It's a TKO !!!!

If you're still reading this blog, I'd like to say THANK YOU!  It was a good way to keep everyone who cared informed of my status and progressand it was a good way for me to thank everyone that helped me in any way during my battle with cancer.  And now....I'm happy to report that I won!  Knocked that cancer out!  Last week I had my first "follow-up" scan and it was - in the words of my dr - perfect.  I'm feeling better all the time and getting some hair back and everything.  So I'm posting one last picture and one last entry on this blog and then putting this chapter behind me.  Thank you once again to everyone who helped me in any way, even if it was just a kind word, thought, or prayer. 

And if you just hate the thought of not reading my blog, I've got good news for you!  I've started a new one...for my photography business.  Feel free to check it out at http://www.savorphotography-se.blogspot.com/
Love, Susan

A time for everything

I'm finished with treatments - chemo and radiation.  I will start a new year with a focus on getting healthy and some form of normal.  2010 was a crazy year.  I have to accept that it was part of God's plan for me to get cancer.  I'm not sure why. I may never know.  But I know He also saw me through it.  When I think of this past year, I think of this passage from Ecclesiastes 3:1-8.  It's one of my favorites.

To everything there is a season,
and a time to every purpose under heaven:
A time to be born and a time to die;
A time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;
A time to kill, and a time to heal;








A time to break down, and a time to build up;
A time to weep, and a time to laugh;
A time to mourn, and a time to dance;








 


A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together;
A time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
A time to get, and a time to lose;





A time to keep, and a time to cast away;
A time to rend, and a time to sew;
A time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
















A time to love, and a time to hate;
A time of war, and a time of peace.



My sincere prayer is that 2011 is a wonderful year for every one of you, and that you are generously blessed with health, happiness, love, and peace.  HAPPY NEW YEAR!  Love, Susan

Merry Christmas!

I wish you all a very merry Christmas, filled with family, friends,

 love, laughter, and peace.  Celebrate Jesus' birth!

And CELEBRATE we did!

Last night was girls' night out...to the Melting Pot!  Mmmmmm.  Besides the fact that we ate so much we were about to bust, it was a great time!

I've had 15 radiation treatments and have 10 more to go.  So I'm over the halfway point with those.  And they're not bad - just makes my belly hurt but doesn't make me feel bad anywhere else.  I had my port removed last week, and the onday after Christmas will be my last radiation treatment. Then I'm done with EVERYTHING!  I have to have a follow-up scan every 4 months next year, but that's it.

After eating so much, we had to go the mall and walk it off   :)

(This pic was taken with my cell phone so it's not very good quality - sorry)

Thanks ladies - it was lots of fun!



HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

I have so much to be thankful for but probably top of my list this year is the fact that I got a good report from my oncologist last week.  My CT scan was excellent - no sign of cancer. YAY!!!  And I'm done with chemo and feeling better all the time.  I have started my radiation treatments - 5 down, 20 more to go.  So far those are not making me feel bad - a little discomfort in my middle but nothing too bad...and I should be done by Christmas.  What a fabulous thing to celebrate!
My thankful list is long...for the many people who lifted me up in prayer; for my wonderful family who took such good care of me; for my amazing friends who supported and encouraged me, gave me gifts, made food, did jobs around my house that I couldn't do; for awesome nurses and doctors who were/are so caring and kind; for meds and health care professionals who have the ability to get rid of the cancer in me; and most of all to God for seeing me through this.
In this COLD weather, I'm also thankful for a warm house, warm clothes, electric blankets... and lets not forget the turkey, stuffing, pies, and other delicious food that I was able to enjoy yesterday.
I hope that I can remember to take time each day to think about my blessings and give thanks for them.
My sincere wish for everyone reading this is that you have a wonderful holiday season, that you are blessed with good health and are surrounded by love. 
Thanks for reading.  Love, Susan

Chemo is over!

Yay!  No more chemo!  Will probably start radiation in 2-3 weeks but everyone says that's no big deal.  Right now I'm all about getting back to feelin' good.
We had a little celebration Friday. 
My chemo nurses/angels (they're the best) Barb and Kara...

Toasting to my last treatment!

I'm trying to get my strength back... plan to go back to work tomorrow (Weds.).
Thanks for reading!
Love, Susan

Down the home stretch

Round 6 is under way.  Today I had blood tests done, got fluids, and saw 2 doctors - regular oncologist and radiation oncologist.  My hemoglobin was really good this time (10) so no need for blood transfusion.  There's still some debate about how soon I can start radiation...Dr. Gupta wants me to wait 3-4 weeks after chemo but Dr. Logan is okay with me starting sooner than that if I feel like I can.  The drs are going to talk to each other; in addition Dr. Logan wants to talk to the surgeons who took my tumor out.  She said she will give me about 25 low doses of radiation over a large area (front and back); then she may give me 5-8 higher doses that target a specific spot (what she calls "coning down"), if the surgeons can tell her specifically where the tumor was touching my back muscle and/or spine area.  So a lot is still up in the air, but my goal is to get it all done as soon as possible...within reason.
I just have to take a moment here to say that the doctors and nurses at the Cancer Center are wonderful!  I've liked Dr. Gupta all along and I just met Dr. Logan today and I really like her too.  She was very willing to answer questions and was very thorough and nice.  She has a southern accent which makes me grin.  And the chemo nurses, Barb and Kara, are just great.  They are always on top of things and do their best to get me done and out of there as quickly as possible.  They are always busy but still make sure that I'm comfortable.  Last round Barb even picked me up and gave me a ride in on Thurs and Fri morning because she doesn't live very far from me.  It's a full-service place, I'm tellin' ya.
From what I've heard, radiation is no big deal compared to chemo, so if I can get through the next week and a half, I think I'll be over the worst.  So pray me through this last round, please, friends.  Thank you again for all your kind thoughts, prayers, gifts, cards, help...everything.
Love, Susan