Heather's Blog: Happy Valentine's Day

Why Am I Writing This Blog?

There's nothing more important to me than my connections with family and friends.

So in an effort to stay connected I'll be posting updates about my treatment and health here. Of course I want to connect with you outside of this blog! But this is a quick way you can find out what's happening.

Also a request: I would appreciate it if you didn't post anything on Facebook about cancer and me.

Writing has always been a natural form of self-expression for me. So this blog is also a personal outlet, one I'd like to share with you.

February 12, 2015

Happy Valentine's Day

Hearts I've been given

Hallmark holiday or not, I like Valentine's Day. I love chocolate and I love flowers, and God knows February needs something to cheer it up a bit.

Since B's birthday is a week before Valentine's Day and he and I always go out for dinner to celebrate, at our house Valentine's Day is a family event at home. I cook something comforting and we always have chocolate fondue for dessert. It is ridiculously easy to make and you want to eat it about once a year, so it fits the bill.

I'm continuing to do well on this chemo plan. There are some minor nuisance issues that I am managing, but they're not too bad. Also I'm more tired, but almost everyone I know is tired (again, February, you are most uninspiring!) You have probably heard about cancer fatigue, and I've had some of that, but thankfully it isn't constant.

I think it's fair to say that overall my stamina is down. Down from when I'm not exactly sure, but I can't do quite as much in a day as I used to, and I need to rest or recover more. This has been happening gradually, but when I'm around people with high energy I am reminded of it. Some days I have pretty high energy, and some days I don't. Considering I've been on chemotherapy continuously for over a year, I'd say I'm doing quite well.

Heather in our garden right now

B and the kids do a lot around the house. B cooks dinner now (previously my job), and the kids pitch in and are very capable. Last weekend M cleaned almost the entire house without being asked while the rest of us were out for a few hours. (Don't worry, she's a normal 16 year-old most of the time).

My spirits are good a lot of the time. I don't write in this blog when I'm feeling down, so I'm realizing now reading over it that I sound pretty damn plucky. There are plenty of low points, and I'm thankful to have people to turn to when those times come.

The next milestone will be a CT scan probably the week of March 16. That will be after three cycles of this drug and we'll see if it's doing some good.

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Want to Help?

We periodically need help with meals, rides, errands, dog walking and that kind of thing. If you're interested in helping out sometime, you can join "Team Heather" online. Just go to https://www.lotsahelpinghands.com/c/710014/ and request to join the community.

Once you're approved, you'll receive instructions on how to log in. When we post a request for help you'll receive an email message and can sign up if it works with your schedule.

Or if you have something specific in mind to offer, just call or email B. or me! And THANK YOU.

History

2012: Stage 2 invasive ductal carcinoma diagnosis. Mastectomy, chemotherapy, radiation treatments. No evidence of cancer after surgery.

2013
September: Masses found in liver incidentally as part of a standard screening breast MRI. Diagnosed as the return of the breast cancer. No evidence of cancer anywhere else.

September -December: Chemotherapy.

2014
Chemotherapy (a few different kinds) throughout the entire year. Fared well and felt well most of the time!

May - cancer found in several places in my spine/pelvis. Very small, no pain.
June - December took post-menopausal estrogen-suppressing medication (and received monthly injections to create medical menopause)

2015
Jan - March: chemotherapy as part of a new clinical trial
April: starting a different chemotherapy since the disease progressed while I was on the trial.
June: The chemo is not helping, and my liver function is such that I have to take a break from chemo. Starting anti-hormonal pill plus a pill that targets cancer cells but does not damage the liver.