1 year check-up - Good results!

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I had my one-year MRI and a spot mammogram, and results were good! The mammogram said "Probably benign", which they expect after surgery, and there were no changes since 6 months ago. And the MRI showed no issues. So I remain in the status of "No evidence of Disease" and am thrilled. My feet and hands look and feel good again, which is exciting! My fingerprints are back and I'm delighted to be able to open my own jars and bottles! My main remaining symptoms are inability to focus and accomplish complicated tasks, low endurance, low arm strength, and lower breathing ability. They mostly don't bother me much and are all improving. Frank came back from a FIRST Robotics convention and tested positive for Covid a couple days later, and although we'd stayed apart since he got home, I tested positive the next day. We isolated a lot, but didn't have terrible symptoms. Mostly sore throat, cough, stuffy nose, and fever for a couple of days. I'm thankful th...
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Treatment #17 and tests

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This week’s treatment went smoothly. Just taxol, Pepcid, and cold mitts. Everything had time in between though. My port access went quickly (5 minutes) but they allow an hour, so we had lots of time in the waiting room. Usually everyone keeps mostly to themselves, but we had one woman come over and ask me about my bald head. She was two weeks into chemo and her hair was starting to come out, and she was curious about the difference in skin color under her hair (mine looked evenly colored in a couple of weeks), how I cut my hair (buzz cutters rather than disposable razor so I wouldn’t get cuts and nicks), and how warm was I (mostly I don’t need a hat). She was already freezing with her short haircut! Her dad was with her because her mom was at her own cancer treatments for multiple myeloma, and her sister also had breast cancer. Her sister was diagnosed at 39 and she was at age 41. She said they don't have any of the known genetic risks. Very upbeat, but wow, that's a lot for one family!

After she went in for her treatment, another woman came up and asked Frank about FIRST robotics. He was wearing a hat and a fleece jacket with their logo on it. She runs a homeschooled FTC team with her middle school kids and a few others, and loves it, so they had a great time talking tech until my name was called!

Then on Friday morning, I went back down for multiple tests: MRI, mammogram, and ultrasound. They took me from one to the other so fast I was done before my second one was scheduled, and Frank thought I still had two to go! The doctor reading the mammogram and the ultrasound said the results were about what she expected at her first glance: it has not gotten larger, and it might be somewhat smaller and is wispier. She is going to look over all the previous test results and make comparisons. As I understand it, the main reason they run these tests is so the surgeon can make a plan. Also, they can go back with future studies and see which tests were the most accurate, for example. They won't really know how the tumor responded until after the surgery. 

We are scheduled to meet with the surgeon on Tuesday. I have a lot of questions for her!

                        Kathy on a beautiful bench during our Earth Day hike at the new All-Person's Trail.

                                Piggy helping with the crossword puzzle when Frank took a break.

                                                        Me waiting for one of the tests Friday.

                                                        A visitor to our yard!

A very healthy looking bobcat!










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1 year check-up - Good results!

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Image
I had my one-year MRI and a spot mammogram, and results were good! The mammogram said "Probably benign", which they expect after surgery, and there were no changes since 6 months ago. And the MRI showed no issues. So I remain in the status of "No evidence of Disease" and am thrilled. My feet and hands look and feel good again, which is exciting! My fingerprints are back and I'm delighted to be able to open my own jars and bottles! My main remaining symptoms are inability to focus and accomplish complicated tasks, low endurance, low arm strength, and lower breathing ability. They mostly don't bother me much and are all improving. Frank came back from a FIRST Robotics convention and tested positive for Covid a couple days later, and although we'd stayed apart since he got home, I tested positive the next day. We isolated a lot, but didn't have terrible symptoms. Mostly sore throat, cough, stuffy nose, and fever for a couple of days. I'm thankful th...
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