Friday, September 30, 2005

ULTIMATE

posted Friday, 30 September 2005

Those of you who know me well, know that I have a passion for ultimate frisbee. I play pretty much all year round:
• Summer League - coed teams that play locally, in mercer county park, in the summer
• Wicked - my women's club team that travels for tournaments
• Pickup - Buccleuch pickup all winter long - even in the snow (mercer in the spring/fall)
The last time I played ultimate was June 29. I am in serious withdrawal. Summer league is fun and I still went out to the fields...though it was awkward to explain why I wasn't playing, since I didn't look sick or injured... my women's team is more hard core. Practices most weekends, track workouts, mental toughness training...
I finally got the ok from the dr to play 2 weeks ago and decided to give it a shot at Sectionals. At sectionals, we play mostly college teams and the games tend to be quite lopsided, in our favor, so I figured it was a safe environment in which to get back out there. How fantastic did I feel, actually playing a role on the field and not just one the sideline? We shut out 6 teams with a score of 13-0 and won the finals handily 13-3. One thing for certain... boy was I tired! I am so out of shape (to be expected, of course), but just running around felt almost normal! It was wonderful! Now, I had told myself that I would "just take it easy" and "not take any risks" or "push it too much"... But at one point, I had just gotten a beautiful run-through "D" and had cut deep to receive the disc in the endzone. My teammate ran up to the disc and put it up to me... but overthrew me. Normally, I would chase it down and "lay out", diving horizontally through the air to catch the disc that was just out of my reach... my teammate and dear friend Bonny saw that look in my eye and screamed from the sideline "Linda! Don't lay out!!!" I don't know what took over me... my head said "don't tell me what I can or can't do" and I took off after the disc and launched myself into the air. It was at this point that I realized that I was going to land smack on my breasts, one of which was still sporting an incicision that was still draining puss (of course, it was covered in gauze, but not well protected)... in a split moment, I curled up in a ball (still in mid air) and fell straight to the ground with a thud. Don't worry, nobody got hurt, but it was not pretty! The disc feel to the ground right in front of me.
I guess the lesson is to be thankful for what I can do and not try to rush things or try to be a hero and do too much. But, ah! To feel normal again for a day... it was sheer bliss!
This weekend is Regionals. The top 2 teams move on to Nationals. We are definitely one of the top 3. We'll just have to beat another one of the top 3 to move on... wish us luck! Visist www.upa.org to find out more.


MOM MADE THIS COMMENT,

MEET OTIS

posted Friday, 30 September 2005

Otis is a 2 year old lab mix. He is wonderful. He belongs to my friend Matt, who has 3 dogs total. The other 2 are quite a bit older and as a result, Otis doesn't always get the exercise that he needs... So, since I was thinking about getting a pup of my own, and Otis loves me, we thought maybe I could try it out with little O.

I picked him up last Sunday and brought him back to my house. He was excited at first, but I think he was confused as to where the other dogs were... I don't think the little guy had ever been all alone, so I tried to leave him for a few minutes at a time, while sitting on my front porch... he howled and whined like he was being tortured. Poor little guy. But, of course, I can't go a week without going anywhere, so I gave him 2 days to acclimate. On Tuesday morning, I left for 45 minutes - ran out to Petsmart to pick up a chew toy and leash, and grabbed breakfast on my way back. Boy, was he excited when I returned. Everything in the house looked ok.... until I got to the dining room, where Otis had left me a little (or should I say big) "present" on the floor. Ew. I put him outside and cleaned it up (Resolve works wonders). Yikes, this could be a problem. So, needless to say, my Tuesday night dinner plans turned into takeout... didn't want to traumatize the poor kid!
A book I read said that a) large spaces may enhance the fear and b) you need to acclimate the dog to being alone (like any training). So, I made up a little room for Otis in my spare bathroom upstairs. I made him a nice soft bed, with the sheet that he sleeps on at night, put some water in there for him, gave him a chew toy and turned on the radio (thought about leaving it tuned to country bc Otis loves country, but settled for soft rock). I would leave him in there for 20 minute intervals and then return, praise him and take him outside to the bathroom. He did very well! He would always whine for the first few minutes and then he would settle down (and take a nap?) On Wednesday night, I left him for 1 1/2 hours for dinner and I think he did very well.
On Thursday, it was time for him to go home. When I went to leave, I think he could tell that he wasn't coming with me. I think he was sad. We had a really fun week together. We went for lots of walks and I'd been working on teaching him some tricks (sit, stay, down). I really miss that little guy already. It's a bit different to have to plan your life with another "thing" in it, but for the companionship, I think it may be worth it.
LC
PS - I have a few more pictures on my phone... anybody know how to transfer those to a computer? Preferably for free?

Wednesday, September 21, 2005

CACHE MISSING: So long ~Adria~

posted Wednesday, 21 September 2005

Yesterday marked the halfway point through chemo... and the last Adriamycin treatment. Not wanting to get my hopes up, but pretty much everyone says that the Adria is the tough part (the Taxol doesn't make you nearly as sick or fatigued).
After a bit of confusion about my appointment (I automatically assumed it was shifting back to Mondays, and had things all set up for Sara G to take me.... until I finally checked my calendar and saw it was Tuesday again). At first this was incredibly frustrating, since I was all set to go back and then it was delayed another day... but it worked out well, because I was able to attend a "Living Beyond Breast Cancer" seminar in Philly.
The topic was Genetic Testing - who should do it? why? what do you do with the information? what are the implications? Nancy went with me, which was great, because I was BY FAR the youngest one there.... there was a woman who was 36, but after that, many of the women were grandmas - literally. A lot of the information I already knew, but it was interesting... and the sandwiches were fantastic (grilled zuchinni, yellow squash, roasted red peppers, mozarella & some sort of pesto - yum!)
Genetic testing is an interesting topic. Basically, 5-10% of breast cancers are hereditary (10-15% are considered "familial clusters", which are not yet defined as hereditary, and the remaining 75% are sporadic). There are 2 genes that have been identified for Breast Cancer: BRCA1 & BRCA2. As you may remember from way back in high school biology, every cell in your body has genes in it - actually 2 copies of each gene (one you inherit from mom & one from dad). For folks with genetic breast cancer, they are born with a mutation in 1 of the copies of the gene. Now, all it takes for a significant susceptibility for cancer forming is one more mutation. For those born with 2 working copies, you need 2 "hits" before the susceptibility. Basically, these two genes control cell growth. There are other genes that do this as well, but without working BRAC1 or BRCA2 genes, you are at increased risk. So then, what do you do if you know that you have this mutation? Well, there is a 50% chance that your children will inherit this from you. What implications does this have on child bearing? Some women choose prophylactic bilateral mastectomy (both breasts), which I may consider if I have this mutation and need the left lastectomy. There is also an increased risk of ovarian cancer, with BRCA2. Ovarian cancer is much harder to screen for and often more difficult to treat. So, some women (if they are done with their families) choose a prophylactic oopherectomy (removal of the ovaries & fallopian tubes)... some even go for a full hysterectomy. Lots to think about... it's nice, because there are "genetic counselors" who you meet with to discuss your risk and decisions with... I will be scheduling my appt for "hopefully" next week... gotta get on the ball with that.
Then chemo on Tuesday (Nancy went with me for that too). Only snag - my dvr broke and deleted "prison break", which I had promised to tape for Nancy while we were out Monday night... oh well... Comcast DVR is certainly no TIVO

Tuesday, September 20, 2005

AIN'T NOTHIN GONNA BREAK MY STRIDE

posted Tuesday, 20 September 2005


UNCLE CHARLIE MADE THIS COMMENT,

Thursday, September 8, 2005

Labor Day & Chemo AC #3

posted Thursday, 8 September 2005
I got one extra day of normalcy this cycle, due to Labor Day.  The weekend was completely crazy, with my cousin Laura's wedding (see Family Photo Album for photos), my dad visiting, painting my bedroom (Blue Heron, by Benjamin Moore...4th column, 6th row), Susie & Jaeger's fairwell party & picking up furniture from Angela in center city Philly.  Phew!
Tack that weekend on to a week where I tried to work two days (and found myself incredibly exhausted) and no wonder I've been asleep since Monday! 
Despite my best attempts to make up for lost calorie's this cycle (Abby was visiting and we had some fantastic meals, including pulled pork at prospectors, crab cakes & chocolate eruption cake in mt holly and a nice little breakfast with lots of bacon), I've continued to lose a few more pounds, finding myself at the weight I was when I walked the halls of GC High School.  Body composition is, of course, a bit different, since I haven't really been doing any track workouts, but I did finally start using my 3 pound weights to get some tone back in my arm (I have to start slow and watch for swelling in my "bad" arm now).  I thought I was ready to start running again, but I've been having some trouble with the incision from my re-excision.  It's not infected, but the fluid that built up where they removed the tissue has begun to seep out through a tiny pin-hole in the incision.  Lovely.  Apparently, the chemo is preventing my body from healing as it normally would, leaving me constantly changing the gauze to prevent from looking like I'm lactating!
Anyways, Walt got the honors this week, chauffering me to chemo.  I met two nice women there - Karen & Lynda, but they were just there for "quickies"... I had a bit of a reaction to the Adriamycin this time, breaking out in hives as the nurse pushed in the meds... but it subsided once she was done.  I didn't get sick this time, but I wonder whether I would have felt better if I had just let myself get sick.  Instead, I played the "don't throw-up game" for several hours Monday night, before finally falling asleep.  I don't recall being awake for much of yesterday, but I did watch 4 episodes of Gilmore Girls, so I must have been awake for a little bit.  Nancy came over to cheer me on with my shot, which I did all by myself again.  I think that for $3000, they should put a prize in with the shot so that you get something fun (like a water tattoo or one of those rubber things that you throw against the wall and then they walk down the wall) after you take your shot.  I may write to Amgen and let them know. 
I finally ate a little bit today though - had 2 scrambled eggs for dinner - and am starting to feel a bit perkier.  I am headed to Hershey PA for the weekend for the ZS Princeton 10 Year Anniversary Celebration... not quite Cancun, but I will take it!  Even just the change of scenery will be worth it!
Feeling thankful this week for:
  • Abby for taking a few days off work to come and visit (blankets & bears)
  • Dad for painting my room, vacuuming my house and hanging out with me all weekend
  • Matt, for furniture delivery
  • Angela, for furniture & pooh bear
  • Walt for spending the day at Chemo with me
  • Nancy for coming over and watching Gilmore Girls with me
Also, thinking about my dear friends Susie & Jaeger, as they head out on their next leg of life, bound for Seattle... missing them already and eager to get my first experience of Seattle with them as my tour guides!

Comments:


1. michael allen left...
Saturday, 10 September 2005 8:15 am
i don't know if john told you i work at amgen here in RI...in my 2.5 yrs here i've gotten plenty of trinkets from them, such that we have a "shrine". the best ones i see for you are a yo-yo, a slinky, and a magic 8-ball keychain. though i like the wall walkers. i can send you some water tatoos for guinness beer, how's that sound? take care.

2. Linda Casill left...
Sunday, 11 September 2005 2:24 pm
John didn't mention it... what are you doing for Amgen? I know a bunch of folks out in CA with Amgen... The magic 8 ball sounds like a perfect prize... my next shot is scheduled for the 20th!

3. nici begert left...
Sunday, 11 September 2005 3:20 pm
Hey Linda its nici begert... Love the wigs!!!

4. michael left...
Monday, 12 September 2005 8:19 am
i know a bunch of folks in CA too b/c of a project i've been working on. i work in the QC labs testing raw materials for enbrel (that's what we make in RI). i've asked john for your address after which you will be getting a magic 8 ball. :)

Friday, September 2, 2005

Gettin' Wiggy Wit it

posted Friday, 2 September 2005


So I wasn't planning to get a wig at all. I think I am perfectly fine with a hat or a scarf or even going bald (once I work out the tan lines that have built up over 29 years of hair coverage... I do have a tan spot where my part used to run though!)
However, my insurance covers up to $300 for a wig, so I might as well have fun with it, right?
So, Nancy, her brother David and I head out to a place called The WISE center, in East Brunswick. They sell wigs, hats, mastectomy products, etc.... and you have to make an appointment to talk to the wig lady. So I make an appt and we head up there. She is very helpful. The wigs run from $200 - $5000. Synthetic "wash and go" wigs are at the low end and human hair wigs are at the high end. Synthetic wigs hold their style and human hair needs to be washed & styled daily. Now, if you know me, you know that I am not very high-maintenance (at least as far as getting ready is concerned!) on a normal basis... why would I pick a wig that will take time to style. Clearly, the synthetic wig is the option for me (how many times is the cheaper option the one that I prefer!) So I try on a dozen wigs and settle on "Madison" by Louis Ferre, in strawberry blonde. It has a "mono-filament top", which is a nice thin membrane that breathes better than the standard wig. Drawback - she costs $695. Yikes. I am not about to spend $400 out of pocket for a stupid wig that I doubt I will wear.
So we leave and I do some web research... Louis Ferre monofilament wigs seem to cost just under $300 everywhere else... turns out this place is catering not to "general" breast cancer patients, rather they are catering to the upper class breast cancer patients.
The challenge is that many of the wigs I tried on are too big for my head and have way too much hair, so I am afraid to just order on-line... at this point, I pretty much give up on the wig idea.
Then, last weekend, I was down in DC for an ultimate tournament. My shaved head made it's official debut, outside of my closer group of NJ friends, who saw it at the beach this past Thursday (see the "Friends" photo album for pictures from the mean bbq Reavey threw - including a day at the beach followed by a feast of clams, chicken, steak, shrimp scampi, corn, and tomato salad).
Kimberly mentioned to me that Knappy (Sandy's husband, together they make a very active PADA couple) "owns a wig shop". SCORE! I talk to Sandy on Sunday and manage an intro to Knappy. So "owns a wig shop" was a stretch, but Knappy used to work for a wig manufacturer - and has some connections in the business. He refers me to Not Just Wigs, a shop down in Berlin (about 30 minutes from my house). I head down there and talk to Scott, the owner, who totally hooks me up. After several hours of shopping and many many wigs, I leave the store with 3 wigs, 3 styrofoam heads, wig shampoo, spray and "wet-look" spray, all for under $300. And now... without further ado... the WIGS...
(A) STACIE

(B) SANDY (aka Rapture)

(C) AMORE

(D) AU NATURAL

Thanks to Peter Knappenberger, Kimberly & Scott for completing my "wig-drobe"


Comments:

MOM MADE THIS COMMENT,
WOW!!!! I REALLY like the redhead followed by the brunette...not too sure about the platinum blond. When will bald be the style for women???? It looks so neat and easy. Makes your big brown eyes really stand out. (By the way...I hear you found a cleaning person.) Love ya.