Breast Cancer Diagnosis (Fall trip plans scrapped)

The radiation oncologist's office had a wall rack display of brochures for a variety of types of cancer; rectal, mouth, brain, etc. I thought as I surveyed the brochures, "If I were to have to choose a brochure it would be the one on breast cancer (it could be way worse)." The two lumps I have in one breast are very small, classified as slow growing (level 1) and will be receptive to hormone therapy. The only bad news is the cancer was invasive, which means it had spent some time outside the duct, infiltrating the nearby tissue. I am scheduled for a segmental resection on September 18th, followed by weeks of radiation. Today I was thrown a curve ball--they have found spots on my spine. At the moment the plan is to biopsy the biggest spot (there are one to two spots on practically every vertebre)to determine if they are cancer or something else (?). I will use the blog to post updates. Please pray for me! I am hanging in there fine because I am supported with the peace from prayers, and from the clear message from God, "Settle in, don't be anxious, trust me!"

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Last Post For This Trip

It's over.  We are parked back at Lake Pleasant. 

They were thoughtful enough to arrange a welcoming committee for us.

Always nice to be greeted by fellow Quackers.

Almost Over

This trip is almost over.  On our last two nights out here, "camped" near the Toutle River.  We are about 125 miles from home at Lake Pleasant.  Heading that way this weekend.  We have had a great time and saw a lot of cool stuff and been able to visit with family.  Just over six weeks.  We are ready to turn around and head out again if only we could.  I guess it is time to start planing a fall trip.

Back Near Eugene

Click Here for Slide Show

Not to compete with Arlyene's video but here are a few still pictures in slide show format that represent the highlights of what we saw on this trip.  This is a YouTube slide show and lasts about 5 minutes.

We are now back in the Eugene area and have an appointment with Cummins in the morning.   All the fun stuff is over and what remains now is just the slog home up I-5.  Feels strange to be driving on regular freeway  after so many miles on two lane highways.

Today my friend Tammy and I ran the Happy Girls Half Marathon and 5K in Bend, Oregon. Tammy ran the half (13 miles)--yeah Tammy! I ran the 5K (3 miles)--came in second in the 65 to 69 age division. It was a fun race! Now for an icy cold beer.

Second place ribbon (33:47)

Tammy at the finish line

Video of our trip

Arlyene composed a three-minute video collage of our trip. You can click on this link to YouTube to watch the video. There is music (soothing--quite nice) so be sure to have your volume turned on.

LAVA BEDS NATIONAL MONUMENT

Lava Beds National Monument was more interesting than we had expected.  Turns out we were in the middle of the largest volcano in the Cascades.  One can just barely see the one side of the rim from the other.  It was the Medicine Lake Volcano and the floor of the valley is miles across and populated with lots of volcanic formations.  It is also a significant place in the history of the "Indian Wars" that followed the Civil War.  It was in these lava fields that the Modoc Tribe made its last stand against the U S Army whose job it was to move them to a reservation in southern Oregon.   The Modoc chief was known a "Captain Jack" and his fortification in the lava fields was one of the places we visited today.  We also did a 2 mile hike to a place where the Modocs had a major battle victory over the Army - their last.

The other attraction to this area are a number of caves formed by the lava flows.  Some have ceiling as high as 80 feet.  We only went in to one.  I guess when you have seen one lava tube cave you have seen them all.  That's probably not true but we did not visit any of the other caves.  The one we visited was cold and damp and it takes a long time for ones eyes to adjust to the darkness.  If you like caves and bats however, this is a good place to visit.

This is not a National Park but a National Monument but it is still run by the park service.  It is pretty far off the beaten path so that combined with the fact that it is early in the tourist season made for no crowds as all.  I don't think we shared a parking lot anywhere with more than one other car except at the visitor's center. Wind, wind, and more wind made some of the hiking in the open or in higher places a little unpleasant.  That kept us from seeing more and kept me from taking more and better pictures.

Hiking back from viewing the battlefield.

Inside the lava beds in Captain Jack's stronghold.

Inside Cave - Pretty Dark Huh!