Just checkin' in...

[SoCalGal]

Hi everyone -
I feel like it's been awhile since I officially checked in although I've been reading constantly and have been especially inspired by the San Antonio posts. (Thanks again to all from here who went to represent!). And also I have not had a chance to say how much I enjoyed hosting TipToe and friends.

It's been a hard few weeks. First having to part with my dog and then the allergic reaction to the iodine in my scan. Next I had a bout of migraines and then a crappy cold with a bronch type cootie so they gave me ZPAK antibiotic which made me so nauseas I thought I was back on chemo.

Finally I am feeling more like my old (really old) self. And I had my check up this week and for the most part I'm "stable". I asked about increasing Zometa from every 6 weeks to every 4 weeks but my oncologist said "they" are talking about changing the protocol from every 4 weeks to every 6 or 8 weeks. She wants me to stick with the existing schedule for now. My lung mets no longer show up on the PET scan. The sternum mets show up as stable but of course I'd like them to be going away. This weekend I'm having my brain MRI and hopefully that will continue to show NED.

Again I am struck by how lucky I am to have this community. When friends tells me they forget that I'm battling cancer - I know it's a compliment but it makes me feel sad that the people closest to me really cannot understand the heavy burden I carry everyday - constantly.

It's only here that others can understand and appreciate the responsibility of fighting this disease. It's more than just taking treatment - it's the weight of all the reading - the research - the desperately trying to process medical and technical information that we are not trained to understand - the agony of making the right choices and the self discipline it takes to get out of bed each day and put a smile on our faces or to continue to trust God and the universe to bring us what we need and to protect and guide us. I am glad that at least here others understand what it truly means to walk this path.

I am so very thankful that the collective hope and love of our HER2 community fills my heart every time I log on.

Wishing you all peace and many moments of joy and love in 2009.
Flori

[Jackie07]

Flori,

So glad to see your posting. You have said it so well - most people can't handle our continuous 'cancer' status. And our fighting sisters (and brothers) on this board really help each other more than anyone can imagine.

Together, we are strong. And thank you for the encouraging news and words.

[Mary Anne in TX]

Hi Flori! Hi Beau!
Well, you've got two very great ingredients to keep life on the go...a good dog and Her2 sisters! Flori, you're just the best! I'm thinking with all the brain stress of figuring out the medical stuff, surely we could get enough brain power to figure out how to all board a time machine and have that real for real hug time with a bit of chocolate!
Sure am sorry that you had to deal with all the yucky stuff, but am so glad you came on to share and collect some extra love and fuzzies!
Bet that ol brain mri will show "nothing there"!
Tons of love and sunshine heading your way, ma

[Mary Jo]

Hi Flori and adorable Beau.

We lost our dog too Flori. We went on vacation in CA in October and Hondo and Murray went to my sisters house to join her dogs and a dog sitter came in. Long story short...our 8 year old Murray got away from the dog sitter (very NOT like him) and was hit by a car and killed. So, after about a month we adopted little Lucy. Hondo is happy to have a "friend" again and we love her to pieces. I'm glad you got Beau too. Those dogs have such a way of lifting our spirits, don't they?

Thanks for checking in Flori. I'm happy things are on the "upswing" for you. I pray your test results are all favorable.

Sending my love, support, understanding and prayers.

Mary Jo

[schoolteacher]

Flori,

Glad you are feeling better.

Amelia

[Joan M]

Flori,

I'm very happy to hear that your lung mets were no longer visible on your scan and that the sternum mets have stabalized.

And yes I agree that it's a lot of work to keep up with all the literature and research, and I too am grateful for this website so that we can all share that burden by sharing our our knowledge.

Wishing you a Happy (and relaxing) Chanukah!

Joan

[caya]

Flori -

I am praying for another clear brain MRI for you - glad the lung mets are gone, and I know Chrissy often says "stable" is good - I know we would prefer "gone", and hopefully soon those sternum mets will also disappear.

I love how succinctly you described the workings/members/community feel of this board - that's why I keep coming back - for all the support and information that we Her2ers really can't quite get anywhere else.

Flori - Happy Hannukah, do you make latkes?

all the best
caya

[Gerri]

Flori,

Thanks for the update. Stable is good in the unstable world of bc. Your posts are always such an inspiration to me. Good luck with your upcoming MRI.

All my best,

[SoCalGal]

Wow - Joan I was going to pm you so I was very glad to see your post. How are YOU feeling? Hope you are enjoying the holidays and have had a chance to see the windows in NYC. I've heard they are incredible this year! Caya - haha - latkas. My sister "does" chanukah every year. Wait till they find out that instead of gifts this year I've made a donation to the LA Food Bank in their honor. We'll see if the chanukah spirit will prevail. It is important to kindle the light and share that light with those we love. And it's important to smell like grease for an entire day and devour several pounds of potato latkas. Wish I could have real sour cream but will have to settle for the non-dairy version.

Thanks for the wishes for a clean mri.
Flori