Happy New Year!

It's the eve of Rosh Ha'Shanah and I just got back from Sibley hospital a little while ago -- a  normal mammogram result is a good way to start off the Jewish New Year!

Not much else to report.  My knee has been hurting so no running for the last few weeks :-(

Attended a Cancer Legal Resource Center conference last week. Will head to West Virginia next weekend for a photography workshop.  Now that it's fall, trying to figure out what my "new normal" will be in the coming new year.

It has a name

That is, my breast blister.  I went to the dermatologist today and she told me it was a "lymphangioma circumscriptum."  Yikes.  She told me to google away and read all about it, but basically, it is lymphatic fluid building up and flowing out periodically, likely caused by radiation, chemo, surgery or a combination thereof.  She said it's nothing to be worried about, so I shall not worry too much about it.  Nothing much to be done about it other than tight bandaging.

Yesterday I had my endometrial biopsy.  I proved to be not the ideal patient and was so tense that it is possible my dr. did not get sufficient tissue samples. But she might have.  It was painful but I was fine afterwards.  Results will come in approximately 7 days.  If results are inconclusive due to insufficient tissue samples, she will want to monitor me with ultrasounds to determine if my uterine lining is becoming thicker (which apparently is a bad thing).

Feeling a bit sorry for myself today; am feeling run down and like I'm fighting off a cold, even though I just had a cold a few weeks ago!  Of course it is nothing compared to chemo, so not quite sure why I'm feeling so whiny about it.

Have been running, when I can.  My knee has started bothering me in the last week or two.  But I did get a 5K race in September 10, at nationals stadium.

My friend Janel & me before the race

 And went for a really nice hike Sunday at Wheaton Regional Park with a friend.  See pic below ... reflections in the lake.

One year ago

One year ago today I received my sixth of six rounds of chemo!  Minicupcakes, applause in the chemo room, and a welcome home banner helped mark the day. 

I would say that today is a better day!

Follow-up

Had two appointments today.  First was my pelvic ultrasound.  After drinking my obligatory 32 ounces of water, and then waiting about 45 minutes (test needs to be done with a full bladder) I was VERY ready to get the procedure started.

The test showed that I have a cyst on my ovaries - something to be monitored but not concerned about, my doctor told me.  My uterine lining was 11.5 mm thick, which was a little thicker than my doctor wanted to see (10 mm was her cut off), so I need to return in a few weeks for an endometrial biopsy.  She said she was not really concerned that it was cancer (she said typically the lining would be 20-25 mm thick at that point) but she just wants to be sure.  So, will have to have follow up for that.  It's scheduled for September 19.

My second appointment today was a followup with Dr. Croog, my radiation oncologist.  My edema (swelling) & redness are much decreased (which I really hadn't noticed).  She said everything looks good.  Need to go back to Sibley later in September for a followup mammogram.

So follow-ups leading to more follow-ups pretty much sums up today.