Well, this update is kind of hard to start, because I’m not sure how far back to go during these last two weeks to make sure you have enough information, yet, I don’t really want to end up with an entire book chapter! Tho, I’m sure you’ve noticed that that doesn’t always bother me. Hahaha

I told you about going back in after the CT Scan because the radiologist saw something, for a bone scan. I also mentioned seeing a lot of inspirational and motivational posters, paintings, and such. Well, guess God was giving me little hints to get my self-motivation and personal strength in tack, because I was going to need them.

Because, unfortunately, what I had hoped was just some arthritis, turns out to be cancer. The breast cancer has metastasized onto my bones in several spots. It’s spotty along 6-7 vertebrae about the middle of the back, some down towards the bottom, 2-3 spots on the left side of my pelvis, a couple on the right side, and a fairly good-sized spot on my right thigh bone.

Now, don’t jump to the first conclusion, I do NOT have bone cancer. This is still breast cancer, it has just found new homes. And we plan to send in some eviction notices really soon.

I’ve already started two new treatments, since this requires and entire different strategy. I will not have to take anymore chemo (YAY!!!) But I will have a once a month infusion (bag of goodies, given intravenously) (Zometa) that is supposed to help strengthen my bones and help them repair themselves from where the cancer has attached to them. Then I will be taking a couple kinds of pills, the first one is prescribed to all women after breast cancer for 5 years (Aromasin, some may take an alternate but similar drug, there are several) this is to continue to fight any breast cancer cells that may decide to start growing.

I will be also be taking a type of radioactive pill (Samarium SM - 153) to fight the cancer cells and help with the pain from the cancer in the bones. And, of course, I’ll get a nice dose of radiation. I was quite suprised at this. Only one blast. Not weeks of everyday, just one shot. And as long as all goes as typical, usual, and expected, it will be the only radiation I receive.

If I understand the proceedures and plans right, we should see some major results in 4-6 weeks after the radiation. Of course, as with anything, there’s side-effects, the most thrilling one of all to me is probably a sore throat. Like I haven’t had enough of that one! But, that’s ok, there’s a whole shebang of others that I’ll pass on, if given the choice

A lot of fatigue and bone aches are in the upcoming weeks as the meds clear the bones of the cancer cells, but they were pretty quick to volunteer to prescribe me meds to keep it under control. I was surprised at their uninhibited offers, since my sister has been given practically nothing. I believe they told her to use Aleve. Glad I’m here not there! Altho, if I’d been there, they would have already found that it had spread to the bones, since she had a bone scan before she started her chemo. I wouldn’t have had to have any chemo if they’d done one on me first.

But, you can’t just go running a bunch of “maybe this will show something” tests, and I realize that. I don’t think the couple months has made any significant difference in the advancement of the cancer, altho it sure would have been nice to skip the chemo Ah, but yet again, I’ll consider it just an extra precaution that wasn’t that harmful for me and probably killed a few cancer cells still running around in the lymphatic system looking for a home.

I was kind of glad to hear my Medical Oncologist make one statement, since it really had been on my mind from day one. But, no one had ever addressed it, and I wasn’t really sure I wanted to. He said “When the breast cancer is as advanced as yours was, and with so much lymph node activity, we knew there was going to be more show up, we just didn’t know where. Now we know, and now we can treat it directly instead of generally with the chemo and hope we catch it before it gets out of control.” It had always bothered me that no one had ever really talked about it recurring elsewhere, since I knew it was fairly common when it reached stage 3 as mine had.

So, it was really comforting to know that this was really is good news. On the surface it doesn’t sound good at all, but really, we have taken some big steps forward in my treatment and prognosis, and it’s more of a “left turn” instead of going backwards. Kind of staying on the same level for the future evaluations, still having the same expectations of a complete recovery, just kind of an unexpected yank on the steering wheel to a different road.

One that I think will be a good one. Probably have some bumps still, but we’ve dealt with a few already, and I can surely take some more. From all accounts by other patients’ stories I’ve read and heard about, I think I’ve escaped some really bad bumps that could have been in the past couple months, so I’ll go ahead and graciously accept some more. Seems fair to me.

I hope I haven’t bored you to pieces with all the details, and maybe you just skimmed over some of them. But, that’s ok, I know you love me anyway. After all, you are still reading

May God find each one of you as special as He has made me feel. May you realize that the health, financial, emotional, whatever battles that you are fighting, are not just about the face value issue. God is fighting satan for your soul. The devil wants to discourage you, to make you lose faith, to give up. But, watch for His hand in your battle. Like the posters I saw the other day, coincidences don’t just happen, God knew I was going to need some good thoughts to get me thru the next week, and He planted them in all kinds of places.

I’m special. Somehow, for some reason. I don’t know what makes me special, but so many of you have expressed your care and concern for me. Me, just little? old, nobody me. You’ve followed with me weekly, encouraged me, prayed for me, thought about me, sent me messages, cards and presents. And why? What makes me so special that you care so much for me? I don’t know, but I feel very privileged to be able to call so many of you my friend and to know that at a minute’s notice, if I needed to talk you would stop what you were doing and stay right there on that phone! That’s really an awesome feeling to know that God and so many people have their ears & eyes tuned in on me, to make sure I make it thru this, and don’t have to do it alone. I hope you all can come close to understanding how much it means to me to have so much love and support. I just hope I get the opportunity to “pay it forward” and help others along their way.

God’s Blessings to each of you, and my gratitude and love,

Sherry

Btw, for those that might have missed it, we have a new grandson, Joseph Anthony! He was born Friday, August 15, 2008 at 2:30 AM via c-section. Much as Ana wanted, and hard as she tried, the baby would not move into the birth canal, and finally the DR told Ana that there was no choice any longer, that they had to do the c-section, and soon after, we had a healthy baby grandson! Isn’t he gorgeous! What a beautiful gift from God.

Here’s the website with new pics of him and everybody else :)http://anayeric.nedesign.biz/delivery2/index.htm