Grace Pitzer's Breast Cancer Journey

9/14/2022

Celebrating Five Years

            It has been five years since my breast cancer diagnosis, surgery, chemo, radiation and starting anti-estrogen drugs, in 2017. I continue to see my oncologist (a new one) and my endocrinologist regularly. They are happy with my bone density scans and are keeping me on Tamoxifen along with some supplemental calcium. Since I am not having any adverse side effects, I plan to stay on the Tamoxifen for the recommended ten years. Research shows that it is very beneficial against reoccurrence.
            Our move to Mary’s Woods in January 2021, has proven to have been a great decision. It is a CCRC – Continuing Care Residence Community with about 650 people living independently and over 100 in the care facilities. We moved in just in time to celebrate our 50th wedding anniversary.
            The Covie-19 pandemic is still with us, but now we are freer to be with people. Paul and I have been fully vaccinated and have remained healthy.
           Looking back, it appears that 2021, and so far in 2022, have been quite busy. Here at Mary’s Woods, I have remained active on the Community Life Committee and planning social events for my building. In the spring, summer and fall of 2021 I took many pictures around campus and published a book titled “My Mary’s Woods,” and sold many copies. I also created two videos, one about Mary’s Woods and the other about the “Olympic Games” we had in the summer. In the fall of 2021, I taught a 10-week class on the iPad where 40 people registered. Then in the spring of 2022, I taught a 5-week class on iPhone Photography. This time I limited registration to 20. I will be repeating this class this fall. Paul is managing his Parkinson’s Disease quite well with exercises every day, including lots of water volleyball.
            In the summer of 2021, I attended an in-person conference with DKG and stayed five nights at the Marriott downtown. It was fun working the conference as a photographer and seeing people from around Oregon and the nation. We had two sets of friends come through Portland as part of their cruises on the Columbia River. Bruce and Wanda stayed overnight with us. We took Tom and Lydia down to the coast on a beautiful day.
            One sad note, at least for me, was that when we went to Green Valley, Arizona as usual for the winter, we sold our place that we have had for 20 years. We have enjoyed going there every year and made many friends. The good thing is that my connections with the camera club continue.
            So, I am happy to report that I remain healthy, happy, and busy, with no evidence of disease.