I went to chemo yesterday and met with Dr. Vander Woude.  Here are a few pieces of great news! 

• My tumor continues to shrink. 
• This is my last round of Adriamycin and Cytoxan (A/C).
• Dr. VanderWoude is encouraged by how well my body is reacting to the chemo.
• My port was accessed on the first try. 

My next round of chemo, Taxol, will begin in two weeks.  Dr. VanderWoude assured me that it won’t be so bad.  Just different symptoms.  Lots of muscle and bone aches and the fatigue will still be present.  They will give me steroids to help with that.  The nausea shouldn’t be a problem (yeah!). 

Once Taxol is complete, they need to wait for my blood counts to elevate which takes a couple weeks and then I’ll have surgery.  So we’re looking at early October for the mastectomy to occur.  We still don’t know if it will be a double mastectomy or a single one.  We are waiting for insurance to approve the genetic gene blood test.  If I test positive for it, I’ll probably get a double mastectomy.  The fact that surgery will happen in October is a bummer for me because Max and Samantha’s birthday are on October 15 and Brooklyn’s is October 23.  If you know me, I like to plan parties.  It will be hard to do that and participate fully if I’m recovering from surgery.  Hopefully we’ll figure something out. 

I have been receiving cards from you every day.  It blows me away that after all these months I still receive cards in the mail.  It’s awesome.  I had one day where I didn’t get a card and I thought “okay they’re bound to stop at some point.  No biggie”.  The following day I got another card and they’ve been coming ever since.  So thank you for the cards.  I have quite a collection going.  I even reread them when I need some encouragement or laughs.

Dusty and I took a picture of us together with our bald heads.  We laughed so hard we cried.  It’s quite the picture.  Someday, if I’m brave enough, I will post it for all you to get a laugh at as well. 

Today I go in for my Neulasta shot (this raises my white blood cells to fight off infection) and fluids.  Tomorrow is more fluids and anti nausea.  Monday is more fluids and anti nausea. 

Thank you for your prayers.