"Do a happy dance!"

The news continues to be good....saw Dr. Karamlou before chemo yesterday and the tumor markers are continuing to come down, a good indication the chemo is working. Praise God for answered prayers! Tumor markers are an indicator in the blood of the presence of cancer. In my case, it's enzyme CA 9-19 that is monitored and a normal range is 9-30. In August, when we had the scan that showed the liver tumors growing, the tumor markers were in the 20,000 range (yep, folks that's not a typo). Currently, we're in the high 15,000 range which is a significant drop. Nowhere near normal, obviously, but headed in the right direction! Yahoo! All vital signs are good, weight is steady, skin color and texture are good. Huge praises.

We're in the countdown for Christmas break and the kids are more than ready.....it's been a little squirrely with the very cold weather we're having (not many options outside for them to burn off energy) and knowing a two week break is coming. The days are still good, fun and I wouldn't trade this job for anything. Come spend a day with me and see for yourself how fun 6th grade can be....or you might run screaming from the room. :)

I'm thoroughly enjoying this holiday season, celebrating the best gift of all, the birth of Christ. Loving the lights, decorations, activities and time with family and friends.

Hugs, love and huge thanks for continued prayers and praise,

Susan

"voodoo doughnuts and gal pals"

It truly was a weekend of celebrating the good news from the latest scan - answered prayers and gratitude for healing. It's a small step, but a positive one and it was so wonderful to make the phone calls to family and friends this time. Dr. Karamlou had to repeat himself twice when he told me and mom the news :) I think I was so used to discouraging results that it took a moment to really register what he was telling us - all the tumors in the liver have shrunk, there are no new spots anywhere else and the lung and pancreas tumors have continued to stabilize. All three of us were grinning from ear to ear though as I left the office to go for chemo treatments. A great day!

Dr. Karamlou said to go and celebrate and I certainly did. Dear friends from Atlanta, Wyoming and Charlotte flew in for a long weekend and we kicked up our heels, Portland style. No trip to Portland is complete without a stop at Voodoo Doughnuts and we, along with many other Portlanders and visitors, joined the long line outside the shop on Saturday morning. If you're in town, I'll be sure to take you there and if you're truly adventurous, we can also go to Velveteria, the largest black velvet painting museum in the world (as far as we know :) And yes, we went there too. Who can miss the opportunity to see such a wide array of dogs playing poker or the requisite Elvis paintings?

I'll continue with this current chemo protocol for 3 more cycles (about 6-7 weeks) and then we'll do another scan. Side effects were a little stronger this time, but overall, I feel good and am still teaching full time. I can hardly believe Thanksgiving is next week and we've already finished the first quarter of the school year.

There is so much to be thankful for, not just with the holiday approaching but in the blessings of every day. I'm deeply grateful for so much and thank God for His healing and continued provision for me. I hope all of you have a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday, surrounded by the people you care most about. We are all so blessed, aren't we?

Love and hugs and heartfelt thanks,

Susan

The climb

I have been reflecting about Sue's great news yesterday and feel it's been a long time since we had something to celebrate when the words "scan results" come from the mouths of Sue's medical team. Well, as I'm reflecting upon Sue's positive results, a song from a young 16 yr old plays in my head as it does around our home these days. Powerful words from one of my daughter's favorite singers: Miley Cyrus.

The song is "The Climb" and can't help but think of Sue during this cancer journey. I have played the words in my head over and over today and would like to share the words with you.

Thank you Sue for showing a younger brother that prayer, belief, strength, hope, inspires me beyond words. I picture you dancing at my daughters weddings and holding their babies one day, eating garlic fries cheering the Giants and walking the finish line with me. These are my dreams and yesterday's news kept those dreams alive.
By the way, I speak for many many others when I say "you inspire me"


The Climb
I can almost see it, that dream i'm dreamin but, there's a voice inside my head sayin, you'll never reach it. every step im takin every move i make feels lost with no direction, my faith is shakin, but i, i gotta keep tryin i gotta keep my head held high

there's always gonna be another mountain im always gonna wanna make it move always gonna be an uphill battle and sometimes im gonna have to lose it aint about how fast i get there aint about whats waitin on the other side its the climb

the struggles im facing the chances im taking sometimes might knock me down but no im not breaking i may not know it but these are the moments that im gonna remember most yeah just gotta keep goin and i i got be strong gotta keep on pushin on cuz

theres always gonna be another mountain im always gonna wanna make it move always gonna be an uphill battle sometimes im gonna have to lose aint about how fast i get there aint about whats waitin on the other side its the climb x2

keep on movin keep climbin keep the faith babe its all about its all about the climb keep the faith keep your faith

Whoa oh oh oh

Quick update...answered prayers

Just received a phone call with Sue's scan results and for the first time since the lung tumor shrunk back in the spring, we have GOOD news. Dr. Karamlou greeted Sue and Mom this morning with "we have good news, the chemo is working and all nodules in the liver are shrinking, no new growth anywhere else and the lung and pancreas are still stabilized.

Sue will follow with a blog update this weekend, but right now she is celebrating and praising God.

A big answer to all of prayers!

Matt

An Anniversary

October 30th was a day of reflection and thanks for me as I "celebrated" the one year anniversary of the original lung cancer diagnosis. In some ways it is hard to believe a year has passed already and, in other ways, the year has gone so quickly that I can't believe it really is one year. And you all know what a year it has been, the ups and downs of all the tests and diagnoses, beginning chemo and radiation treatment, the pulmonary embolism scare and everything in between. I've spent many of the last days really reflecting on this cancer journey and it still comes back to what I've said from the very start......God has a purpose and a plan for me, He is beside me every step of the way and though I don't have a clear idea or understanding as to why we're on this journey, I am so grateful for all the blessings along the way. It would take pages to tell you all about all the wonderful people and blessings that have come my way in this past year.....just recently I received cards and packages from my "chemoangels" - an organization I have never heard of that lends encouragement and support to cancer patients. These women are as far away as Oklahoma and Virginia and I really don't know how they found me (they're keeping that a secret, I guess) but it has been wonderful.

I guess I am now a veteran of sorts in this cancer battle. Last week when I went for chemo, there was a woman about my age and her husband sitting in the lobby. I checked in and sat, waiting for the nurse to call me back. The woman asked in a hesitant voice how long I had been having chemo so I shared a bit of my story with her. Turns out this was her first chemo treatment and she was quite apprehensive about the whole thing. Everyone has a different experience and I'm hopeful hers will be as easy as mine has been, in terms of side effects, and I was so glad to be able to talk with her and her husband and offer some positive information. I remember as clear as day the first time I went for chemo and radiation - the unknown can be pretty darn scary.

Some of my best medicine is, and continues to be, teaching and all my wonderful kiddos. My desk is littered with candy they've brought me from their Halloween stash (guess my repeated hints about loving all that Halloween stuff paid off :) and last Friday when they wore costumes to school was just too darn cute. It was a fun day.....my costume was as corny as they all have been in years past. If you look closely at the picture, you may be able to tell I have coins (quarters) glued to my shirt, am holding a hammer and a block of cheese. Wait for it, wait for it......I was a "quarter pounder with cheese".

The next CT scan is scheduled for Monday, November 9th, in the morning and I see Dr. Karamlou on Weds., the 11th, for results. This will determine whether I stay on the current chemo protocol or if we have to pull another bunny out of the hat. I am praying hard for good results and I know you are too. Thank you. Oh, and another huge praise - I no longer have to be on oxygen! I've been off the "leash" for almost three weeks now and am doing just fine. God has been so good and kept me so protected.

Fall here in Portland has been absolutely spectacular and the trees truly must rival the east coast for color and variety. Even though raking all the leaves isn't that much fun, I have really enjoyed the fall season and am looking forward to the holidays. I feel like I'll blink and it will be Thanksgiving already.

Time to go and watch the Phillies-Yankees game and root for those Phillies. I love the World Series but am always a bit let down when it is over because then I have to wait until February for spring training. And I plan to be around for that!

Love and hugs and deep heartfelt thanks to all of you,
Susan

Now it's our turn to speak

The fact that Sue is the eldest of 5 McCormick children, (and is always the first to speak) it is our turn to write on the blog and let you know how much we care.

We will start with the youngest and move up in age. :-)

Sue,
Words can't even describe how much you amaze me. You have so much courage and optimism every day even with all you have been through. You are such a light to everyone around you, and even to people that don't know you but have heard about you. My friends, church, and I continue to pray for your healing every day. This is one of my favorite quotes: "God understands that we are not strong all the time. Sometimes all we can do is rest on His arms as He takes us through the journey of life. With Him we are safe." It is so true! I am so lucky to have you as a big sister. I love you so much Sue!

Love Always,
Tara

Hey Sue! Just want you to know how much I enjoy checking this blog. While we've had our share of news we didn't want to read, it's the anticipation of seeing fun pictures of you and reading your inspiring words that I look forward to. For example your latest entry...I wasn't expecting to see you front & center with boxing gloves on--staring right back at me on the computer screen! Instant smiles for the kids and I...thank you!

I'm reading "Heroes Among Us" by Jim Ryun & sons. I am reminded so often of you Sue as I read about these phenomenal, every day people. As the front jacket states--it's about the lives of men and women who inspire us. Their lives show us what it is to be good, to be brave, to be guided by conscience and character. They are an inspiration, whose courage shows us the way in which we should go.

I love you big sister! Hope this picture brings a smile to you...as we had so much fun in that Shakespeare Theatre shop, remember?! I'm surprised we didn't get asked to leave after trying on all of those goofy hats!

XXOO
Stacy

Sue,
You were, are and continue to be my inspiration. Thank you for reminding me how blessed we are each day. Thank you for being an example of someone who walks the talk. Thank you for reminding me that what we have is too much and giving back brings greater joy to our souls. Thank you for never taking the easy way out and addressing life head on..... Thank you for always lifting my spirits when I should be lifting you up and thank you for being my big sister.
I love you more than words can describe.

Matt


It's the small things in life that tend to make a big difference. Take for example our waking up everyday to be able to go out and do the things we would normally do in our routine lives. We don't always give thanks, or give much thought that just being able to do small things can mean so much. The past year has been difficult for Sue to say the least, for Sue just waking up knowing that this is another day, that she has defeated cancer, is a small victory. Just being able to teach, to be able to spend time with her children in the classroom is a victory. We were fortunate
this summer to have been able to spend time with Sue as we toured the Mediterranean Sea, it was a special time and a special trip to be able to see the expressions of love for family and her joys of travel. My sister Sue is a special person, she has a glow that attracts people to her, she has a zest for life and is determined to become a cancer survivor. Sue never asks for anything, always looks at the bright side, and is an inspiration to the rest of us. It's the small things that we can do to continue to help Sue fight this disease, it's the small things that add up
in the end, you're my hero Sue.


We love you,


Mike, Judith, Kelli & Michael

"Chocolate, the dog and a messenger bag"

It seems I'm always starting blog updates recently with not so great news so this time, I'm switching gears. The best part is I really don't have any bad or sad news to report and that's even better! As you can see with the pictures, I'm ready for the TKO with this cancer stuff :)

Chocolate...ladies and gentlemen, there are signs that my enjoyment of chocolate is returning. Over the past week or so, it has smelled good and I figured that was a good first step. The other night I was offered a dark chocolate covered caramel and it looked good so I decided to try it. Tasted yummy going down so I waited the usual few minutes for the taste to turn sour in my mouth as it has in past months. Nothing happened! After several minutes, I tried another and it was good too. Feeling bold, I ate a third and praises! They all tasted just fine and I enjoyed every gooey bite. I decided not to push things and kept it at three, but maybe, just maybe my road to recovery is going to be paved with dark chocolate caramels! Coffee is still off the table, but hey, I can be patient. :)

The dog....back in February Corbett was diagnosed with a level 3 (terminal) disease called mastitis, a type of internal cancer animals get. At the time, she was given roughly three months to live. Devastating news, to be sure. Well, she's outlived that original diagnosis by almost 6 months, looks fine and is acting every bit the queen of the house. A little over a week ago, she had dental surgery to remove an abcessed molar and Lynn, her vet, took chest x-rays as a precautionary measure first to be sure there wasn't something else going on in her body. No signs of tumors or the slightest indication of anything wrong. Praises! She (Lynn) thinks Corbett may have licked the original tumor into such a highly inflammatory state that there was a misread of the original biopsy. She said that if Corbett really does have level 3 mastitis it has done such a good job of hiding itself, it's virtually undetectable. So it turns out that Corbett probably isn't anywhere near as sick as we once thought and she continues to rule the roost as only a diva dog of her caliber can do.

The messenger bag....last Thursday at the start of my last social studies class of the day, a student came up to me, Connor, and said he had something for me. With kids, this could be anything from a piece of candy to a flower to a note from a parent. He then handed me a little neoprene messenger bag with a front zip and said it was for my oxygen bottle so I wouldn't have to carry it around in my hand (the carry bag provided has just a short hand strap). Clearly, this was probably his bag that he was giving to me and it touched me beyond words. This little guy is quiet and doesn't say a whole lot in class, but to realize he had been thinking about me and saw a way to make my day easier with a bag to carry the tank in has moved me more than I could ever say. I tried not to cry too much when I smiled and hugged him and thanked him and it brings tears to my eyes even as I write this. I don't know if Connor will ever realize how much his gift means to me.

The blessings in my life are so many and even as the battle continues with this cancer in my body, my spirit is alive and joyful and so grateful for what God has given, and continues to give me. This last round of chemo has been fairly mild with the side effects and I start the second round next Weds., the 14th - IV for two of the chemicals and a 48 hr. infusion pump for the third chemical. Then two weeks off (no chemo) and a scan to follow shortly after that. I still feel good - fatigue is always present but that's normal these days and I have enough energy to teach and do most anything I want to. I use the oxygen as needed, some days more than others and it's not such a big deal, just annoying to carry around. I'm experiencing a merciful reprieve from what could be very unpleasant symptoms and side effects and that is a huge praise.

Fall has come to Portland full force and the colors are gorgeous. We've had a string of sunny days that really illuminate the brilliant palette of the trees and I love it. Breezes are turning a little chillier than I like, but I have a lovely collection of hats and scarves to use.

Love and hugs to all of you,

Susan

"I'm home, healing, and there is hair in the drain!"

I should probably explain the last part of that comment first....my hair is growing back slowly but there is now enough for me to "shampoo" and there was hair in the drain after my shower this morning. A small thing, true, but a little plus none-the-less. This time around, it is coming in curly and absolutely snow white, not a hint of gray. I hope this next round of chemo doesn't take it again, as we're starting something new, but it's nice to have a little somethin' there, at least for now.

Came home from Good Sam hospital late yesterday afternoon and am glad to be home and healing here. Everyone at the hospital was wonderful and very kind, but there's nothing like being in your own space. I'm grateful for the excellent care I received, but honestly, you really can't expect too much rest during the night with all the different interruptions for vitals, blood draws, administering shots and/or medication, breakfast delivered before a rooster even crows....

Turns out the blood clot was a little more serious than originally thought. The difficulty breathing (and I must admit, that is a scary feeling) was because a portion of the clot had broken off and gone into my lungs - I have a clot in each one. This is called a pulmonary embolism and is very serious. If it had continued to move through the lungs, it could have gone to the brain (a stroke) or the heart (heart attack). Not such good things. I was immediately put on blood thinners again and the biopsy is off the table for an indefinite period of time.

A whole battery of cardiac exams were done on Friday because my cardiac enzymes were elevated and continuing to rise. I learned this means there could be strain/damage to the heart or a precursor to a heart attack. All sorts of fun tests were done (not) and praise God, the cardiologist said the tests showed no damage to to the heart. Enzymes returned to normal by Friday evening and Dr. Karamlou said the rise in levels was likely due to the difficulty breathing.

I am on oxygen and will likely be on it for awhile, until blood oxygen levels return to normal. Think of your heart trying to pump blood around a blockage - that's what's happening with the clots in the lung. At rest, my levels are fine, but when I'm moving around, the levels drop lower than all would like. I'm not too far off of the acceptable range, but until I'm back to normal (does that word really apply to me?), I have to carry around an oxygen tank. Must admit, I do not like this little "leash" one bit and am praying for a quick return to normal. Not only is it a pain to carry around (not literally, just having tank with a tube up my nose is annoying), it is a very tangible reminder for me of what's happening with my health and I'll be honest. I don't like it one bit. It's not that big a deal when you consider the bigger picture, but I'll be glad when I can detach. There was a sad moment for me this morning, with this tank. I was sorting laundry, absorbed in my own thoughts, and looked up to see my three Portland Marathon medals hanging on the necklace rack. It struck me that 10 years ago, this month, I walked my first marathon. I looked at those medals, remembering how hard my friend Annie and I had trained for the event, walking up and down steep hills for hours at a time and realized, again, how much my life has changed in this past year. I cried for awhile, with a sense of loss, and after a bit, was reminded of two things. One, I am still walking and getting around just fine. Yes, slower than before and it's likely a marathon isn't in any near future, but I am still walking and fighting this cancer with everything I have. And two, when you cry a lot wearing a nasal cannula for oxygen, it gets clogged up with snot and then you can't breathe well again, so don't cry while wearing the darn thing.

Next step now is to begin chemo again and I'll start that this Wednesday. This particular chemo cocktail is delivered through an automatic pump device, similar in ways to an insulin pump. I'll "wear" the pump for 48 hours and then be off of it for two weeks before another 48 hour session. It will attach to a PICC line (intravenous catheter) that was put in my upper arm on Friday afternoon. This is similar to the port I had months ago in that there is a small tube in the vein of my arm that goes to the superior vena cava (major blood vessel by heart). The difference between the port and the PICC line is the port was under the skin and the PICC line has "attachment ends" that stick out of my arm. A little weird at first, but manageable. The blessing is now all blood draws and IVs and all that sort of stuff can go directly through the PICC line and I don't feel it. That in itself is a huge gift as we've had trouble recently easily finding veins and my poor arms are black and blue from elbow to wrist.

I've missed a lot of work these last days and am looking forward to getting back to my kiddos. I can go back on Weds. afternoon, after we hook up the pump, and am excited about that. The kids made get well posters for me while I was in the hospital and I just loved reading their comments and get well wishes. Linda (my sub) had them write an interesting fact they found in their Atlas with the comments and some were just hilarious. I guess they don't quite get ratios yet - one wrote "Did you know that in China 719 people fit in one car?" Isn't quite grasping that it's one car for every 719 people, but we'll work on that. They are my blessings, my medicine and such a joy.

As for my Giants, well, they gave it a good run. Now I'll have to root for whoever can beat those pesky Dodgers!

Thanks again for all your love and support and prayers, I cherish them and you,

Susan

Sue is doing well (of course we all knew she would rebound)

Sue is recovering well at Good Samaritan in Portland. She had a number of tests today and it looks like things have stabilized. Dr. Karamlou is not going to biopsy the liver for quite some time (too much risk for additional blood clots) and they start the 4th "chemo cocktail" this week.
Sue should be arriving home on Sunday and teaching again next Wednesday. She feels bad she had to miss her kids back to school night, but understands she is in good hands and healing well.
She wanted me to let everyone know that she is grateful for all the support and continued prayers.

Have a great weekend and know she will be back on her feet and going her usual pace on Monday.

Thank you all for the wonderful support.

Sincerely,

Matt

Update on Sue: 9-24-09 (blood clot scare)

I would like to update everyone on Sue. I just spent the past 4 days in Portland with her doctors and even though the scans were not favorable her attitude and outward appearance is as positive as ever. As you read from the prior blog update, she was unable to have the liver biopsy Tuesday as her blood was not "thick enough" after taking blood thinners from the prior chemo treatments. The doctors felt she needed three more days for the blood to thicken so the liver would not bleed excessively during the biopsy. The one risk in waiting was the possibility of blood clots forming. Well, today we had a little scare. This morning Sue had a twitch in her leg that would not go away and as the morning progressed, she had trouble breathing knowing something wasn't right. She was smart enough to recognize things weren't right and made the necessary calls to the hospital. It was blood clot in her calf area. Sheila and Annie were notified asap, but the hospital sensed urgency and had an ambulance take her to Good Samaritan hospital.

The doctors decided not to wait for a liver biopsy and elected to get her back on blood thinners and stay a few days under nurses care. I spoke with her this afternoon and she sounds great, just disappointed about missing back to school night. She should be heading back home Saturday and knowing Sue, back to school Monday with the kids.

Your prayer support is greatly appreciated.

Matt

No biopsy today

Another twist today....I was prepped and ready to go for the biopsy, but my blood work showed that my blood is too thin and surgery is unsafe. I've been on Coumadin to keep the blood thin because of clotting problems and levels hadn't dropped enough to do the biopsy today.

Disappointing, especially since I had to take a day off from teaching, but I'd rather be safe than sorry! The biopsy has been rescheduled for Friday afternoon and I was given a dose of Vitamin K today to help counteract the Coumadin.

Turned out to be a hidden blessing as my brother, Matt, is here for a few days and the "reprieve" allowed me to spend a gorgeous, sunny afternoon with him. A very nice treat!

I'll keep you posted, but as it stands now, we're scheduled for Friday and will go from there. Still feeling good and loving a Portland Indian summer.

Love and hugs to all, Susan

"Scan results disappointing again"

The much hoped for good news regarding the most recent scan didn't happen...again. I met with Dr. Karamlou yesterday and the growths in the liver are much bigger than before. Sure wasn't what we wanted to hear (Mom was with me) and very disappointing.

What is interesting (for lack of a better term) is that the lung and pancreas appear to have stabilized - there has been no change in the nodules in either place and that is great. The growths in the liver, however; are growing rapidly. Dr. Karamlou said this would indicate the chemo isn't working, but also raises the question of a very slight (1-2% chance) that what we're dealing with in the liver may not be the cancer we think it is. This doesn't mean the growths aren't cancerous, the tumor markers and other indicators clearly show it is, but it does raise the ever so slight possibility the cell structure of the liver growths aren't what they (the docs) think they are. Bottom line is, with even the slightest possibility it could be a different cell base, we need to be sure and it was agreed I would have another liver biopsy on Tuesday. This will confirm exactly what we are dealing with, in the liver, and a protocol can be determined from there.

My first reaction to the chance it could be something else (and remember, this is a VERY slight possibility) was thunderstruck and I asked "Is it possible I have a third cancer?" Dr. Karamlous said no, this wasn't likely but it is possible for cell structure to be different in the liver, even with a metastasized cancer. So.....we take another turn in the road on this cancer journey. The word that keeps coming up in the conversations is "atypical". Nothing about my cancer journey has taken what, in medical terms, would be considered a normal progression and this is just another fork in the cancer road.

The biopsy is currently scheduled for Tuesday, the 22nd, and I'll see Dr. Karamlou on Friday, the 25th for the results and the next steps. If if is the same cancer, we'll start a new chemo that is delivered through a 48 hour pump via a pic line and if it's not....well, I'll find out on Friday.

Many praises in even all this.....I still feel good, have energy and am loving being back in the classroom with the kids. It has been just great! We're starting our third week of school on Monday (is that possible already?) and it's been so much fun getting to know each one of the 140+ kids I have. The weather has been delightful with a combination of warm, sunny days and a little bit of rain here and there and my Giants are still not completely out of the race for the wild card. There is hope!

And that's my bottom line, there is hope. Hope in healing for this cancer and in the joy of every day. Your prayers for a quick and safe biopsy on Tuesday are so appreciated. I'll update again as soon as we know more.

In the meantime, love, hugs and blessings to all,

Susan

"September Already?"

I find myself saying that frequently.....September already? What happened to August? And, here in Portland, what happened to the summer weather? It's been a cold, gray, damp couple of days and I think whatever real summer we had happened while I was traveling the past weeks. This is much better than the 100+ degree blistering heat days I came home to after the cruise, so no real complaints! And with the kiddos returning to school this week, the cooler temps will help them stay a bit more focused, right? :)
Back to school for me was last Monday, August 31st, and it was great to be in the classroom and with my colleagues. Students don't start until Sept. 9th so it was nice to have time to ease into the routines again. Such an answer to prayer for me - when I left in June, I promised myself as well as friends and students I would be back in Sept. so to truly be back, see my name on the schedule and go about the start of the year tasks is such a gift. I was a little concerned about my energy level but at the end of each day, the tired feeling I experienced was a normal, end of the work day kind of tired - not flat on my face. Granted, that will change a bit when the kids begin this week and it will likely be early to bed every night for awhile, but I am so grateful to still feel good and have the energy to work.
God has so protected me, even as the cancer has progressed. My plan is to teach full time for as long as my health/energy will allow, and, as far as I am concerned, that will be for the full school year. My current chemo schedule is two weeks on, one week off so I've scheduled chemo for Friday afternoons with the weekend to recover.
Chemo last Friday went fine and there has been the usual fatigue and nausea immediately following the session, but nothing out of the ordinary and I feel good today. Hmmmm....things have really changed when fatigue and nausea have become normal occurrences in my life. But if this chemo cocktail is doing the trick and kicking the cancer butt, then I say "bring it on"! The next scan is scheduled for Sept. 16th and I'll see Dr. Karamlou on the 18th for results.
Keep praying for that healing miracle! August was another month of "firsts", some much more enjoyable than others. My mom, sister and I went to the Shakespeare Festival in Ashland and it was fabulous. Considering Ashland isn't really all that far from Portland, it's a shame it took me so long to get there, but it was well worth it. We saw "MacBeth" and "Much Ado About Nothing" and thoroughly enjoyed each one. I highly recommend a trip there.
After the festival, I flew back to Connecticut with my sister and spent a week there with her family, exploring their town (Westport) and even a little bit of NYC. I hadn't been to CT before and we had a great time. I will say I'm no fan of east coast heat and humidity though. Whew! Regardless, it was a really nice week with my niece and nephew, Ryan and Meghan, my sister and brother-in-law and their menagerie. Cats, a hamster and, not one but two, Newfoundland dogs. Darling pups, Wally and Tinkerbell, but they are the size of small black bears! Thankfully, a lot more sweet tempered than a bear :)
The other first (this one I didn't like so much) was a short stint in the hospital. A day or so after a chemo session in early August, I had a very high fever and chills and was sent promptly to the ER for evaluation. The ER on a Saturday night.....quite the wild time there, but thankfully, not for me. :) Though blood and other tests didn't show signs of infection and I wasn't neutropenic (white blood cell count too low), the on-call oncologist and ER doc didn't like the look of my lung x-rays and said I had pneumonia. Not a great thing for a lung cancer patient to develop....I was admitted for observation, antibiotics and rest and spent three days in the hospital while all figured out what was actually happening. The good news is I did not have pneumonia after all and it was determined I had just a bad case of chemo fevers. I will say again how grateful I am for all the great nurses and doctors I've had and everyone was really good to me while I was hospitalized. Just don't go to the hospital if you want to actually get any rest :) They were all very nice about it, but the frequent middle of the night visits for vitals, or antibiotics or a blood draw didn't make for a very restful visit! The whole experience was a little bit sobering for me as I have had so few problems, medically, in this cancer journey and this was a reminder that things may not always go just as I think they will. Fortunately, I wasn't as sick as everyone feared and was "sprung" in time to make it to the Shakespeare Festival. :)
Thought I'd include a few more pictures of the Europe trip - me in Venice and Ephesus and the Acropolis in Greece. I really had such an amazing summer with all the travels I was able to take and the friends that came to spend time with me. I don't take the blessings of my family, friends or this awesome life for granted for one minute.
My Giants are trying hard to get that wild card spot for the playoffs and I'm excited to think they just might make it! Keep praying for that miracle and for some good news on the scan this time. I'm ready for some positive results, how about you?

Take care,

Susan

Vinenzia, Firenze, Mykenos...Oh My! and scan update too."

We had a glitch in the blog site and are now back up and running. Lots to update....Here is her last update from Europe.

I'm still dreaming and smiling about the absolutely amazing cruise through the Mediterranean, it truly was the trip of a lifetime and I enjoyed every moment. When friends ask me which city was my favorite, all I can think to answer is "yes".

Each port brought it's own delights and uniqueness....Barcelona with it's stunning Gaudi architecture, especially La Sagrada Familia (the church) and the Avenue Las Ramblas with the colorful open air market, street artists, restaurants and shops. Florence with the Duomo and beautiful churches, the Ponte Vecchio and art museums that take your breath away. Naples, the rough little sea town with the Pompeii ruins, Monaco - we could at least see the outside of the Monte Carlo casino, seems shorts and sandals were not exactly "dress code" :) Makes me want to see "To Catch A Thief" again since so many spots in Monaco were recognizable from the film all those years ago. And the private yachts - oh my gosh, I didn't think they could be that huge! For sheer beauty, I think I enjoyed Mykenos the most. The backdrop of blue green Mediterranean waters against the whitewashed houses with their blue roofs and doors, the ancient windmills with the gorgeous blue sky behind them and a warm Mediterranean breeze tickling the little pin feathers on my head. Breathtaking. Athens....to be standing on the Acropolis, looking out over the valley surrounding it, all the amazing architecture....so many times I would have to almost pinch myself (in each port) because I could hardly believe I was actually there. Not looking at postcards or travel guides or watching travel shows. Truly walking on the same roads as many had gone so many thousands of years before. Every time we'd get to a new city, I'd turn to my brother and say "Guess what!", he'd be the good brother and reply "What?" (always knowing what was coming) and I'd grin from ear to ear and say "I'm in Barcelona or Mykenos or Venice" (wherever we were).

Istanbul with the Sultan's Palace and San Sofia church, the Blue Mosque, remnants of the ancient Hippodrome....Ephesus, the city where early Christianity was first established. I cried a little to know I was walking on the same dusty paths as Jesus, Mary and John, very deeply moved by that experience. Venice.....what an amazing city with it's waterways and gondolas, water taxis and St. Mark's Basilica, the Rialto and the Bridge of Sighs. Loved it!

The weather was great while we were there, quite hot but not intolerable. The only two places that were real scorchers were Ephesus (110 degrees) and Athens (about 106 degrees). Most of the rest of the places averaged mid 90s for temperature and that wasn't bad. Made sure I had 70 sunblock on my head and a good sun hat!

There were so many experiences - the sights, sounds, smells, food, colors, people, culture, language - it would take me pages to tell you all the incredible things I enjoyed. I tried to sample a little of the local cuisine no matter where we were and had a few rather interesting "tastes" but didn't miss many meals, that's for sure!

And this doesn't even cover the very cool experience of being on a luxury cruise ship! I was sure spoiled when I got home....very nice to have a pleasant cabin steward making up your room in the morning, turning down the sheets at night and always making sure there are fresh towels in the bathroom. And the food on a cruise ship.....well, let's just say "expanding your horizons" while traveling doesn't always mean seeing new places. :)

It was a great trip and I hope you can tell from what I've written here how much I enjoyed myself. Being with my brother and sister-in-law, niece and nephew plus many of Judith's (my sister-in-law) family members made this an adventure almost beyond description. The pictures on the blog are of me in Venice and with my nephew, Michael, before one of the formal dinners on the ship. If you have access to Facebook, my brother and niece have posted quite a few photo albums from our trip and you can see them from my page.

We're back in the "real world" now and the scan results are in. Discouragingly, the news was not good yet again. Seems the Abraxane and Carboplatin weren't working and the spots on the liver (that were there before) are larger plus there are a few new ones. No change in the nodule in the pancreas itself, however; the lymph node around it is bigger. The only piece of good news, I guess, is the lung tumor appears to have stabilized - it's not smaller but it's also not bigger and there appears to be no change at all. Would love to see it up and disappear, but for now, will take no changes as a good thing.

This is really disappointing news on two levels - first, obviously, it means we have to try yet another combination of chemo agents to try and stem the progression in the liver. I started this new chemo last Thursday - the name of the three drugs is quite lengthy and I don't remember exactly what they are, but they are referred to as "GTX" (sounds like a motor oil, doesn't it?). I'm back to weekly chemo, with two weeks on and one week off and we'll do another scan after two full cycles, 6 weeks from now.

The other issue is the continued progression of the cancer in the liver. So far, liver function has not been affected by the cancer (praise God for that!) but a major concern is that it will begin to cause problems (in the liver). Since the liver metabolizes all the chemicals going through the body, if it is affected by the cancer it could mean I can't continue to have chemo because my body won't be able to handle it. Now we aren't there yet and so far, my liver is ok but it is something to watch carefully. And truthfully, there are only so many bunnies in the hat for chemo combinations to try and, though we're not out of options, this is the 4th combination we've tried. As Dr. Karamlou said, this is a very aggressive cancer and it hasn't been responsive to treatment. Let's continue to pray this one does the trick.

Not easy news to hear and very sobering to realize options may becoming increasingly limited. I've shed my tears and continue to say my prayers for healing and still, no matter what, trust God and His plan for me. This journey on earth may be shorter than I'd like, but we aren't done yet and I continue to fight this disease with everything He has given me. Truthfully, the hardest part for me is having to make the phone calls to my family and friends to share more "suck" news (as I not so affectionately refer to it). I've come to terms with the cancer and what it may mean for me as it progresses but it never gets any easier to hear the anguish in the voices and see the fear in the eyes of the people I love so dearly. It's that pain I would dearly love to be able to take away, not my own.

And thankfully, I still feel good and have decent energy. I was so thrilled to be able to keep up on the Europe trip, I moved quite slowly at times but, by golly, with few exceptions made it to every single site and felt good. That's also what makes the conversations with Dr. Karamlou so bizarre - to look at me (other than being chemo bald) there are no outward indications I'm at all sick and yet on paper, I am considered terminal and it's just a matter of time. I still believe God can and may heal this cancer and certainly that is my prayer, as I know you are praying for me too, but I can only take each day as it comes and enjoy it for the blessings it holds.

A few weeks of summer left before I go back to work on the 31st and I plan to make the most of them. My mom, sister and I are going to Ashland this week to attend the Shakespeare Festival and that should be lots of fun - we've never been before. I'm flying back to CT with my sister to spend a week with her and her family in Westport and that will be great too. Then a week at home to rest before the wonderful chaos and bedlam of a new school year begins! I'm excited to meet my new "crop" of 6th graders and am so looking forward to being back to work. I was at school yesterday to get a few things organized in my classroom and print shop requests done and it felt so darn good to be there.

I hope each of you are enjoying this lovely summer too and am sending many hugs and much love.

Thanks for your continued support, encouragement and prayers, they mean more than I can every say.

Susan

Bon Giorno from Venice!

Good morning, friends and family :)

We docked in Venice this morning and all the bells in the churches in St. Mark's Square were ringing as we sailed through. Awesome! We have to wait for the Italian health inspectors to approve the "medical condition" of the boat before we can disembark. I guess with all the H1N1 scares, they are being cautious. Everyone had to fill out a health form and will have their temp. scanned as we leave the boat.

I am doing great and having the time of my life on this trip. I return late Tuesday night and look forward to a day or two of rest.

Prayer needs: I have a scan on July 30th and will get the results when I see Dr. Karamlou on August 3rd and prayers are appreciated.

I plan to send pictures on the next blog update.

Love to all,

Susan

"Scan Results - The Cancer is Trying to Kick Back"

Wow, seems like I blinked and June is over. These past few weeks have gone so quickly and it's hard to believe tomorrow is July 1st. Summer weather has finally arrived and it's wonderful....sunny, warm days and the long summer nights we love so much here in the NW. It stays light until almost 10:00 pm and it's so beautiful. Definitely worth the soggy cold winter and spring months to enjoy this lovely summer season. A balmy evening, baseball game on the radio and a popsicle or two (my new favorite treat :)........ahhhhhh.

Scan results are in and, disappointingly, the news is not too good. There is fluid in the lower lobe of my right lung and the lymph node around the pancreas is slightly larger. Also, there are spots on the liver that weren't there 6 weeks ago - an indication the cancer is moving. Clearly, the Gemzar and Tarceva weren't working and Dr. Karamlou took me off them immediately and has started a new chemo protocol of Abraxane and Carboplatin. Both are very potent chemo agents (more "big guns") and I will lose my hair again with this round. Darn, I was really getting to like my short little summer "do", but at least with the warmer weather, my head won't get cold as much.

I had my first IV treatment with the new drugs on June 19th and will have chemo once every three weeks. The next treatment is July 10th and then we'll do another scan at the end of July to monitor progress. Needless to say, I was discouraged with the latest news since I look and feel so good. It's just plain bizarre to be talking with the doctor about how sick I really am and yet have no physical indications of the disease at all. It is truly a gift God is giving me, to be so protected from the symptoms of this cancer and I am grateful for every day that I feel good.

Dr. Karamlou was encouraging on a few things....there have been good responses to this chemo protocol and, with cancer, it is not unusual to have to try a variety of chemo combinations to find the drugs that will work. Since I had such a good response on the first round, perhaps another "platin" will do the trick. He also said I am in good physical condition and very healthy (well, except for this little old cancer thing) to take on this chemo protocol. Sometimes people are too sick to handle it, but my body is strong and able to do this. Another blessing God has given me.

The side effects from this chemo protocol are definitely more evident than the first two rounds. A little nausea (good meds for that) and neuropathy (tingling and tenderness) in my feet but that hasn't been too bad. The biggest surprise was the fatigue, much worse than anything I've experienced before. Truly debilitating - the few days after the chemo were spent sleeping a majority of the time and it was a huge effort to even get up and walk across the room. That took me by surprise as I had been tired before but not flat out like I was this time. Thankfully, each day has been progressively better in terms of getting my mojo back and I can honestly say my energy levels are pretty much back to normal now.

The battle continues and I am up for the fight. Like everyone else, I really wanted to hear something different and there have been tears and swallowing hard more than a few times as I absorb this news. But as I've said before, I am fighting this disease with everything God is giving me to do so and more importantly, He is in charge and I still trust His plan for me.

I'm not one to sit around waiting for things to happen and these past few weeks are no exception. Had a wonderful time in California for my niece's graduation from college and the family celebration for her and my nephew, Michael's, graduation from high school.

Came home from CA to finish the last week of school with the kids and it was the usual end of the year bedlam. No matter how well it's planned out, the last few days are always chaos and this year was no exception. Although crazy, it was a fun week and I was so glad to be able to end the school year with the kiddos. They are my medicine!

Went up to Coeur D'Alene to watch my sister-in-law compete in (and finish!) the Ironman Triathlon. Kathy did great, finishing in 14:00:19. It is such a grueling event, I can't imagine why anyone would want to put themselves through all that but we sure are proud of her. My idea of a competitive event these days is navigating the hallways during passing times, getting from one side of the cafeteria to the other without hearing "Miss McCormick!" 50 times and herding children to the buses at the end of the day. Ever try to push a string across the floor with your foot? Eventually you get there but the energy it takes...well, you get the idea :)

Matt, Kathy and my nieces, Maddie and Mallory, came to Portland a few days after the CDA event and stayed with me. We had a great time and the house was just too darn quiet when they went home on Monday.

The next big adventure, of course, is the cruise through the Mediterranean. I leave for Barcelona on July 12th and return home on July 28th after traveling to Italy, Greece, Monte Carlo and Turkey. Am I over the moon about this trip? Oh my gosh, yes. It will be an amazing time there. I'm going with my brother Mike and his family, but my ticket is a gift from my whole family. I am so excited I can hardly stand it and I have promised not to try and stalk George Clooney while in Italy :) I've never been on a cruise ship before and that in itself will be beyond cool! I will take lots of pictures and share the stories that go with them.

Even though the scan results weren't what we wanted, life is good and I am enjoying every moment. The days are filled with all sorts of pleasures, from time with family and friends to savoring lime popsicles in the evening. Circumstances may change, but my joy is still in the strength of the Lord and this wonderful life He has given me to enjoy so abundantly. I hope your summer days and evenings are just as delightful as mine are.

Love and hugs to all of you,

Susan

"I'll take side effects and symptoms for $100, Alex"

And thankfully, I really have neither. There's been a few interesting physical things here and there and I'm quick to consult my "go-to" cancer guide for answers, but really nothing that has been of a concern. I feel good, have decent energy and no complaints. Chemo fatigue is really the only significant side effect I'm experiencing and I've discovered the beauty of naps. I heartily endorse them! :)

I have to be careful not to overdo, especially on the weekends because I don't bounce back, energy wise, like I used to but my body does a good job of telling me when it is time to rest. Listening to the signals has been a learning process and for an energizer bunny personality like mine, sometimes difficult to balance. I've learned my lesson in letting myself get overly tired though!Now having said that, I've had a wonderful time these last few weeks teaching and being with the kids and enjoying different adventures on the weekends.

A couple of weeks ago I went flying with my friend, Martin, the helicopter pilot, and it was just great. The picture is of us in front of the R44 - we had a terrific time. I love the sensation of flying in helicopters and it was a beautiful day to be in the air. Better than a roller coaster!

Last Saturday I went with a friend up to Seattle to watch the Mariners play the Twins. There is no bad day at a ballpark! The Mariners pulled off a victory late in the 8th inning and it was a fun day. Had my hot dog and I was a happy girl.This weekend I head to California to be the very proud aunt watching her niece graduate from college and celebrate like crazy with the family. My nephew graduates from high school this week as well so there is much to celebrate. Just being with my family is a joy in itself and I am looking forward to being with them.

Hard to believe my school year comes to an end next week, Thursday, June 18th. It's been quite the year, but a really good one and I'll miss this group of kiddos.The next contrast CT scan is scheduled for Wednesday, June 17th and I'll get the results when I see Dr. Karamlou on the 19th. I'll have scans approximately 6 weeks apart as we continue to monitor progress. Feeling as good as I do, I am hopeful the scan results will be as positive, or even more so, than last time.

Please keep praying along with me for a clean scan. God has been so good, allowing me to feel well and enjoy these wonderful days, and I know He is listening to the prayers.

Hugs to all,

Susan

"What Can Make A Hippopotamus Smile"

What can make him walk for more than a mile.....one of the many camp songs that is still bouncing around in my head after Outdoor School with the kids last week. As you can see from the pictures, we had gorgeous weather - probably the best ever in 10 years of going to Outdoor School . We went to Camp Trickle Creek, a great site nestled in the foothills west of Salem , and it was so much fun. Campfire each night, goofy camp songs and skits, eating together in the dining hall, a night hike, not to mention the actual "school" part of Outdoor School, field studies in plants, animals, soil and water. There's nothing like watching kids experience the outdoors in a new and different way - to see them get so excited over catching (and releasing) a newt or watching the bats in the night sky or playing games where they get to be different stages of the forest. It's so much fun! I was tickled to have two high school counselors there that had been my students many years ago - one of the pictures is me and "Poppy", she was in my 6th grade class six years ago. The other two pictures are one of my classes as we were "hanging out" late in the afternoon and a nice shot of the camp.

I was so grateful to be a part of the Outdoor School experience this year. It's a lot of energy and can be exhausting even on a good day and I wasn't sure how I'd hold up. Praise God, I felt just fine. I do tire more easily, a side effect of the chemo, and couldn't do the long hike or running games, but was able to be a part of everything else. My colleagues took good care of me too, making sure I didn't overdo and covering whenever needed. And I must say, we did one very funny skit at campfire that is still making me laugh! I am very blessed. :)

There are times the reality of this cancer rears it's ugly head and, sometimes, just the sheer joy of watching the kids having fun and being a part of the beautiful surroundings made me cry. The tears were mixed, joy at watching the kids and sadness with the realization that, quite possibly, this could be my last outdoor school experience. Not a morbid thought, but as I say, there are times I am reminded of my mortality in this whole cancer thing.

This doesn't, for one minute, take away from my intent to be fully healed, and perhaps there is no easy way to explain this, but I'll try. Cancer is now a permanent part of my world. It isn't always a conscious thought and, truthfully, often it isn't on the conscious level at all - that is a huge praise that I still feel good, have energy and no symptoms or significant side effects. But it is there and will be, until I am fully healed. There are moments when the reality of the cancer surfaces and there are practical matters that have to be dealt with such as advance directives for the hospital, a will, stuff like that. It's things that all of us have done or will do at some point in our lives. Mine just happens to be a little more pressing at the moment. And there are moments of deep sadness - realizing that I may not be able to dance at my niece's and nephew's weddings or hold their babies or get all seven continent stamps in my passport or be that brazen old lady dancing the Argentine tango in a scandalous dress slit to....use your imagination. ;) I may not have that kind of time. Only God knows that and I trust Him and His plan for me.

For now, for today, I feel great. It's a gorgeous sunny Memorial Day and I'm heading over to my cousin's house to enjoy time with family and a bbq. I've got some wonderful summer plans that are coming together nicely and I can hardly wait to pack my bags and travel a bit. My dog, Corbett, is doing just fine and continues to be the diva of the household. Tomorrow I go back to work to a job I love and I am deeply grateful to have a job next year - budget cuts in our district have eliminated a lot of teaching positions and friends of mine have lost their jobs for next year. My favorite ice cream flavor, Baseball Nut, has returned to Baskin-Robbins for the season - yum! The baseball game is on the radio and, unfortunately, the Mariners are losing to the A's, but the game isn't over yet! Life is really good and I'm enjoying each and every day.

This is my wish for you, too. Reach out, grab the day with both hands and enjoy every moment!

Love and hugs to all,

Susan

Scan Results are Encouraging

Praises to God for answered prayers! I met with Dr. Karamlou yesterday and the news of the scan results were good. The tumor in the lung and the lymph node has shrunk to a size slightly larger than a quarter. Considering it was about the size of my loosely clenched fist when we first started, this is great news! No changes in the pancreas or surrounding nodes and this is good news too. There isn't an expectation of much shrinkage of these tumors and the hope is to stem any progression so no changes is a good thing. I continue with the Tarceva and Gemsar chemo treatments and another scan will be done in about 6 weeks. It was great to get some good news and thanks to God for His mercies and listening to all the prayers.

Chemo went well yesterday - had to switch veins midstream but, thankfully, it wasn't too painful and I felt fine when done. I'm still feeling good, no symptoms or significant side effects and decent energy. My hair is starting to grow in at a more rapid pace and is still white with a dark patch here and there (I guess I'm the 102nd Dalmation :). It's showing signs of curl here and there as well. I must admit, I've gotten used to the semi-baldness and the ease in washing my head in the morning. Buff dry and done! I'm only half kidding when I tell people I might just keep it this way for awhile. Saves a bundle on hair care, that's for sure, and I always have "Marge" when hair is absolutely necessary :)

Today is a gorgeous sunny Portland spring day and I'm going to go enjoy the sunshine when I'm done here. Hope all of you have a great weekend. I know I plan to!

Love and hugs to all, and so many heartfelt thanks for your care and prayers. God is listening!

Susan

"Radon, lung cancer and me"

The scan on the 30th went fine, it's an easy process and now we wait for results. I see Dr. Karamlou on Thursday, May 7th before chemo and we'll go over all the reports then. In these last months, I've learned that the doctor calling right away after tests are done usually means the news isn't good so I'm happy to bide my time until the 7th.

Many times in this cancer journey I've wondered what the purpose is in all this and what can be done to glorify God in each step. He has brought so many amazing people into my life throughout this process, people that have encouraged me and people that I have been able to encourage. I am so grateful for these opportunities.

There is one other very important mission I've been given and as each day goes by, more is revealed to me. Let me give you a little of the history behind my "Radon mission" first. In December, when I was at UCSF to see the oncologist there, she asked if I had ever had my home tested for radon. I told her no, I didn't even know what radon was and had never tested for it. Didn't think much of it until my oncologist here in Portland asked the same question...again, I answered no, but was thinking to myself "Why are the doctors asking me about this?". I didn't pursue the question and it wasn't until my dog, Corbett, was diagnosed with a form of cancer that this whole radon thing got my attention. A friend of mine is a chemical engineer and when he heard that both my dog and I had cancer, his first response was "Susan, you need to get your house tested. There's something there making you both sick."

The reasearch began. I learned that radon - an odorless, colorless, radioactive gas - is the number #1 cause of lung cancer in non-smokers, killing an average of 21,000 people annually. It is the second leading cause of lung cancer after smoking. Radon is caused by the decomposition of uranium in the soil and when inhaled over long periods of time, can cause cancer. It doesn't matter what type of home you have or when it was built, it all has to do with the dirt it sits on.

The research continued.....according to Oregon EPA, I live in an area known as "Radon Ridge" with some of the highest levels of radon in the Portland Metro area. This was news to me! The next step was to test my home and without going into all the particulars, just know that anything measuring above 4 PiCu is considered toxic. My home tested at 20.4, five times the toxic level. Do the math, folks, - 13 years in this house with high levels of radon gives me a pretty clear understanding as to why I have lung cancer.

I guess you could say this rocked my world (no pun intended). Several things happened at that point. First, immediate plans were made to install a radon mitigation system to properly vent this toxic stuff out into the air. Done. Next step was to continue my research and talk to others. I thought it was just me....how come I didn't know anything about this radon stuff? Turns out very few do. Many would tell me they'd heard of it, but didn't know what it was or why it was an issue. The #1 cause of lung cancer in non-smokers and no one knows about it? How does that happen? Virtually none of my neighbors, friends, colleagues knew about it - friends on my block tested their home shortly after my report came in and their home had a level of 46, over 10 times the toxic level.

More research.....I find that some states have legislation in place requiring radon awareness/notification in real estate transactions. Oregon is not one of them. According to the Federal EPA, all homes should be tested for radon yet it is a subject few know about. So I decided to do something about it. I contacted a columnist for our state newspaper, the Oregonian, asking if she'd be willing to write an article about radon awareness, as I want to be the "living face" of radon related cancer for as long as I can. It is really important to me to get the word out, have people test their homes and if necessary, mitigate any radon exposure as soon as possible. Turns out she was interested and an article was published in the paper two weeks ago. Here's the link if you'd like to read it: www.oregonlive.com/news/oregonian/margie_boule/index.ssf?/base/living/1239839713325720.xml&coll=7

Things have really taken off from there. I've been asked to testify before the Oregon House for HB20, a bill that will require all new home construction to have radon detection systems and may also do some promotional work for the local American Lung Association chapter in their Radon Awareness group (up till now, I didn't even know such a thing existed!). I've also been in touch with a woman in Illinois whose husband died 18 years ago from radon related lung cancer - she became part of an organization that was subsequently successful in getting legislation passed in Illinois requiring Radon notification in real estate transactions. Her group has already done the legwork I want to do to get this same requirement in Oregon . I have lots of plans for getting the word out to everyone I can think of about radon awareness!

So at least a part of this cancer journey is my "Radon mission", to help inform others and prevent anyone else from getting lung cancer as a result of exposure. I've been asked if I'm angry or bitter about the fact that I probably have a cancer that could've been prevented if I'd tested my house years ago. And honestly, no, I'm not either of those things. I didn't know anything about radon - now having cancer is just what is and I do believe there is a purpose in it. What I ask of each of you is to take the next step, no matter where you live or how old your home is, and test your house. The test kits can be purchased at Home Depot or any similar store and cost about $10.00, plus an additional $30.00 for lab processing. $40.00 isn't a huge sum when you consider the alternatives. Do it for me, ok? It will make me glad to know the people I care about and anyone else that happens to read this are taking steps to protect themselves and their families and pets.

Skeptical? That's fair. Do your own research and read up on the subject, it's weirdly interesting. But most importantly, please do something. You're all too important to me to let this sit on the back burner.

OK, 'nuff said and I'll hop off the soapbox. Keep praying for good news when I see Dr. Karamlou on Thursday!

Love and hugs,
Susan

Sundays with Susan: Psalm 139 says it all

Hey Big Sis!
Last Sunday in Church, we discussed Psalm 139: 1-4. It really touched me and I immediately thought of you. Psalm 139: 1-4 says:

1 O LORD, you have searched me and you know me.
2 You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar.
3 You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways.
4 Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O LORD.

God knows everything about us. He makes His work “plain” to us. He often acts in ways we may not see at first. I truly believe God speaks to you through the children you teach. They make you so happy! They sure are lucky to have such an amazing teacher! Dad showed me the newspaper article that you were in. I saw the whiteboard in the background with all the words of encouragement the children have written to you. What wonderful children! You are an inspiration to everyone.

You are such a strong person Sue, and your faith in God amazes me. You put everything in His hands and you know that the Lord is with you. I heard this song the other day and I wanted to share it with you. I’m not sure if you have heard it before, but it was written for the Lance Armstrong Foundation. The song is called Maybe Tonight, Maybe Tomorrow and the lyrics are:

I heard the news today. It came out of nowhere.

I wish I could run away,

but where would I go?

Is this my destiny? Something so unfair... What will become of me?

God only knows.

And they say the road to heaven might lead us back through hell.

Maybe tonight, maybe tomorrow, we will win this fight and bury this sorrow.

We're so alive, still holding on, not ready to die, so we LIVESTRONG.

My pride is left for dead, as my world gets shaken.

The thoughts inside my head are so hard to control.

I am staring down the unknown, but one thing is certain.

You could break my body, but you will never break my soul.

And they say the road to heaven might leads us back through hell, but we're holding on for more than stories to tell.

Maybe tonight, maybe tomorrow, we will win this fight and bury this sorrow.We're so alive, still holding on, not ready to die, so we LIVESTRONG.

Love you,

Tara

I also attached the link if you would like to listen to the song and read the lyrics.

April 30th is the next big test day

It's a beautiful spring afternoon and we're finally getting some lovely sunny days and slightly warmer temperatures. Everything is so green and flowers and trees are blooming like crazy. I love it!

My chemo treatments are going well and I am still feeling really good, no symptoms or significant side effects to speak of. The horrible rash on my face is almost gone - Dr. Karamlou said it would diminish with occasional slight flare ups from time to time. He was pleased with the quick onset and severity of the rash, actually. He says that the earlier the rash appears and the more severe it is seems to correlate with the best response to the Tarceva. If that's true, then it must be doing good things in my body!

The next test is on April 30th when we do a complete scan of the chest, abdomen and pelvic area to check the progress for both the lung and pancreas. This is the first "official" scan of the lung after the chemo-rads and also to see how the pancreas is doing after two rounds of Gemsar. I'll get the results when I see Dr. Karamlou on May 7th.

Please pray with me for good results. The initial scan of the lung showed almost a 70% reduction and I'm confident the results will be even better after another month of the chemo-rads doing their work. Obviously, the pancreas is the big concern and I am praying to see significant healing in this area. As Matt has said in a previous update, please pray hard, pray sincerely and pray focused. Thank you so much.

It's been a busy time, back in the classroom and all that goes with that, but I sure enjoy the time there. Two dear friends were here to visit me this last weekend and we had such a good time, laughing and talking, enjoying the beautiful weather with enough snacks to feed half the block. It was great!

Tonight I'm going to the theater with mom and friends to see the stage production of "Grease". Should be a lot of fun and I will try to only hum quietly under my breath as I know all the songs. I think I saw the movie 5 times?! Oh come one, who didn't? :)

Sending all of you much love and many hugs, enjoy your days!

Susan

Happy Easter

It's a quiet Saturday morning and I'm enjoying the peacefulness of the moment, feeling rested and well and so thankful for that. It's Easter weekend, my favorite holiday, because of the amazing gift I've been given when Christ went to the cross. He is risen!

No coffee this morning though, as it still doesn't taste good to me and the chocolate bunnies and eggs are safe from my clutches too. It was suggested that my body could be rejecting the caffeine and that's entirely possible. Never dreamed there would be a day my two favorite food groups (coffee and chocolate) would no longer appeal!

I am feeling really good and that's such a gift. I've had two chemo treatments with the Gemzar, once a week on Thursdays, with no problems. The first time back in the oncology center was depressingly familiar and the nurses, though absolutely wonderful to be with, were sad that I had to be back for more chemo. Thankfully, the Gemzar treatments have gone well and IV access easy (praises for that!).

The other chemo agent, Tarceva, is a pill I take daily and this is to continue work on the lung tumor. Dr. Karamlou told me there would be a side effect to this one - a nasty, painful rash all over my face - but this is a good sign, means the chemo is working in my body. Well, you know me, nothing is done halfway, and when he said a rash all over my face, I met every expectation there! About four days after I started taking it....kapow! It looks like a combination of rosacea and very bad acne, but the worst part is that it hurts a lot and itches like crazy at the same time. I have a topical ointment that helps a little bit, I just have to keep reminding myself that this is a good thing, the chemo is working. My kiddos are so sweet - when I told them why I had such a bad rash on my face, that the chemo was doing it's job, one group cheered and said they were so happy it was helping. Almost made me cry...they are so good at taking things in stride and accepting of circumstances. I learn from them every day!

I meet with Dr, Karamlou again on the 16th and should have information then as to when we're going to scan the lung for a final update on results of the Cisplatin and radiation. The initial scan (PET scan) had shown a roughly 70% reduction and I'm optimistic there has been even more improvement there. Also, I want to know how often we scan the pancreas to check progress with the Gemzar.

The best thing for me is being back to work. I finished my second week of being back on a part time basis and it has been the best medicine ever. The days are busy, the kiddos are so much fun and I come home tired, but a good, used my brain, happy kind of tired. I was concerned about my energy level, but no problems there. I feel energized in such a positive way when I'm teaching and at school and am so glad I made the decision to go back when I did.

Many people have been asking me about future plans, do I want to travel, do other things, etc. and sure, there are things I plan to do, but I also intend to be fully healed and have plenty of time to fulfill those dreams. The one thing that has remained constant for me is I am so grateful to be doing what I love so much. Teaching is my passion and I've had nine wonderful years of it. My response to those who ask me is to follow your own heart, do the thing you are passionate about whatever that might be because it is never work when you love what you do. Don't wait to pursue what you love the most - trust God to direct you because if you are doing what He has created you for, it is the most joyful, rewarding experience you can have.

And speaking of wonderful experiences, spring is sneaking in here in the northwest and we've had a taste of some warm, sunny days. Last Sunday was the trifecta - warm, sunny afternoon (I could even wear shorts!), planting flowers in my garden and listening to the opening day game for MLB! Perfect! The daffodils are blooming like crazy and everything is so green and beautiful.

Better than that, though, was being with my family, watching my beloved Giants play in their home park on Weds. night. I flew down to SF to not only see the game, but be there when Dad presented the Cy Young award to Tim Lincecum (the SF pitcher who won it in 2008). Quite a passing of the torch as Dad was the only other Giants pitcher to have won the Cy Young. It was great to be there at the game, enjoying the time with my family and eating a ball park hot dog! Coffee and chocolate might be gone, but fat, grease and salt are still just fine :)

I am so blessed to be feeling good, have energy and still be doing all the things I enjoy most. Each day brings something new and there are days that are not always easy - dealing with this rash hasn't been a whole lot of fun. I approach my days from the viewpoint that I am already healed and we're just waiting for the medical treatments to do their job - summer plans are being made and I'm already looking toward next year's school schedule and preparing for that. I'm even going to teach a few sessions of Driver's Ed. this summer, have to keep the adrenaline pumping :)

The outpouring of love and support continues to amaze and humble me. Thank you. It doesn't adequately express how deeply moved I am by the love and care I am receiving, but there are no easy words for that. Thank you, and love to you all.

Susan