 |
 |
|
|
BiographyI presently live in Northern California – Wine Country. I am a writer and have just finished my first novel and am presently working on a second. I love life and live it to the fullest. I love laughing with friends and boating on warm summer days. I’ve recently been diagnosed with Breast Cancer. My Oncologist has informed me that it’s the most invasive type and wants to begin treatments immediately. Because I have Her2- Positive, I am not a candidate for a lumpectomy first. The healing time takes about 2 ½ months for that and the Cancer may spread into my other organs if I wait. Cancer SymptomsI found a large lump while showering. Surgery Description, Dates & Side EffectsSurgery after 4 months of Chemo. Mastectomy on 1-22-2009, followed by 4 more months of Chemo (oral chemo this time around – Xeloda 150mg 16 pills a day) and 40 weeks of Herceptin & 5 weeks of Radiation. Chemotherapy Description, Dates & Side EffectsFirst Chemo 9-8-2008. Side Effects – Pain, joint and bone pain, can’t taste anything, headaches, bodyaches and my skin hurts and weight gain from the steroids. Fundraising DescriptionComments: |
My Supporters:
I support:
AdvertisingIf you wish to become an sponsor please see our sponsor page. All proceeds will go back into building a better system.
p.s. If you have any suggestions on how to improve Blog for a Cure, send me some feedback. Keep in touch & let me know how I can make this the best system possible for you. |
SZwanetz
Thanks for your support - Join the cancer community today by signing up for your own personal cancer blog. Personal Web Publishing Service for Cancer Survivors giving cancer support.
2006 - 2010 Blog for a Cure, LLC. All rights reserved.
Hey Sonia,
I honestly can say I know how you feel, because I am a two time breast cancer survivor. The first time I was diagnosed at 37 and had a young baby to take care of. My husband didn’t know how to deal and both times he left me in the hospital. When I came home, I had help from no one. I had to manage getting my son in and out of the crib, cook, and clean with a drainage bag hanging from where my left breast used to be. The only way I got through was my faith in God, reading my bible, and playing inspirational music. And I stayed cleared of all negative things. Out of my ordeal, I became a writer. I wrote about my experience, “God’s Battle in My Cancer”. My prayer for you is that God do the same thing He done for me. Remember you are not alone!
Hey Sonia! We will be staying in Palo Alto. I know the area a little bit. What town are you in? Paul’s doctor is at Stanford. We will be in Palo Alto today and tomorrow. If you are up to it, let me know. I am praying you will get good news. My email is tamidavis1@yahoo.com
Take Care!
Tammy
Sonia,
Just wanted to say Hi & let you know I am thinking about you on this cold winter morning. How have you been feeling & are you still working??? I sure hope you have been able to quit??? You can file for SS (early retirement) or disability. I still can not fathom, how you can still work, even part time. Just wish I could win the lottery & get you & other like us, out on our own with out having to worry about money. Take care, Love ya,
Sandy
Sonia,
I am just writing you because I wanted to let you know that my mom went through a similar thing as you. She was discovered to have breast cancer 5 years ago, and went through chemo, radiation, and a double masectomy. After about a year of being cancer free, it spread to her liver, lymphnodes, and eventually her lungs and spleen. A diagnosis like that is never good. She went to Germany to get treatments similar to Lance Armstrong [called Hyperthermia]. They raise your body temp higher than it should be, because cancer cells can’t live at that high of temperatures. They do local and whole body treatments. She was good for about a year, but died last August. I know these treatments are expensive, and I wish I could donate some money, but I’m a college student working my way through college. However, I pray that all goes well with you & that you can raise the money you need for the infusions.
Sonia,
We worry when we don’t hear a word from you… Just log on & say S##T or cry. We can cuss or cry for you if you let us. Until we hear from you, I’ll pray & then pray some more. Sending healing hugs, just for you.
Take care, Sandy
Sonia:
Come back, We miss you and I need you. I’m worried about you.
Hugs and peace
Teresa
Hey baby cakes, whatz happening? Come back.
Sonia you are so sweet. No need of sending the tea, I’m sure it is a bunch of hooey anyway. How are you doing. I haven’t seen any posts lately from you and I am concerned. Could you drop me a line or 2 to just keep me at ease on your progress? I’m sure you are having a hell of a time wrapping your mind around the weekly changes that are happening to you. I just want you to know that I think you are a super strong gal even though you don’t believe it! This cancer is so waring on a person’s mind and body, I just don’t know why it hasn’t been eradicated by now. Aren’t we living in the 21st century? Aren’t we supposed to have the brightest of minds in our medical community? What is really going on? It’s time to make noise and have our voices heard. How is it that our darling Farah Fawcett got hardly a word mentioned due to M.J. dying right after her. Life’s not fair and we were hoping she would be our bastion of hope and change. Well if God is listening, he better hurry up and guide the researcher for a cure, RIGHT NOW! I’m praying for him to make you better. Take care friend.
Sonia,
How are you holding up? I’ve been thinking about you and was wondering how you’re feeling?
It’s been a while since I’ve seen you post so I wanted to check with you.
Warm regards,
Ron
I have been gone for a minute but I have not missed a prayer for you. You have been such an encouragement to me and I wanted you to know.
My love and prayers are with you
Mac
Hey Sonia,
Thanks for stopping by and reading. I am glad that my blog inspired you. I really made a committment to God and myself to share my story. My prayer for you is that God will take care of you and protect you daily. I truley hope God will use my writing to encourage others daily. Stop by and visit often!
Rob
Sonia,
!
Was soooooo good to hear from you. Been worried ???
Have you started any of those trials yet? How is your book??? OK, I’ll stop asking ????? As you saw mine is thru. Now on to bigger & better things.
As for YOU…..
Fire your Drs, start new trails & test, go do something you have never, ever done before ( & I hope it is naughty) get a good book & a bottle of wine. For a few hours, enjoy yourself
Hugs, Sandy
Sonia – Where are you at? Been thinking about you and wondering if you are ok. Drop us a line when you can.
Sonia:
Been thinking of you…got my schedule for MD Anderson week after next and then the week after that. Kinda scarey so many scans etc. They will know me inside and out except for the “biblical way” Ha! I’m wondering what your doctor is suggesting for you….Just thinking about you. Has he found any trials that he thinks are good for you?
My local doctor pretty much cut me loose….I’m seeing him on Monday so will probably hear him diss the MDA doctors! But hey,,,,he doesn’t have anything better for me than the standard 3rd line of chemo which is only 10 to 20% chance. Hell I’ll take my chances with a trial!
Hang in there girlfriend! I think of you every hour! And look at all phase trials! You might just find a fit!
Teresa
I hope each day greets you with kindness and gentleness. I wish you much hope and strength. May a cure be here tomorrow!
Sonia,
Thank you so much for the suggestion on CyberKnife. I did some research and it looks like it they only do it on primary lung tumors and the only metastatic tumors they do it on is of the brain and bones. My lung tumors are metastatic….do you know wheather or not this is true?
Sonia,
Did any of those diets help?? Let me know which seems to help the most??? I also noticed you said you had written a book?? when?, about? etc?? I finished one too, but having a hard time getting it to print up “right”??? Who was your publisher?? Just thought it might get our minds of of the big ‘c’ for a minute… Hang in there….Sandy
thinking of you,
love and hugs xxxo melody
MARYELLEN
Sonia,
Are you OK? I know you have had a lot to digest the last few days, so I wanted to pop in and check on ya. I am thinking about you.
Big hugs,
Monica
http://www.holylove.org/about_shrine.php
Sonia,
I’m so sorry to hear the current diagnoses looks so grim. But it’s not over until it’s over.
Your Bio says you live in Santa Rosa and I assume your treatment is in the area. You don’t live that far from Los Angeles – Pasadena. I suggest you TELL your doctor that you want to go the the CITY OF HOPE for a second opinion/treatment. He should help you, have your doctor call and make an appointment with Dr. Benjamin Paz. This is one of his nationally known speciallties. He also saved my life 15 years ago when I was told I had a 20% chance of living 2 years.
Make an appointment 800-826-4673 and have your current doctor send all your records to Dr. Paz at the City of Hope
http://www.cityofhope.org/directory/people/paz-i-benjamin/Pages/default.aspx
I. Benjamin Paz, M.D.
Vice Chair, Surgery
Associate Professor, General Oncologic Surgery
Director, Rita Cooper Finkel & J. William Finkel Women’s Health Center
Surgical Oncology, Co-director, Breast Cancer Program
Associate Member, Developmental Cancer Therapeutics Program, Comprehensive Cancer Center
Biography
A renowned leader in surgical oncology surgery and an expert in minimally invasive and breast cancer surgery, Dr. Paz is committed to compassionate, aggressive and comprehensive cancer surgical care, and the research it takes to find the best possible treatments.
I. Benjamin Paz, M.D. is a nationally renowned surgical oncology surgeon, with expertise in breast cancer, gastrointestinal and rectal cancers, and tumors involving the bone and soft tissues. Dr. Paz is highly experienced with minimally invasive, laparoscopic and robotic-assisted gastrointestinal and colorectal surgery and has developed one of the leading centers for minimally invasive surgery in oncology in California.
Dr. Paz’s research interests focus on the early diagnosis and prevention of breast cancer and the identification of high-risk patients that will benefit for new screening strategies. He is particularly interested in developing new methods for minimally invasive surgery and cancer treatment that improve patient’s function, quality of life, and cancer outcome in patients with breast and gastrointestinal cancers. Working with other doctors and scientists at City of Hope, he is involved in developing new methods of breast cancer detection in nipple aspirate and in the prevention of breast cancer with natural substances.
Dr. Paz began working at City of Hope Cancer Center in 1990. In 2003, he was named co-director of the Breast Cancer Program and director of the Rita Cooper City of Hope Women’s Health Center and in 2004 he became the vice chair of the Department of Surgery. Under Dr. Paz’s leadership the surgical program has undergone an aggressive expansion and has developed patient focus multidisciplinary clinics for the treatment of Breast, Colorectal, Bone and Soft Tissue, and Head and Neck Cancer. Since 1997, he has been a member of the City of Hope Medical Group Board of Directors and served as President from 1997- 2003.
Dr. Paz attended medical school at the University of Chile and trained in general surgery at the University of Arizona to obtain his board certification. He then completed a fellowship in surgical oncology at City of Hope. He is a member of the Society of Surgical Oncology, a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons and a member of the Pacific Coast Surgical Society.
If there’s anyone who can help you Dr. Paz can.
Love and prayers
Ron
Posted on May 28, 2009 at 7:11:47 AM by roncancerfree
thanks for blogging..
if it wasnt for all of you,
giving me hope..
i just wanted to run away to some remote place in the world and die..i was thinking africa..or maybe australia..lol
im not going anywhere,
standing and fighting,and living life to the fullest..thank you!
p.s.
your doggy is sooo cute too btw and looks like he listens better than my girls!
I am so with you today during your PET scan! Thank you for your support and concern. I feel so grateful for you to share your experience with us and I hope we have a chance to meet sometime given we both live in Northern California. Frank
Sonia:
Glad to hear from you…was missing you on the site. I’m feeling much, much better today,,,unfortunately, tomorrow, I get the ct results, find out if I’m kicked out of the trial and get Doxil no matter what…suckyyyyyyyy!
But try to live for today….so today am looking at my silly dog getting into mischief…went to my favorite vegetarian restaurant for pasta, and have a nice glass of California Chard by my side. I just got off the phone with one of my very best friends from college, Charmaine, who lives in Raleigh NC…she’s been out of a job for 6 months and, surprise, is probably getting a contract with a company who’s IT guy, her new boss, lives here in Austin. So she is probably coming to Austin week after next which coninsides with my other college friend from Greenbrae Ca. who will be here visiting the same time! So we were all sorority sisters and haven’t all been together since my wedding 20 years ago!
So today,, today I’m happy. Tomorrow, I’ll probably be crying into my smoothy at chemo.
So girl….DO THAT ZIP LINE! We just have to grab life by the balls here! And also….please feel freer to whine on this site. I feel like you feel that you have to be all positive here. Don’t,,,this is OUR site and we can cry if we want to. Thinks the 50s song.
I’m not writing this stuff for the others but for myself and the ones that are going through the same things as me.
I did see the Farrah show. Though it pretty much was real about the procedures but hated the ending….Yeah.especially when her son came in to see her. Makes you want to stockpile narcotics for the end. Sorry didn’t want to end this with a Debbie Downer!
Yea…I’ve got my fighting cancer armor back on for tomorrow. Just want some GOOD results for once!
Hang in there and zip line soon
!
T
Hi Sonia,
Tomorrow I will be doing my first Race for the Cure, I will be surrounded by my family and friends. It is an exciting time for me because last year I had my surgery two days before the walk and was very disappointed that I would not be able to participate.
I know you have been having a really tough time lately and would be honored if you would allow me to do this walk in your honor. I would be very proud to wear your name on my shirt.
May you be blessed.
Angelwthwingz@comcast.net
Sonia, From day one your story touched my heart, I have had you on the prayer list at my church for sometime. Tomorrow I am going to do my very first Race for the Cure, I will be surrounded by my friends and family, I am so blessed to have them.
I would like to honor you by wearing your name on my shirt. Together we can beat this dreaded disease and possibly save someone else from having to go through the agony of Chemo.
May you be blessed.
Sonia:
Just wanted to thank you for your response to my post yesterday. Yeah, I really hit a wall but feel much better today. No chemo next week, and that always makes me happy! You have also become someone special to me. I feel like we have and are going through much of the same cancer story.
How did your 1st full week at work go? Hope you are getting into the groove.
Rest well this weekend
Teresa
Hi Sonia,
I hope your taste buds are on the way back…I know life without them and mine have just started to return, *8 months !!. You have been through a lot and I’m told it could take me two years to feel good again. I feel good every morning I put my feet on the floor . Keep smiling it looks good on you…Ric
You probably already found out that yes these comments are emailed to them. Hope you have a great day.
Check out Jill’s post from today. She has added a way to comment on our profile for general comments, etc.! Kinda neat.
Teresa
Hey Sonia:
Just testing out this new addition to the site. Yesterday, you sounded down and just wanted you to know that a woman in Texas is thinking about you. My bestest friend lives in Green Brae, Marin County and I’m thinking of visiting there this summer,,,maybe we can hook up cause I’m sure we’ll go to Napa or Sonoma.
Take care.
Teresa