I had a brain scan yesterday..just for baseline????

So, I had treatment yesterday - just herceptin and then right afterwards I had a brain scan and the ladies there were soooo nice. They aren't allowed to tell you anything, but I try and read into it...during the test one of the ladies said "The pictures are looking good, we are almost finished" So she could have said ...you are doing good...or something like that...maybe she was giving me some hope :)! Well, you know how we do or at least I do and my sweet friend Becky Zeigler who came from Swansea to take me where I needed to go was with me and we think it is fine...you know with all our medical background - lol! Well, my friend Tamara...although she does not have a medical degree-she might as well - is my hook-up for Duke and she has some connections and she shared this with me about the test.These are her words- "I did speak with someone about the brain scan vs PET scan results. They said the results from PET scan should be conclusive and the brain scan ordered should just be for baseline only. In a nutshell….if the PET scan showed nothing then the brain scan probably won’t either….if it does it doesn’t matter because the chemo and God have it under control." She knows how to look at my scans and she said that my initial PET did look at my head and neck and that it said there are no signs of metastatic disease in the head or neck - I hope I said that right Tamara :) Can I just share with you that I was able to go to Charleston this past weekend to see soooo many people! My entire family(my little sis and her family of 6 from Florida, my older sis and her family of 7.5 - my niece is expecting, and my lil bro and his wife and her sis) was there and we got to share some time with some aunts and cousins!!!! It was a nice time!!!! We basically had our Thanksgiving dinner since many of us will not be able to be there then! AND I just realized I did not take any pics of everyone...oh well, I have the memories in my heart! It was a whirlwind weekend...I am sooo thankful that I was able to see some of my sweetest childhood friends whom I have not seen in about 10 years or more...it was an emotional time in my heart to see them b/c I love them sooo much...but we did good about not crying for the most part...so much has gone on in each of our lives and it was a bit overwhelming but WONDERFUL to see them...there is something about seeing someone in person to "see" that they are ok! Then, on the way back from Charleston on Sunday...we decided to stop on a whim and visit our Swansea family. Swansea is where my beloved had his first administration job and that is the first place that I have ever lived away from home! And they are still like family to us...So we got there just as church was about to let out and I was just going to wait outside the doors to give some friends some hugs when they came out and the youth pastor was like go on in and opened the doors(these are the doors by the stage - so I was facing everyone) and I just went in during the invitation...interrupting church in my jeans and flip flops and went right on in and stood on the second row- but that was not my plan...I was like oh no...but then I didn't wanna be rude and just shut the door back, you know. I did not mean to interrupt church but I needed to see and hug our Swansea family ...some of who I have not seen in about 10 years! And the precious people that they are welcomed us back with open arms! And we got to stay for lunch b/c they were doing a youth fundraiser and those of you who have been to Swansea...know that Swansea folk can cook and it is never just a little bit!!!!! :) That was just a sweet time with some special people!!!! So it was a bit of an emotional weekend and I know some of you are like why does she tell us this stuff...well I am not sure why ....just b/c friends and family share what's going on in there lives and b/c I am long-winded it will not fit in my status...lol! Thanks for listening to me share just to share! Catherine PS - Next Tuesday is my PET scan to see if the tumors are shrinking in my other organs...please pray if you don't mind!

A new PET Scan has been scheduled to see how well things are shrinking on the inside

Well, I had a big chemo today and I am a bit more tired than normal...I don't know if that is b/c they - whoever they are -lol say that as the build up of the chemo you will feel more side effects. ( I think the they's are just different doctors and people and stuff I have read in books in case you needed to know -lol) Well, I don't get nauseated b/c of the meds they have put me on Praise God...so I can take being tired...I mean hello I have an 8 month old baby girl and a 4 year old litte boy to keep up with - without chemo I think that is just part of life - but wouldn't change it for NOTHING!!!!!! :) I have recently spoken with my Doctor at Duke..he called me at home at 9:45 pm from home to make sure that he wouldn't have any interruptions in talking with me - how AWESOME is that - so compassionate - Anywho, he asked how my breast was doing - what a question - lol - anyways, I told him what the docs said here and I told him I was praying it was doing the same on my liver and he said "Almost 100% of the time if it is working on your breast then it is working on your liver!" WOOHOO! I must be honest and say I am a bit apprehensive to get too excited b/c who knows, you know! SOOOO he told me that he resent orders for brain scan down here and that the liver biopsy is just something to do in the future..I think when I go back to see him next on Dec 2 he really just wants to see how well the chemo is working and go from there!!! So that is the deal there!Today when I saw my Doc he said he would like to go ahead and get a PET/ CT scan scheduled to see what is going on inside and that the tumors seem to still be shrinking and my breast is getting softer compared to how hard it was in the beginning! :)So, my PET/ CT scan has been scheduled on November 24th and should find out results after Thanksgiving! I mentioned to one of my nurses today about when would the brain scan be and she said she would check with the Doc and possibly do it same time as my PET!!! So we shall see!Can I just share something with you - I am crazy I know but I don't know why I just always like to share with ya'll ..I just want too! It might be more than one thing so sorry! :) A few weeks ago I went to a store I always go to to buy baby clothes and a sweet, sweet young lady was there who I have talked to since b4 MIcah was born "She said are you ok" - since I looked different . This is the first time I had seen her since getting sick and I told her the deal and she said "Are you going to be a SURVIVOR" I know she meant no harm whatsoever ...some people just don't know what to say - I took no offense but at the same time I didn't know what to say..I said " I hope so" She said she would pray for me and I was off on my way. So then I started researching when do you become a survivor! I can't remember where I read it but I read something that said, "If you make it through the conversation of when your doctor tells you that you have cancer, then you are a survivor" - Cool! Then around the same time was the Komen race everywhere and I was looking at some pics from a survivor sister of her at her race and I saw people holding up signs like 1-5 year survivor and I thought ok..when I shared with her that that gave me encouragement she said there was actually a sign that said 1 year and under survivors :) I love it!!!!! And as if God didn't think that was enough for me to KNOW I was a survivor ALREADY, I got a very special gift from someone I have never met and it was a beautiful box and on the front it said Survivor and on the inside was a beautiful Survivor Angel ornament with these word - SurvivorTo celebrate your wondrous strengths and spirit so divine-You believe in miracles in the most cherished time.Your simple hopes and graceful dreams ride high on precious wings-This angel gently joins the chorus, for you it joyfully sings!Speaking of dreams..sorry..I told you it might be a little more..just one more...I received a journal that I have never heard of and thought I would share..It was pink with a pink ribbon on it and on the inside someone had already titled it "Catherine Peake's Pink Journal of Dreams " and in the card with the journal this person had said that she had already started the first page..I will tell you I read it cried - for excitement, for hope, for anticipation for new hair :)...you will "hear" why...the first Entry said "When I get well: I will wear pink ribbons in my hair and run on the beach with Mike, Micah, and Carrington! I will chase butterflies and marvel at God's wonders....YES, YES, YES I will!!!!!!It may not have made you as emotional but I just thought I'd share! So I guess that is way enough for now in my long-windedness! Until next time!A 77 day survivor sister, Catherine :)