Oh, nostalgia...

It's been nine weeks since surgery, and many corners have been turned, even since just last week as I was feeling a bit of panic approaching chemotherapy without being 100%. That panic seemed to be just what I needed to kick things into high gear, and give myself every advantage possible to heal quickly! I increased my daily doses of vitamin C, D and Zinc and have been stretching and doing more and more physical activity. I no longer have bandages on my breasts, and I'm no longer on pain medication, but sleeplessness and anxiety had me feeling pretty run down. Dr. Lewis prescribed low doses of anti-anxiety meds and a sleeping pill this week, and my acupuncturist, Beverly Burns, is starting me on a Chinese Medicine treatment plan, including more herbs, fungi and supplements then I can count let alone pronounce. So now, in addition to vitamins, herbs, supplements and weekly acupuncture, I am on a sleep regiment and weight gain diet in preparation for chemotherapy. Next Monday, I see my plastic surgeon, Dr. Lee in order to determine if my incisions have healed enough to start my chemo schedule, then Tuesday morning I'm going into St. Mary's for an outpatient procedure where they place a port http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Port_(medical) in my chest so that the oncology nurses will not have to stick me with a IV every two weeks for the next 6 months. On Friday, I will sit down with my Oncologist, Dr. Kenneth Yamamoto, and we will finalize my treatment plan and schedule. We have decided on the TCH (2nd generation chemotherapy with herceptain http://cme.medscape.com/viewarticle/551428) for a total of 6 months. Even though I will still more than likely have many of the negative side effects over a longer period of time (hair loss, nausea, etc.), I will probably not have the long-term side effects caused by the 3rd generation chemo, and will more than likely have a lower chance of cancer recurrence in the end. This being said, as we were scrambling last week to gather all of the information and make this decision, I found myself emotionally and physically overwhelmed and exhausted; Desperately looking back and trying to recall what my life used to be like before cancer. Spike and I decided to get out of town and go do something that I love...wine tasting in the Russian River Valley! After the 1st stop, and first wine tasting experience in over 6 months, I was flooded once again with gratitude! The sun shining down on my face as I looked out across the rolling hills of vineyards, sipping a gorgeous 2003 Russian Hill Windsor Oaks Summit award winning Syrah. I was having a moment of recognition of my life before strict diets, cancer, surgery, recovery, limited mobility, etc. Feeling the warm buzz (after 1 glass...it's been a while!), I indulged my nostalgia even further and blasted my 80's play list with the windows down, as Spike drove the oak tree shaded, back country roads of the Russian River, making several more wine tasting stops. Here's some of my favorites: