The very last chemo treatment and beyond

May 6, 2009

My last treatment - at last! Everything went off without a hitch. Norm and all the kids came for this one, but Wanda couldn't come because she was working. Since there were so many of us, I was put in a little room. I enjoy it much better being out in the main room with everyone, and it felt kind of anti-climactic this time, but whatever - I'm done.

Playing cards to pass the time. They may be smiling, but that little room was a bit too confining for them. Norm had to take them for a walk shortly after the pic was taken.

This pic was taken 4 days after treatment, in celebration of being finished. What could be better than cream soda floats?

The first couple weeks after treatment when as they always do. Tired, and stomach troubles. The side effects lasted longer than normal, but I kept telling myself that I will never have to feel like this again. That made it much easier.

May 26

Norm and I went to Victoria to meet with the radiation oncologist, Dr Truong. What a pleasant lady. She was soft-spoken and kind. She went over my pathology report, which I know by heart now, and explained why I still need to have surgery. While the stage is low (1), the grade is high (3 - the highest). That mean that when the tumour was seen under the microscope, those little bug**** were dividing very rapidly, enough to cause worry. They will spread, hence surgery. If the margins are clear today, I will not need radiation, so that's is what I am praying for.

June 3

I saw Dr. Higginson for another checkup on the old ticker. I had had another MUGA the week before, and everything looks great. He told me that my heart is functioning normally. Of course it still has the PVCs - an extra beat every time. It's quite a pleasing rhythm - bu-bump bump - and he said not to worry about it. I have no symptoms and it will not cause me harm, He'll see me in three months and then the plan will be to take me off the medication.

The best part of this day was the fun I had with my sidekick. Wanda could not come along, so Evelynne was the lucky one. She got to miss school and drive to Victoria with Mommy. I told her that it would be a long drive and a boring wait at the doctor's office (he's always late), but she really wanted to come. We weren't in the car one hour before she asked that awful question, "are we there yet?". Another hour to go, and lots of traffic, but she sang and was pretty good. After the visit with the doctor, we went shopping to a mastectomy store. I explained to Evelynne the kind of store it was and that she could not go "eww" or "yuck". We drove a short way from the hospital to the corner where the store was supposed to be, but couldn't find it. We walked and walked in the scorching heat. It was 34 that day (93 for you Americans) and we were cooking. Finally, I called the store and was given proper directions, eight blocks away from where I parked, no thanks to the online map! Sweating, we arrived in a little store full of bras and breast forms. The shop owner kindly cranked up the AC, and I settled in to try on some bras. I have to be honest; I hate spending money on bras. I would rather purchase pig manure than a bra. My own every day bra is a flimsy grey thing from Wal Mart with a deteriorating bit of elastic on the side. Now I am considering spending $400 on a breast form and at least $70 on a bra - for only one boob. Oh my goodness. I think I will skip the form; after all, I will be getting reconstruction in the fall. The hospital will provide me with a little "fluffy" I can use in the meantime, and I'll just get the bra. Evelynne, in the meantime, is having a hoot. he put the fluffy forms to good used, and stuffed them up her top. Looking very cute, she paraded around the store. I called her back at one point, then had to look for her. She was in the back storage room, and had found a box of silicon forms. "They are sooo gushy, I love them. Please buy one of these Mom. Can I have it when you're done with it?" Whose child is this? For those of you who know Evelynne, she really doesn't say anything to anyone she doesn't know. Now she's walking around a store, with cleavage, feeling the plastics breasts. Crazy.

June 6 - 10

Evelynne's birthday party was on the 6th, and Monday and Tuesday I spent cleaning house. All of a sudden, I have all this extra energy. I didn't know I was low on energy before, but I guess I was. Anyway, I have a clean house now, so I can come home from the hospital and rest.

June 11

I have to be at the hospital at 2:00 this afternoon. The surgery is at 3:35. It will take an hour and a half, and then two - three hours in recovery. Norm has taken the day off, so he'll take me to the hospital, along with Wanda. After school, the kids will go to Wanda's house for a swim in the pool, then supper. Norm will bring them to the hospital around 7:00 to see me. I'll be in until Saturday or Sunday. Monday, Mom is coming over for a week and Julie will be coming on Saturday. I've got lots of meals in the freezer, and goodies too. Last night when I came home from a parent's meeting, my fellow Girl Guide leaders stopped by to bring me a load of food. The stuff did not just come from people I know, but from all the ladies in the district, some of whom I have not yet met. Amazing. Thanks gals.

I'm feeling pretty good right now, I've got my new bra, a clean house, food in the freezer, and a book to read (The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova). The only thing I'm miffed about now is that I haven't been able to eat anything since last night at midnight. Ah, it's torture to think of all those Girl Guide goodies in the freezer. By this time tomorrow, I will have conquered another hill of my roller coaster.