Cancer Burns

Dear Friends,

A lovely dinner with Auntie Mary, Mom and Regina.

Everyday I feel a bit stronger and more myself.  I am steadily making my way through radiation treatment.  I have just 10 more radiation sessions to go - I finish on November 13th.  I have treatment every Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday - with a break at the weekend.  I am also in a well-fit class for cancer patients at the Santa Barbara Athletic Club two days a week and going to physical therapy two days a week.  So I am staying busy!

The radiation therapy staff have been great and the treatments effective - as is evidenced by a solidly red square of skin - it runs from my right collarbone into my armpit and then down below my right breast and then into the center of my chest.  It is a little itchy, swollen and sore, but I am hanging in there.  It is not nearly as challenging as chemo!  My tips for getting through radiation include:  using Miaderm lotion (specifically designed for radiation patients) a few times a day, Elta melting moisturizer and then when you get really red and itchy, 1% hydro-cortisone (the petroleum based version seems to be more soothing than a creme base).  I will spare you the photos of my red skin!

Chris looking dashing in pink!

Our friend Stefani and her son Luke joined us on the walk!

Chris was here in early October and we enjoyed participating in the Cancer Center of Santa Barbara's 5k walk.  Thank you to everyone who supported us in the walk! We ended up raising $4000 for the Cancer Center (I was one of the top 5 fundraisers - thanks to all of you!). As promised, since I made my fundraising target Chris put on the pink wig!

Darian was also walking in honor of our friend Spencer!

My friend Darian - another cancer survivor!

I also enjoyed a great visit with my mom and Great Aunt Mary in mid-October.  It was so nice to have their company (and help)! 

It is hard to believe that I will be back in London in one month.  The excessively hot weather we are having in Santa Barbara is actually making me feel pretty OK about returning to London for the winter!  Hmmm, will I say that after a few days of cold rainy weather you ask?? Well, I do think I will still be saying that I am happy to be home (but may be less enthusiastic about the temperature)!

The interview and therapeutic yoga video I did with the amazing Cheri Clampett is now up on the Yoga Anytime website.  There is also a 15 minute interview that she did with me and Francine, a fellow breast cancer survivor.  I think that you can view a short bit of the videos without joining Yoga Anytime. Actually, they have a wonderful selection of videos and I am looking forward to using these yoga videos when I return to London.

Finally, I was terribly saddened to learn that my dear friend and mentor Lena Astin passed away earlier this week.  She was a fellow cancer patient, who was battling pancreatic cancer.  Lena was a very special person to me.  I had the good fortune of having Lena as my Ph.D. advisor at UCLA and she was one of the first people I contacted when I found out that I had breast cancer.  She was a true trailblazer, a nationally recognized scholar in higher education, a change maker, and visionary.  She led with great intellect, unbelievable warmth and good humor.  She saw so many possibilities for change and acted upon them.  She was a phenomenal woman and I will be eternally grateful for the time I had with her. 

My last visit with Lena and Sandy in Malibu.

Radiation Countdown & Chris with Pink Hair! (Click Here)

My fabulous friend Regina, my chemo date and also a breast cancer survivor!

As most of you know, Chris and I, along with some wonderful friends, are going to do a 5k walk to raise money for the Cancer Center of Santa Barbara on Sunday, October 11th! This is exciting for a few reasons:  (1) Chris and I will be in the same city (I am telling you, remember to appreciate what seem like little things in life,  such as seeing your husband every day!),  (2) We are both fit enough to walk 5k,  (3) We get to help support a Center that does amazing work for the community, and  (4) If I meet my goal of raising $2500, Chris has agreed to wear a pink wig for the walk!  I promise to post pictures of Chris sporting the neon pink wig on my blog!  To help make sure that Chris wears the pink wig (and that we support the Cancer Center!) please click here:  I want to see Chris with pink hair!

I have had my first 4 radiation sessions - so 4 down and 30 to go.   I am including a photo of the type of machine they use so that you have an idea of where I am spending a bit of my time every day! I go to treatments everyday Monday - Friday.  However, the treatments are very fast, taking only about 10 minutes - and part of that time is used to properly position me on the table.  You can't feel a thing, you just hear the machine make some clicking noises.  It is a bit eerie to lay on the table, hear a few noises, have the machine move around a bit and then be told that you are done.  The therapists who do all of the work delivering the treatments have all been wonderful.  I am crossing fingers that this part of my treatment goes as well as the previous bits. 

I have also been going to physical therapy 2-3 times a week to try and get full mobility back in my right arm.  I have made great progress and am doing exercises every day to strengthen and stretch my muscles.  I learned from my physical therapist that when you have surgery it is good to massage the incision site to help prevent scars from staying lumpy.  I am also going to the Cancer Center's Well Fit classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays and doing a lot of (very light!) weights to build more muscle.  The class is small, with about 10 people, all of whom are in treatment or recently finished treatment.  It is a super nice group.  I seem to be getting some form of exercise just about every day...

You are never to old for your first cappuccino!

I was able to fit in a visit after surgery and before radiation started to see family up in Washington State.  I even took my 94 year-old grandma to a cute coffee shop where she tried her first cappuccino!  She said, "now I understand why Jake (my younger brother) likes expensive coffee!"  After I finish my radiation, I will be going to visit my other grandmother who is 96 years-old - and a breast cancer survivor!

My "little" brother Jake with Grandma and me.

My last bit of news, is that on November 27th I will be flying back to the UK (as long as all goes according to plan)!  I am so thankful for all of the good care I have had here in Santa Barbara - from family, friends and medical staff.  However, I am looking forward to returning to my adopted home, reuniting with friends there, and seeing my husband's smiling (albeit sometimes groggy) face every morning - and I am especially excited for the breakfast in bed that I am sure he is planning for me! :)