The Week In Review

So this has been quite a week.

Update on Mandy

On Wednesday, we took Mandy to meet with the surgeon from Sunnybrook Health Sciences, Dr. Covens. He is on of the leading ob/gyn treating cancer in North America(if not the world). She DOES NOT require the trachelectomy. They will be doing another cone biopsy on the 7th of October, next Tuesday. They are still be doing the laparoscopic sentinel node mapping and bilateral pelvic node dissection (examination and possible removal of the lymph nodes). That will occur sometime in November.

My New Hair

I finally got the bangs on my wig trimmed. It looks really good. I will have to post photos later as the camera is gone away with Mandy.

Update on me

Thursday was my day to meet with the doctor and for my pre-treatment blood work. My numbers this time are as follows:

LKC (white) October 2-6.0 Sept 11-5.5
ERC (red) October 2-4.51 Sept 11-4.60
HB (hemoglobin) October 2-123 Sept 11-128
PLT (platelets) October 2-259 Sept 11-272
Neut# October 2-4.4 Sept 11-3.6

Yesterday, Friday, I had my third round of chemo therapy. Because Kyle has been fighting off snuffles for the past 2 weeks he stayed home and Karen came with me.

They again had trouble finding my port and it took 3 tries again. The nurse finally had to get Diane the wonder nurse to do it. Next time I go in, I am asking for her right off the bat. This week's nurse did however, call to get me a script for the Emla cream for me. This stuff is applied of the site of the Port an hour before the procedure and it numbs the skin to avoid the sting (hopefully this and first time in will make it less painful).

Karen was a great help, and performing her butt clenching exercises to take my mind off the pain was inspired. I actually had to open my eyes to watch (previously they had been clenched tight to deflect the pain). I don't think the guy in the next chair appreciated them (the butt clenches) as much as I did though.

So far so good, I was feeling a little woozy when I got up this morning, but I am feeling pretty good now. Last night when I got home, i made my angel hair pasta with broccoli. I prepped all the veggies in the morning, so it was on the table in less than 30 minutes. The trick is to start cooking the veggies as soon as you put the water on for the pasta soon you can put the drained pasta right into the sauce.

Garlic infused Angel Hair with Broccoli (makes 4 main course servings)

1 lb (500 gr) angel hair pasta (broken in half)
2 bunches Broccoli, trimmed into 1-1/2 inch florets, quartered into small pieces and stems peeled and julienned into matching lengths
1 red peppers, julienned into 1-1/2" pieces
1 small onion, red preferred, sliced length way through the root into 1/8" wedges
1 c. Extra virgin Olive Oil (the only Olive oil I buy) (divided)
1/3 c. chopped garlic, I buy large jars of it pre chopped
1 lemon, zested and cut into 1/8ths
salt and pepper to taste
2 c. finely grated Parmesan cheese (we use a micro plane)
1 c reserved pasta cooking water

Prep all the veggies before you start. I often do them the night before and bag them so all I have to do when I get home is zest and cut the lemon.

Set water to boil for pasta. When it boils, salt generously and add pasta, stirring occationally to keep from sticking. Meanwhile...

In a large stir fry pan, heat 1/2 c. Olive oil with the Garlic. Simmer 5 minutes until fragrant.

Add onion and Broccoli stems and cook 3 - 4 minutes. Add in remaining broccoli florets and red pepper. Stir until tender-crisp. Add lemon zest and salt and pepper to taste. Add remaining olive oil.

Before draining pasta, set aside 1 c. of the cooking liquid. Drain pasta and add to the veggies - DO NOT rise.

Remove pan from heat. Toss pasta with veggies to combine. Sprinkle with 1/2 the cheese, then drizzle with about 1/4 c. of the pasta water. Toss with blend (cheese should dissolve into the mix) Repeat with the remaining cheese and 1/4 c. pasta water. If it seems dry, add a little more water and toss. It should just glisten.

Serve with additional cheese and lemon wedges.

Note: I know this seems like a lot of oil, but it is the sauce, along with the cheese and pasta water. And it is Olive oil and good for you. Try it this way once, before cutting the amount of oil. It should not be greasy at all.

~Inez