And Away We Go

Finally got the call today (Tuesday). I'll go in tomorrow for radiation verification, then begin on radiation Thursday afternoon. I'll go in every afternoon, Monday through Friday, for the next six weeks. If my calculations are correct, that means my last one will be March 15 or 16. Every day, when I arrive at the office, I scan my ID card (which they gave to me the day of the simulation), change into a hospital gown and wait in the women's dressing/waiting room. They'll get me, I get in position and lay on the table for about 12 minutes. Then I get dressed and go. They said I should be in and out within 30 minutes each day. 

SO, that should put me starting chemo again around April 13. Since I'm doing that every 2 weeks for 4 courses, it looks like my last one will be June 8. I can't help it, I'm all about those end dates (yeah, yeah, yeah, while recognizing they can change at any moment). After that I'll be looking at my reconstruction surgery in September. So far, that's all I know. :)

I'll be continuing my acupuncture and my Herceptin infusions all the while. My oncologist called last week to say she wanted me to come in for iron infusions. Apparently my iron is crazy low and she thinks that is why my white blood cell count isn't bouncing back like she would like (It's still below the normal range three months post-chemo). So, I had an infusion last Friday and I'll do a second one this Friday. The two infusions give me the equivalent of three months worth of oral iron, so it should bounce right up. Then I'm going to start taking something called Floradix Iron & Herbs, which I started taking when I was pregnant and have taken on and off since. Especially eating a diet that is not ideal for several months due to my intestinal issues, it can't hurt. 

Today I saw my oncology surgeon and she said I look good and she'll see me in a year. A YEAR. One doctor down, a couple more to go. As I was leaving she said she hoped she would see me at their Shades of Pink fundraiser walk at the zoo in April, so I looked into it. It's a local organization that was founded about 10 years ago to help women going through treatment who are having financial hardship. I have been the recipient of so much generosity since I was diagnosed. Although I'm still not back to work and we certainly have needs of our own, I'm ready to start giving back and this is one small way I can do that. The walk falls just a couple of days after what I think will be my second chemo, but fingers crossed I can do it. Dr. B said you walk if you can, or you can shop, eat or just hang out. I should at LEAST be able to do that. :) 

Here's my page on shadesofpinkfoundation.org. If you would like to donate, you can do so there by clicking Give Now. If you're local or you feel like taking a road trip and walking with me that day, you can click Join My Team and register ($35 for adults, less for kids). It starts at 8 and the whole thing is wrapped up by 11:30 it looks like. Of course you're welcome to hang out in the zoo after that too. 

No pressure to donate! I figure even if I just raise a little bit it can make a big difference to someone in need.  As I sit here by the fire, watching the snow fall outside, I have high hopes for good weather that day, when I will be so much closer to the finish line.