Living An "Interesting" Life with Heterogeneously Dense Breasts - LOL

It's two days in a row that I'm skipping the treadmill. Yesterday was because of my doctor appointment and the schedule that required. Today I was just lazy - sometimes I have to allow myself those little luxuries. I'll be back on the treadmill on Monday, but I guess, subconsciously, I needed a bit of time off. 

I love my treadmill, but today I'm COLD, and I'm allowing 
myself a day of lazy morning before heading out to the 
shop for a day's work. I've been repairing broken beadwork 
for the past few days. At least that's enjoyable, as opposed to 
other tasks (like sweeping and general cleanup) LOL. 

My doctor appointment went VERY well. I adore my cancer doctor - he's absolutely marvelous. It was time for a one-year checkup - it's hard to believe it's been a year since my initial diagnosis, but the calendar doesn't lie. I asked him about getting annual MRI exams since my breast tissue is very dense. Apparently my breasts come in at a Stage 3 of the four levels, and usually only Stage 4 level is covered by insurance for annual exams. It's a matter of phrasing. 

This is my cancer Doc - Doctor Domingo Perez. He's got a 
couple of short YouTube videos out there if you're interested 
in why I like this guy so much. His care for patients comes 
through the videos beautifully. I totally trust him to be on 
my side in this. 

Here's what Google says about it: The four levels of breast density, classified by radiologists using the BI-RADS system, describe the ratio of fatty tissue (dark) to dense fibroglandular tissue (white) on a mammogram, ranging from A: Almost Entirely Fatty to B: Scattered Areas of Fibroglandular Density, C: Heterogeneously Dense, and D: Extremely Dense, with higher densities potentially making cancers harder to spot and increasing risk. 

I have Grade C on my mammograms. If I had D, an annual 
MRI would automatically be recommended and covered by 
insurance. I have C, though, and so we'll have more hoops 
to jump through to get any MRI recommendations and 
procedures covered by my health insurance. We'll work on that though. 

So, Doc Perez is going to see if it's possible to adjust things to allow an annual MRI exam. He totally understands my desire. As I told him - "A friend's mother just went through breast cancer and her cancer was 2mm large. My own, as you know, was 10mm. That's a huge difference, and possibly could have been found earlier if I was able to get a mammogram that didn't come through with "Heteogeneously Dense" tagging. According to Doc, if my mammograms came through as "Extremely Dense", an annual MRI would be recommended and covered by insurance automatically. It's all a matter of getting the insurance to cover the procedure. MRI exams are VERY costly. 

So, we're going to see what we can do about this. He agrees with me and understands my frustration with the whole business. Meanwhile, I have a shop that needs serious work to be ready for our clearance sale which is upcoming almost too soon for all of the work we have to do. There's nothing like living an "interesting" life - LOL. *hugs* to all and have a wonderful weekend, I'll be back on Monday. 

It Was a Day of Exercise and Frustration - Cards Will be Mailed by the End of the Week

It was indeed a VERY busy day yesterday. It took almost an hour for me to get the driveway and walkways shoveled out, and I was 30 minutes late for my mammogram appointment at the Breast Center. However, the world was also delayed, and they were able to take me right away. I was quite grateful. I won't know the results for a day or two, but hopefully they won't find anything to be worried about. 

My breasts are very dense - rather like the scan on the 
right. My life would have been quite different if my 
breast tissue was less dense like the breast on the left. 
My friend's Mother-in-Law just had a 2mm tumor removed 
from her breast. They didn't find mine until it was 10mm 
in size because they simply couldn't see it. 

DH came home yesterday evening in a foul mood, and informed me that I WILL work on Friday. So, I'll be working tomorrow. It won't stop my getting to the post office to mail my holiday cards (which I labelled yesterday. I think, however, I might have forgotten to actually sign some of them, so I'm extending apologies to all of you if you get one that I missed signing. That's poor form on my part, and I can put that at my door of "Too Much To Do and Too Little Time in Which to Do It". 

DH needs to renew his driver's license and needs to get 
a "Real ID" style. He was trying to fill in the form online 
yesterday, without success. I don't know why it wasn't 
working for him, but he'll have to go to the License Center 
like most of us do. 

I've had a friend at the grocery shop for several years now. Justin first began the friendship while he worked in the Produce department alongside Phil. When Justin got married, there was a freak hail storm and, of course, since it was early Spring, it was an outdoor wedding. VERY bad mojo, which within two months became EXTREMELY bad mojo when his wife was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. She died within two years of the wedding, and Justin was on his own again. 

So Justin has been diagnosed with a brain tumor. That 
totally SUCKS! I'll be able to keep touch on how he's 
doing through Phil, but coming on the heels of his wife's 
cancer death, this is not a good thing. 

Now, according to his friend Phil (whom I use to keep in touch with everyone), Justin's doctors found a brain tumor when they were doing a scan prior to a surgery that would deal with his head. Wow ... just WOW. That came out of total left field and left all of us totally shocked. How much bad mojo can one guy have? Of course, we're all pulling for him, but I'd say the "Fickle Finger of Fate" has definitely targeted him. 

So, I'm off to the pool. I'll be swimming again tomorrow since snow shoveling made yesterday's swim impossible. Last year's "Winter that Wasn't" is being seriously erased this year - LOL. Have an excellent Thursday and I'll be back tomorrow if all goes well - LOL. Slava Ukraini. 

Today I Get My Advanced Memory Test - I Scheduled This Almost a Year Ago!

I had SUCH fun distributing pink roses to people yesterday. I ended up with a total of 18 roses to distribute - 12 to the Radiology people, 4 to the receptionists at the Breast Cancer Center (I got a hug for that one from one of the girls, and big, BIG smiles), and two to the receptionists at the after-care treatment facility that I was at last week. The two receptionists at that last center were SUCH a hoot when I was there waiting. I loved their interaction with each other, and their personalities in general. One of the two said she loved me and wanted to marry me because I gave her a rose - LOL. Great personalities - exactly what is needed for anyone dealing with cancer. 

The sales girl and I had discussed many different 
options when I was purchasing the roses. I had 
forgotten that I ordered pink (for breast cancer) 
instead of red - because red are usually the least 
expensive. In this case, they charged me the same 
price, no matter the color. I ended up adding 
another six to the bucket. I would have loved to 
add another dozen, but my pocketbook isn't 
endless. 

Today I suspect I'll be getting the opposite side of the spectrum. Today is my extended memory exam and assessment in Minneapolis. First, I'll have to drive to Minneapolis during rush hour and I absolutely HATE that drive no matter what hour of the day, but rush hour is the worst. Then I'll be with DH which always increases my anxiety levels, and I'll be trying to prove that I'm not losing my mind - that it's a combination of circumstances and the fact that right now DH and I are having a really rough spot because of our work tensions. We'll see. There might be some cognition issues, but I think they are exterior motivated, not internal. 

I'm not very happy about today - I know I'm 
not as sharp as I used to be. But then again, 
I don't think I'm as dull as DH and Chickie 
seem to think either, so maybe this test will 
put their attitudes back into a dark cupboard 
where they belong and I can get on with my 
life and my work without constantly being 
watched and questioned. 

I have to be at the center for an 8:30 appointment, and we have to get the store ready for Chickie and Chickie Mama beforehand so they can actually get through the doors without tripping the alarm system. It's no big deal - I had a couple of times during radiation therapy that I had to do that for Chickie in any case, so she's used to it also. I'd feel a LOT more comfortable with this appointment if I wasn't with DH, but I didn't want to bring Chickie along with me because right now, she's becoming part of the problem, not part of the solution. 

I feel rather like this tapeworm (photo taken for the 
annual Microscope Photos competition). I'm totally 
unable to hide and being examined from all sides. 
It's uncomfortable. 

I feel rather like an amoebae, being looked at carefully under a microscope by any number of clinicians. I can handle the doctors - I'm paying them to do exactly what they're doing. But DH and Chickie are absolutely certain I'm losing my mind. I don't think so. I think when I'm having problems finding an item it's because it's been moved over three shelving units and isn't where it's been for the past 20 years. We've been bringing absolutely ALL inventory up from the warehouse, and things have been rearranged - a LOT. I spend most of my time in front of the computers, and don't deal with customers as much as I used to. So it's a bit longer to find things sometimes. I suspect anyone in my situation would have a similar problem. 

This is a photo of an embryonic chick brain that's 
been colored with a "brainbow" genetic technique. 
It's pretty nifty and amazingly attractive with the many 
colors and color variants. If you're interested in looking 
at all the microscopic photos, here's a link. These two 
were taken from the 2017 competition. 
https://www.businessinsider.com/best-microscope-pictures-year-nikon-small-world-2017-10

So, we'll see. I might have the beginning of memory loss, but I suspect it's not nearly as bad as DH and Chickie are thinking it is. Of course, if my brain isn't a problem, then maybe the problem is actually them???? Hmmmmm ... what a thought! Have an excellent day and if I survive today's traffic and tests, I'll be back tomorrow. I'm off to the pool. Slava Ukraini. 

Bring A Smile To Someone's Face Today

Today is a day I'm calling "Appreciation Day". I'm picking up 2 dozen red roses (actually, I want to increase that number by an additional six). I ordered and paid for them late last week. I made sure that each one would have a water reservoir container as well. I'm going to distribute "Thank You, You Matter" wishes and smiles to my extended care team at the various cancer centers. 

Everyone needs to be recognized now and again for all 
of the wonderful things they do for others. We don't live 
on an island, solo beings without interactions. Today I'm 
appreciating those who greet, and care for, and answer 
the phones. The people who make it all work. 

Two dozen roses are for my Radiation therapy people - the techs, the receptionists, the people behind the scenes that make it all work. I think two dozen will cover most, if not all of that staff, and they're great people - just wonderful in all respects. 

Today I'm delivering roses to lots of people who make the 
whole thing work behind the scenes. They are the people 
you interact with first - the receptionists, the technicians, 
and sometimes the nurses. I just want to spread some joy 
today, help people who might be having a hard day, have 
a better one. 

After depositing the bulk of my flowers there, I'll leave my car in their parking lot and drop by two other places - the two receptionists at Sister Kenny rehab where I was last week. I really enjoyed those two - they were bright, cheery, outspoken and totally on-point. The last four roses I want to take to the receptionists at the Piper Breast Center who saw me almost daily for several weeks while we were dealing with the infection under my arm after surgery. I've spent a lot of time in their waiting room area, and they've dealt with a LOT of people - always with smiles and efficiency. They deserve a "Thank You" and I'm going to make sure they get a smile from me today. 

I'm happy - I'm back in the swimming pool, I feel great, 
I'm totally recovered (probably not 100%, but I feel as 
if I am 100% again). Today I say "Thank You" to my 
entire care team. They've been awesome. 

Finally, I'll end up at the grocery store to buy what I need for dinner. Just a thought - we might actually need/want to eat tonight - LOL. Then home to cook and chat with Aearwen. I had to cancel last week, so I'm sure we'll have a lot to catch up on during our hour-long conversation. 

Aearwen and I have been chatting weekly for years now. 
I always hate it when I have to cancel a phone visit, and 
sometimes she has to also, but we just pick up the next 
week and carry on. It's always a joy to chat with her. 

My challenge to all of you today is to bring a smile to someone's face. It could be anyone you pass by or interact with. Just make one person's life a little brighter today. The world is filled with doom and gloom, we need bright points of light to offset all that negativity. I'm off to the pool, have a glorious day and I'll be back tomorrow. Slava Ukraini. 

Friday Turned Into a Great Day - Good Clinic Visits and Titanic, Nothing Could be Better

I'm running a little late today - no really good reason, just am. I had a lovely run on the treadmill, then a nice, hot shower, made myself a cuppa tea and settled down at the computer. Nothing out of place, nothing exceptional, except I feel as if I'm running about an hour behind. *sigh*

If you didn't get a chance to see this last night, you can 
stream it on hulu. I highly recommend it. What a fabulous 
show and the way they were able to show the smallest 
details of the wreck - astonishing. 

I did stay up late yesterday to watch the 90 minute show (on National Geographic channel) on the Titanic in 3D. The images of the wreck were absolutely astonishing - clear, beautiful, and very helpful to those still trying to gather an exact timeline of the disaster and ascertain what "legends" were actually true and what were not. One thing proven true is that Boiler Room #2 was indeed operational at the time that section finally succumbed to the ocean. The lights were indeed, still on. This was proven by the impact zone of the explosion when the hot furnaces met the cold sea water. It imploded, not exploded. Physics aside, there wasn't a single part of the 90 minute show I wasn't glued to. 

I really enjoyed my meeting with Sara Lay yesterday. 
I'm doing almost everything right. There are a 
couple of exercises we're adding to my regime, but 
basically I'm doing really well. We chanced upon 
a couple of sidetracks that led to discussions of 
blenders (she needs a new one, I recommended the 
brand I've been using for the past few years), and 
meditation apps. She had one that she recommended 
with hesitations, I clued her in to Insight Timer. I 
think she'll like that app a lot. 

I had a great meeting with Sara Lay (DO) at the Physician's Building near the hospital yesterday morning. Basically, I'm doing almost everything right to recover from the surgery and resume my life. There are a couple of additional exercises to add to my regime, but that's no problem at all. I'm meditating, I'm eating properly, I'm exercising regularly, basically, I'm an "ideal" patient (her words, not mine). We got sidetracked onto various topics. I ended up recommending the meditation app I use every morning (Insight Timer) and since she's also looking for a replacement blender, I recommended my Wolf blender - a work hog, a VERY powerful motor, and a dream machine for me. We got along really well, and I was sad to hear that she's leaving the clinic to pursue a job elsewhere in a different state. 

Dr Zac at Radiology is a winner, and his entire 
staff is great. I just want to thank them for 
being the tremendous help to all of us who are 
there for treatment, and flowers seem appropriate. 

While I was at the hospital complex, and since I had "borrowed" their parking lot for Minnion while I had my appointment, I took a quick drop into Radiology. I asked the receptionists about flowers and whether the scent would be disturbing to the patients, etc. They assured me that worst comes to worst, they have a break room where they could put them. So, on my way home, I ordered two dozen red roses with individual water wells for each from my favorite florist. This florist has been around forever, and their specialty was always a dozen roses for a very reasonable price. The two dozen plus water containers were under $65. Perfectly reasonable for what I'm getting. I'll pick them up on Wednesday morning and I might see about adding an additional half-dozen to the order for the receptionists in the Breast Center down the street. 

There isn't a good photo of my local Flowerama, so I might 
have to take some when I pick my flowers up next Wednesday. 

On that note, I've actually got to get moving. I hope all of you have a wonderful weekend and I'll be back on Monday morning. And, if you get a chance to look at the new photos of Titanic, they are well worth the look. Slava Ukraini. 

It's a Normal" Monday - It's Been a Long Time

Happy Monday to all of you. This is the first day of a "normal" week for me since January, and I can hardly wait. I was on the treadmill this morning for my 45 minute fast-walk, I've made my tea - one cup next to me, the other in my travel mug, staying nice and hot for the shop. My phone is charging, my watch is charging, my electronics in general are a bit low on power, but they're getting the attention they need. I'm starting my Monday out organized - LOL. 

My life is almost back to "normal". I never actually 
have a "normal" life - there's always something or other 
that's going on. But, this is as close to "normal" as I've 
been over the past few months. I'd toss confetti, but I 
don't want to clean it up afterward. 

I set out a couple of ant traps in the downstairs bathroom. I've been seeing some very young ants in the shower, and although they might be hitchhiking on DH when he checks the garden, they might be trying to get a foothold here through other methods. So, I'm not taking any chances. See ant, put out ant trap. Hopefully I've chosen locations that will pay off. I can't really put the bait into the shower itself, it would be flooded out twice a day. So I've chosen two areas against the walls of the room that might work. Maybe. I should probably put out a third under the heat radiator, but I'll wait for a day or two before I do that. 

I don't mind ants in general, I've actually been quite impressed 
by them over the years. But they're not welcome inside my 
house. Last year's infiltration was NASTY and I have no 
intention of going through something like that again. 

I'm slowly working on getting used to my new tablet computer. It was a good price for a Google P10 tablet, but since it's operating on Google, it will take a little bit to get used to. Still, I'm glad I purchased it when I did. I saved almost $100 off the standard price, and got free shipping too. Now, my next project is another Amazon purchase - a new cell phone holder for my car. I like having my cell phone held in a bracket from the car's CD player, but since I added the pocket on the back of my phone for my ID, it's not sitting comfortably in the brackets and has fallen out several times. So I ordered a new holder - deeper - that will still work with the CD slot. I ordered it Friday night, and it was delivered on Saturday! WOW. That was FAST! I didn't have time to play with installation yesterday, so I'll try to carve out a bit of time over the next couple of days. 

I purchased a Lenovo Android P10 tablet from Amazon 
during their Prime Days for less than $115. I figured it 
was worth the gamble for that cost. I've been wanting a 
tablet of my own for a while now. DH hogs the smaller 
tablet that we have for all of his PBS shows and other 
stuff, and I want to be able to watch Le Tour de France, 
the Olympics, and of course PBS on mine. Now I have to 
get used to its' operating system and load the things 
I want onto it. 

And tomorrow will be my first swimming day in FOREVER! I'm quite sure I'm out of shape, even though I was on the treadmill almost every day (once I recovered from the surgery). I charged my underwater headphones yesterday so that I won't have any problem continuing with the book I was listening to, despite the four-month gap. It's hard to believe it's been that long. I hope I'll fall right back into the routine of three days in the water and three days on the treadmill. There are things on the schedule that will require changes, but not the extensive "vacation" I've just been forced to have. 

The outdoor pool opens on Memorial Day (that's near the 
end of May for my not-in-the-USA readers). That's not 
a lot of time to get into shape for the longer lengths and 
all-out swimming it requires. Time to get moving indoors 
so that I won't fall short outdoors. 

So, have a really great Monday. I'll be back tomorrow. Slava Ukraini. 

It's My First Day of Cancer Treatment Freedom

Yesterday was my final Radiation Oncology appointment and I passed with flying colors. I didn't get the sunburn effect, I only had a single day when I felt poorly, and in general, I flew through the twenty-one days of targeted radiation. I received my "Radiation Oncology Diploma" which states: 

By Order of the Diploma Committee

Be It Declared To All Present That

(My Name)

Having Completed the Prescribed Course of Radiation Therapy with Outstanding

achievements in Courage, Patience, and Determination through all instruction given and

assigned, is entitled to receive certification as an active member in our "Favorite Patients

Club" with all the rights, honors and privileges thereof.

I was also allowed to ring the bell - a medium sized bell hung in front of the check-in counter which you are allowed to ring when you've completed your radiation therapy. I was VERY happy. Then I went down Summit Avenue once again, and returned to the shop and my day-to-day life. 

The Minnesota Governor's Mansion on Summit Avenue 
is a beautiful house. I gave you a twilight shot in 
yesterday's blog, this is a daylight shot from the front yard. 
Of course there is fencing all around the home, there 
have been various demonstrations over the years that 
have threatened the house and whoever the current 
Governor was. Safety is primary. 

Today DH and I start out early with a meeting with our stock brokers and a financial advisor. We're trying to make sure all of our "ducks are in a row" and that our future planning is in sync with our desires and goals. DH might be slightly late getting to the shop, but Chickie will be there. I'll take full advantage of my "day off" and do my usual Wednesday stuff - laundry, grocery shopping and cooking. Not too exciting, but I've been living the excitement and I don't recommend it - LOL. 

When we first started out investing, we were with 
a friend of a friend who worked for a downtown 
Minneapolis firm. That firm got taken over by Piper, 
and when that broker retired, we inherited Tom. 
Tom's been our broker for more than 20 years now, 
he's semi-retired now, but DH is one client he keeps. 
My own account is with his daughter, Janna. She's 
a lot of fun and keeps me on my toes. I'm not an 
active investor, but DH is a careful, but not sedentary 
investor. He understands finance. I'm not clueless, 
but I'm also not immersed in it the way DH is. 

I have a week of "rest" before I can start taking my pills for my "chemo" and return to a normal schedule of three days on the treadmill and three days in the pool. I can hardly wait to see everyone again next week, it's been FOREVER since I last was swimming and I'm sure I'll be out of shape and have to work on my breath work and stamina once again. I've only got two months until the outdoor pool opens and I have to be in physical condition for an Olympic-sized body of water. 

Final Day of Radiation and a Tour of Summit Avenue Houses

Happy April Fool's Day to all of my friends and readers. It's my final radiology appointment today, so I'm going to drop by the grocer's and pick up flowers for the clinic on my way out there. Fortunately the roads are fine, so I won't be dealing with dicey roads with snow, slush and ice going up and down the MASSIVE hill I traverse to get down to the clinic. I drive down Summit Avenue daily to get to and from the clinic. The Summit Avenue hill in St Paul is a steep one, but the avenue itself is known for it's fabulous architecture. When I have out of town visitors, I always make sure to go up and down Summit Avenue to give them a taste of old St Paul. 

I pass this house to and from the clinic every day. It's the
James J Hill house. Right now they've been doing some
construction because they've had trucks parked under
that archway to the left every day with different bins
to haul away the debris. 

Right now I drive down and up that street every day to get to and from the clinic. I'm going to miss that drive (although the Summit/Grand Avenue hill is NO fun in the winter - VERY steep with a steep drop on one side and houses built into the hillside on the other). I thought I'd share a bit of what my daily drive to and from the hospital and clinics has been over the past few months. It's hard to believe things are wrapping up now. It's been a long journey since the initial meeting in early February with my Oncology surgeon and her team. I'm not out of the woods yet ... there will be followup appointments and they'll keep a close eye on me - but I'm through the worst of it. At least, that's what I'm hoping for. 

There are a lot of classic Victorian houses along the street, 
this one with the decorative tower always catches my eye 
as I'm driving past. 

Radiation for me has been a breeze. With the exception of one day, I've felt pretty darned good. The techs are very happy with my skin color (apparently the radiation isn't burning the heck out of my skin). Of course, I never did tan well. My skin enjoys being pale. Northern European - LOL. 

I also love the stonework on this home. The color says 
it's actually St Paul stone from the river bluffs nearby. 
It's not as large as some of the others, but it's got a lot 
of presence. 

Not everything has gone swimmingly over the past two months, however. When I was really sick, I missed paying some bills, and DH is having fits trying to get our finances back into shape. We're back to normal again, but still getting the occasional invoice requesting payment or threatening this or that. Almost everything is actually paid up, though, and sometimes just requires a conversation to get things back on track. I'll be calling one company today - I haven't received a physical invoice from them this calendar year, but they're claiming I'm overdue on payment. I probably am ... but I need the invoices before I can pay. It should be an interesting conversation. 

The Governor's Mansion is also on Summit. I pass by it 
two times a day lately. It's a lovely house - quite spacious. 
There was a major re-do of the house not too long ago, 
causing the residents to stay elsewhere for several months. 
It's a beautiful house, and quite large. When the flags are 
flying on the flag poles, the Governor is in residence. 

So, that's how my Tuesday is shaping up. A little of this and a little of that. Enjoy the houses in the photos I'm sharing, and have an excellent Tuesday. I'm already looking forward to tomorrow, a day when I DON'T have to drive anywhere - LOL. Well ... probably the grocery store - I'll need food. Slava Ukraini. 

March is Winding Down, and So Are My Health Appointments - Yippee!

Can you believe that March is almost over? It seems like it's just flown by in an instant, despite the fact that it was appointment after appointment after appointment. I'm getting down to the finish line for my radiation treatment, and then, after another full week, I can resume my "normal" life again - return to the pool, take my vitamins and supplements, etc. I do have one major obstacle still in my path and that's my memory exam. That's scheduled for April 17th and it takes place in Minneapolis. Ick - I really don't enjoy driving in Minneapolis. But this dude works out of Abbott Northwestern Hospital instead of United Hospital. 

Abbott Northwestern Hospital is another HUGE 
complex of medical centers, buildings, and specialties. 
I've got directions (at least what they sent to me), 
but I'll be relying on Google Maps to get me to 
and from. I rarely go to the other "Twin City" these 
days, and have never been to this hospital complex 
before. 

Apparently it will take approximately four hours! That's a long time. The doc also requested that I have a second person accompany me. As the handout says: "It is helpful for the provider to understand your condition from another perspective so please bring a close personal acquaintance who has observed your symptoms." So, although I could bring Claire, and she was more than willing to come, she really doesn't know me that well. Instead, Claire will go to the shop to keep Chickie company, and DH will come with me. I'm not super happy about this, he's such a grump, but I really don't see any alternative. 

As is the case with Sister Kenny Rehab at United Hospital, 
St Paul, the actual clinic is located across the street from 
the main hospital. In this case, it's Abbott Northwestern 
Hospital in Minneapolis. I'm NOT thrilled about driving 
to Minneapolis a couple of times. I rarely cross the river. 
But in this case, I have no choice. It took me six months 
to get the appointment in the first place. 

I won't find out anything at the initial visit, but will be required to set up a follow-up visit (which can be a solo affair) which will last for about an hour. That's when I'll learn about the results of the tests and any recommendations for a plan of care. I'm going on record now that I'm NOT looking forward to this, but DH and Chickie are insisting on it. I think my general physical health had a lot to do with any memory issues I might have been having, but DH is sure I've got the beginnings of Alzheimer's and Chickie just says I'm off my game lately. So we'll see. 

So Jerry Halsten, PhD, LP and ABPP will be my 
doctor for my memory testing and diagnosis. At 
least I don't have to deal with that immediately. 
The appointment isn't until mid-April which will 
give me time to take a test drive over to check 
the layout. 

I did have some excellent news yesterday, though. After radiation I walked over to the Breast Cancer center and left a note for Dr Perez, asking about when I can start living a "normal" life again. He's got me on a pill that starts seven days after my radiation therapy ends, and I was hoping I could also start taking my vitamins and supplements again at that time too. I got the "no problem" response later in the day. I also asked when I could resume swimming, and it's the same time. So I'll be back in the pool on the 8th. I can hardly wait. I emailed a couple of my swimming friends immediately, so I'm sure the group will all know within 24-48 hours. Life will return to "normal", or at least until the memory test results come through. Then we'll see. 

I do love my first cup of tea of the day. I only drink 
herbal tea, but I must have it to start my day - LOL. 

So, on that note, I'm going to enjoy my "cuppa", have breakfast, and head off to the shop. Have an excellent Saturday and a great weekend. I'll still have to dash off to radiation, but only two session left! Enjoy your weekend, Slava Ukraini. 

It's Friday! What Fun Do You Have Planned?

Yesterday's appointments went VERY well. After radiation, I asked if I could just leave my car in their lot and walk over to my physical therapy appointment. The response was "Of course. When you're in our care, we take care of all parts of you." Great people in radiology, I'm going to miss them. 

The Doctors Professional Building is only a block East 
of Radiology, so an easy brisk walk. This new clinic is run 
by Sister Kenny instead of Allina, and I could tell. The 
people were lovely, but the actual amenities were lacking. 
There was water available, but no hot water and no teabags. 
The best waiting room is the Breast Center room. They even 
have herbal tea - perfect for me. 

So I walked over the block to the Physician's Building, checked in, and had a rather boring 90-minute  wait until my physical therapist was available for our appointment. The purpose of this was to make sure I was healing properly, getting my full range of motion back, had no edema or swelling, etc. I passed with flying colors. Apparently my range of motion (which is quite back to pre-surgery levels) was in the upper 5th percentile. So I might have a little bit I can still push for, but I'm one step closer to being able to return to the pool. I'll keep working at it. 

I am really hoping to get into the pool before the outdoor 
pool opens once again. I know I'm out of swimming shape, 
and would rather get used to the exercise again when I'm 
not dealing with Olympic lengths. But, I'll do whatever is 
necessary when I can finally get back into the water. 
Hopefully it won't be too much longer. 

I might take a quick drop-in to the breast center today, just to check about whether my oncologist will want a follow-up appointment and if/when that is set. I don't think I have anything in "My Chart", but I'll be sure to double-check that just in case. I'm almost feeling neglected because I am healthy once again - what an odd feeling to have - LOL. 

I haven't been in the Breast Center for quite a while, and 
I'm curious about when I'll have a wrap-up with my 
team head and be free to re-learn how to live my life. I'd 
also like to leave a note for my Chemo doctor. I had a 
couple of questions for him. 

I'm in good shape in the kitchen, so really don't need to cook anything, but I have a house that needs a serious cleaning, and I might get a start on some of that. More than that though, I'd like to download the audio books I purchased last week, and keep working on my new tablet, to get it all set up properly and figure out how best to use it. Did I tell you I purchased a tablet computer? Amazon was doing their annual deep discounts sale, and I couldn't resist. I've wanted one for years - the one DH uses is ancient although I've borrowed it from time to time. Now I have my own, and I'm just getting it set up and starting to get used to it. I suspect it will be quite the handy thing to have. 

It's Friday! The end of the work week 
for many of you. It's a "Day Off" for me, 
and even though I have radiation therapy 
this morning, the rest of the day is open. 
How wonderful! 

So I'm wrapping this up. I was lazy today and decided to skip the treadmill. I might use it later today, but I might skip it altogether. It's not like I don't get a lot of exercise, I'm pretty darned focused on keeping up with my physical movements and condition these days. Have a great Friday and I'll be back tomorrow to wrap up the week. Slava Ukraini. 

I'm Seeing Light at the End of the Tunnel

I'm getting down to the end of my radiation therapy. Tuesday is my final treatment, and on Wednesday I meet with Doc for a final exam. I'm thinking that I'm going to miss my team of people - from the receptionists to the technicians and Doc, I'm going to miss them all. I'll also miss the various other patients with whom I share the reception/waiting area. We don't really interact, but we do see who is there and who is missing. But I'm down to four days of radiation remaining in my original 15, and I'm seeing the end of that road ahead of me. 

The road ahead is always uncertain. You can plan and plan, but 
life has a way of throwing challenges and events - both good 
and bad - at you just to throw you off your balance. It doesn't 
do to become too complacent. 

Today, after radiation, I get to walk a block East to a building they call the "Physician's Building" or the "Doctor's Professional Building". Yeah - that's the official name of it. Rather silly, but I suppose it's descriptive. I have an "Initial PT Lymphedema Edema Visit" with a doctor Thomas G. I've never met the guy. I'm supposed to wear comfortable clothing and athletic/tennis shoes. Well, I only wear my athletic shoes on the treadmill, not to walk outdoor sidewalks, so I'll carry them along in a bag. This is for an "initial assessment" and the doctor "may not be able to begin treatment on this visit". Considering that my lymphedema issues are pretty much taken care of by now, this appointment may be moot, but I'll keep it anyway. It may be a simple in and out, but I might also learn something valuable. 

The "Doctor's Professional Building" is directly across 
the street from the hospital, a block East from radiology, 
and a block West from my Breast Cancer Clinic. I'm hoping 
to just keep Minion parked in the radiology parking lot 
instead of moving her to the parking ramp and paying 
$3 for parking. It's an easy walk back and forth, the 
weather's just fine today. 

The dual appointments of Radiology and Lymphedema assessment will keep me out of the shop until noon or shortly afterward. It is what it is, however - I have no real choice. Tomorrow I'll be back to my normal schedule of an early morning radiation and a regular "day off". I'm already looking forward to it. 

I have three containers of my roasted/blended tomato 
soup in the refrigerator waiting for me to heat it up. 
So yummy! It's one of my favorite recipes, it's very easy 
to cook up, and tastes absolutely lovely. 

I did make my roasted tomato and red pepper soup yesterday. I'm very much looking forward to my dinners for the next few days - LOL. It requires a high powered blender and my Wolf is more than up to the task. I also received a new tablet computer I had ordered on sale from Amazon. I'm looking forward to getting to know it in more depth today, if I have any time to play. I've been wanting a tablet for quite a while, and it was on an excellent sale - more than $100 off - making it a very affordable treat. I hope all of you have a wonderful Thursday and I'll be back tomorrow morning to greet the sun and all of you. Slava Ukraini.