Grace's Breast Cancer Journey

5/26/2021

Celebrating Four Years

This has been the weirdest year in many ways, especially with everything shut down due to the Covid-19 pandemic. It has been four years since my breast cancer diagnosis, surgery, chemo, radiation, and the subsequent anti-estrogen drugs in the summer of 2017.
            At the end of my post a year ago, I mentioned that I had been accepted as a patient by an endocrinologist who specializes in bone density loss. My last scan had shown a significant loss in the density of my wrist, so my medications were changed. I discontinued the Aromatase Inhibitor Letrozole and switched to Tamoxifen and Alendronate to build back bone density. The results of my August meetings with her, and another bone density scan, determined that I had had a faulty test earlier, which led to my unneeded medication changes. I have been left on the Tamoxifen, but dropped the Alendronate, and my bone density is normal for my age. I have tolerated the meds with no side effects.
            We spent the summer and fall of 2020 secluded to protect ourselves from the virus. We watched many wildfires close to Portland causing many bad air days. In the fall, our neighbors decided to move to Mary’s Woods at Marylhurst, which is a lovely Continuing Care Residents Community just south of Lake Oswego. In October Paul got a dual diagnosis of prostate cancer and Parkinson’s Disease. Since we had planned to make the same kind of move as our friends, we decided this was the time, and followed them to Mary’s Woods. When we first saw the apartment we liked, I told Paul that I would like to be moved in and settled by our 50th Anniversary on January 30th. We succeeded.
            So, in January we downsized, sold our condo, and moved. Paul completed his radiation treatments for the prostate successfully. Both of us are attending support groups, on campus, for the Parkinson’s patients and caregivers.
            In May, as the pandemic is getting under control, and as we have been vaccinated, we are increasingly sure that this is the right place for us. We are enjoying meeting other residents without masks. I’m finding that there are other Beaverton teachers who live here. I also met for coffee with a resident who was a volunteer in my Breast Cancer Support Group from St. Vincent. The saying “It’s a Small World” seems to apply here at Mary’s Woods.
            I am starting to teach some iPhone Photography here at Mary’s Woods, and have joined the Community Life Committee as my building representative. This committee plans the “fun stuff” on campus. The campus is beautifully landscaped, with many lovely gardens and paths leading all the way to the Willamette River. The residents and staff are all very friendly.
            And, through all of this, I have been a Zoom Master for several groups and all my state DKG events and the rehearsals leading up to them.
            I continue to be examined every six months and am deemed cancer free at this point. At least I am “Dancing with NED;” No Evidence of Disease.

That is all for now. Check the main website for other activities.
Grace