Life is Still Good – and other happy thoughts!

It has been SO long since I have posted, I have passed my two-year Cancer-versary, my one year anniversary of reconstruction, and I am almost done with the one year of the clinical trial!  It is a testament to how ‘normal’ my life has become, that I no longer have cancer news to blog about.  I feel great, still NED (no evidence of disease), and the doctor’s visits are few and far between.  That being said, I still have regular blood work, 3 month oncology visits, and careful monitoring  BUT, 2 years down!  And I haven’t had any acquaintances recently diagnosed, which is a welcome change.

Our local newspaper has been running a series of articles on ‘aging’ athletes, and Wednesday they highlighted volleyball.  I had been contacted for an interview and so were 2 of my teammates.  They centered on a male teammate of a friend of mine, but little blurbs were listed for each of us.  Of course they centered on the cancer aspect, which was just mentioned in passing.  Sometimes I would like to be considered as something other than a walking cancer survivor advertisement!  Although if it inspires anyone to surge forward through the difficulties, and continue with your normal life, it is worth it.

Before the Games began....

Other great news, last weekend the 3.5 women’s tennis team that I captain, won the Central Pennsylvania championships!  Next we head to Princeton, NJ for sectionals.  Should we win that, we would qualify for Nationals.  A real possibility, although I doubt our team would attend.  It is in Tuscon, AZ the exact same time I am in Utah for the Senior Volleyball tournament.  Only 2 of our members have ever made it to Princeton before, so it was very exciting!  A hot, 90+ degree weekend, and we had to win 3 matches in a row to do it.  All the more impressive, considering it was NOT a senior play-off (we played 18 and 26 year olds in singles), and our entire team was seniors.  OK, one was 49, but close enough.  I was so proud of our team, and now setting up arrangements for the trip, which is the 19-21 of August, 5 days after I return from Maine.

After the Games - at the winner's tree!

While I was competing in tennis, my senior volleyball team was winning gold in the state games!  Wish I could have been in 2 places, and I like to think they would have won even if I had been there

Our gold medal team - without me!

Finally, the most exciting news (although not totally unexpected), was the engagement of our daughter Cheryl, to her boyfriend Andrew.  He was kind enough to ask our permission (when all he really needed was hers!) the day before, and the proposal was in the Rose Garden at Longwood Gardens.  They plan for a destination wedding next year sometime, which thrills me, as I didn’t look forward to planning a big event.  Below is a photo of the ring, VERY gorgeous and sparkly, puts all the ones from my generation to shame!

Maggie has been swimming this summer, and is getting a bit more comfortable.  Not thrilled, but doesn’t fight it.  Maybe she will actually enjoy the lake in Maine – IF it gets hot enough.

Hopkins Check-In

Maggie's 'Safe' spot

I have been a bit lax in my timing for John’s Hopkins re-visits – partly because it is just a hassle, and partly because it is so far away.  Also, I tend to forget!  So last week I called to find out if I was due.  Of course, it was OVERdue, but only by a month.  And naturally the plastics guy (who I do not care for) only sees patients on Thursdays, and my surgeon, only on Mon/Tues.  EVER so convenient for someone driving almost 2 hours one way.  I made 2 appointments, then decided to check with a plastics nurse.  I am having no problems, know the visit would last about 32 seconds, so she agreed I could opt out.  Especially since I will make the surgeon visit a priority.

So a friend and I headed out yesterday morning at 6 am in the pouring rain, as well as thunder and lightning.  Hit stop dead traffic 30 miles north of the 695 split, the drive taking 2 1/2 hours!  We called to say we were running late, literally ran into the office building at 8:45, and I wasn’t even called in until 9:15.  At which point, they informed me the doctor was in surgery, wasn’t even in the building and they didn’t know when he would arrive!  No wonder I put this off….  However, I would be seeing the nurse practitioner.  I did not drive that distance, to have my yearly visit without seeing the surgeon.  Fortunately he appeared at my door about 3 minutes later, saving me a return trip.  I really love this guy – he comes in, gives me a big hug, checks me out, tells me I look fantastic, see him in a year, another hug and out he goes.  But seriously, I really do love him, he is so upbeat and positive, and I think quite good at what he does.

I got a lot of very interesting information from the nurse as well (who is also very good, I remember her from my ‘early’ days).  She was explaining the difference between ER/PR +, – and HER2 +.  While I know the basics, she made it a lot clearer.  With triple negative they always use chemo first before surgery, and I thought that was strange.  The explanation is, for ER/PR + they know what is ‘fueling’ the cancer growth – the presence of hormones.  So they have targeted chemo that addresses and suppresses the hormonal effect.  With ER/PR -, the hormone therapy isn’t effective, since that is not causing the cancer.  With HER2 +, they know that the HER2 protein is ‘fueling’ the cancer growth, and since the discovery of Herceptin (praise be to God for me!), they can suppress the cancer growth with that.  For triple negative they don’t really KNOW what caused the cancer, neither of those 2 approaches will work.  So it becomes more trial and error to discover what therapy will shrink the tumors.  If you operate first and remove them, there is no tumor to watch shrink, so you can’t be sure you are using the right approach.  Consequently they ‘experiment’ with different therapies before surgery, watching the tumor react, to discover what treatment is the most effective to suppress future growth.  Once they identify that, THEN they can operate to remove it.  Now it makes so much more sense to me, before I couldn’t understand leaving the cancer in a day longer than necessary!

They confirmed once again that my general overall fitness has made this process so much easier, and hopefully with a positive outcome, than others.  I am ever grateful that I was in shape before, and was able to continue during and after.  The hardest part in keeping up now is my working hours, not my cancer recovery!  I also had my trial EKG and electrocardiogram, both normal and in range, so things are looking good.

My early gymnastics days (I am on the left)

However today, my past athletic endeavors really came in handy!  I have purchased some new fitness tapes, and several have emphasized the virtues of good posture.  I have been a slacker in that area, especially when I walk Maggie.  I find that I walk looking down all the time, slumped over, and I have been working on straightening up and enjoying the view of late.  Today I was out alone with her (Kevin is in Philly) and was focused on posture and controlling Maggie as 3 walkers approached us.  Unexpectedly I caught a toe in an elevated crack in the sidewalk.  Next thing I know I was being propelled forward – airborne!  Don’t ask me how I had time, or the presence of mind to react, but I thought to myself I do not want to land forward – Hard – on the sidewalk, I could break a wrist, ankle or arm.  It appears my years of gymnastics training automatically kicked in, and I went for  tuck and roll!  I haven’t done a somersault in perhaps 10 years, if that, and probably never on a cement sidewalk.  However, it appears I executed it successfully as all I have is a small scrape on one hand!  The people approaching were in awe – couldn’t believe it as they watched it happen, I must have been quite entertaining!  Guess I AM in better shape than I thought!

Back to the Doctor’s

After a nice break from doctor visits,  it was time for my 3 month check-up with the oncologist today.  For many years, I believe, I will be going every 3 months to see how things are going.  If no symptoms or irregularities occur, they apparently don’t do follow-up scans.  All looks good!  I had a few questions,the memory/focus issues (which have improved), my back, a couple of headaches, all were not of concern.  Apparently cancer is not subtle (or at least recurrences are not, since the onset was silent).  IF it is present, symptoms will worsen, not decrease, making it easy to identify.  So I appear to continue to experience good health!  My blood pressure still is high, just borderline, and they will monitor that.  I must go for repeat EKG and echocardiogram in 2 weeks, and I am hoping they will be clear.  If so, I can continue my trial – hopefully for the full year.  Side effects from the neratanib are non-existent now, and that is what the patients have been reported, the first couple of months are the worst.  So now, I hopefully just enjoy the benefits of the advanced medicine!

Down-East Vacation

Kevin and I had a nice week-long getaway into NH and Maine last week, no – this isn’t where we stayed.  Believe it or not, this is the sauna my brother built up at his ski lodge in Sugarloaf, Maine.  Hot tub at home, sauna at ‘camp’ – nice life.  I particularly loved the chair in front, my sister-in-law’s father made it, and while it may not be the most comfortable seat, it certainly fits the decor of a ski chalet!  How clever a concept – he even used old skis to make fold-up chairs – creative recycling!

Maggie had a good time, first we stopped at Kevin’s parents for 3 days in NH.  She was a spoiled grand-dog, allowed up on furniture and had more laps than usual.  We still think my father-in-law should get a dog or cat, as he provides ample lap, play and petting opportunities.  Maggie loves it.

Kevin got in one day of skiing at Gunstock – where he first learned, we watched a bit of the dog-sled races going on, I did taxes and cooking, and we played some dominos!  Had a chance to go out to dinner with friends as well.  Next we headed to my brother’s place at Sugarloaf.  We arrived Tuesday and had it to ourselves until the rest came up on Friday.  While cold, Kevin got in 2 days of great skiing, I read, walked Maggie and enjoyed the view.

I found this ‘snowman’ hilarious – it was on the ski loop hike we did every day, the house is called the Maine House.  Saturday Sandy and I, plus 2 other friends, went out snow-shoeing.  I found the snow packed enough to just hike.

This trail is beautiful, all up (and down, and up again) in the woods, 2.5 miles, quiet, peaceful…..and it ends up here!

They have built ski ‘huts’ in the woods, nicely spaced, so you can do a 5 mile round-trip to it, or continue on 11 miles to the next.  They have overnight lodging, so hikers can go from one to the next.  We had a wonderful lunch there, then suited up for the return.  Despite a very windy day, in the woods it was great, even if I STILL haven’t seen a moose!

Doctor (and Cancer) Vacation

It has been brought to my attention that I haven’t posted in quite a while.  I knew that, it is just that as said before, there isn’t much to say!  I realized a few days ago that it has been at least a month since a doctor’s appointment, blood test, EKG etc.  What a nice vacation!  Except for the bills that continually arrive (some our responsibility, some the clinical trial’s error), I have been able to push the cancer to the back of my mind.  I should say the lack of cancer!  However new cases continue to be reported, the latest are 2 church members.  Both their results were good, but now they join the club.

I continue to plug along, feeling fine, playing tennis and volleyball and working.  I did opt out of our senior Nationals for volleyball in Houston in June.  Fortunately our team members that wanted to go could split and join another.  For one thing it is just too difficult to work the extra time to get off.  Also, I will be heavy into our summer tennis season by then.  And lastly, it is right on the 2 year anniversary of my diagnosis.  Since this cancer has a decent prognosis IF you make it 2 years, I didn’t want to jinx it!

We did have another kind of vacation last week as well, up to Maine for some skiing and relaxation.  More on that in a post I hope to get up this weekend.  For now, here is a sample of the snow!

Delayed Chemo Brain

Although I have felt pretty good lately, I still think I actually felt better during treatment!  I have had more asthma issues, tiredness and memory failure than ever before.  Now, part of that may be my return to a more aggressive work schedule, but I am beginning to wonder.  I never actually felt the effects of chemo-brain that everyone talks about, but recently it has reared it’s ugly head.  Is it possible to get a side-effect a year later??

It is so hard to tell after treatment for a disease, what to attribute to the cancer, and what is just part of normal aging/life.  I have become a bit more aware, and over-reacting a lot less.  However last week was atrocious.  I made several very critical errors at work that normally I never would have done.  I am very cautious and careful in my work, and thought I was then, yet found myself somehow really screwing up.  This time I can’t attribute it to learning curve, so I wonder what is going on.  It is very unlike me.  I also find I have occasional difficulty focusing as well.  Is it because I am pushing myself too much?  Or could it be due to the clinical trial?  Today when I went to shut down my computer, I actually couldn’t remember how!  I realize it was early in the morning, we were rushing to leave Cheryl’s, but still…..  I think I will be mentioning this to the clinical trial nurse and my oncologist.  It is very difficult to find yourself slipping and not know why. 

We did have a productive day at Cheryl’s though, and it felt good to do something I am good at (although I did still make a couple of miscalculations that are abnormal for me).  We went to help them clean out their storage area and laundry room.  Although it did take all of Saturday, the results were pretty impressive.

Organized Storage Room

Immaculate Laundry Room

We elevated things off the floor (using 4 X 4 supports and wood planks) just in time, as the next morning the pipes backed up and flooded the room!  We were exhausted, but satisfied by the evening.  Maggie was a great help and she looked like we all felt by 9 PM! 

Christmas 2010

Warren Family Christmas at Sugarloaf.

I know, it has been awhile, but the holidays were busy.  We felt a bit like National Lampoon’s Christmas, as we crammed 4 adults, 3 dogs, skis/boots, Christmas presents and luggage into a Subaru Forester for an 8-10 hour trip.  Believe me, a jelly bean would not have found room!This is a view of my foot space in the front seat – I had 3 bags and my purse sharing the room.  2 dogs, Maggie and Dakota (the chocolate lab) shared the back section with luggage, how comfortable does that look?:

Of course the ‘Captain’ of the car got his own prime space in the back seat, more room than any of the adults.  How did that dog get such special treatment?Actually it went pretty well – we dropped Kevin (and Maggie and Dakota)  in Portsmouth to meet up with his dad (he spent Christmas there with his sister).  The girls, Murphy and I headed first to my parents, and then up to Sugarloaf, Maine to spend the holiday with my brother’s family.  This was the view from our room:

And a view from the mountain taken by my talented nephew who is on ski patrol.  He also is one of the great folks that rescued 150 people from the chair lift at Sugarloaf recently when it broke down.  Took only 1 1/2 hours to get all the remaining skiers off the lift.  He happened to be on patrol that day.  It is a beautiful setting, they had a nice covering of snow, and decent ski conditions.  We had a nice time eating (a lot), drinking (also a lot) and catching up on the past year.  They did a wonderful job hosting all of us, and it is a picturesque place to spend Christmas. Exhausting though, as you can tell by my mom’s expression at the end of Christmas day!

Next we headed to NH to meet up with Kevin.  More snow was expected, and it came in full force – fortunately the day AFTER we arrived.  We were snowed in, played some dominos, read and relaxed.  And what would a holiday be without torturing the dogs with a costume or two?  (There were reindeer antlers as well, but I will spare you that)  My sister-in-law loves to make the animals in the family spoiled AND feel foolish The trip home was just as crowded, and we even left the skis in NH.  It became more exciting the last hour, when I was holding Maggie in the back seat.  She picked that time to decide to throw up – many times, and no bags could be found.  We made due with an empty cracker box (very ineffective) and my sweatshirt.  Needless to say I was in the shower within 1/2 hour of our return home.  She made a trip to the vet 2 days later, no idea what was wrong, but 2 shots and a bland diet kicked it.

It was nice to spend the extra time with the girls, and we are so grateful they make family a priority.  For Jan especially, it is a commitment, she must drive 5 hours first just to get to us.  For Cheryl, the vacation is precious and she saves enough every year.  Great memories to store away!