Treatment is over!

Almost as quickly as they came, mom's MammoSite radiation treatments are finished. The balloon and catheter have been removed from her lumpectomy cavity, replaced by a large bandage. Next week Dr. Buckner will look at the results and the radiologist will follow up a few weeks later. And then, the good lord willing and the creek don't rise, she is done (except for more-frequent mammograms and checkups for the next five years).

This is as good a time as any to say THANK YOU to all of the family, friends, strangers survivors, victims and hopefuls out there who inspired us and prayed for us and helped us through this hellish (yet somewhat amazing) month. Of course we don't know if we're out of the woods--you never really are completely out of the woods, not with cancer, but to complete radiation so successfully is indeed a good feeling, and reason for hope.

I will keep you updated on mom's condition (today: fatigued but energetic--only my mother can pull off that paradox) and to news/events regarding breast cancer and cancer in general. A group of Central High School students are planning a Lemmon Aid team for the Springfield high schools' Relay For Life this spring, so I'll let you know all about that.

Thank you again. We couldn't be beating this without you.

Matt

Weekend Update

First and most importantly, mom is 80 percent of the way done with her radiation treatments. Woo-hoo! Tiredness has really been the only side effect, that and the fact that the hole in her side is getting a bit irritating. She feels extremely fortunate, as do we.

I need to give a HUGE shout-out to three people who have helped mom with day-to-day care of her catheter site: since it's under her arm and requires a significant amount of tape to bandage up, mom can't do it herself. All of them are nurses and friends, and Nichole and I appreciate their time as much as mom does.

Janet Gasper is a church friend with wonderful family. She lives in Ozark and has been a big help with evening changes.

Cheryl Sisco (apologies if the spelling is incorrect!) is a longtime friend of mom's (also with a wonderful family) from Ozark East Elementary.

Lisa Massey-Brown is a friend of the family, as well as the Preacher's Wife :) Naturally, she has a wonderful family, too.

THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR TIME AND FRIENDSHIP! Nichole and I have gladly been handling the driving, but these evening and weekend bandage changings have been a godsend.

Finally, my magazine did an interview a couple of months ago with Ellen Hammock, executive director of the Breast Cancer Foundation of the Ozarks. It's a little silly, but she had some great things to say about breast cancer in younger women. Please click here if you have the time and inclination.

Have a great weekend everybody! Update coming on Monday, if not before.

And because the title of this post humors me, here's a link to a YouTube video of the best of Weekend Update (starring Tina Fey--back when Saturday Night Live had talented people in the cast...)

Matt