Valerie had an opportunity to speak at the local Soroptimist International meeting this past week about her Breast Cancer journey (she is with Kris Hough, President-Elect of Santa Clarita Soroptimists and Diana Vose, President of the Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Health Foundation). She has been asked to speak at several events this month (October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month if you did not know!). I did not get to attend this speech, and she was pretty nervous, but I hear she did great and hopefully motivated a few more women to be diligent in getting checked for cancer themselves. I do get to attend Bras For a Cause (the reason Kris is holding the decorated bust) on Sunday, which is expected to raise over $25,000 to help fight the cancer we hate.

Chemo Treatment #4 is today September 18, 2006.

(Dion's edit) Ok so I thought I could teach her how to blog, since I have been a little busy lately. Bad idea.....I think I'll have to edit this post to make it a little more "cleaner". I'll leave the original version, but don't think I'll have her posting again!

Hi everyone, it's me Val. Dion just taught me how to write on this blog last night. He writes SOOO much better than I, but he has been really busy at work lately so he has not had time to update it as much as he would like. I had Chemo #4 yesterday, I am halfway through. Next time I will get a new drug called Taxol and no more AC (Cytoxan, which should mean no more nausea)...Yeah! I am feeling great this morning...100%.

(I think I could safely delete this whole section, but have been warned not to.....great) Last week I went to see Dr. Watson, he is the one who put in the expanders. He added another 50 cc to my boobs (she did not just say that!)...now I have a total of 250 cc in there. I was so excited to go there and I left a little disappointed. I learned that 50 cc is really not that much. I was hoping to walk out of there at least a B or a C cup (again, can't believe I am reading this), but I still think I am either big A or a little B. For everyone who knows me, I have always had little breasts and now is my chance to have some fun (um, I think the computer is broken dear, no really it is, sorry you won't be able to post anymore). I think I would be happy a small C, but who knows. I'll keep you updated on my mindset (not). A week after I had them filled, I developed a small lump by my breast bone. Of course I freaked out...a little...and saw my oncologist and my surgeon. They assured me it was not a tumor and just irritation from being expanded. I felt better, but I will see Dr. Watson Tuesday to see what's going on. He will most likely say it's irritated and goodbye, but I would rather be careful than ignore it. (update, he did say it was nothing to be concerned with, is likely just fluid and irritation from the expansion. They did an Ultrasound and it looked OK. Dr. Watson will be checking it more closely on Tuesday, September 26).

Anyway, I am having a great day and I have to get the kids off to school and go in to get my Neulasta shot (take a guess at what this ONE shot costs! That is every two weeks, ouch!) Yeah!

Grandma before school today. Grandma is having a bad hair day and she didn't want me to put the picture in the blog...I told her to be quiet, and be happy, because at least she has hair. Then she let me put the picture up.

I think I slept for 24 hours straight. I was feeling pretty sick on Tuesday night, but I just took a Ativan and went to sleep. I slept all day yesterday and last night and today I am tired, but awake.

I talked to Dr. Watson over the phone about the lump and he said that it was not a tumor and likely just irritation (keeping fingers crossed here), I will go and see him next Tuesday for sure.

Made cookies with Auntie Paula while Valerie rests. Paula now knows not to bring over frosting and sugar cookies before bed time. The kids were bouncing off the walls, I guess that's what friends are for. Doing much better on this the third day after chemo.

Avon Breast Cancer Walk - Los Angeles

Valerie's friends Kelly & Wendy about to take off at the Avon Breast Cancer Walk in Long Beach. They are holding up a picture of Valerie because she was unable to walk this year (doctor's orders).

Kelly and Judy at the walk.

Kelly and Wendy at Rest Stop #2. Kelly is holding a photo of Valerie, so she is with her every step of the way!

Having fun at the walk, Woo Hoo!

Valerie and her Mom went down to Long Beach to cheer her friends on as they walked almost 40 miles and raised over $20,000 for Cancer research!

Valerie and her Mom with Judy...She had only 2.7 miles to go!

Stephanie showing Valerie how to exercise at their Bosom Buddies support group meeting.

Valerie at her Bosom Buddies support group doing some exercise.

Chemo Treatment #3 is today September 5, 2006. After today, only five more to go!

Valerie has been doing OK, guess I have fallen behind on the updates.....there must be a saying "time can put things behind rose colored glasses", well it can also be wickedly FAST as well! While things do seem better, many of the facts are still the same, we have just become accustomed (life does go on!) to what life with Cancer will be like. Valerie does get sick (nauseous) in the evening on the day after her Chemo, then she gets very tired on the next day and usually sleeps for most of the day. By day four she is usually back up and around and feeling pretty good. This past week though, she says the "tired" feeling has been sticking with her longer. She has had fevers, but they do not last and the doctors say this is normal, you will have some short unexplainable fevers (about 100 degrees Fahrenheit) that will go away in a couple hours time, all just a part of having Chemotherapy. However, longer ones or ones accompanied by infection are not good, her body with its lowered immune systems will not be able to fight off infection. We are keeping a close eye on the temps, and checking with the doctor regularly.

One change this week, prior to Chemo the doctors check her White and Red Blood Cell counts. Each week Valerie's WBC count has been trending upward (not usually the result, but a good one!), which should help her keep any sickness away. However her RBC count has been dropping quite a bit and she is now Anemic (the primary result is feeling tired). They are checking into what insurance covers as far as shots to treat the Anemia, and we should know on Wednesday what her options are. Basically she will be getting shots of Erythropoietin and either insurance will pay or I will.

Valerie will be getting Taxol for the last four Chemotherapy treatments. Here is something I found interesting....Taxol (the commercial name for Paclitaxel) is created from a compound found in the bark of the Pacific Yew tree!

Feeling pretty bad today...two days after my third Chemo treatment.

Feeling better by day three!