Day 412 - Radiology & A Smashing Good Time

Our roaring start was more like a meow than a roar. We lost power shortly after I got out of the shower. Apparently Kevin knew it was going to go off sometime this week, but didn't know for sure. Oh well. Then the car had a flat tire. Then the Starbucks was out of chai tea, so we had to find another one.

We made it to the house in time to use the loo, drop off the girls & motor into the city. We were only 15 minutes late & then ended up waiting another 20 for the doctor. Dr. Balogh was the Radiologist I was seeing today. I had heard prior 'things' about him from past patients, but I decided to form my own opinion. He obviously believes he is very good at what he does. I don't necessarily appreciate over-confidence. A few key points from the appointment.

They want me to do a PET scan before radiation. (equivalent to 500+ chest xrays or 5 years cosmic radiation)
They want me to do a CAT scan prior to radiation. (ditto on the radiation.)
They want me to do a PET scan post-radiation. (ditto on the radiation.)

**Remember that I've already had 3 CAT scans in 2010. So simple math tells me that I would be receiving, in 12 months or less, 3000 chest x-rays or 30 years worth of cosmic radiation. That doesn't include the radiation from the actual treatment either!**

I commented on the amount of radiation I would be receiving & Dr. Balogh told me that I get just as much, if not more radiation just from living in Calgary. I told him I don't live in Calgary, I live in Bragg Creek. He said, 'Close enough, same thing.' Yeah, I don't think so.

Which brings me to my next point. Originally Dr. Daly had thought that I would have only the left side of my neck radiated. Dr. Balogh wants to do both sides of my neck, my underarm & my chest! Whoa! Whoa! Whoa! Stop the train!

I have researched & apparently radiation treatments can CAUSE lung, breast & thyroid cancer. Adding to the 30-40% chance of hypothyroidism, leading to a lifetime of Thyroxin. No thanks! The amount of breast cancer showing up 25 years or less post-radiation is startling. I asked Dr. Balogh about the stats on radiation & he said, 'Statistics don't matter to the individual'. No, they don't, but they do matter to Doctors & if they improve my chances of survival greater than the risk of complications down the road, talk to me. I don't feel that this is the case.

We also discussed several other diseases & inflammations that may lead to death shortly after finishing treatments. Pericarditis, pneumonitis, coronary artery disease - just to mention the big ones!

He had consent forms ready for me to sign. I didn't. I want to 'phone a friend' or two or three & certainly discuss it with my husband before I decide anything. At this point, it's not looking good for radiation.

I left the room feeling quite angry, like I was being bullied into radiation & that I was just a 'commoner' who didn't have a mind to think for herself. Grrr! Alas, I had one more stop in the Tom Baker before we left. I had to have the dressing changed on the Picc line. Luckily one of the nurses were able to help me. He washed it with saline & put a new kind of tagaderm on it, with some kind of barrier on it. I'm hoping I'll make it through the weekend without any problems!

Roxy & I drove to Journey of Health next. It's a raw food store & we were both excited to go there. Unfortunately the owners didn't impress us much. They have a decent selection of goods, but the lady was on the phone screaming at a Travel Agent, at a desk right by the entrance. The man tried to hook me into a network marketing ploy to sell the ORIGINAL Chi Machine - within the first 10 minutes! Why are people always trying to sell something? I won't be back for awhile! They have good books, but their raw chocolate is terrible!

We decided to go for dinner after that. We ended up at the Broken Plate. They have wonderful Greek food, which Roxy hasn't eaten that much of. We ordered a jalopy of appetizers & a Horiatiki salad. At the end of the meal, Roxy broke a plate for her birthday. She was very apprehensive to do it, thinking it a waste of a good plate, but when the Server told us why, Roxy changed her mind. It feels good to smash a plate every now & then! If you haven't done it, grab your friends & head on out to a good Greek restaurant, enjoy some calamari, hummus & dolmades & break a plate to celebrate afterwards. Maybe you'll get lucky & see some belly dancers while you're there too!

I got home around 8 pm, absolutely shattered (like the plate!). I packed up my things for the weekend, as I am staying with Mom2 & we are taking a course together. It will be a long weekend, with chemo waiting at the end of it! Joy!

Sleep well, for tomorrow we learn!
xxxx Maria & the Girls & Adios

 The Beautiful Birthday Girl!

The Plate about to be smashed!

Video of the smash: (kind of. I'm a poor Videographer!)

Day 359 - Dad, April, Mom2 & Larissa

As usual, I slept in until noon-ish. My Dad phoned & said he was on his way out. YIKES! I was not prepared! Of course, the house hadn’t been cleaned yet & there were all the leftover dishes from last night’s Chinese fest. He & April showed up shortly after I got off the phone with him. I tidied up a little while they sat & in the living room & we visited.

My Dad is due to retire soon & in preparation for that, he bought an RV. For those of you who don't know my Dad, that is about the most extreme thing I could think of him doing. Buying a horse. Yes. Buying a horse trailer. Yes. Buying some fancy custom made cowboy boots. Yes. An RV?!? No way! I haven't seen it yet, but they are picking it up tomorrow. I am anxious to know if it has the same horn 'jingle' as the RV in Meet the Fokkers... hee hee hee - Jack Byrnes eat your heart out! Perhaps now Dad will travel around a bit more & see some of the country side he's been missing!

The 4 of us enjoyed some tea & plenty of conversation before they had to drive home. They had helped April's daughter pack up her apartment today, as she is moving to San Diego. I joked that I should look her up when I go back to TJ. It didn't go over well. Oh well. 

They left late afternoon & shortly thereafter Jaco & I left for town to see Larissa one last time. I was feeling badly that I didn't make it to the Tattoo Festival, as it would have been fabulous advertising for her, but unfortunately it was a busy weekend for us. 

Jaco & I went to the Broken Plate for supper, but I had a migraine find me on the way into town. Needless to say, I didn't enjoy dinner much. Jaco did! He hadn't eaten Greek food prior, so it was a pleasant experience for him! We picked up Mom2 on our way to Larissa's & had a short & sweet visit. Larissa had a plane to catch & was trying to straighten out the loose ends from her weekend in Calgary. We managed to get in a quick visit & a few hugs. I'm sad to say I don't think she'll be back this way next year. Looks like I'll have to plan a trip out East! (Finally!)

We miss you Larissa! Thank you again for making my head beautiful!!! 

xxxxMJV&O

 Under his hat he had more hair than me!!!

Hard to believe it's been 10 years since we met! Love you girls! xxxx