Here I Am!

I haven't posted in a while and I'm seeing a pattern in questions frequently asked of me so I thought I'd create an FAQ Sheet. FAQ = Frequently Asked Questions in case you wanted a reminder. Here we go!

1) How are you feeling?

I'm feeling really good. My energy level is sustained throughout the day and I'm eating healthy. I'm making progress on my left arm and shoulder area. I continue to have physical therapy, yoga therapy and exercise twice a day along with weekly massage therapy. Muscle's and nerves take a bit longer than I expected to heal...so I'll keep working at it. Sleeping throughout the night is a bit of a challenge as my left side continues to heal.

2) Are you finished with surgeries?

Funny you should ask. I have scheduled my final surgery on December 7th. This surgery will remove the port that rests subcutaneously below my left breast (this implanted at the time of the first surgery to fill the saline implant as needed) and we will replace the saline implant with either a smaller saline implant or silicon one. This surgery is an out-patient procedure however is done under general anesthesia. I'm waiting to do the surgery until December so that I can continue to build the strength and flexibility on my left side. Once I have this surgery you have limited motion on the left side for about two weeks.

3) What's next in your treatment plan?

I am taking a hormone therapy - Tamoxifen, an estrogen receptor drug - for the next five years. There are side affects and I'll let you know in future postings if I get them, why tempt fate at this point. On the plus side the drug does help build bone mass and can reduce cholesterol -- looking on the bright side. Many breast cancers are driven by estrogen and this drug will prevent the estrogen from getting the upper hand. I'm off to the Optimum Health Institute tomorrow for a week to build my immune system. My treatment plan, since I have chosen not to do chemotherapy, is a three pronged approach -- Surgery was the first step and now Tamoxifen therapy, healthy nutrition and along with a supplement regimen to build the immune system and creating much more room in my life for God to take over! I will visit with my oncologist, Dr. John Link, every three months where I will have my blood drawn so that cancer markers can be monitored. See website for more info on this. http://www.breastcancer.org/symptoms/testing/blood.jsp

4) When are you going back to work?

My plan is to start part time back to work on November 6th. I'll continue part time until December 5th and then have the remaining surgery. After the surgery I will take the three remaining weeks of the year off from work and heal from that. The plan right now would be to return to work full time at the start of the new year.

5) How's Jeff doing?

He is valiantly putting his best foot forward in attempting to join me in all this healthy nutrition and supports me 100%. He has earned best husband of the year award in my book. Jeff is winding down a major client relationship, just returned from Atlanta where he delivered a presentation to top banking industry leaders and ramping up on marketing as he finds his next perfect client. Blackie's doing well too.

6) Were you affected by the fires?

Many of you I know were evacuated and I hope none of you lost your homes and of this writing have returned to your home safe and sound. It was a sad time in San Diego this week and the weeks ahead won't be easy, but the amazing heart and compassion of the people in this community has been overwhelming. But this doesn't surprise me afterall we are the wild wild west and John Wayne would have been proud. Our home is close enough to the ocean that we only experienced poor air quality and ashes falling creating a gritty grimy dust on the cars. I'm grateful to have my house and each time I walk in I say thank you for it.

This concludes my update for now. In the words of Caroline Myss -- You create harmony by making choices that feel right to both mind and heart. I think I've made those choices. Many blessings and courage to all of you to stay on this journey called life in the biggest, boldest way you know how!


Cheers!
Karen