Round Two: Kate 2, Chemo 0
I got to enjoy Halloween with a different type of cocktail this year...straight up chemo chemical cocktail that is. Mom came out to spend the weekend with me. So far I am feeling really good. I think I am so pumped full of chemicals and steroids it would be hard to not feel good today, well at least that is my experience.

Jaimee came to keep me company for awhile which was fun. The time actually passed by really quickly today. I was only there from 9-11:45am, that included an appointment with the doc and my chemo. So, far the only side effects are red pee and a headache. I even went for a little ride this afternoon so no complaints on my end! :)

Round 1 Update

So I am still one up on chemo but I am really tired of the side effects. It is tough when you feel fine and then pump your body full of toxins. Really, I shouldn't complain but I am spoiled but generally being very healthy. Here's what the week after chemo looks like once the steroids run out:

Monday: Catch a cold and have swollen glands, feel like you have been run over by a train b/c you are so tired...oh yeah, food tastes funny and the idea of eating isn't fun

Tuesday: Definitely have a cold and super tired...food still not appetizing

Wednesday: Cold starts to go away and not so tired, still don't feel like eating, going on day 6 of a headache

Thursday: At last, hungar arrives! Still have a headache, cold is gone, feel closer to normal

Friday: Eating more regularly, chronic stomach cramp, still have headache...food tastes funny again b/c my PICC line was cleaned

Saturday: Ride on the group ride (yey!) but almost fall over after two hours of riding, headache is gone, still have stomach cramps, little bit of a sore throat again (likely from riding hard)

Definitely not the most fun week of my life but I am so thankful I haven't had terrible nausea or vomiting. As long as I avoid those I will be happy!

Still feeling good...
So, perhaps I am a little crazy...I drug Bethie up the Incline this morning. It was beautiful out and I really want to do the Incline each week through my treatment. I felt good and kept my pace slower than usual. Plus we only did half.

Bethie at the midway point...I think she has a whole new appreciation for going up the Incline. Many years ago we went down it...that was painful but I think going up is much harder. Sunday chemo report: no side affects other than hiccups all day Saturday, dehydration, and lack of appetite. All in all, I can't complain. I had a great weekend with my best friend and avoided any serious side effects from chemo! :)

Fall Fun
I woke up feeling good Saturday so Bethie and I planned a busy day. First we went hiking at Red Rock Canyon with Mary and Col...I borrowed him for the day while Mandy and Levi were out of town. Unfortunately, he found a nasty pond to swim in and I returned him stinky and dirty-sorry Wilners! :)

After lunch Bethie and I drove up to the Air Force Academy and rented horses for a little while. We got to choose our trail and ride without a guide.

It was beautiful up there riding towards the mountains (we ran out of time before actually making it to them) with all the fall colors and leaves changing. This is Beth's trusty (but bumpy) mount: Gemini/Smokey/Voodoo.

I rode Skip. He was a little stubborn and very slow. The exciting thing was not only was it beautiful weather and scenery, not only was I not puking from chemo, but it was the first time Beth and I have ridden together since high school!

Fight, Round One: Kate 1, Chemo 0
Today was the big day, my first day of chemotherapy. This is my cocktail of chemicals...anti-emetics (so I don't throw up) and chemo drugs (ABVD). Due to an educational period and testing of the "B" (bleomyacin), I was there from 8:30am to 3pm...long day but I was grateful to have Bethie by my side every minute of it!

And we were smart enough to pack entertainement. We spent some of the time watching videos online and the rest watching "August Rush" on my computer. It's a recent favorite of mine.

So far, this is the second largest Jesus in the hospital but I haven't been to the chapel yet...and this was right after chemo was over for the day. As you can see I am all smiles. I feel fine, no nausea, a little fatigue but I haven't been sleeping well this week. All in all, I feel exactly the same as when I left for the hospital this morning aside from red pee (due to the "A"-Adrinomycin) and a funny taste in my mouth. With that in mind, I am definitely up one on cancer and chemo! :)
As most of you know, I have been mentoring a local high schooler the past three years. Jaimee's mom was kind enough to make dinner for Beth and I tonight-Jaimee brought it over and hung out for a bit. Debbie is an incredible cook and it was a real treat to have something ready to eat without any prep work after a very long day.

PS: Lara designed t-shirts for me to wear to chemo. They say "Serial Cancer Killer" on the front and have a sillouhette of Laura Croft Tombraider. The back says "Kate." They were a big hit at the hopsital today and the lettering is PINK! :)

Kate, Serial Cancer Killer

I don't like the idea of being a "cancer patient" or a "cancer survivor" so my friend Lara and I came up with the new term. I'm regular old me with a new mission: Killing cancer. The real fight starts tomorrow. I'm ready for this as I am ready for it to be taken care of and done with.

Where's Jesus?

Penrose is a faith based health care system, which I really like. It's actually where I had my oral surgeries earlier this year; however, I never realized how many Jesus' there were in the hospital. After the past two days/three appointments in the main hospital, I have taken to finding Jesus in every room. I kid you not, there is a statue or crucifix in almost every room and hallway. The lifesize Jesus is my favorite though.

Busy, busy day!!!
Yeyyyy!!! Beth is in town this week visiting and I am so thankful!!! Not only has it been fun to spend quality time with my best friend but she also is going to all of my appointments and sticking around for the first day of chemo. And she surprised me with all sorts of fun presents to prepare for my upcoming battle.

Yesterday I had to have an echocardiogram to assess my cardiovascular functioning and had my PICC line put in (you can see it on my left arm-it's used to deliver the chemo into my body)...that was quite the process as my "muscular" arms cause the nurse quite a problem. I think Dr. Beth made her nervous.

Today's testing was for pulmonary functioning. I got to do all sorts of breathing tests to assess my lung functioning and hung out in the little house for a while to provide pressurized testing.

After testing, Bethie and I hiked Section 16...I think I may have convinced her she really needs to move to Denver for her fellowship! :)

I thought this was really cool...it's my sillohouette at the top of Section 16. I love the fall becasue I get to play in the mountains and not worry about intervals or power numbers! :)

Final Few Days in Cali
As I posted earlier, I did return to the beach to improve my surfing. Luckily, I was the only person to show up to the "Party Wave" so I got a private lesson for group pricing. And, I am happy to report I got up probably 40-50% of the time. Still fell quite a bit but I learned to fall gracefully and am able to ride regular and "goofy-footed"...appearantly that is pretty impressive as most people can only ride one way.

Friday we went down to Point Loma and hungout on the cliffs for a bit. Anytime I am by the ocean, I am a happy camper and Point Loma was no exception.

I spent my last day at a wedding with Ben. We agreed to a quid pro quo earlier this year, my Fort Wayne wedding for his San Diego wedding. The reception was actually in a building downtown with a retractable roof!

Surfing 101
Since I am taking a real vacation while I am in San Diego this week (read: no books, bikes, or coaching emails), I decided it was finally time I learned how to surf. I took a group lesson this afternoon and will be returning to Surf Diva tomorrow for another group lesson.

It was a fun day and I experienced all the great aspects of surfing: getting hit in the back of the head with my board, falling really hard on my butt, drinking plenty of salt water, stinging eyes, being thrown around in the wave, and success...in this picture I am paddling (left side) hard before the wave comes. My paddling was a bit wimpy...

My "pop-ups" need the most work. I am adding to many movements rather than just popping up. Hopefully I will remedy that tomorrow.

Because I was slow getting up, I definitely crashed and burned alot...it wasn't so bad as I learned how to fall more gracefully (read: not fall on my butt) by the end of the day.

Once I was up, it was easy to stay up...that's my surf instructor cheering me on in the background. If you look behind her, you can see we had decent sized waves today (4-5 feet). After getting thrown around in one big wave, I stayed a little closer in and worked on the fundementals. Like I said, I'll be be out there tomorrow and hopefully will be much more proficient at "popping up" and riding the wave.

Hiking Palomar Mountain
Yesterday dad, Peter, Chris, and I drove out to Palomar mountain for a little hiking. Let's just say I am definitely spoiled by the Rockies (beautiful trails five minutes away). The trails was not all that stunning and bug infested...Chris was pretty miserable to say the least (hence his head in his shirt).

Without a map and a lack of trail markings, we ended up at the "Doehne historical spot"...not really sure what that building was supposed to be but it was definitely anti-climatic after perservering through bug heaven.

Peter did grow a good appreciation for mountain lions after seeing this sign though...he was joking as we started and then started crinkling his water bottle (to make noise) after he realized how close we were to them.

After the hike, we drove to the observatory and saw the telescope. The picture definitely does not do justice for this thing...the mirror alone is 200 inches! Back in the day, when they were building and installing it (1940s), it took two weeks by car/horseback to get the parts to the top of the mountain!

Busy, busy week!
Last week my dad flew out to the Springs to attend all of my doctor's appointments (5 in three days time) with me. It was wonderful to have him asking all the questions and doing research to help me make the most informed decisions for my treatment. After doctor's appointments we had a little fun. Saturday I did the Incline while he hiked Barr trail. I set a personal record breaking 33 minutes for the first time! :)

After I summited the Incline, I ran down Barr trail and met up with dad. It was a perfect weekend to enjoy the Aspens.

Sunday was graduation...no, I'm not a doctor yet, but I am offically doubly "mastered" and now have two masters diplomas. I actually have three years of school left now as I am putting my internship off a year while I take care of my health. At least I will have my dissertation done when I leave for internship in 2010.

After graduation, dad and I went straight to the airport and flew out to San Diego. My trip was planned well before my diagnosis was made and I am so grateful to have time to rest before starting chemo. My treatment plan involves two cycles (8 weeks-4 total drip days) and, if I am in remission, I will head into three weeks of daily radiation after that. Assuming everything goes well, I should be back to full health and regular life by February! :)