Radiation Finished...Hormone Therapy Beginning...

Wow!! It has been 3 months since I posted last...Many of you have told me you have been checking my blog and you were hoping that no new postings was a good sign...Well, all signs are good these days!
I finished radiation two weeks ago and the amazing burns are still not completely healed but my skin is getting better each day. You know the radiation is poisonous when the therapists set you up and run out of the room, closing the 6-in thick door behind them...I will see the radiation oncologist on June 23rd for a follow-up. He will hopefully clear me for my first 'post-treatment' mammogram.
I saw my medical oncologist on Tuesday and, after taking 6 vials of blood, he wrote a prescription for Tamoxifen, the first phase of hormone therapy. Depending on what the blood work reveals, I may continue with Tamoxifen or change to a different med. As my primary care doctor told me...our intention is to 'rocket launch' you into menopause...I think the idea is to get rid of every bit of estrogen in my body so this cancer has nothing to come back to...we'll see how this hormone stuff goes...maybe Matt, Austin and Chloe will have to start a blog..."Living with Jeanne...the hormone therapy saga".
My hair is about 1/2 inch long and thickening up. I had it colored last week...a quick color that didn't cover all of the grey, but made it less salt-and-pepper like. I will be happy with bangs at this point. I have shown it to some of my students and, as honest as kids are, they say "Mrs. Ruiz, it looks like a man's hair"...Oh well, at least they are using language to describe!

Matt and I are back running again and it feels great! We are working our way up to 5 miles at this point. We are hoping to run a half-marathon in September.
We celebrated our 21st wedding anniversary last week...we decided to buy gifts for the kids, instead of each other, to thank them for the amazing way they've handled the past 6 months. We had a wonderful evening: dinner at BJ's (kid's choice) and just hanging out together.
I must say, how grateful I am for the wonderful support I have received from family and friends. For all of the times I was alone; (examining rooms, MRI room, radiation room) I never felt alone. I always felt God's healing and comforting touch. I have felt the prayers and good wishes of so many people and I will be forever grateful!!
I sort of feel like I am in 'treatment withdrawals', not having to drive to Total Care after 33 days of radiation therapy. There is a part of me that feels like I am not doing anything to fight this cancer right now, after 6 months of pretty invasive treatments. I know this feeling will pass...
Thank you all for your continued prayers and good wishes!! I appreciate them so much! I feel guilty still being on the prayer list at Bethany...please pray for my new friends; Steph, Judy, Terri and Nick.
With thanks and love,
Jeanne

Chemo 0 Jeanne 4

"Everyone, I mean everyone, is exhausted come the fourth quarter. The winners, and true champions, are the ones who tap into their deepest reserves, rise above their personal pain, and do what needs to be done to win."

- William J. MacDonald, Esteemed Coach of the Seal Beach Sea Lions

Here it is...the last quote from my friend and colleague to begin this fourth and final quarter.

Team Jeanne truly was a team on Tuesday as I had two chemo partners...Matt and Mary. Oncology Nurse with No Manners (ONWNM) was absent at the onset of treatment and both team members were ushered to the bench with no reservations or rudeness. Team Jeanne had the game plan down pat and chemo didn't stand a chance. The IV went in smoothly and the drugs were administered even more quickly because "you can handle it", so said Nice Oncology Nurse...

Had a fever on Wednesday (101) but got my injections, got past it, had my dentist appointment, got my final injection yesterday...Team Jeanne is closing in! It is a grand feeling...

Thought you all should see how bald looks at 304 College Park Drive...hopefully we can all grow our hair together. I will be coloring mine soon, I believe. Marli, my hairstylist said it needs to be about one inch long...I hope I don't get a speeding ticket driving to the hair salon...

Hoping for a Latisse prescription on Tuesday for my disappearing eyelashes...Brooke Shields, look out!

Wow, eight comments on my blog this week...Thank you all for your kind, compassionate and uplifting words. I read and re-read them and they give me so much strength and encouragement.

Today is a good day and God is Good All the Time!!

I will keep you all posted as we find out next steps and schedules for radiation therapy and post-chemo healing.

Love and thanks to you all, from the bottom of my heart!

Love,
Jeanne

Chemo 1 Jeanne 3

The C-team is looking tired while "Air" Ruiz just seems to get stronger as the game goes on. Boy, is the girl a PTP (Prime Time Player per Vitale) or what? :).
This quote to begin the 3rd Quarter was once again provided by my friend and co-worker. This 3rd quarter kicked my butt and I am happy, so happy that it is almost over. Team Jeanne started so strong but is definitely showing signs of fatigue down the stretch. Clearly the C-team is pulling out all of the stops but the quarter belongs to Team Ruiz as reflected in the score above.

My apologies for not posting sooner...the fatigue, both emotionally and physically has been overwhelming at times. Chemo #4 happens on Tuesday and I am anxious, excited and scared all at the same time. Hopefully the "oncology nurse with no manners" (ONWNM) will be absent this Tuesday when my sister-in-law Mary accompanies me as my chemo partner. Apparently, last month's chemo partner Marcia upset ONWNM and was told she might have to leave the infusion room if it became too crowded...I think I over heard ONWNM might have gotten re-assigned to Leisure World on Tuesdays...:)

I hate cancer and it has taken the lives of some very special people over the last two weeks...Karen Hearn (Autism classroom Instructional Assistant) and Nolan Hunter Johnson (nephew of dear Ingrid)...there is NO cancer in Heaven...Today in church we sang "Heav'n is My Home". It made me cry...

My favorite breast cancer T-shirt slogan..."Yeah, they're fake...my real ones tried to kill me." Chloe asked if she could buy this T-shirt: "I wear pink for my mom, my hero", how could we say no?

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11
I hope God's plan for me is to beat cancer. Actually I would love to beat the @#*^ out of it!

I remain forever indebted to you all for your love, prayers, cards, emails, good wishes, meals, flowers...EVERYTHING!!! All of this is what is keeping me going...

Love,
Jeanne

Chemo 2 Jeanne 2

"Second quarter and Ruiz is coming off bench rested and ready... she's got a look in her eyes that is making her opponents down court quell with fear".
(This quote came from a very special person at my school who is a HUGE basketball fan, a blog follower and a great friend).
Chemo came out hard to start quarter #2 but Team Jeanne was better prepared this time. She was well hydrated and rested and her IV went to work right after the inbounds pass. Team Jeanne has more defensive options (man-to-man, 2-3 zone, 2-2-1full-court press, not to mention a bunch of cool meds). She is ready!!

Many, many thanks for Team Jeanne's medical personnel: Dr. Janis and his staff of oncology nurses are nothing short of amazing and Team Jeanne is so blessed to have them. Carol(with her own chair) was my chemo partner today and we had a great time visiting and going out to lunch and shopping after. It's a miracle we didn't wash away in the rainstorm getting from Dr. Janis' office to the restaurant.

I am feeling good now. Hoping to work tomorrow and Thursday; taking Friday and next Monday off to chillax and reload so I can finish the rest of this quarter strong.

Received the most WONDERFUL, AMAZING, BEAUTIFUL letter from one of my Confirmation students (now a high school sophomore) and he provided me with a verse for quarter 2:
Acts 20:24 "However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me-the task of testifying to the Gospel of God's Grace."
But by the Grace of God will I finish this race, continuing with quarter 2 today.

Thank you all, again, for your support, love, caring, compassion and acts of love (cards, emails, meals).

Lots of Love,

Jeanne

Chemo 3 Team Jeanne 1:End of First Quarter...

Well, the buzzer has sounded, signaling the end of the first quarter. Team Jeanne (renamed because there is NOTHING about this that I am doing by myself) finished extremely strong and clearly took the quarter from Chemo. Team Jeanne struggled at the beginning of the quarter, due to Chemo's MANY weapons that just kept coming off the bench: headaches, nausea, vomiting, nausea, achy bones, insomnia, nausea, night sweats and did I mention nausea? Team Jeanne struggled a bit but kept fighting through the pressure defense and was able to get the upper hand by the end of the quarter.

The only Chemo weapon that I had no defense for was hair loss and it is GONE...we finally buzzed it Saturday night. Clearly when your hair comes out in handfuls every time you touch your head it is time to do something proactive about it. Matt put the clippers to work on a level 4 first, and when Austin said "is there anyway you could make it look a little more even?" , we knew it was time to go to a level 1. I have multiple bald spots even with the level 1 now so I know it is only a matter of time...Oh well, I have a plethora of scarves and a couple of hairpieces so we'll see how it goes. I am almost to the point where I forget about it, as I am out and about around town with my hairless head wrapped in a scarf. I have gotten some wonderful, spontaneous, kind comments from complete strangers. An umbrella isn't so important these days to keep my hair from 'frizzing out'. It is SO much easier to get ready in the mornings...no smoothing hair cream, no root booster, no hair dryer, no big round brush, no mousse wax and no hairspray. Not sure what I'll do when the eyebrows and eyelashes go...
God is good all the time!!! He is the Coach of this team and He has provided the Team with so much compassion, grace, love and reassurance. I cling to that every hour of every day and I thank you all for being a part of this Team.

Lots of Love from the bottom of my heart,

Jeanne

Cancer Score: Chemo 3 Jeanne 1

I thought that I would treat this chemo protocol like 4 quarters of a basketball game and although we all know what the final score will be come March 2nd, I thought this would be a fun way to share my chemo thoughts and experiences. Since each quarter lasts approximately 20 days I'll update periodically with both team and individual stats and highlights (hopefully no lowlights).
The scouting report on Chemo had it looking very powerful, strong and potent. Well, it did not disappoint as it took two nurses and 10 minutes to get the IV needle inserted into my vein...Chemo was armed with MANY drugs, too many for me to remember. I responded well to Chemo's potency by showing that I was not allergic to any of its weapons and I think I tolerated Chemo's power well during the treatment. I am continuing to play stellar defense against Chemo. I have stopped its attacks of nausea for the most part. However, I am showing signs of fatigue and wish I could call for a sub right about now; oh well.
First quarter updates to continue at a later date...

My sister Phyllis was my Chemo partner for today and it was so great to have her with me. We rocked the Infusion room with our fashion and gossip magazines and constant chatter and witty banter. I don't think many of the patients appreciated all that we had to offer but most of them finished before I did. I did realize that there are people far more sicker than I am and I prayed especially hard for a man who was there for a very long time today, getting many chemo drugs. He looked very sick...
Tomorrow I go back to Dr. Janis' office to receive my two shots: one for nausea and one to boost my white blood cell count.
Ordered hats, scarves and hair-pieces tonight. That was an experience...
Both Lancer teams (JV and Varsity) are playing for tournament championships tomorrow. I am hoping to attend both games...
Chloe will be coming home with us from Matt's game in Ventura...I miss that girl!!

Thanks for the comments on the blog today...I've read them all...more than once.
This journey has begun with so much optimism, caring and compassion. Your prayers and good wishes have been the driving force. Thank you from the bottom of my heart...
With continued love and thanks,

Jeanne

Post Christmas Posting...

Can't sleep...up extra early for church, waiting for coffee to finish...no newspaper yet...thought I'd update. Christmas was wonderful for the Ruiz family...lots of time with family and friends...many, many extra long hugs and much love...God is good all the time!!
Chemo will start on December 29th...four cycles all together with the last one scheduled for March 2nd. According to Dr. Janis, my oncologist, the risk of "residual, microscopic, metastatic cancer cells" was significant enough for me that chemo isn't really an 'option', it just is...so we begin on Tuesday. I think I have done all of my reading homework, dropped off my prescriptions, have my chemo buddy(my sister Phyllis)and am ready to begin this leg of my journey.
I spent some time looking at wigs/hair-pieces...I like the bangs that velcro into a hat, or long, straight "Cher hair" that velcros into a hat...I may opt for black so don't be surprised if I start singing, "they say we're young, and we don't know, we won't find out until we grow..." I hope to have fun with the whole 'fake hair' thing. I just don't want to frighten my special-ed students.
Once chemo is finished, after they give my body a few weeks to compose itself, we'll begin 6 to 7 weeks of radiation therapy. That ought to be a snap, so I've heard. I'm hoping to work as much as I can, taking time off as I need to rest and 'chillax' as Austin says.
Coolest thing I've seen this vacation...fellow high-school bball coaches and Matt's players wearing pink wrist bands...pink in gymnasiums is a good thing...also heard that I get special mentioning in the Lancer's pregame prayers (Thanks Lucas). I feel all of your prayers and am so blessed by your caring and compassion. Here is a great verse from Colossians that a fellow breast cancer survivor sent to me in a card: "We pray that you will have the strength to stick it out over the long haul-not the grim strength of gritting your teeth but the glory-strength God gives. It is strength that endures the unendurable and spills over into joy, thanking the Father who makes us strong enough to take part in everything bright and beautiful that He has for us.
With thanks and love,

Jeanne