So, on day 3 of radiation treatment, I told the folks that the mask was painful to my nose and they cut that part out. So, the radiation treatment is no longer painful for me. Also, I timed it both yesterday and today and realized that it really, actually, only lasts for 10 minutes. Which is kind of long, but not the 20 minutes plus that I ( Read more... )

I had my first radiation treatment yesterday. It sucked. It wasn't the *worst* thing in the world, but the mask smashed my nose and the back of my head and I couldn't talk and was so uncomfortable. People kept talking to me, but it never was clear whether they were talking to each other or me, and I couldn't answer back anyways. It was the ( Read more... )

So, I have an appointment with a radiation oncologist for Monday. I will show up with a list of questions and ask him to sell me on his servicios. Maybe he'll sell me...actually, he probably will. I'm so sad, but am already mostly sold on the notion that radiation give me the best shot right now. The oncology nurse told me that I will probably ( Read more... )

So, as it turns out, I had a grade three oligoastrocytoma. *Not* what I was hoping for (was hoping for grade two oligodendroglioma. The "astrocyte" part of my stuff is much harder to do battle with, and of course we always want lower grade growth.) They think that Mr Fancypants surgeon did a good job and may have gotten rid of all of it. So ( Read more... )

So, surgery went fine. I'm recovering well, feeling good. My sister was here for two weeks and now my mom is here for a week. Having extra family here is good, if somewhat frequently stressful ( Read more... )

So, I had my surgery on Wednesday and things seem to be going well. Will get the path report next week, which will be the next newsy thing. My face is a bit puffy, but overall I'm feeling fine. Hanging out with my sister and Jonathan, which is nice. Titrating my pain meds and trying to sleep with my head up so the puff will drain more quickly ( Read more... )

So, I think I have a surgery date...Wednesday August 22. While it's a relief to have a date, and to have a fancy-pants UCSF surgeon, it's still sucktastic overall to have a new tumor in my brain. In case that wasn't self-evident. I'm continuing to ride the brain cancer rollercoaster. I told Jonathan's mother about my surgery date and she said ( Read more... )

So, I called in sick this afternoon with a little freakout. I think it was appropriate. They were very sweet to me, especially seeing as my calling in meant they had to cancel a bunch of patients ( Read more... )

So, in the "Cancer Sucks" category, it's back. Well, it never really went away. But now I have a new tumor, and it's growing faster than the stuff I've had. Looks like I'm up for a surgery/chemo/radiation cocktail within the month. It doesn't seem real, I'm pretty numb about the whole thing. Waiting for Dr. Butowski to call after he takes my ( Read more... )

Okay, so how dorktastic does this make me, but I'm still so excited. The professional photographer wants our permission to possibly use some of our doggy photos in something else--like a calendar or a book or maybe her website. Of course she can! I imagine that they will be used in exactly nothing, but I'm still signing the release and sending ( Read more... )