Have a Very Happy Easter.

New store on Craftsy

My friend Jenny Elefantz has opened a store on Craftsy You can get to her blog and find out Information by clicking on the little elephant on my sidebar.

Here is a wonderful article on caregiving that I have been requested to post. Please read it. Becoming a caregiver started the moment my wife was diagnosed with mesothelioma cancer. Like many others, my wife and I were not prepared for the news she had cancer. A little over three months prior to my wife’s cancer diagnosis, we had celebrated the birth of our only child, our daughter Lily. We had assumed we would be settling down to our new lives as parents, not dealing with a cancer diagnosis. The diagnosis shattered our lives. Even before we left the doctor’s office, my responsibilities as a caregiver were becoming apparent. The doctor had informed us Heather had malignant pleural mesothelioma. He went on to explain a bit about the cancer and then gave us three choices of where we could go next to fight the cancer. My wife was in tears from the news she had cancer. She listened to the doctor’s three choices and was silent. I waited for her to ask a question; to say something, but she was silent and still stunned from the news. I looked into her eyes to see what she was thinking. The look in her eyes said “God help me!” I looked over at the doctor and said “Get us to Boston” and with that, I was a caregiver. My wife and I had different reactions to her diagnosis. She was stunned and in a state of shock and disbelief for a little while. I was mad! Anger would be my primary emotion for months. This was not supposed to be happening to me. I was supposed to be celebrating the birth of my daughter and adapting to life with her, not dealing with cancer. My life went from predictability to chaos in a moment. I frequently found myself feeling overwhelmed and helpless. I had little control of my life. Of all the events I have ever experienced, this was the most uncomfortable and helpless I had ever felt, and anger was how I dealt with it all. Anger, denial, bargaining—we all deal with stressful situations differently and being a caregiver can be very stressful. My anger was at its worst when my wife and I went to Boston for treatment under Dr. David Sugarbaker. When angry, I would lash out at all who were around. I lashed out to people who were trying to help and I have seen this in others. I was lucky enough to be surrounded by people who were trained to deal with anger in others. They had seen this before and I’m sure they have seen it since. Be aware of your emotions and don’t let any one of them overwhelm or control you. I won’t pretend to be knowledgeable enough to offer any sure fire solution to overcome any overwhelming emotions. For me it took some patient people and time. I needed to time to realize my anger was so strong that it inhibited my ability to make decisions and it pushed those away who were trying to help. I felt like I couldn’t get anything done when I was angry, and it took a lot out of me. I hated how I lost control to anger. While there are many things about my wife’s cancer that make me angry, I am no longer consumed by this emotion. I have made a decision to live not in fear, but to remind myself how precious each day is. I find I am both happier and more productive now that I am no longer in anger’s grasp. I hope that for all those who find themselves overwhelmed with anger, fear, denial, bargaining, or any other emotion that they find a way to move on. You will be happier and better prepared to be a caregiver and deal with all that life throws at you. Read more: http://www.mesothelioma.com/blog/authors/cameron/my-wife-has-cancer-becoming-a-caregiver.htm#ixzz2Kn3mdPtS Tags: Dr. David Sugarbaker, malignant pleural mesothelioma, mesothelioma, mesothelioma cancer, mesothelioma cancer diagnosis Read more: http://www.mesothelioma.com/blog/authors/cameron/my-wife-has-cancer-becoming-a-caregiver.htm#ixzz2Knbb8oqs

MERRY CHRISTMAS & HAPPY NEW YEAR

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

THANK YOU VETERANS

On this Veterans Day a word of Thanks to all who are now and have in the past kept us safe.  We appreciate your sacrifice.

We Will Never Forget

Happy Labor Day

Raising awareness of Ovarian Cancer

Survivors of ovarian cancer survivors are hoping to raise more awareness and education about the disease.

The National Cancer Institute estimates there will be more than 20,000 new cases this year and more than 15,000 deaths.

Margaret Hoeft is a Tucsonan who is an ovarian cancer survivor She was diagnosed in 2004 and since has volunteered to educate people about it.

"It's been a long, very good few years because I did not recur and I have not yet, but I'm not out of the woods, because I know two women who have recurred after nine years and after 12 years," Hoeft says.

Hoeft works with the Tucson chapter of the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition and other organizations to put on the Ovarian Cancer Symposium Sept. 1 at the University of Arizona Cancer Center.

Participants will include physician Michael Bookman, an oncologist and professor in the UA College of Medicine.

"Most cancers are actually detected at an early stage, before they've had a chance to spread, and that means the cure rate from surgery is usually quite high," Bookman says. "Ovarian cancer is fundamentally different."

"And often it grows without causing any symptoms until there is extensive disease involvement, and so women and their family and physicians are not generally aware that the cancer might be there and spreading, and it's often detected then at an advanced stage," he adds.

The free symposium will address treatment options, clinical trials and screening.

It will be from 8 a.m. until noon at the UA Cancer Center, at 1515 N. Campbell Ave.

Those interesgted in participating should call the Tucson chapter of National Ovarian Cancer Coalition at (520) 342-4599.

No Chemo this week

No chemotherapy this week.  My platelet count is too low.  This is the second time in the last 6 weeks that this has been an issue. On top of that, I am just getting over a Urinary Tract Infection.  Wouldn't wish one of those on my worst enemy.  The severe shortness of breath continues and my General Practitioner agrees with me that it might be a side effect of the chemo.  So frustrating not to be able to do anything but sit.