Happy to get an endoscopy done.

Life can be full of surprises like the day when your surgeon tells you he agrees you should have an endoscopy and you see this as good news! Especially because you almost hope they will actually find something wrong that the doctor fix while he’s in there looking around, or give you some medication or a diet plan to make things better.

The reason for this is of course that the other option is that the cyst on your gall-bladder duct is indeed causing your pain and you’ll have to under go major surgery or just learn to live with the attacks that can come every week or every other 8 months. Choices, choices will it ever just get easy and clear cut?

Because I’ll be busy working, today was day eight in a row, to get this coming Friday and next Monday off, so I can go to Portland to ride the Livestrong Challenge.
Then the next weekend is the BCAA, Living With Breast Cancer conference. Where I’ll be participating in the Sense of Style fashion show. I picked out my outfit last Saturday, very funky!
The next week it’s time for my annual visit to the women-MD, always fun.
To be followed by a wedding from a good friend of mine on October 20th.
Then it’s time for me to attempt once again to get just a little smarter by doing a continuing education course, to become a certified CI (clinical instructor) for the PT-students that come to the hospital with great hopes to learn something from us experienced PT’s. There is always hope!

So November 1st I finally will have the time to have the endoscopy. That leaves me plenty of time to get ready.

Ride for the Roses in the Netherlands

Ride for the Roses in Groningen, the Netherlands August 18th 2007

A report by Eva (13 y.o.) and Else (11 y.o.), my 2 nieces who rode 50 km on their one-speed bikes.

First we had to get up (way to) early.
Luckily we had a non-nausea-causing car so we were able to have food. (explanation: My brother doesn’t own a car and rents one when needed, my nieces easily get carsick because they’re not used to cars)
After we arrived we had to wait very long until daddy was able to start.
But it was very impressive to see the long ribbon of cyclists passing through for 30 minutes.
After daddy finally left we had to wait even longer before we finally got going after first standing in this bikers traffic-jam. We made it to the first check point (they had to get a stamp at each checkpoint) where it was again very busy (not to crazy if you have the checkpoints for the 25 and 50 km at the same spot!).
But we were eventually able to ride at a nice speed, about 20 km/h. It was funny that during the ride you see all these guys in their professional outfits on their expensive bikes and we are passing them without any problems!
We did see daddy again when the 100 km group crossed our route, we had to wait 30 minutes again to let them pass!
But we made it and did so in a good time!
It was a lot of fun and we want to ride again next year! I didn’t like that we missed the tomato and rose, because daddy didn’t want to stand in line and we had to go home right away.

We participated in the Ride because we want to support those who have cancer and for people that lost a friend or family member to cancer. And of course for you!
Me (Eva) also rode for Anita, the mother of my friend Renske, who also had cancer.
We were lucky they told us it was OK for us (Eva and Else) to ride because we didn’t register officially. (Grandpa called the organizers and got permission for the girls to ride)

Ride for the Roses in the Netherlands

On August 18th my parents, brother and my 2 oldest nieces participated in the Ride for the Roses in the Netherlands. 777,000 Euro was raised for the National Dutch Cancer Society. More than 9500 rides participated in the 25,50 or 100 km rides. My nieces wrote a great report from the day but I haven't had the time to translate it yet.
Here are some pictures of my family.
Sis

Marathon of Hope 10 km run

This morning started early for a Saturday. I had to get up to meet Jasey and Jamie at Lake Calhoen for the Marathon of Hope run. The weather couldn't be more perfect, sunny but still cool with just a little breeze.
Getting there we figured out that the race didn't start at 8am but 8.45am so we had plenty of time to get our picture taken and get our race-stuff.
Then it was time to get going, there goes the buzzer, and off we go! We started out the 3 of us for the first round around the lake and had a good pace going. Short sleeves was the way to go because we warmed up within the first kilometer.
Jamie was done after 1 lap (5km) so it was just Jasey and I for the second one. We were both getting hungery but the tought of the double chocolat muffin we put in the trunk of the car kept us going strong. Only 200 meters to go we realized that my goals of finishing within the hour was still possible! A little sprint and done! In 59 minutes and 40 seconds, Nice!
The best part was that next to the muffins they had ice-cream! It's great to excercise so you can eat.
After the run we had to wait a while for the raffle prizes, Jamie won a sonic-care toothbrush. While Jasey got a back massage and I eat yet another ice-cream! Then the pictures were ready and we got our copies and called it a day.
Thanks Ladies for running with me, it was fun!
The fundraiser total was over $19,000 for the Park Nicollet Cancer Center Foundation.
Sis

Time to fundraise!

This is the letter I recently send to all my American friends to ask for support for my Livestrong Challenge

Hi Everybody,

I’m writing you with a new request to sponsor me during my 100 miles LIVESTRONG Challenge in Portland OR on September 29th 2007.

This year I am celebrating 6 years cancer free by asking you to donate 6 dollars (or more of course) to the Lance Armstrong Foundation.

One of the many highlights of my ride last year was the 100 miles LIVESTRONG Challenge in Austin. It was amazing how many people were out there on their bikes riding for all different reasons. Survivors, family members, care givers or people just inspired by Lance to go out and do something to join the fight against cancer!
It was great to talk to different riders and be supported to ride my best ever time for 100 miles by strangers who volunteered to pull me forward in a nice pace line. A feeling I can compare to my days when I was fighting my cancer and friends and family were there to support me.

This year is not without hurdles for me, which is one of the reasons that my fundraising is off to a late start.
I’ve been having some problems with attacks similar to the ones that were the reason to take my gallbladder out in April 2003. Last April I had 3 attacks in 1 week and decided to have it checked out. They found a cyst on the gallbladder duct, which might be causing all this. One option is to have surgery to take is out which means 5 days in the hospital and 4-6 weeks home from work.
My intuition is telling me not to go with the surgery and I have learned about 6 years ago to listen to this little voice inside. So I’ve set up another visit with the surgeon to discuss other options, maybe an endoscopy to look at things from the insight.

Stay informed on my BLOG; http://sisfiets.blogspot.com , I promise to update my BLOG when I have more news.

On the brighter side of life, my last cancer check-ups are all nice and clear. The last MRI and mammogram and visit with Dr Redding where good. I celebrated 6 years cancer free on June 14th in the Netherlands with my family. The official reason for this trip was to celebrate my dad’s 70th birthday, which we did by playing tourist in Amsterdam with the whole family. It was great!

I’m doing well staying in shape by running. I’ve got a 10 km run scheduled on September 8th to support the Cancer Foundation at Methodist hospital. Riding my bike to work and getting extra miles in the weekend. A few weeks ago I rode my first bike-race, a team time trail with my team the Velo Bellas, which hurt so good!

And of course the LIVESTRONG Challenge at the end of September for which I’m asking your support!
My donation website is http://portland07.Livestrong.org/sisfiets, you can make the donation online or print a donation form and send in a check.

The Lance Armstrong foundation empowers the cancer community to address the unmet needs of cancer survivors. Please refer to http://www.Livestrong.org for more information on this great organization.
Thank you very much in advance for your continuing support.

Live strong!

Annemiek

Medical update

I have been very busy with all kind of medical tests lately because of something funny going on.
In 2003 I had my gall bladder take out because of having several very painful “attacks” and a US test that supposedly showed gallstones. The surgery went well and I thought my problems were over. Even though my surgeon told me there were no stones but just a small opening into the duct.
After being attack free for a year or so I was surprised to experience one feeling just as the ones that let to my surgery. Now 4 years and several very spaced out “attacks” later I finally decided this was enough.
So I visited my primary care doc who ordered a MRI to see what’s going on. The radiologist and GI-surgeon consulted in the case were unable to agree about what is going on, so the next step was a CT-scan and a US. These took place this past Friday and now I’m hoping to hear something soon. The US tech and MD called into the room didn’t seem to be able to find a clear cause and thought the next step might be an endoscope. Well there’s something to look forward to!

During all this I also had my yearly breast MRI and check up, which thankfully got an all clear and 2 thumbs up!

Next to this I’m also seeing a therapist to get my thought and feelings about the possible impossibility of ever having children and other personal struggles figured out. It’s a difficult process but I’m glad I’m working on it. 6 years cancer free and done with the medical part of treatment, I have found that now I’ve got to work on the mental part.

6 years today!

6 years ago I underwent my lumbectomy.
I arrived today in the Nethelands for a 2.5 week vacation and what better way to start my time here off than with 6 years cancer free!
Life sure has changed in the last 6 years bringing me great adventure and also sadness. But today is a good day so my parents and I lifted our glasses to health and the future.
Sis

Charlie

Here some new pictures of little Charlie. He's slowly growing- almost 2 pounds.
His mom is back on her bike (3 weeks after C-section) riding to the hospital (6.3 miles) daily to support her little guy!
Please keep sending postive, strong supportive thoughts their way!
Thanks Sis

Race for the Cure.

Race for the Cure.
Mother’s day 2007 started off very early so I would get to the MOA in time for the 5 K run. We had decided to meet at the BCAA booth where Julie was already giving out information on our “Breast Party in Town” and 6th annual Educational Conference.
We had Carrie, Jacqui, Ann, myself and 2 fans, running besides all the thousands of others dressing in various shades of pink, supporting this great cause.
Because there were so many runners we never really got any speed going but that was not the purpose this early nippy Sunday morning.
After the run we joined up at the booth again to get ready for the walk. The BCAA group consisted had more than 15 registered walkers and armed with signs we were ready to go. On our way to the starting line Polly spotted the Fox News camera and made sure she was interviewed about our reasons to walk. Our name was called by when we passed the starting line and off we went.
It so great to see some many people wearing pink, supporting the Race for the Cure. Survivors, mothers and daughters, husbands and wives, parents and children and friends supporting friends. The ones that made it through the fight years ago and the bald heads from those fighting right now. We are all survivors in one way or another.
Seeing all these people in this sea of pink gives me a lot of hope for the future and one day that we don’t have to come out and “Walk for the Cure”.
But for now was stick with our slogan: Today we walk in October we talk!

For mor information go to www.BCAAMN.org