Missed a week...

Sorry for missing a post. Work is keeping me plenty busy!

I posted on Facebook a few weeks ago about my tumor markers, but just realized that I never put the info on my blog. After my last blood test, my tumor markers were down 15-20%. This was very exciting news for us. It means things are moving in the right direction. Will get another PET scan in a few more weeks, which will give us much more info.

Finished radiation, but have been dealing with terrible blistering and skin problems. It does not look pretty. I showed my radiated skin to my friend, Debbie, and she screamed "Ouch!"

Thanks for all the concern about Bailey. We got his pathology report back---NO CANCER!!! Hooray. He looks pathetic wearing his giant cone around his neck and his surgery has caused him to pee often and everywhere. We have changed a lot of sheets and are planning to buy stock in Nature's Miracle odor spray:) Thank God that dog is so cute.

Continuing to receive cards and well-wishes. It means so much to know that I mean a little something to so many. Came across this the other day and loved it:

Success:
To laugh often and much;
to win the respect of intelligent people
and the affection of children;
to earn the appreciation of honest critics
and endure the betrayal of false friends;
to appreciate beauty; to find the best in others;
to leave the world a bit better,
whether by a healthy child,
a garden patch
or a redeemed social condition;
to know even one life has breathed easier
because you have lived.
This is to have succeeded.

People ask me how I remain so calm when faced with such calamity. Perhaps, it is because no matter what happens, I know that I have lived a successful life :)

Love,
Bevy

This Week

Met with the doc yesterday. I will have my last radiation treatment this Friday. It will be nice not to have to drive to Abington every day, have a 45 second treatment, and then make the 45 minute drive home again.

I am having my bone infusion today and meeting with my oncologist. Am a bit nervous, because I felt so lousy after my last bone treatment. Please say a prayer that this one is less uncomfortable.

Before the recurrence news, I had been having bone and back pain. Knock on wood, but this has not happened for several weeks. This makes us hopeful that the hormone medicine might be working...did I say knock on wood...?

Bailey, our boxer, has developed some mass cell tumors (DON'T WORRY, he had them before and the vet said they are not a big worry). He just needs to get them cut out. What is interesting is that the only other time he had a tumor was shortly after the first time I was diagnosed with cancer. My little buddy gets "sympathy tumors." If you think dogs don't love, I think this proves you wrong.

Am still running. Each day I get a tiny bit faster and feel a tiny bit stronger. Running makes me feel like I am able to do something to help the situation. I really believe that exercise helped me to keep the cancer at bay for the past 4 years.

A few people mentioned they want to leave a comment on the blog, but don't know how. I think that the problem might be that you need an IGoogle account. To get one, you go to google.com and in the upper righthand corner, click on IGOOGLE. You just sign up--they don't send you anything---it will just allow you to use the blog. Hope this helps :)

I am feeling very peaceful about my situation. My friend, Suzanne gave me a magnet. I read it every day. It says "Peace: It does not mean to be in a place where there is no noise, trouble, or hard work. It means to be in the midst of those things and still be calm in your heart."---unknown. Have a peaceful week.

Love,
Bev

Weekly update

Met with my doctor yesterday. Looks like 6 more radiation treatments, and then they are going to assess if I need more. The skin continues to improve, which is good. Some people have mistakenly thought that this changes everything. Unfortunately, it doesn't change the overall prognosis, but it may help with longevity, and that is wonderful.

In other good news, I feel really good. Though I get tired at night, I feel like my normal self during my work day. Having Wednesdays off is great, because it has allowed me to recharge my battery a bit. It has been busy at the MC Library, but I wouldn't have it any other way.

Mentally, I am back in the game. I asked Brian the other night, "Is it weird that I am happy right now?" I do feel joyful right now, and I am trying hard to get the most of each day. Being back on the job has been great for me. I am back with the students that I adore, and I am back with my Creeker buddies, whom I love. To have co-workers who feel more like family is a true blessing.

We have been seeing people socially, which is so nice. Over Labor Day, we had good times with good friends and family. It was especially nice to see Strawley, who was in from Indie.

This is our new normal. It is not what anyone would choose, but it is what we've got, so we have had a find a way to accept it and move on with our amazing lives. I have spent years building the life of my dreams, and it would be foolish to stop living it, just because I know that I am going to die before I'd like to. To quote Braveheart (what happened to you, Mel?) "Every man dies...Not every man really lives."

Love,
Bevy