Happy Halloween!

Tonight was pumpkin-carving night! A lot of pulp flinging fun was had by all.

ps - still no call from the hospital re: operation date

A Few More Memories . . .

Here are a few more pictures of Bev and I at Chrissy's in Vancouver.

Bev and Chrissy @ Jasper Park Lodge.

Jasper Park Lodge

The TIT's are back in town! :) The smiles say it all: we had a great time together. The Lodge was not up to our princess standards - but we had fun anyhow. We made some great memories and laughed ourselves sick! Spa treatments, great wine, and togetherness . . . what more could a girl ask for?

Here's a few pics of the weekend . . . more to come as they come in. My camera calfed early.

Off to Jasper!

Tomorrow will be a TIT weekend in Jasper. We have two Junior suites and some spa treatments booked. Joni Brown informed us that Andy's (sp?) is the place to eat in Jasper. It sounds wonderful. We have reservations, but we will see how Bev feels. If it is too much, we will stay put, drink wine, and order in. Rough eh? I'll take many photos and cherish this weekend with the gals. More to come . . .

Vancouver - day 3

Last night we had a fantastic salmon dinner at Dick and Loretta's! Loretta's sister Judy was there as well. Great conversations and lots of laughs . . .

This morning we started at BCCA at 8:45 am.
Here is Chrissy and Bev waiting with me in Pod one, room E.



Having fun in room E


Jackin' around with Bev


Bev and I with Karen Gelmon

We met with Karen. She checked me out first. I had the usual physical check over and then the discussion followed. I will go home and have my other ovary taken out. She explained the reasons for not needing to take the uterus as well. Having my ovaries gone will bring on menopause and dry up the annoying endometriosis. Also, having the uterus intact is believed to maintain sexual pleasure. Interesting . . . We had a few laughs around that issue.
She looked at my arm and mole and set me up with a dermatologist oncologist. Also, I had a follow up meeting with the radiologist, Peter Lim. Finally she completed my paperwork and then followed up with Bev.

Karen will see Bev again in November. The the effects of the radiation will be known then and another course of chemo will be discussed. Karen wanted to allevaite Bev's nausea and hear about Bev's comfort level - or lack of it. She set up an appt. with the urologist (end of Oct) and gave her another prescription.

The we went down to radiation. After that I met with the radiologist and then we had to wait to see the dermatologist. He prescribed some cream for my itchy arm and the mole on my back - age spot. NO CONCERN from Dr. Ho whatsoever! yee haw

Bev getting positioned

Bev on the monitor

We did a little shopping and now we are finally back to nap in the sun (3:30). This is a long day of appointments and repeating ones story. :(

Time to nap . . .

Vancouver - day 2

Great day!!! I slept in and did NOT have make breakfast, lunch, and drive Jordyn to school. I slept in !!!! I had breaky and talked to Norm. He so lovingly faxed over a sheet I had forgotten at home for Karen to fill out. Then ran the sea wall again. It was so lovely. After hearing it had snowed in PG this morning, I savored every step.

Chrissy, Bev, and I did some antique perusing. We also had our Thanksgiving celebration with a turkey and basil panini at a wonderful little bakery, and then it was time for medical appointments.

We went up to Sheina's office and had a little chin wag with missy Andrea (cutie receptionist) before Sheina arrived. Andrea entered the CIBC Run for the Cure in Vancouver and raised $400 all by her little self! Fantastic! Then Sheina popped in. The bottom line is that I can have my follow up surgery whenever I would like. I will have lipo, breast lift, nipple reconstruction, and dog ear removal. This will take approximately two hours and is day surgery.

I will wait until the hysterectomy is booked at home and then book this surgery around that date. I may wait until Spring Break or the summer. Apparently 5 days of Madonna cups over the nipples are needed to enhance healing and prevent weight bearing damage. This would not look cool in front of a class of teenagers. :) Also, after lipo suction, one has to wear biker shorts (or the equivalent) for 24 hrs/day for an extended period of time. Interesting . . .
Miss Sheina - cute as ever. Getting married in November!

Then we went to Bev's radiation. I got to go in the room and watch Keri prepare the bed and machine for Bev. Then I manned the techy station while Bev was sealed in the room. I found "the" button to talk in to the room and bother my friend as she was being zapped. It was fun. The techies had a sense of humour and allowed me the run of the station. Bev at her radiation station

Bev and techy Keri

Radiation room

The radiation spot

Radiation markers
Me jackin' around at the station (Bev's on the monitors)

Now we are back at the condo having a little vino and awaiting dinner. Tonight we are heading to Dick and Loretta's for a fab meal. For those of you who know Loretta and Dick - you will be jealous. It is like having a meal at my mom and dad's. NEVER a disappointment. YUM!

We'll do a photo opp there and I'll post the feast later :)

Vancouver - day 1

Okay,
So I flew in to the big city and Chrissy was waiting with a big smile as per usual. :)
We came back to the condo to see Bev. She had two zaps of radiation yesterday, and so she was barfy last night and still feeling crappy today :(

When I went to the gyny, Bev went for another radiation zap. She came back and Chrissy, Bev, and I went into my appt. A cute little intern from Prince George came in and took the appointment. It was nice to see a fellow Prince Georgian :) She took the info and then went out and spoke to the gyny. They both came back in and we made a plan.

Because I don't have ovarian cancer, the likelihood of me getting in to have a hysterectomy in Vancouver is remote. They are booking high grade cancers 4 - 6 weeks from now. So . . . they will cc Dr. Galliford in PG and I will book in when I get home. The gyny also said that since my discomfort is mainly from endometriosis, perhaps I could only have my ovary out and I will be able to return to work earlier :) that leave my uterus intact. Hmmmmm . . . what implications are left from this move? I'll ask Karen Friday . . .

ps I would add pictures, but my card was in my computer. Not tomorrow though!

Dan Rogers for Mayor!

Dan Rogers came out and ran for the cure! It was nice to have such a busy guy come out and join us in the cause. He forwarded these photos of the day. There are more to come, but I wanted to add these for today. Don't forget to vote Rogers in November folks! A new, young, and sober mayor . . . what a novelty! :) oops, was that out loud?
I am now attempting to pack for Vancouver. I leave tomorrow morning, and I am still running around like a fart in a mitt. I have 3 appointments over 3 days. I will bring the camera and keep you posted as I visit the various physicians. THEN Bev and I get to drive back together. We'll pull a little Thelma and Louise and arrive in time for a Sunday Thanksgiving bird. gobble gobble

CIBC Run for the Cure!

Yesterday was the CIBC Run for the Cure. Some family members and many friends came out for the run/walk. It was a surprisingly emotional morning for me. As I stood and listened to the speeches, I was brought right back to the day I was diagnosed; the panic, worry, and fear that one feels in an instant flooded my senses. I then flashed through my operations and treatment. Cherie and Becky just wrapped their little arms with mine and I just cried and remembered. I cried thinking of what I have gone through, what is still coming, and I cried for the many more that will have to face this same challenge. One in eight women will get breast cancer. That is a ridiculous statistic. It is time for a cure!