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