Waiting Game

This week was a great week. I spent some time with friends before going back to work. On Tuesday, I made a trip to Stillwater with Anne and Shaun for lunch and a walk around the town. The girls at the pool had a dinner on Wednesday evening. I also went out for coffee (tea for me) a few times this week. I can't have caffeine yet.

On Friday, I had a doctors appointment with Dr. Larson (my oncologist) and Dena went with me. So here is the update: as of right now I don't go back to this doctor for 3 months, then I will have another PET Scan, and some blood work done. They are still a little concerned about a mass in my lungs (they think it might be scar tissue). So we are waiting for some of the drugs to get out of me. The mass in my lungs is not related to my cough (or so they tell me).

This means that I have only one doctor appointment a month for the next 3 months. That's what happens when you have 3 specialists. I'm not sure what I will do with all my time.

Friday, Dena and I went to Sammy's Pizza and movie (Julie and Julia) thanks to the Adams Staff. It was a good movie, but I don't think I will ever be cooking an entire cookbook.

I did go for a few walks this weekend and I needed a nap when I got home.

This week is my last week of summer before I go back to work. I have a few more things planned. I'm also working on walking or running a little more. On Friday my dad and I leave for Brainerd to race on Saturday and Sunday.

Have a great week
Anna

A weekend away

First, I forgot to update you on my last doctors appointment. I met with the Respiratory doctor on Thursday morning. It's still a mystery that I'm still coughing. I usually cough about 5 minutes in the morning and again sometime in the evening. So I will be on prednisone for another 6 weeks. I go back to the Respiratory doctor in October.

On Friday I went up to BIR (Brainerd International Raceway) for the weekend for the NHRA Nationals. Overall it was a fun weekend minus the rain on Saturday evening and Sunday morning. It was fun to get way for the first time in a long time and do something fun. The pictures are from this weekend. My dad had his Nostalgia race car on display for people to look at and the kids to sit in. (The Wetterlund family, if you look at the picture above, you can see Jim Wetterlund in the yellow hat.) They started the race car a few times a day. Another picture is of our campsite for the weekend it worked out great having electricity in the heat of Friday. The picture of the two guys is Mike Dunn and Dave Rieff during the taping of NHRA Raceday shown on ESPN 2 on Sunday mornings. We had it taped before we left so we came home to watch ourselves on TV. If anyone wants to see me (or my dad) on TV let us know we DVR it. The last picture is taken from our seats and one of my favorite drivers is John Force. I came home a little tired and sore from walking. Other then that I can't wait for a few weeks from now when my dad and I go up to BIR to race.

This week is a pretty slow week and it's hard to believe I go back to work in 2 weeks. I have some plans to see friends this week. I also have an oncologist appointment on Friday. Dena is going with me to see Dr. Larson hopefully we find out what the next plan in treatment is.

Have a good week
Anna

Done with Radiation

As of right now I'm done with radiation. I finished up on Wednesday August 5th. Thank you to the girls at the pool and the triathlon group for going out on Wednesday night to celebrate. I can't taste much (I can taste over salty and sweet things) but I can taste a beer. It's nice not having to plan your day around radiation. I'm still recovering from the side effects of radiation and the side effects are fatigue, sore throat, and skin rash. As of right now I could sleep 24/7 and still not get enough sleep.

Some of you have asked what my wig looks like. I only wear it for special occasions (wedding pictures). My brother Bryan got married over the weekend to Jessica. So you have your chance to see my wig. Yes my hair is growing back but very slowly. I will probably go back to school in September wearing hats.

The wedding was a lot of fun and it was great seeing all the family and friends on Saturday evening. I have attached a picture of my siblings (myself, Bryan, and Dena) and the other picture is of the family. Bryan and Jessica had a cartoonist at the wedding so the last picture is of myself and Katie Scheevel (a family friend).

The pool closed to the public on Friday so it's nice not having to get up and go to work every day. I'm still working a little bit at the pool helping clean.

Also this week I had a CAT scan on Monday for my respiratory appointment on Thursday morning. I'm still on prednisone for my cough which is helping with the nice weight gain. I still have a little bit of a cough from time to time.

I meet with my oncologist Dr. Larson on Friday August 21st, Dena is going with me. We have fun when we meet with him. He's pretty funny. I should know what my next step in treatment is after that appointment. I'm not holding my breathe since anything can happen.

On Friday I'm going to Brainerd for the weekend to watch Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals with my dad.

Happy Birthday to
Jen and Ken Meyer,
Steve Feeny and Sandy Orth

Happy Anniversay to
My mom and dad
Ali and Cam Becker
Anne and Shaun Karson
Marica and David Wetterlund

Have a wonderful week
Anna

3 days left

As of right now I have 3 days of radiation left. I should be done on Wednesday. Every week I have a doctors appointment on Wednesday or Thursday depending on my doctors schedule. Last week I had one on Thursday after radiation, I asked the doctor what to expect after Wednesday of this week. He told me that I have a 6 week break with some scans and then I have a check up. I will have an appointment with the Respiratory doctor on August 13th, no the cough still isn't completely gone but it's better
I'm doing pretty good, just tired most of the time. It's getting hard to get up in the morning, the fatigue is setting in. My skin is still red and hot most of the time where I had the radiation. I must say lotion helps a lot.
Through the Cancer Society, they set me up with a Pilate's class in Anoka (Pilates on the Porch in Anoka). I started on Thursday evening and have it for the next 3 weeks. It's using a Pilates Reformer, it was pretty cool.
This is also the last week the pool is open. Then I start my summer break. My brother is getting married on Saturday August 8th. So it's sort of a busy week for us at the Gabrielson's.
Have a great week!
Anna

The last week

The last week we has been fun and trying.
My skin is getting redder and the lotion is being applied more frequently.
I spent the last week dog and house sitting. It was nice to have a reason to walk every day. Our days consisted of working (Anna not the dog), sleeping, eating, playing outside, radiation (only Anna), and eating. Thanks to the girls at the pool and Amie for applying the lotion twice daily since I wasn't at home.
I developed a sore throat about a week and a half ago. Not sure if it was really a sore throat from radiation or if it was a true sore throat. By Tuesday of last week it was painful swallowing. I haven't had strep throat but they tell me this is strep throat times 3. On Wednesday during my doctors visit they gave me the "Magic Wash" to use before and after meals. It only works about 1/2 the time. So I'm working on changing what I eat. Mac and cheese and mash potatoes are the best along with Giant Cheetos. It's amazing how painful it can be to swallow something. Hopefully this will help me lose some weight.
Over the weekend it was the annual Tennant camp out at Baker Park Reserve. I went out to the campground on Saturday evening for the potluck of all potlucks. It seems like the food gets better and more of it every year. We also had the parents vs kids volleyball game. And yes, I did play.
Sunday evening I went for my first run since the beginning of March. My dad went with me and we did a run a block and walk a block run. I did come home tired and out of breath but you have to start some where. It's amazing how good it feels to be in running clothes and tennis shoes. Hopefully I will find time to run again later this week.
Have a wonderful week
Anna

Radiation 7 days down

So far radiation has gone as planned. It's every day (Monday-Friday) at 3:20. I'm still working on finding my favorite lotion (aloe is the winner as of right now). My parents will tell you my skin looks sunburned all the time where I'm getting radiation.

Over all besides working out, I'm doing almost everything I normally do. I still like to take naps and spend most of the weekend sleeping or going out in the evening. I find it amazing that people are surprised that I'm going out. You know, you can only sit at home so long. I told my parents at the beginning that I wanted to live my life as normal as possible as long as possible and over all I think I have done that.

It's a small world. I was at radiation on Friday talking to my nurse and she said, Anna I know you from some where. I told her she looked familiar but we couldn't really place where we know each other from. Then on my way home I called back to the clinic because I figured out where I know her from. It was Leah from Best Buy, we worked together in sales audit. I guess you never know who will be taking care of you.

This week I'm dog sitting for the week. It's nice that I'm doing something I normally like to do.
Have a great week!
Anna

2 days of Radiation

I started radiation last Thursday, July 9th. I go every day Monday-Friday at 3:20 pm, it's about a 10 minute appointment, then I'm done. It beats sitting in chemo for 4-6 hours. Radiation is much like laying on a backboard with your head in the rescue breathing position and laying there for about 3 minutes, then I'm done. So far I haven't had much for side effects besides itchy skin. Right now I'm trying different lotions. I can eat almost anything, it's just a little science experiment when I'm done, sometimes I get a metal taste in my mouth, other than that it's not to bad. I have figured out I can't eat anything overly cold, like ice cream or my other favorite icees.

This weekend Dena and I hosted a bridal shower for Jessica, Bryan's fiance. It was the first time most of the family on my mom's side has met her. She got a lot of nice gifts. It was also Chris (Dena's husband) birthday this weekend, so as a family we went out to Punch Pizza for dinner tonight. On the other exciting note, I went for a walk this afternoon only to come home and sleep for a few hours. I had to remind my parents that I haven't been getting my afternoon nap for the last three days and it really doesn't help with the fatigue.

Other all I'm doing pretty good, I'm just working on trying to figure out what lotion will do the trick.

Have a good week
Anna