Cycle 1 complete.

It's been 36 days since my last post.  So much has happened.

I'll try to be brief.

Feb 1 - I signed up for a Support Group for women 45+ with Metastatic Breast Cancer (MBC).  Me and one other were new to the group.  We both looked a little shell shocked.

Turns out yes, this is terminal, there was a woman in the group who got her MBC diagnosis 30+ years ago.  This was the first hope we'd had since Jan 20th.

Feb 7 - I met with my former Surgeon and my Dermatologist. The Surgeon, although direct, gave us some hope, she'll talk with the oncologist.  The Dermatologist suggested a biopsy of the site, and so finally some forward progress with the rash....that a dermatologist said was scar tissue.  The outcome of this meeting was -- no surgery until I can handle a potential infection and that rash that was 'scar tissue', is actually breast cancer, although Doctors are still fighting over whether it is shingles and breast cancer.

Feb 14 - Kent and I met with the oncologist -- and we started treatment immediately.  He said, we should have started this yesterday. So injections in my butt -- that had to happen at the same time, over 2 minutes....so I said, It's like getting your ears pierced, but in your butt....?  They laughed.  I took some pills that I will be taking every day for 3 weeks....and so it begins.

I requested the official letter from my Dr for my absence from work.  It was official.  I am at the losing end of this treatment. Loss of health, routine, work I love, loss, loss, loss.

Feb 17 - Melissa, Jon and the kids arrived -- they bring such joy to the house!! I also completed a bone scan.  Great news from that scan -- there are no bone mets, the cancer hasn't spread.  

Feb 18 - Max arrived!  The joy is complete!!

Feb 26 - My Dad and his super cute fiancée arrived for a visit.  It was so good to have them here in Nanaimo, We got to have some good family time, and so the house (and Sister's boat) was packed, so much so we left the back door cracked.... ;)

https://open.spotify.com/track/5Zh89Y0ldv7BikFZ2nyFXQ?si=c_FbjT8EScmOJQc_CcYoVA

After a couple very scary trips to the ER this month, getting my own "VIP Pass" to NRGH's ER, (seeing the inside of a trauma room....) and too may thoracenteses to mention, the month is over AND I survived the first round of treatment.  

Today is day 1 of my week off and I feel actually really, really good -- in comparison to the balance of the month.