It's been about 10 months since chemo, so I thought I'd do an update. I've had about 5 or 6 haircuts, another ultrasound of the heart and a visit to the plastic surgeon, as well as a few visits to my physician.

I still like having short hair, but I'm letting it grow a bit longer, just to see if I like it. I've also had it coloured a few times.

The internist wanted to try betablockers (drugs) to see if they would improve my heart, but with asthma, it started after a cold in November, he won't, it's too risky. I'm trying to avoid wheat, sugar and dairy like last year, just to see if my asthma goes away again.

When I saw the plastic surgeon, he told me I had to see to the surgeon before they booked my reconstruction, but it's been 3 months and I haven't heard anything. Then I heard about someone who had a different type of reconstruction, with a different plastic surgeon and a great result, maybe that's a sign! I'm going to see if my physician will refer me to her. Either way, they won't do the surgery until I come back from Europe.

I saw my physician for my 6 month check-up and for blood tests to check my anemia. I think it's fine now, because I don't feel as tired as I used to, but I'll ask him when I see him just to make sure.

I keep rewarding myself for making it through this cancer ordeal, but this is the best reward yet! I booked a trip to Europe and I'm going for 5 weeks! I haven't decided for sure, but I think I'm going to England, Scotland and Ireland first. Then I'll go to Holland to visit relatives and enjoy Queensday! Then my brother, Rob, will join me for the last 3 weeks. We'll probably spend a few days in Holland and a few days in Paris before heading to Barcelona for the start of our Mediterranean cruise from Barcelona to Venice. After the cruise we fly to Amsterdam for a couple of days and then we fly home.

It's been 4 months since chemo and I'm doing great! I am also proud to say, that I have survived my first year!!!  On a recent trip to Las Vegas (us and another couple went to celebrate our 30th anniversaries), I almost got a tattoo, I just couldn't decide what I wanted. I know it'll be something about celebrating life!

My hair is growing like crazy, the numbness in my fingers and toes seems to be gone and my toenails that recently fell off, are growing back. During chemo, I wore "frozen" gloves, so my fingernails weren't affected at all. Just before we went to Vegas, I found out I'm anemic, so my doctor has me doing more tests. I hope it's just from the chemo and goes back to normal quickly. Just in case, I am taking it easy!

The plastic surgeon finally called. I have an appointment to go over the options with him next month and hopefully he'll have an idea of how long before I get a surgery date for reconstruction. As long as it's before next summer, I will be happy. I'm dreaming of all the bathing suits I can buy!!!

I love life, I have so many plans! Next month we fly to Grande Prairie to visit our sons, Gary and Darcy. Then my brother and I have to start planning our trip to the Netherlands and Europe for next spring! I'm also working on another Vegas trip, hopefully for a concert and to see the Grand Canyon! And, I still haven't done the ziplines through the canyon yet, or the glider plane flight over the valley! 

I actually had a haircut before Vegas, just a trim around the ears. This is my 4 month growth!

Hi everyone! 

Sorry I haven't blogged for a while, but I have been feeling so good that I thought I would wait until I had more information.

Well, it's been 3 months since I finished chemo and it already feels like a distant memory. I sometimes have moments where I forget I even had cancer. I don't know if it's the "chemo" brain, but it's nice to forget and feel normal again! I still have trouble with my short term memory and staying focused, but it's slowly getting better. The numbness in my toes is gone, but I still have it a bit in a few fingers. I love having short hair, I will have to see how I like it as it grows back, but it's great for summer, it's so easy!!!


I decided not to have radiation treatment (I live at the lake and enjoy the sun, so it would be hard to stay out of the sun after radiation) and I wasn't comfortable with the risks. That means my treatment is finished, so my oncologist told me to see my doctor twice a year for a check-up and have a mammogram taken once a year.


I had my second MUGA scan (heart xrays) and it's still not strong enough for the drug Herceptin (that targets my type of cancer cells), so I will have to take care of myself so I stay healthy on my own. My doctor referred me to an internist for my heart, as my heart specialist didn't give me much information and I needed more information. He told me the heart won't improve, so it's not worth having another MUGA scan (it's a lot of radiation) and he wants to check the heart again in another 6 months with an echocardiogram (ultrasound). He also did some blood tests to check something with the heart, but I haven't heard back from him, so no news, is good news.

I have also started a clinical trial with the drug Metformin (a drug used to keep diabetics blood sugar stable), but I don't know if I'm taking the drug or the placebo (sugar pill). The benefit of being on this trial is that I will be monitored a little more closely and if I have any problems, I will get treated faster. They did some blood tests too, which I don't know the results of yet.

I have asked my physician to refer me to the plastic surgeon again, I had called them at the beginning of May and haven't heard back, so hopefully they will respond now that the doctor has sent another referral. I'm not in a hurry for reconstruction, but would like to go over my options again and get some of my questions answered (I'm pretty sure I want implants), but I'd like to get on the waiting list in case it takes 6 months to get a surgery date.

May 28th, 2012
I had an appointment with my medical oncologist today. It was a video conference (like skype) at our local hospital, so I didn't have to travel to Victoria to see him. He gave me the results from my 3rd heart test (1 echocardiogram and 2 MUGA'S). It still hasn't improved enough to get the drug Herceptin. He made it sound like, if I insisted, I could get it, but it would be risky since my heart is only at 45-50% and if it got worse (a side effect of Herceptin), I could have heart failure, so we decided to wait. In 2 to 3 months I can have my heart tested again, so I will be working harder at exercising and eating well. I also asked him about a clinical trial for the drug, metformin, so I'm waiting to hear back from him, to see if I'm eligible. I haven't talked to the radiation oncologist yet, but I told the medical oncologist that I've decided against radiation.

At this point, unless I get into the clinical trial or get the drug Herceptin, I am back to living a normal life, with the exception of seeing my family doctor twice a year, having mammograms once a year and having plastic surgery. There is no other testing; no blood work, no bone scans, no MRI's, nothing, unless I have symptoms like headaches or bone pain, which could indicate a recurrence or a new cancer from the chemotherapy.

So, back to my family doctor to get another referral to the plastic surgeon. (It takes a few months to get an appointment, and another few to coordinate the surgeon and plastic surgeon, so hopefully I'll have my surgery this fall or winter.) I wanted to wait until at least October, to make sure the inflammation has been healed for a while. Constant inflammation isn't good, it feeds cancer. I may also ask to be referred to a different cardiologist, for a second opinion.

Then 2 more follow up appointments, one with the herbalist and one with the doctor from Inspire Health, to see what they suggest, now that I'm finished chemo.

My hair is still short and really soft, but it's getting thicker. It's so nice and cool when the weather is hot! My eyebrows are starting to come back too, it makes it easier to draw them on, but I was getting good at it. The only thing I really have trouble with, is the eyeliner, it's so much harder to put on when you don't have eyelashes! Hopefully they come back soon too!

May 12, 2012
I had my heart xrays (MUGA scan) done a week ago and I'm crossing my fingers that it's improved. To get the drug Herceptin, my heart has to be above 50%, which I'm hoping for, but I won't be surprised if it isn't. My last MUGA scan was done just before chemo, and I'm only now, 6 weeks after chemo, starting to feel stronger with sprinting and dragon boating. My next appointment with the oncologist is at the end of this month. That's when I get my test results and see what happens next. I emailed him about my port-a-cath and he said the surgeon should take it out now, but I remember one of the nurses in the hospital saying, don't rush to take it out, so I will have to ask him if there's a chance I might need it again, otherwise I'm scheduled to take it out in June. In the meantime, the surgeon wants it flushed every 4 weeks, so I have to make an appointment with the hospital to do that again, hopefully it doesn't matter that it's been 6 weeks! LOL I guess I should have asked the oncologist about it sooner.

I have more energy now, so I started my spring cleaning. It was so hot out today (while I was washing the deck), that I got to wear my new bathing suit! I also went dragon boating 3 times this week. On Friday morning we did a memorial paddle for someone that passed away. It was a perfect day!!! The water was calm, the sky was clear and blue, and it was nice and warm. After we paddled to a spot where we could see Mt. Klitsa, Mt. Arrowsmith and the water bombers, everyone from both boats tossed flowers into the water, it was beautiful!

I'm having to be careful with the warmer weather. I don't have any eyebrows left, so I've been drawing them on, but if I get sweaty or hot, I have to be careful not to rub them off!!! LOL My hair is slowly growing back, it looks and feels like "peach fuzz", it's so soft. I don't know what colour it will be yet, some of it looks like it doesn't have colour, but that may come back, we'll see. I'm also starting to tan my head, that way it won't burn when I don't wear a hat. I guess I'll have a nice short haircut for summer!

I'm still shopping for clothes and loving it... they fit me now!!!

April 23, 2012
I am really enjoying being back to work! They're a great group of people and they're always planning fun events. Last weekend I went with 3 co-workers to attend a cancer fundraiser at the new Langley BMW dealership. (Cure is the new black, a black and white attire event, hosted by twinscancerfundraising.com) What an experience!!! We met Trevor Bird, from Top Chef Canada, who was cooking appetizers for us. We were treated to mixed music by 4 different DJ's. Two of them were the top 2 DJ's in Canada (Headspin and Skratch Bastid), as well as the DJ for Jay-Z (I didn't care for the rap as much). I don't think I've ever danced that long, the songs are all blended together, so it's like an hour long song that each DJ plays. There were male dancers too,  they were the best, so amazing to watch.

April 20, 2012
It may have taken longer to recover this time, but I feel so good right now, that I can't believe my last chemo was only 3 weeks ago. Maybe it's the chemo brain, but if I don't look in the mirror and see a bald head, I could almost forget that I had chemo, or cancer for that matter.

I went paddling (dragon boating) with my team this week. I did much better than I expected, but what I didn't expect, was to have such a sore butt afterward! Hopefully I'll be paddling again next week, it's so refreshing. It's a physical sport, but it's also great for the mind as well. If you have any stress, you forget it as you're paddling together as a team and enjoying the fresh air. I'm continuing to walk, but I'm trying to get in the occassional sprint now that my energy is back. I'm trying to get my heart stronger for my MUGA scan (heart test) in a couple of weeks. My supplements (vitamins) have changed since the chemo is finished and that may help too. Instead of acupuncture, I'm having regular Reiki massage, it's so relaxing, I almost fall asleep.

April 11, 2012
On my last post, I couldn't sleep because I had stomach pains, I'm glad they weren't as bad as with the first chemo though. The next day I didn't want to eat and that helped, but in the evening I was so hungry, I ate 3 bowls of homemade soup! The next day was better, except for the heartburn, but it went away after I had a couple of glasses of warm water with apple cider vinegar.

I am noticing that I don't remember things very well (chemo brain), so I write everything down, I just wish I would remember to look at the list! lol I remembered I had yoga in the morning, but by the evening I forgot and missed it.  

April 8, 2012
I started feeling better Friday (I had a great lunch with the girls from work), but since yesterday, I've been feeling really good!!! Yesterday was a beautiful, warm, sunny day. My brother Gordon and his family came to visit and they brought me beautiful flowers.

It was only a week, but it felt like forever. I really struggled with food this time. Nothing seemed to taste good and when I found something that did, it didn't taste good the next time. I had to eat constantly to make my stomach feel better and for the first time I gained weight after chemo.

No rash this time, so I'm happy about that. My eyebrows are starting to get thinner, I have to colour in the spaces, but I still have some eyelashes, so that's good. I'm no longer reaching for the shampoo to wash my hair, I've broken myself of that habit and I quite enjoy not having to wash, comb, dry or style my hair. I either throw on a tuque, hat or wig and I'm done! The tips of my toes in both feet are tender now (the chemo affects the nerves), but it shouldn't get worse and will eventually go away.

My next heart test is a month from now, but I'm hoping I can postpone it for 2-3 months. It would give me time to get healthy again and then work to improve my heart with diet, exercise and supplements. In my first heart test, the left ventricle was pumping at 40-45% and in the second test, it was at 49%. If I can get it over 50% (not sure how much over), I will be given the drug Herceptin, which targets the type of cancer that I have.

I got a surprise gift... two of the cool, new, hundred dollar bills! Thank you Arlie and Irene for passing on your winnings to me! I'm so spoiled! I'll have to same them for something special!

I feel so fortunate to have such great friends and family! Your continuous support throughout this ordeal is empowering. It helps to keep me in good spirits and that makes it easier to remain positive! I can't thank everyone enough!!!