Another "Bump in the Raod"

Although I think of this blog often, its been 4 months since I've updated. I think its phycological...if I do not have to update everyone...that means I'm ok!!! Well it's been 4 months since my update in April concerning the Red Sox...by the way, I didn't win...but we all went to the game, had a VIP tour of Fenway park and then stat in a luxury box for the game! It was wonderful....all and all, I think I was treated better then the women who did win! Anyways life has been moving on for the past 4 months, Mom & Dad moved back in to the house...which is beautiful....Caitlin and Sean both finished school in May and been home all summer...driving me crazy!!!! They aer both heading back soon...Sean tomorrow and then Caitlin next weekend!


As for the medical side...been through a lot of crazy things past few months, alot of aches and pains, had a disc or bone spurs in spine compression nerves and was temporally bed ridden for a few days...but nothing I couldn't work through! On July 20th, went in Boston for Mamo and checkup with surgeon...a long day of many pictures both mamo and ultrasound, I was given the ok. Next appointment was scheduled for September with onc...then plan was every 6 months from there....well


Was having some swelling in left arm up into shoulder and upper back, so called Dana Farber and they moved up my appointment to last Weds the 19th. Had blood work and saw the onc who felt the swelling wasn't bad and th area in my upper back that was uncomfortable was muscle related. Physical therapy scheduled to begin September 8th so left office with physical therapy will fix and I'll see onc again in January 2010. Straight back to the office after the appointment and about an hour after arriving the onc called...my blood work came back with some elevated cancer tumor markers which would say cancer is somewhere in my body. That was Weds around 3:00pm, they scheduled a full body PET scan for Thurs the 20th and results Friday 21st at 11:00! And here I am, Saturday the 22nd updating this.....not good news! Cancer has spread into the lymph nodes of my chest...largest being about 1 1/2 inches and also show a small area of cancer on the tip of my lung. The cancer has continued and I've been diagnosed Stage 4 Breast Cancer. Guess what there is no stage 5!!!! But that ok...going to fight through this one just like before. Only difference this time around is I have no future timeline to scheduled my life around. Cancer in these areas can not be removed so chemo is my only option. I will begin weekly chemo during labor day week...hopefully on Friday the 11th....going to try for the Fridays again so i can recoup on weekend and work Monday through Thursday! This first Chemo cocktail is actually a Phase iii trial combining 2 different types...both of which are FDA approved trial is to test the combination. After 6 to 8 weeks of this cocktail, I will have repeat scans to see if the cancer is getting smaller, staying the same, or growing. If it's working I'll continue on the same cocktail indefinitely(until cancer killed) if not, there are a few other chemo drugs they'll try. So I guess I do have somewhat of a timeline...but certainly not one I like!


I'm not giving up...going to fight through for as long as I can and begin truly enjoying each and every day. Not many people get the opportunity I've been given...it's time for me to really get my life in order so the kids and Bernie would be ok without me and also to enjoy myself. So I have a couple of weeks before Chemo...so I am going to enjoy myself. Last night I had 6 corona's and tonight going to do the same!!!! Remember...once I'm on Chemo no more beer...so I'm going to take advantage now! For all the family reading....last night I outlasted Jackie!!!!! We were at mom's and Bernie brought him a six pack of Hieniken and me a six pack of Corona. He was out like a light after 5!!!! I'm sure he'll have every excuse in the book but for once in my 44 years I outlasted one of my brothers!!!! So I'll try to update this as I move along this next "bump in the road"!