Run for a Cure

Thank you to all who participated in the CIBC Run for a Cure today! 
Especially....
* Kathy & Jeff in Kelowna
* Shelby in Regina
* Flo in Saskatoon...love the shirts!
....& all our family and friends who donated to this cause! xoxoxoxoxxoxoxo

Week 11 of 12 is drawing to a close... :D   Nothing really new to report other than the joint and muscle cramps have arrived.  I am so thankful that this is near the end of my treatment.  So to help combat these aches/pains I am drinking milk....this may seem like a small deal to you but I usually gag at milk unless it is mixed with a bit of coke, Kahlua and vodka! Milk and calcium/magnesium supplements will hopefully carry me through this next week. I am still walking although my time isn't as great as it was but that is OK....I am only competing with myself (& Bob!)

 

I am so excited for Tuesday to arrive!  This will be the last chemo treatment for this journey and hopefully the last chemo treatment for life! WAAHOO!!! You may be able to hear me cheer as I leave the hospital that day!

 

Tonight I ate a big juicy steak in anticipation of blood work tomorrow.  I may knock those platelets numbers off the chart! Hahaha!

 

Happy Monday to all!  Shelley xoxox

 



Today is 11 of 12

WAAAAAHOOO!!  11 of 12 is today!  The light is getting brighter!

The deep soft tissue massage from Alyssa at the Cancer Clinic has left me sore today....perhaps more tender than sore.  I am looking forward to feeling the new normal...

Happy Tuesday! Shelley

A few things....

Greetings!

This past week I would like to thank a few people.....

• First of all...to my husband Bob - wow!  I am excited for his return today....he has been gone almost 10 days now....all the little (& big) things that he has done for me these past 6 months are incredible! xoxox
• To Pam H....thanks for taking me to chemo this past Tuesday! I can't quite remember it all....lunch included as those drugs put me in a daze like no other!  Lol!!  And to all who offered to take me to chemo, thank you too! Its nice to have friends to call on.
• Deb B...what a great visit this weekend!  Thanks!
• Rita & Jim......the Saskatoon Berry pie was delicious! I could actually taste it!
• The helpful staff at Elizabeth's Lingerie who help me literally jump into Spanx while laughing hysterically....how do you ladies wear these things?? Lol!!

After almost 5 months of waiting, I finally had a physio assessment at the Cancer Clinic.....waahoo! So what do I know.....

• Physio sessions are covered by health care
• I am Stage 1 Lymphedema (thanks Jane and Sylvia for keeping this under control while I waited to get into see Tracy)
• For the next while, I will go twice a week to work on scar tissue and mobility in preparation of reconstruction and lymphedema management
• Wow! Tracy, the physio therapist is very knowledgeable! Just imagine if I (and all other patients) could get into see her sooner....some of my current issues would be non-existent!  Yet I have been going to physio and massage to keep things manageable too!  If I didn't have access to private services who knows where I would be.....
• Spanx can help the fluid build up in the torso area....this slight compression will help the fluid move and take pressure off the lower back

Only two more chemo sessions left!! I can hardly believe this chapter will soon be closed! 

Happy Sunday - Eat, Pray & Walk! Shelley xoxo

The Good, Bad & Ugly

Greetings!

This past week was a good one for the most part! Here's a recap:

The Good:

• Finished round 9 of 12.....10 is on Tuesday
• Took Bob to the airport....his scout season has begun (more on this later)
• Mom and Dad came to visit for the weekend - perogies, cabbage rolls, pickles and relish....outstanding!!
• Kids are all in school
• Weather continues to be wonderful
• My wig keeps my head warm on cool days
• My sister-friend Donna is recovering well from surgery - yay!

The Bad:

• My hand knuckles are really stiff....I wonder if they increased the chemo dosage or if this is an accumulative side effect
• Allergies continue to keep me stuffed up
• I seem to be "puffier"....another side effect???

The Ugly:

• OK, those wind gusts.....like really?!? All the two-sided tape in the world can't keep a wig one!!  LOL!!!  I have to wear a hat on "lock"
• Dust....it is everywhere! No wonder I am stuffed up!!! I dusted on Thursday (before mom and dad came); Mom dusted on Friday and today Sunday, I could write my name on furniture!!
• NHL lockout...no one wins! .....however, if Bob's trip was cancelled again this week, I would have paid for the flight myself :D.....just joking....well, sort of.... All hormones aside, I am thrilled for him to be back at work and he is really excited to be back too.

Today at church a phrase really stuck with me...."we all have crosses to bear; for some, other's crosses grow into the tree of life."  Although I do not wish "crosses" in any one's life, it is through reading, seeing, experiencing how other people bear their cross, that I find strength in myself to keep fighting for what is important in life...these crosses become my tree of life....For that I am thankful!

Eat, pray, walk!  Shelley xoxox

9 of 12 Complete

Hello to all!

Yesterday's chemo session was thankfully uneventful!  The most difficulty I have is the blood return into the syringe at the start and end of the session.  So it involves me waving my arms in the air, to the side, arm curls, laying down,standing up, coughing, sitting forward....we now call it the chemo dance!  Some of the older patients find it rather humorous so I have to add in the odd jig or two for them :)

Doc added an extra pill of anti nausea/steroid to the regime this week to accommodate the 1200 mg of Calcium and 200 mg of Magnesium that I now take with 1000 mg of Vitamin D and B.  Here is something that I did not know about vitamins that I will share with you.....the body can typically absorb only 600 mg of Calcium at a time along side half of the required Magnesium...therefore it is best to take half in the morning and half at night.  The body uses the calcium primary during the night to build bones, reduces bone and muscle cramping and it helps you sleep.

Here are a few interesting sites on vitamins that I found helpful:
Livestrong - How to take Calcium and Magnesium
Livestrong - When to take Vitamins at the Beginning or End of the Day?
Natural News - Learn the Best Time of Day to take Vitamins

Note: Because I am taking chemo and have 5 years of other estrogen blocking meds to take the 1200 - 200 mg calcium:magnesium ratio is not recommended as per the web sites. As always, please don't take my word on this as I am no medical expert but discuss this with your doctor. 

Well, three more chemo rounds left...the light is shining a bit brighter today although I am tired!  I usually don't sleep very well the first couple of nights after chemo.  So I researched vitamins....  Next medical review is scheduled for October 15th. This is when I will find out what the next steps are in this crazy journey.  I do know that the Oncology team will be meeting again to review my case, there is comfort in that!

Eat, pray & walk!  Shelley xoxo

#9 is a Go!

Blood work is good and number 9 of 12 will happen! 

Shelley xo

QCM & Skate4Life...Oh! What a feeling!

Greetings!



And they're off...

Finished 2012

Today I experienced the excitement of the Queen City Marathon finish line - WOW! What a feeling to see all these people running to meet their personal goals.  It was a proud moment to see Alycia finish her first half marathon along with her friend Chelsea. Awesome!




Yesterday we had the pleasure of hosting the Skate4Life team of Pierre St. Germaine and Ashley Gilbank.  This husband and wife team are rollerblading across Canada to raise awareness and end the stigma of suicide.  To see where they have skated and where they are going or make a donation to their cause  you can check out their Facebook site OR web site. What a commitment  - what a great cause!

Monday I have my weekly blood check followed by a medical review....I sure hope all is well as seasonal allergies have got the best of me this week and unfortunately I cannot take any over-the-counter meds at this time.  Last week's acupuncture around the sinus was outstanding and cleared things up for a bit.  I also tried peppermint essential oil on a toothpick - ok, now that is amazing too!  So hopefully between oil and needles my sinuses will settle down.  I only have 4 more weekly treatments....its been 5 months now.  One would think that all things "bad" would be zapped from my body with the amount of chemo I have received :)

Eat, pray & walk! Here's to a great week! Shelley xoxo

Power of Prayer & Love

Today one of my best friends underwent ovarian cancer surgery.....and it went well with no surprises or additional areas of concern!  What a relief!!   Her two kids made an appeal on Facebook for prayer...it was overwhelming to see the number of "likes" and prayers offered for her today.

This all to familiar scenario was and is a part of my family too.  These past 6 months seem surreal at times.....it has been the power of prayer and faith in my family that has kept things going - positive attitude, love, and support.....this prayer is interdenominational and it is powerful!

Thank you again and again for all your love, support and prayers...not only for me and my family but for all!  We can....with Love!

Amen! Shelley

Ready for 8!

Greetings all!

It has been a busy couple of weeks with visitors, football and school start up!

All is well on the chemo front and I am truly fortunate be able to write that!  It seems as though I am stuck in "ground hog day" mode......it's the same old same old :)  Don't mean to complain though!  I have to say I am jealous of Bob, Aly, Mik and Rob as they are able to get back into routine and are very excited to do so....some days they are just too excited and my raging hormones bring on serial killer tenancies! Ok, not really but......ask them!  Hahhaha!

Highlights of the past two weeks:

• Blood work is really good - it must be all that red meat I have been craving
• Reconnecting with my BFFs in Brandon - Donna, Terry, Jackie, Ing, Deb......so good to hug you and visit!! xoxo
• Awesome visit with the Lawsons from Kelowna
• Visit with my Ministry friends - it won't be long before I am back! I miss you guys!
• Our summer son, Brayden, was here for a couple of days
• Weather and fishing have been awesome
• Walking has been great
• Receiving emails and calls from family and friends :)

Challenges of the past two weeks:

• Sleep continues to be a desired state for me
• Food is tasting awful....my two favorites chicken and fish like #$%@#$!  
• My family thinks I am losing my mind....hahaha! Must be those hormones....it has been a challenge to remember simple things these days....
• Big toes are starting to cramp....looking forward to acupuncture this week :)

Today marks number 8 of 12....waahoo!! I can do this!!  We can do this!!!  Thanks for all you love and support - it sure helps!!

Have an awesome day! Shelley