Goodbye to 2011

I felt compelled to update my blogs before the new year. There is much to reflect on from 2011. I am now on a "maintenance" drug, Avastin, and have little side effects compared to Taxol. My hair is growing back, I have a lot more energy (had the 3 boys over playing Kick the Can recently. They had never heard of this game before. I think it will be the new one for the coming year when they come over to visit. I need to work on finding more large hiding places!
We are up to 363 days and counting. I wish I could say it was a good year, but it wasn't in so many ways. Having said that, I remain optimistic the remaining 2 days will be absolutely marvelous! (knock on wood, as my Mother would say, not that she was superstitious.)

Yes, it is a Good Day to Live!

I have been doing chemo for 7 mos. now, and my doc says I will only have one more because the complete response.  Yippee! Take that, you cancer devil!  I will be on Avastin for the remainder of the year and all of next year. This is the drug I helped put on the market with my clinical trial participation. Genentec (the maker of Avastin) is generously donating the drug for me as my own insurance company, Anthem Blue Cross, would not pay for it. Sometimes drug companies get a bad rep, but I think its all about the insurance gurus calling the shots. Anyway, I am very close to being cancer-free and that makes me happy!

killing the beast

Hey! My first scan since my re-diagnosis and the beast is shrinking. Even though I have developed an allergy to one of the drugs and won't be able to tolerate it, the tumors are still retreating into nothingness. My side effects are much easier to manage, however the one that kills my hair follicles is working overtime! Oh well, hair is so overrated anyway. I have a great shape head and not afraid to show it off. One week out of 4 I feel slightly shitty, but watch out for the other 3. I am still gardening, quilting, walking, and shopping for my boys for school. Life is good!

I had a special visitor recently. My sister, Judy, took the train from Albuquerque to our little city. It was a long ride, but she said it was interesting. It was wonderful having her here for a week while I was recuperating from surgery. There's nothing like family to cheer me up! Thank you, sissy, for being here for me! I love you Mucho!

The Present

The most beautiful sunsets have been hovering over our fair city lately. The sun's rays at the end of the day have been colored by the clouds in the most heavenly fashion.

Happy Birthday to me!

I got the best belated birthday present.  My CT scan and bloodwork shows me free of the
"Big C."  I am into my third year of remission and holding strong!  Watch out Paris, here I come!  Tommy and I are planning our trip sometime in March of this year. How exciting is that? There will be more details to follow. It is a Good Day to Live!

Happy New Year!

I'm the first one to admit 2010 was a crap year, but this new one will be a whole different story. My remission continues. I marked my 2yr anniv. on Dec. 21, the day of my surgery. Chemo is just a zx**# memory, and my shoulder surgery and 6 wks of physical therapy as well.  Currently I am working with small weights to increase my strength. I really like my physical therapist, Shelly. She pushes me to my limits.
I look forward to an active, transforming year with NO surgeries on the agenda!