Who has time for cancer?

I said in my last blog that I hated the waiting game, that still hasn't changed. I'm a "soccer mom". I live moment to moment, day to day, using a calendar to plan out my life. There's appointments, work, kids, sports, school, etc. Seriously, who has time for cancer?

Let me give you an example of my week:
Monday
*6-630 - get lunch ready for the boys...send Logan to school
*7-725 - get Tristen to the bus stop
*9 - get blood work drawn at cancer institute for testing
*930 - allergy shots
*12-4 - work
*630-730 - soccer practice (I'm the new asst. coach)
Tuesday
*6 - get Logan up and ready
*8 - Tristen's OT appt
*12-4 - work
Wednesday
*6 - get Logan up and ready
*8 - Tristen's Speech appt
*9 - grocery shop
*10 - check Tristen into school and hope he actually stays
*12-4 - work
Thursday
*6-725 - boys to school
*9 - allergy shots
*945 - Rheumatologist
*11 - pick up cakes for friend's going away party
*12-4 - work
*630-730 - soccer practice
*8 - surprise party
Friday
*6-725 - boys to school
*9 - pick up prescriptions
*10 - Montana's academic lettering ceremony
*11-2 - work
*4-8ish - work

This is just part of one slow week of my life. And, did I mention that David has kung fu every night? Seriously, who has time for cancer?

I'm not a patient person when it comes to getting things done. I'm a here and now type of person and this waiting game is driving me crazy. I'm waiting on this test result, that test result, PET scan, surgery or no surgery, chemo or no chemo, etc. Ugh, it's so frustrating. Someone really needs to let this breast cancer know that I have limited availability. I'm a hot commodity. My time is precious. I don't like to be kept waiting.

I started this blog to share a few tips on how I was losing weight. It seems like a lifetime ago that I had time to concentrate on my diet and exercise. The last few years have been long for me. I've had four surgeries in the last three years since that last post. I certainly had no time to blog. Two torn tendons repaired, one gallbladder removed, one sinus unblocked, and one deviated septum straightened, and I still wasn't 100 percent. I've been diagnosed with severe allergies. I'm allergic to inside and outside, latex, dairy, and some medicines. I'm probably allergic to this computer. I've been diagnosed with asthma...asthma attacks aren't fun and exercising isn't easy. After that, I was diagnosed with Sjogren's. It's an autoimmune disease that few people know about. Pain for the rest of my life? Fun. Days when I can't move my muscles and joints? Fun. Days when I feel like a marionette doll? Fun. Today I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia. It's not really a surprise. Sjogren's is generally a secondary disease. More pain for me...oh, joy. More medicine for me...oh, joy. More doctor visits for me...oh, joy. I see a General Physician, an Allergist, and a Rheumatologist on a regular basis. And, now I have to add an Oncologist? I don't have time for cancer.

If it were just me, maybe I could squeeze more into my schedule. But, I'm a mom. Tristen has Asperger's so we have several appointments to help him navigate life. He sees an Occupational Therapist biweekly, a Speech Therapist weekly, a Therapist monthly, and a Psychologist every three months. Logan is my sporty kid. He has soccer twice a week and games on Saturdays. He's trying out for the school's soccer team, basketball team, and archery team next year. Montana is a senior. We're trying to get ready for graduation. I'm taking her senior pictures and making her announcements. She's receiving awards at school and preparing for college. And, I'm just trying to get as much Montana time as I can before she's gone. I'm always on the go. I just move from one thing to the next. Want to have lunch with me? I'll see if I can pencil you in next week.

A funny story...Montana had to get ready for prom last Friday and I had an oncologist appt. I always fix her hair (well, except for that one year that David fixed it.) She was stressing about her hair and asking if the doctor's office has an outlet for a curling iron. My friend and I were having breakfast and we were laughing about it as we pictured me curling Montana's hair as the doctor walks in with me saying, "You are going to have to discuss my problems while I fix my daughter's hair. I can't stop for cancer." The crazy thing is that I would do that; it's just how I am. I would have done it if she hadn't found another person to do it. I just won't stop my life for cancer. The sooner cancer realizes I have no time for it, the sooner it will go away and quit bothering me.

So, I guess I'm being a bit of a whiner today and feeling a little impatient at the moment. I say that we are just waiting, but I HAVE gotten some test results back since my last blog...

***My estrogen receptor and progesterone receptor tests came back positive. We're happy about this because it means the cancer feeds off estrogen and will respond to certain therapies.
***My HER2/neu test came back positive also. We are not happy about this because this means that it's a fast spreading, aggressive, angry little beast.

However, I am still waiting for my BRCA tests to come back and am also waiting for my PET scan. See, it all comes back to waiting. I need these results. I need to know what the next step is. I need to know when, where, what our plan of attack is. My soldiers need to be moved into position. My sister and cousin need to know when to come help. My mother-in-law needs to know when she needs to start taking over Tristen's appts. My work needs to know when I'm going to be out and for how long. My life is busy and it's not going to stop for cancer. Seriously, who has time for cancer?