Signs of forward movement are sometimes hard to see!

Another week of waiting for the drain to be removed, another week of disappointment on that front. That little bugger is just as busy draining today as it was a week ago. So annoying!

My oncologist last week said "don't worry, we will stay busy during this time" so he ordered a MUGA test, which tests the efficiency of my heart muscle. The good news, passed with flying colors. They do this test because some cancer drugs are hard on the heart, and they want a baseline. I also cut all my hair off, which was actually kind of fun. The stylist asked "getting ready for summer?". My response, "yeah, thats it!" Much better than answering "some jerk doctor is going to make it fall out so I thought I would cut it short"! Its much easier and Bert really likes it.

We also finished the office remake last week (and I think I have finally found where Michal stashed all my papers and projects). The lamp has a shade, some pictures got up on the walls, and it is looking good and feels great to work in. Today, there is even a bit of sunshine outside the window, which is so much better than that rain that fell all week, interrupted only by the thunder and lighting!

Yesterday, the oncologist changed his tune. Enough waiting, he says he can't wait any longer for the drain, and we are going to start things happening. Interesting that he says not only does he not like to give the chemo while I am still technically healing, but he also thinks that the drugs, if given, would find their way to the fluid in the site and drain right back out. So, he is going in a different path, using target-specific drugs, which are not chemo and don't have the side effects of chemo. So, I am starting today on Aromasin, which is a pill I will take daily. Then next week I will have a medi-port put in, and that will allow me to start getting a Herceptin dose every three weeks. In addition to those two, I will also get a shot of Fulvestrant every month. All of these will work together, we hope (!!) to stop the growth of any tumors, since the tumors I had are estrogen receptive, and these drugs combined will make sure I don't make any estrogen and will kill off the cells that live off estrogen. I am sitting right now waiting for the doctor's office to call me with an appointment for the placement of the medi-port and then we will have a schedule!!!!!

After a month of these three drugs, they plan to run all the diagnostic tests again (bone scan, lung scan, etc.) and make sure there is nothing bad there. If they see anything, then we will probably switch to a chemo regime, but right now there is a chance that I won't have to do chemo. Don't want to get excited, had that rug pulled out from under us once already, so will see. I am glad we are getting going, but it actually feels a little odd to not be bringing the big bad drugs to the party, taking a pill somehow feels too easy. Told Dr. Gadi it feels like bringing a softball to a baseball game, but he assures me that softballs win games too! And, we still have the hardball in the dugout if we need it!

My other challange this week has been trying to find some clothes to wear. I have made a couple shopping expeditions and had some successes and some miserable failures. I clearly have a terrible eye for what will not draw the eye right to my very flat chest. Bert says he is going to submit my name to the "what not to wear" tv show, and see if Stacy and Clinton will come and help me!

Meanwhile, my fabulous co-workers Jen and Karen have organized themselves into a team to walk the Avon 2-day in April. Yesterday, they started fund raising, and my PVA family donated some $1400 in less than 8 hours to the cause! I am kind of embarrassed and extremely honored at the same time, and slightly appalled that they are going to inflict all those blisters on themselves in my honor. Their team name is the BG's! If you want to help them out, because they still have a ways to go in their fundraising, visit their team web page at info.avonfoundation.org/TR/Walk/WashingtonDC?team_id97001&pg=teamandfr_id=2010. You can see their picture there too, they look so cute!!!!

Other than that, I am trying to work, although my concentration is shit. Enjoying day light savings time. Had a great visit with sister Lucy last week, went to a Propeller Club meeting in Seattle yesterday, and have visited with a lot of friends AND Kenley allowed me to be her babysitter last Saturday, so it was a good week. KK and I had a great time drawing at the easel and playing with the boats in the bath.