Saturday night - Shavua tov (it means 'good week')

More information received today about the biopsy, although just some, not all.

The estrogen/progesterone receptor test was negative, which likely means that Tamoxifen is not in order. The Her2new test was also negative, that's the one about Herceptin, that drug we've all been reading about lately. So none of that either, it seems.

One bit of a plus about the estrogen/progesterone receptor test result is that perhaps they won't be in a rush to remove my ovaries. Cancer treatment concurrent with full-on menopause? I don't think so.

Since Avi is in San Francisco this weekend with his best friend, Asher, he got some lovin' there from old and dear friends. They now notice that he's a real teenager, and he's got it goin' on.

I was supposed to go out with my friend Liz and her toddler daughter tonight, but I'm still feeling under the weather and can't get the energy to do it. I did walk to and from shul (synagogue) today, only 1.6 miles roundtrip, better than nothing.

Walking yesterday was very therapeutic. Being out among Oakland's residents, walking the familiar streets in the cool fall air, moving my body . . . well, I felt renewed and reminded of the contentment and beauty all around me. I was especially impressed yesterday by a group of young people, in their 20s or so I think, Ethiopians who've settled in the Grand Lake area. Their open hearts, their happiness, their pleasure at being together - this all touched my heart in a special way. They've all known sorrow and want, they've all had hard journeys to this place, and still they smile broadly at each other and at me. If only I could capture their joy. I must add those faces to my collection, for they have granted me a respite from worry.

It's ironic that everyone who sees me says how great I look. (Listen, there's no way to soft-pedal that statement, I'm humbled by it.) I'm proud of the way my body has shifted and shrunk some while I've been making better nutritional choices and exercising. If only the way I look now could have some impact on the way a small army of rogue cells is out to get me inside this better body.

I've been getting the feeling that things are going to start moving a lot faster with my treatment. After Heshy's birthday party tomorrow I'll be in full gear for the next set of appointments. And I'll be working, but cautiously searching for ways to keep my clients but not do the work myself.

I've created a list of tasks I'd like done that I cannot do, and I'll be providing contact info to all on this blog about whom to contact. The overwhelming response of the varied and farflung cast of characters (and I mean that in a good way) I call friends has warmed and comforted me.

Harriet told me something today that made me chuckle, so I'll share it to close -- she did not attribute it, but told me that someone said "Between Judith and cancer, cancer should be scared."