I'm so glad those two appointments are over.
Today, I got squished. OUCH!! The breast pain is sharp but mercifully short-lived. My shoulders, though, still hurt more than they had been before my mammogram. I had an Epsom Salts soak when I got home and that was a bit soothing. I have some swelling under my left arm, probably from just too much manipulating of that whole side of me.
The good news, as expected, is that my mammogram is clear - nothing to worry about. I asked about my breast density and the Radiologist said my breasts aren't dense at all. That means that the Arimidex and Tamoxifen have done the job of ridding my body of estrogen, thereby reducing the density of my breast tissue. Maybe if my hormones had been better balanced in the first place when I first started complaining of weight gain and fatigue, I might not have got breast cancer at all. High breast density is considered one of the main risk factors for breast cancer, probably because high breast density is caused by unchecked estrogen. I think there should be an awareness campaign to educate women about breast cancer risk factors, including breast density.
The Radiologist asked if I was having any trouble with my arm. I was surprised by his question and I told him about my frozen shoulders and the nerve damage effecting my elbow. His wife, he told me, had a mastectomy a couple of years ago and has considerable pain in her arm still. Even a light touch causes pain, he said. She doesn't have noticeable edema but she does find it makes a difference if she wears a compression sleeve on her arm when she flies. He seemed so sad when he was telling me about his wife. He warned me to be careful of my arm. He pointed out, in the digital images, where my scar tissue is and where there is thickening caused by the radiation.
It was so good to have Kevin there with me and to drive me. After my soak in the tub, I just stayed very still for a long while. I want to rest my left arm and, hopefully, the swelling will go down soon.
I am so over being poked and squished this week! I have my first massage on Friday. I hope that turns out to be a good thing and doesn't leave me aching all over.
I had a "cheery" call from the Champion Centre today. The Oncological nurse phoned to tell me that they are still unable to get me in to see an Oncologist but that they hope the same Oncologist I saw last time will visit again early in May to take on some of the world load. I might be able to see him then. She asked if I was back to work, and when I said I was, my impression from her was that she thought everything must be great in my world then! That annoyed me. I assured her that it wasn't and that I need to talk to an Oncologist about the problems I'm still experiencing with my joints, muscles and tendons, albeit not as badly as I was experiencing previously. She suggested, of course, that I see my family doctor. I told her that this is something I need to talk to an Oncologist about. She suggested I talk to my surgeon. I told her that I didn't think Arimidex and Tamoxifen would be in my surgeons area of specialization either. I am very certain my surgeon would be puzzled if I made an appointment to talk to him about the drugs I've been on.
I was very tired and cranky after that phone call. Her attitude bothered me more than anything. You get the feeling that they just want you NOT to be an "issue". Well, I wish I wasn't an "issue" either, but I am, so I wish there were the resources help me figure this out. I understand that they're overworked and overwhelmed but that's not my fault either. I worry, too, for the people just being diagnosed. I hope they're moving through the system without any delays.
Aren't I an absolute ray of sunshine today?!! I told you I was tired and cranky! I'm sure I'll be more myself tomorrow. I really don't like feeling this way.
I've Been Properly Poked and Squished
... who's to say you can't admire the beautiful house plants at Wilson's?
... replacing our decrepit deck with a patio! These are the types of materials we're exploring. 
It must be getting longer. It just doesn't look like it. I think that's because as it gets longer, it gets curlier so there doesn't seem to be any additional length. My bald spot didn't reflect in the flash today so that's a good sign that the curls are filling them in. It's hard to be patient.
Another beautiful performance by Alexa!
Alexa had two dance classes tonight. Group ones. One ballet group and one Pointe class. This is Alexa's first year on pointe and she does wonderfully up on her toes. She obviously loves dancing. And I love watching her.
This dance competition season, Alexa has been owning the podium and we couldn't be more happy for her and more proud!
Here's Kevin sipping bourbon at the Maker's Mark distillery in Kentucky.
I was amazed that they still use these old, worn wooden vats.
And yes, I had a sip of bourbon, too. It was an interesting tour. Getting there via our GPS was even more interesting, though. Our GPS took us the shortest route and, hence, a little off the beaten path. Well, actually the path was pretty "beaten" by other people using their GPS's.
Kevin wanted to turn around a couple of times but by then we were only 10 minutes or less from our destination, so why not find out where we end up? And, as it turned out, we were amazed to find ourselves at the Maker's Mark distillery, which is what we were aiming for!
For our little party on Sunday night, Lynne brought this Curried Quinoa Salad. It was SO good! I had it for lunch today. It's very filling.
I had never made this recipe before. In fact, I've never made any sheet cake before, being one who prefers more height in my cake presentation. But I recently saw a photo of sheet cake pieces presented as pictured here. Two kind of loosely stacked and then covered with other good stuff, in this instance raspberries from Mom's last year's garden and a dollop of whipped cream. Yummy.
Kathy and Lynne, the baker. Lynn, Jim, yours truly, and Allan. Graham. Allan and Kathy.
Not only was it Luke's birthday today, but it also turned out to be the best day to have a Kerr family get together with Ricardo while he's here. 
Luke is 20 today! We have no teenagers anymore, which is neither here nor there. Just a simple fact. 
I have a lot of friends who are nuts over birds! My parents have always been interested in birds and are quite knowledgeable about them (I think). Dad would catch and band magpies so he could track them. Mom would try teaching them to speak with some success. Dad kept pigeons in Saskatoon when he was a teenager and then he did at the farm, too, for a while. I remember going on a pigeon catching excursion to Uncle Dawson's barn when I was a little girl ... tagging along with my older brothers and Dad. I don't remember it well but I do recall that it was night time and there were flashlights and gunny sacks involved. When our kids were younger, Dad made a little birdhouse with a clear, glass wall and attached it to the window at the lake so we could all watch the nesting habits of wrens and the birth and first flights of the wee ones. There is a family story about Grandma hatching abandoned duck eggs in her bed. We had a big, beautiful book of birds at home when I was growing up. It had wonderful plates. I don't know if it was an Audobon book or not. 
Norman and Ruth had sworn off cats. No more pets. And then a home was needed for these beautiful cats. I can't remember what kind they are but they're a particular breed that is quite valuable as I understand it. They seem very happy. And very spoiled! And very fierce!
Posts
