending the day with my sweet friend Jane. She's been through this 3 times, and is still here! She's the one I turned to for the Juice Plus when I knew I was going to have major surgery, and it and my gym visits have been a big help in my health restoration phase. If you are interested in learning about it, please contact Jane at janegpreston@cs.com or check out her web site at www.janeprestonjuiceplus.com. So, between the Lord's miraculous healing, Juice Plus and the gym, I think I'm on my way to becoming a new woman by the end of this year. I am looking forward to a complete, total recovery, getting my health and strength back to be here to work for and help others the rest of my days on planet earth. Will update soon.

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           CAT Scan #4, Port Placement and Chemo#2 @ Gwinnett Medical                                           Friday, June 22, 2012

Tuesday at 11 we headed to Athens Regional's Imaging Center for my latest and greatest CAT scan (you know I love cats!). Because I had 5 appointments getting set up during my first chemo treatment, and because I was drowsy with Benedryl, I didn't catch the little note that said I had to pick up my "Contrast" at ARMC, which is that delicious Barium Enema Smoothie with a hint of WD-40! When ARMC called Monday to confirm, that was the first time I was aware of needing to make an extra trip up there. I told them I couldn't, and could we re-arrange my scan appointment, which we did. We got there at noon, I drank the Smoothie, and a couple of hours later was called back for my CAT scan. They did several scans, which took awhile. At least they didn't make me put on one of those hospital gowns this time, and I could wear my street clothes. The tech and I were both Star Trekkies, so enjoyed a rousing conversation about Star Trek Tech during the process. When the scan was over, it was so awesome to just sit straight up from laying on my back, swinging my legs over and putting them on the floor . . . as if I'd never had surgery on my abdomen! And nothing hurt! I now need to get an appointment with Dr. Salmeiri to see the results, but I'll do that on my next SEGO chemo trip, and hopefully I can see him on one of my Thursdays over there before chemo.

I discovered last Friday when I last posted that I ended up being totally wired my day after chemo. I think because of the bag of steroids. Partially crashed on Saturday and totally crashed Sunday (slept 14 hours on Saturday night), and then got back to feeling quite normal (for me) the remainder of the week. Still have what's left of my hair, and got it cut extra short this week in case it decides to run away from my scalp in the next few weeks (I should know in a week or two if I'll be a hairless Harvard graphic artist - but it sure beats being a one-eyed artist).

I got up Friday at 4 a.m., had my coffee and breakfast as I wasn't allowed eat past 5:30. We left at 6:20 in the morning and headed to Gwinnett Medical. I should have had my camera out as the sunrise was really pretty, but it was just too early to think! Got there a little after 8, got signed in and back to pre-op in a different area of the hospital for my PICC port surgery. They wheeled me into a mini operating room, put the cap over my head, O2 tube up my nose, draped me with towels, did a local anesthetic and placed the port. When they were done, it was back to the same room and they gave me some ginger ale and crackers, which helped.

                                        Hmmm....been here, done this before.

After recovery, they wheeled me to their chemo area, and we got settled in my room. Small hospital room with chemo chair, a couple of family chairs, and a small hospital bed. Wanda got tired of sitting, so I told her to take my extra blanket and lay out on the bed and read. Since we were isolated from the other chemo patients, it wasn't as much fun. And they did my drug cocktail differently. I ended up dozing with the Benedryl because it really hit me hard and I absolutely couldn't keep my eyes open this time. They were able to use the port right away, which was helpful on those bathroom breaks (remember, they're dumping about a gallon of liquid into my veins, so whether I drink anything or not . . . )!

When my chemo session was over, we finally were able to head home. Left about 6:30 to 6:45 that afternoon and got back to Madison a little before 8. Wanda ordered salads to go from Cracker Barrel about 20 minutes out, and we picked them up and went on home. We won't be eating there for a long time as our salads had half the veggies on them than what the menu states, we only got cornbread (had also ordered biscuits) which must have been left over from the day before and instead of hard boiled eggs, we got what looked like deviled eggs off of someone's discarded plate! Gross!! That was the only downer for the whole day!

Everyone at Gwinnett Medical was really great from the admitting office, through surgery/recovery and chemo! The doc said my port area would be sore for about a week, and to just take it easy. He was right! I will have to abstain from the gym for a week or two, but I might go back next week to work the legs and the treadmill and stay away from the arms for awhile.

I did notice that I reacted differently this week than last. Probably because of the different way my drugs were mixed. I wasn't as wired yesterday as the first day, and I attribute that to my not taking my Prednisone that day, as well. First day after first chemo I was too wired! I did tire out yesterday afternoon, but I think it was because of the extra surgery putting the port in. I am going to just take it easy this week to recover from the minor surgery. They placed the port on my right side, and I am right-handed, so it hurts to try to do things I normally take for granted. This, too, shall pass and get better, so am focusing on next week!

Tuesday of this week I'll go to my local doc and get blood drawn for Thursday's chemo back at SEGO. I am so looking forward to meeting my new friends again and having several hours just to catch up on how my "Chemo Cousins" are doing! Will post again and update as things change.

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                                         Chemo #3: June 28 @ SEGO

Definitely better to go to my local doc for my lab work! Instead of 3 vials of blood through an IV, all I got was a finger prick and the nurse did the lab tests right there in the office! Went to Newton General to get my blood drawn the first time - 3 vials and a $580+ bill! I wasn't in there a half hour! Anyway, I love this setup. One finger prick, a Band-Aid and I'm on my merry way back to work.

Thursday was regular chemo schedule back at SEGO (Southeastern Gynecologic Oncology) in Lawrenceville. 2 of my former chemo sisters from my first visit were there and I met 3 more wonderful women! Two of them had been going through chemo for a year! One new friend lives in a town near me and she's in her mid-20's and has had to take aggressive chemotherapy. I've put my new "Drug Buddies" (as one gal laughingly said) on my prayer list, which is growing as so many folks I know are going through really tough times. Had a fun time at chemo. The new port helped my drugs go in faster and cut off an hour off my time - down to 4 1/2 hours from 5 1/2. We stopped at a new shopping center on the way home to get some groceries we needed, and got home a little before 5 that afternoon.

And I actually woke up later Friday than the first time. Woke up at 2 am instead of 1:00! Yes, I felt like the Energizer Bunny - wired again - and absolutely no pain in any joint in my body. I got to make up for the 2 days off last week by putting in a 12 1/2 hour day of work. Got caught up a lot. I love my "wired day!" And so far no problems with nausea. Just bumble-headed, forgetting words and terms much more than normal, and my motor skills are a bit slower. Just thanking the Lord that I'm doing so well so far.

Crashed at 8 Friday night so I could get up extra early Saturday, the 30th. to go blueberry picking as close to daylight as possible, to dodge the 110 degree day we're supposed to have. Since I need all the extra good cancer-fighting foods that I can get, and since blueberries (my favorite fruit) are on the top of that list, it made sense to pick extras this year since our bushes are still quite small.

Hair report - it's still up there, on top of my head. Continuing to get thinner but that's probably from the thyroid. Should know within about 10 days whether I'll be a Hairless Harvard or not! If you see me around town with a hat or a scarf, you'll know what happened!

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Chapter 3 

7-6-12     Chemo #4: July 5 @ SEGO

After scrambling to get my blood work done this week because of my doctor's office being closed for vacation (and I wasn't told the Tuesday before), my chemo nurse Lura finally got the results by phone after I'd gotten there. The alternate doctor's office gave her a hard time. Apparently they didn't listen to me, although I tried to explain in my chemo brain state what procedure needed done and gave them the proper form; and apparently their office policies dictate that they review the blood work before they send out the results. Hmmm. Thought I had a new family doc. Living in the country certainly has it's drawbacks. I should have traveled to Athens to the lab instead of trying to stay in town, but "Grandpa" (Wanda named her car) has to travel an extra 148+ miles each week just for chemo! Since the insurance company of the woman who ran the stop sign and wrecked her Suzuki decided to total her car, she's been saving for a new one. Check out the side note at the end of this.

Since my chemo was at 9:15 am along with a physical we left around 7:30 in the morning to head to Lawrenceville. This trip was a good one as traffic was relatively light and once we got on Hwy. 316 we hit mostly green lights. "The Force" was definitely with "Obi-Wan" while she drove yesterday morning! Got to SEGO in 1 hr. 25 min. this trip, and that included a side jaunt through the Chick-fil-a drive-thru so she could get extra coffee and some breakfast.

Once at SEGO I signed in for my physical at the regular desk, then headed to the Chemo Suite. While Miss Lura was dealing with the doctor's office where my blood was drawn, I was called in for my physical. I also got the results of my latest CAT scan (#4). The hematoma is going down (woohoo - ab crunch machine, here I come), but there's a small anomaly on the oomentum, which Doc believes is benign and nothing to worry about. They want another CAT scan in a few weeks to keep tabs on it. Everything else looked great. There are no more hard or firm spots along my stitches and I can sit straight up from laying on my back with absolutely no problems at all. And I loved the new exam table - it's like the car lift at your local garage. You sit down with feet firmly planted on the floor, and don't have to climb on that little shelf, and then they raise you up for your exam. Once over, they lower you back down and you can stand up directly on the floor from a comfortable chair height! Great for when I have a little vertigo or my RA is acting up!

When I got back into the Chemo Suite 2 of my "old friends" Cathy and Jan were there. It was so good to see them again. I've grown to really love these ladies. Cathy started her chemo the same day I started mine, but Jan's been going through it a long time. We did some catching up. Been emailing back and forth with Jan all week and she had company so was pretty tired and didn't fare too well during chemo. She was almost asleep on her feet while her husband helped her out to go home. Cathy seemed to do well. Met 2 new ladies this session and will start emailing this week to keep up with them, too. I put everyone on my prayer list as I meet them because I am beginning to understand what they're going through and I really, really care for them. I feel as though this group of ladies are part of my family now. We are the "Sisters of Drug Buddies Anonymous" as I jokingly say. Paulette couldn't make it this session as she wasn't doing too well and had to wait a day or two. The session went without a hitch. I had the same reaction as the last 2 times at SEGO. First 3 bags (2 anti-nausea and my beloved bag of

steroids) went in with no reaction, 4th. bag of Benedryl made me drowsy, but not enough to put me down (I told Lura she just wants to knock us all out so she won't have any back-talk), and then the Taxol and Carboplaten. This time I didn't get my long-lasting hot flash till the Taxol was done and I started on the Carbo, and the hot flash lasted for about 2 hours.

After chemo session was over we stopped at the Hwy. 316 Publix in Bethlehem on the way home for a few groceries. I noticed that I was sweating from my Taxol "hot flash" even in the store so the frozen food aisle felt good! Got home a few minutes before 5 and put groceries away and then had supper. I went to bed around 8 because I knew I'd have my wired day today. First wired day I got up at 1 am, second wired day I got up at 2, so this morning my wired day started a half hour earlier than the first. I'll get a lot done today, but this evening with supper will take a Melatonin pill to help me get to sleep. 4 1/2 hours sleep isn't enough. I'll make sure I sleep in both weekend days to catch up. I also think along with the Energizer Bunny day comes ADD/ADHD because I have a hard time staying focused!

Hair report: "upstairs hair" on my head is still firmly in place. The extra hair growing under my chin since starting Prednisone has been getting thinner and remaining body hair seems to be thinning. I'll call the rest of the body hair from the neck down "downstairs hair." Scalp feels kind of crawly/tingly/weird this morning, so upstairs hair may not stick around this week. We'll see what happens!

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                                    Chemo #5 @ SEGO: Update July 15, 2012

It was so wonderful on Thursday to see 2 of my soldiers in arms who have been to every chemo session at SEGO with me, Cathy & Jan. I also met 2 more new survivors going through chemo this trip. My prayer list keeps growing! It was a great session. Jan's son brought her and since he's in the technology field, I really enjoyed the conversation, asking questions on areas I was slack in.

This time the Benedryl didn't hit me till I got home, and ended up going to bed very early Thursday afternoon, and didn't get up till around 5 am on Friday morning! Slept 11 hours. I've noticed this past week that I am more tired at the end of the day, so I suspect that the chemo is really fighting with my body.

One of my new friends, Robynn, loaned me her book on Anti-Cancer! I have already started delving into the book, and find it so great that I ordered my own copy so I could mark it up! Along with the book I found a couple more including food and pH balance for the body to help in the battle. I realize that this is going to be a fight for the remainder of my life on Planet Earth, so the sooner I get started, the better!

Friday was fabulous - no pain. Plus I got to go back to the gym, even if for a shortened session. The port placement surgery, my second week of chemo, has taken a very long time to heal and quit hurting. I was able to work with lighter weights and fewer reps but got back into my routine of arm/leg strengthening. Also added the ab machines, since the CAT scan shows the hematoma shrinking.

Today is, again, my down day. Woke up in a lot of RA pain and feeling tired and hung over. This seems to be the pattern that's emerging through this process. The third day after chemo is crash day when the steroids wear off and the Rheumatoid Arthritis pain is severe (8.5 to 9 on

the pain scale), in spite of the Prednisone. And the further into chemo I am, that day is becoming a very "tired" day as well with not much energy.

Hair report: Upstairs hair really starting to thin. Every time I brush my hair quite an increasing number fall out. Not by the handfuls yet, but still way more than I've ever had before. Downstairs hair from the neck down is almost all gone. The upside . . . don't have to shave for awhile!!

I received word on July 17 that my dear close friend of 35 years, Carol, passed away from liver cancer. She'd written me a letter to tell me about it about 3 months before we found my ovarian cancer, and I made sure I called her every week to talk with her. Unfortunately when they found it, it was stage 4 and inoperable. Her strength and encouragement will be missed, but I will see her again someday in Eternity Future!

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                                     Chemo #6 & 7 @ SEGO: Update July 24, 2012

I skipped last week's post (Chemo 6) because it wasn't a really good week. It was great to see everyone, but I could tell the Taxol/Carbo mix was being really hard on my body last Thursday (7/19). I dozed during the Benedryl, something that I normally don't do, and was so tired when I got home that I ended up going to bed around 6 that afternoon. Just couldn't stay up any longer. Slept like a log all night and woke up to the alarm clock the next morning. My normally wired Friday wasn't so wired and I ended up quitting a little early because of being tired. Saturday was a barely o.k. day, but Sunday was an intense pain/exhaustion day so just laid around the house and went to bed early. Made it through the week o.k. after that, but tired easily each day. Skipped the gym between exhaustion, pain and my port being too sore.

Chemo 7 was on Wednesday, July 23, this week. Met 2 new friends who usually go on Wednesday and reacquainted with another that I hadn't seen in a few weeks. Cathy was there, funny as ever . . . no actually a riot because her sister Mary was with her and the 2 should be a comedy team! They kept the whole group in stitches during chemo! Especially when Cathy tried on wigs.

             

              

And speaking of wigs. I got my hair cut even shorter Friday after talking to my hairdresser about whether to shave it or not. I have about half my hair left at this point, and every time I comb/brush, lay on the pillow, lean my head against anything, or wash my hair, I am shedding like my cat Junior! Only his grow back right away and mine isn't. 99% of the hair from my chin south is gone. After running her hands through my hair and looking it over, she said I still have a lot left to work with. I had taken my new hat just in case, but she is a magician and did a fabulous job with it. She said that we'll evaluate next haircut time. If we need to shave it then, we will, but until then, keep it shorter.

                                                                           Next step  . . .  the hat?

Saturday - my down day this week: Since I had chemo on Wednesday this week, today, Saturday, is being my down day. The IV'd steroids are gone and the RA pain has kicked in with a vengeance since we have a weather front stalling out close by. It will be a good day just to lay around the house, get this update finished, and pamper myself a little - something I'm not used to doing.

I am reading 2 books on cancer, "Anticancer, A New Way of LIfe" by David Servan-Schreiber, MD, PhD, and "Beating Cancer With Nutrition" by Patrick Quillin, Phd, RD, CNS. I highly

recommend both books whether you're going through cancer or not. The more I am reading and researching the more one thing stands out to me - cancer loves stress and sugar! With a sedentary, stressful occupation (graphic arts) it's a miracle that I didn't get cancer years earlier! I am taking this information to heart and reworking what I eat, working on managing the stress and changing my focus on life. I am thankful for this wake-up call at this time in my life.

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Chapter 4

Chemo #8! @ SEGO: Update 8-4-12

I woke up this morning, second day after chemo, at 4:30 and couldn't get back to sleep, so came out to the computer and leisurely went through my emails, news, devotions, etc., but still didn't get drowsy enough to head back to bed. Had slept for 7 hours, so I guess my body is saying that was enough for last night. It's a little after 7 and I just finished my first cup of coffee for the day. I usually love that first sip out of that first cup, but I noticed that my taste buds are continuing to change with the chemo, and my coffee no longer tastes good. Bummer! The good news is that this, too shall pass, and I have something else to look forward to when chemo is over!

The small half-glass of organic 1% chocolate milk that helps sooth the sore chemo throat no longer tastes good - it actually tastes awful! I found if I reduce it with 50% regular (organic) milk that it's not so bad, but is still thick enough to soothe the sore throat. Of course, that's what I fall back on when the throat is really sore (usually in the middle of the night after snoring - oops . . . did I just tell on myself!?!?!?). I am drinking a half-gallon plus of water each day to keep my system flushed and to help the chemo do it's thing.

I hope that next week I can get back to the gym. Haven't been able to go in a couple of weeks. The port is still too tender to work out the arms, and my knees have been extra tender the last couple of weeks. We've had a weird July with "cold fronts" stalling out just above/below us and the change/clash in barometric pressure is what REALLY hurts the arthritis in spite of the meds! And since my knees have both osteo/rheumatoid arthritis, they've been too painful to walk the treadmill.

I probably would have waited till next week to update, but I somehow feel that this week is a milestone. I only have 10 weeks of chemo left to go. Next week will be the half-way mark in this journey of chemotherapy. I am amazed at how well I am doing - faring much better than most of my Drug Buddies Anonymous club members that I've met along the way. Most of my chemo sisters have had to wait a day or two till their blood counts come back up, or have had to take shots of Nupogen to help stimulate the white blood cell production. My blood counts have been way higher than everyone else's and I've been able to keep all my chemo appointments. I am attributing that to the Lord and Juice Plus! I am also changing my diet to delete the refined, processed white sugar and white flour out of my diet and replacing them with healthy alternatives. Bought and started using a juicer to get even more fruits/veggies in my diet as I am learning that the phytochemicals in these plants are cancer fighters and anti-inflammatory to fight the RA! I am focusing on following my new cancer bible (Anti-Cancer, A New Way Of Life), and am so impressed with the information I intend to purchase another copy and donate it to the

SEGO cancer suite library so others can read it, too!

I learned yet a new medical thing this week. Apparently last month when I received my chemo schedule it was done by Llura's assistant who was helping her that day. Llura is my superwoman chemo nurse who takes great care of all of us! We at Drug Buddies Anonymous lovingly call her our Drug Dealer! All in good fun! She chose the profession because she felt she could help us go through chemo more comfortably, and she's awesome at what she does, with great compassion! Back from the rabbit trail - apparently the assistant didn't give me one particular form I needed for the lab work, which has screwed up a couple of my labs this past 4 weeks! I had to wait till 9:30 Thursday morning to leave for my chemo session because the lab work didn't come back to my doc's office till Thursday morning. I made 4 calls to SEGO to see what the problem was and 2 calls to the doc's office and finally found out that I was good to go for chemo. I learned in my business years ago to take the bull by the horns and ramrod things through that were delayed, so took my business skill to make sure my chemo schedule stayed on course. The Lord blessed us by putting us in a bubble of sorts with traffic and we made it in great time with fast traffic and mostly green lights along the way! Once at chemo Llura asked me about the forms and realized that I hadn't gotten the Quest Diagnostic form! She said from now on that she would give me the correct form each week. So now that is a new thing I have learned - the hard way - and that I have to remember to get each week and give to my doc. The down side to starting so late - got home late and ended up so exhausted that I just didn't bother with supper and went to bed about an hour after we got home and slept like a rock all night. Friday wasn't quite as wired, though I didn't have any joint pain, which was a blessing as it was a very busy work day.

I did call my doc's office the next morning and apologize for calling so much and told them what had happened. I am not excommunicated nor banished, thankfully. I do see my doc along with my lab next Tuesday for some catch up and discuss the fact that I have started retaining fluids - probably because of that wonderful bag of steroids. Prednisone used to do that to me years ago predating the RA. Gee - maybe I'll be able to get a medical degree when I'm finished with all this. I have learned soo much. But the downside is that the older I get the more squeamish I get. I may just pass out at the sight of blood if this continues on long enough...

Hair report: still coming out and all around the computer I have to brush off the fallen strands every day. Bathroom floor and counter stay covered, tub covered after shower, bed covered - but not in big clumps. Just 5 or 10 strands at a time seem to come out, but definitely way more than normal! Still may lose it towards the end, but it's still a wait and see.

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                                      Chemo #9 - the Half Way Mark!  8-9-12

Woke up at 5 a.m. on Thursday, August 9, and ready to make the half-way point in my chemo schedule. Chemo Number 9 (almost sounds like a famous perfume?). Got dressed and showered, had a light breakfast and coffee with Wanda and took my vitamins and Juice Plus. Wanda helped me pack my chemo cooler, and I set up my chemo activity bag next to it. Even though I've rarely used my activity bag I don't want to miss it just in case I will need it. My dear, sweet friend, Jane Preston wanted to take me today, so a little after 7:30 she arrived, we packed her car and took off through the hinterlands of Morgan, Walton, Barrow and Gwinnett counties to Lawrenceville and SEGO's chemo suite.

       Wanda and I had watched the DOT crew seed the side of the road last week. The Canada geese found the seed this week and were happily grazing along!

We arrived the same time as my dear friend Cathy and all walked in together. Llura had jury duty so Vanessa was there to fill in for her. I plopped my stuff in the chair I wanted, and ran next door to SEGO's regular waiting room and signed in for my 2 p.m. visit with Dr. Salmieri. I have to see the Doc or his PA once a month during chemo.

Signed in to the chemo suite and got settled in. Brought my second baseball cap with my bird art on it, since someone borrowed the first one. Thought someone else could use the other cap, too. Cathy filled us in on her week off. Vanessa started hooking us up, but Paulette, my other dear friend walked in the door and I jumped up to greet her while I was still untethered. Hadn't seen her for a month as her blood counts have been pretty low, and I've been concerned for her. It was just great to see her again! Martha came in for her next-to-last chemo. As I write this, she will have finished her chemo session and will hopefully be done with cancer in her life! Robynn came in for her chemo after being in Montana last week, and she brought her new i-Pad with photos, which she shared with us all. Absolutely beautiful country! Two new ladies came in and I greeted each one, trying to make them feel welcome into the group. I know what it's like to go into a room where you don't know anyone, and it's even more daunting when you're not well! Since I've gotten into my chemo schedule, I feel like a "Mom" to these dear ladies (even though some are older than I), and want them to all feel welcome and relaxed while they're in chemo.

I was so excited to see my dear friends again that my blood pressure was pretty high when Vanessa took it. I apologized for running my mouth so much, since Llura says it raises the reading, but I was excited. Jane had taken coffee orders earlier and got back, soon after we were hooked up, with some coffee and Dunkin' Donuts. We all chatted and got to know each other during the session, and laughed a lot. Before I knew it one by one the ladies started leaving as they were done. I got email addresses to keep up with their progress. Paulette was

the last one there, so Jane and I hung out in the chemo suite after I was done and waiting on my appointment so we could keep talking.

When I got into the exam room, and after a bit of a wait, Dr. Salmieri came in. He said everything looked great, that my abdomen was healing just fine. He said he had some awesome news and told me that my CA-125 test (the one that shows ovarian cancer markers, that needs to be 35 or lower) came back a 12! A 12! How awesome is that. He was ecstatic and I was jumping off the walls! He told me to not even think of asking him to skip the second half of chemo, and I promised him I had no intention of skipping it. I look forward to my Thursday "girlfriend sessions" and being able to encourage everyone around me. Just before he left, I got the best compliment I think any patient could ever get. He told me he wished I could clone myself so he could see me every day - I encouraged him! I shudder to think of the down side (365 "me's" going through chemo), but am humbled by the compliment! I have to give the Lord the glory for His healing, His leading me to Jane and Juice Plus, and His directing me to Dr. Salmieri through the oncologist at Athens Regional!

                                              My friend, Jane, during her chemo                          Pink hat I'd found before starting chemo.             several years ago.

                               Black & White hat Jane gave me,                             New TJ Maxx blue hat & scarf! plus peach scarf I found in Blue Ridge!            Yes, my face is red-it's the "Taxol flush" after                                                                                                       chemo.              But so far I still have hair left! And thanks to my magician it still looks good!

After my exam was over, I got my appointment for next month, and Jane and I headed to the car. By then it was raining, so we packed in the rain and headed east. We stopped at that super

shopping center on 316 just out of Bethlehem, and hit TJ Maxx, which had just opened. I found a cute blue hat and blue/pink (my favorite color combo) scarf! Jane found a few things, too. We were going to hit Publix, but when we got outside there was a really ominous looking thunderstorm coming on so we hopped in the car and got out of there. Unfortunately we couldn't beat it, so slowly headed down towards Madison in the pouring rain. Jane was hungry, and wanted pizza, and I remembered That Pizza Place on Hwy. 83/West Washington St. in Madison. I told her about it and we stopped when we got to Madison. We each ordered a personal pan pizza of our choice and split a small Greek salad. All I can say is WOW! Was that good! I have a new favorite place to eat in town!!!

Friday I picked up my new and refill prescriptions at my favorite drug store that I've been using ever since I moved to Madison in 1983, Madison Drugs. As I was talking with my druggist, I told him by the time I get through with the chemo I'm going to be a radical regarding eating and health. He told me I was a free radical! I really got a kick out of that and we both got a good laugh!

Again, all I can do is praise the Lord for keeping up His end of taking care of me during this job He has for me to do at this time in my life. He has put me in contact with Jane and Juice Plus 3 weeks before surgery (back on April 4), and put me under the care of what I believe is the absolute best oncologist-surgeon in the Southeast!He has also given me a joy of being able to encourage those around me and laughing my way through this! I am also delighted that I can make others laugh through this with me. Laughter is, after all, the BEST medicine!

                                                   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *

I know this update has become quite lengthy, but it was a real milestone for me. I am halfway through and have NOT had to wait for my blood counts to come up, they have been fine. I have NOT had to take Nupogen shots to bring the blood counts up, either! God is my healer, my provider, my helper and my encourager! I trust that He will use this, plus the information He is putting in my path for good, anti-cancer nutrition and learning a new way of eating, to completely rid my body of what had attacked it (through His loving hands). I look forward to my second half of this journey.

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Chapter 5

Chemo No.10!  On the back side, headed to the home stretch! 8-16-12

After getting my blood drawn Monday afternoon for the BIG blood tests, I was called Wednesday morning with the news that I was, once again, cleared for takeoff. So thankful that I've not had to miss a chemo day or take extra shots. I had seen last week where my platelets had gotten low, so spent the weekend resting, eating lots of protein and other foods that helped boost platelet production. Another new thing learned! I will incorporate those foods into my diet all this week, so am looking forward to seeing my next month's blood test results.

So, for the tenth time, we headed out the door at 7:30 in the morning on Thursday and got in the

line of traffic through Madison, which thankfully turned off at the middle school, so we had a pretty clear road west of town and out into the country side. Since the sun was shining, I got my camera out and did manage to get a shot of a favorite site at the Nolan Plantation. Couldn't slow for the shot as there was quite a bit of traffic, so just aimed and fired!

    

We made it in good time, and were the second group to get there, so I grabbed the corner chair that I like. It's taller, deeper and wider than the others. I call it my "Edith Ann" chair, for those of you who remember "Saturday Night Live" and the comedienne Lily Tomlin. Hmmm . . . telling on myself again! We got settled in as others entered the room, and since I wasn't tethered yet, got to give my good friend Cathy a big hug before she got settled. It was a great group! Most of the ladies knew each other, which proved to be good for me later on. As we were waiting to get hooked up, we started chattering along and the sound of laughter brought some of the caregivers in from the waiting room to see what was going on! We were having a really good time. My new friend Sue, sat beside me this time, and I got to meet her daughter Amanda. Paulette made it this time, two weeks in a row, and it was great to see her again. Amanda disappeared for awhile, then came back with a big box. It turned out that it was Sue's birthday, and she'd brought her a bunch of cupcakes and a tiara, so we had a big birthday party for her, which again brought the caregivers out of their waiting room and into the chemo suite to see what the hullabaloo was all about!

                                           

I think Ms. Llura hit me with an extra big dose of Benedryl to shut me up this week since I talked so much the last time. It hit me like a ton of bricks and as valiant as I tried, just couldn't keep my eyes open. When I tried to talk, I felt like I was a bit tipsy, so just gave into it and dozed off most of the session. I could still hear everyone talking and was grateful that everyone knew each other. I began to wake up a bit towards the end of my 5 hours, when a gentleman in a GA Power uniform came in. Apparently it was for his RA meds infusion. I introduced myself and started asking questions, which drew him into the group to make him more comfortable. About a half hour later, my session was done and Llura unhooked me right after Cathy, and I got to hug Cathy 'bye. I won't get to see her for 5 of my 8 weeks left because she goes in for radiation. I did get her phone number so I can keep tabs on how she's doing and find out what kind of trouble she'd gotten herself into!

Gwinnett traffic was really tough with school back in session between regular "rush hour" traffic, busses and police everywhere. It took all of 2 hours just to get to Madison, but Wanda called our new favorite restaurant, That Pizza Place, and put in our take out order 15 minutes out of town. We swung by and picked it up on the way home so we wouldn't have to cook. I got the Great White personal pan pizza this time with several white cheeses, sliced tomatoes and garlic. MMM-mmm-good! Also got a Greek salad chock full of good anti-cancer veggies. Made for a great supper!

Now I'm really going to tell on myself. I hope you find this as funny as I did this morning - after contemplation, of course. Even after we came home, I just couldn't shake the Benedryl, so went to bed around 5:30 p.m. Since I'm infused with over a gallon of liquids, I have to run to the bathroom a LOT! I woke up around 7:30 and it was light outside. I'd remembered going to the bathroom once, but REALLY had to go. The dryer was on and I'd remembered Wanda saying she was going to finish off her laundry in the morning. Then it hit me. OMG, my alarm didn't go off and I had to take her to work. I'm late. I'm late! I ran out to the kitchen, gulped my Synthroid pill down that I take every morning for my thyroid. Ran back into the bedroom and got dressed to take her to work. I hollered for her, but she didn't answer so I called her on her cell. That's when she told me that it was only 7:30 in the afternoon. I'd only slept 2 hours, not 14! Wow! The daylight at 7:30 p.m. and a.m. this time of year are just about the same, and even though I'd glanced at the clock in my still Benedryl stupor/chemo brain I didn't catch that it was p.m. Are you laughing uncontrollably yet? I sheepishly got my pj's back on, crawled back into bed and was able to get back to sleep . . . until 2 the next morning. Woke up feeling much better and just

couldn't get back to sleep since I'd slept 8 hours, bracketed by that 3 Stooges' caper. Time will tell how the mess-up in Synthroid schedule will affect me. Hopefully not too much.

Again, I am grateful that the Lord led me to Jane Preston to get on Juice Plus, which is helping my diet get the extra fruits and vegetables in a capsule form because I just can't eat 10 servings a day! I am learning that the phytochemicals in veggies and fruits are good cancer fighters, but even with the juicer and eating tons of "rabbit food" I just can't put down enough. This I believe is helping my platelets stay as high as they've been and keeping me in the game with not having to wait or take shots! I'm the only one in my group who has made each chemo appointment and who hasn't had to take Nupogen shots! I'm also grateful that He put me under Dr. Salmieri's care. I've been told by several folks that their chemo suite is the best. It's been a real blessing to have met so many wonderful women who are going through chemo with me. We all know what we're going through and we can laugh about the funny parts and encourage each other through the tough times. Until next time - keep laughing. It's the best medicine of all!

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                                  Chemo #11: A "Week of Weeks" to Go! Posted 8-25-12

This past week has been "interesting." I am finding that on this back half of chemo I am definitely getting tired more easily. After the false start last Friday morning - er Thursday evening - Friday wasn't quite the Energizer Bunny a day as they've been. Don't know if it was a combo of the Benedryl, false wakeup Thursday evening coupled with taking my Synthroid at the wrong time or not, but it was what it was. I did manage to progressively take my Synthroid in the wee hours Saturday and Sunday at later hours in the morning to even out my dosage again. Sunday was definitely a crash day and stayed in my pj's a long time before I got dressed. I think the "cold front" fighting with the low pressure areas in our neck of the woods riled the RA which gave me extra pain, so the weekend was pretty much a wash.

The week was all right, but my joints have remained rather painful with the RA, and I think the chemo is wearing at me enough to heighten the pain sensation a bit. I apologize for not being funny on this, but I had decided to write all my thoughts going through it all so that hopefully it will help someone else along the way. Having gone into this with two auto-immune diseases (Hashimoto's Disease/Rheumatoid Arthritis, or as I call it HDRA) I knew I would have to fight harder and longer than "your average bear!"

In spite of extra heavy traffic we made it on time Thursday morning, and were again second in line. A new lady, Elsa, (ovarian cancer) and her son were there. It turned out it was her first chemo and she was apprehensive. I remembered back - not so many weeks ago - that I was sitting, literally, in her chair and feeling those same feelings. I hope I was able to encourage her, since I'm now a veteran (almost a veteran?). My friend, Paulette, came in with her daughter, a bit later, and then another new lady came in who was wheelchair bound. She has a lot of complications on top of her ovarian cancer. I now have two more new friends in my circle of fellow cancer survivors, and we spent the time getting to know each other during chemo. Llura even had a little time to be able to come and sit down and chat with us, which made it extra special!

Cathy came in to visit since she was finished from her radiation treatment and on her way home. Then the fun started! She asked me about the cupcake place (see Sue's birthday photo from last week above), and Sue's daughter had emailed me the address, but in my chemo brain-fog forgot to print it out and bring it, like I had the Juicer Recipes! Duh! Double-Duh!! We

all got together and brainstormed, and Wanda said she'd found the business next to it on her smart phone, so volunteered to run and get some cupcakes. Well, it was late morning and she was hungry. Cake is her favorite food in the whole world. She went ALONE, with no leash! She came back with a BIG box of cupcakes! Since we'd convinced Cathy to stay (she put in her order of which cupcake she wanted, as with the rest of the gals), we had a party! Everyone had the cupcake they wanted. I refrained from eating one, since I'd been in so much RA pain all week, and sugar makes it hurt much worse (they didn't have sugar-free). It just wasn't worth it. I had a little cup of my nut mix that I'd brought so I could eat with everyone else. I was teased, but once I shared my sentiments about the RA pain, that was the end of it. Change of conversation. A couple of SEGO's nurses came in to see Llura and saw the cupcakes. Apparently word spread and one by one they came in and got theirs. I told you she got a BIG box!

After we were, one by one, finished with our chemo, we hugged good-bye and headed home. We made a quick stop at our now favorite Publix in Bethlehem, off Hwy. 316, and got a few things that we can't find in town. When we were about 15 minutes out of Madison, Wands called That Pizza Place and put in our supper order, then we stopped and picked it up on the way home. Yumm! Greek personal pan pizza with a big Greek salad! Totally AWESOME! One of the things that my taste buds haven't messed up, and full of veggies, peppercinis and olives! I normally don't like most peppercinis, because they're a bit too spicy, but these are good. They're sliced into rings, so you get just a bit with each bite and not a whole lot of hot. We decided that every Thursday's chemo day we'd treat ourselves to Greek salad and pizza!

I am still researching and learning from several different sources regarding the types of foods we eat to help fight cancer, toxins, and help out with chemo, and whenever I get things typed up for my chemo friends, will post a link here to share, too.

Hair Report: Still there, continuing to thin, but still there!

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                          CHEMO #12: ONLY 6 MORE WEEKS TO GO!  Posted 9-1-12

Thankfully, Hurricane Isaac made a more westward track and we didn't get the torrential rains predicted for Thursday's chemo day. Since Wanda was stuck in court, my good friend and neighbor, Pam, drove me to chemo in Lawrenceville. We had a smooth trip over and back with only a little intermittent sprinkles along the way.

Shortly after we got there, Elsa came in and said she did well her first week of chemo. She was followed by Martha, who was there for her first chemo treatment. Sue came in, and then Pat and Nomi whom I hadn't met before. Then Paulette made it to chemo. We had a really full house since the chemo suite was going to be closed for Labor Day. Llura was really hopping trying to get us all hooked up as quickly as possible. We joked about the 4 P's in a pod: Pat, Pam, Peg and Paulette! All in one session! That loosened up the conversation with some laughs, and then everyone really started talking with one another. It was great!

We were all chatting and getting to know each other, sharing experiences, and encouraging the new ladies, and the time just screamed by. Cathy stopped by after her radiation treatment, and Carrie came over while waiting for her doctor's appointment, and the laughs really ramped up! Before I knew it, it was time to go home! This session seemed to go by the fastest of any of the previous sessions. We all hugged good bye and headed home. I realized once in the vehicle, that I was really tired. 

After I got home, I just sat and rested. Wanda brought our Thursday meal home from That Pizza Place - Greek salads and for me Greek personal pan pizza. Lots of veggies! We ate, and I watched TV for a little while, and then just went to bed around 7 p.m. This is the third week that I've been really exhausted after chemo, so I know the drugs are really starting to effect my body. Didn't get up early on Friday morning, and my Energizer Bunny day was a bit subdued.

I am still grateful that my blood and platelet levels are staying up! Since there's so much varied information out there regarding cancer - good info as well as misinformation - I'm finding that most of the ladies I've met starting chemo are frightened and just don't know what to believe. I know when I started chemo I felt the same way. That's why I've been researching and reading a lot and sharing the information that I've found to be good, solid help to get through chemo.

It's great to realize that I only have SIX more weeks to go! I realize there will be a battery of tests and scans when I'm done, but I am trusting the Lord will have gotten me through this and that all the cancer will stay gone. I now have to work on my "soil" to keep the weeds from coming back, and work towards being healthier than before.

Hair report: still shedding like my cat. The gray hair is sticking to my head like glue. The regular pigmented hair is what's shedding, and I'm noticing that my hair is getting wavy . . . after being straight for 65 years! But I still have hair.

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Chapter 6

CHEMO #13: THE COUNTDOWN BEGINS! Posted 9-8-12

Another Thursday morning, another trip to Lawrenceville. We felt more comfortable with this trip as we'd put new tires on the front of Ol' Grampa, Wanda's car. He tends to wander anyway, and the old tires, being out of round, made it much worse. The new ones worked like magic and he ran smoothly through the farmlands to Hwy. 316 and to SEGO's parking lot, where our favorite spot was open under the shade tree!

Even though we got there pretty early, the two new ladies were already there. Both had had a good week and were doing well. That was great news, as my friend Paulette couldn't make it because her platelets were down. Since there were only 3 of us, the hook-up went quickly and we settled into our chatty routine.

My chemo port has remained tender, and when Llura tries to hook me up, it hurts more each session. We asked her about taking it out after chemo, and she said that was fine. They could put in another one on the left side later if I needed it. I intend to NEVER need another port again! I think it's rather ironic that the 10 1/2" incision, all the tests, the eye surgery, and all the blood draws have not been a big deal like this port. Such a little thing to cause so much constant pain. 

This session, Llura got to talk with us more since we were a small group. We had several ladies

stop by to either have blood drawn or their ports flushed - a procedure needed every 4 to 8 weeks for those who keep theirs. Some of them I knew, and some of them I met for the first time. I was delighted to see that all the "booklets" I'd printed out and brought in the past 2 weeks were gone! I am so glad I was able to help so many, so will work this week to print out a bunch more and take in next Thursday to help more ladies with juicing and platelet production.

Wanda also has a recipe for healthy organic brownies, so we intend to bake those next week and take to chemo with us, along with the recipe. Everything we can do to put good foods inside our bodies, and still be able to enjoy some goodies once in awhile, is to our benefit. Especially as I'm learning more and more about the good food/beating cancer connection.

I am now in the portion of the book "Anti-Cancer: A New Way of Life" that is delving into the mind/psychological link to cancer and how the extra devastating stress of those hard places in life can destroy our immune systems and open us up to cancer. I can pinpoint mine to November of 2008, right after the elections. An unseen hand had turned off the work/jobs spigot, and my business income dropped by 80%! And remained there as several of my clients ended up going out of business due to the crash in the economy. 2 years later I lost my home to foreclosure. That was the big devastating blow. 1 year after losing my home, I was diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis - the second auto-immune disease (on top of the Hashimoto's). 2 years after losing my home, I was diagnosed with ovarian cancer! And I can look back and realize how hopeless I felt for such a long time. Since I am learning that hopelessness harms the immune system, it's helping me to pick myself up, dust myself off and start all over again! I am bound and determined to beat this and never let it come back. I am determined that this has just been a speed bump, and an opportunity to help others along the way, and not an un-climbable mountain!

So, with those thoughts of winning, I am now starting the countdown from 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, port out! That's my focus at this point in the chemo treatments. As far as being with my friends in chemo, I could go every Thursday and just sit with them and enjoy their company - that part I really look forward to. It's even worth the 3 1/2 hour round trip!! The port pain has been the hardest part because it hurts too badly when I go to the gym, try to vacuum or do anything physical. But it won't for long!!

Hair report: when I run my hand over my head I can really feel my head and not my hair. I can see some naked scalp now, but there's still enough hair up there to keep me decent! Since there's not much left, what's left is growing normally, so will have to get it trimmed next week. The old grays are taking over and they're wavy, which makes my hair do things it never has before! Scary!

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               CHEMO NO. 14 (9-13-12) - 4 WEEKS TO GO! ONE MORE MONTH OF CHEMO!!!

We got off to a bit of a late start and traffic was really heavy in Madison and on Hwy. 316. Fortunately we were blessed with little to no traffic on Hwy. 83, and were able to pass a couple of slow pokes pretty easily. We were also blessed with a really beautiful, lightly misty morning with high cirrus clouds and a sundog with rainbow colors! Also noticed the fall color starting to come out all along the route in most of the hardwood trees.

  Snapped at the old Nolan Plantation west of Flat Rock on Hwy. 83. Sun coming up later!

We got there about 9:15 and 3 ladies were already there and seated. My favorite chair was taken (which gave Wanda a place to sit beside me), so opted for the other side of the room in the first chair. She could at least sit next to the middle chair (that faces the circle of chairs) and we could still be close enough for conversation.

I didn't realize how much my heart has been so taken with the new friends I've found, and how much I care for them until I got an email from Paulette who said she was going to make it this week. I found tears streaming down my cheeks with the joy of being able to see my friend! And that she was all right for another week! The second incident was when we learned that a new lady, Lisa, who had been dealing with kidney failure on top of the cancer/chemo had passed away in the hospital the Thursday before. She was relatively young and left a husband and young child. She also left behind a sister with major health problems, who was her caregiver. It still hurts to think she lost her battle to cancer. I know my friend Jane Preston told me to prepare for this, and she was right. I will also see my new friend Lisa, along with my best friend Carol, someday in Eternity Future. I know she isn't hurting any more, but I still am praying for the ones she left behind.

I know I said I would use humor, but am finding along this journey, that humor is not always appropriate, and through all this I am writing from my heart. So please forgive the somber notes, but the reality of life is not always humorous.

This time my blood pressure was really high the 2 times Llura took it. I am soooo not looking forward to that needle poke in the already tender port, and the second BP test, I closed my eyes

and tried to meditate in my "happy place" while it was going, which brought both numbers down 10 points. I am in the portion of my "Anti-Cancer, A New Way Of Life" book on the mind-body connection, and how meditation brings the body rhythms in harmony to fight disease. Most of what they advocate is eastern mysticism, which is not in line with my Christian beliefs, so am modifying it to prayer and meditating on the Lord. This is going to be a process, but I know for an absolute fact that my stress levels have been high for a long time sending extra cortisol and adrenaline into my blood stream and throughout my body. When my thyroid died the adrenal glands had tried to take over and were exhausted, so had to get them working again after a stress test confirmed it. The body likes endorphins and serotonin to work properly and the way to release those is through the mind finding its happy place! Cancer loves negative, but hates positive (simply put), so am working on my stress response to work and life in general to "be anxious for nothing!" (Phil. 4:6a) The major prayer request I have for these next 4 weeks is that the port will not hurt so much and won't move around so much when Llura tries to hook me up. On the pain scale it's right around the 10 mark, and although it's only for about 10 to 20  minutes, it really, really hurts!

I didn't pack lunch for us, because I was really sandwiched-out, as was Wanda. Right around noon she asked if anyone wanted Chick-fil-A because we'd decided on a sandwich from there. Debby said she did and was going to go with Wanda, but decided not to, so Wanda took off again, unsupervised and hungry. It seemed to take a really long time for her to run up the road about a mile and get 3 sandwiches, but when she came through the door, she had a box with a ribbon on it. I instantly knew that she had gone to the cupcake shop! She brought cupcakes back for everyone! We ate our sandwiches and those who wanted cupcakes got one. She'd gotten enough for everyone in chemo plus work, so she will be taking the remainder to work Friday to share. She told me on the way home that she ordered sugar-free for the last day of chemo to celebrate, and that the ladies with diabetes could also enjoy cupcakes. We are thinking positive that I will be able to finish my chemo with no delays, but on time!

     Those infamous cupcakes! There hasn't been a week gone by since Sue's birthday that the                                          ladies haven't brought up the subject!

Friday morning, my Energizer Bunny day - woke up at 2:30 and couldn't go back to sleep, so went ahead and got up for the day. Read all the news, read out of my Cancer/Nutrition book, had my devotions, and was ready to go early. Good thing because at dark-thirty, Wanda had to go in to work an hour early to help the new lady she's training make up some time. It was still pitch dark. I haven't been able to see to drive at night for almost 8 years with the cataract in my left eye, and we hadn't been out at night since I had the surgery. I asked her if I could drive in, and when I pulled out on to the highway I got really excited because I CAN SEE!!!!! The oncoming headlights didn't bother the new eye, and I can finally see to drive at night again. I was even able to see an idiot on a bicycle wearing dark clothing, riding on the side of the road in Madison in an area with no street lights! The only thing showing were the dim strips of reflective tape on his pedals. Dark clothes, no bike lights! But I could see. And I steered around him! I had to sit on myself to keep from tearing up because it makes the vision blurry, but I sit here at the computer, having just gotten back, and letting those tears of joy flow! What a blessing!!!

Hair report: getting what's left cut today, so my hairdresser will let me know how it's really doing. I can see scalp on top, but others tell me that they can't. At least it's still there with 4 more weeks to go!

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                    CHEMO NO. 15 (9-20-12) - T-MINUS 3 WEEKS TO GO AND COUNTING!!!

We got off to an early start this morning, and made a quick stop at the ATM before heading out to chemo. It was another beautiful misty morning with that fall coolness in the air. A bit more

muggy as we had an east Atlantic breeze, but it still felt pretty good outside.

Traffic wasn't bad since it was a bit earlier, and we made it to chemo right at 9. I got signed in, grabbed my favorite chemo chair, put some new printouts on the table, then dashed "next door" from the chemo suite to the doctor's regular waiting room to sign in for my monthly doc exam. Told the ladies I would be waiting in the chemo suite. When I got back to chemo, Martha was there and had taken the chair next to me. Llura got me hooked up, and I got settled in for the day. Only 3 more blood tests/chemo stabs in the port to go! Ann came in with her friend, and behind her a new lady to me, Carla, came in for her chemo, too.

I was summoned for my exam, so unhooked the chemo pole from the power cord, and "pole danced" my way back to my exam room. I told the nurse who was escorting me that at least I didn't have on a hospital gown to flash everyone I was walking away from! I heard chuckles from the chemo suite as I walked out the back door, so apparently got a laugh! Dr. Salmieri checked me out, said everything looked great including the stitches, and afterwards told me that my CA 125 was 1 point less than last month - down to 11. That is great news! I mentioned my port, he examined it, and conferred that it was implanted too low and that they would get me an appointment to get it taken out right after chemo was over. (It amazes me that the total hospital bill for that 15 minutes in the minor OR to implant it was almost $15,000!) He also said that if on the outside chance I needed a new one that he would personally install the next one! How great is that! I am to have a CAT scan before my next doc visit, so will get that re-scheduled today (Friday). I'd scheduled it, but since Wanda has specially set court that week (didn't know about) that she couldn't get off. I am praying that the scan will come back clean and clear, and that I can start focusing on the remainder of my immune system to get it built back up to where it needs to be.

After I got back to the chemo suite, Cathy came in - followed by Robinn - and we had a great time to chat and catch up. Cathy will be back in 2 weeks, so will be able to party for the last 2 weeks of chemo! Paulette came in a bit later, and was hooked up for some intervention to help her platelets. This Thursday was "Flush Day" and we had a lot of ladies come in to get their ports flushed. The lady I was most impressed with had been cancer free for 11 years! Lord willing, I intend to be that lady 11 years from now!

This coming week I will have 2 extra appointments added to my schedule with a dentist appointment and RA appointment with Dr. Melville. This will be a really busy week with the extras tucked in! May have to start earlier because I can't work late. Am tiring more easily at the end of the day. This, too, shall pass once I'm out of chemo!

When I first started researching ovarian cancer, cures and helps, I realized right off the bat that negativity and stress feed cancer on the human side of the equation. Sugar and simple starches feed cancer on the food side of the equation. May sound simplistic, but it worked for me. I realized that I was going to have to let go of a lot of my stress and worry whether I wanted to or not! I used to be pretty stiff and afraid to laugh a lot. I also realized that I better start loosening up and laughing at myself and everything amusing around me because cancer hates laughter! Another instant realization was that since God #1, allowed this to be sifted through His loving Hands to me and #2 didn't do a miracle healing but allowed me to go through it, that it was for a reason and my benefit. It was also a way for Him to reach out to others around me through me to encourage and comfort them. You can't truly understand another till you walk a mile in his moccasins, and though I have friends and family going/gone through cancer, I couldn't understand how to encourage and comfort until I had to go through the same thing. I feel like "Mom" to everyone who is in chemo with me on Thursday. I love each and every one of those

ladies, and I pray for them every day. I am thankful for this experience and the blessing that helping others has brought, that I wouldn't have had if I never got OC. I also wouldn't have been able to change from a negative to a positive person if this wouldn't have happened, and I wouldn't have taken the initiative to see if (once the chemo was done) I could further this change to reverse the damage to my immune system and become healed from the Hashimoto's Disease and RA through nutrition! Having had the tumors, Laurel & Hardy, has led to a betterment and positive change in my life that without them I never would have had. So the benefits have far outweighed the negative effects! This has been a most amazing journey so far.

Hair Report: Got lots of compliments on the new, shorter, hair cut! It's getting easier and easier to wash, dry with a washcloth, comb and go! Still shedding, but still have something to cover the skull!

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Chapter 7

CHEMO NO. 16! CLEARED FOR TAKEOFF AGAIN!  Plus a Busy Week.

Monday morning was dentist day. X-rays and 2 fillings. I have a fabulous dentist who specializes in "hard cases" like mine with bridges, lots of fillings, and crowns, and I've been with him for decades. R. Lawrence George, DMD on Jennings Mill Road, Bogart (West of Watkinsville, GA) and his phone number is 706-353-1958. His web site is http://www.drgeorgedentistry.com/ . I'd had a cavity in my front tooth and a back molar (that already had a crown) that was beginning to ache. He filled both and you can't tell it! He's a fantastic dentist, a great guy, and has a fabulous staff!

I am so grateful, yet again, to be "cleared for takeoff" 14 weeks in a row! I have been continuing to read the information recommended to me, do my own research, and work at implementing the information I've learned about how to help myself through chemo and make the most of the chemo drugs against the cancer, and not my body. I'm grateful that the Lord has lead me to my friend Jane Preston and Juice Plus, which I honestly believe has been the biggest help in my doing so well with chemo. I'm about the only one who still has what appears to be a full head of hair (with the help of my magician hairdresser), and the only one so far who has not had to either have extra shots or wait at least a week for platelet production to come up to snuff.

                           Misty morning along Hwy. 83, headed toward Monroe.

Thursday, September 27, we headed out of town a few minutes late, but traffic was light on Hwy. 83, so we made good time to 316. Were doing well until we came to the area where they're building the overpass of Sugar Loaf Pkwy. (just outside the city limits of Lawrenceville) and that's where traffic came to a complete standstill! Fortunately, there was a DOT sign with a 511 phone number and I called. Apparently there'd been a bad accident a few miles up the road and both lanes were blocked. It took a whole hour to drive 1 mile to the next exit where we took the back way into downtown Lawrenceville. Now I have to admit that Wanda's forays to the cupcake shop really paid off! She immediately knew where she was and how to get to SEGO from there! We were over an hour late, but she was not late for her appointment with Dr. Salmieri for her checkup.

Once there, I grabbed Chair 1 on the opposite side from where I normally like to sit (Chair 7 is the most comfortable one for me, and best place to sit beside Wanda). I got to hug Elsa and Martha who were already there and are part of my "Thursday Girls" group! Elsa had to have a blood transfusion last week, but she said it really helped her a lot and that she was doing so much better. I am so relieved because I was really concerned! Martha had had a good week and was still doing quite well. A lady who'd been there a few weeks back was already there, too. I settled into my chair and worked at relaxing since we'd gotten stressed over the traffic situation and trying to keep from being late for Wanda's appointment. Sue, and then Paulette came in which gave us a full house! Not too long after I was hooked up, Cathy came in to visit for awhile. She will be there next Thursday to start her second nine weeks of chemo. She had to take a break and go through several weeks of radiation in the middle of her chemo schedule. She's still looking fabulous!

After chemo was done, we headed back home. Today's total trip time ended up being 4 1/2 hours instead of the usual 3 1/2 hour round trip. I knew since we went earlier last week that we'd

preceded an accident that shut down Hwy. 316 between Bethlehem and Lawrenceville. Since there's been 2 accidents on 2 Thursdays in a row, I think I need to get myself a county map to find alternate routes should we get hit with another delay in the remaining 2 weeks left! Of course, I will have a follow-up visit 2 weeks after chemo is over (was going to be the next week but Llura said that was too soon). I have to reschedule my CT scan to 2 weeks after my last chemo and just before I see Dr. Salmieri. So it looks like even though I'll be through with chemo mid-October, the testing will go on the remainder of the month and hopefully will end sometime before the end of November.

Friday morning was up again in the wee hours - 4 a.m. this time to the sound of a little furry someone trying to peer through the living room blinds! My can Junior apparently spotted something menacing outside the house because he jumped on the bed and his tail was as big as he is! Since Wanda had seen coyotes outside, that's what I figured he saw since they're the only things ranging outside at night around here, except for the occasional fox. I just went ahead and got on up and opened the blinds so he could peer out. I knew I had a doctor's appointment in Watkinsville later in the morning, so figured I'd get all my morning stuff done early to have some work under my belt before taking off.

Got to Dr. Melville's office on time and the waiting room was packed. Since I've been staying away from groups of people, I sat at the other end of the room on the carpeted stairs leading to the second story. I was being anti-social and didn't care. When I finally got in, almost an hour later, I was really excited to hear the news regarding the strides that have been made on restoring one's immune system! Worth the wait!! I'd read some of it online during my cancer research, and had heard a little about it on one episode of the Dr. Oz show. Dr. Melville put me on a couple of extra supplements to help boost my chemo these last couple of weeks, plus my immune system. He also wants me to go gluten free, since gluten causes inflammation which hurts both my RA, and is cancer-friendly! Something else I'd read on my research. Will work on that part, as part of the dietary changes I'm making. Can't go cold turkey on deleting all bread from my diet! He said there are some new products coming on the market in the next several months that will further boost and repair the immune system and his goal is to repair my immune system to the point that I can get off the RA meds and - hopefully - the thyroid meds! That has also been my goal since I started reading/researching for the cancer/chemo, and it was so exciting to hear that it can possibly be done after all! Wow!!! What a great end to the week! It's been a busy one with the extra appointments, but what a positive note! No toothache, which had started with the back tooth cavity and fixed, and now with getting back under Dr. Melville's care. He'd helped me so much in the past getting my energy back after my thyroid died and the local doc I went to then couldn't. He works with a team at Network for Effective Women's Services in Watkinsville, and their web site is http://www.noaw.com/. He is also a believer in Juice Plus and was happy that I was already on it!

Hair Report: Still there! It's getting definitely thinner on the top but there's enough wisps of hair to give the illusion that there's more there than there really is! May just be able to keep it with only 2 chemo treatments left to go! Woo Hoo!!!!!

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                           CHEMO NO. 17 - DOWN TO THE WIRE!!!   October 4, 2012

For the 17th. time on Wednesday I received the phone call from SEGO saying I was cleared for chemo! My dear friend Jane said she wanted to take me this week, so on Thursday morning she drove up to the house with a bouquet of fall flowers - beautiful! We loaded up the car and

headed into Lawrenceville on a gorgeous misty fall morning. I snapped some photos on the fly and have some below - hope you enjoy.

We got there before anyone else, and I dropped my bag on my favorite chair - the only one with a guest chair beside it. Got myself checked in, and gradually some of the others made it in. Cathy and Ella came in, and Cathy sat next to me - hooray! We had a lot of catching up to do since she hadn't been there for five weeks. A young lady, Dagmar, that I hadn't met before came in via the "back door" to the doctor's office and I immediately said hi and asked for her name, and introduced myself. Jane, who sat next to me, introduced herself, too. She, too had had ovarian cancer, went through the same treatment as I, but she has been cancer free for 7 years! I told her I was going to be just like her! She's a photographer who loves to photograph the vanishing farms and rural areas, so got her info and will contact her this weekend. Will also let my artist friends know about her as well.

Paulette made it to chemo today - and it was her last day! It's taken her several extra weeks to get through, but I'm so glad she made it. I just pray that she'll be totally healed! That's my prayer for all my chemo friends! Wendy's came back, so she's going to have to start chemo again, and her hair just started coming back out.

                        My dear friend Elsa and her son. Paulette took pix with her iPad.

            Whatever it was, apparently it was funny, even under the influence of Benedryl!

My heart goes out to all these wonderful ladies I've met over this experience. As much as I am looking forward to being through with chemo, I am also saddened that I'll be through with the wonderful Thursdays to sit with my friends and enjoy getting to know each and every one of them. I have started searching the Madison area to see if there's some kind of support group because there's a lot of folks who have gone through cancer here. If there's not, I intend to work on starting one because there's a huge need for folks to find information before heading into chemo treatment. I have met so many of the ladies coming into our chemo suite for the first time who are terrified, and their caregiver is scared, too. There's not a lot of viable information either in doctor's offices, or on the internet, that puts it all together. One of the reasons why I am keeping up with my experience on my news page.

I announced to everyone, once they were there, that next week we will be having a party! I am going to celebrate my last chemo day!! Wanda has ordered a dozen sugar-free cupcakes at that decadent cupcake place downtown Lawrenceville, and she said she'll get some regular ones, too. I bought some small party napkins and plates, and will also take some organic milk! Going to go out with a blast!! I will stop by the suite every time I see Dr. Salmieri for my checkups just to greet those who are there and encourage them. Llura said she'll have to set it up so that I can mail my printouts that I'm supplying to the suite on the cancer and chemo research that I've done to help folks.

I have noticed this week that my really bummer day ended up being Monday and on into Tuesday. Probably the RA showing up with a cold front that came through those 2 days. I know I'm in a lot of RA pain when the weather changes between the high/low pressure ridges. I have also noticed that I'm more tired and can feel the cumulative effects of the chemo on my body. Overall, I think I'm making it through just fine . . . and STILL have my hair!!!

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                        CHEMO NO. 18 - THE END IS HERE!!!   October 11, 2012 (10-11-12)

For the 18th. and final time on Wednesday I received the phone call from SEGO saying I was cleared for chemo! I told the nurse on the line that I was sweating this one, but she said my blood work has been great the whole time. Thanks, Jane, for getting me on Juice Plus!!!

We left while it was still dark Thursday morning - about 15 minutes earlier than our usual time, because traffic has been extra heavy with people taking their kids to school. Duh! It's increased the traffic 3 to 4 times above normal. And that doesn't include the school busses! It has made for a tough commute to Lawrenceville and back since school started, but we got there in good time, thankfully (no accidents!), and I got my favorite chair. Vanessa was there to help Llura, and when I saw the chemo bag lineup, I realized that we were going to have a really full house! Eight chemo setups, and there are only seven chairs! Fortunately, a couple of the ladies (who were there from other days) had only a couple of small bags of chemo so their chairs opened up early for others to come in. And it was great that my good friends were there: Cathy, Elsa and Martha! And even though she was finished with chemo last week, my dear friend Paulette came in to visit and party with us! These 4 have ended up being my best friends at chemo. The only two missing were Sue and Wendy, which would have rounded out the party and fun.

                                           My very special dear Llura! I'm laughing so hard it's hard to pose!

                                                              Our crazy group!

     My 2 best friends with me: Cathy and Paulette. Both have been with me since the beginning.

  My "Drug Buddies Anonymous" Thursday-Girls' group: Wanda, Martha, me, my dear chemo nurse                                      Llura, Elsa and Cathy. Paulette took the photo!

Cathy got there last and got the center chair. She'd made some awesome egg salad sandwiches and brought them for the party. Elsa had brought a super cheese tray, too! When it was close to lunch time, Wanda headed out to pick up the specially ordered dozen sugar-free cupcakes, plus an extra dozen regular cupcakes. She also had stopped and gotten some chips and extra sandwiches as we had an extra full house! When she got back the party started around 11:30. We apparently were making so much noise the rest of the nurses at SEGO started poking their heads through the door to see what this rowdy bunch of women was up to! When they saw the food and cupcakes, they trailed in one by one which made the party even bigger! I don't know if anyone else has partied like this on their last chemo. If not, I hope it starts a trend!

Vanessa hung my last chemo bag (Carboplaten), and we all cheered and clapped. Which brought more nurses' heads sticking through the back door! And when the bag was finally empty, and the last drop hit the pump, Llura announced it and we all clapped and cheered again! Now I have to tell you, Miss Llura has a great, sassy sense of humor. It's been such an honor to meet and be cared for by her! She looked at me and grinned . . . and walked away leaving me hooked up! She told me I wasn't going anywhere for a little while! I didn't want to anyway, and was amazed when I looked at the clock that it was actually an hour earlier than I normally got finished. She did unhook me a half hour later with lots of hugs! I went around the room and gave everyone a big hug, we got our photos taken, and I told everyone to please encourage everyone around them, too. Pass it on and pay it forward. And when I walked out of that chemo suite door for the last time, I went to the regular SEGO front desk and got my appointment to get this dratted port taken out. Will go to Gwinnett Medical exactly 2 weeks after my last chemo . . . which will be on a Thursday morning. I plan to stop by the chemo suite and catch up for awhile before heading home. And since I will be seeing Dr. Salmieri a week from then, wanted to also check to see how many booklets are left and how many I need to print up to take with me the next week. Some of my great chemo friends I am already emailing/FaceBooking with and I don't feel so detatched from them. The remainder aren't online and I feel torn from them already. Will write and call, and we've decided we want to meet at least once a month to keep in touch and encourage each other.

I have already started on the next phase of this journey. I believe I am to either find a cancer/chemo group not affiliated with any of the large organizations or, if there are none, to start one! I have already started sending out feelers in the community to see if there are any organizations. In the midst of the 17th. and 18th. treatments I realized that there were 2 incidents back to back here in Madison/Morgan County related to cancer. I was behind a gentleman in my drug store who was telling the clerk about his chemo/radiation, and the next day was notified that a mutual acquaintance passed away from cancer. Two in one week! I also know of 2 other ladies here whose cancer came back during my chemo treatments. So this is my next job - to encourage folks here in my community as they go through their surgeries/treatments and to give them hope.

I will continue to journal through the healing and recovery process. All of this is still new to me. My double CAT scan is scheduled for the 22nd. in Athens for an abdomen and chest scan. I will have to have 2 more blood tests in the next two weeks (one a week), and will have to see my oncologist the third week after my last chemo. After that it's a big question mark. I trust the Lord has used all of this to heal me as well as use me to encourage others going through the same thing. Whenever I get copies of the photos taken this last session I will post them here.

Final Chemo Hair Report: amazingly enough it is still there!

Sadly, 2 years later, I have lost half of my chemo friends. I know those last 3 weeks I could feel the chemo drugs taking their toll and trying to kill my body. It wasn’t a good feeling, but rather a terrifying one. I am so thankful to have made it through and still cancer free for the last 2 years. My heart goes out to anyone who is fighting any type of cancer.