I'm starting to notice more of the radiation effects.  I've got some swelling and  soreness.  I am thinking the pain may also be happening because I'm finally getting some sensation back since my April surgery.  It's funny, the back of my upper left arm had been numb all these months, too -- I've gotten the feeling back there.

My friend Anita starts her first chemo treatment tomorrow.  Anita is my best friend Alice's sister.  Alice is a General Practitioner in Florida, but she's been with me through every step of my experience.  Alice got married and had a gathering of family and friends to celebrate earlier this year. I had just had my surgery and was still waiting to find out if I had to have chemo or not.  I was in a very vulnerable place, to say the least.  I hadn't seen most of Alice's family in 20 years, but it was such an important visit for me.  They surrounded me with love and concern, and provided me with a happy escape from my temporary nightmare.  Anita sent me a lovely card after we got home to let me know she was thinking of me.  Then, a month or so ago the unthinkable happened.  Anita had a biopsy that came back positive for breast cancer!  Her pathology is quite similar to mine so she's going through the same steps, although they did have to go back in after her lumpectomy to get more clear margins (there's a certain amount of tissue around the tumor that the surgeon must remove -- the margins -- to be as sure as possible that they get all the cancer cells.)  The irony of the similarity of our situations was stunning to our families, of course.  But I can't help but think that it wasn't a coincidence that we had just been together after so many years.  After going through all the research she did with me, Alice is already a pro in knowing almost exactly what's going on with Anita.  Anita and I are both so fortunate to have one of our angels in Alice.  Anita has gotten as used to the idea of chemo as anyone can be -- her husband has shaved his head so they can be matching "coneheads" (her words,) and she went earlier this week to "A Woman's Place" at Northside Hospital to order her new 'do.  She's having the same terrific experience I had there.  If you pray, would you put in a good word for Anita? 

By the way, if you or someone you know has had a good experience at a place similar to "A Woman's Place," please make a comment on this blog and let me know where so I can post it.  Northside Hospital is not a convenient location for everyone, and I'd like to let folks know where else they can go to get quality products and service.