Hi all!!

I met with my radiation oncology doctor yesterday (Feb.5th, 2010).  His name is Dr. Taylor and i met him while i was in the hopital last April when we were trying to decide which way to treat, radiation or chemo.  He said he is glad we chose chemo at that time because A) I responded so well to chemo and now we can go in with full guns blasting using radiation.  If we had started with radiation last year i would not be able to recieve a full dose because the body can only handle so much radiation in a period of time.  He said there are 3 very, very small spots on the left side of my brain.  He said they are so small they arent even considered tumors at this time.  He said we could wait a month, scan again to see if theyve grown,  and then decide whether to proceed with  radiation.  I told him I'd rather be agressive with it and he agreed for 2 reasons...1. we already know i have an agressive cancer in my body and #2  when Dr. Cavalcant found out i had the spots he immediately put me on steroids.  Steroids reduce brain swelling.  Dr. Taylor said since there had been no decrease in the fuzzy vision on my left side that means that one of the spots is pushing on a nerve that is leading to my left eye.  He said its possible i could regain my vision back or the damage has been done.  We wont know until after radiation treatments.  So on Monday i will go in for a CTscan to map my brain out.  After that they will fit my face for a face shield that holds my head to the radiation table during therapy to hold me still.  Then we will start 15 consecutive treatments and blast these little bastards into oblivion.  I thought they would point the beams at the the 3 spots but he said they treat the entire brain otherwise the cancer just bounces around and then you cant get it all.  He said there is probabaly smaller spots already growing that we just cant see yet so treating the entire brain is the way to go.  Side effects include hair loss (been there-done that), possible fatigue and nausea (been there-done that as well).      He also said this is the same cancer that started in the breast.  Once it moved into the bones it entered the blood stream and once into the blood stream it is very common to move into the brain.  So far, I've had it in my breast, lymph nodes, spot on the lung, spine, ribcage, pelvic bone, and lymph nodes surounding my heart.  I had 3 fractured vertabrae and a collapsed vertabrae and all that cancer is gone now!!!  So there is no doubt in my mind that we will kick the brain cancer as well!!

This has been especially tough on my Mom who has been thru this with me from day 1.  My Mom lost both of her parent to cancer and  a younger brother (uncle Jim)... just a few years ago.  My aunt Alice had breast cancer and is now cancer free.  My aunt Linda was just diagnosed with bladder and pelvic bone cancer.  So this hits very close to home for my Mom and I want to thank her for being so strong and supportive of me.  We WILL get thru this Mom!!!  I love you very much!!!

I would also like to personally thank two people who had a hand in getting me the best health care possible and those two people are Valerie Simpson my BFF and her mother Barbara Duffy.  Barbara referred me to Dr. Freedman who reffered me to Dr. Cavalcant and on to Dr. Taylor.  I truely believe i ended up with the best doctors in the state if not in the United States.  Thank you SO much Val and Barbara!!!
Also thanks to everyone of you who keep me in your thoughts and prayers, IT is working!!! 

When i told my boss Richard the cancer had spread he hugged me and assured me i have a job with the Town of Gilbert.  Thats a huge relief as I love my job there and am SO proud to work for such a wonderful community.   I believe i work in the best department in the Public Works Department and so lucky to be surrounded by so many awesome individuals.  Ok, thats enuff blubbering....

I love you all and consider myself blessed!!!

Thank you---Shelly