A week off, Fourth recap and Happy Hour invite!

July 12, 2009

Long time since my last post! Last week was a “free” week – no treatment. I have been enjoying the added energy that comes when I don’t have an infusion. As mentioned in my last post, I had a half-dose of chemo on July 1 because my white blood cell count was very low. The following day I went in for a shot of Neulasta – a drug to promote white cell production. All was well until that Thursday, when I got a brutal migraine. That was followed by some pretty severe body aches, apparently side effects of the Neulasta. By day two of our awesome camping trip (see photos below), I was feeling fine and have continued to feel good.

The Fourth of July was spent at the tip of a sand spit on the Key Peninsula – property owned by friends Janice and Chris. We joined about 30 other campers at the property and enjoyed a near-360 degree view of the Puget Sound, 85 degree weather, wonderful camp-mates and some astounding food. The first night we were treated to king salmon, corn, red potatoes and a variety of side dishes. The next night we ate some clams that we dug that day on the beach. Oliver had a great time playing on the beach, messing around with several other kids his age, and riding in various water craft. We were so lucky to be invited to come along on the trip – an annual event that has been going on for the past 22 years!

I have started serious training for the Breast Cancer 3-Day walk. Yesterday I joined a group of about eight people on a 15-mile training walk. It was fun to see some of the same people I trained with several weeks ago (when the walks were a mere eight miles!) and meet some new people. A “pace car” followed us along the six-hour walk manned by a couple generous volunteers and packed full of bagels, bananas, cheese sticks, Chex mix, watermelon and M&Ms (pink, of course!). There was no way we were going to go hungry!

Thanks to my generous friends and family members, I have met my required fundraising goal of $2300 for the walk and am well on my way towards meeting my personal goal of $4000. My teammate Carol and I are co-hosting a fundraising happy hour at my place this Friday, July 17, from 4 to 8 p.m., complete with pink drinks, free childcare, yummy snacks and great company. Visit the Evite (http://www.evite.com/pages/invite/viewInvite.jsp?inviteId=GQUDMGJEIQRECGAXPUKD ) to RSVP – the more the merrier!

Jason and I visited another radiologist to get a second opinion regarding radiation, and it was decided that I would do it. We both agreed that we’d never forgive ourselves if I decided not to go through with the treatment just to avoid the hassle and the cancer returned. I will be starting daily treatments August 31 every weekday for approximately six weeks. Each session lasts only about 10 minutes start to finish and it’s unlikely I will feel any side effects aside from a pretty nasty sunburn towards the tail end of the six weeks.

In other treatment-related news, my last chemotherapy session is scheduled to be July 28, assuming these last three go well and none are postponed. Everyone cross your fingers! I get giddy thinking about this part of the treatment ending. I am so ready for this to end, I can’t even put it into words. I have really been so lucky that I have not had any crazy side effects to the chemo. I’ve heard horror stories of women reacting adversely to the treatment and requiring 24-hour IV drips every week. One woman I see regularly at Swedish got an infection of some sort and has had to have antibiotics administered daily for several weeks.

Math whizzes will notice there’s a month of NO TREATMENTS between the end of my chemo and the start of radiation treatments. Jay and I noticed too, and decided to skip off to Maui for five days! Actually, we have a reason: our friends Kendra and Jason have conveniently scheduled their wedding on the Hawaiian island on August 14. We decided we deserve a quick getaway and promptly booked our flights to help them celebrate.

I’ve been enjoying the great weather we’ve been having this summer and Oliver and I are looking forward to visiting my friend April and her sons Wednesday in Snoqualmie. Thursday we’re hooking up with Miki and her daughter Ava at Golden Gardens for a picnic on the beach.

Friday is the Drink Pink party. Won’t you come raise a glass?

P.S. I love the photo below – Oliver came with me to the hospital for my white cell shot July 2 and noticed several bulletin boards of breast cancer ribbons that family members and friends have posted for their loved ones. Oliver wanted to write my name on one and pin it to the board. He was so proud of himself. As was I.