Chemo Updates (2nd Treatment, days 6 & on)

I went for fluids on Monday. While I was dehydrated, it wasn't as bad as the first treatment. At the time, I had what I thought was a cold, but that quickly morphed into an upper respiratory infection. I fought it for about a week, but by this past Monday, I knew I needed more help.


My best friends from childhood (Keri & Meghan) came all the way from New York for a visit. They drove through the night Friday night and arrived Saturday morning. We had an awesome time catching up, eating, laughing, eating, laughing... you get the picture. It was awesome. I felt really spoiled that they came all this way to visit me, brought me gifts (Thank you all so much!) and didn't complain once that I coughed on them all weekend long!  Here we are on the hunt for gators...  too bad it was too cold and all the gators were hibernating:

And then they brought me to the doctor on Monday because I just couldn't take it any more.  I was having such terrible coughing fits that I was gasping for breath. Dr. Kotz gave me a z-pack and told me that if I didn't have significant improvement in 24hrs that I'd need to go into the hospital for IV fluids. Um, no thanks. It came down to mind over matter, though I suppose the antibiotics did their thing, but I felt a definite improvement by yesterday and even better today.  I have 2 real goals in mind when it comes to treatment (right now at least): no unexpected hospital stays and no delays in treatment.


My next treatment is in a week. I hear that round 3 & round 5 of chemo are really hard. Not sure if that is true across the board, but I'm not looking forward to it being harder.


I've had sporadic but continued bone pain this time in my hips, knees and across the tops of my feet. I'm tired a lot. I'm really ready for chemo to be done. I guess, though, that I am 1/3 of the way through. 4 more treatments to go...


I'll post more soon. I've been trying to spend my "feel good" time catching up on work. Thanks for reading!!

Chemo Updates (2nd Treatment, days 1-5)

This treatment started much like the last, mostly uneventful. Tired and lots of heartburn. 


On Wednesday, I had my blood work done and then met with Dr. Kotz. He was pleased to see how well my counts rebounded and that my white count was even slightly high as a result of Neulasta doing its thing. We discussed whether or not I should move forward with the hysterectomy while undergoing chemo and it seemed like a consensus: no. Even though I rebounded well and handled the protocol well, why chance an infection post-surgery which could cause a greater set back for my treatment. I'll wait. Maybe until the summer, maybe the fall. It'll still be this year, but there is no real need to rush right now.


My infusion followed. The infusion center was incredibly busy all morning, but otherwise, it was uneventful.  I was tired even before I left this time. And I had the hiccups and heartburn again. Really not the greatest combination, as you can imagine.


Thursday I popped in for my Neulasta shot, then headed down to Dr. Weinberg's office for that follow up. I really can't seem to rave about her enough. Quite honestly, my entire team is awesome. I have a great sense of confidence in them and in my care plan. But there is something really unique about Dr. Weinberg. Anyway. She checked my port and my incisions, asked about my healing and how I was handling chemo. She said she's even learned from me; that she'd automatically break up cording for patients in the future when they presented with significant cording the way I had. She told me it took about 15 minutes to break it up, and that you could hear loud popping throughout the OR while she was doing it. And, even under sedation, I was crying out and calling out in pain as she worked through it.  So glad that happened while I was under anesthesia!  We talked about when I could get my port out and she said it was something she could do in the office. After I picked my jaw up off the floor, she agreed that removing it at the surgical pavilion was probably a better bet for me, especially since the tissues tend to bond to the port, so when they remove it, there's a lot of pulling and tearing.  Yeah, no thanks. Don't care to be awake for that either! As a final note, I explained my continuing dilemma over the order of radiation versus reconstruction to Dr. Weinberg. I'm not all that concerned about the cosmetic outcome (at least not right now, but she laughed and said I would care 4 years from now when the rest of this was history), but I am very concerned about wounds not healing and infections. Dr. Weinberg looked me right in the eyes and told me she was absolutely confident that we got all of that cancer. The rest of my nodes were clear and she got clear margins. She said "Go ahead and take those extra 4 weeks. Get your reconstruction done. We got that cancer." It felt so good to hear those words and hear how confident she is about it. Decision made!  I needed to hear that.


Since then, this treatment has progressed much like the last. I'm very tired. Exhausted, really. Only hints of tummy troubles this time, but lots of trouble with taste and managing to drink fluids. I'm running a low-grade fever again, and woke up this morning to a raw throat. I'm hoping it doesn't get worse, but I am keeping an eye on it. I'm going in for fluids tomorrow, as a precaution since I got so dehydrated last time. And the aches and pains, and dreaded bone pain, have set in.


Only 4 more to go!

Getting Ready for Round 2

Well, folks, it's chemo week again. It will be another busy week full of doctor's appointments. I'm feeling fairly confident as I move closer to the second treatment. I have a better idea of what to expect and how to deal with the side effects. Basically, if I start feeling anything other than normal, there's a pill for that. And I know to call and ask for help if anything new pops up. Cancer is nothing like what I saw in the movies when I was growing up.  All those horrific side effects are controlled with meds. And, while I'm not a fan of pill popping (mostly because I'm always so sensitive to medication), I'm even less a fan of vomiting, diarrhea, bone pain, etc...


I met with Dr. Kays this morning for my second expansion. I did so well that we decided to do a double expansion. He filled me with two syringes full on each side. It feels just a little tight, hardly uncomfortable. I hope it stays that way. If so, I feel confident that I'll have been expanded enough to get the cosmetic results I'm hoping for.  Also, I'm fairly certain that I'll opt to have the 2nd phase of reconstruction before the radiation.


In case you are interested, I snapped a picture of the syringes they use to fill the expanders. I told you they were enormous and scary looking!

I got a message from Dr. Foiles (OB/Gyn) that she and Dr. Kotz discussed the possibility of having my laparoscopic supra-cervical hysterectomy while I am having chemo.  They both seem to agree that leaving my ovaries in any longer than necessary is like tempting fate. I'm surprised that surgery during chemo is an option, but apparently they'll time it based on my counts, waiting until they've come back up while still giving me time to recover from surgery before getting the next chemo infusion.  This isn't a final decision and I'm sure we'll be discussing the option in more detail when we meet with Dr. Kotz this week.


My 2nd infusion is this Wednesday (2/5). I'll have some blood work first. Dr. Kotz will want to see how my counts look before each infusion and we'll chat about the hysterectomy and about how I handled the first round of chemo. Chemo days feel like all-day events. We need to be there by 8:15 for the blood work, then meet with Dr. Kotz, then do the infusion. All in, I'm looking at hanging out in his office from 8:15am until abut 3pm.  At least we have a fun birthday party to look forward to that evening!


Thursday is my post-surgical follow-up with Dr. Weinberg. She always makes me smile. Then, it's off for the dreaded Neulasta shot. My dad and step-mom should be here by the time I get home. It's nice to know, in advance, when my bad days will be so we can really focus in on asking for help on the days we really need it.


I'm so lucky to have family and friends that can help!  I don't say it enough; I am incredibly grateful for all of the help. For the messages, cards, encouragement, for the meals, the visits, the hugs, the help around the house, thank you! I know it is hard for everyone, to be on the outside looking in and wanting to help, wanting to make it better, not knowing what to say. I'm so glad to have you all in my life. And whether you say something, or nothing at all, thank you for being there!

The Shave

It is foolish to tear one's hair in grief, as though sorrow would be made less by baldness.  ~Cicero


Did you know you need an Rx for a wig if the insurance company is going to cover it?  Here's how it reads:

After waiting out the icy roads for days, I finally made it to Sheila's Wigs for my fitting. Of course, part of that process was to shave off any remaining hair. It was emotionally challenging to get through this, but by the time we left Sheila's, I didn't feel so terrible after all.


Here's the video of Sheila shaving my head. I'll warn you that it's hard to watch; I cry and I look like a cross between a Dalmation and the "Stop the Insanity" lady. Or maybe more like G.I. Jane?  Anyway, it's not pretty: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UxluRwYZ-RU&feature=c4-overview&list=UUzjO1MJu_-_MpH7mnB1JsPg


Now, I know you are all wondering which wig won (how's that for alliteration?!). Drumroll, please.......

Wig #1, with some minor changes to the style, won the day.




BUT....
While we were there, I tried on this wig (and kind of fell in love).  I wasn't 100% sure about the color. It looks blonder in person than in this picture. Sheila is ordering the same one in that reddish brown (from Wig #3 that everyone loved) and I'll go back in a couple of weeks to decide.

Sorry to disappoint those that voted for #3. It was really pretty but I couldn't deal with the short bang.


And while I'm at it, I want to share with you the kind of levity my wonderful husband brings to all of those anxious appointments.


Here's Doug at the wig shop:

Shall we vote on his hairpiece too?  Lol!

And here he is at the Plastic Surgeon's office, where I nearly lost it at the idea of the huge needle piercing me for the first fill of the expanders...

He looks good, even in a pink paper gown =)