The 26th ....

I think many of us felt like this yesterday! 
How many wanted to stay in their PJs?  

A nice foot soakin' sounds good ...

Track Santa .....

Track Santa's sleigh ride around the world.  

Thanks NORAD!  

Love you Santa!

Merry Christmas!

I'm Dreaming ....

.... of a white Christmas .... 

 

It's the wee hours of Christmas Eve, and it has started to snow! 

Finally!  

Only 3.6 inches of snow has fallen so far this winter.  This is the least snowiest season on record.  The previous record was in 1946, which by the end of that December only 9.7 inches had fallen. 

We're not going to get much.  Just enough to make it feel like Christmas, & help Santa slide in on his sleigh.

   

Below is one of my favorite songs , White Christmas.  I'm awfully partial to Bing Crosby, but this video is really cute, & me being a Motown girl, well, the Drifters do just fine.

The reindeer are cute, aren't they?

Merry Christmas!

Sung by The Drifters. Cartoon by Joshua Held. Featuring Bill Pinkney on lead bass and Clyde McPhatter on tenor.  An animated Christmas Card, and a homage to a great song, a great band, and a great Holiday.

Smell that tree ....

Walkin’ In A Doggie Wonderland

 Dog tags ring, are you listenin?
In the lane, snow is glistenin’.
It’s yellow, NOT white
I’ve been there tonight

Marking up my winter wonderland.

Smell that tree? That’s my fragrance.
It’s a sign for wand’ring vagrants.
“Avoid where I pee, it’s MY pro-per-ty!
Marked up as my winter wonderland. 

In the meadow, Mom will build a snowman,
Following the classical design.
Then I’ll lift my leg and let it go Man,
So all the world will know it’s mine-mine-mine!

Straight from me to the fencepost,
Flows my natural incense boast.
“Stay off of my TURF, this small piece of earth,
I mark it as my winter wonderland.”

 Woof! Merry Christmas! Woof!

Robbing a Child, & Killing Their Spirit .....

I came across the below article while visiting Jane Fonda's website earlier today. Jane was on the Dr. Oz Show & it was hard for me to believe that she will be turning 74 tomorrow (12/21)! 

So, I had to Google her!

Jane is gorgeous! I should have looked like Jane when I was 20! Well, not really, but you get my drift. Jane is fit as a fiddle. She spoke of her mother's suicide when she was only 12. While writing her memoirs at age 64, she obtained her mother's medical records and found a notation that her mother was sexually abused when she was 8. This answered many questions for Jane as to "why her mother was the way she was". 

It's true when sexually abused, it's not just the body that is harmed, it is also the person as a whole. Their soul robbed of their innocence.  You just can't horrendously tinker with a vulnerable soul & think they're still whole & able to grow up undamaged.  For me, I was verbally & physically abused (not sexually), and to this very day I carry issues that I shouldn't carry.  In fact, my childhood abuse was a topic of discussion earlier today. It affects your life & those around you whether you realize it or not. That's why I've always tried not to judge people too harshly because I have no idea what shoes that person may be walking in.

Jane's mother carried her abuse all through her youth, marriage & motherhood, I don't know why she died by her own hands, but I'm certain her childhood experience had a hand in it.

Anyway, I'm getting a bit carried away here. I saw an article discussing the sexual child abuse at Penn State, and how a blind eye was afforded this monster who in turn abused even more children.  For years & years good people said & did nothing.  The article, itself, isn't that profound, but I thought I'd post the last couple of paragraphs that give parents an idea on how to protect their children.  Protect them without frightening them.

As a mom, I was very much aware who I allowed around my son. There was a family friend, a priest who traveled around the country; and a neighbor, who'd visit & wanted to date me, but seemed to take, I thought, a special interest in my son. Both of these individuals raised the hair on the back of my neck. They said or did nothing that I recall, but there was something that troubled me, & the one thing I know is to listen to my gut. I am hoping that both of those men were innocent and I that quietly over-reacted. 

 Michael Jackson

What we’ve learned from Penn State

 - snip -

The lesson of the past few weeks is speaking out. If you know of someone who is abusing a child, either physically or sexually, take action. If you see it, intervene. It you suspect it, confront them or report it. If you’re not sure about what you are seeing, contact Stop It Now at 1-888-PREVENT or www.stopitnow.org and discuss your next steps. If you hear or witness bullying, speak up against it and teach your children to do the same. Speak out against sexual harassment and take it seriously.

If you have children, “abuse-proof” them. Use Penn State and Syracuse University as a teachable moment. Make sure that the programs your children attend-scouts, soccer, school, church or synagogue-have a strong policy on keeping children safe, including screening and background checks for volunteers and employees and never being alone with children. Make sure that your child knows that most people would never hurt children, but that an older, bigger, stronger person should never touch a child’s genitals. Make sure your child knows that adults don’t ask children to be their friends or keep secrets, and that if someone makes them feel bad, funny, or uncomfortable with their touch or their words, they should tell you. Tell them that their body is wonderful, it belongs to them, and that they can say no to unwanted touch. And finally, tell them to come and tell you if someone does touch them. You may not be able to prevent the first case of abuse, but if your child is equipped with language and this information, you can prevent the second-just like the officials at Penn State could have stopped at least some of these young men from being abused.

When abuse happens, it is never a time to keep silence, but always a time to speak.

Debra Haffner  | Nov 22, 2011 7:03 PM

Adventures of the Update's Update ....

Ok, I know that title made no sense.

My GYN appointment today was canceled.  The doc was sick.  Even though I want to get this over with, I was happy not having to go.

 

I said the doc was sick ...

Vampire Tuesday

Here's something I'm really happy about, but forgot to add in my previous update:  It looks like my Vampire Tuesdays are over!  This is where I go over to the hospital each Tuesday & they drain about 500 mL of blood.  

It seems my blood levels are good, & I'm no longer in any danger.  What a relief.  My oncologist mentioned that maybe the cancer was making my body spin out of control.  Maybe, but for the time being, I have to be tested at least every two weeks to be on the safe side.

Snow 

Finally, we have a light dusting of snow.  Less than an inch.  And, baby it's cold outside!  It's presently 30 degrees out there, which ordinarily would be like a heat wave up here, but its been unseasonably warm.  This morning around 6am it was 58 degrees.  Like they say, don't blink in Michigan, the weather will change on you.

Introducing the Boobie Bloo's Boobie Snow-lady! 

Adventure Update ....

Although I have been a little motor-mouth the last couple of days, I've been remiss on keeping this blog up-to-date.  

Tumor 

The day before my last oncology appointment I wrote that I thought I had good news but I wanted confirmation from the doc.  It seemed that the cancer drug was working and that baseball size tumor was shrinking.  Good news!   My oncologist thought so too.  

The doc used her little measuring stick & it appeared smaller.  She cautioned that the tumor may have moved deeper inside.  There's no way of really knowing until the radiologist does his special ultrasound & pinpoints the marker he left inside my breast.  I think they plan on doing this 4-6 months after the start of the cancer drug treatment.  I'm nearing the end of the first  3 months.

Hot Flashes

I've been a little bit worried the drug isn't working as well because I don't seem to be having as many hot flashes.   But I am having other side effects.   I'm still trying to recover from a miserable cold & cough that hit me the week after Thanksgiving.   Funny, as I've been typing this, I've gotten 2 very hot hot flashes !  

 Diabetes

 In November I was shocked and unhappy to learn I am a diabetic.  Boy, if that isn't a life-style changer!  

 Medicine has changed over the years.  Remember the old Glucose Tolerance Test that seemed to take all day?  You fasted, drank a bottle of a sweet syrupy concoction, followed by blood levels drawn?   Nowadays they draw some blood & do a test called an Hb A1c Test.  This is a lab test that shows the average amount of sugar in your blood over 3 months.  That's a pretty cool. No muss, and no fuss.

• Hemoglobin A1c test --
  
  • Normal: Less than 5.7%
  • Pre-diabetes: 5.7% - 6.4%
  • Diabetes: 6.5% or higher

The day this test was taken I measured at 6.8%.  It was about the same when I went to my first diabetes class.

I went to the first of my two classes to learn all about diabetes and how to live with it.  I thought the class was really interesting.  They brought in a dietitian who taught us how to read food labels, and how to count carbohydrates, and how many carbs we're allowed to eat.  We learned about the meters to measure our glucose levels, and what level parameters we should strive to stay within. 

My next class is next Tuesday.  I'm looking forward to it.  My meter is in the mail & should be here any day.  Oh, boy, a new toy!  

Diet

Because of the cancer, I had already changed my diet.  The family & I agreed that all of us would benefit in eating smart and balanced foods.  We had a sit-down meeting about how we were going to do this, and that it would be a family affair.  

Before learning I am a diabetic, I had solace that I could cheat every now and then.  Now, however, that's not even an option, & that ticked me off.  Anyone who knows me knows how much I love potatoes.  I can't live without potatoes, & I refuse to go without potatoes!  Luckily for me, I can still eat potato, just not in the quantities I think I deserve!  LOL

 Family

The kids have told me they want to do all they can to help me stay alive.  Those are wonderful words to hear.  I admit I wonder about what next Christmas might or might not be like.  Makes me sad, not that I'm afraid of dying, I don't think I am.  It's just that I don't want to die.  Anyway, I'll do what I personally can do, pray the meds will continue to work & shrink that dang tumor & keep the cancer from spreading beyond the breast & lungs. 

This afternoon I have an appointment w/ the GYN to set me up for a biopsy.  Been having sporadic post-menopausal bleeding, so doc wants to rule out cancer.  The GYN I'm seeing is my oncologists' GYN.  That's reassuring, I think.

Well, that's it for now.  Hope I wrote this well enough where it's understandable.  Ol' motor-mouth me, eh?

10 Days Until Christmas Eve .....

You know what that means ....

 Santa & his bodyguards will be making their midnight rounds that very night ....

To bring us treasures worth their weight in gold .....

Ho! Ho! Ho!

Happy Holidays!

Take the Breast Cancer Quiz ....

 

Breast Cancer Quiz: Test Your Medical IQ

Click the above link for the quiz to test your knowledge.  Don't worry, if you miss any questions, it'll give you the answers as you progress.  

I got a 100%, but only because I cheated!  Had I taken this a few months ago, my score would have spelled  You'veGotALotToLearn!  

 

Life-Saving Meds vs Side-Effects ....

From BBC News ...
Breast cancer patients 'stop drugs' due to side-effects
 
9 December 2011 Last updated at 15:30 ET
 

About a third of breast cancer patients stop taking medication because side-effects are more severe than they expect, US researchers suggest.

The Northwestern University team questioned 686 women who were taking aromatase inhibitors as treatment for oestrogen-sensitive breast cancer.  It found 36% stopped their medication because of symptoms such as joint pain, hot flushes, weight gain and nausea.

- snip -

Aromatase inhibitors are given to postmenopausal breast cancer patients to reduce the level of oestrogen in those whose tumours were fuelled by the hormone.  About two-thirds of breast cancers are oestrogen-sensitive, and aromatase inhibitors have been shown to reduce the risk of cancer recurring. 

Information gap

 

Patients in the Northwestern University study filled out a 46-question survey rating their quality of life and symptoms associated with breast cancer and treatment.  They were asked about their symptoms before treatment and at three, six, 12 and 24 months after starting treatment. 

After three months, a third of women had severe joint pain, 28% had hot flushes and 24% had decreased libido among a range of symptoms.  The longer women were being treated, the more reported side-effects.

Those at highest risk of stopping before the recommended five years were those still experiencing side-effects from chemo or radiotherapy.  As a result of the side effects, 10% of the women had stopped taking the drug within two years. A further 26% had stopped by four years.

- More at the above link - 

Hot Flashes

I've already written here on my blog about the hot flashes.  They can be pretty severe; far worse than my menopausal hot flashes.  Luckily, it's cold outside & I keep a nice size crack in the window.  The kids come into my room & complain about the cold.  Once in a while I feel the cold & am amazed at my tolerance level for it.  I don't know how I'll handle the heat & humidity of next summer.   It does worry me.  Yet, something else worries me.  It seems the hot flashes are less frequent.  The doc says having them is a sign the drug is working; I'm petrified having less frequent hot flashes means the drug isn't as effective.

Pain

 

I was in an accident about 10 years ago that left me in constant pain.  I decided to stop taking the narcotics & just use Ibuprofen & Baclofen (for spasms).  All this accomplished was drastic weight gain, & becoming immobile.  I could not function due to the pain.  I had a stool in the kitchen just so I could sit to cook, do dishes, or even to make a cup of coffee.  After walking a few feet, I'd double over in pain.  Literally - and worse than this cartoon lady.  

Well, I am back on Vicoden, and can now function with limits.  I think there are those who make people like me feel uncomfortable about taking narcotics, but they are available for a reason, & if you need it, then you should take it.  Don't ruin your quality of life over some perceived guilt of addiction.  

My oncologist prescribed an aromatase inhibitor for my treatment of estrogen-sensitive breast cancer.  Remember I am post-menopausal, & have metastatic breast cancer.  The surgeon can't safely remove my baseball size tumor, & since my cancer is incurable, the doc canceled the originally prescribed chemotherapy & started me on Arimedex  (Anastrozole).

Today I take my 77th dose of Arimedex (yea, I keep track of each tablet, just so I don't forget to take this tiny life saving pill!) .  Besides those horrible hot flashes, I am in a lot of pain.  Lots of throbbing joint pain.  Even with Ibuprofen & Vicoden!  If I was feeling terrible pain while taking Vicoden, then good grief, how bad is this pain?  It's pretty bad.  I increased my Vicoden which helped.  My primary care physician increased my monthly quantity, as well as increasing the prescription to extra strength.  It has helped.  I also am making sure I take the Baclofen on a regular basis, & that seems to help, too.

Education

It seems to me that oncologists need to listen to their patients, & offer the pain medications if their patient's are suffering.  This drug is a life saving medication.  Which is worse?  A possible addiction or death?  My primary care doc understood.  She & my oncologist said pain was the primary complaint with this drug.

Maybe, too, an explanation on what to expect from this drug should be a part of the patient's treatment.  For me, a cold pack on the back of my neck helps, along with chewing on ice chips, and of course the nice crack in the wintery window.

So ...

 

My latest issue are the hives.  I'm not sure if it's the drug or something else, but the hives are itchy, in various places, and it's no fun!  

Anyway, the above article saddens me.  I don't know if the women who stopped taking their medication had other options; I sure hope so.  I can't imagine stopping a life-saving medication when the other drugs out there can be just as bad, if not worse.  

Hugs to all of us doing our best to stay alive.