It has been almost 3 weeks since I last posted. A lot has happened.

First, I have had all my radiation treatments. I am still experiencing back pain, in fact most days are worst than before I started the treatments.

Next, last week, I developed hives, probably a reaction to the Bonefos medication. They have since cleared up, and I am ready to go back on the Bonefos, but at a much lower dosage to build up a tolerance.

Finally, from my mammogram last week, they have requested a biopsy, but Dr. Z is advising against it, since I am already being treated for the lesions on my spine. When I questioned my nurse about it, and the possibility of a mastectomy, she said it was way too much to go through when I was already being treated for the spinal lesion.

So I guess until I see the Oncologist again at the end of August there is nothing to do but continue living. Life is going on as usual. Warts and all.

~Inez

Kicking Cancer's Ass - Part 2

This past winter and spring, I found myself suffering from a lot of back pain. I have suffered from this before, and really did not give it a lot of thought.

Anyway, April comes, and one Friday, I am in so much pain, nothing is helping it. I leave work at Noon, pick Kyle up and head to urgent care. They do a series of back x-rays and prescribe T3s. Fast forward to the next week.

Dr. P has the results. It shows a little arthritis in my lower back (L4). Because of my history, he orders a bone scan to rule out anything else (the c word). Bone scan completed and confirms L4/5 abnormality. Next step, MRI.

When we go in to get the results. MRI confirms a growth. Dr. P tells me to get a hold of my doctors at the cancer centre right away and book appointments. We fax all the reports, x-rays, scan and MRI. I get in to see both of them within the week.

Yesterday I saw both Doctors, Zalewski, who deals with medications and chemo, and Koll who is in charge of radiation.

They confirm, given the lack of any back trauma, and the absence of anything on prior scans, in all likeliness, this is cancerous. So the plan is 5 sessions of radiation, starting the 16th of June. Planning session was taken care of within an hour of seeing Dr. Koll.

Dr. Zalewski has changed my medications, switching me from Arimidex to Tamoxifen and adding Bonefos - a bone strengthening medication. I will be taking it in capsule form, although it is available as an infused product.

So that is where we are today. I am still a little raw, trying to absorb all of this. Doctor Koll says the prognosis is good, and that he has many patients that come in every 6 - 9 months - 2 years to get another spot blasted. So until I have the full CT Scan and the results from that, we are in a holding pattern.

Right now I need your support, I already feel shitty enough.

I will be talking to you all again soon.

~Inez