Thursday Report, What's next.

Quick update:  Continue chemo & immunotherapy for 3 more cycles (chemo, chemo, skip).  Then probably targeted radiation, then immunotherapy for a year (every 21 days).  

 Thursday was a busy day!  Scott was out of town for work meetings, so my close friend Erin picked me up at 8:00, then dropped me off at my next stop at 3:15 (my first ride on the Front Runner).  

My lab appointment was at 8:30.  They can only access veins in my right arm because of my lymphedema in my left arm.  I didn't want a port, because I hated having one last time--it felt weird and is the only noticeable scar from round 1 of breast cancer 13 years ago.  I went along without one in case things didn't work; but since we are looking at over a year of vein usage, I'm giving in and getting a port in early June.  

Next was my doctor's appointment. I love my oncologist, Sandra Buys.  She is smart, compassionate, takes as much time as needed to answer questions and discuss options.  She was thrilled with the progress.  As my tumors have shrunk, I've been gaining water weight, with swelling in both legs, but more so in my right ankle,--the one I broke 5 years ago.  So, I'm now wearing compression on every limb but the right arm, which has worn out veins! She gave me a couple meds to help with that.  As noted in the spoiler alert at the beginning, we will continue with 3 more cycles of chemo, then most likely switch over to radiation, while continuing the immunotherapy for another year.  So we are hopeful in winning this battle!

After my Dr. visit, we went to the infusion area.  It was so fun having 4-5 hours catching up on things while we sewed sequins (now 26 friends have helped!) during my infusion. Erin's been one of my closest friends for 38 years.  We've lived in the same place or in close proximity 7 different times, maybe more.  She is a great cook, and I've learned so many culinary things by spending time in her kitchens.  I learned how to make cinnamon knot rolls from her probably 37 years ago.  We make caramel candy every December. She feeds huge crowds amazing meals, and never seems flustered.  She fills people with food, but she also fills spirits with her faith and goodness.  She is a treasured friend. 

Sewing sequins.

After my infusion, Erin dropped me off at the train station.  Thanks to help from my next door neighbors Tina and Mia, I took my first ride on the Front Runner, a train that connects between Provo and Ogden, maybe further.  It was really easy to do, and a fast way to miss heavy traffic.  I traveled down to the South Jordan stop, where Tina picked me up, because she was coming back from Provo.  We were both attending a dinner with Utah Academic Language Therapists who I have either recruited and/or helped train.  I think we had 14 people around the table, and letters from 3 others who couldn't attend.  It was so kind of Lisa and Connie to put this together and to comment on the ripple effect it has had as each of these Certified Academic Language Therapists (CALTs) are now helping lots of dyslexic kids.  It was a beautiful night, and I totally forgot to take a photo!