Saturday October 25th Update

Morning all!!!! Here I go again apologizing....sorry for not posting in sooooooo long!
But...things are good or should I say getting better each day!!! Last post was on Oct 11th....so since then, drain was removed on Tuesday the 13th, stared physical therapy and saw the radiation oncologist.

As for drain...removal was very easy...I didn't feel a thing...Bernie was very intrigued...it was a very long tube inside...no wonder it drove me crazy!!!! But, it may have been removed too soon...I had it in for 15 days but fluid still not moving through my system correctly so I was back in Boston on Thursday the 23rd and they removed 120 ml from the surgical site. It's already starting to swell a little so I'll probably be back there at the end of this week again. The remove via a needle aspiration and I do not feel a thing.....it's just a pain to get into Boston. But now that I know I can not start radiation until draining is complete and fluid is moving through my body as normal I guess I'll make the trip as required. Yes...saw the radiation oncologist on Weds the 22nd....I'll have 28 treatments (daily) once draining stops. They can not map and tattoo until no swelling. Radiation will be to the lymph nodes under my arm and also up into the collar bone area....I guess the breast fluid draining flows through the lymph nodes in both areas. In for the same type reactions as prior only things is it will not be very comfortable having a "Sunburn" under my armpit!!!! especially in the middle of winter!!!! But that's ok....I'll do what is required! Also, radiation in this area does effect the tips of the lungs, no way to avoid, so I need to seriously think about quiting smoking....not there yet but I'm thinking of it!!!! Now for Physical therapy....I didn't think I needed it because I can move my arm perfectly...actually can move my left side better then my right! But therapy is for prevention of Lympodea(swelling of the arm since the lymphatic fluid can not flow). So therapy twice a week...it actually feels good...I never knew you had lymph nodes all over....each treatment i get an arm massage, a neck massage and a back massage(just the left side) but it feel great...very relaxing. I also have some exercising to do and different sort of pulling on the skin of the arm to try and get the lymph channels to detach from my skin. I guess they cling to the skin once they have trauma and we need to have them "pop" back into place so everything flows!!! Scheduled for PT until Thanksgiving, then probably more once radiation is in full swing since the radiation will also traumatize the lymph channels even if we get them back now!! I'm kinda looking at this as maybe I'll be complete by the first of the year and be able to start 2009 fresh!!! Keep your fingers crossed!!!!!

All in all...this time around is better then the last....remember diagnosis about same time of year...last treatment requirements where through April....now only through Dec or only into early part of January!!!!!

On the home front...Linda, sorry just told mom last night about you post and she said you had already found Bobby's number and called her....If I remember correctly, she said you would be here for Thanksgiving...hopefully we will be able to see you!!!
OK by now everyone knows the Red Sox did NOT make it to the world series....but that's ok...they did good....made it a lot further then I thought they would!!!

Caitlin and Sean both doing good....this weekend is UNH parents weekend....Bernie working today so we are going up tomorrow morning...and low and behold...Cailtin is going to be there!!! Caitlin and her friends from Westfield are driving to UNH this afternoon to visit another friend at UNH....so plan is to see both of them tomorrow....UNH having a family brunch from 10:00 to 1:00...so intent is for all of us to go....but we'll see...who knows what condition the two of them will be in tomorrow morning!!!! Caitlin will not tell me, but I assume there is some sort of special party and that is why they are making a 3 hour trip to UNH!!!!!!

Well gotta go for now.....Need to get Bernie up and moving it has to be in work in about an hour or and I'm going to head down to Bobby's and go through the house with mom to take what she wants before the insurance company's cleaning crew throws everything out!!!!