4 Chemo Treatments Down, Hopefully 2 to Go!

Hi, all.

I want everyone to know that the Cancer Center finally went Wi-Fi! So I am updating my blog in the middle of chemo treatment no. 4. Pretty good multi-tasking, no? I know that it's been awhile since I wrote, and I apologize for that. Between chemo, the move, and all that surrounds it, things have been a bit crazy, as you can imagine.

I also have not blogged because there is not much to report on the medical front. And you know what they say: no news is good news. Luckily, that is the case with me right now.

Each treatment gets a bit tougher, but although I have suffered from some new and novel symptoms, they are largely predictable, and therefore easier to prepare for and treat. As usual, we have flying Grandmas and Sisters visit the weekend after each treatment (this time, “Auntie”), and rides, babysitting and other support from all of you - our wonderful family and friends - so we are doing fine and hoping/praying that this is the last chemo of my/our lives!!!!!

Assuming that my blood counts remain good (and they are off the charts, if I do say so myself), my next treatment will be in 3 weeks, and my final treatment is 3 weeks after that - in late-October. (The plan was to give me at least 4 treatments, and aim for 6, which they can't do if they see evidence of possible permanent bone marrow damage. So we have to play it by ear from now on based on my white cell counts.)

After chemo, I get a 2-3 week break and then start radiation (once a day - only 15 minutes - each weekday for 6 weeks.) This takes us through mid-December-ish, and we are DONE.

The kids are doing great and both are flourishing in their new 'hood, schools, house and WARM backyard. (Too warm last weekend! Thank God for A.C.) Jeff is doing well and we are still finding time for lots of fun stuff on my good days.

Thanks for your interest and I promise to update the blog if anything interesting transpires; which I hope and think will not.

Take care!

:-)

Shannon

P.S. - FUNDRAISING ALERT: I previously posted donation information for the Susan G. Komen breast cancer foundation. Although this is a wonderful organization, if anyone wants to donate to Breast Cancer Research, I would like to draw your attention to a study that is near and dear to my heart. It's spearheaded by my tireless Oncologist Ellie (Alice) Guardino, who gives all day to her patients and all night and weekends to her 3 young kids, husband and research.

Ellie is running a study on Breast Cancer Vaccines that is incredibly promising. Of course, as always, and especially due to recent federal cuts in medical research grants, she and her research team need private support now more than ever. You can learn more about Dr. Guardino and her study at http://med.stanford.edu/profiles/cancer/researcher/Alice_Guardino/. (She is very dumb and lazy, as her profile reveals.) :-)

To make a gift online, go to Stanford’s website at http://givingtostanford.stanford.edu/giving/home?indexredir=r.

- Click the “Make a Gift Now” tab (top left).

- On the next page, select “Stanford Medical Center” from the drop-down menu, then select your gift type and payment method and click “Continue”.

- On the next page , select "Hospital - Other (Specify Below)” from the drop down menu, and in the “Special Instructions / Other Designation” box below, enter “Breast Cancer Vaccine Program”.

- Follow the remaining prompts to complete your transaction.

Ellie, Stanford, and I, plus the 1 in 7 women in the U.S. who will be diagnosed with Breast Cancer during their lifetime thank you for your support! No gift is too small!!!!!