Conquering Cancer

What a week it has been! On Tuesday (9/7), the oncologist shared the results of some recent diagnostics. It seems that the smaller of the two brain tumors has disappeared, as have both of the tumors in the lungs — what’s left is mostly scar tissue. There is some diffuse metastases left in the spine but things seem to be getting better. In a word, she feels the recovery since February has been amazing. Wow!  Not quite out of the woods, yet, though.

Next steps are to conduct stereotactic (highly focused) radiation on the remaining brain tumor with hopes to obliterate it completely. This should occur in about 3 weeks. While the treatment with chemo cocktail is over for now, I will continue taking the Herceptin (cancer calming) every 3 weeks for the foreseeable future along with a hormonal drug (Arimidex) to reduce the odds of new tumors. In addition, I will be taking Zometa to keep the Herceptin from leaching too much calcium from the bones. There really is something over the top about having to take more drugs to counter-act the effects of the primary drug you are taking, but oh well. It is certainly the nature of drug treatment in this era.

The next 3 months will be critical — and we will have to keep a close eye to see if improvements continue or if there is recurrent cancer growth without the chemo. I am hopeful all will go well, but we’ll see.

In the meantime, I will be away at leadership training for a month starting later in September, so in all likelihood won’t be able to post anything for a while. Not to worry, I will be back in late October to give you an update. Check in late October if you are still following along!

The girls at our neighbors' wedding

It has been a wonderful week. In addition to the good news on the cancer front, I am delighted we were able to celebrate the wedding of our dear neighbors, Becky and Scott, last Friday (9/3) where our two girls were flower girls (see photo below) . Congratulations to you two! I inadvertently became a third flower girl when our youngest, Becca, essentially had a melt down  before walking down the aisle and announced “Mommy, I don’t want to” [lead the way down the aisle or anything else for that matter].

I am reading everything from the Declaration of Independence to John Locke, Rachel Carson and Aristotle for my upcoming one month seminar, Leadership in a Democratic Society. It is  wonderful reading and particularly potent after having gone through everything that has transpired over the last 6 months. I really do appreciate thoughtful, well-written prose. If it’s historic, all that much better!

XXOO, Constie