Huh, so much for my intention to blog more frequently. Don't worry, you didn't miss anything. The pain is gone and unless you want to read about me blowing my nose all the time due to a lack of nose hair nothing interesting is going on. I'm not even getting the nose bleeds I have read about.
And my hair is still growing:-)
Oh wait, I did have a point to this post, my radiation therapy consult. I believe I left you hanging a couple posts ago about the consult and then with typical chemo brain I completely forgot about it.
Here it is, the radiation oncologist or therapist or whatever she is called is very nice. Not as fabulous as my medical oncologist but still excellent. Although, that may partly be due to the fact that she gave me good news at my consult.
Her plan for me only involves 10 treatments. Since they are daily that means only 2 weeks! If I stick with my current plan of having surgery I would have the surgery first then once I am on the mend from that we would meet again to finalize the radiation plan.
Also, in her mind reconstruction is not totally out the window. Yippee! I can't do immediate recostruction as the radiation can cause all kinds of problems but 1 1/2 to 2 years down the road reconstruction is a definite possibility in her opinion. Now to get my onc and my surgeon on side.
The next step aside from my regular appointments with my oncologist and the chemo nurses will be another consult with my surgeon to ensure that I am still a candidate for surgery. The first time I met with my surgeon was right after my initial diagnosis I was thought to be only stage 3. It is possible that she will less enthusiastic about doing surgery now that it is confirmed that I am stage 4 but hopefully that won't be the case.
In the mean time I still have 8 days until my next chemo marathon. Now, if only mother nature would cooperate and cancel the rain that is in the forecast!
Tuesday 27 November 2012
Monday 19 November 2012
It's Raining......Water
At least it isn't raining cats and dogs. That would just be messy.
Today is Monday, it's raining, and to go with the weather I feel like I have arthritis in my hands and feet. Bleh.
The aches and pains from the taxol started right on schedule Saturday afternoon. Laura, by the time I was home the ache in my left knee was in both my knees, hips, and my left elbow. I think we left at the perfect time!
Since then the aches have moved around a lot. I can't decide if walking helps or not, activity just seems to make the aches shift around. In general it is pretty tolerable but achy eye sockets feel a little funny.
The only other exciting thing is that my hair still hasn't started to fall out again. I even saw some growth in my eyebrows. Yay!
My scalp does feel sensitive right now which used to be the indicator that my hair was about to fall out but the tingliness may just be part of the current achiness.
Hmm. I think that is all I have to say.
Have a lovely afternoon and try not to drown.
Today is Monday, it's raining, and to go with the weather I feel like I have arthritis in my hands and feet. Bleh.
The aches and pains from the taxol started right on schedule Saturday afternoon. Laura, by the time I was home the ache in my left knee was in both my knees, hips, and my left elbow. I think we left at the perfect time!
Since then the aches have moved around a lot. I can't decide if walking helps or not, activity just seems to make the aches shift around. In general it is pretty tolerable but achy eye sockets feel a little funny.
The only other exciting thing is that my hair still hasn't started to fall out again. I even saw some growth in my eyebrows. Yay!
My scalp does feel sensitive right now which used to be the indicator that my hair was about to fall out but the tingliness may just be part of the current achiness.
Hmm. I think that is all I have to say.
Have a lovely afternoon and try not to drown.
Friday 16 November 2012
Some Light Reading
Since it is currently 0030 ( that is half past midnight for those that aren't from lab land) and the hamster in my brain is spinning at mach speed due to the hefty dose of steroid this afternoon I decided to start on my next blog post.
And, now that my brain has started to function a little better I may actually start posting on a more regular basis. We'll see.
Baking is not early as fun when you can't lick the bowl. For the record my neutrophil count was 1.3 on Wednesday so I could get my chemo but that also means my neuts are still dropping during treatment. So, raw eggs raw still banned:(
I also decided tonight (watch out for those steroids they induce deep thoughts. Ha ha vintage SNL - or at least my vintage, I don't actually know when Jack Handy first popped up) that the occasional micro meltdown I have been having is a complete waste of my time. Yes, I admit it, I have definitely had some micro meltdowns and a couple super duper ones, but what can you expect, I was 36 and diagnosed with a stage 4 cancer. Not exactly something to go out and celebrate by doing the can-can!
(if there are any incoherent sentences or random jibber in those post i apologize. Orchid is being helpful by sitting on my lap and trying to walk all over the keyboard)
Anyway, back to the whole waste of time thing. Really, at this point there is no reason to spend a lot of time dwelling on the maybes or what ifs or whatever else a person is supposed to dwell on while having a meltdown. The next step in my future depends on the results of the chemo treatments I'm currently on and then the radiation that follows. Why bother stressing now when I have no idea what the end result of the treatments will be.
Once I have the results of my next pet scan, which will likely happen after chemo is complete, then I can decide if there is a reason to freak out. My energy is low enough right now why waste any of it on something that isn't even finished yet?
Next up, my radiation consult.
And, now that my brain has started to function a little better I may actually start posting on a more regular basis. We'll see.
Baking is not early as fun when you can't lick the bowl. For the record my neutrophil count was 1.3 on Wednesday so I could get my chemo but that also means my neuts are still dropping during treatment. So, raw eggs raw still banned:(
I also decided tonight (watch out for those steroids they induce deep thoughts. Ha ha vintage SNL - or at least my vintage, I don't actually know when Jack Handy first popped up) that the occasional micro meltdown I have been having is a complete waste of my time. Yes, I admit it, I have definitely had some micro meltdowns and a couple super duper ones, but what can you expect, I was 36 and diagnosed with a stage 4 cancer. Not exactly something to go out and celebrate by doing the can-can!
(if there are any incoherent sentences or random jibber in those post i apologize. Orchid is being helpful by sitting on my lap and trying to walk all over the keyboard)
Anyway, back to the whole waste of time thing. Really, at this point there is no reason to spend a lot of time dwelling on the maybes or what ifs or whatever else a person is supposed to dwell on while having a meltdown. The next step in my future depends on the results of the chemo treatments I'm currently on and then the radiation that follows. Why bother stressing now when I have no idea what the end result of the treatments will be.
Once I have the results of my next pet scan, which will likely happen after chemo is complete, then I can decide if there is a reason to freak out. My energy is low enough right now why waste any of it on something that isn't even finished yet?
Next up, my radiation consult.
Thursday 15 November 2012
My Chemo Marathon
Today was treatment number 6. I am officially 3/4 of the way through my treatments!!!
This was also the first time I have had herceptin and taxol on the same day. It turned out to be a 6 hour chemo marathon! Fortunately I had a nurse who loves dogs and has a toller corgi cross. She was happy to find out that stubbornness is a toller trait and it isn't just her dog being crazy.
I also had several different roommates to keep the day interesting.
It is amazing to think I only have 2 more chemo treatments. In a way the time has really flown by while other times have dragged on. For. Ever.
My oncologist also said yesterday it was amazing how much the tumor had shrunk. And the she looked at me and said, "oh. Maybe that wasn't the best wording. Really, I do think these drugs work and it's all scientific. " Who cares! If she's happy, I'm happy. That's the key.
Now, I'm kicking back and relaxing in front of the fire. Pretty soon I should get up and organize some mindless activities. I got heavy dose of Benadryl and dexamethasone before the taxol. The Benadryl should wear off soon so the dexamethasone will probably keep me up until about 0400.
Tomorrow is another big day: consult with my radiation oncologist. We will does the radiation treatment plan plus if or when I will have surgery. Fingers crossed that surgery is a go. I would really like to hack out any tumor bits that may remain after the chemo.
And it should be yet another sunny day tomorrow. Yay!!
This was also the first time I have had herceptin and taxol on the same day. It turned out to be a 6 hour chemo marathon! Fortunately I had a nurse who loves dogs and has a toller corgi cross. She was happy to find out that stubbornness is a toller trait and it isn't just her dog being crazy.
I also had several different roommates to keep the day interesting.
It is amazing to think I only have 2 more chemo treatments. In a way the time has really flown by while other times have dragged on. For. Ever.
My oncologist also said yesterday it was amazing how much the tumor had shrunk. And the she looked at me and said, "oh. Maybe that wasn't the best wording. Really, I do think these drugs work and it's all scientific. " Who cares! If she's happy, I'm happy. That's the key.
Now, I'm kicking back and relaxing in front of the fire. Pretty soon I should get up and organize some mindless activities. I got heavy dose of Benadryl and dexamethasone before the taxol. The Benadryl should wear off soon so the dexamethasone will probably keep me up until about 0400.
Tomorrow is another big day: consult with my radiation oncologist. We will does the radiation treatment plan plus if or when I will have surgery. Fingers crossed that surgery is a go. I would really like to hack out any tumor bits that may remain after the chemo.
And it should be yet another sunny day tomorrow. Yay!!
Friday 9 November 2012
It's Been a Good Week
It has been a good week......Obama won reelection. Yay!
And it has been a bad week.....the east coast getting smacked with a snow storm.
Here we go, one more tribute photo to NYC:
I have been doing very well. The joint pain is a distant memory, my energy level continues to improve, my mom has been visiting so we could get our Christmas baking done (yes, I know it is only November but this is always when we get it done. I can't make rumballs the same days as a Christmas party), and now my dad, brother, and sister-in-law are here as well.
And it is currently sunny:-)
And Happy Friday!!
And it has been a bad week.....the east coast getting smacked with a snow storm.
Here we go, one more tribute photo to NYC:
I have been doing very well. The joint pain is a distant memory, my energy level continues to improve, my mom has been visiting so we could get our Christmas baking done (yes, I know it is only November but this is always when we get it done. I can't make rumballs the same days as a Christmas party), and now my dad, brother, and sister-in-law are here as well.
And it is currently sunny:-)
And Happy Friday!!
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