Today was one of the days when I had a targeted chemo therapy called Herceptin. It happens every 3 weeks and is not usually a treatment I look forward to because I hate the IV treatments, but I suppose since a small portion of my tumor had a slice that was receptive to Her2Neu, this does block that receptor. It does help with overall survival among women, even Triple Negative Breast Cancer patients who do not have the receptor fair better long term if they use Herceptin in blind trials. It's so nice when a friend brings you to pass the time...thanks Mindy! So today I was chatting with the nurse about an awesome benefit for oncology patients at Exeter Hospital. This local hospital is affiliated with Mass General Hospital where I have had many of my treatments for convenience. Next time I will go back to MGH to check in with my oncologist, Dr. Stephen Isakoff who oversees my treatments and continues to be an incredible support and always open to discussion and sharing research both ways, which is a godsend.
Anyway, months ago the Exeter nurses told me there was an endowment from a donor family of a patient who created this fund because they noticed that their loved one who was undergoing treatment benefitted from massage tremendously They established this fund to help local patients and it is much larger than I knew, even assisting with heat, mortgage payments due to job loss, etc. For me, the massage has been a tremendous gift and often I would go a day or two after some of the tougher treatments. Now some research I have come across shows that lactic acid build up is not a friend of cancer and can be quite harmful to the body for several reasons. I have since tried to moderate my workouts recognizing that it is best to recover in a quick amount of time especially as we get older:) These massages have been of great benefit to me because I really get a lot of relief and also feel human touch is so important for stress relief and nourishment. My question with every decision going forward with everything I do is "Does this choice nourish me or does it deplete me?"
Come to find out today that this very woman who died of breast cancer almost 25 years ago was Anne Marie (Brunette) Viviano, my friend who I met in the Miss NH Scholarship Program days who I became quite close with for several years. We were all shocked to learn shortly after she started her family that she was afflicted with an aggressive form of breast cancer. I attended her funeral, and we were all saddened when she died so young. She was the type of person who would light up a room with her smile and was as beautiful in side as she was out. I remember Anne Marie and felt amazed to be touched by her once again from above and beyond, as she continues to support and love so many patients. She had such warmth and a gentleness that I miss. So here is to my old friend, Anne Marie, who left this world way too young, but who has continued to bless so many....I will always remember her and plan to write a note to her family to thank them for the many things this fund does to help families afflicted with this disease. What an amazing coincidence to learn about...but we know there are no coincidences:)
Anyway, months ago the Exeter nurses told me there was an endowment from a donor family of a patient who created this fund because they noticed that their loved one who was undergoing treatment benefitted from massage tremendously They established this fund to help local patients and it is much larger than I knew, even assisting with heat, mortgage payments due to job loss, etc. For me, the massage has been a tremendous gift and often I would go a day or two after some of the tougher treatments. Now some research I have come across shows that lactic acid build up is not a friend of cancer and can be quite harmful to the body for several reasons. I have since tried to moderate my workouts recognizing that it is best to recover in a quick amount of time especially as we get older:) These massages have been of great benefit to me because I really get a lot of relief and also feel human touch is so important for stress relief and nourishment. My question with every decision going forward with everything I do is "Does this choice nourish me or does it deplete me?"
Come to find out today that this very woman who died of breast cancer almost 25 years ago was Anne Marie (Brunette) Viviano, my friend who I met in the Miss NH Scholarship Program days who I became quite close with for several years. We were all shocked to learn shortly after she started her family that she was afflicted with an aggressive form of breast cancer. I attended her funeral, and we were all saddened when she died so young. She was the type of person who would light up a room with her smile and was as beautiful in side as she was out. I remember Anne Marie and felt amazed to be touched by her once again from above and beyond, as she continues to support and love so many patients. She had such warmth and a gentleness that I miss. So here is to my old friend, Anne Marie, who left this world way too young, but who has continued to bless so many....I will always remember her and plan to write a note to her family to thank them for the many things this fund does to help families afflicted with this disease. What an amazing coincidence to learn about...but we know there are no coincidences:)