Check-up with chemo doc

I worked a half day today and spent the other half seeing my chemo doc, eating way too much and gambling at Pittsburgh's new casino.

Work went well. I wasn't too tired though I did wake up at 4:30 a.m. and tossed and turned until the alarm went off at 6:45 a.m. It was like the first day of school. Don't forget this..this..etc. I did forget my computer glasses. I need to put them by my keys tonight. Of course, I only worked until 1:30 p.m. so it wasn't a true test to see how tired I'd get. I was told by the director and a VP to not push it and to not set myself back. Tomorrow my goal is to work at least 6 hours. We'll see.

I ran home and took a quick shower to clean the wound and then left for Oakland and Magee-Women's Hospital. I hadn't seen Dr. L. since my last chemo on June 15th. He congratulated me on conquering the cancer. I still have radiation but that's just a follow-up. He noted that my left breast was significantly smaller (1 3/4 pounds smaller!) The cancer is gone from my body, hopefully forever. He said that this was a new lease on life and to not waste it.

I asked him what I could do to help ensure that it didn 't come back. He said a diet that was super low in fat. I asked him "Dean Ornish kind of super low fat?" He said "yes". I looked at his diet once. It's pretty hard and no fun at all. Maybe I can compromise a little. One of the diets that I was successful with (for the 6 months and 50 pounds lost) lets me eat potatoes and rice but no flour, fat, sugar or salt. I would make my own turkey sausage for breakfast and turkey chili for lunch. I would have to eat every 2 hours or so in strict amounts and kinds of food at certain times of the day. Typical menu would be:
Breakfast
2 0z turkey sausage
1/3 cup oatmeal (before cooking)
Mid-morning snack
2 oz chicken or turkey or fish
1/2 cup berries
Lunch
2 oz protein
1/2 cup carb (potato or rice)
salad
Mid-afternoon snack
2 oz chicken or turkey or fish
1 small apple
Dinner
2 oz protein
1/2 cup carb
salad

I can follow that and I know it works for me. It would also probably be a good diet to control diabetes. He also said that I needed to exercise. Treadmill and bicycle here I come!

I asked him about the chances of it coming back. He said that since my cancer was not caused by estrogen (Triple negative and HER-2 negative), if I were to go three years without a recurrence, the chances of it coming back after that would be low. He said we started the countdown on 7/20/2009. So my target date is 7/20/2012. There's going to be some kind of celebration on that day.

I can also dye my hair if and when I want and that would not affect anything. I'm to have a mammogram once a year (believe me, I will not give up again on those) and see him every three months for the next two years. I've been planning a thank-you gift for him. It's going to be a wooden box covered in stained glass mosaics. I'm still "creating it" in my head. I hope to have it completed for real by the next time I see him in November.

After the appointment, BDHA and I went to The Rivers Casino in Pittsburgh. It opened on August 9th. I had heard a commercial where the buffet was 2 for 1 Mon-Thur. We joined the Player's club, played a few slots, had dinner (ate way too much...Dr. L would not be happy) and played a few more slots. I bet a total of $30 and walked out with $28.95. Not bad! I do not think I will ever eat again. I also will not weigh myself tomorrow as I don't want to see if I gained. I had been staying within a pound of 40-pounds lost (up one day, down another) and I don't want to get discouraged.

Well, it's 8:45 p.m. and I'm yawning like it's 1:00 a.m. Time to head upstairs to bed.

Good news today and good night peoples!

-Suesan