checking in ....

It has been a while so I'll have some catching up to do. Last Friday (11/13), Tobra and I went for my fourth Avastin treatment and today I start back on the chemo pills. So far my hair is still thick and turning light brown. Thanks to Revlon, light auburn #53, it will be red again soon. I came in this world a red head and I'm going out as a red head! Since loosing my hair this past year, I have decided to let it grow. I'm shooting for a shoulder-length bob. Right now it is at the ugly stage where you just want to cut it but I'm going to be strong. It grows really fast so if I'm patient enough, it will reach shoulder length by February.

Enough about the trivial, I have been on the Avastin for three months now. It is starting to take a toll on my joints. The doctor says one of the side effects is stiffness in the joints so that is why I have to walk the 3-5 miles a day. So far I'm good with the 3 miles but have not made it up to the 5 mile point yet. But I have a great support group that is faithful to keep me going. Tobra who always attends my appointments and keeps the doctors in line. Then there is Julie Q, Debbie and Jamie who keep me walking. And of course Gerald, who keeps me walking, eating right and on my meds. You guys are such a blessing to me....it means more than you know!

Last Friday, during my routine appointment prior to treatment, I met with the team. Dr. Pollock, the oncologist is concerned about the effect on my joints so he ran some extra labs. I will know the results on my next visit. For now, I am scheduled for my next PET scan on 12/4 and then will discuss the results with the doctor on the following Monday. Please keep in your prayers that the PET scan will come back negative. Gerald and I both feel that if we can get through this next scan with a negative result then I can end chemo at the six month mark instead of year. Gerald's exact words were "if this scan comes back negative, maybe we will be home free".

The rest of my medical team was pleased with my results. I'm sticking to my nutritionist diet plan. The naturopathic doctor prescribed some fish oil to help with the joint pain and scolded me for not taking the evening primrose oil pills. But I promise, I'm back on the regime! Physical therapy says to add some stretching into my walking routine. Nothing major just warm up type stretches. So I went to the gym on Sunday and did my walk and stretched for 30 minutes. My reward was 10 minutes at the oxygen bar and 20 minutes in the massage chair. Then came home, ate dinner and slept like a baby.

For now, I'm doing okay. My spirits are good and like Dory from "Finding Nemo" says.....just keep (swimming) walking...just keep walking...just keep walking.