Here you see The A.C.K. Road Show in Portland getting some Yew and Platinum, as well as the targeted therapy infusions that are reserved for HER2+ lotto winners like myself.
Treatment #2 went without any drama- no sneaky sedative this time so the full effect of the steroid they give you made me a bit of a squirrel girl on speed.
A little Glossary
A.C.K. = Alderbrook Chemo Klinic (Alderbrook is the neighborhood we live in…)
Apoptosis: Programmed cell death. Cancering cells forget all about it and like horney teenagers, they can’t stop reproducing.
HER2+ Lottery: HER2+ refers to the protein receptors we have on some healthy cells in our body, (the Heart for instance) and on the cancer-ing cells of roughly 20% of people diagnosed with breast cancer. While 10 years ago this meant a much more difficult to treat situation, now with the targeted therapies developed in recent years the situation creates a much better prognosis than HER2- cancers. I am receiving 2 such targeted therapies, one of which is new within the last few months. Hence the lotto winner status.
Platinum: Worth more than gold- impervious to corrosion and fueling cell death in my body even as we speak. Think of a big platinum moon shining down on me, inspiring apoptosis of my cancering cells.
Yew: Pacific Northwest native evergreen used to make a breast cancer treatment, and occasionally kill elk.
Riding the Pooka 
Seems somewhat distorted to think these shots of you two are funny, but they made me laugh. The glossary helped…I know Iris you can help me understand my Dad’s recent cancer diagnosis. It seems so complicated to me…this cancer stuff. Thinking of you all daily. Sending love.
Ami can be your hip hop dancing girl! And I can stand around stepping on my own feet, with our without music. We did a hip hop class on Monday, so if you need dancing girls…
Dead brilliant.
Sue S
I love Joe’s expression in the background. Priceless! ;D
I love the expression on Joe’s face. Priceless! 😀
Iris, Greetings from Gladwin where the snow flies freely today. Thank you so much for your blogs. I have been riding my own kind of pooka and your blog is beautiful and strength filled. I could accept that there are no dancing girls, but really, not even a foot massage? Love and blessings, Cheryl
Iris, you look mahvelous, even without hair. Hang in, rest much, stay positive, keep close with your family : love from, Joan
From the SHB in Long Beach – love and light surrounding you all! (SHB small home baker)