What goes on in the oncology clinic and the backyard

Thanks, Gladys

This was an unexpected gift that we have all enjoyed. Most of the flowers are gone now, but some remain.

Matt took some photos while I was getting a treatment at the oncologist's office

Here you see where my medi-port is. It is completely under the skin and saves my very few accessible veins for use by people who are not authorized to access ports.

That would be RN's and "above." You don't want just anybody having access to a catheter that dumps medication directly into the superior vena cava. That is just "upstream" from the heart.

Then, once I am hooked up, I get down to some serious crocheting.

And I am not the only one.

Who says you can't have fun at the oncology clinic!

A few days later, the haircut.

Matt didn't watch the first two haircuts. Those were before he started video blogging and got a video camera. My brother, Tony, took these stills. Matt pretty much watched through the viewfinder.

I don't think this is what my Mom had in mind when she gave me Grandpa's barber clippers.

Ruth Update, November 26, 2007

Dear Friends, Relatives, and Prayer Partners,

It has been a while since I sent an update, though I have posted a few things at the blog. Mainly, I have had no news on the cancer front. I feel weirdly well, actually. It is a bit disconcerting to know that I have an incurable, fatal disease, and I feel pretty well. Aches and pains, of course, but I am an out-of-shape fifty-year-old woman. I think my brothers actually have more aches and pains than I do. On November 17th, I walked three miles with a "help the homeless" walk-a-thon, and lived to tell the tale. I even baked pizza that evening! Paul and I did not keep up with our party, but it was mostly the youth group from our church, led by our athletic pastors. They waited for us at the end. At the start, I got to shake hands with Mayor Adrian Fenty of DC. I thought that was pretty cool. I want to know where he got those soft leather gloves! This evening, NPR's "All Things Considered" ran a piece on John and Elizabeth Edwards, and she spoke of how she feels pretty well most of the time. They also mentioned that women in her situation rarely survive past ten years. She and I are paddling the same boat. I do not know the extent of her mets, but I believe she had some organ involvement that I did not have at my last scan.

I got another one of those survey calls from my HMO. To the "how would you rate your health compared to other people your age," I actually asked the poor guy how a person with incurable cancer was supposed to answer that? I chose "fair." How can my health be "poor" when I am still going to work thirty hours a week, and baking bread and pizza?

In response to my last update, a friend of mine wrote: "Ruth, At least you have Paul to go through it with you everyday. Everyday thank God that Paul is at your side and that you have his good and steady love with you every day, you know? Don't take it for granted. OK?" My reply to that was: "I have been thanking God for Paul for years. He and his family are the best thing that ever happened to me, and I know I am unusually blessed." And it is the truth.

Get your mammograms. Do your self-exams.

Love,

Ruth
http://ruthsmusings.blogspot.com/

Ruth Update, November 9, 2007

Dear Friends, Relatives, and Prayer Partners,

My cousin Jan came to visit this week. She arrived Sunday evening from Nebraska, and we spent Monday taking Timmy to the International Spy Museum in DC (worth the money, by the way). On Monday evening, Laurel, the music director from St. Paul's came by so I could run through the song I am singing at church on Sunday: "Fill My Cup, Lord," to practice it and so Jan could hear it. At one point, I made eye contact with Jan during the song, and just totally dissolved into tears. No eye contact with anybody on Sunday, I promise you. Tears seem to be very near the surface these days. I think it is because of the hormonal treatments I am getting for my cancer. I will be addressing this with my oncologist. Anyway, Jan and Timmy were planning to go to the National Zoo on Tuesday, but Timmy seemed more content to sleep, so Jan was okay with that. I went to work that day, and Jan came by. We had hoped to get her laptop on the church's secure wireless system, but even though she, the pastor, and I worked on the connection, it only worked marginally. We just hope we did not destroy her connectivity completely. She bought me lunch, and took us out to dinner that evening. Wednesday morning, the airport shuttle came by to get her after I went to work, and she flew home.

I was feeling kind of bummed because Matt and I had not spoken since we were at Hershey Park, even though I had left a few messages and e-mails asking him to do so. This afternoon I was feeling really low, so I called him and got through. We had a nice chat. He got a compliment from one of his theater teachers who saw him in rehearsal for the first time, so he was feeling pretty good. We talked for a while and told each other of our love. At about nine o'clock this evening, he walked in the door. Sneaky kid had bummed a ride with one of his high school buddies so he could surprise us and see "Alice in Wonderland" at Lake Braddock Theater this weekend. It is so good to have him home, if only briefly. He is leaving Sunday morning sometime, and I have strongly suggested he make it to church. I promise I will not make eye contact with him while singing.

We will be pretty busy on Saturday, though Paul will be backpacking with the Scouts. The boys and I will be seeing "Alice" in the afternoon, and then I have tickets to a "Sweet Adelines" concert in the evening. I hope to take one of my sons with me. Matt plans to see "Alice" again, as they have two different people playing the lead because they have extra performances. That way, more children can see the play. I think he hopes to bring his girlfriend to the second performance.

On Monday, I will be having my next Faslodex and Aredia treatments. Paul has the day off, which is a good thing, since the china cabinet will be delivered on Tuesday morning, and furniture needs to be shuffled.

Please pray about my bone and joint pain, and my emotional state.

Get your mammograms. Do your self-exams.

Ruth

Ruth Update, November 4, 2007

Dear Friends, Relatives, and Prayer Partners,

Today, the bell choir added to the service at church. That bell piece I mentioned in my blog, that I had been doing for years and years? I screwed it up. I picked up my bells wrong on the hard part, and completely botched it. I knew before I started ringing, thank goodness, so I just kind of had to sit those measures out. Better to not ring than ring the wrong bells. I just could not find where I belonged. I am so mad. In case you have no idea what I am talking about, for those measures, I hold two bells in each hand in such a way that, depending upon how I hold my hands, they can ring separately. When you are used to ringing it a certain way, if you hold bells in the wrong hands, you can really screw it up. Good thing the organ was playing and the congregation was singing, so it didn't stick out too much. I may be the only person who noticed. Until now.

Anyway, I hope to redeem myself next Sunday. I will sing a solo during the offering at the 8:00 AM and 11:00 AM services at St. Paul's Lutheran Church, 7426 Idylwood Road, Falls Church, VA 22043. Y'all come!

I have put a link on my blog for self-exams for men and women. It is in the right side bar, right near the top of the page.

So . . .

Get your mammograms. Do your self-exams.

Ruth
http://ruthsmusings.blogspot.com/

About those self-exams

I posted this link a while back, and I think it is time I did it again:

Self-exams for men and women

Ruth Update, November 3, 2007

Dear Friends, Relatives, and Prayer Partners,

Please forgive me for my silence. I was busy for part of the week setting up a private blog for my cousins. We started out on e-mail, but I think I convinced most of them that a blog would work better. I could be wrong, of course.

Last Saturday, we celebrated Timmy's and my birthdays by going to Pennsylvania. We have finally ordered the china cabinet for which I have been lobbying for some time. I have a bit more leverage this birthday. Anyway, the perfect one was a floor model, so we got it inexpensively. I am sorry, I didn't take a photo of it. They have promised delivery by Thanksgiving, and it could be any time, actually. I am so looking forward to getting my wedding china out of boxes in the basement, and Mom's china out of boxes in the attic. We plan to actually use them! Really! I need to make some doilies to decorate the inside, since it has glass shelves and lights for display.

The place where we ordered it is in Lancaster County, which is Amish and Mennonite country. Paul would be perfectly content to get all of our future furniture there. It is solid oak and made by the company, with nothing imported. I don't know about the recliners, though we really should have gotten one of them, too. I reached too high, and tried to get a three-piece living room set. We are not sure we have room for it, so I couldn't push too hard. Shoulda gone for one of the singles. The recliner we have is really old. I nursed Matt in that chair when it belonged to my parents. Hardware is falling off of it.

After we had lunch at a buffet-style place (that prepares food for hard-working people), we went to Hershey Park for Timmy's present. This was fun. Timmy and Paul rode on two roller-coasters. I settled for the monorail train and got them to join me in the "Kissing Tower," which is re-named "Bats in the Belfry" for their Halloween festivities. It gives a nice view of the area without extra g-forces. We also visited "Hershey's Chocolate World," where, in addition to selling every single candy made by the company, you can take a little train ride through a simulated chocolate factory. Paul and I really liked the video at the beginning that showed the growing and processing of cocoa beans at the source. Timmy wanted to hurry on to the train ride. He waited. We enjoyed the train ride, too, but piping in the aroma of chocolate was kind of a dirty trick. There were also animatronic cows, and a bull took your picture. We bought some candy, but not the picture. Also some chocolate-scented body wash.

This is a down week for my treatment. I did notice an itchy area on my backside last week. Then, I noticed a similar one on the other side, strangely symmetrical. A light bulb went off in my head, so I called the triage nurse at my oncologist's office. Yes, indeed, this is a common side effect of Faslodex, which is administered once a month as two intramuscular injections. Antibiotic ointment and dipenhydramine (Benedryl) cream fixed me right up. It is a little harder to control the joint pain brought on by both the Faslodex and the Aredia. I am taking about the maximum dose of Tylenol, some of it as Vicodin, that I can take. My pain is more annoying than debilitating. I fear that I may have to start taking Vicodin during the day, since my cancer is in my bones, and that also causes pain. Maybe next weekend I will see how the Vicodin affects me during the day. I want to still be able to drive. There are lots of other pain medications I can explore with my oncologist. At the moment, she is dealing with pain of her own, as she had foot surgery last week. I will next see her personally in December. There are other docs covering for her, of course, if anything major comes up.

I am adjusting to my "new normal." I have been unable to attend the support group meeting I wish to join, but they had a special event on Tuesday, with an oncologist presenting the newest treatments, and some women who belong to the support group had a panel discussion. I feel much better, but still want to get with them to see what is working for them. I am also interested in participating in clinical trials. With our proximity to the National Cancer Institute, John's Hopkins University, and Georgetown University, it is not difficult to be involved in such trials. Another thing to discuss when my oncologist comes back to work.

Now, I have to get to work. My cousin Jan is coming to visit tomorrow evening, so we must get the house cleaned.

Get your mammograms. Do your self-exams.

Love,

Ruth
Pictures should be posted at my blog soon: http://ruthsmusings.blogspot.com

Ruth Update, October 26, 2007

Dear Friends, Relatives, and Prayer Partners,

I was pretty bummed at the beginning of this year, because it was one of those "7," years, which I haven't enjoyed since 1977.

My attitude has changed a bit since then. I am really glad to be fifty years old. I will be glad to see the next "7" year, too.

Happy Birthday to me.

Get your mammograms. Do your self-exams.

Ruth

Ruth Update, October 18, 2007

Dear Friends, Relatives, and Prayer Partners,

I have been trying out a new, short, description of my current condition. If people have not been brought up to speed, I tell them "I am now in the chronic, incurable phase of my cancer." What do you think? I usually go on about new discoveries all the time, but that pretty much sums it up, right? How would you feel if another friend hit you with that?

I was just speaking with Sonia, an online friend. Her mother, Arla, was diagnosed with cancer when she was in her eighties. She has had several rounds of chemotherapy since then, and some radiation, too. Sonia went to see her last year, as they thought this might be her last chance to see her while she was still fairly healthy. She is now 91, and all of her scans show clear. She lives in her house with her husband, and her kids call her "the Energizer Bunny," because she just keeps going, and going, and going . . . I wanna be like Arla.

The southeast is suffering a drought, and just this week a record was set at National Airport for the longest period with no measurable precipitation. Paul and Timmy are off on a Scout Camporee, so we naturally got rain today. I hope the boys don't get rained on this weekend.

My plan for this weekend include going to the mall to get new glasses and a new driver's license. So, if anybody is going to be a Fair Oaks Mall Saturday morning, you know where to look for me! There is also a new yarn shop open over in that direction.

I checked with my oncologist about my pain medications. I have been taking NSAIDS -- that family of drugs that includes asprin, ibuprofen, and naproxen sodium. They are known to be hard on the kidneys when taken over a long period of time, and since Aredia has the possibility of kidney damage, I asked if maybe I should stop taking those. She said that, though the risk is slight, it might be a good idea to change to other pain meds. So, she wrote me a prescription for Vicodin. That is Tylenol with Hydrocodone, a controlled substance. Okay, good for bedtime. I assume I will have to take Tylenol during the day. I quit taking pain meds a few days ago, to see how things went. I seem to still need them. Not only do I have the aches associated with my bone mets, I also have the family knees.

I asked my oncologist about clinical trials. She told me that if I found one I wanted to participate in, to bring her the paperwork. In other words, I do the legwork. Well, not tonight.

While I was working on this entry, my brother Andy called. He lives near Lincoln, Nebraska, and works as a cook at the heart hospital there. He and his friend Mark have been playing guitar together off and on since high school. When we were cleaning out our parent's home, Andy found a part from Mark's Fender Telecaster electric guitar that had probably been in the house for twenty years. Anyway, they have finally found a drummer, and have named their band "The Prairie Kings." They hope to get some gigs around Lincoln and have some fun. A CD is in the works, but nobody is giving up their day jobs. They could also use a bass player, so Andy can play some more harmonica. Right now he plays guitar and bass. Mark has put up some pictures and stuff at his personal website. That's Andy on the left. Since Mark is the computer expert in the bunch, expect a website for the band in the near future. I will keep you posted! Well, we think Andy is great, anyway.

Get your mammograms. Do your self-exams.

Ruth

Inspirational?

Thanks to all of you who have called me "an inspiration," "my hero," and other things that make me blush. I certainly did not ask to be put in this position, and I only hope that I can do a little good by telling you all, once again, to "Get your mammograms. Do your self-exams." I know of one person who did that, and caught her cancer early. For that I am grateful.

I am not all that strong. The strangest things set me off. For instance, one of my cousins said she would be "a babbling idiot" in my place. I told her:

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Believe me, I have gone through the babbling idiocy phase, and sometimes am still in it. Like tonight at bell choir. We were playing the bell part for the hymn of praise "This Is the Feast of Victory for Our God." I have been playing the same four bells on that piece for years. They wanted to take a couple away from me to make it easier, but I said I would rather just play what I have been playing. It was hard enough to learn, all those years ago, and now it is almost automatic. Then, I got to thinking, "who will play these bells after I am gone?" I had to leave the room for a bit. It is strange the things that bother one in a time like this.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

As a matter of fact, the thought still chokes me up and makes me teary. There are other thoughts that do the same -- most of them involving Paul and the boys.

I think I had better go now.

P.S. I felt pretty crappy this afternoon. Side effects from the Aredia -- fever, soreness, like that. Not entirely unexpected. I shared my concerns with my oncologist, and they said to take Tylenol and monitor. The fever is much lower, and I went for a walk with Paul. I may actually make it to work tomorrow.

Ruth Update, October 15, 2007

Dear Friends, Relatives, and Prayer Partners,

It is amazing how little life changes when you find out that you have incurable cancer. I go to work, I go to the grocery store, I sleep in my own bed, and do laundry. I worry about Timmy's school work. I think about what I will crochet next. I even ordered some yarn! As if I didn't have enough stash.

At the same time, I have learned a little about what is really going on, here. According to most expectations, I have several years left, and most of them will be pretty good. One person even promised me that I would see Timmy graduate from high school. He is in seventh grade. She did not, however, promise that I would play with my grandchildren. I hadn't told her about my college freshman son, though. No, Matt, no rush! I am much more concerned about your happiness in this matter than I am concerned about playing with babies. I should have plenty of time to knit and crochet things for those grandchildren, though. There will be a hug in every stitch.

Another point is that there are advancements made in cancer treatment all the time. The drug that can keep me alive indefinitely could be available any time. The drugs that cure cancer could be out there, and we just don't know it!

There are many kinds of miracles. Just look at HIV-AIDS. Those who are lucky enough to have quality health care can live healthy lives for years, as long as they take their medicines. The vast majority of people with HIV, though, will never see those drugs. The same with cancer. I am alive today because I have good health care. People who don't have access to that health care die, and sometimes people don't even know what has killed them. I just heard today that the Indian Health Service often doesn't treat cancer. Some service.

Okay, I will get down off of the soapbox that I am not qualified to stand upon.

I just had my first Aredia today. Assuming that I don't have a bad reaction, my next infusion of it will be on November 12th. I will also get the Faslodex shot at the same time. I am supposed to get lab work done so that it is available on the day that I have the infusions. They need to watch my kidney function with the Aredia.

I plan to attend a support group tomorrow evening.

You haven't seen the last of me!

Please pray for whatever miracle we can get. Please also support medical research however you can.

Get your mammograms. Do your self-exams.

Ruth
http://ruthsmusings.blogspot.com

The Trip to Radford in photos!

Yes, it's a college dorm room. I don't know why I thought he might possibly clean it up for our visit.



The old self-portrait.




Some of the sorority girls said "Awww" when I made out who I was walking in honor of.


Timmy had more fun on the playground than on the walk.


It is amazing what you can fit into the trunk of a car if you really try! Our suitcase fit in there, too.

Ruth Update, October 8, 2007

Dear Friends, Relatives, and Prayer Partners,

We did indeed go to Radford to visit Matt this weekend. We left here about 6 pm and got to our motel in Christiansburg at about 11:15 pm (Radford was full up, surprise, surprise). We went on a walk for breast cancer research. I hope they made lots of money, because the route was kind of lame. They roped off a "course" which was a rough oval, and you walked around and around. Paul estimated it at 170 meters. They also had a raffle, for which I bought five tickets. It seems to me the majority of the prizes went to the sisters of the sorority sponsoring the walk. Of course, one of them bought 100 tickets, sooooo. . . Anyway lots of college kids with Greek letters on their t-shirts showed up.

After that we went to see "All My Sons," put on by the college theater department, with Conrad John Schuck in the starring role. Gee, an actor I actually recognize! (I wish IMDB had more photos of him, but you can get a little more info from the Radford U site). They had quite a gallery of past guest artists, including Elizabeth Taylor. Of course, she was pictured with her then-husband, Senator John Warner. I think a few strings may have been pulled to get her.

We had a nice dinner in a banquet hall, where we also had brunch the next day. Saturday evening, we saw a comedy magic show, by Spike and Hammer. It was pretty funny, and well done.

We left after brunch on Sunday.

I would have had a lot more fun if I didn't have another back spasm that started on Saturday morning and lasted until we got home. I didn't take my Vicodin with me, only Motrin and muscle relaxant. I was okay walking, sitting, standing, and lying down. It was the transitions that hurt. A lot. Also, don't give me a "high five" on my right hand. Poor Timmy did and I was in some pain for a bit.

One of the mets to my bone is in my right shoulder, so I guess that is what has been causing the pain there, not a rotator cuff problem. Also, we think the met to the rib is what is causing my "back spasms." I got my first treatment of Faslodex under the new regimen today, and complained to the nurse. She ran it by the doctor, and we are in agreement that the met is the source of the pain. For now, we will continue on the treatment I told you about the last time. The Faslodex is actually two shots. They assure me that I don't want the whole lot in one place.

I have had a couple of people ask why don't we just shoot the big guns right away this time. It is because the big guns could do me more harm than good at this point. I have been treated in the left hip, and have new mets to the right hip, both shoulders, some vertebrae, and a rib. In an adult, the bulk of our bone marrow is in the hips and vertebrae. We are not ready to do in my bone marrow. Though with the pain I have been feeling in the rib, I don't know why they can't just irradiate there.

I have given some thought to what you can do to help me. Prayer is, of course, first on the list. Another thing you can do is get on the bone marrow registry. I was on this registry before I was diagnosed with cancer. Nobody has said anything about me needing a bone marrow transplant, but this is a good thing to do for anybody. Also, if you want to contribute to breast cancer research, feel free. We support Susan G. Komen for the Cure. Then, of course, there is The Breast Cancer Site. You can just click to give. So they say, anyway.

Get your mammograms. Do your self exams.

Ruth

Ruth Update, October 4, 2007

Dear Friends, Relatives, and Prayer Partners,

I met with my oncologist yesterday. She is going to treat me pretty conservatively for now, watching closely with another PET scan in three months or so, but I should not be missing any work, besides a few hours once a month, so we can all calm down. I will be getting Faslodex which is a once a month intramuscular injection (a shot in the butt), and Aredia , which is a once-a-month IV infusion.

The Faslodex is supposed to interfere with the metabolism of the cancer cells, and the Aredia is supposed to help with bone growth and healing. It worries me a bit because it is related to Zometa, which put me in the hospital with a high fever and generally yucky side effects last time. My oncologist knows about that episode, though, and she seems pretty confident. We shall see.

The good news is: I am not in any pain where the cancer is in my bones and there is no sign of any cancer outside of my skeleton. My cancer is now in a “chronic” phase, if you will. I could go on like this for years.

The bad news is that we don’t know the mind of God, and things could change at any time. My oncologist is saving the big guns for when we really need them. Barring a miracle, we will probably need them eventually. She knew of a patient who lasted for 18 years after getting to this stage, but she is an extreme example. The cancer did get her in the end.

The only thing I need from you is prayer. I will not be losing my hair, so I don't need hats. I should stay pretty healthy, so I won't need a lot of help with food and that kind of thing.
You have my permission to pray for a miracle, but I will settle for a long, fairly normal life. I still would like to play with my grandchildren -- at least nine months after I become a mother-in-law!

Get your mammograms. Do your self exams.

Ruth

Ruth Update, October 1, 2007

Dear Friends, Relatives, and Prayer Partners,

The honeymoon is over. The results of my PET scan show a malignancy in my T8 (eighth thoracic) vertebra. Maybe the guy reading the MRI counted wrong. It also shows areas of "increased metabolic activity" in some other places in my skeleton. None of these places hurt. That's the good news. I think God sent me a back spasm to force me to get an MRI, which led me to getting a PET scan.

I got the news this afternoon from my primary care physician. He is a teddy bear of a man, who really cares about his patients, but he is a family practitioner. He will send the information to my oncologist, and I expect to hear from her tomorrow.

The only plans I have right now are to go to Radford University in Radford Virginia for parent's weekend this weekend. After that, we don't know. We hope to be able to go to Paul's hometown for Christmas, but we will see what happens. That's the plan, anyway.

I am ticked off and pretty upset. Please pray for me.

Get your mammograms. Do your self-exams.

Ruth

PS to my blog readers (all four of you): These updates are actually copies of e-mails that I send out to my friends, relatives, and prayer partners (duh). Like you haven't already figured that out. If you would like to be added to the e-mail list (I always use BCC), please e-mail me at reprovance AT yahoo DAHT com, and I will add you to the list. If you want to read my adventures in the land of cancer from the beginning of my last (second) diagnosis, go to the beginning of the blog. It's all in there. I always post the updates to the blog, so bloglines or something like it will serve you just as well as getting e-mails. Thanks.

Ruth Update, September 26, 2007

Dear Friends, Relatives, and Prayer Partners,

I saw my primary care physician today. It seems that there is something suspicious on my seventh thoracic vertebra. I will be having a PET scan as soon as possible. Dr. Ryan said that the radiologists who read the MRI's very seldom raise an alarm unless there is something that really looks like it could be something. Of course, with my history, they may be a little fast on the trigger finger, too. Not that I am complaining. Let us err on the side of caution. This is why I like to bring moral support along on visits like this. Paul was with me.

The good news is that I don't have any pain right now, and the pain I did have was lower than T7, so the pain itself may not have been caused by whatever is showing up on the MRI. This could mean many things, so lets just wait until the PET scan results come back. My PCP has sent a message to my oncologist, and I told him that he could call me with the PET scan results, rather than have me come back in. If there is something malignant there, I will be going to my oncologist anyway, so let's save a copay.

I ask for your prayers in the meantime.

Thanks.

Get your mammograms. Do your self-exams.

Ruth
http://ruthsmusings.blogspot.com

Ruth Update, September 25, 2007

Dear Friends, Relatives, and Prayer Partners,

We got that trip to New York. Matt and I hit the RENT lottery, and got to sit in the dead center of the front row for $20 per seat. Considering seats in the third row are $110, that is pretty good. To see how we managed to do that, see: http://www.siteforrent.com/rushticketpolicy.php Mine was the fourth card called. Paul and Timmy went to see Spamalot, and had a good time, too. I hope to post some photos on the blog soon. Just been too busy to do it the last couple of days.

This trip required a lot of driving, especially by Paul, who had to go pick Matt up at Radford. We have since discovered a better way to get him to and fro, and he is doing that this weekend, so that he can go to the homecoming dance at Langley High School with his girlfriend, Katherine. A bus picks him up in Radford and brings him to the Vienna Metro station, where we pick him up. We take him back to the Vienna Metro on Sunday. We should have done this before. It costs $93 dollars round trip. Matt has to pay for this trip, but we will spring for Thanksgiving and Christmas!

On Sunday evening, I had an MRI of my back to try to find out what happened two weeks ago. I got a call from my primary doctor's office today, saying he wanted to see me. Something about the preliminary results of the MRI. Today, I went to see the physical therapist. Since she is in the same HMO, she was able to see the preliminary results on her computer screen. She said, yes, I should go over that with my doctor. Okay, now I'm a bit worried. I see the doc tomorrow afternoon, sometime after 2:30 pm. I could use some prayers. Pray that it is nothing, and I am worried for no reason.

Thanks.

Get your mammograms. Do your self-exams.

Ruth

Ruth Update, September 13, 2007

Dear Friends, Relatives, and Prayer Partners,

The trip to NYC this weekend is off. My pain is just too much. At the moment, I don't feel too bad, but that is because I am stoned on Vicodin.

The doctor I saw today had another set of x-rays taken, and he says I have a bit of scoliosis (curvature of the spine), and a dowager's hump, which I knew about. He talked on about sleeping on a firm mattress, doing exercises, correcting my posture, and yadda, yadda, yadda. I said that was all well and good, but what about my pain right now! Hence, the vicodin. He says I have a muscle spasm. Okay, so I am a real spaz. We knew that, didn't we!

The pain was so bad this morning that I needed help getting dressed. Paul had a meeting he had to attend, so I called my church and whimpered "Help!". They sent Karen. I am so glad, too. She took very good care of me until Paul came home. She pushed me around in my wheelchair and helped me when I had to stand up or sit down. May God heap blessings on her head!

I have missed two days of work. We will see about tomorrow.

Get your mammograms. Do your self exams.

Ruth
My blog: http://ruthsmusings.blogspot.com

The latest round of musings

A piquant situation

What the heck is she showing us a bottle of vinegar for? My brothers visited over Christmas and bought us a lot of stuff for the kitchen. They are both very good cooks. One is a professional, in fact. One thing they bought was a bottle of white wine vinegar. I already had the balsamic, thank you very much, and several other kinds, but they got me this one.



Later, I noticed something strange. I took this picture in March.



See the brown stuff floating in the bottom of the bottle? I am thinking that is the "mother" of vinegar. I know you can use it to make new vinegar, if that is what it is, but I also know that I didn't want to mess with that process. We don't drink that much wine, and when we do, we drink it all, so we don't have any left over with which to make vinegar.


Anyway, the other day I thought I would strain it out and make salad dressing, and then pitch the lot. I found this:



I don't know what that white stuff on the top was, and I don't think I wanted to find out. I took another picture so you could see that the white and the brown stuff were actually semi-solid. I used Balsamic to make the dressing




Paul asked permission to throw the lot out. I concurred.

Is that indeed the mother of the vinegar? What is the white stuff? Have I committed some culinary sacrilege?


The latest in my hairy adventure


If you look in the sidebar, you will see a link to "How I Got Here, and some good things about chemotherapy. Well, here is another nice thing about chemo: Chemo curls! If things go as they did last time, I will have curly hair for about two years. It doesn't last, but I have fun with it while I can. It is just curly enough. I can comb a little gel through it, and just go! No dryer, no fuss. I finished chemo in October, and got my first haircut in June.

And here is what I looked like in February. This was taken before my Dad's funeral. The lady with her hand on my shoulder is my Aunt Bette, the family treasure. She is the last of her generation, the widow of my father's brother. All of my Dad's siblings are gone, and she is the last of the spouses left. Her husband died nearly forty years ago, but she has remained an important part of our family ever since. The other lady, sitting next to me, is Mildred. She was Dad's "girlfriend" (his word) for the last few years of his life. They lived in assisted living together, and she visited him after he moved to skilled care in the same facility. Bless her heart, she was older than he was by several years! She uses a walker, but gets around pretty well, and seems pretty sharp, too.

And furthermore . . .

My brother tells me that Jane and Michael Stern have a "Roadfood" article in the Sept. '07 issue of Gourmet that describes my hometown, Scottsbluff, Nebraska, as a "Mexican Food Destination." We have always enjoyed Mexican food, but never thought of Scottsbluff as a "destination" for it! We need to watch for the issue. Also, if you were listening to "The Splendid Table," on August 4th, you heard Jane and Michael go on and on about the cabbage burgers at the Gering Bakery in Nebraska. Gering is across the river from Scottsbluff, and is the seat of Scotts Bluff county. The Gering Bakery has a branch in Scottsbluff, called the Scottsbluff Bakery. ;-) If you want to listen to the piece go to: http://splendidtable.publicradio.org/whereweeat/stern_gering.shtml I love hearing about home in the national media for something besides sugar factory explosions and chemical spills!

In conclusion

Yes, I did walk on Thursday. I took the same route I have been taking, and didn't stop anywhere, and crossed in the middle of the block to avoid marking time at traffic lights. It took me 34:36 to cover what my husband now tells me is 1.7 miles. Just for fun, I timed my steps, my pace, if you will. Counting each time a foot hit the pavement, I was going about 100 steps per minute. For whatever that is worth.

Try not to be too impressed with the improvement in my time. The first time out it was raining. I had an umbrella, and a woman who lives in our neighborhood was walking home from her job at Safeway. I had to share the umbrella, of course, and she is a lot shorter than I am. I think I slowed down a bit.

Ruth Update, August 19, 2007

Dear Friends, Relatives, and Prayer Partners,

I saw the oncologist on Thursday. Just got my lab results today, due to the miracle of the internet. My cancer marker, CA 27-29, is at 32, with the desired range less than 38. I'll take it! The worst news I got that day was from the scale. I am serious, people, you have got to stop bringing me goodies at church! Really! I have got to start exercising all my muscles, especially the "no" muscle! Of course, my knees are beginning to bother me, as my brother's knees bother them. I will put that down to genetics.

Matt is off to college. I am handling it pretty well for now. His classes start tomorrow. I will post some more about him and his Cappies International Theater experience on my blog. I don't want to clutter your inboxes with photos!

Take care!

Get your mammograms. Do your self-exams.

Ruth
http://ruthsmusings.blogspot.com/

Ruth Update, June 9, 2007

Dear Friends, Relatives, and Prayer partners,

It has come to my attention that I haven't updated you on my medical status in a while. The good news is, there is no news. My last PET scan came out clean for cancer, though the person submitting the report said something about an area on my right hip (the one that didn't have cancer) being "worrisome" as a possible place for future mets. Whatever that means. Anyway, no active cancer seen at this time.

I will start seeing my new oncologist this coming week. My old oncologist said that my new doc is "fabulous," so I feel better. I have faxed over some of my records, so they know where to start with me. I am just glad this upheaval happened while I was in remission, not while I was in active treatment.

Timmy got the biggest trophy of the chess club a couple of weeks ago. It was a special award for etiquette and attitude. I was so proud of him. He was not expecting it, but then this is not the kind of award you expect to get. The fact that his Dad, brother, and I were at the end-of-year party didn't tip him off, either.

Matt went to the prom last night. My baby! I was a bit envious, as I didn't go to my prom. Nobody asked me, so I didn't go. I don't think one could have gone "stag" at the time. I think times have changed, thank goodness. Matt went with an acquaintance from the theater group. He and Stephanie broke up around Thanksgiving, but are still friends. Matt graduates from high school next week, June 13th. I can't believe it! He is supposed to send out some announcements, but that hasn't happened yet. This is all sneaking up on me!

I also have laryngitis at the moment. Can't talk above a whisper! (shut up, Tony) I get to take codeine cough syrup for it. It tastes pretty vile, but is worth it for the drowsys.

I hope to post some photos on the blog in the near future.

Get your mammograms. Do your self-exams.

Ruth
http://ruthsmusings.blogspot.com/