Home for Two Weeks Today

I have been feeling well and out walking on most days. My mother was with me for a week, and I have had help in the afternoons. The weather has been quite nice and condusive to being outside. Other than a sore belly, I feel fine. Friends have been providing wonderful dinners and comfort for me. The pathology report showed that one of the growths was cancerous and the other was not. There was no evidence of spread to lymph glands or anywhere else. It was a big surgery, to remove a little bit of disease. I will meet with my doctor at Dana Farber on 12/1 to determine the next step. I hope to next publish good news.Meanwhile, have a happy Thanksgiving with family!

Home from the Hospital

I am home from the hospital and doing quite well. I have had 2 walks today outside.
Thanks for all your well-wishing.
Maura

Successful Surgery

Many thanks for all the kind messages. The surgery was successful. Other than the cysts there was no other evidence of a recurrence of the disease. They were removed without damage to anything else. Chris Awtry had to work long and hard to achieve this result. We are very grateful to him. This should keep Maura in remission. The patient is already plotting her escape from the hospital. She will start walking tonight, by the morning it will probably be hard to keep up with her. Catch her if you can!

Surgery again, November 3rd, 2009

Unfortunately some golf ball size cysts need to be removed from my abdomen. So I am going into Beth Israel for surgery on November 3rd. We are not sure of the extent of the surgery, but it will most likely be followed by chemo at Dana Farber. There are some new protocols which I will find out about next week from my medical oncologist at Dana Farber.

Meanwhile, I am off to Tucson for a conference on Socially-responsible investing from Sunday, October 25th, through Wednesday, October 28th.

Hoping for a good recovery. Maura

TRAINING FOR THE PAN-MASS CHALLENGE
I have had my ups and downs in the last few months. I have been travelling, and now write from South Dartmouth, Mass., where we reside for the summer months. While here, I suddenly felt much better and decided to train for a shorter version than the original PMC (Sturbridge to Provincetown). So I will do a 47-mile bike-a-thon on Sunday, August 2nd which is a loop out of Wellesley (Babson College, where I went to Business School). If you are interested in sponsoring me, I would appreciate the contribution toward my goal of raising $1,000 for the Jimmy Fund. This benefits Dana-Farber Cancer Institute directly (where I have been receiving my care). My PMC ID 58737-4 and the egift ID is MP0203. Thanks for your generosity.

Off to Italy

Since my CA125 is 5 and my CT scan is clear, I am traveling to Italy. I am going with a group here in Concord which is retracing the steps of the Transcendentalists in Rome, Siena and Florence. We are leaving Concord on Thursday night, 3/19 and returning on the evening of 3/29 (Sunday). We have many things to do and see. I will go tonight to pick my final itinerary and bags. It will feel strange to be going without my family, but Bill has assured me that he will have things under control here. See you in April!! Spring is right around the corner.

Consider Donating to Dana Farber

My breast biopsies were benign so I am out of the woods for now. I will be monitored every 3 months going forward.

Which brings me to the next topic: Dana Farber. Since they have been so good to me, I would love for you to consider donating. A friend of mine, Ruth Beberman, (a sarcoma survivor) is running in the marathon on April 20th to raise money for Dana Farber. To sponsor her online: www.rundfmc.org/ruthb2009. She is very kind to run in my name and other friends. She looks great, by the way!

I even have hair these days, although it is all grey!!

Road to Recovery

It has been too long. Nathaniel and I have to post some pictures from the Galapagos Islands. It was a wonderful trip. Pictures would probably best describe the creatures we met there. We went with great friends and their family. We saw sea lions (everywhere), fur seals (more reclusive), iguanas, blue footed boobies, penguins, sperm whales, and more...

It was a tough transition back to a New England Winter. I was immediately met with news that my breast biopsy (done 12/23) was benign (atypical ductal dysplatia), but that my oncologist wanted it removed...easier said than done. After a whirlwind of medical tests and images, the very minor surgery took place on Friday at MGH. I am awaiting the results of that biopsy, which should be no surprise.

My joint pains seems to be abating and my hair is even growing (white)!!