Cancer Update

I had my 3 month follow up with the oncologist today! I can't believe it's been that long already. He didn't really have much to say except for throwing some statistics out there. Suffice it to say, my goal right now is to get to 5 years without a recurrence. If I can do that, then I believe the numbers are something like 10-15% of it ever coming back....over a LIFETIME! I can most certainly live with that (the operative word being live!).

They were not able to get a blood return from my portacath. This is a bummer. He'd like for me to keep the port until we're at least 2 years out from the end of chemo. However, sometimes your body can decide that it no longer wants this foreign object anymore and can begin to attack it. This wouldn't be good. I have another appointment in 3 months...if they still can't draw blood....he'll schedule me to have it removed. *****sigh*****

Some of you may remember the....um......drama that surrounded the portacath's insertion! I do not want (nor need) any more drama...thank you very much! I would rather just keep the portacath until they absolutely must remove it!

It's always strange going back to the cancer center. Seeing those nurses, smelling the smells has a way of bringing back memories of my time there. The memories aren't bad, exactly, they are just...unpleasant. It's bearable, but I long for the day when I won't ever have to go back there again. Still, I owe all of those people, and all of those poisons, my life!

I won't have to have another PET Scan until 2011 (that's a relief!). However, he wants me to have a Bone Density study soon. Apparently this measures bone thinning and the medication I'm on (Arimidex), can cause that in some people. He also informed me that there isn't much he can do with the arthritic pain I'm having. It's just a side effect of the medication. He said he'd be happy to give me something for the pain...but....I played the martyr and told him no!

All in all, it was good visit. Thank you all for your concern and prayers. I truly appreciate them!

Can you say P.U.M.P.K.I.N. ?????

What can I say? I just love pumpkin! I love everything about this time of year (except the weather here in Florida)! I love to fill the pantry with goodies that I can whip up whenever the need arises. I'm also usually counting down the months until I can get a Pumpkin Spice or Eggnog Latte at Starbucks! Here's what's lurking in my pantry already.....

Can I just say that I really, really enjoy World Market! I found one of these cookie mixes there and I found another one at Hobby Lobby!

Can you just smell the pumpkin pancakes & muffins?

These Fright Bites are corn tortilla chips in the shapes of ghosts, bats and pumpkins...how fun! And of course, Halloween pasta!