Archives

• Passing the two-year milestone (6/15/2017) - You think you're in the clear, and then depression takes you down
• Pictures worth a thousand words (1/17/2017) - Knowledge worth sharing again and again
• All systems go (8/19/2016) - From now on, progress is up to me
• Say it correctly: ‘mas-TEC-tomy’ (8/2/2016) - Too many people mispronounce this common procedure
• Crap shoot (7/18/2016) - Sometimes choosing the right drug is a crap shoot
• My fight song (6/24/2016) - This song will forever be a part of my cancer story.
• The real anniversary (5/20/2016) - My 'Longest Year' is over
• Mammograms still can’t see everything (5/7/2016) - The technology continues to improve but mammograms still can't see everything
• One-year anniversary (4/27/2016) - Breast cancer, one year later
• ‘Dem bones’ are A-OK (4/23/2016) - Dexa scan reveals one less thing to worry about
• Medical guessing games (4/20/2016) - Three months' worth of details exchanged in 30 minutes
• Yes, the catheter’s gone (4/10/2016) - Scar tissue can look just like the catheter it covered
• Nearly normal (3/31/2016) - With conscious sedation, port removal is no big deal.
• Goodbye pulmonologist (3/18/2016) - Two months of prednisone did the trick; the pneumonitis is gone.
• Nothing if not thorough (2/28/2016) - Two months after the fact, bronchoscopy results are still coming in.
• Just sittin’ on the dock of the bay (2/26/2016) - One more week of prednisone. Then maybe a return to normalcy ...
• Another prednisone side effect: moon face (2/5/2016) - Still in denial, but it looks like I have moon face.
• It’s called orthostatic hypotension (2/3/2016) - If it's not one thing it's another. This time: postural hypotension.
• The face of the enemy (2/1/2016) - New video shows cancerous cells pulling in other cells to form tumors.
• Here comes Kayla (1/30/2016) - It was inevitable. Denver weather is finally going to force an appointment cancellation.
• Still more test results (1/27/2016) - Unpleasant thought but comforting test result: No fungus in my lungs.
• The cough is gone (1/26/2016) - It took three weeks of prednisone at 60 mg a day, but the cough is finally gone.
• Not yet a cancer survivor (1/22/2016) - I had surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation. But I am not yet a "cancer survivor."
• A worthwhile bronchoscopy (1/19/2016) - A bronchoscopy produces a dozen different reports evaluating everything obtainable from one set of lungs.
• Progress with prednisone (1/18/2016) - Prednisone is a miracle drug with lots of pros and cons.
• It’s final: Herceptin is off the table (1/12/2016) - The oncologist has concluded that the risk to my lungs is too great. Herceptin is off the table.
• Bronchoscopy results mean more prednisone (1/2/2016) - My bronchoscopy was a nightmare but at least it produced new information leading to yet another change of treatment.
• Rockin’ my bed head (12/27/2015) - More slowly than I'd like, of course, but my hair is growing back. I might even be able to rock a pixie next summer.
• And for the holidays I’m getting … a bronchoscopy (12/21/2015) - Because the cough hasn't gone away, a bronchoscopy has been scheduled. Now all I want for Christmas is for the cough to go away before then.
• The new doctor tries a new approach (12/10/2015) - CT scans suggest a different approach to treating a persistent cough.
• In search of … answers (12/9/2015) - More CT scans today. Diagnosis and treatment still to come.
• Chemotherapy’s “most feared” side effect (12/9/2015) - A local news station names chemotherapy's "most feared side effect." What do you think it was?
• Cough finally getting specialist’s attention (12/7/2015) - The persistent cough that has been delaying my cancer treatment finally gets a specialist's attention.
• Moving on to hormone therapy (12/1/2015) - The cough persists, but the cancer treatment moves to the next step -- hormone therapy, which really should be called anti-hormone therapy.
• Time keeps on tickin’ (11/25/2015) - Raised today: The possibility that I might be dealing with more than just the side effects of cancer treatment.
• Inspiration is where you find it (11/15/2015) - Fighting cancer requires all the strength and inspiration you can summon, no matter the source.
• Free at last! (11/14/2015) - It seemed impossible when I started, but yesterday I finished the last of my 33 radiation treatments. Hurray!
• The fun never stops (11/12/2015) - Only one radiation treatment left. However, I'm back on prednisone for the cough and a CT scan is to be scheduled.
• Anxiety: I can always find a reason (11/10/2015) - I have just three radiation treatments to go. Friday is to be the last. And I can only cross my fingers that the now obviously red area that’s receiving the boosts won’t get too much worse in three days (more lotion! more lotion!). Meantime, it seems like my cough may have returned last night — with …
• One week to go but anxiety rising (11/7/2015) - An unpleasant fact: Skin damage can continue to appear and develop for up to a week after radiation treatment ends.
• Radiation: Rounding the final turn (11/4/2015) - Regular radiation treatments are over and the final boosts have begun.
• ‘Don’t be a patient’ (11/3/2015) - A doctor once told me, "Don't be a patient." It was good advice then and it's good advice now.
• Failing as a pharmacist (11/1/2015) - Cough. Itchy radiated skin. With breast cancer, it seems the fun never ends.
• Today it’s all about the cough (10/29/2015) - Specific cancer treatments and regimens have been the rule, as they should, but finally my infernal cough is getting some serious attention too.
• Radiation not likely to cause more lung problems (10/15/2015) - Albuterol has been added to my cough treatment, and it sounds unlikely that radiation will cause any additional lung damage.
• Radiation plan spares my heart (10/8/2015) - IMRT is allowing my radiologist to avoid damage to my heart.
• Herceptin postponed until radiation is finished & cough is gone (10/6/2015) - Radiation treatments are going well and Herceptin has been postponed until radiation is complete. Atelectasis could be causing cough.
• I’ve never really liked pink (10/3/2015) - October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Awareness is a good thing, but "think before you pink."
• And we’re off (9/30/2015) - My radiation treatments began today. Looks like I'm in for 8 weeks of fun instead of the 6.5 originally proposed.
• Radiation treatment could begin this week (9/29/2015) - My vacation from treatment is over. Tomorrow is my VSIM, the final check before radiation treatment begins.
• Speaking of ‘water weight’ (9/21/2015) - Depending on the treatment a cancer patient has received, changes in water weight, or fluid retained in the body, can be significant.
• Busy week finally over (9/18/2015) - With a doctor's appointment, a "CT Sim" for Radiation Oncology, and an echocardiogram, it was a busy week. Glad it's over.
• Herceptin holiday (9/15/2015) - Oncologists can and do cancel chemotherapy treatments when the patient's condition warrants a pause.
• Ready or not, radiation is coming (9/12/2015) - Radiation treatment approaches, some questions are answered, and many more remain.
• The Wall (9/8/2015) - I guess it hits most cancer patients at one time or another -- that feeling that you just can't endure another day of treatment.
• New blood test may detect recurring cancer months earlier than scans (8/30/2015) - A new blood test may be able to detect recurring cancer up to 7.9 months before it becomes detectable via scans or biopsies.
• Number four, done and done (8/25/2015) - Three-week chemotherapy cycles don't end with the chemo infusion; they begin with it. Still, the last infusion is a treatment milestone.
• Tornado party (8/12/2015) - University of Colorado Medical Center likes to liven things up with tornado emergencies.
• Four days in and still vertical, so to speak (8/8/2015) - Chemo side effects: Conquer one and two more appear in its place.
• Cycle Three: Here we go again (8/4/2015) - Chemotherapy Cycle Three begins, and we're still looking for an effective way to combat the side effects.
• Another side effect rears its ugly head (7/30/2015) - Chemotherapy: Just when you think you've experienced all the side effects ...
• Life with cancer and chemo (7/28/2015) - Chemo brings about a lot of changes in your home life and routine.
• Horrible, no good, very bad week (7/23/2015) - Chemotherapy has its ups and downs ... and some of the downs are really crappy.
• TMI again but hey, chemo ain’t no picnic (7/22/2015) - Do as I say, not as I do. Follow your doctor's orders.
• Falling hair no more (7/9/2015) - When your hair is falling out because of chemo, a buzz cut can be liberating.
• About that hair loss on the 14th day … (7/7/2015) - With chemo, not only is "hair loss begins on Day 14" accurate, it's accurate down to the hour.
• Chemo caps and haircuts (7/7/2015) - Knowing chemo will make your hair fall out raises a ton of questions about what to do and when.
• A promise (7/6/2015) - When I am well again, if not before ...
• Finally getting a handle on what to take when (7/1/2015) - After a rough week, things seem to be getting stabilized, and the remaining three cycles of chemo may go more smoothly.
• TMI about chemo side effects (6/26/2015) - Countering the side effects of chemotherapy can add still more side effects to be countered.
• The poisoning begins (6/24/2015) - Chemo begins, and it's not what I expected. At least not yet.
• Tests are physically and emotionally exhausting (6/19/2015) - Long days filled with tests are both physically and emotionally exhausting.
• It was only a matter of time (6/18/2015) - Fear not, seekers of hats. There are many out there and at least one has your name on it.
• I need Bartholomew’s 500 hats (6/14/2015) - Dealing with hair loss from chemotherapy and radiation -- there's more to it than "get a wig."
• So much for rest and relaxation (6/12/2015) - Prior to beginning chemotherapy, the scheduling, screening, testing, and consultations get a little crazy.
• Apology to my surgeon (6/9/2015) - Even the best surgeon might not be able to explain exactly what she did and why. But that doesn't make her less of a surgeon.
• One small lemonade, please (5/29/2015) - Sometimes a cancer diagnosis confers a tiny benefit.
• Enough with the lemons (5/27/2015) - Just when you've finally developed a positive outlook on your diagnosis and prognosis, a pathology report comes in and kicks you back to Square One.
• Solving that awkward ‘what to say’ problem (5/23/2015) - What to say to a sick friend? Designer Emily McDowell has some great ideas.
• The very not-fun day (5/21/2015) - Breast cancer surgery is not for the weak of heart. But it sure beats not having the surgery.
• The team in Boulder (5/12/2015) - I meet the second member of the Boulder cancer group and decide to schedule surgery with the University of Colorado cancer center in Aurora.
• The team in Aurora (5/11/2015) - Adventures at the CU Breast Center as I finally meet my team and start discussing treatment.
• They’re called navigators; I call them angels (5/9/2015) - Nurse navigators make the seemingly impossible possible, and the difficult much easier. I couldn't have gotten through the last two weeks without them.
• My favorite quotation (5/9/2015) - My all-time favorite quotation suddenly becomes very relevant. Again.
• The MRI and I (5/7/2015) - It's been one diagnostic procedure after another. The MRI is the latest but certainly won't be the last.
• In came the doctor, in came the nurse, in came the lady with … (5/7/2015) - Seeing and discussing the results of my biopsy for the first time and trying to make sense of it all.
• It started six months ago (5/6/2015) - Those twinges in my breast six months ago were a warning, even though the mammogram showed nothing.
• A belated thank you (5/4/2015) - A thank you and apology to those who sent words of support last week despite my having closed comments.
• A is for anxiety, C is for cancer (4/26/2015) - Cancer. You never think it will happen to you. Until it does.