A Quick UPdate!!!

As I type this I am having my last Taxol treatment!  A weight is lifting.  I might float right up to the ceiling when all the steps have been completed for my cancer treatment!

I am looking forward, now, to the next step, SURGERY.

I will have another MRI the end of next week to see how effective the chemotherapy has been.  Also another blood test to see how my blood cell counts are doing and my bone marrow and all that fun stuff.  So far my body has held up amazingly!!!  It's especially amazing because I have been having the dose dense regime (every 2 weeks instead of every 3).  Truly the result of blessings, prayers, and all of you out there putting my name in the Temple!  Thank You!!!  Words don't even express.

If all goes well with the MRI and blood test I am hoping to schedule my surgery for March 28th.
I will be having a mastectomy with sentinel lymph node dissection (but may have to have the axillary lymph node dissection - where they take all the lymph nodes on that side, well not all, but most).

So, on to recovery from this last round.  I'm hoping the neuropathy doesn't get too bad.  But, I am just so happy it's the last!!!

More to come!
Hugs to everyone...we all need them!

Sitting in Infusion getting 6th round!

Well the end of the tunnel is visible.  I can see a glimmer of light!  After today I will have only two more rounds!  Wow!  So four more weeks to go.

I am hoping that the side effects of this round of chemo (Taxol) will not be quite as bad as last time.  My oncologist toned it down just a little bit (the dosage) because I had raised liver enzymes.  Not good, but not quite alarming.  They were elevated only just slightly.  So, I am hoping this time around will be a little more manageable.  I had pretty severe neuropathy and nerve pain throughout my body.  I am pretty used to having muscle pain (having dealt with fibromyalgia for the past 16 years).  But, nerve pain is an entirely different story!  I will be trying the Acetyll L carnitine supplement this time to see if it will help will the pain (thanks Karen Durrant for the suggestion - my cancer buddy!).


I am planning to do some serious celebrating when this part is over.  Anyone know of a spa that uses only non-toxic products?  Would love to get a facial and mani-pedi! 
Then when I am completely done with everything?  Watch out!!!  


Again, thank you to EVERYONE who has gone beyond the call of duty to help us out with food, watching kids, cleaning, and all the Jamba Juice runs (thanks Katie!) and the most important a listening ear!!!


Hugs

5 rounds down...3 to go!!!

I am over the hump and on the downhill slope of chemotherapy!  Last Tuesday, the 24th of January, was my first round of the second half of treatment.  I am doing Taxol treatments now and will be done March 8th, if all my blood counts continue to look good!


So glad that I am done with the extra nasty chemo.  I am hoping that the next 5 1/2 weeks will be a little easier than the last eight weeks have been!  So far it is much more tolerable.


I have learned a lot in the last few months.  Here are just some of my random thoughts...


1.   Cancer has shown me who I really am, which I already knew.  But, it's like being given a microscope and you are given a glimpse as to how Heavenly Father sees you!
2.   The things that you always knew weren't very important REALLY ARE NOT important and you have no choice but to let them go.
3.   The love, help and prayers from family and friends, and faith in God can get you through ANYTHING!
4.   What a gift it is to be able to hold my children.
5.   I appreciate the tiny little increases of energy and the moments I am given not to have to be in bed!  These moments give me hope for complete recovery and helps me look forward to returning to 100% and pay it forward.
6.   There are so many ways that it could be worse.  I actually appreciate my current situation.  I know that sounds strange!
7.   A positive mental attitude (pma) can make the most terrible thing (you think) tolerable and even life evolving and enriching.
8.   Nurses and other healthcare workers that truly love their work are little angels on earth!
9.   Hair is really not that important but sure does keep your head warm!


On the horizon...surgery.  Most likely I will have my mastectomy surgery toward the end of March or beginning of April.


But, I am focusing right now on getting through this first step of treatment and finishing strong.


I have been racking my brain (chemo brain sometimes!) on a great way to celebrate finishing chemotherapy.  If any of you have any ideas I would love to hear about them.


A big, huge THANK YOU to everyone that have brought us dinners, watched our children, and cleaned our house.  Words cannot express how amazing you all are!  


Hugs and blessings,
Becky

2 down, 6 to go!

It's bad, so bad.  But, it could be so much worse!  I realize that.  The fatigue is overwhelming at times.  The muscle pain was worse this time around.  Nausea comes in waves (especially with smells, sounds and bumps to the bed) but, is manageable with the meds.  And...I lost my hair with this last round.


I didn't prepare myself for how painful losing my hair would be.  The first round made my hair follicles tingly, but this time each follicle was on fire!  It was a burning pain.  Sherwood shaved my head for me.  That took the pain down a couple notches which was very helpful!  It was quite a shock to see myself for the first time in the mirror.  I still can't really look at myself with patchy stubble all over my head!  Not the greatest look.


My next round is Dec. 27th.  Hopefully I will have a good couple of days to enjoy with my family before I start it all over again.


Thank you Dr. Lewis for highly recommending the port-a-cath!  It's made the awful a little more manageable.  Not having to get poked makes it better!


I wish everyone a very Merry Christmas!  May you hug your loved ones a little tighter, realize you are blessed a little more and have a larger measure of peace this time of year!!!


Hugs,
Becky

Chemo round #1

Well I made it through the first day of the first round of chemo.  It was not bad at all.  I think having the port-a-cath really helped with that.  I barely felt anything.

The nurse first gave me the anti-nausea medicine (quite a "cocktail") through the "iv" in the port.  Then she pumped in the first drug.  The second drug was "dripped" in so it took a little longer.  But, it all took only 2 1/2 hours.  So, not too bad.

I'm starting to get a little tired and "fuzzy".  Just waiting for the fatigue to set in and hoping to keep the nausea at bay!

One down, seven to go.

Hugs.  

Oncologist and chemo

Things are moving right along!  It was a super busy week.

I met with my second oncologist on Wednesday.  She is very matter of fact (which is how I like it come to find out!).  The unanimous opinion is that I start chemo before having the surgery (neoadjuvant chemotherapy) and I concur.  So, I will be starting on November 29th.  It will be every two weeks for 16 weeks.  I will be able to have it at Alta View Hospital.  Then, after chemo I will have the surgery, which will put it around the end of March or early April (hopefully after spring break!).

Thursday I had the lymph node biopsy (still a little sore today, but healing).  Hoping the results comes back clean.  If not, I will have to have lymph nodes (on the one side) removed when I have the mastectomy.

Friday, I went to the dentist and got my mouth all taken care of before I start chemo.  All these things you have to take care of that you just don't think about!!!

I am thankful for ALL the people that have gone before me that have blogged and written about their experiences.  It will hopefully make my experience a little more tolerable!

We are still waiting for the genetic test to come back as well.  Should be hearing back this week.  That will change up some decisions if I have the breast cancer gene (BRCA 1 or BRCA 2).

Just a couple more doctors appointments this coming week.  AND...gearing up for a good Thanksgiving, maybe sneak in a little pampering, and try to get as much done to prepare for Christmas as I can.  Hoping my energy level cooperates!

Oh, and everyone has been asking if I need anything or if they can do anything for me.  I really appreciate it.  To help with this I have created a list of things I will need during chemo and some things I would like on my wish list with Amazon.com.  Let me know if you would like to look at it and I will send you the link.  (privacy issues as this is a public blog).  Thanks!

Thanks for your continued prayers.

Hugs,
Becky