Radiation Begins

My radiation treatments began on Monday, April 6, 2009. I have 28 treatments and it is everyday (Monday - Friday) for approximately 10 minutes each day. So, my drive there and back is actually longer than the treatment itself.

I just go to 7th Street, across from the hospital.

I've had almost two weeks of treatment. So far, so good!

Also keeping busy with the upcoming 49th Recital details. I'm able to participate in dance classes, and starting to feel like my "normal" self. Yeah!

We'll keep you posted, and thank you for your continued thoughts and prayers.

Chemo Update

Sorry for the down time. I had a little trouble with accessing my blog to keep it updated. Here we go!

The last two chemo treatments are over and everything went pretty well. Having difficulty with my toe and fingernails lifting and nerve neuropathy. We are on the mend, feeling is coming back slowly but surely in my hands and feet. Nails will take months to fully recover.

Enjoyed the three weeks off after chemo. Went to Florida to visit with Curtis, Sulein and Jia, who was Christened on March 28, 2009. It was nice to get away, have warm temperatures and visit with family. Upon arriving home on Monday, 3/30, we left Thursday, 4/2, to visit Carrie, Jeremy and Madison in New Jersey until Palm Sunday.

6 Down, 2 To Go

Okay, we are coming down the home stretch. Things have been pretty good with the last 2 treatments. I seem to have joint discomfort on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday after the chemo(this is caused by the white blood cell booster shot that I receive on the Wed after chemo). Then I feel really good and have a good 2nd week. I finally got a prescription for pain to take to see if I am more comfortable and am able to sleep those 2 nights. I also discovered that I was losing my big toenails, a side effect of the Taxol. Other than those facts, I am doing great and looking forward to the finish line. I have been able to have more energy and dance more, yeah!!!!

Thank you all for keeping me and my family in your thoughts and prayers. I know that is what helps to keep me going. I am so thankful for my friends who go and sit with me those agonizing hours of waiting while I receive the chemo drop by drop, but YOU make the time go faster. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

I believe Jim is anxious for the last one also, just so I can feel like Bettie Jane again and not have to have these strange things happen to my body. We are very grateful that we have only encountered a few side effects and have been able to function. God Bless.

Five Down, 3 To Go

Ok, we are on the downhill side. Chemo #5 went very well. This was the beginning of a new drug, Taxol. This affects the nerve endings in my hands and feet and with the white blood cell booster shot it also affected my hip and knee joints for about 2 1/2 days. This was a little more than uncomfortable for nothing gave me any relief and I had a couple of sleepless nights. This went away and everything was great, I had more energy, didn't have to take naps and I was able to put more time in the classroom teaching, both at the studio and at the Visitation Academy.

My doctor is very pleased with my treatments and how I am handling the chemo. I also did not have to have a red blood cell booster shot with this treatment. That was good news.

Thanks for all your continued thoughts and prayers. I feel that when I go to chemo, I am a player and my whole team is with me, and I hit a homerun at every game. Your support is what keeps me going and Jim and I are most grateful. Thanks again. I love you all.

YEAH, HALF WAY

Okay, 4 down and 4 to go. Chemo #4 went really well and I have had a decent 2 weeks. I did have to have a red blood cell booster shot but my white blood cell counts have been doing great.

I felt well enough to travel to New Jersey to see our daughter(Carrie) and her family this weekend and brought she and Madison back with us to spend the week. Jeremy will come down Friday so we can celebrate Madison's 4th birthday. It is so nice to have them so close for a change instead of a 5 hour plane ride. I also taught in 3 classes, it felt really great to be back on the dance floor, and I also went to the Visitation Academy last Tuesday and Wednesday, it was nice to see all the girls once again.

I start a new drug this Tuesday, and then continue with the same for the next 3 treatments. So hopefully the next 4 treatments will go as well as the last 4 and we can get this section of my journey finished and onto the next, radiation.

I thank everyone for their continued thoughts and prayers. You are my motivation and the reason to continue, together we will beat this. I love you all.

3 Down, 5 to go

Okay, we are 3/4 's the way of the first 4 treatments. Each treatment, about the 3rd, 4th, and 5th day makes me run out of gas. Each one longer. I had chemo on the 30th of Dec. and our family had a wonderful New Year's Eve. I saw 2009 come in, watched my children play Wii, held my new granddaughter, loved Madison, and had a wonderful visit with a few friends.

WOW, what Jan 1st brought was like night and day. I was flat with NO ENERGY whatsoever for the next 2 days. Saturday, I was upright more and feeling stronger. Today, (Sunday) is like a new day. I have trouble with this because I am not used to being down and not able to function, but this is what chemo does and hopefully I have only one more then on to another drug. My understanding is that it's reaction is a little different, we will see. I told my children that ole Mom would not be the same at the end of the week as she was when they arrived on Mon and Tues. I hated for them to see me this way, but it is what it is and we move on. Jim has been soooo supportive and encouraging, that's love for sure.

I wish to Thank everyone for their continuous prayers and good wishes for 2009. Please know that these prayers and good wishes keep me going and looking forward to the end of these treatments. My doctor is pleased and says everything is going well and that the chemo is doing its job. I just have to accept it.

Looking forward to seeing everyone next week. Happy New Year!

2 Down, 6 to go

Sorry for being late with this posting, but the holidays kept me busy with family. Chemo #2 went well, I found myself more tired the 3rd, 4th, and 5th day after than with chemo#1. Other than the tiredness, I have felt rather well. Sure glad I did the Christmas shopping after Thanksgiving instead of waiting, the energy for shopping was about 1 1/2 hrs maybe twice a week.
Carrie, Jeremy, and Madison arrived on Christmas Eve around 3 pm and off we went to Church for the 5 pm service. I was asked to carry the Christ child with Carrie and Madison joining me during the "Silent Night" portion of the service. It was a very uplifting moment for us as Pastor Dave said a personal prayer for me and my family and then we returned to our seats. I have truly been blessed by God and by all of the wonderful prayers said for me across the nation and our wonderful friends and dance families. Thank you, thank you, Thank you. I hope everyone had a blessed Christmas and will continue to have a Happy and Safe New Year.

Curtis, Sulein, and our new granddaughter Jia, will arrive on Monday the 29th and Carrie, Jeremy, and Madison will be back on the 30th for New Years .

Chemo Has Begun

One down, seven to go. Treatment today has gone very well. I feel normal so far and have eaten dinner and just resting this evening. I go for a white blood cell booster shot tomorrow and then next Tuesday (9th) for Lab work, if good, we proceed to 12/16/08 for chemo treatment #2 and we follow this regiment for 8 weeks. I will keep everyone informed as I go along.

Thanks for your continous prayers and well wishes. Jim and I are looking forward to the holidays with our daughter, Carrie, Jeremy, and Madison along with our son, Curtis, Sulein, and our new granddaughter Jia.

November 12,2008

Finally all 4 drains came out today. It makes me feel like a different person. Dr. Leonard released me today until May 13, 2009. I am free to do what I feel I can do without lifting, pulling or pushing. I am free to move my arms as to how I feel and the exercise is good for me, she even said I could do crunches.

We will know more on Tuesday the 18th, our meeting with the oncologist.

Thanks for keeping me and my family in your thoughts and prayers. I am a believer, the prayers have eased the worry and have been wonderful support.

Jim and I have truly been blessed with wonderful friends.Thank you ALL!!!!!!!

Update on Surgery results

The tumor removed was 8cm X 9cm X 6cm. This is about twice the size originally thought. The pathology report indicated 4 different types of cancer in the left breast. The tissue showed invasive mammary carcinoma, Lobular carcinoma, focal tubular carcinoma and ductal carcinoma. The right breast only showed pre-cancerous cells, there is no way of knowing if the breast would ever have been affected, but Jim and Bettie are still glad they made the decision for the double Mastectomy.

Dr. Leonard took 24 lymph nodes,14 of the 24 were cancerous. She advised us that Bettie would have 6 to 12 sessions of Chemotherapy and definitely some radiation to the chest wall, left underarm and clavicle area. The frequency and duration will be determined with her oncologist.

Bettie is hoping to have the drains removed on Monday. Time will tell. Keep us in your prayers.

Bettie Jane Update

Everyone has provided a lot of support to Bettie. She is very grateful to everyone. On Thursday she and the family went to the doctors for her followup. She will be meeting with the Doctor who will handle the Chemotherapy next week.

Bettie has been up and about since her surgery. She is feeling good. This time with her family seems to be working wonders for her. Hopefully we can get Carrie to update us in the near future.

Reminder, I know everyone wants to visit with Bettie. This is fine, but please remember that short visits are better. The more we let her recover now the longer visits we can have in 15 years :). Positive love is the best medicine.

On the love note, Donna Dorsey dropped off 17 Happy Pink Bears from different people. The Bears are to help BJ through the process. The basket of love came with a poem written by Donna.

When the days seem long and hard to bear
Isn’t it nice to be reminded, somebody cares
To look around the room and let your eyes find
Cheer, warmth, brightness, just the right kind
In every corner, baskets of care
Filled to the rim with pink teddy bears
Each comes from someone who cares,

Some dressed in a tutu, like prima ballerinas
Others with boas, tappin toes, jazzy little divas!
Plie`, tendu, Arabesque, releve`
Flap ball change, Shuffle step, dancing all the day!
They’re so proud to entertain,
to bring a smile, to ease the pain.

So pick them up; give them a hug
They want to let your know
Through all this, you are never alone
Your warmth and your friendship
Has touched their souls
They bring all their love, dancingly yours!
Pink Teddy Bears – Baskets of CARE!!!

The Bears are being looked after currently by Madison, Bettie Jane's oldest granddaughter. So no worries about their feeding and loving sessions; they are being expertly handled by an exceptional little girl.

Monday, November 3, 2008

I took mom to the grocery store today. She is doing amazingly well. She is resting in between a few visits and calls from friends and neighbors. Madison seems to be good medicine for both mom mom and pop pop. They are having a grand ole time. We are making sure she is taking it easy and not over doing it. But, she can almost put her arms up to high 5th position (ballet) already. Curtis went home yesterday and Aunt Carol is due in for a few weeks on Wednesday.
---Carrie

Bettie is home

Bettie Jane came home today. She is chipper and seems to be in great spirits. She is spending some time with her family. Both Carrie and Curtis are in to spend some time with their mom. I know everyone wants to call and see how she is doing but please wait for a few days so that she may recover from the surgery.

Posting by Lynn Delauter

Lynn wrote... I spent a good part of the day at the hospital with Jim, Curtis, Barb, Bob, Kay, and Will. We laughed a little and cried a little, and were all relieved when the surgery was over and a good report was given from the surgeon. I did see her for about 10 minutes after she got out of recovery. She was smiling and looked very good. Please check her blog from time to time if you want to keep up on her progress. She's an amazing woman, and I'm sure will be on that stage in June tapping those feet. We love you, Miss Bettie.Lynn

Bettie Jane will home

The news is that Bettie Jane will be discharged today. Until the doctors sign the discharge we will not be sure exactly what time she will be home. More to come later.

Bettie Jane is in recovery

Bettie Jane is in recovery. The surgeon remove 10 lymph nodes. There was no discoloration or enlargement. There are no real concerns with these. The tumor did not metatasize to the muscle. The tumor slide right out which pleased the surgeon. They removed the other breast and did not find any problem areas. Bettie is awake and is not having a real problems. We will post more later.

Bettie's surgery

Bettie Jane had a double mascetomy. She was coming out of surgery at 1:05pm. Everything went well. More to come in a few hours.

What you can do?

People have inquired in helping out with food. If you so desire to send meals please call for Carol, Bettie Jane's sister-in-law, and advise her when you are going to supply food. At this stage we mostly want thoughts and prayers. I am truly blessed with so many friends and families that have already had me "us" in their thoughts and prayers throughout this difficult time.

Bettie Jane's Surgery

The surgery is scheduled for Friday October 31, 2008. The surgery is being held at Frederick Memorial Hospital. Keeping checking the blog for updates.

Bettie Jane's Breast Cancer Journey

I am writing this blog, to keep everyone informed during my Breast Cancer Journey. Please check in for updates.