Women, Men and Horses Go to Battle, Cancer Retreats

The Report from the Battlefield

I brought out the cavalry over the last few weeks, and we’re winning.  My beautiful band of warrior women, a few good men, and strong, sweet horses have seen me through chemo treatments #4, #5, and #6 and tests are showing that the tumors in my breast have already shrunk by half. Yes, half!  Not only that, all of the little satellite tumors have disappeared and even the tumors in my lymph nodes are shrinking.  Those results were after only three treatments! Just imagine what the last few weeks have accomplished.  My friends, medical staff and I brought out the big guns and we aren’t taking any prisoners.  Take that, cancer!  We know you are cowering like the cruel and injudicious enemy that you are.  FYI, we aren’t taking anything less than defeat.

Breast Cancer Walk October 11

Speaking of armies, we’re literally marching against breast cancer on Saturday, October 11 in Tacoma. My wonderful belly dance students have organized a team, complete with pink coin belts!  Big love to my dear friend and student, Michele, for heading this up.  To join our team or to contribute, visit my page: http://main.acsevents.org/goto/JoyAmiraJohnston

Chemo Dates #4, #5, & #6

It has been challenging to keep up with this blog because my PR business has picked up in crazy ways.  Not that I’m complaining. I love to work and it makes me feel useful and alive.  However, it definitely shifts priorities.  To put it in perspective, I have contracted for more hours September through December than I have had total for the previous 9 months.  Add to it this whole cancer thing  - which feels like a part-time job -  plus a family and a dance career.  Makes me a busy gal.  Blah, blah, blah, everyone is busy, right?  I feel terrible that each of my chemo dates didn’t get a full write up as I planned to do.  I hope they’ll forgive me!  Here are some photos and brief summaries of my dates to get caught up...

During the worst of all my crises,

friends appeared.

Since then, the first thing I do 

is ask for help.

~ Paulo Coelho, from Chronicle - Crises and Their Traps

My lovely friend Whitney joined me for Chemo Date #4.  I had hoped to catch up with her more, but I was given Benadryl again and very quickly became a terrible conversationalist, worse than usual even.  Whitney was very patient with me, thank goodness. The treatment went long (three infusions plus some paperwork problems) so Whitney was kind enough to head across the street and pick up a late dinner for us at A Terrible Beauty.  I had an amazing time under her care and it was fun to swap stories about our babies, husbands, and careers.  She is beautiful inside and out!

While on Chemo Date #4 with Whitney, my dear friend Michelle stopped by and brought me a giant bag of goodies: magazines, cookbooks, a head scarf, treats, and a Paulo Coelho book (hence the quote above, the first quote I turned to when I opened the book!)  So sweet of her and it was wonderful to see her.  Isn't she stunning? And so helpful to hold my chemo tube for me. haha

I am not posting a photo of my Chemo Date #5 because I'm sorry to say, she is hideous.  It's quite unfortunate, really. I feel sorry for her. We all do, but we put up with her.  Okay, that's not true at all.  I just forgot to take a photo, darn it!  My chemo date and friend, Taiece, is kind, loving and so gorgeous that the certain well- known coffee company that she works for has asked her to be a model.  She brought me my favorite, a PSL, from the above-mentioned anonymous coffee company to start the day.  My Uncle John from Montana and my cousin Tana stopped by, too.  It was so great to see them!  [And to all future dates and visitors...remind me to take photos!!!]  The day was a bit of an adventure since I had a flat tire coming into Seattle Cancer Care Alliance.  Fortunately, Josh's longtime friend, Bryan Williams, bailed me out. He met Taiece in the SCCA parking garage to get air into the tire, then Taiece drove me in my Benadryl haze to Firestone after chemo.  While waiting for the car, we had lunch at Cactus and then Taiece introduced me to the Goodwill at South Lake Union.  So dangerous...all designer and name brands, and, of course, proceeds support Goodwill.  Taiece pointed out that I might be the most obnoxious breast cancer patient ever.  What did I do after chemo?  I contributed to Goodwill.  I should have finished the day by rescuing a puppy.

Yesterday was Chemo Date #6 with my amazing and beautiful friend, Kristin.  The date started with a surprise visit from my friend and dance hero, Tina.  She is studying to be a naturopathic doctor at Bastyr and had wonderful insights on cancer-fighting nutrition.  She couldn't stay long because she had her own date with cadaver training, but it was such a treat to see her even for a short time.

Kristin and I are lucky to be going through life with sons who are only 3 months apart and who adore each other.  Our hubbies adore each other, too, but it probably would embarrass them to no end if I were to publish that on a public blog.  Wait, did I just type that out loud?  Kristin was having her own rough week but was still there for me with a smile.  Such a sweetheart!  We commiserated about having three-year-olds and laughed so much that the nurses had to keep closing my infusion bay door.  We were also productive and finished a fancy spreadsheet on vacation rentals for our group of friends.  Afterwards, we headed to Cactus (I'm becoming a regular!) and had a fabulous lunch.  I convinced my doc to lay off the Benadryl for now so that I could still function.  It was a much less dicey drive back to Olympia.

My instructor, Jordyn + Cooper & Elfy

In between chemo appointments, I've been riding every chance I get.  Included are a few photos from my latest riding adventures...thank you to my riding friends and to the horses and ponies, too.  Even though I've been getting much more tired as the chemo treatments go on, riding gives me energy!

I should mention that my husband and my mom have been providing endless love, support and patience during my treatment.  I couldn't do it without them!  Thank you!

My friend Rachel from Switzerland + Lancer

Finally, I'm including a lovely quote that my student and friend Meagan sent me.  I have named the crab tattooed on my neck “Hildegard.”  As Meagan smartly guessed, it was after St. Hildegard of Bingen. But what I didn’t know, is that the name Hildegard means “defending battle maiden.”  Rock on. Thank you, Meagan, I love it!  Here is a quote that Meagan sent me from St. Hildegard herself:

My friends/dance students Anastasia & Cathy + Zeus

Underneath all the texts, all the sacred psalms and canticles, these watery varieties of sounds and silences, terrifying, mysterious, whirling and sometimes gestating and gentle must somehow be felt in the pulse, ebb, and flow of the music that sings in me. My new song must float like a feather on the breath of God.

              ~Hildegard von Bingen