I’m Keeping Well

This week I’ve got family staying with me so I’m focusing all my attention on having a nice visit with them. It’s been a wonderful change of pace, new conversations, children and shopping. We were out at a couple of the malls power shopping. I feel really good and all that extra walking can’t hurt either. When I get tired, I spot a chair or bench and sit whilst the gang shops on. I have my smart phone to occupy my time as I sit and wait. It’s all working out just great.

I find my company and especially the kids are bring new life into the house. It’s been a couple of years with just D and me fighting my battle. It’s bringing back just a hint of normalcy. And I kinda like that.

Olivia Newton-John BC Video

Here is a four minute video with breast cancer survivor, Olivia Newton-John who shares tips for women battling breast cancer. She recalls what she learned while advocating for her health.

Upcoming Breast Cancer Conferences

Recently I’ve received info on three breast cancer conferences. Two of them are scheduled for this year and a third is in the spring of 2011. I went to this past spring’s conference in PA and loved it. It was so nice to be with other BC survivors from all over North America.

Canadian Breast Cancer Network (CBCN)

CBCN is having their 2nd conference for young women living with breast cancer, Body, Mind, Spirit 2010: National Conference for Young Women Living with Breast Cancer, on October 29 — 31, 2010, Toronto, ON, Canada. Subsidy is available. For more information please click here.

Living Beyond Breast Cancer (LBBC)

LBBC is having their annual fall conference, News You Can Use: Breast Cancer Updates for Living Well, on November 13, 2010, in Philadelphia, PA, USA. Subsidy is available. For more information, please click here.

The World Conference on Breast Cancer Foundation (WCBCF)

WCBCF is having their 6th world conference, Transcending the Breast Cancer Experience: A Global Partnership, on June 7-11 in 2011, Hamilton, ON, Canada. Subsidy unconfirmed. For more information, please click there.

Chemo Effects are Wearing Off

I haven’t had chemo since August 6th and I’m gradually feeling better as each week goes by. I’m sleeping solid and the fatigue is lessoning. I find my mind is clearer too. I’m more alert and I just want to do more stuff. That’s all working out great because I have relatives visiting all next week.

Yesterday, I stopped in at the Clinic for my weekly PICC line re-dressing. Then I headed over to the Support Center and picked up a brochure of what classes will be running this fall. I will likely join the drop-in knitting group. There are a couple others I may consider. 

My final stop was the pharmacy to pick up a small two pill prescription of teva-amoxicillin; an antibiotic. I’m seeing my dentist next week for a cleaning and exam. The routine is for me to take these pills an hour before the appointment to help me fight any potential infection caused by the cleaning.

Cancer and Supplements

Here is a four minute video titled The Scoop on Supplements. Created by the American Cancer Society, it offers helpful information about dietary supplements and addresses myths about their effectiveness at reducing cancer risk.

My Lunch with Lance Armstrong

Finally, my lunch with seven time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong. How inspiring this event was for me and 1100 other people. He shared his cancer story … where in 1996, at the age of 25 he was diagnosed with stage three testicular cancer. The cancer had spread to his lungs, abdomen and brain. Today he is cancer free.

In 1997, he founded the Lance Armstrong Foundation, which supports people affected by cancer. In May 2004, Nike and his Foundation launched with the yellow silicone gel bracelet as a fundraising idea. To date 71 million yellow bracelets have been sold.

When I thought of Lance Armstrong, I thought because of his racing background that he must be a real focused, intense person and that it would show in his personality. In fact I found the opposite to be true, he seemed like a very relaxed and easy going guy. I don’t think he used any notes when he spoke.

If you are interested in seeing some pics of the event and hearing the audio of his talk, please click here.

Clinical Trial Update

Yesterday afternoon I received a phone call from the Cross Cancer Clinic. I have an appointment on Friday, September 10th with a new oncologist to discuss my eligibility for a clinical trial. The appointment will be about 45 minutes.

In the end, I’ll head home with a consent form that will outline all the known side effects of the proposed study drug. After careful consideration and if I’m still willing to go along with this, I’ll sign and return the form.

Wow, it feels like I’ve moved into another time zone with this.

Planning Things Takes More Effort

I’ve just come to the realization I’m putting way too much effort in planning my upcoming family visit. My sister and niece and two of her grade school kids are coming to town for a visit. They are only staying for 6 days but it all can’t be restaurant food so I thought I’d whip up a couple or three big bowl casseroles and freeze them in advance. I just don’t have it in me to put together a full meal all those days in a row. Besides, I’d rather spend time with them than time in the kitchen.

Anyways, what gets me is how long I thought about this and how early I’m getting going on it to pull this off. I just don’t have the energy to bang this off in a day and half like I used to. Even tho there is only two of us, I started making a list and cleaning up the whole house last week.

I told D, when company is here, each morning he is to put the coffee on first thing because I won’t have the energy to kick off the morning. Once I get a whiff of fresh brew, I’ll be more willing to drag my hini out of bed.

I’m so happy to be seeing the family again.

I Have Another Wart

For most of my life, I’ve felt fortunate to never had trouble with warts. That changed when I started chemo some two years ago. Early last year I developed my first plantar wart. It hung around for about six months and eventually disappeared on its own sometime after I started Xeloda. One of the side effects of Xeloda was intense dryness in my hands and feet. I think that is what killed that wart. Back then I thought to myself, you’d think chemo would prevent these goofy things from growing but in fact the opposite is true, chemo compromises one’s immune system which invites warts to grow. Anyways, I was happy to once again be wart free.

Then last month, I developed this real itchy spot on the top of my right foot. About a week later, up pops this dark colored wart. Just great I thought … most of the time it doesn’t bother me. It’s only when I look at it. But really I wish it was gone.

So this past weekend, I was thinking, I’m in between chemos right now … I could go get some of that OTC stuff and zap it away before my new treatment starts. I jumped on the net to read up on warts. I was disappointed to find that those wart removers could take months to work. I guess I’m stuck with that little devil for now. Tho I’m gonna swear at him every day and see it that sends him packing.