Tough Day

It has been rainy and cold all day. I had to drive around to a bunch of stores to try to find the things I will need for the cold caps. It was tough because I had to drag Julianna along. I was able to find a digital thermometer capable of reading to minus 40 degrees C. I found that at Lowes in the grill section. There are slim pickings in the grill section this time of year. I tried to get the cooler in a bunch of places but no one had it. I was able to track it online in Target but I will have to drive for a bit. The coolers are a seasonal item too, and this is not the season. It has to be a specially insulated type.

Dry ice is tough. I finally found a place in Queens. I can go there tomorrow to get it. I am hoping it will last in the special cooler.

While I was trying to track everything online Julianna was taking a nap. She woke up with a bad diaper and I changed her in the crib so she might go to sleep. She was pretty quiet so I thought all was well. When I went in there I was in for a big surprise. Apparently, I left the powder in the crib when I changed her. She managed to empty the entire container all over herself and her room. Ducks and all. She looked like a marshmallow baby. I called poison control because I remember from working there that it is a big inhalation hazard. They said if she doesn't have any symptoms just bathe her and check to make sure she doesn't have any wheezing or signs of an airway problem. She doesn't. She thought it was great fun. I will check her periodically through the night to make sure all is well. Great fun for her, huge mess for me.

I am hoping I have enough time to get everything tomorrow. I am going to see if someone can watch her so I can zoom along and get everything.

I am still pretty sore from the fill. I hope tomorrow is more productive.

Happy 80th Birthday Dad!!!!!

The Caps Arrived!!!

The Penguin Cold Caps arrived today. I am giving away all my frozen food so I can fit them in my freezer. If anyone wants any, mostly boxed Lean Cuisine and such, just let me know. I waited at home all day because FedEx said they required a signature. At about ten after five I called FedEx to see what was up. She tracked them and said they were on my front porch. I have no idea when they arrived but I guess I wasted my time sitting here. Tomorrow I have to go out and find a digital thermometer capabale of going to -31 C. and two 7 day coolers. I also have to find out about getting dry ice to bring them to the chemo place. You have to use dry ice because the regular freezer can't get them as cold as minus 31 C. That is pretty cold. At first I thought that was a mistake and they meant 31 degrees C. But it is not. It is minus 31. Very cold. They are not kidding when they say it should make your hair follicles hypothermic. The whole thing is a bit labor intensive but if it works it will be worth it.

I went to the plastic surgeon yesterday. He added 50cc of saline to the tissue expander. It is pretty uncomfortable today. He also told me of a new procedure he is looking into. In that procedure they liposuction fat out of areas of your body (I have a lot of potential donor sites) and inject it into the breast. This would not normally work because it would not be vasculated and would dissapate over time. There is a new system where they put a negative pressure device (like a suction) over the breast. That negative pressure would cause the vessels to form and vasculate the added fat. There is a surgeon in Florida that has been doing breast reconstruction with this system and having success. Dr. Keller asked me if I might be interested in exploring this option in the future. I told him I might but obviously I can't have any type of surgery until chemo is over for awhile. He said it would take time to investigate this procedure anyway. I told him I would certainly be interested in finding out more.

I have a lot of things to get ready before Monday's chemo. Thanks to everyone for the overwhelming support. Happy Birthday to my nephew Owen!!!!!!!!

Penguin Cold Caps and other things

I am going to do the cold caps. My cousin Nancy talked to a lot of people and they all graciously offered to donate the money so I could try to save my hair. I am overwhelmed by everyone's kindness. I am faxing the company everything and I hope to have it all soon.Thank-you, thank-you, thank-you!!!

The people from the Penguin Cold Cap company are really nice and a pleasure to deal with. I am keeping my fingers crossed for me any for everyone who is watching to see how it goes.

Today I have to go get the stitches out from the port site. It is still a bit sore but it is really not slowing me down too much.

Happy Birthday Kathleen!

Happy Birthday to my sister Kathleen (Kate)!!!!!!!!!
My sister Kathleen flew all the way her from Orgeon for my surgery. She was super helpful and it was really great. I wish we had a chance to do some fun things. I hope you do some today. I wish we were there to celebrate.

We Love you!!!!!!!!!!!

Chemo Port

I had the chemo port put in today. All in all, not too bad. It was a short acting anesthesia, not a general. It does hurt. It feels like I was shot, small caliber. Not that I have ever been shot, but this is how I imagine it would feel. Its sort of like being stuck with a hot poker that makes a hole. I have seen tons of people who have been shot so I have a pretty good idea. That's what happens when you are a ghetto street medic for a long time.

My right arm is a little weak, but I was able to drive about 6 hours later. I just did it lefty and stayed off the phone. Of course I would have done it if I had to throw the iv pole in the back seat, still had the ET tube in and had to bag myself at the traffic lights. I really can't let this thing take over my life so I have to fight it every step. No retreat, no surrender.

I am going to go vist my cousins for Thanksgiving. Despite all this I really have tons to be thankful for, especially my great family and friends who are pulling me through all of this.

My family and friends are the best things I've known
Through the eye of the needle I'll carry them home
-John Mellencamp

New Breast Cancer Screening Guidelines

The new breast cancer screening guidelines are distressing to me. All my doctors disagree with this. They also said it was just one group and the American Cancer Society does not agree with this. They say:

--Most women in their 40s should not routinely get mammograms.

--Women 50 to 74 should get a mammogram every other year until they turn 75, after which the risks and benefits are unknown. (The task force's previous guidelines had no upper limit and called for exams every year or two.)

--The value of breast exams by doctors is unknown. And breast self-exams are of no value.

This makes no sense to me. I found my cancer. Why no self exams? If I had not found it and waited until 50 for a mammogram I would surely die of it. Some people say it is a risk due to radiation. The radiation from a digital mammogram is the same amount you would get in a cross country flight, and no one is saying we shouldn't be flying. If anything they should be saying everyone should get a mammogram and a sonogram every year.

Breast Cancer Statistics

1 out of every 8 American women will develop breast cancer at some point in her life (This risk is 1 in 7 on Long Island)

Breast cancer is the leading cause of death among women ages 40 to 55 (heart disease is the leading cause for womwn of all ages)

250,000 US women living with the disease are under the age of 40

8 out of 9 women who are diagnosed with breast cancer have no family history of the disease

70% of women who develop breast cancer have no identifiable risk factors


I have a number of friends who say they are afraid to get a mammogram and sonogram because they are afraid it might be positive. I agree that it is scary. However, the five year survival rate for breast cancer found in its early stages is 96%. If you wait and it is found at stage four, well, you know.

So many people ask me if they can do anything for me. That is really great. I am ok right now but I might need some help during the chemo. The one thing I would like my female friends to do is to go get a mammogram and sonogram. Think of the relief you will have when it comes back negative. The vast majority of them are. Thanks everyone for your support. I love you all!!

Pictures From Today

I was told I should walk a lot to try to accelerate my recovery. I am doing that a lot and Smudge has been loving it. Today we went to Jones Beach, on the bay side, by the fishing piers. It was a 60 degree November day. It was a good walking day for us both. Later Julianna and I had dinner with my Dad and Betty. They are leaving soon.

The expander hurts a lot but the busier I am the easier it is not to think about it.

Smudge seems to break rules a lot. What's up with him?

Nice day for a swim.

No one in sight, just how we like it!

Julianna having cake at Grandma Betty and Pop-pop's house.

Julianna and Pop-pop.