Another good doctor visit!

I am a bit sore today having completed the Hyannis 1/2 marathon yesterday. Strange thing is that just 3 months after chemo and radiation I clocked a better time than my 2008 performance in the same race; not quite sure what to make of that! My chip did not register my start but clocked my finish at 2:16. I even took a "restroom" break and the day was blustery but as I ran along Craigville Beach and the scent of the ocean hit me right in the face, all I could do was smile. I realized this is why I run. Not for a PR, not for the medal (well, maybe a little for the medal!) but to really see the world around me. I so enjoyed the course, seeing the beautiful homes, passing the Kennedy memorial and compound, running oceanside. It was a great day that culminated in a wonderful lunch at my brother Phil's home where we were joined by my brothers Chris and Nick along with my Dad and Linda as well. My niece Maia is getting so big! She is so beautiful, I'll post photos soon. Not sure who she favors, Phil or Jess.

Spent the day in the city today being poked and prodded and I am happy to say that all is well! No need to return until July for another follow-up and round 2 of Zometa. I can hardly believe that I am approaching the one year mark of my diagnosis. Aside from my latest 'do and my port scar, I am pretty much back to normal. I'll post photos shortly so you can all see my hair.

Presidents Day 2009

It's Presidents Day 2009 and all I can think about is President Obama's mantra of "Change" and "Yes We Can" and how I had to get used to those ideas in 2008 on a very personal level!

February is now more than half way over as time marches onward. Each day that goes by causes me to marvel at how quickly the body can forget a time when it was in pain.

I say this as I have been feeling really good. I can't believe that as recently as this past October I was still undergoing chemo, still had my port, still feeling just not myself. This past weekend I ran 12 miles with Jess. We did not go really fast but we finished and I felt fine. (Well, aside from the aching legs and feet that 12 miles will cause!)

I look at my hair and realize most folks think I am being "edgy" by sporting a platinum blonde pixie. In fact, most people would probably never guess that just a few months ago I was bald, thinner (oh yes, my appetite came back!), and unable to run.

I want to be able to let other women going through similar circumstance know that they too can get through the hard times and come out in the end themselves again - almost. I say almost because cancer treatment does change you; it is different for all but everyone I have talked to who has gone through has been impacted in some way. Normal physical exams can take on ominous undertones, dates have new significance: "let's see, 9 months ago I got my port", and the little things in life, like decorating cupcakes on Valentine's Day with one niece and nephews become so important.

Sure, being on tamoxifen has its own unique set of challenges but I am dealing with them as best I can. Hint: I have given up caffeine (yes, that was fun...) and it has seemed to help. So I plod onward, keeping my fingers crossed every time I have a scan, running when I can and looking forward to spring.

Escaping Reality

This past weekend marked our third year of attendance at the New York Comicbook Convention. While not quite as grand as the San Diego convention, New York gets better and bigger every year.

Last year the NYCC was in April. Greg and I went just after I had a slew of scans done in preparation for my surgery. We were still reeling from my cancer diagnosis and basically walked around too numb to absorb the sights and sounds around us.

This year we were both feeling really good and were able to fully enjoy the chaos and clash of cultures that make the Cons so much fun! We saw the requisite storm troopers as you can see by the photos above but we also saw so many great artists, it is mind boggling. We were able to attend a panel discussion led by Michael Uslan, executive producer of all the Batman movies since 1989. The panel was entitled "Living Legends" - and he had Jerry Robinson there. Who is Jerry Robinson you ask? Most of you know I both Greg and I share little passion for the Dark Knight - Jerry Robinson is the creator of the Joker, Batman's most evil arch nemesis. It was pretty incredible to hear him talk about the inspiration for the character. He came up with him while a student at Columbia doing comics on the side. No one could have ever imagined the icon the Joker would become as Jerry sketched him that night in his dorm room.

We had a really good time except for the fact that my car died in Port Authority. And then we had to wait 4 hours for a tow truck. Said tow truck then died in the middle of Route 3 in front of Giants Stadium. I then spent some time in the back of a police car waiting for my brother to come rescue us. It sure is not comfortable back there! I am not sure I'll ever see my car again. I think it is in Rutherford somewhere...

I have a scheduled trip to the oncologist next week and I am looking forward to talking to her about my anxieties over every test and the impact Tamoxifen is having on my sleeping habits. Otherwise I am waiting for my favorite day of the year to arrive - yes, the day we set the clocks forward - woo hoo!

Saying Goodbye to January

It is January 31st already. 2009 is already flying by. Good news from my latest ultrasound - everything absolutely normal. Gotta love it!

I feel great, so good in fact that Jess and I did a ten mile training run this morning through Boonton and Mountain Lakes. Thank goodness for the new Starbucks in Denville as we had a brief respite from the 20 degree weather and winds currently gripping Northern NJ. It is a beautifully sunny Saturday though so I am not really complaining all that much.

Yesterday was Greg's birthday so we celebrated by staying in and playing with his new Wii system. Technology is an amazing thing. Yes, it helped find and eradicate my cancer but it also lets us pretend we are Jedis with our very own light sabers! What a great time to be alive!

Superbowl tomorrow. No preference as to who wins just as long as my numbers come in... have a great week everyone!

Mile Markers

The weather here this past Friday and Saturday was a balmy 40 degrees affording me the chance to log some outdoor runs. Did eight miles Saturday morning with Jess and felt pretty good; of course tired by day's end but otherwise not bad.

I have been reflecting a lot on the past year lately as the 1 year anniversary of my diagnosis looms in the future. I keep trying to recall my thoughts/plan/hope and dreams for 2008 and wrap my brain around how things played out. Everything has its reason; I am still trying to figure this one out!

I am also dealing with the stress that comes with every follow-up scan/test and exam - stress as I wait to hear those few words, "all is clear". So far so good. (And yes that is the sound of me knocking wood!)

Much good news this past week - Learned a friend is having a baby, another gave birth to her daughter. I was able to visit my friend Phyllis and laugh about how much her life has changed in the past year as well as she awaits the birth of Alexia! We celebrated Greg's dad's 70th birthday and look forward to Greg's upcoming 39th. Life marches on and I am trying my best to embrace every minute - the good (saw two great films: "Slumdog Millionaire" and "The Wrestler") and the bad (saw one very bad film: "Max Payne"); now if I could only convince myself to enjoy winter!

Hot Flashes Can Be Useful

The weather here in the Northeast can be best described using that nasty four letter word: COLD!!! I do not believe the temperature gauge registered above 20 this week. And oh yeah - that other four letter word keeps cropping (or should I say piling) up - SNOW. I have been sticking to the treadmill for my runs which is not all that exciting. (I have run in 17 degree weather which actually has not been bad and I have a running partner as crazy as I am; shout out to you Amy!) So, the side effects I suffer most from by taking tamoxifen, hot flashes, have actually come in quite handy this week! No more nights fighting Greg for the blankets; he can have them as I am heated from the inside out!

This week promises to be one of new beginnings as Barack Obama will become our President. His mantra of change brings to me a message of hope. I do not envy the man as he walks into the mire of economic woes and foreign conflict that highlight the daily news. I have been trying to pay attention to his thoughts around health care and what impact it may have on me not only as a patient but as an employee of a health care company. The use of an electronic medical record resonates loudly with me as I constantly cite my example of going to three different departments in the same hospital on the same day and completing the same paperwork and signing the same privacy form. Wouldn't it be nice if they could just share? We live in an incredible time of medical advance; I am excited to see what the future brings now that I am convinced I'll be around to see it!

Myself, I plan to keep running and promoting breast cancer awareness. I am shooting for possibly two marathons this year: the Nike Race for Women in San Francisco and, if I get in, the ING Marathon in NYC. I'll keep you posted on my progress. Today I am looking at 7 miles on my treadmill. Yuck. The Hyannis 1/2 is about a month away so I need to do it. Looks like I'll be turning on the TV and watching whatever mindless drivel can take me away from the fact I am not getting anywhere!

Well That Wasn't Very Much Fun!

For those of you who read my post from last night - I am feeling MUCH BETTER today! In fact, I feel almost normal. Yowza, that Zometa really hit me hard! Thankfully its effects were short lived! Lesson learned - get Zometa infusion on Fridays so I have Saturday to recover.

The weekend weather forecast here is for snow and for lots of it. Probably not a bad thing, I should take the time to do a purge. I realized it was necessary when I pulled three gray v-neck sweaters out of my closet - all basically the same. Not sure how that happened but I shudder to think what else I might find in the recesses of my now well-lit closet. Did I mention that Greg had installed lighting in my closet? That he even put a light over my shoe rack so I could see all my shoes? He still surprises me from time to time!

I have recovered from my Zometa experience but it has left me tired; time to call it a night!