I'll never capitalize cancer
I have alot going on in my life, more than just cancer and chemo. Sure it's a big part of my life right now, but it's not the most important part of my life. You will never see me spell it with a capital "c".
I'm a Wife and Mom. I love my Family. I have good Friends. We do fun stuff and dumb stuff and sometimes we argue and then we laugh again. We go to work and to the grocery store and we go swimming and have birthday parties and get ready for the first day of school.
I keep saying that I don't want ovarian cancer to define me, but sometimes I just can't help it.
A good friend put it this way for me "cancer may be defining your life for the moment, but it is not your entire life. You seem to just make time for it." That made me feel better.
If you want to see it from the beginning, my cancer story begins in March.
The rest of my story is happening now.
Who Do You Know in Houston?
Get the group together and join Advocare Tuesday, October 13th at 7:00 PM for a Business Opportunity Meeting & "Human Performance Night " with special product training by Rob Graf, Director of AdvoCare Sports Endorsements and Dean Miller, Advocare Sports Advisory Council Member and Athletic Trainer - Motorcycle World Champions.
We'll be in North Houston at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Houston North Greenspoint, 425 North Sam Houston Parkway East.
Look for me under the Advocare tent tonight at First Friday in Groves. Come by to sample Spark and find out about our newest products and learn more about Advocare's financial opportunity.
First Friday in Groves Invites TJ Graduates for Reunion Night.
First Friday is a merchant-sponsored street fair held on the first Friday of every month on Lincoln Avenue in Groves. This month, First Friday extends a special invitation to all graduates of Thomas Jefferson High School for Reunion Night on Friday, September fourth, from six to nine P.M. Come clad in your school colors and join in on the fun.
The amazingly talented Bryce Shaver Band will be playing live music. Comprised of highly skilled musicians all younger than sixteen, this band is unique to say the least. These young artists play classic rock hits from the seventies and eighties as well as original songs. The band will perform at Celebration Park.
Disc Jockey Donna Marx will preside entertainment including recorded music and trivia, while Sunny the Clown and the Jester will paint faces and give away balloon animals. Shops will remain open until nine P.M and various merchants will display their merchandise along the avenue between Capitol and Jefferson.
Again, I have not been a good Blogger, but I can cut & paste what others have written. Here is the latest email update from my Husband Brian:
Since I sent the picture, I thought I'd better bring you all up to speed on her prognosis.
Teresa had what hopefully will be her LAST chemo treatment last week.
She had an allergic reaction and had to deal with hives that day. And she was out of it all weekend.
But she's back to her old, energetic self, (I get tired watching her buzz around) and all is good.
We go to MD Anderson in two and a half weeks for a checkup to make sure the cancer cells are gone.
Then it's every six months.
With Abrianna finally starting real school, kindergarten, I need her at her top speed. ;-)
Hope all is well with all of you.
Thanks again for your good thoughts and prayers.
Brian

Ladies, another call done by Robbie Page for you! Product info, facts of AdvoCare and stories to validate.
Today (Tuesday) 12:00 CST
Dial 712-432-0075
access 377712
Time to take care of some business.
I just found out about a special conference call where we'll hear about the benefits of AdvoCare - especially for Women:
Tuesday August 25th @ 12:00 Noon CST
Dial in:712-775-7100
Access code:462259
This is a special call with a focus on WOMEN. We have just introduced some fantastic new products. You'll hear about those and more with an emphasis on weight loss, energy and female nutritional support! We'll also learn about AdvoCare's financial opportunity.
If you have any questions or miss the call, be sure to contact me.
I can hardly believe it has been so long since my last post.
I had another round of chemo, a couple of garage sales, and then my surgery on June 18. I spent a week in the hospital and then some rest and recovery. Dad came to MD Anderson for my surgery, then Mom came to Beaumont to spend time with Abby and help out during the first week home. I went back to Dallas with her and stayed at my Dad's where everyone entertained Abby and made sure that I took naps and didn't do any heavy lifting. Lately, I've just been busy celebrating my good news and living life.
Brian & I finally bought a new camera. Just an easy point & shoot that has a few features to help me out with out of focus faces and dark backgrounds. We have had some wonderful visits with Friends and Family and I want to be sure to capture the memories. I will post them soon.
For now, I'll just put up Brian's email update:
I wish I could say it was all over but we still have work to do.
Teresa had her hysterectomy today and it was a resounding success.
Her doctor says only 10 percent of ovarian cancer patients responded as well to chemo treatment as Teresa did.
She told me she saw tumors that had been melted away by the chemo that she's never seen melted away before.
All the small tumors outside the uterus are gone and the hysterectomy removed the few tumors that were left.
And that doubles the life expectancy that most such patients get.
I am thrilled and grateful but selfishly was hoping for more than a few more years to hope for a cure or better treatment.
The doctor did say that Teresa's spirit is amazing and she fully expects her to cheat her prognosis.
We can only hope.
All the folks at MDAnderson were wonderful and the level of service seems higher than any other medical institution I'm familiar with.
She begins another round of chemo in just a few short weeks even before she's completely recovered from this surgery.
The doctor is hoping to strike while the iron's hot and nail the cancer cells that remain.
That means chemo every three weeks for three treatments.
Then a bi annual or yearly checkup or treatment from now on.
Abby just knows her mommy was treated by the doctor and will be home soon to recover.
I wish I had time and memory to list all the things our wonderful friends have done for us and have offered to continue doing.
Keep us in your prayers as you are all in mine and ours.
Brian
It has been a while since I updated this, so here is a quick post.
I had my 3rd chemo treatment Wed and things went smoothly, kinda becoming a routine now. I am feeling fine, no nausea. Went to Abby's Field Day today and am finishing up getting things together for my garage sale this weekend.
I have been planning this garage sale for probably a year now. I can't belive how much stuff we have in boxes that we had forgotten about. Baby girl to 4 toddler all going to a new home for someone else to love on.
Good news from my Doctors last week. I was having one of my "Oh, woe is me" days. I told Dr Schmeler at MD Anderson that I wanted to teach my daughter to ski and take her on a cruise on the Big Red Boat and I was worried I was not to going to be around to do either. She told me to go ahead and plan on going skiing next Spring but I should wait until next Summer to take the cruise. And to quit reading the magazines in the waiting room.
Dr Lavalais at the Julie & Ben Rogers Cancer Center here in Beaumont told me that my blood tests were looking good. Especially the CA 125, which is a tumor marker. Normal people who do not have cancer will have a test number of about 30. When I started chemo, my number was 365, now it is 81. That means that the cancer cells are not reproducing as rapidly and are not producing the fluid that was causing problems before. Also, my cysts and other stuff (tech term) are shrinking. Mostly it means that I am having a positive response to the chemo therapy.
Other things keeping me busy - Abby's end of the year school programs and rehearsals for her upcoming dance recital. And we are getting a ton of mail. The bills are coming in and I have to be sure that we keep it straight. I am filling out aps for financial assistance and arranging payment plans.
Keeping my calendar is really important now. Drs appts, rehearsal schedule, payment deadlines, playdates and family visits ...
To add to it, there is a condition called "chemo brain" where you tend to lose focus and forget things. Yes, even more than usual!
That's the quickie version. Thanks again to everyone who has been checking in and keeping in touch. Give me a few days after the garage sale and I will try to have more and include some pics.