1 year check-up - Good results!

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 that we were able to last long enough for me to get through the cancer treatments and recover some of my strength before I caught it, and also thankful for vaccinations and the milder symptoms of the strain we got!

We had been planning to have Ruth and Janet come up for an art workshop, where we would hang out and I would teach them how to make some fused glass pieces, but the covid timing didn't work for that, so we're postponing it until September. I'm looking forward to it! I got back in the studio before I got sick, and I've already made a few samples that they can use for inspiration of the techniques. It's nice to be able to create glass art again!

Last month I met with the oncologist and she had me get an infusion of Zometra, which is supposed to help my bones. It has rare unfortunate side effects of bone problems, so I'm hoping I don't get any of those! Many get bone pain, fevers, and tiredness. Some people break their femurs or vertebrae, and some have their jaw dissolve, but they tell me those are very rare, and usually after many years of use or if the person has existing dental health issues, smokes, or has diabetes. I checked with my dentist, who feels my oral health is in good shape.

The reasons to get the medicine are either to make sure the anti-cancer drugs that leach calcium out of the bones are counteracted, or to make sure that any remaining cancer cells don't end up metastasizing in the bones. We had a big conversation about that. If it's the first reason, I wanted them to test my bones and see how they are doing first, to see if I need it. Instead, it is mostly the second reason. I'm envisioning it kicking any remaining cancer cells out of their hiding places in the bones, but I don't know exactly how it works! I'm supposed to get an infusion of Zometra every 6 months for 2 or 3 years.

Anyway, my side effects were fever, headaches, body aches, tiredness, sore wrists, and sharp pains in legs. The worst ones were done in several days, but I continued with half of the symptoms for 13 days. Now I feel good. I told Frank I had a few days last month where I actually felt like me again, so that is huge! That's happening much more often now, so I'm excited. My brain function is still challenging for me, but I had a couple days where I could focus and do complicated work for several hours in a row, so I'm having progress there too!

I finished the LiveStrong YMCA program, then started some regular exercise classes, but I immediately hurt my calf muscle. After a trigger point massage, a Graston technique massage, and three weeks of ice and elevation, it is back to normal! I played pickleball, volleyball, and ultimate frisbee at full exertion this week, and all felt good! My strength is starting to come back, and I even got a few good volleyball spikes! Back to easing into exercise and weight-lifting classes soon! Some of the LiveStrong class members wanted to continue together, so I'll see how that goes.

My dad has improved so much after his broken hip - to the point where he is using a walker to move short distances, and is motivated to exercise. His favorite activity is a massage in a warm bath that the therapists roll out on his bed and fill with water! Such a great house visit!