Can you believe it's been one year since my last chemo? How can it seem like a million years ago and just yesterday all at the same time? Time flies when you’re … well, maybe it actually wasn't much fun.
But really, I am amazed at how quickly the year has gone. Just think, in just four years, I'll be considered in remission! So happy cancerversary to me!
And while this past year hasn't been the best, I am still extremely thankful...
...for my amazing husband who never fails to show me how much I mean to him.
...for my wonderful children who learned far more about breast cancer than anyone their age ever should.
...for the support of my family and friends.
...for the new friends I have made and for old ones I have reconnected with (thanks, Facebook!)
...for the doctors and nurses who treated me, especially my plastic surgeon!
...that my hair is growing back with curls, even though I look like I have an afro if I don't do something with it.
...that I look good in pink--I have a lot of that color in my closet now.
...that every day is one step closer to being considered free from cancer.
Since October is breast cancer awareness month, please pray of all the mothers, wives, daughters, granddaughters, nieces, etc. with breast cancer. Reach out and support them. A call, card, or meal is more appreciated than you'll ever know.
Showing posts with label Chemo. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Chemo. Show all posts
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
I'm Done!
With chemo that is. Last Thursday was the last time poison will be sent coursing through my veins. Scott, Mom, Dad, Becky, and Mary joined me for the final step in this part of my journey.
A huge thanks to all of the nurses at the St. Louis Breast Cancer Institute. They are truly awesome women! Here is Sandra flushing out my port for the last time.
My amazing husband is a continued support for me.
Mary took me to chemo while mom was out of town. She was always there with gifts, flowers, and fun things for the girls.
With everything that Becky is doing to prepare for my niece and nephews, she always had time for me. She is much more than a sister.
A huge thanks to all of the nurses at the St. Louis Breast Cancer Institute. They are truly awesome women! Here is Sandra flushing out my port for the last time.
I got to wear the feather boa and crown while everyone cheered and bubbles were blown.
My amazing husband is a continued support for me.
He takes such good care of us.
Mom and Dad are truly awesome. Mom went with me to almost every session while Dad watched the girls. I couldn't have made it through without them.
Mom and Dad are truly awesome. Mom went with me to almost every session while Dad watched the girls. I couldn't have made it through without them.
Mary took me to chemo while mom was out of town. She was always there with gifts, flowers, and fun things for the girls.With everything that Becky is doing to prepare for my niece and nephews, she always had time for me. She is much more than a sister.
I was so excited to be done, I bought myself a present! The girls are head over heels!
Meet our new family member, Quincy. She a nine-week old Pug.
Now were getting to the exciting part! I just can't wait for my hair, eyebrows, and eyelashes to grow back! I'm scheduled to see Dr. Coplin in six weeks to talk about follow up strategy which will include Tamoxifen and periodic testing. In the meantime, I'm scheduled for the first of three reconstruction surgeries on October 21.
Friday, May 30, 2008
Chemo #2
The second chemo is over and today I feel pretty good.
It took the nurses quite a long time to find a vein that would work. They ended up sticking me three times before they finally got it to work. The bad news is that now I have to get a port--another surgery. I know it will be better in the long run. But it really sucked to hear it yesterday.
This time Charlene (my wonderful nurse) started with the A drug. Its the red one administered by syringe through my IV. After that was the C drug. It was a slow process and I'm glad I've got two under my belt.
When I got home I did some work at the table and then moved with my computer to the couch where I sat until Scott got home. I took some anti-nausa medicine as soon as I started to feel a little bad. After that I went to bed for a bit. When Scott got me up for dinner, I was feeling OK and then much better after eating. I took a sleeping/anti-nausa pill and slept really well.
On another note, my hair is falling out pretty rapidly. Not in clumps (at least not yet), but in many strands. It was hard to eat breakfast without getting hair in my food and that's just gross. So tonight I plan to say goodbye to my hair. Don't worry, we'll take pictures!
It took the nurses quite a long time to find a vein that would work. They ended up sticking me three times before they finally got it to work. The bad news is that now I have to get a port--another surgery. I know it will be better in the long run. But it really sucked to hear it yesterday.
This time Charlene (my wonderful nurse) started with the A drug. Its the red one administered by syringe through my IV. After that was the C drug. It was a slow process and I'm glad I've got two under my belt.
When I got home I did some work at the table and then moved with my computer to the couch where I sat until Scott got home. I took some anti-nausa medicine as soon as I started to feel a little bad. After that I went to bed for a bit. When Scott got me up for dinner, I was feeling OK and then much better after eating. I took a sleeping/anti-nausa pill and slept really well.
On another note, my hair is falling out pretty rapidly. Not in clumps (at least not yet), but in many strands. It was hard to eat breakfast without getting hair in my food and that's just gross. So tonight I plan to say goodbye to my hair. Don't worry, we'll take pictures!
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Hair Today, Gone...
It started last night. After my shower I combed out the knots in my hair. I noticed a huge amount of hair in the comb.
This morning as I ran my fingers through my hair I ended up with another mass of hair in my hands. I put my hair up in a clip hoping to contain it for the day. It seemed to work.
Evidently this is how it begins.
Tomorrow at 10 a.m. is chemo #2.
I'll keep you updated.
This morning as I ran my fingers through my hair I ended up with another mass of hair in my hands. I put my hair up in a clip hoping to contain it for the day. It seemed to work.
Evidently this is how it begins.
Tomorrow at 10 a.m. is chemo #2.
I'll keep you updated.
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Last Visit to Surgeon and First Chemo
This blog has turned out to be very therapeutic for me…I love the thoughts, prayers, and words of encouragement--they strengthen my resolve!
Wednesday was my last visit to Dr. Radford (surgeon). She took some of the tape off and checked my incisions. They all look good (or at least as good as they can for what they are). My range of motion in my left arm is much better that it was last week, but definitely not what it was before surgery. I'm going to see a physical therapist next Wednesday to get a little help. Working out as often as I do makes me wonder about those people who don't and what their range of motion is like.
Next we visited with Dr. Coplin (medical oncologist). Good news is that my bone scan and CT scan were clean. I do have a cyst on my left ovary, but because my genetic test was also negative, they aren't very concerned. Now I just need to see my OBGYN. I am really going to be sick of doctors!
Then it was time for my first chemo. Because they can only take blood from my right arm now, it took a while to find a good vein. Unfortunately, the left was my better arm for needles! We started with a bag of saline, then added a small bag of nausea medicine and steroids. The 'C' (Cyclophosphamide) part of the AC was first. It was also done through a drip and took about an hour to administer. 'A' (Adriamycin) was next. It was bright red and added to my IV very slowly via hypo. In the event your curiousity is killing you and you just have to know all about the various chemo drugs, you can find all of the information here.
I felt pretty good when we finally left. Scott took me to lunch and then home so I could do some work. I picked up some new computers for work and then took Bella to get her dance pictures taken. It was then that I started to feel bad. I didn't expect it to hit me that bad and that fast. By the time I got home, I felt very sick to my stomach.
I didn't throw up, but I felt like I could. By the morning, I was a little better--feeling more like I was in the early months of pregnancy. I kept up with my meds today and ate small frequent meals and that seemed to help. I still don't feel like myself, but much better than last night. Plus I am keep my meds with me at all times so I don't feel so bad again.
Today I had to go back and get a shot of Newlasta to up my white blood cells. Side effects could be bone pain, but so far, I feel OK.
I have three more cycles of 'AC' and then start the Taxol, which is not supposed to make me sick. But now I know what to expect and how to handle it the best I can. I know I can get through it.
Wednesday was my last visit to Dr. Radford (surgeon). She took some of the tape off and checked my incisions. They all look good (or at least as good as they can for what they are). My range of motion in my left arm is much better that it was last week, but definitely not what it was before surgery. I'm going to see a physical therapist next Wednesday to get a little help. Working out as often as I do makes me wonder about those people who don't and what their range of motion is like.
Next we visited with Dr. Coplin (medical oncologist). Good news is that my bone scan and CT scan were clean. I do have a cyst on my left ovary, but because my genetic test was also negative, they aren't very concerned. Now I just need to see my OBGYN. I am really going to be sick of doctors!
Then it was time for my first chemo. Because they can only take blood from my right arm now, it took a while to find a good vein. Unfortunately, the left was my better arm for needles! We started with a bag of saline, then added a small bag of nausea medicine and steroids. The 'C' (Cyclophosphamide) part of the AC was first. It was also done through a drip and took about an hour to administer. 'A' (Adriamycin) was next. It was bright red and added to my IV very slowly via hypo. In the event your curiousity is killing you and you just have to know all about the various chemo drugs, you can find all of the information here.
I felt pretty good when we finally left. Scott took me to lunch and then home so I could do some work. I picked up some new computers for work and then took Bella to get her dance pictures taken. It was then that I started to feel bad. I didn't expect it to hit me that bad and that fast. By the time I got home, I felt very sick to my stomach.
I didn't throw up, but I felt like I could. By the morning, I was a little better--feeling more like I was in the early months of pregnancy. I kept up with my meds today and ate small frequent meals and that seemed to help. I still don't feel like myself, but much better than last night. Plus I am keep my meds with me at all times so I don't feel so bad again.
Today I had to go back and get a shot of Newlasta to up my white blood cells. Side effects could be bone pain, but so far, I feel OK.
I have three more cycles of 'AC' and then start the Taxol, which is not supposed to make me sick. But now I know what to expect and how to handle it the best I can. I know I can get through it.
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
Drain Free!
My first visit today was with Dr. Coplin, one of the oncologists at the St. Louis Breast Cancer Institute. I'll be starting chemo on May 14 with four cycles of a chemo treatment called AC. AC is made up of two chemo drugs--Adriamycin and cyclophosphamide. They prevent any possible remaining cancer cells from dividing and growing and can eventually cause the cancer cells to shrink and die.
The four cycles will run every other week for 2-2 1/2 hours each. On day 16 after I start chemo, I will lose my hair. And as much as I was dreading this part, I'm really OK with it now. At least I think I am. We'll probably go look at wigs this week.
Once the AC is over, I'll start weekly treatments of Paclitaxel. The whole course of treatment will take approximately five months.
After Dr. Coplin, we met with Dr. Radford. She checked my incisions and took out my drains. Such a relief not having those bags stuck on me.
I came home, put on a regular bra and added my fake pad to the left. Funny, now the left side looks better than the right!
Tomorrow, we meet with Dr. Beat the radiation oncologist. Dr. Coplin doesn't believe that I need radiation, but Dr. Radford does. We'll see tomorrow what Dr. Beat says.
Friday I'm doing a CAT scan and bone scan to make triple sure there's not any cancer elsewhere.
The four cycles will run every other week for 2-2 1/2 hours each. On day 16 after I start chemo, I will lose my hair. And as much as I was dreading this part, I'm really OK with it now. At least I think I am. We'll probably go look at wigs this week.
Once the AC is over, I'll start weekly treatments of Paclitaxel. The whole course of treatment will take approximately five months.
After Dr. Coplin, we met with Dr. Radford. She checked my incisions and took out my drains. Such a relief not having those bags stuck on me.
I came home, put on a regular bra and added my fake pad to the left. Funny, now the left side looks better than the right!
Tomorrow, we meet with Dr. Beat the radiation oncologist. Dr. Coplin doesn't believe that I need radiation, but Dr. Radford does. We'll see tomorrow what Dr. Beat says.
Friday I'm doing a CAT scan and bone scan to make triple sure there's not any cancer elsewhere.
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