First, the good news:   My October PET/CT looked good.  Dr. Kaplan called with the results and I knew immediately from his tone that all was well.   I appreciate that he always says, "WE'RE doing great" and seems genuinely happy that I'm doing so well.

I still go to the clinic every other week for Avastin and take Tamoxifen every day.  Based on my recent kidney function test and other symptoms I'm having, it looks like my days of tolerating Avastin are coming to an end.   Dr. Kaplan can't predict if it will happen in one month or a few months, so I'll start getting tested more often.  In related news, I've been having sinus problems for a long time and when I finally mentioned it to Dr. Kaplan, he said that's probably another side effect of the Avastin.  They just keep coming.....

An update on my dental woes:  I had two lower teeth extracted followed by a bone graft to repair the damage caused by osteonecrosis.  The extractions and recovery went smoothly and I'm scheduled for an in depth follow up this month, including a CT scan of my jaw.  I also had an emergency root canal last month, and with no insurance left this year, that one REALLY hurt!

I've recently fallen in to the role of "cancer buddy".  Last month I was contacted by a fellow mom of twins who was diagnosed with early stage Breast Cancer (so early that she may not need chemo or radiation).  I don't know her well, but she's very sweet and brought meals to our family when I was first diagnosed.  I'm glad she reached out to me and was comfortable talking about the sadness and confusion she was feeling.  I remember those early days well, and she appreciated knowing that things do get better.

A friend's mom was diagnosed with lung cancer and although her experience has been different than mine, she still appreciates talking to someone who has walked a similar path.

And closer to home, a friend had a breast cancer scare.  At first, I was so afraid to say the wrong thing, that I didn't say much at all.  I wanted to be positive, but also respect her fears and emotions.  It was a reminder that sometimes its harder to know how to help those who are closest to you because your own emotions get intertwined with theirs. 

One "side effect" of hearing other people's cancer stories is being reminded that thanks to early detection, the women I know with breast cancer will have the word "cured" in their future. It frustrates me that after 2 1/2 years, I can't even say that I'm in remission (although my last PET/CT looked darn close).  There are many days that I still feel sad, but I try to remember how far I've come and how much better life is now, even compared to a year ago when I was still recovering from chemo.

For the last year or so, I've been trying to think of ways that I can use my knowledge and people skills to help others with cancer, as well as their family and friends.  My recent "cancer buddy" experiences have led me to think about it more seriously.  I know what my strengths are, I just need to figure out how and where to use them.   I just left a message for the social worker at the Swedish Cancer Institute and I'll also call Swedish's liaison to the American Cancer society.  I'll let you know where they lead me.

We hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving! 

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