More Treatment, Movies, WHF Picnic
May 25, 2009
LuLu
Lulu, our cat, has taken up a new sport. Watching TV and trying to catch the movement on TV. She has a small stool in front of both of our TV’s and she sits on them and watches TV. She gets extremely needy when my husband Alan is gone. He went to his mother’s house for a few days and LuLu got upset. Our household schedule goes to pot when Alan is not home so that makes her more upset. Cats like routine.
Taking Care of Yourself
We are still following the cancer treatment plan. I have to have two more tests, a base line bone scan, and a monograph to determine if the cancer is gone. I passed my gene test. I am very lucky that my health insurance will pay for the test. Many women do not have this. Oncotype DX is a test that examines a breast cancer patient’s tumor tissue at a molecular level, and gives information about your individual disease. This information can help tailor treatment for your breast cancer. Oncotype DX is the first and only gene expression test that has been accepted as demonstrating the ability to predict a patient’s benefit from chemotherapy as well as her risk of recurrence The Oncotype DX assay is intended to be used by women with early-stage (Stage I or II), node-negative, estrogen receptor-positive (ER+) invasive breast cancer who will be treated with hormone therapy. If your score is low that indicates that you have a 5% or less chance of having a relapse of breast cancer. In this group, chemotherapy has not proven to be effective to reduce reassurance.
I have however been place on the drug Arimidex which is to interfere with estrogen production, since I have an estrogen positive tumor. The downside of this drug is that you may revisit menopause and have hot flashes, night sweats and tiredness. So far my side effects have been minimal.
I am continuing to try to do 3-4 hours of directed exercise a week. I also promised to help Alan with the gardening.
Exploring
We have watched several net flick movies. We loved Woody Allen British Mystery Match Pointe, filmed in London with the classic sighs of a British mystery –no blood, cool elegance and wonderful county scenes. Scarlett Johansson debuts in Match Point as well, going on to become Allen's female favorite lead for a new slate of movies.
Giving Back
I am continuing with my church Altar Guild duties. I also have participated in an American Cancer Society Relay for Life, contributed to the Port Austin Junior Priscilla club annual luncheon and am chairing the Women’s Hall of Fame annual Picnic--Jazzing It Up.
