Adjustments Today

Mary Jo was treated by medical staff volunteer for sports medicine, Dr. Michael Kennedy for Mary Jo's neck pain during the Susan G. Komen 3 Day last week.  A lot of lifting and sleeping in tents for three days was hard on Mary Jo (and me).  After Mary Jo's very first treatment on Saturday afternoon at the event, she was so pleased with the results that she has been scheduling sessions with the same doctor Kennedy of kinesiology or Chiropractic Kinesiolgist.  The practice of Kinesiology is the assessment of movement, performance, and function; and the rehabilitation, prevention, and management of disorders to maintain, rehabilitate, and enhance movement, performance, and function in the areas of sport, recreation, work, exercise, and general activities of daily living.  Mary Jo received her 4th post event adjustment today and is very happy to be getting some pain relief without the use of more medicine.  Mary Jo is looking forward to her last Herceptin (biologic chemo) session at Dr Galls office of Minnesota Oncology on Thursday.  This milestone in her cancer treatment will mark the very last treatment in her 52 weeks of chemo therapy treatments.

MJ in Dr Kennedy's office

3 Day For The Cure

Mary Jo is sleeping in this morning. Together, MJ and I (and Diane) worked from Thursday till Sunday from sun up to sun down as "crew logistics" team members of the 2010 Susan G. Komen 3 Day For The Cure event. Logistics was responsible for the set up, tear down and overall cleanliness of the base camp where all the walker and crew stay overnight during the 3 day event. Mary Jo and Kevin are extremely grateful for the unbelievable support we received from all of you who contributed with generous donations to our fundraising efforts. Kevin was able to reach and exceed his fundraising goal and was humbly honored at a camp ceremony by one of the event title sponsors, Bank Of America, as the #1 Crew Fundraiser of the 2010 Twin Cities event. We produced a You Tube video of our experience. Click on this link -> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mI_uEq967vo

Kevin accepting award for "Top Crew Fundraiser" in the Twin Cities

Jamie Page, Jill Gundlach, Jen Harrison and Mary Jo

Only One More Session

Mary Jo is excited to have received her "next to last" Herceptin treatment yesterday at Minnesota Oncology in Burnsville.  She has only one more treatment on September 2nd.  That milestone day next month will mark a full 52 weeks of Herceptin treatments which is a biologic form of chemo therapy. 

Both Mary Jo and I are reaching out in this final week before the Susan G. Komen3-Day For The Cure event in a last push to raise additional donations.  We are trailing in second place by about $500 of being the #1 Crew fundraisers for the Twin Cities event.  We have raised a staggering $6,000 for the breast cancer cause but please forgive me, I (selfishly) want to be number one.  I could really use your help if you have not had the opportunity or ability to donate thus far.  It is very simple to donate and if you work for a major employer, there is a very good chance your employer will contribute matching funds, further helping this great cause.  All you have to do is click on the link on the right side of this blog.  You can donate as little or as much as you like.  Every penny counts and is appreciated.  Thanks again for all the support.

Mary Jo, Diane Hawkins, Nichole Reimer, Jason Reimer, Jack Skelton, Jake Reimer (back turned)
at the Dakota County Fair opening day

Good Scan Results

Mary Jo’s oncologist, Dr Gall called yesterday with the results of the recent CT scan. He stated that the good news is that there is NO cancer detected in the scan an NO cancer related issue causing Mary Jo numbing and tingling in her left arm and hand. The scan revealed that Mary Jo does suffer from a degenerative spine issue with an annular disc budge of her C-4 and C-5. The scan results also suggest to Dr Gall that 52 week biologic chemo treatments of Herceptin are not causing Mary Jo’s neck and arm pain as a negative side effect. Mary Jo and I are relieved to hear that the words “NO CANCER” and can happily deal with a disc bulge or any other non life threatening aliment that life can possibly throw at us. Mary Jo will follow up with an examination and consultation with an orthopedic surgeon to determine the best treatment for her disc bulge issue.

Mary Jo, Diane (MJ’s mom) and I are looking forward volunteering as “crew” for the 2010 Susan G. Komen 3-Day for the Cure held in the Twin Cities on August 20-23 in the capacity of “camp logistics”. Mary Jo’s good friend Jamie Page will actually be walking the 60 mile, three day event. All of us have feel blessed to have received generous donations from friends and family to help us meet our fundraising goals which are a requirement to even participate in the event. All the 3-Day walkers, like Jamie must raise a minimum of $2,300. Jamie has succeeded in her goal and Mary Jo and I have raised $6,000 and counting in our fundraising efforts. We still have two more weeks to exceed our goals so if you would like to help, please click on this Donate Online Here link or on the "doante online here" link on right column of this blog. Thanks to all who have contributed so far. Because of the funds raised from generous donations from people like you, doctors have made astonishing advancements in treatments and detection of this terrible disease with a common goal of finding a cure.

Mary Jo at the Women's Imaging Center

CT Scan Today

Mary Jo's oncologist, Dr Gall had originally planned to order a CT scan imagining procedure of Mary Jo's neck and shoulder area but after consultation with the chief radiologist at the Womens Imagining Center, Dr Gall changed his order to a MRI imaging procedure scheduled to be performed today at 10:45am. The MRI, we are told could provide more conclusive images associated with the nerve related issues Mary Jo is experiencing.  Mary Jo was all prepared for the procedure and actually in the MRI machine when the radiologist tech performing the procedure questioned the type and brand of temporary breast expander's that Mary Jo's plastic surgeon, Dr Luong had implanted. 

Plastic surgeons use temporary breast expander's for their mastectomy patients in order to gradually expand the remaining tissue over time prior to the patients final reconstruction with a permanent saline or silicone implant.  The tech then consulted with the Midwest Plastic Surgery office of  Dr Luong and it was determined that an MRI would not be recommended for a patient with Mary Jo's type of temporary breast expander's.  The high magnetic fields created by the MRI machine could possibly react with the metal fill port on the expander's and generate excess heat that would not be beneficial in Mary Jo's reconstruction process.  The MRI procedure was cancelled.  Several calls were then made to Dr Luong's office at Midwest Plastic Surgery, Dr Gall's office at Minnesota Oncology and the chief radiologist at the Fairview Ridges Women's Imaging Center.  The consensus was that a CT scan would provide Mary Jo with the best available alternative to image and diagnosis what Mary Jo was describing as symptoms of a pinched nerve in her neck.  We are to expect the results of today's procedure to be available within two to three days.  Mary Jo spent most of the day resting.  We are looking forward to reviewing the results of the scan with Dr Gall as soon as they become available.

Strange Numbness

Mary Jo in Dr Galls office

Mary Jo had a special appointment today at 1:20pm to be examined by her oncologist, Dr Gall at his Minnesota Oncology office in Burnsville. Mary Jo has been experiencing an unusual increase in the numbness and tingling in her left arm all the way down to her fingers and stiffness (like a pinched nerve) in her neck for a few weeks now. Mary Jo and her doctors and nurses had originally dismissed these symptoms as common possible side effects from two powerful drugs, Herceptin and Arimidex that Mary Jo is being treated with but the arm numbness has been interfering with her sleeping. The numbness seems to be worsening so Mary Jo scheduled a special visit for a detailed examination. Dr Gall gave Mary Jo a complete examination and believes Mary Jo’s symptoms are likely being caused by one or more possible conditions. The most obvious and first thing to rule out or confirm is an actual pinched nerve. Mary Jo will be schedule to have a C.A.T. scan of her neck on Monday. The C.A.T. scan image will have the ability to show if Mary Jo has bone or tissue problems and could also detect any lesions (cancer) if they existed, which are not at all expected. The power port (implanted under the skin in the chest) through which the chemo is administered could have repositioned and could possibly be now pressing on a nerve or the reconstruction expanders could have repositioned slightly and be applying pressure on a nerve. Dr Gall will review the results of the C.A.T. scan on Monday with Mary Jo and confirm or eliminate the most likely cause and work step by step to diagnosis and eliminate the condition. Mary Jo is otherwise doing well and enjoying the summer.

It Gets Better

Mary Jo is still fighting fatigue, aching muscles and joints from the cumulative effects of chemo and radiation but she is in great spirits and trying to get her rest. She has discovered that at a minimum, she needs at least ten hours of uninterrupted sleep per day. She feels best if she gets about 12 hours of sleep. This is why if she is entertaining (as she does) and does not get to bed before midnight and Opie wakes her up occasionally during the night, she finds that she can't seem to get going before noon or 1pm the next day. Mary Jo's oncologist, Dr Gall tells us that the fatigues can easily last for up to a year. Another chemo related side effect is what oncologists call "chemo brain" which is short term memory loss. Mary Jo just jokes that there are "no re-runs" at our house. Sometimes it is like living with an Alzheimer’s patient but this too is expected to improve over the next year or so.