UPDATE on my cancer. I'm pleased to have this news for you and apologize for its length.

I took this photo on Memorial Day as I walked the path to the Benson Bridge at Multnomah Falls, on a quest to celebrate my new-found-self by making a steadfast effort to overcome my fear of heights. I had to get in enough steps to burn off those pancakes that I had for breakfast and knew that walking circles in the crowd of people trying to see the falls from that viewpoint wouldn’t cut it. The only way to get those steps was to take the two-tenths-of-a-mile paved path through the woods, switchbacks and all.

The photo illustrates how I see my life today. There on the right is a bridge, a pathway, that has been somewhat blocked--that's what my life was like while undergoing two surgeries, six rounds of chemo, and 28 radiation treatments with the fear of not getting rid of the cancer hanging over my head. I had a visible path in my life, but it was blocked by the cancer. Those medical procedures I listed opened up the block by doing away with the cancer in my body. Now I see my life as that wide-open bridge, a pathway, that you see on the left. I'm on my way to my future, one step at a time, one correct bite of food at a time, one sip of life-giving water at a time, one round of laughter mixed with smiles at a time, one out-and-about enjoying life at a time, one realization how much God loves me at a time, one heart full of joy at a time because my sons are so close by, and one warm feeling when I think of so many folks who love and care about me.

Monday morning I had an appointment with my oncology surgeon. She was pleased about my CT scan from May 2 with no abnormalities; pleased with my exercise, weight loss, and eating right efforts; pleased with my attitude and outlook; pleased that I had used my new-found-self in overcoming my fear of heights. She said something along the lines of what we hope for each of our patients is that they come to a point where they realize they’ve looked their mortality in the eye and have gone on to regain joy in their lives. She told me she knows that I’ve done that, a sweet smile all over her face.

I myself am pleased that she said she'd see me in three months, no CT scan scheduled prior to that appointment. The only thing I have to watch for is any change in my health, such as increasing fatigue. She knows that my level of fatigue will continue to fluctuate for some time to come, but if I go downhill, I'm to contact her then, not wait for the three-months-off appointment.

I don’t believe I’ll have to call ahead. I told her that over the three-day Memorial Day weekend, I went for a late evening walk on the Sunday, came in and sat down in the recliner, not out of breath, not tired, and this thought popped into my head: I feel younger. Shocked, I let myself say it out loud: I feel younger. Then I told her that I’d not mentioned this to anyone else, that I’d saved it to share with her. She smiled again. When Lamont came back into the exam room, I shared it with him and we all three smiled. Now I’m sharing it with y’all and know in my heart that as you read this, you’re smiling, too.

I'm pleased to be able to report this to y'all and to say again, thank you for your continued prayers, love, and concern.

Update.

Last week I took this photo on the way home from a part-time day at work. I waited for the second of two pieces of mass transit that get me from the workplace to the apartment. I decided to take a closer look at the progress being made in these two buildings at the Burnside Bridgehead, the eastern end of the Burnside Bridge that crosses the Willamette River. Yes, progress has been made towards completion of both of these buildings because professionals have been at work, much like the progress that has been made in my cancer treatment.

I figured as I sat at my iMac for a few minutes blocking someone I don't want to have access to my Flickr photos that I ought to use this photo to share with you the latest in my health issues. I know that some of you have followed along on Facebook and/or Instagram, which have been much easier to update for me than has been my sweet old friend, the blog. I apologize for leaving some of you in the dark, but for weeks I was too weak to sit here in this chair; I stayed in the recliner, bundled up and setting my reminder to get up and walk frequently to build my strength, then going back to the recliner. I haven't figured out how to post on the blog from the recliner. Anyway, here's what's been happening.

On November 19, I finished the last of the six planned rounds of chemo. Believe you me, that stuff did a job on my fast-growing cells that I needed for my bone marrow to be able to create white blood cells, red blood cells, and platelets. It caused all of my hair, eyebrows and eyelashes to disappear. It took practically every bit of my stamina, no matter if I got a good night's sleep or a good nap. We knew that these things happened by monitoring blood counts and seeing my face and head. Hopefully it also killed every single cancer cell anywhere in my body. We don't know the outcome of that hope yet.

On November 28 a fever of almost 103 degrees sent me to the emergency room and then to be admitted to the cancer ward of the hospital. It turned out that I had a neutropenic fever which means I didn't have enough white blood cells to fight off an infection. I had E coli in my blood, the source of which we never discovered. I had a CT scan on November 29. That scan didn't identify a source for the E coli, but it showed a new mass near where the cancerous one had been removed surgically on June 25. All three of my cancer doctors (surgeon, oncologist, radiologist) feel like it is what is known as a lymphocele, something that shows up when lymph nodes have been removed. Three had been removed on June 25 but had nothing cancerous in them. I stayed in the hospital until December 4 and came home to slowly get better. By December 24, I was able to once again return to work part time, two or three days a week. I'm still at that point now and thankful to be able to do so. I like doing normal, every day stuff!

Next Thursday, January 14, I go to the radiologist for the planning CT that will set my radiation treatments. They begin sometime within two weeks after that appointment. They will go on for five weeks, whole abdomen, then one more week, right side of abdomen. Everyone tells me that radiation will not treat my body as horribly as the chemo did. I certainly hope that turns out to be true with me.

That same CT scan will be used to look at the new mass and find out if any changes have occurred in it. If they have, the entire game plan could change. I will do better in keeping up here so that you won't be left out of the loop.

Thank you for your continued prayers, love, and concern.

Seen last week while out and about with Sarah

After we visited Tanner Springs Park last week, Sarah headed for my apartment by crossing the Willamette River on the Broadway Bridge. I haven't paid any attention to the bridge on the rides I've been on with Lamont--the bridge is alongside Interstate Avenue which is the street where Kaiser is located; we've been there quite a bit lately for doctor appointments and blood draws. I will be going on Interstate Avenue to Kaiser a lot between now and probably February, 2016, as I undergo chemotherapy and then radiation therapy.

Seeing these workmen on top of the bridge puts its size in proportion, doesn't it? I mean, we're used to seeing vehicles crossing it, but I've never seen people on it. What a job! When I checked it out at its next-to-largest size, it was easy to see their safety harnesses. Gosh, I remember when my husband used to wear a safety harness, now and then, on his job--he was a construction laborer. Am I ever glad that I didn't witness any of that. Whew.



Here's a 10-second video I shot as we drove out from underneath the cover that protects vehicles while the bridge is being painted.

I read this online: Field work began on June 26, 2015 for a project that will complete the repainting of Multnomah County’s historic Broadway Bridge. The project will repaint the truss structures above the traffic lanes and handrails on three spans: two at the west end and one at the east end. The center spans and the substructure of the entire bridge were repainted in 2004 – 2005.

The bridge was closed to motor vehicles from 7 p.m. on Friday, June 26 until Sunday night, June 28 while the contractor installed traffic control for construction. Two of the four lanes on the bridge will be closed during the work.

F.D. Thomas of Central Point, Oregon, is the general contractor for the $6.9 million project. Work is scheduled to be completed by the end of March 2016.

The contractor will remove failed paint from the three spans and apply a new three-coat paint system (featuring the same Broadway Red as the rest of the bridge). After scaffolding is installed, painting will take place within containment structures designed to prevent the release of contaminants. Some steel repairs may also be required where corrosion has occurred. Most work will take place during the day on weekdays.

Traffic Impacts

The contractor plans to keep the two center lanes open to traffic throughout the project, with one lane in each direction. With the two outside lanes closed during most of the project, bridge users will experience some delays, especially at peak commute hours. Other bridge users may want to consider alternate routes to avoid delays. Highlights of the traffic plan include:

The project will shut down Portland Streetcar service across the bridge and to the eastside from June 26 to August 15, 2015 while the contractor paints the area above the center lanes. This will require deactivation of the streetcar’s electrical system. After mid-August, one sidewalk may need to close at times during repainting of the sidewalk handrails. The contractor will keep the other sidewalk open to two-way bicycle and pedestrian traffic. We recommend that large trucks, trailers, campers and buses avoid the bridge during peak travel times to reduce congestion.

After we visited Tanner Springs Park last week, Sarah headed for my apartment by crossing the Willamette River on the Broadway Bridge. I haven't paid any attention to the bridge on the rides I've been on with Lamont--the bridge is alongside Interstate Avenue which is the street where Kaiser is located; we've been there quite a bit lately for doctor appointments and blood draws. I will be going on Interstate Avenue to Kaiser a lot between now and probably February, 2016, as I undergo chemotherapy and then radiation therapy.

Seeing these workmen on top of the bridge puts its size in proportion, doesn't it? I mean, we're used to seeing vehicles crossing it, but I've never seen people on it. What a job! When I checked it out at its next-to-largest size, it was easy to see their safety harnesses. Gosh, I remember when my husband used to wear a safety harness, now and then, on his job--he was a construction laborer. Am I ever glad that I didn't witness any of that. Whew.



Here's a 10-second video I shot as we drove out from underneath the cover that protects vehicles while the bridge is being painted.

I read this online: Field work began on June 26, 2015 for a project that will complete the repainting of Multnomah County’s historic Broadway Bridge. The project will repaint the truss structures above the traffic lanes and handrails on three spans: two at the west end and one at the east end. The center spans and the substructure of the entire bridge were repainted in 2004 – 2005.

The bridge was closed to motor vehicles from 7 p.m. on Friday, June 26 until Sunday night, June 28 while the contractor installed traffic control for construction. Two of the four lanes on the bridge will be closed during the work.

F.D. Thomas of Central Point, Oregon, is the general contractor for the $6.9 million project. Work is scheduled to be completed by the end of March 2016.

The contractor will remove failed paint from the three spans and apply a new three-coat paint system (featuring the same Broadway Red as the rest of the bridge). After scaffolding is installed, painting will take place within containment structures designed to prevent the release of contaminants. Some steel repairs may also be required where corrosion has occurred. Most work will take place during the day on weekdays.

Traffic Impacts

The contractor plans to keep the two center lanes open to traffic throughout the project, with one lane in each direction. With the two outside lanes closed during most of the project, bridge users will experience some delays, especially at peak commute hours. Other bridge users may want to consider alternate routes to avoid delays. Highlights of the traffic plan include:

The project will shut down Portland Streetcar service across the bridge and to the eastside from June 26 to August 15, 2015 while the contractor paints the area above the center lanes. This will require deactivation of the streetcar’s electrical system. After mid-August, one sidewalk may need to close at times during repainting of the sidewalk handrails. The contractor will keep the other sidewalk open to two-way bicycle and pedestrian traffic. We recommend that large trucks, trailers, campers and buses avoid the bridge during peak travel times to reduce congestion.

After we visited Tanner Springs Park last week, Sarah headed for my apartment by crossing the Willamette River on the Broadway Bridge. I haven't paid any attention to the bridge on the rides I've been on with Lamont--the bridge is alongside Interstate Avenue which is the street where Kaiser is located; we've been there quite a bit lately for doctor appointments and blood draws. I will be going on Interstate Avenue to Kaiser a lot between now and probably February, 2016, as I undergo chemotherapy and then radiation therapy.

Seeing these workmen on top of the bridge puts its size in proportion, doesn't it? I mean, we're used to seeing vehicles crossing it, but I've never seen people on it. What a job! When I checked it out at its next-to-largest size, it was easy to see their safety harnesses. Gosh, I remember when my husband used to wear a safety harness, now and then, on his job--he was a construction laborer. Am I ever glad that I didn't witness any of that. Whew.



Here's a 10-second video I shot as we drove out from underneath the cover that protects vehicles while the bridge is being painted.

I read this online: Field work began on June 26, 2015 for a project that will complete the repainting of Multnomah County’s historic Broadway Bridge. The project will repaint the truss structures above the traffic lanes and handrails on three spans: two at the west end and one at the east end. The center spans and the substructure of the entire bridge were repainted in 2004 – 2005.

The bridge was closed to motor vehicles from 7 p.m. on Friday, June 26 until Sunday night, June 28 while the contractor installed traffic control for construction. Two of the four lanes on the bridge will be closed during the work.

F.D. Thomas of Central Point, Oregon, is the general contractor for the $6.9 million project. Work is scheduled to be completed by the end of March 2016.

The contractor will remove failed paint from the three spans and apply a new three-coat paint system (featuring the same Broadway Red as the rest of the bridge). After scaffolding is installed, painting will take place within containment structures designed to prevent the release of contaminants. Some steel repairs may also be required where corrosion has occurred. Most work will take place during the day on weekdays.

Traffic Impacts

The contractor plans to keep the two center lanes open to traffic throughout the project, with one lane in each direction. With the two outside lanes closed during most of the project, bridge users will experience some delays, especially at peak commute hours. Other bridge users may want to consider alternate routes to avoid delays.

Highlights of the traffic plan include:

The project will shut down Portland Streetcar service across the bridge and to the eastside from June 26 to August 15, 2015 while the contractor paints the area above the center lanes. This will require deactivation of the streetcar’s electrical system. After mid-August, one sidewalk may need to close at times during repainting of the sidewalk handrails. The contractor will keep the other sidewalk open to two-way bicycle and pedestrian traffic. We recommend that large trucks, trailers, campers and buses avoid the bridge during peak travel times to reduce congestion.

River traffic will not be impacted.

Noise

The contractor may work on some nights, usually to set up a new work area. The project has taken several steps to mitigate construction noise and maintain neighborhood livability during construction:

All equipment will comply with US Environmental Protection Agency noise standards, including mufflers. Reduce truck movements at night. Use silent “smart alarms” instead of standard reverse signal beep alarms on vehicles at night. Use portable noise meters onsite to measure noise levels. The containment structures will help contain construction noise. Maintain a 24-hour Construction Information Hotline (503-988-4884) with information on the work schedule. Maintain a 24-hour telephone response line for noise complaints (503-329-5490). The contractor will assist the County to address complaints within 24 hours or before the next scheduled night work. River traffic will not be impacted.

Noise

The contractor may work on some nights, usually to set up a new work area. The project has taken several steps to mitigate construction noise and maintain neighborhood livability during construction:

All equipment will comply with US Environmental Protection Agency noise standards, including mufflers. Reduce truck movements at night. Use silent “smart alarms” instead of standard reverse signal beep alarms on vehicles at night. Use portable noise meters onsite to measure noise levels. The containment structures will help contain construction noise. Maintain a 24-hour Construction Information Hotline (503-988-4884) with information on the work schedule. Maintain a 24-hour telephone response line for noise complaints (503-329-5490). The contractor will assist the County to address complaints within 24 hours or before the next scheduled night work. River traffic will not be impacted.

Noise

The contractor may work on some nights, usually to set up a new work area. The project has taken several steps to mitigate construction noise and maintain neighborhood livability during construction:

All equipment will comply with US Environmental Protection Agency noise standards, including mufflers. Reduce truck movements at night. Use silent “smart alarms” instead of standard reverse signal beep alarms on vehicles at night. Use portable noise meters onsite to measure noise levels. The containment structures will help contain construction noise. Maintain a 24-hour Construction Information Hotline (503-988-4884) with information on the work schedule. Maintain a 24-hour telephone response line for noise complaints (503-329-5490). The contractor will assist the County to address complaints within 24 hours or before the next scheduled night work.

Sunlight, radiation from the sun. I'm going to keep that in mind when I'm undergoing radiation after I have completed the chemotherapy.

Sunshine lights us up and makes us smile, at the same time that it makes shadows. I took this photo on SE MLK one Saturday when I walked from the bus to the Architectural Heritage Center to attend a lecture. I really like this photo and hope that you do, too.




Dr. Thomas Johnson at Kaiser on Interstate Avenue said that I will not have radiation until about a month after I've completed the chemotherapy. Right now, if I am physically able to stick to having a round of chemo every 21 days, I should have the last round on November 11. If my body doesn't let that happen, of course the chemo will be delayed which naturally would mean the radiation would be delayed.

No matter when it begins, here's the gist of the plan. It will be external beam radiotherapy of the whole pelvic area. I will see Dr. Johnson about 2-3 weeks after the end of the chemo, have a treatment-planning CT scan, then begin the treatments 1-2 weeks later. The treatments will be Monday-Friday, 15 minute x-ray sessions that will last for 5 to 6 weeks. He will see me once a week during the treatments. He said that the last week, #6, would more than likely be extra treatment on the right side of the pelvic area since that is where the rotten-no-good-cancerous-mass was located. (The adjectives are mine, all mine.)

So, next Wednesday, July 29, at 7:30 a.m., I will be at Kaiser Interstate for my first six-hour long chemotherapy treatment. I am relieved to know that I will be undergoing just one type of treatment at a time.

Thank you so much for your continued prayers, love, and concern.

Breakfast at Wimbledon and an UPDATE

I woke up early and decided to get on up. While Breakfast at Wimbledon played on ESPN, I walked into the kitchen and cooked my own breakfast. First, I put five canned Grand Buttermilk biscuits in the oven. While they baked, I cut leftover steamed broccoli, asparagus, and green beans into smaller pieces, put them in a saute pan and turned on the electric eye. Then I cracked two eggs into a bowl and whipped with a fork. Once the veggies had warmed a bit, I poured the eggs over them and turned down the heat. By the time the biscuits were done and buttered, I had a spoonful of Rose City Pepperheads Mango Madness Pepper Jelly on the plate beside which I placed the scramble and a couple of the biscuits.

I thoroughly enjoyed my breakfast.

UPDATE: I have a chemotherapy consultation appointment on July 16 and a radiation consultation appointment on July 21. After those two, I'll know what, when, how much and how long. I will then have to work on dealing with the myriad side effects. Between now and then, I will continue to recover from that second surgery inside of two months, the one done by a robot with Dr. Steiner at the controls. I learned last Wednesday that I have six incisions from that one, not five like I had been thinking. So, with the four from the hysterectomy, I now know what it feels like to have six new holes in your abdomen. I've doing well, getting more active daily, trying to eat right in small amounts. Thank you for your continued prayers, love and concern.

UPDATE: Cancer, throw what you got. You'll soon see what I've got for you!

I remembered these photos that I took years ago and decided they fit how I feel right now. Y'all know how relentless a dog will be when said dog sees a Frisbee in the hand of a person willing to wear oneself out tossing said Frisbee. That's why I picked these photos today and wrote the captions to go with them. I am willingly, relentlessly pursuing my cancer treatment. Plus, at the end of the photos, I've copied and pasted some of what Dr. Steiner had to say after our appointment this morning, along with the lengthy, stream-of-consciousness update that I put on Facebook after I had eaten lunch. Thanks again for your continued prayers, love and concern. I tell you the truth when I say that I need them.



Poised and ready. This is how I felt when I went for the hysterectomy on April 24. Pathology led us all to believe that the cancer had been contained inside the uterus and that I should be followed closely, looking for any changes that might crop up. Thank goodness Dr. Steiner ordered a baseline CT scan so that she'd have a starting point for following me closely over the next months and years. That CT scan revealed a 2.3 x 2.1 cm mass next to or part of the lymph nodes in the right pelvic area. She didn't want to wait for two months and do a follow up CT; she recommended a needle biopsy.



I had the needle biopsy on June 17. That test tossed me information that the mass was atypical suspicious for adenocarcinoma. I needed a second surgery which took place on June 25 because there was no point in waiting and watching it.



That second surgery removed the right vaginal pelvic mass which is consistent with metastatic endometrial adenocarcinoma. From the pathology report: Robotic surgery findings: on path report specimen A and C are the same tumor approximately 2 cm. On the right side of the vaginal cuff towards the cul de sac - free floating glandular nodule= metastatic endometrial adenocarcinoma. The right pelvic lymph nodes were not enlarged and were neg for malignancy 0/3. Cancer, you're caught now. A follow up plan of treatment, radiation and chemotherapy, will get you. Period.



I have my radiation oncology appointment on July 21 at 1 p.m. I'll know all about what radiation will do for me and to that cancer after this one-and-half-hour consultation. I will know when I'll have radiation, how it will make me feel, how many times I will have to have, stuff like that. I'm ready to catch it and go right on, kicking cancer outta my life.



Chemotherapy is in my future, too. I don't know the consultation appointment yet--no phone call as I ready this post. I know that they will call soon and set it up. I will then know what chemotherapy will do for me and to the cancer. I asked Dr. Steiner if I would lose my hair. "Yes," her reply. I'm ready.



This photo might make it look like my treatment is out of my control, but it's not. I know that right now I am a novice at dealing with the impact of this treatment on me, physically and mentally. But, I've read what so many of you have written about yourselves or others you love who have been through these treatments, about how they dealt with it. Thank you for sharing and for your encouragement.



You know that I'm bound and determined to handle it the best that I am able. I see myself being ready, being positive, doing all that I can to get this cancer out of me. And I'll have the help that I need from so many people who love me and care for me that I won't let the potential for success get away from me. I need y'all more than ever and thank you so much for being there for me.



Together, we'll carry this cancer off the field, out of my life.

Here's what I found online about the visit with Dr. Steiner today:

In summary, Ms. Hanson is a very lovely 67 yrs old with stage IA grade 1 endometrial adenocarcinoma with minimal invasion with lesions in her adrenal gland and right pelvic sidewall. Discussed the patient and her son Lamont that the adrenal gland is likely benign. However, the right pelvic sidewall lymph node was consistent with metastatic uterine cancer consistent with her primary. It is still well-differentiated. I discussed the case with her surgeon Dr. Barnes and there was no morcellation. I cannot explain why her well-differentiated minimally invasive uterine cancer metastasized to the right of her vaginal cuff within 2 months. We discussed that it is actually not in her lymph nodes but it is to the right of the vaginal cuff. Discussed that it was compressing her ureter but when removed the ureter appeared to normalize in caliber. There are clips to mark the tumor as it is an usual location. (Me, talking: The clips are to let the radiation oncology folks know where she found it which I am particularly pleased that she left those teensy, staple-like pieces of metal in me which will be there forever. I want that radiation point as particularly as possible.)

Discussed referral to medical oncology and radiation oncology

Here's what I put on Facebook after I got home from the doctor's office and the grocery store:

Dr. Steiner gave me the pathology report the mass she removed is consistent with metastatic endometrial adenocarcinoma. There was no malignancy in the three lymph nodes she removed. Neither Dr. Steiner nor anyone she consulted has any idea how that mass came to be in my pelvic area. She checked with the hysterectomy surgeon to find out if any cancer cells could have escaped from the uterus during that procedure; she was assured that nothing in the procedure could have caused this to happen. It does say on the pathology report that this tumor, that mass removed, resembles that seen in the hysterectomy specimen, which means it is the same kind of cancer. What it boils down to is that what is going on with me cancer-wise is unexpected, unexplainable, and rare. Therefore she recommends aggressive treatment with chemotherapy and radiation. I do not know the order of these treatments, when they will begin, or how long I will have to do them. I have already had a call from radiation oncology with an appointment set for Tuesday, July 21, at 1 PM. The consultation appointment and the treatments will be at Kaiser Interstate which is very close to where I live and work. The chemotherapy is done at that building also which is great. I will get a separate phone call from medical oncology for that appointment/consultation. Radiation oncology recommends that you have someone with you to help you listen to everything and remember it. Lamont will see if he can get off work and take me. I asked Dr. Steiner if I would lose my hair and she said yes, The chemotherapy will make that happen. Well, I've always wondered what it would be like to have really short hair at my age, now I know what it is like to have no hair. I am facing this straight on, I'm not breaking down, I'm not giving up. Thank you for every single prayer, for all of your love and concern. It does me a lot of good to read your comments and emails because doing so helps me believe that I am the person you believe me to be.

Home!

These are two of the four windows in the largest room in my apartment. I keep the blinds shut most all of the time, especially when it's hot. Portland's having some unusually hot days right now, so they're shut. I now have a window air conditioner unit in a window to the right of these two--thanks to some fantastic friends!



I walked out of my apartment on Thursday, June 25, at about 10:40 a.m. I walked back into it about 9:20 p.m. Friday, June 26.

I'm still in a bit of a blur because of the drugs used to relax me prior to the general anesthesia. I know for sure that I have four incisions glued together because I have a sensitivity to adhesive tape. I know that at least one thing was removed during the robot surgery and has been sent to the lab--I don't have any details and am OK with that. Right now I have a post-op appointment on July 8 at which time the pathology report and a plan to deal with the cancer will be discussed. Dr. Steiner told Lamont and Leland that what's going on with me isn't fitting the statistics, so she recommends an aggressive approach, radiation and chemotherapy--I just don't have any details and am OK with that.

Every single person I'm aware that I came in contact with at Kaiser struck me as capable, professional, kind and caring. Lamont stayed with me until we left the hospital--Leland brought me home and is spending tonight with me. I am blessed.

I'm pretty tired, so I'm going to bed real soon. Thanks again for your prayers, love and concern.