Oh Happy Day! Completed radiation!

This morning, I completed my final dose of radiation!  Thirty three weekday morning trips with 22 different friends and family members made the journey really sweet and memorable.  The radiation angels/experts were so kind, happy, and caring.  They became dear friends after spending 33 mornings with them. 

Every day they asked me what music I'd like to hear during radiation.  It was fun listening to a variety of artists, someone different each day.  Today, for my final song, I chose my favorite gospel song, "Oh Happy Day."  My heart is so full of gratitude for my Savior, who washed all my sins away, oh Happy Day!  That song brings me so much joy! I'm so thankful for Jesus and his watchful care, felt through so many friends praying for me daily, taking time out of their busy days to drive me to radiation, and  dropping food off "for whenever I didn't feel like cooking."  It has been a beautiful journey!

The area radiated

My radiation angels.

 

Scott and our sons and son-in-laws always gather for one BYU football game a year.  This year, they all came to our house and attended the Notre Dame game.  Garrett and Heath arrived early and brought me to radiation that Friday morning.  The radiation team let them come back and see the set up.  My sons were able to meet my angel team.  The football game also made for an amazing memory for the Tenney men.    

Back to my health updates:  My under arm area ended up suffering from radiation burn.  I didn't realize that area was receiving so much exposure and had not been applying the green tea spray to my arm pit for the first 2 weeks of exposure.   The radiation folks say that it is a hard area to radiate and the location causes more burning than other locations.  It has been very sore and tender.  

My hair continues its growth, as well as my eye lashes and brows.  I'm off of the medications that eased the nerve pain, and caused water retention and weight gain.  There is no longer nerve pain!  I've lost 10 of the 25 pounds I gained, so far, which is also very encouraging.

On Friday, before my immunotherapy infusion, we met with Dr. Buys.  I LOVE her!  She is a great cheerleader who is so encouraging and compassionate.  I asked her where I now stand on the graph she wrote at one of our first appointments.  At the time, the graph showed women with metastatic triple negative breast cancer, in my situation.  It showed that at 2 years, half of us would be gone, and by 4 years, almost everyone else was gone, with very few surviving past that point. She said that our aggressive approach, my body's response to the treatments, and the immunotherapy that is working well has completely changed my prognosis.  She said I should easily make it to 5, 10, maybe 15 years or more!  That was such great and hopeful news!  I feel like a walking miracle.  I'm SO thankful for all of you, my community and support team. praying for me and giving me positivity and good vibes along the way.  Your faith and prayers have been a part of this miracle.  Thank you so much.....Oh happy day!  We will know more at the end of January when they do scans to see what cancer remains, if any.

To celebrate the end of radiation, I flew out to Courtney's home in Great Falls, Montana.  She will be induced on Thursday.  I'm so thankful that the timing worked out perfectly.  It is so sweet to be with grandkids as they anticipate the arrival of their new sibling! 

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Green Tea Spray and Peach Fuzz

 Today, I had radiation #8 of 33.  I'm using the green tea spray 5 times a day and spreading Aquaphor over the affected area after treatment.  I saw my radiation doctor on Wednesday and asked about the CT scan they did for lining up the radiation.  He said they could not see the tumor in my arm, nor the cancer in the lymph node of my neck.  That was great news to hear!  He said the brachial plexus area was also definitely smaller, but it is hard to see all of it because of the muscles and nerves all around that area.  They are radiating all three areas, hoping to catch any remaining cancer.  They also decided that they didn't need to use the mask, which makes everything faster and easier for lining everything up each day.  They just use the tattoo freckle marks.  

So far, radiation is going great.  You can't feel anything during the procedure.  I get to choose what kind of music I want to listen to each day, and a different friend drives me each day, so it has all been a  treat!  My neighbor, Tina, offered to make an online sign up sheet.  I'd tried my best to keep track of each friend that had offered to drive me, gave that list to Tina, and within 12 hours, 8 pm to 8 am, every spot was full!  Tina then rearranged things to make sure that anyone who had missed out could have a day.  It was so nice of Tina to take on that job, and so nice of so many friends to sign up!  Two different friends are driving 45 minutes to take me, and another is driving 30 minutes.  It is fun looking at the calendar and seeing who I get to visit with that day.

I'm still getting an immunotherapy injection every 3 weeks.  My hair is growing back!  I have more peach fuzz every morning!  My eye brows are also coming back, as well as some tiny little eye lashes!  I'll finish radiation the week of Halloween, and hoping to have enough hair to go wigless or hatless by then!  

Before starting radiation, we were able to fly to San Diego and spend a week with Heath and Kirsten's families, in an Air BNB across from the ocean.  It was so peaceful sitting on the balcony, watching the waves roll in and out.  Baby Summer is starting to smile, and Baby Kira is starting to walk!  It was really nice having a get away before starting radiation.  

Summer Time

This week they mapped out my body for radiation.  This included several CT scans, some without contrast, and the last one WITH contrast (an injection that lights up certain areas, I’m assuming this would be the cancer spots) to help with planning and placement for radiation.  This also included 7 tiny tattoo marks that look like black freckles to make sure radiation is placed in the right areas.  The final prep pieces were some hardware:  a backrest shaped to my back that will hold a wedge between my arm and ribs, in the arm pit area; and a mesh face mask to hold my face in place while they radiate a lymph node on my neck.  

Radiation will start on the Thursday after Labor Day and go for 33 days, Monday through Friday.  It will be about 40 minutes in the office every day.  I’ll use the green tea spray that prevented burning last time, along with taking Tumeric and vitamin B-50– all from my Indiana radiation oncologist's bag of tricks.  The folks at Huntsman had never heard about green tea spray (which is sad, knowing that people are burned there every day).  I’ll finish radiation the week of Halloween!  

Today I saw Dr. Buys.  She was very pleased with how well my body has withstood the chemo.  She plans to keep the immunotherapy going during radiation and likely for a year or two after.  She hopes that the radiation will “mop up any remaining cancer” and that the immunotherapy can then prevent any of it from recurring elsewhere.  They’ll do a pet scan a few weeks after radiation, and then continue doing scans every 6 months for at least 2 years.  Today was my first day of receiving only the immunotherapy infusion.  It took an hour and didn’t require any premeds or add ons (no steroids, anti nausea, etc…).

That’s the latest on the medical side of things. 

Courtney and her kids came in town for two weeks. She came with me for chemo.

My sister, Amy, was in town, and planned a girls night for stocking help. She brought dinner, Sarah and Sammie. It was a lot of fun.

My brother, David, visited with his family.

I was able to fly to Connecticut (wearing a mask to stay safe on the planes) last week and meet Heath and Elizabeth’s baby Summer.  Newborn snuggles are the best!  It is so fun seeing your kids as parents.

I had the energy to go on family walks.  I was able to cook some of Heath’s favorite meals from his childhood.  Their black berry bush was producing like crazy, so we made 12 jars of jam.  Elizabeth made the best mixed berry cobbler I’ve ever eaten!  It was a great week spending time with them.  I also got to see Sharon, my friend from junior high and high school.  She lives in a nearby town.  She stopped by for a visit and spoiled Summer with fun welcome gifts.  

On my flight back, I arranged for a 24 hour stop over in Chicago and got to spend time with Garrett’s family.  He met me at the airport with my favorite Chicago pizza.  We made great memories.  It was so nice having a bonus grandparenting visit on the way home.   

It has been a great summer.  I'm so thankful to be finished with chemo.  I'm so happy that my hair can now start to grow back.  I'm really tired of wearing wigs.  They are itchy and hot.  I wear my hats with hair most of the time.  I'm encouraged that the doctor is talking about long term things, and about the possibility of irradicating this cancer.  I'm praying for this cancer to go away, and for lots more time.  I appreciate everyone's continued prayers.  The prayers have blessed me with energy to do all of the things that are important to me.  I'm thankful for my Savior, who is my Prince of Peace.  We feel of His peace, and know that He is aware of our desires.  

Bonus Round!

The quick update, I opted for 2 more chemo infusions, July 28th and Aug. 4th.  They will map my radiation on August 19th, and start radiation on Labor Day.  Radiation will be 5 days a week for 6 or 6 1/2 weeks.  

For the longer update, continue reading.  

Two days after my last post, we received the update on the brachial plexus area--the more complicated, inoperable area affecting my arm and hand usage.  That tumor/area had not shrunken as much, which was disappointing.  It is hard to measure, since it is so intertwined with the nervs and muscles.  We are hopeful that radiation will shrink it.  

We had planned to be finished with chemo, but when they went over the radiation timeline, it was going to interfere with a trip we had planned--spending a week with our newest grandbaby (more on that exciting news below).  So I volunteered for a bonus round of chemo, to buy more time preparing for radiation.  

Over these past few weeks a lot has happened!  We welcomed Summer Grace Tenney to the family. 

I'll share Heath's Facebook post:At 16 weeks, Elizabeth had a serious bleed, and they told us it looked like she was going to have a miscarriage. We waited for things to get worse and for baby girl to show signs of regressing, but she never did. It still feels so surreal that she is here, but we can’t thank God enough that she made it. Welcome to the world, baby Summer. I pray we never lose sight of what an indescribable gift your existence is.

We were so excited and relieved about Summer's safe arrival.  Elizabeth's mom was able to help with the first few weeks.  I'll leave next week after my infusion to meet Summer and help for a week.  I'll get to see my Chicago grandkids on my way home.   I've  had Courtney and her 2 kids in town.  Kira visited earlier this month.  It has been such a treat spending time with our grandchildren this summer.  

I sleep really hard at night, but during the day I have enough energy to do the things I enjoy.  I feel sustained by your prayers and acknowledge my Savior for watching over me.   He knows the desires of my heart and is granting me strength to make memories and enjoy relationships.  Thank you for your continued prayers.  

Making strawberry jam.

Pioneer Day at This is the Place Park.

 

Pomegranites

 They did MRI #3 Tuesday evening.  The results were ready Wednesday morning.  The measurements of my arm's tumor shrunk some more.  It started at 1.9 cm, about the size of a cherry.  MRI #2 it was 8 mm, about the size of a plump blue berry.  MRI #3 shows it shrinking further to 5 mm, about the size of a pomegranite seed/arile. 

My other tumor, the larger one that wraps around my brachial plexus, is harder to size, but the scan showed continued shrinkage in that area too. 

https://teachmeanatomy.info/upper-limb/nerves/brachial-plexus/

We were thrilled with this news.  The plan for now is to proceed with one more "round" of chemo, which means two more Tuesday chemo sessions.  The radiation encologist will look at my MRI and determine if my tumors have shrunk enough for targeted radiation.  If so, I'll begin radiation sometime soon after completing chemo.  They will continue with my immunotherapy, but give it every 6 weeks instead of every three.  

Thank you for your continued prayers.  They are felt, and I think they are a big part of my pomegranite gift.  My nerve pain is still gone.  My left hand is still slower at tasks, but it is improving.  My stamina is way better than expected at this point of treatment.  I've been able to enjoy visits from my kids, including neighborhood walks. 

My heart is full of gratitude to my Heavenly Father and my Savior for the blessings, miracles, and joy I'm experiencing.  I hope you experience lots of joy on this 4th of July weekend.

Only Two More Chemo Infusions to Go!

The quick update: today I finished part 2 of chemo round 5, next week is my skip week.  On Tuesday (my skip day), they will repeat my MRIs, starting at 7 p.m.  We should receive results by Wednesday afternoon.  I only have 2 more chemo infusions!

Kirsten, Weston, and baby Kira have been in town.  Kirsten came to Chemo with Scott and me this morning.  It was so fun hanging out with her.  We worked on stockings! She's designing her own, beach themed stockings, since they live near and love beach life!  Today included a mermaid tail and a jelly fish.  

These wonderful stockings have now had 46 loving people help with sequins; that includes my son, Will (aka Scott Jr.), who sequinned a Santa hat, and my nephew, Colton, who sequinned that same Santa's boots.  I'll share photos when they are completed.  I'm hoping to have 50 people before we finish.  It will be fun to share with my future grandchildren the story of so many loving hands helping make their stockings when I was fighting cancer.  I'll share with them that the cancer affected my fine motor skills and threatened to end my life way too early; but we beat it, and now we have these beautiful stockings to hold the memory.  

While I'm on the subject of fine motor skills, I am carrying a lot of guilt for not sending hand written thank you notes for all of the kindnesses that have been shown to me and my family.  Hopefully, I

have acknowledged appreciation through email or text.  I'm hoping my handwriting skills can return as treatments change.  I deeply appreciate every text, email, chemo day scripture, flower planted, weed pulled, leaf cleared, flowers sent or dropped off, video with memories, sequin sewed, needle threaded, meal provided, card sent, soft blanket shared, encouragement given, smile, prayer, FB comment of encouragement, ride, treat, PJs and anything else I have failed to imclude here.  I continue to feel so much strength, physical, and spiritual power from all of your daily prayers. Thank you, thank you, thank you!!

A miracle from this week, for some reason, my left hand became really swollen on Saturday.  I was concerned and messaged my medical team.  I had been wearing my compression sleeve and thought that maybe it was preventing the fluid in my hand from draining.  I prayed Saturday night asking for the fluid to clear up.  I also removed my compression sleeve.  Sunday morning, my hand was back to normal.  It was a small, specific request.  But I want to acknowledge my Savior who watches over each of us and blesses us in small specific ways as we pray for and notice the small miracles he blesses us with along the way.  I was able to prepare a Father's Day dinner for Scott, who is one of the best fathers and grandfathers I know.  He learned from the best-- his dad, Lynn Tenney, and my dad, Perry Fisher.  

Port Report... or Re-port report

The quick updates:  They placed my port 2 weeks ago.  I have 4 more chemo infusions, then they plan to do targeted radiation, then immunotherapy every 21 days for a year, hopefully eradicating this cancer!

Yosemite

 

Since my last entry, we enjoyed a week trip with Garrett’s family. We explored Stanford campus, where we lived for 2 years while Garrett and Scott Jr. were in preschool, and Scott was in business school.  We explored Fisherman’s Wharf, toured Alcatraz island, ate clam chowder in a bread bowl at the Boudin Bakery, and had hot chocolate at Ghirardelli Square.  We then drove to Yosemite, where we glamped for 4 nights at Under Canvas, a few miles outside of the park. 

We hiked to see several waterfalls, Mirror Lake, and a few groves of Sequoia trees.  It was a great trip, and I was able to hike and enjoy the trip.  My favorite hike was the Hetch Hetchy hike, 2.5 miles to the base of a waterfall, where you were cooled down by the spray of the falls, then 2.5 miles back out.  

Mirror Lake

I was also able to attend the annual Manhattan Beach Moms Trip, our 21st year!  We went to Deana’s parents’ beautiful ranch in Star Valley, Wyoming.  We hiked to a waterfall at Jenny Lake in the Grand Tetons, visited Jackson Hole, the Star Valley Temple, and a fish hatchery.  I taught the group how to make my roll dough,

and then we shaped it into dinner rolls, cinnamon knot rolls, and cinnamon rolls.  We always do a service, and this year, they all helped with my Christmas stocking sequining project.  These stockings have now had 42 loving hands assisting with them. 

I’m so glad I was able to attend Moms' weekend.  It is always such a fun and uplifting weekend.  

Right now, I’m sitting at my 8th infusion.  We are encouraged with the response my body is having to the treatments.  At our last visit with the doctor, she said we will do 4 more chemos after today, then some targeted radiation, and then immunotherapy every 21 days for a year!   We are very optimistic and feel like we are going to beat this round of cancer,  Thank you for the many daily prayers offered

in my behalf.  I feel uplifted and sustained by them.  I know that our prayers are heard and answered.  Thank you for helping these miracles happen in my life.