Break's Over... Moving On

Well, my three-week recovery period is over.  I met with my oncologist today to discuss the next phase of my treatment.  First though, I had blood work.  My red blood count is still very low.  That's surprising to me.  Also, my BP was high.  Anyhow, the doctor says I'm doing well.  For the past two weeks or so, I've been unusually quiet.  I've been down, but for no apparent reason.  I've considered many causes, but still couldn't put my finger on it.  Dr. T. said it's actually pretty common and it's much like postpartum depression.  He called it post-chemo depression.  Looks like I'm not crazy after all.

I will meet with the newest member of my medical team, my radiation oncologist, next Wednesday.  On that day, we will plan out the entire radiation treatment schedule.  Hopefully, radiation will begin the following Monday (Oct 11) and finish on Friday, Nov 19th.  We will see!

In the meantime, I'll have my post-chemo heart echo-cardiogram this Friday.  I will continue having my Herceptin treatments every three weeks and seeing my oncologist every 6 weeks.  I had a treatment today.  I will have 13 more treatments, which will continue through June 2011.

I'm starting to live by my calendar.  As it looks right now, here's my schedule:

10/1 - Echo
10/6 - Consultation w/ Radiation Oncologist
10/10 - 11/19 - Radiation Treatments (daily)
10/20 - Herceptin treatment
11/10 - Dr. visit and Herceptin treatment
11/24 - Herceptin treatment
12/1 - Dr. visit and Herceptin treatment

So, this is progress.  We'll have to see when the reconstructive surgery will take place.  It will either be just before Christmas, or at the beginning of the year.  I like the idea of having everything done before the end of the year, just so I won't have to carry any major phase over into 2011.  I'll follow the doctors' advice.

Please keep the prayers flowing.

Hair Humor

Summer 2010

What an unusual summer.  All I can say is, "Good riddance, summer", and "Welcome, fall"!!  Just like the deciduous trees, I plan to shed some old toxic cells in order to prepare for fresh, new healthy ones.  Yeah, that's pretty much how you feel after 8 rounds of chemo.  :-)

Just Some Rambling

It was nice to have a Thursday without having to go to the clinic.  :-)  I love the staff there, but it was nice to not need a treatment or a shot this week.  Unfortunately, this will be short-lived.  I'll be there at least every 3 weeks for the next year.

Dr. T said if my white blood count is going to drop, it will take about two weeks for it to do it.  Now that it's been 9 days since my last chemo, I'm being careful. Against Terry's recommendation, I went to the hospital this morning to sit with a dear family of mine as my friend was in surgery.  Tricia is another cancer survivor, times 2.  Yes, this is her 3rd bout with cancer, but this time, it was pancreatic.  Notice, I said "was".  The surgery was very complicated, lasted over 8 hours, but is believed to be successful.  Yay!!!  Cancer-free times three.  Praise God!!  Anywho, I went to the hospital today.  Not only do I have to avoid germs, but also cuts and scratches.  This should be an interesting couple of weeks.

I'm doing well tonight.  My pain was unexpectedly bad on Monday, but got a little better each day thereafter.  Since I didn't have the Neulasta shot last week, I didn't expect the pain.  My side effects right now, other than the pain, include discoloration of feet, numbness, swelling, oh and I'm losing eyelashes and eyebrows too.  On the bright side, my hands are starting to look a bit normal and I see fuzz growing on my head.  :-)  I can't wait to see how my new hair looks.  I'm sure it will be curly, but I wonder about the color.  As long as it's not gray, I'm okay with it.  I still crave lots of water and have low energy level.

I think I will begin my post-chemo detox on Sunday.  I just need to find one item that I haven't been able to find yet - dried hydrangea root tea.  Hmmm... I wonder how much different I'll feel.  I'm told I'll feel different from the start.  If you're curious about my detox, you can read about it here.

I know I'm rambling, but I took a pain pill about an hour ago and I'm getting sleepy.  I have nothing planned for tomorrow morning, so I plan to sleep in!  Have a wonderful weekend!

Chemo = Finished

Today, I had my last chemotherapy infusion.  Eight rounds are DONE!!  I didn't ring the bell.  I didn't let them make a big announcement in the treatment room.  I just celebrate in my heart.  Back in May with I was preparing for this phase of treatment, it seemed like September 9th was a world away!  Well, we made it.

 
I say "we" because I could not have made it without you all.  The prayers, the encouraging words, the meals, the cards, the visits, the calls.  Every gesture of love has been so uplifting to me.  My mother has been there for me in every way, and I can only imagine how difficult it is to see your child go through a cancer journey.  She has been a pillar of strength for me.  My father has been encouraging too.  He couldn't come to tend to me like my mother has, but his prayers surely reached God's ears.  :-)  And, oh... my network breast cancer survivors!!  You ladies are priceless!!  Thank you for sharing your story with me and blessing me in ways only YOU know.  I must call you by name: Regina, Tricia, LeAn, Liz, Rhonda, Veronica, Denise W., Janice, Joan, Tessie, Bettye, Corinne, Carla, Denise H. (hang in there).  I could go on and on, but you know who you are.  :-)  I love you all so much.  Thank you.

Dr. Tauer told me today that I have handled the treatments SO very well!!!  He said it as if that's not so usual.  I've come to love the workers at The West Clinic very much.  So many of them are "Jesus" to their patients.  Their warm smiles and greetings are sincere.  They cry with their patients and celebrate with their patients.  It's a great place, indeed.  My blood work numbers will slowly but surely return to normal.  I have been experiencing hot flashes, so I've been told.  Only time will tell if this "menopause" is temporary or permanent. For now, I will allow my body to recover for three weeks, then see Dr. T. on Sept 29th to check blood work and schedule radiation treatments.  I'll undergo radiation for 6 weeks (30 rounds) and continue having my Herceptin infusion every three weeks - for a whole year.  Then, there's reconstruction which will happen after radiation.  Yes, chemo is finished, but there is still quite a bit more to this journey.  I'm just so blessed to be covered in prayer through it.

Strange Feelings

Tonight, I thought back to the day I was diagnosed with cancer.  It was a Monday morning and the news hit me like a ton of bricks.  I cried a bit off and on the first 2-3 hours, but mostly I felt dazed.  I couldn't concentrate on anything.  I was shaky.  I started grinding my teeth.  Simply put, I just KNEW I was dreaming.  This lasted until I laid down for a nap that afternoon.  When I was awakened by a confirmation call from the West Clinic for a consultation with my oncologist, it was confirmed for me that this indeed was NOT a dream.  Since then, I haven't shed a tear nor felt anything like those first few hours.

Now that I'm about to take my last chemotherapy, I'm still a bit emotionally nonreactive.  I'm glad to be coming to the end of this phase of treatment, but I'm not giddy about it as most would expect.  I'm not nervous about radiation.  I just read a lot in order t know what to expect.  Sometimes, this emotional stagnation concerns me.  Other times, I believe it's God strengthening me (answers to the many prayers).  I guess, in a nutshell, I go through each day not feeling like this is any "big deal".  See how strange that sounds?

Big Week

This week is finally here.  This Thursday, September 9, will be my last chemotherapy treatment!!  Thank you, Lord, for the strength to make it this far and for the family and friends who have helped me, encouraged me, and prayed for me through these treatments.

I will give my body time to recover before meeting with Dr. T in three weeks to discuss my radiation therapy regimen.  Progress...gotta love it!