Today is December 3rd. I’ve had an interesting week. I started back to work on Monday and was very excited to do so. With that said, I have to admit that I overdid on my first day back. I worked for nine hours and absolutely paid for it the next two days. I felt great while I was there and didn’t want to leave. I have so much to catch up on and so many new things to learn, I couldn’t break away. Tuesday was a different story. I had the hardest time dragging my sorry ass out of bed at 5:00, but I did it. It also dragged behind me the entire time I was there. I cut the day short but I was totally miserable. I even felt lousy on Wednesday. I now know that I can only work four hours per day and need to start them a little later in the morning. Everyone is so understanding and willing to give me what I need to get back on my feet. My bosses have been wonderful. Ron and Al, thanks so much. Oh yeah, Bill, you too. And I only mentioned you because you asked me to. He’s the torn I mentioned in an earlier chapter.

Wednesday brought me to another wonderful visit to Dr. Chatson’s office. It’s not him; it’s what he has to do. He used a little less saline this time, which was OK with me. I asked if it was normal to decrease every time and he said absolutely. I felt better knowing that. I am getting used to these visits, but they’re still not fun. My pebbles have now turned into stones. Someday I hope them to be boulders, but I’m not so sure I’m going to want to go through this too many more times. I’ll probably regret it later in life, so I need to weigh the odds. I just don’t know how I’ll be able to tolerate the pain of this along with the chemo. Time will tell.

Another highlight of my visit with Dr. Chatson was while I’m under his bright lights; he noticed two areas which he thought to be skin cancer. He offered to biopsy them right then and there, but I had had enough for the day, so we decided perhaps on another visit.

I saw Dr. Stacey Abbis on Thursday morning for a check up and to see how things were progressing. We talked about the skin caner biopsies and she is going to do them. We needed to find out when the best time was during my chemotherapy for this to be preformed (from Dr. Rao) before scheduling the appointment but that was ultimately scheduled for Dec 22nd. I have to say, I am so happy I was referred to Dr. Abbis by the deNicola Breast Health Center. I couldn’t be happier with her bedside manner and her professionalism. She had no problem calling me at home and gave me as much time as I needed to answer all my questions.

Later on Thursday, I started my chemotherapy. Katie administered the chemo, but Dr. Rao came in for a short visit. With her she brought great news. My genetic testing had finally come back and showed that I did not have the mutated cancer gene. That’s wonderful news because I now know that I won’t have to have my ovaries removed when I’m done my breast cancer treatment. And it’s also good news for my daughter and son, my sister and even cousins. If I had the gene, they just might also.

Betting back to the chemo session, the worst part was the IV. I have terrible veins and now have a beautiful blue hand to show for it. Thursday night was the beginning of the nausea. I didn’t actually get sick, but it was all I could do not to. And I don’t know if it was all psychosomatic or not. I just know it was there. Went to bed early, thank God because I still only got maybe five or six hours of sleep. I was awake for almost four hours during the night. I’ve read from other cancer stories that loss of sleep was a side effect some people had experienced, so I don’t know if that’s what I’m going to be up against. I’m already a terrible sleeper, so I hope not. I’m feeling much better today, even when for a walk with a couple of my neighbors. They’re great. I spoke with Katie later in the day and she asked how my day was going. I told her great and that I had been sickish the night before and she felt that the nausea part was over, that my weekend should be OK. Great news. At least now I’m no waiting to get sick, I can enjoy my weekend.