Hello to all you faithful followers!

I started radiation last Monday. I have gotten into the routine of going right from school and I get home between 4:15 and 4:30. This gives me time to get a nap in. Thankfully they are always on time, unlike the chemo center. I see the doctor each Monday. I don't feel anything during the treatment. They say that I will get anywhere from pink to burnt as time goes on. I lotion up generously twice a day. (After the continued packing of the wound of course!) I may also feel more fatigued with more treatments but I'm hoping that's not bad. I had 5 doses last week so I only have 29 more to go!!

I'm now on a daily hormonal therapy drug called femara. I am happy to say I've had no side effects from this. I will be taking this for 5 years. Wow!!! I also still get herceptin through my port every three weeks. I also see the oncologist at that time. The next visit is March 8th. Things are moving along. It's hard to believe that it will be a year in March that I've been dealing with all of this. Once again I say thank you, thank you, thank you for all your concern and support in so many ways! What a blessing to have such caring family and friends.

I'll try to update you again after I get through another week.

Take Care,

Karen

Oh, I forgot to say that my eyebrows are back and the lashes are coming in. It really does make a difference!

Happy New Year!

I'm praying that 2010 will be much less eventful in the medical realm. Last week I saw all my doctors. Dr. Albain (oncologist) prescribed the drug femara as my hormone therapy. I will take this for 5 years because my cancer was estrogen positive. Of course there are many possible side effects and I'm praying for none!! I also had my 3 week dose of herceptin. No side effects from that thank goodness.

Next, I saw the infectious disease doc. He said I am infection free and he released me from his care. He was a really nice man who was very informative.

Tuesday it was the radiologist and the surgeon together. They decided that it is okay to start radiation even with the open wound because it is now healing more quickly. They also ordered a mammogram which sounded just awful. It actually went well and was less painful than my annual screens. I think the area is still numb from surgery! They read the pictures right away and everything looks good so far. Yeah!!

I learned about the radiation process and all the many possible side effects. They make this as scary as possible because they must tell you everything patients have experienced, even if the chance is 1%. Let's pray that these are minimal. Tomorrow I get a cat scan that will give them the information they need to figure out exactly where the radiation will be administered. I will get tattoos ( very small ) to mark the spots. I've had several suggestions as to the kind of tattoos I should get, however, the standard issue is a small dot.

I've had a wonderful holiday with few appointments. Now I have to gear up for daily radiation (Mon.-Fri.) which will last for 6 1/2 weeks. I will find out tomorrow when I actually start. It seems overwhelming until I think about what I've already done. Hopefully I will have the energy to continue full time, at least until my Valentine programs on Feb. 10th, 11th and 12th.

That's all for now. Thanks goodness it looks like we will get warmer weather later this week!

Take Care,

Karen

Good Morning!

Well, since it's the day after Christmas, I plan to totally relax and read, watch movies and enjoy having my kids home! They are, of course, still fast asleep.

The week of the Winter programs was busy but rewarding. The kids always do a great job after all the work they do to prepare. But, as Machai, one of my first graders so clearly pointed out in one of our early rehearsals with some 80 kids waiting to sing, "Mrs. Halter, why do we have to be so perfect? Our parents are going to love whatever we do!"

This past week has been equally busy getting ready for Christmas. I was blessed to feel well enough to have guests on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. It was important to be able to keep our traditions going. It helps to have kids old enough to pitch in and help.

My energy level is good. I still make sure to nap and get to bed around 10:00. Tim has noticed the wound healing more quickly as he still packs it 2-3x a day. I still seem to have some signs of infection, but I am on an antibiotic and will see the surgeon on Tuesday. The lymphedema and neuropathy are most annoying. I have tingly toes and fingers most of the time. I will be getting a fitted sleeve next week. The glove is working well, just something that I have to get used to.

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas as we celebrated the birth of Jesus. Thank you for taking the time to share this journey with me!

Love,

Karen

All in all it's still not as bad as the chemo!

Hello Friends!

It was a crazy and busy day today. I taught in the am and went to Loyola for an 11:15 appointment. Then back to school for a rehearsal and back to Loyola for another appointment. I got home after 8:00. I saw all three of my Drs. today. My infection is under control, my wound is healing and I passed all my tests. Hurray!!!!!!

Your prayers and support are working! I still have a ways to go, but this is very encouraging.

I am looking forward to my programs this week. The kids are doing a great job. It's always alot of work but also alot of fun. The teachers I work with have been wonderful in helping me prepare for this big event.

Thanks for checking in!

Karen

Happy Snow Day!

Well, chemo is over and I am so very glad! I have a little chicken fluff sprouting on my head. Can't tell yet what color it will be. My neorapathy has increased especially in my feet. They are tingly, numb and very annoying! More patience needed.

The lymphedema seems to be getting better. My hand is still holding some fluid. Today I got my glove and sleeve to wear. This is a great improvement from the compression bandaging. I still go to therapy twice a week.

This week is just crazy. The practices for the Winter Program are going well. I love being with the kids. Even though I am tired, the time goes by quickly when I'm at school. After school is another story. I am trying to fit in many Loyola appointments this week.

Yesterday I had a muga scan (heart) at 2pm and my herceptin infusion was scheduled for 4pm. My drug was delayed at the pharmacy and they couldn't access my port. I didn't get home until 7:30pm. Long day!

Today I had therapy and then a visit with the radiologist. He agrees that the wound has to heal before I begin radiation. He said we can see how it goes. He will speak to the surgeon who I will see next Tuesday.

Tomorrow is a big day. I teach in the am and I have my cat and bone scan in the afternoon. I really don't like tests that you can't study for. Please pray for a positive outcome. I will find out on Monday how all these tests come out.

Thanks again for checking in. I continue to appreciate all your support!

Karen

Dear Friends,

It has been a busy week and a half. I finished nearly 250 music reports and organized schedules for the Winter Program in December. I am glad to have this Thanksgiving break. Emily and Dan will be home and we will have a small gathering tomorrow with my mom, aunt and mother-in -law.

I am a little more tired these days, but I have only one more round of chemo on the 30th. I'm so ready to be done with that. I was fitted for a glove to keep the lymphodema in check. I still need to go for therapy to reduce the swelling. The long list of appointments continues.

I met with the surgeon and unfortunately the wound cavity is not healing. The tissue is healthy but the chemo takes away my ability to heal. We have two options. See how it goes once I stop chemo or have surgery to move healthy tissue into the wound. I think they call this a flap. Because I still need radiation, they are not sure at this point of the best way to go. I will see the Dr. again on Dec. 18th. The thought of radiation is scary right now. I have to keep remembering to take one day at a time!

I would like to take this opportunity to thank you all for the blessing you have been to me with your concern and support. Although we don't always understand God's plan for us, he gives us the strength to get through. We have much to be grateful for!

I wish you and your families a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Love,

Karen

Hello again!

Time for a weekly update. I had my herceptin on Monday. Luckily that only takes about 40 minutes. Add in the wait time and it's about a 2 hour visit. Tomorrow is another chemo day so I'll be at Loyola for another long visit. However, after that I only have one more chemo treatment left! I can't wait. Looking ahead to radiation is a bit scary, but I will have time before that starts to hopefully energize.

My infection wound is still being packed 2-3x a day. The tunnel is now down to 9cm. from 10cm. deep. Yes, it will take a long time to heal! Tim is being a trooper with the packing.

The big change this week is that I started therapy for lymphodema. It was way more than I expected! I have several layers of gauze and foam wrapped from my fingers to my armpit. It's quite a sight. Most of the kids at school think it looks cool! Thanks goodness I teach the young ones! At first I panicked because I am typing about 250 report cards and I have to play the piano as we prepare for the Winter Program! I told the therapist this and they wrapped accordingly so that I can somewhat do both. I will be going to the rehab facility 3x a week. The only positive is that therapy includes a massage of the lymph nodes which is nice and relaxing. The goal is for the swelling to go down and then I will be measured for a sleeve and glove. I will need to wear that daily as long as there is any swelling. The condition is chronic and I will always need to be aware of it. I am praying that I won't have to wear the sleeve permanently.

I would love to have less to tell you because that would mean I have less issues. Hopefully that will happen when I have radiation. I'm dreaming of minimal side effects!

Have a great week!

Karen