3rd Zometa infusion

It has been an amazingly quiet year at the McDonald house.  I finished breast cancer treatment (at least the biggest share of it) last summer.  It has been a nice, quiet year of no significant medical problems or treatments to speak of.  I do still have check-up’s for cancer every 3-6 months and for Fibromyalgia every 4-6 months.

About 2 weeks ago I had my third infusion of Zometa, an osteoporosis drug used in the treatment of cancer.   I have an infusion of the medication every 6 months.   It goes on for 3 years from the time I started, so I have about a year and a half left of the infusions.  I just had my 3rd infusion and it went well.   The first time I had the drug I felt like I had the flu for about a week afterward, but the last 2 times I have felt okay other than being overly tired for about a week.

In the mean time, I have taken to eating as cleanly as possible  in an attempt to at least slow the growth of any further cancers.  It is amazing the terrible things in our food supply.  We have started a garden this year and are trying out best to keep it pesticide free.  I buy organic as much as we can afford.  We are eating food in the most natural for we can get it.  No, a cheese burger and fries from Wendy’s is not in it’s most “natural form”. ha  Fruits and veggies and clean meats.

I am also trying to rid my environment of as much chemicals as possible.  This is a challenge in our society of smells and potions to cure everything.

The Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure is coming up again in our area  in September or October.  This year we plan on doing the 5 K.   It is a great way to  celebrate my victory over cancer.

The battle does go on.  I have  a dear friend that is currently battling kidney cancer that has spread to her lungs.  She is an older lady and this is her 6th cancer in her life time, so she has done amazingly well.  I am afraid this is going to be the last battle, however.

I also know a very young man dieing of kidney cancer as well that has spread all through his body.  He is a husband and the father of a young girl my daughters age.  We continue to pray for him every day and his family at this very difficult time.  Cancer is a ruthless killer.  It sneaks up on you when you least expect it.

Be grateful for every day you have that is healthy and free of disease.    Your life can change on a dime.

Add comment August 22nd, 2010

Please do not attempt to advertise on this blog

Please do not attempt to advertise or post web addresses of any type on this blog.  It will NOT be posted, so it is a waste of your and my time.    This is a personal account of my breast cancer battle and an inappropriate place for solicitors to attempt to sell their websites.   Please have some respect for someone who has gone through a very difficult disease and has lived to tell about it.

Add comment June 30th, 2010

Home from our Cruise to Mexico

My husband and I had an incredible time on our cruise to Mexico.  The kids got to have some fun with Grandma and we got some time away to reconnect after a long battle with cancer.  We really enjoyed ourselves and are looking forward to a future without cancer.

Unfortunately, one of my dear friends found out while I was gone that her kidney cancer has metastasized (spread) to both of her lungs.   She had her kidney removed a few months ago and we had hoped it would not spread, but it has.  Please pray that she feels well and has some quality time left before the cancer takes over.

Add comment May 11th, 2010

Oncology appointment

I have  one of my standard three month checks coming up tomorrow and I am up late again.  Funny how that works.  Reminds me of being up night after night during chemo and radiation.  Not fun.  I have some minor things to discuss this time, but minor things when you have had cancer can quickly turn into major problems if you are not careful, so you have to be vigilant.    Any little bump on your body has to be checked out.  Those little irritations you had before that you blew off to nothing, could easily be something.  The signs of cancer can be very subtle.

Thankfully, I don’t tend to worry by nature any more.  After many years of experience with one major health disaster after another, it takes a LOT to get me rattled any more.  After having stage III cancer and going through a grueling treatment schedule, you no longer spend your time sweating the small stuff in life.  There are always blessings everywhere you look.  You just have to be willing to find them.

Please pray for me and my appointment to go smoothly and uneventfully.  I could use a few years of “uneventful”.   ha

Add comment April 14th, 2010

Dad is doing great!

My dad had his bypass surgery last week and he is doing great now.  He scared us for awhile there right after the surgery.  It took them a good 8  hours to stabilize him after he came out of surgery.  His temp was low and his heart wasn’t functioning correctly.  They had to put a pace maker on him and some other things.

He is getting stronger every day and they take more and more tubes out.  He will be home soon I think.  We are all relieved that it is over and that he is on the mend.

I have my first check up at oncology in quite awhile next week.  It is one of my 3 month checks.  No infusion.  Yeah!!   I will have another infusion in 3 months from now.  Ugh.  I am also due for a mammogram next week as well.   Oh boy.

I will let you know if there is anything earth shattering at either check up, but I am doing really well.  I have been eating as well as I can and trying to get as much organic food as possible.  I hope to prevent any future cancers with diet and exercise.

Thanks to all who prayed for my dad.

Add comment April 4th, 2010

Long night at the McDonald’s house

It’s another long night at the McDonald’s house.  My father is having emergency bypass surgery in the morning.  He has about 5 blocked arteries and an aortic aneurysm w/ a leaking valve.  I want to be there, but I  live several states away and cannot possibly make it in time.

He was here for me during much of my cancer treatment and it breaks my heart not to be able to be there for him.  My sister is there and so is my mother.  He is expected to do well and recover, slowly, but surely.  I cannot help but be afraid that  he may not make it though tomorrow,  and I won’t see him again.  I spoke to him on the phone tonight and the hardest words to say were, “good bye.”

My father has always been a hero to my sister and myself.  He is a great dad and was always the calm voice of reason in a house full of women.  He was kind and fair with us when we were kids.  He thought of us first and himself  last.  He showed us what a devoted father and husband is.  He was not out chasing skirts and making a fool of my mother.  He is a genuine  husband and family man and we could not ask for a better dad.

He worked 8 hour days and spent his free time with his family rather than finding reasons not to come  home like playing golf and hanging out with the boys like so  man men do.  Work was never more important that his family.  In this day and age when most men are workaholics, it is rare to find a man who spends his time with his family.  My mom doesn’t know how lucky she was to have his support raising us when we were  little kids.

My dad could always fix anything.  All we had to do was tell him about it and it was fixed or at least better.  I remember my sister and I calling him once because our car broke down and we had tried everything.  When my dad showed up he literally just got in the car, turned the key and boom it started.   He always just had the touch.  ha

When I had a problem when I was a teenager and even a young adult, if I would just tell him about it, it some how magically  made it better.

I hope to be able to sleep at some point tonight, but I think it is going to be touch and go.   My thought and prayers are with him, my mother and family.  Please pray for us during this difficult time.

–Julie

Add comment March 30th, 2010

Vitamin D Deficient

Hello Everyone,

It has been awhile since my last update.  That is a good sign, because it  means I have nothing to tell about cancer treatment!  I have a oncology check up coming soon (every 3 months).  I also need to return to plastic surgery soon and finish that.

I was just in Arizona for my nieces wedding.  It was so nice to see family and friends that I haven’t seen in years.  All were happy to see me happy and healthy.  It just cracks me up to run into people who know I had “breast cancer” because they all do the same thing.  First, they look me in the eye and say, “How are you doing?”  Then their eyes immediately go 8 inches south to my breasts.  ha  I want to say, “Yes, they are still there.” ha

I did just find out that I  have a severe Vitamin D deficiency.  I was surprised to hear that, because it was fine a few years ago.  I wonder if it has something to do with cancer treatment?

I did read this:  The authors of the study concluded that vitamin D deficiency is highly prevalent in women with breast cancer and that the current recommended dietary allowance of vitamin D is too low.  I hate milk and never drink it.  I also live in a dark, cloudy climate.  I have been so tired, and knew there was something going on so I pushed the doctor to run some blood tests and it turns out I was right.

It has been a good year of healing and getting back to normal.  I have been able to just enjoy the simple things that most take for granted.  Not having to live at the doctors office is a gift.  I have been able to get back into my exercise routine and am enjoying that.  We have some special trips planned this year that we are excited about.

I wish you all health and happiness in 2010.

Add comment March 9th, 2010

Share your bra color for Breast cancer

Apparently sharing your bra color has worked to get people to talk about breast cancer.  Traffic on the Susan G. Komen website has increased by 2000 percent.  That is a lot.  What a novel and interesting idea.  Whatever works to get people talking about breast cancer and a cure.

Add comment January 10th, 2010

Share your color for Breast Cancer Awareness

Sharing your bra color status.

I love it.  What a unique idea.  I just shared my bra color on Facebook.  Black by the way.    I found this quote about how it all  started.

“Some fun is going on…. just write the color of your bra in your status. Just the color, nothing else. It will be neat to see if this will spread the wings of breast cancer awareness. It will be fun to see how long it takes before people wonder why all the girls have a color in their status… Haha .”

Excellent.  It is working too.  An old friend of mine ( a guy) had his color posted on his Facebook, completely clueless as to what that meant.  ha  I am assuming he put in his school colors or something, having seen other friends with a color posted on their page with no explanation.   Any way, his friends all piled on and finally encouraged him to go to Google and find out what the color posting was all about.   One even asked if he was wearing a bra.  ha  ha  So, that’s at least 10+ more people who will consider breast cancer today.

Whatever works!  ha

Add comment January 9th, 2010

Zometa Infusion

I finally managed to get my Zometa infusion.  I got lucky and talked my doctor into letting me to go my doctors office (on this side of the river)  to have it, so that saved me a 30 minute drive.  It still took FOREVER as it was.  I waited an hour to get in then the infusion was an hour.

Thankfully, this time it did not make me really sick like last time.  I was a little achy, but no fever and didn’t feel like I had the flu this time.  It is nice to have it over with.   Now I don’t have to go back for 3 months.  I have to have a check-up in 3 months.

It has been a good year.  I finished cancer treatment during the summer.   We remodeled our house this year.  I have felt good all year.  I am getting back into shape after a long treatment schedule.  Our kids are all happy and healthy.  I am officially a cancer survivor!  We couldn’t ask for more.

God Bless you all and have a Happy New Year!  We love you.

Add comment December 31st, 2009