UPS and downs and a summer cold

Emotional ups and downs are other side effects of cancer, and it doesn't help when you have a summer cold that saps your energy for a couple of weeks.
We were feeling pretty good after the news of no chemotherapy, but today the radiologist said that although he wanted to accomodate our request to book mapping and radiation treatments earlier rather than later, there is still too much fluid in the breast to continue at this point. As the fluid (a result of surgery) and therefore the swelling goes down, the landmarks will change too, and radiation is something that needs to be very accurate.
So the next appointment is for July 14, and if the swelling is down, I'll get mapped out and treatments will begin the following week.
And that puts another kink into the "plans" of life. It's our 40th anniversary in August, and the kids are putting together a celebration, and we've got a cottage booked for the following week. The celebration will go on, but our week may have to accommodate part of the treatment schedule, or, it may be decided that treatments not start until afterwards.
Waiting is not fun, because it really seems as if life has to go on hold, but I think I need to be more intentional with my perspective: I don't want to be a cancer "survivor" because that insinuates I'm a "victim", I do want to be someone who has had to live through cancer.
So whether it's up or down, I choose to live - along with all of life's busyness and all of life's pleasures!  I'll do what I can when I can, and enjoy life's little moments as they come along!!

Woot! Woot!!

We went to the Cancer Clinic today: NO chemotherapy!!
I will receive only 16 rounds of radiation beginning in a couple of weeks. The purpose of radiation is to destroy any lingering threads of cancer remaining in the breast. We did ask if the "planning" could get moved up, so that everything would be completed by August 7 weekend because our kids are planning a celebration for our 40th anniversary. What a wonderful time that will be!

Waiting and Hoping

Do I dare hope that there will be no chemotherapy?
Yesterday, I met with Dr. Davison, my surgeon, for the pathology results of the second surgery: some DCIS's were found but the margins this time are good - and clear!
(However, I am on an antibiotic to stave off any infection that might be present: the incision is not healing as quickly as it should because of the scar tissue that's already there. I had a major "leak" last week from a small opening along the incision line, and a small leak again on Sunday morning. Thursday's leak happened while there was no hydro=no water for a shower until the generator was hooked up appropriately!)
This morning, Dr. Mates, the medical oncologist, left a message while I was out:
the result of the testing that she had sent out indicates that I do not need the echocardiogram tomorrow! Because chemotherapy can do a number on the heart, the purpose of the echogram was to make sure the heart is functioning well enough.
(Another however: I doubt she has the results of last week's bone and cat scans.)
Hoping and waiting - and the waiting period feels that much longer now! We'll be meeting with Dr. Mates and Dr. Thain on the 23rd.