Prognosis and Game Plan

Sorry for the lack of posting.  Lots of things going on.  We went to the oncologist Tuesday morning.  My prognosis is good.  70-80% survival rate.  There is only a 10% or less chance of the cancer having spread to my other organs.  I had a CT scan today to see if we can find any errant cancer cells anywhere.  I'll let you know the results when I get them.  I had blood drawn this afternoon.  Tomorrow I do an Echo to make sure my heart is healthy before we do chemo.  I have a port put in Monday where my chemo and other things will go in.  It will be near my collarbone.  Here is my treatment:

1.  Chemo once every three weeks for 18 weeks (finishing roughly at Christmas time).  Six times. I'll start losing my hair about 2 weeks after my first session.  Planning to have a shaving party.  You're all invited.  I'll feel good for a couple of days, feel nausea for a few days, feel weak for a week, feel tired for a week, and then feel okay for a few days before doing the cycle again and again and again.

2.  One month of rest, then moving to Oregon to reunite my family.  Can't wait until that day.  Sadie and Dylan are going to Oregon with Ben to start school.  We're keeping Gage with my sister Lex until Christmas.  He's getting so much invidualized help for his autism; I want to do good by him.  I won't be able to help him until I am well and strong.

3.  7 weeks of radiation.  Five times a week, Monday through Friday.  The only side effect is feeling like you have a sunburn.  That feeling happens when you're all done with the 7th week.

4.  One year of Herceptin treatment.  Will be put in through my port in IV form.  Once every three weeks.  No side effects.  Hard to explain this therapy.  Here's a good explanation:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trastuzumab

I'm teaching my ballet class Tuesday.  And then whenever I feel good.  My beautiful photographer friend is going to take pictures of me teaching.  And then she'll take pictures of me dancing. Pictures of my feet.

I start chemo within a few days of that.  After I lose my hair, I'm going to have her take pictures of my bald head, a la: 

I will look beautiful.  I will stand proud and strong and not be ashamed of my hair loss.  I am a warrior.  If I ever feel good enough to teach, she'll also take pictures of me teaching with a scarf on my head.  And then dancing bald. I want to do what makes me happy as often as possible.  And teaching ballet makes me happy.