I know I am getting bad about writing in my journal. I have been extremely busy with my pet service and going to physical therapy for my back and such.

I am still in the recovery mode with radiation, but I think I am not as fatigued as before. I am at least over my bronchial cough that lasted two months. That really slowed things down for me, and having the two falls in December with back pain as well. I think my back is getting stronger (I think), although it is very slow going. I am doing my physical therapy and today I am really sore. My hips are out of alignment, so everything is uncomfortable. I am still able to walk fine, and I actually do better being active.

I have many pet clients that I am dashing about Los Osos visiting and walking. I am really enjoying it, but I do get worn out. Everyone gets tired from work, so a good tired I am sure.

Tuesday I rejoined the South Bay Women’s Networking, and it was nice to be back to something normal. They had a wonderful luncheon at the new Mexican Restaurant in Los Osos, and the food was very good. I met several ladies and was greeted by the ones I knew from before. It was nice that they remembered me.

I know that since I finished my radiation, everyone is thinking of me as done and past all of this season, but it isn’t actually true. I am still under treatment, and I am taking a medication orally which is an Estrogen suppressant. I will be taking that for about five years I belief. One of the side effects of the drug is loss of bone density, and even before all of this stuff, I was already showing signs of osteopenia which is the precursor of osteoporosis. The drug escalates the bone loss and there is a risk of spontaneous fractures. My oncologist wasn’t happy with my bone density test, so she is planning on starting me on an intravenous infusion in May and I will be getting it every six months. The doctors said that studies show that it improves bone density when on these Estrogen suppressant drugs.

But of course there are side effects that are awful. I was a bit distressed when she told me that one of the rare ones is that the jaw bone develops necrosis (bone death). She said it was rare. I am thinking that I got all of the rare side effects when I was on chemo. I looked up the side effects and people with a lot of dental work and tooth extractions are more prone to getting it. There is also flu like symptoms with the first dose, and severe bone pain for the duration of treatment. I was not liking what I was reading. I called my dentist, and she said that the studies where people got the bone death were those who were not healthy. She said I am healthy and my extractions were in the past. She actually made me feel better. I just hope she is right. She said that it is best to fight the cancer with all we can. I will most likely be praying a lot over this.

In the meantime, it is time to focus on my husband. He will be turning 60 this year, so I am planning to do a big party for him this month. His birthday is on April 2nd, but the 30th of March is the best weekend for us to do a party. My business is escalating, so I need to do it when I have the opportunity. It is the big one! We will have a great time.