The day after chemo

Well, the day was pretty much a write off. I had a low level blechy feeling for most of the morning. After consuming half a bag of saltines I managed to feel sufficiently energized to drag my butt out of bed around 1.....not my best day. I was also reading a really good book so I partially blame the low energy on wanting to finish it!
I did revive enough to head down to the boat for a little fresh air. I was a little worried about motion sickness even though we were at dock but it was okay. I think the grape Popsicle helped.
Next up was my cardiac echo, yeah, an easy one no needles.   There was a slight snag as I was told the appointment was at 4:30, but it was actually at 14:30. Fortunately they were able to fit me after just a few minute wait.
My energy level is a little better now. I should be able to brush my teeth before bed which is always a good sign:)
I'm glad I have a steroid for improved energy. I can't imagine how I would be without it. Needless to say I am definitely not suffering from restlessness or twitchyness.  Friday could be very interesting when I am off the drug.

Chemo day 1

What can I say? So far so good. I almost don't want to say anymore for fear of jinxing it but I had to take few steroid pills this morning which means I am a little twitchy so I might as well blather on.
The day started out okay, the appointment was for 9 so I didn't have to get up early. Always a good thing! I decided that we should leave just after 8:30 to walk 4 blocks so we got to the cancer agency a few minutes early (15 minutes). But I ended up getting to my room a few minutes early too so it worked out well. 

We were in the room at the end of the hall so we had a fabulous view over GM Place and BC Place to the mountains.  Such a great start:)  The room itself had 3 chairs in it but I was the only patient in the room.  I suspect that is because it was my first visit so I got one to one care.
My nurse was very nice, she went over all my pills and told me what to take.  Five pills in all, that's a lot for a person who hasn't even been on antibiotics before! Then the IV was put in, I made sure I was well hydrated yesterday so I had nice poppie outie veins; whatever it takes to make this process go more smoothly.

First up was the red drug.  This one can cause tissue damage if it leaks out of the vein so the nurse manually infuses the drug to really watch what is going on.  If I feel any pain I had to tell her but everything went fine.  
Next was the other drug.  This one went in through the IV infuser so my nurse was free to go over the potential side effects and answer any new questions we had.  Most of the information she gave us was covered in one of the many coping with chemo manuals I had but it is still nice to hear the information from a person.

Chemo Shoes!!!!

My lovely friends Laura and Sarah helped me in my preparations for chemo by doing a little shoe shopping with me.  A new pair of Fluevogs is so important to one's mental health.

Although, when we stopped at the yummy doughnut shop and the guy behind the counter asked me if the shoes were purchased for a special occasion, I didn't have the heart to tell him they were for my first day of chemo.

Next up was a little grocery shopping.  I have a ton of information on coping with the side effects of chemo and all the recommended food choices.  Pretty much it meant time to hit SuperStore and buy all sorts of packaged food that we never have in the house.  I admit it, I was kind of excited about the eggos and then we forgot to buy them!  No, I admit it, I forgot them. The shopping list was double sided and I didn't turn it over. *facepalm*
(that's for you suzy. But I didn't think it warranted the double face palm)
It is slightly ironic that I have always eaten fresh, home prepared food because it tastes better and is more healthy yet when I get cancer the books all recommended bland, starchy food.  I just hope my taste buds don't get destroyed. It is bad enough having cancer, but if my taste buds are harmed during treatment I don't know what I will do.

I finished up my last toxic chemical free weekend for the next 24 weeks (yes, 24 weeks, that means January 2013) at the Vancouver Yacht Club with Laura, Ian , and Ian. Thanks for a great evening and hopefully we don't have to wait too long to do it again:)

So, Monday is the first round of chemo. I have promised an update by 5 pm. If I haven't posted anything by then you can fight amongst yourselves to decide who gets to call.

A Haircut & A Bone Scan

On Thursday, I visited my fabulous friend Keetah for a pre-chemo haircut.  My oncologist recommended I cut my hair as it supposedly makes it a little easier to cope with the hair loss if you start with short hair.
I haven't had hair this short in 25 years so it is an adjustment but I am doing my best to channel my inner Katie Holmes.  Now if only I could have her paycheque!

Friday was bone scan day.  A bone scan is not for the faint of heart or the claustrophobic.  It starts out okay, one little 25 gauge needle injection to make me radioactive, and then I wait.  Two hours later the pictures are done.
I lie on a fairly narrow bed with a pillow for my head and behind my knees.  Not bad so far.  Then they add a couple of supports for my arms.....still okay.  Then the tech puts my feet in a pigeon toed position and tapes them in place.  That was weird.  And then I am told not to move.  Uh huh, right.
Next up the bed gets positioned and two large plates, marked low radiation high resolution with a little X in the middle, are moved into place.  One plate is under me, the other above me.  Each plate is about 2 feet by 2 feet.
I am warned that the top plate will get very close to me but to not worry as the plate has a sensor so it won't actually touch.  O-K, but, the machine is made by Siemens, I know their sensors aren't always perfect.  The plate gets closer and closer to my face, it's about an inch a way and it seems to stop then it jerks down a bit more and then a bit more.  I was really beginning to suspect that sensor may not be work and then it stops.
Whew!
So then, I have to lie there with my feet taped together, a plate half an inch from my face and NOT move, and then the tech says she is leaving the room for a minute.  All I can think is that when she comes back all she will find is a Sheryl pancake.
After a few minutes the bed starts to move and eventually my head is out from under the plate.  From that point on, no problem.

Friday evening I got to see all my pals from St. Paul's and have a couple drinks (don't tell anyone, alcohol can cause cancer you know, I don't want to sprout a second head or anything).  It was so wonderful to see everyone, I've missed you guys!!
Your support, prayers, and thoughts mean so much to both me and Ian.

The Background Part II

My adventures as a cancer patient all started after I noticed some changes to my breast and Ian told me I had to see my doctor.  Being 36 I wanted to live in denial but I went to the doctor anyway.  She was concerned and referred me to the Rapid Access Breast Clinic at Mount Saint Joseph Hospital.  That same day I was sent for a mammogram and ultrasound.  I was traveling the following week for my new job so they got me in the next day for core biopsies and a fine needle aspirate of a lymph node.

I spent the following week in Rochester learning lots and doing some shopping.

When I got home is it was back to the doctor to hear the diagnosis of invasive ductal carcinoma.  It was real, I had breast cancer.  I cried a little which scared the doc a bit, but that was okay, he had kleenex.
When I left the doctor I received a wonderful kit created by the BC Cancer Foundation for all newly diagnosed women that has lots of reading material and a very helpful book, "The Intelligent Cancer Patient".  It covers everything from preventing cancer (too late) to initial diagnosis to surgery, chemo, radiation, reconstruction, right through to what to do when you are finally cancer free and everything in between. The kit has already been invaluable.

Next up was a trip to the surgeon.  She was great and went over my test results.  We discussed surgery and reconstruction and I was told that the first step would be chemo to shrink the tumor before any surgery would be done.  The visit was reassuring as it felt like things were really moving and people were doing stuff behind the scenes to get my treatment started.
Right after the surgeon visit it was off for a chest x-ray and some basic bloodwork.  CBCD, INR, Renal and LFT, nothing too weird.

The Background

Hi, and welcome to my blog.  Since you have found me in the giant blogosphere that probably means you have heard that I have been diagnosed with breast cancer.
Before I get into the gory details of how I was diagnosed, what has happened so far, and what happens next, there are just a few housekeeping items to go over.  I know, that sounds like University all over again, but I don't care, this my blog so I can do what I want.

1.   I welcome any comments you may have.  If you say anything mean I will delete it.  I do welcome nice gossip, amusing links or pictures, or anything else fun, entertaining, or supportive that I and the rest of you would enjoy.  Laughter is the best medicine afterall.
2.  You do not have to be a follower of my blog to comment, I think (I'm not really sure what followers are or how you become a follower or anything else about blogs for that matter but that's ok.  I'm here to talk about cancer, not be your tech help desk.)
3.  I don't want to know what followers are or how to be a follower so please don't start sending me comments related to that topic
4.  This might be, on occasion, somewhat graphic.  I am surprised how easy my cancer has been to talk about so far and if I have to suffer through something then everyone else can suffer right along with me.  It will make us all much better friends. 
5. On occasion I may be horribly flippant or irreverant or tell really bad jokes or maybe even get sappy, but probably not the sappy part.  Sappy stuff makes me cry then I can't see the keyboard so what good would that do any of us?
6. Yes, I did steal the title of my blog from a John Hughes movie.  And in truth I am not a big fan of pink so of course I got the pink ribbon cancer.
7. There are likely more things but I can't think of them right now so I reserve the right to add to this list later.

Oh yeah, and pardon my punctuation.  Texting has been very bad on my grammar skills. 


Wow, this has turned into a long post already.  I think I will leave the background stuff for my next post.