1/2 Way There!

This last Thursday was my 3rd chemo visit. I am halfway there! Only 3 more visits until I can kiss the sick goodbye!!!
I cannot stress enough how awful it is to be sick. The 3rd round was bad. I also did a 5K breast cancer awareness walk 2 days after treatment, which wasn't super smart. I spent the next two days paying for it. But I had to do it, and this is why. I can't DO anything about this cancer. I can't help myself. I am very reliant upon doctors and technology, insurance companies, friends and family for the breath I take every day. This might sound dramatic, but it's true. I know, ultimately God is in charge of all...I feel that. But by walking the 5K, it was my own way of giving something back. I felt like it was something I could do....it's just walking. I can do that. Maggie came, as well as Kelsey and Coral (friends) who plugged along with me. I felt like it was worth it!
Sunday I attended a luncheon held by my new plastic surgeon in honor of breast cancer survivors. He had well over 260 women show up. It was literally like a wedding reception...so beautiful! This guy specializes in a procedure called DIEP. I was super impressed with him and how happy his patients were, so this event was invaluable to me! This new surgery will happen sometime in February and I should be good to go by summer for swimming lessons.
Also, a new little development...I go in for blood tests every week. Today was blood test day. It's usually just a quick 10-20 minute procedure and I'm out. Today, however, my blood test came back all wonky. My platelets are very low. I knew I was super tired this week and sometimes I'll catch myself staring at something and not even knowing why. It's a strange kind of tired. Not exhausted, not sleepy, just tired. Like I'm weak. So seeing my blood results today wasn't a huge surprise, but my doctor didn't like it. She had to look at it and retest it and worry about it, but ultimately I just went home. No fever, no problems right now. I'm calling it a chemo side-affect. That's what it's supposed to do, kill my cells and make me tired. They were worried because I take a shot after chemo called Neulasta which boosts my blood cells and they have always tested great. But not today. Like I said, chemo's working!
Some great news...my floors are all being installed this week! They are fabulous. Absolutely gorgeous and I love, love LOVE, them! I'll post some pictures next week at completion.
As for this weekend, stay safe and have a wonderful Halloween!!!

Lately...

You want to know what's going on? It's been awhile since I gave anything newsy, so here goes!
I had my second chemo appointment. I didn't want to go. The idea that actual blood gets taken from my chest (I know, I know...I already told you about this) and when it's done they say things like, "Oh, good blood return!" like I'm not in a horror film. Because I am in a horror film on chemo days. I don't like blood, guts, tampering with body parts, or anything of the sort. I actually cried from anxiety. I can't remember the last time I cried from anxiety...not even when I was claustrophobic. I was ridiculous which made the nurses all sad for me. Once the blood was drawn, I was fine. But you know what they gave to me next? Ativan. I didn't know about Ativan...I had been prescribed Ativan last time but it didn't work for my nausea. Do you think they gave it to me for anxiety under the cloak of a nausea medication? I think yes! It went straight into my vein via the horror port in my chest and I passed right the heck out. Yes, I was one of those chemo patients who fell asleep in the chair! I little embarrassing....but not. After that, everything was fine. If you ever want everything to be fine, just take an Ativan. Works wonders.
This time around, side affects were different. Nausea, yes. But let acute. More vomiting, but less intensity of nausea. I used a different patch and I think it made the difference. This week something new happened. Heartburn. I have never had to deal with heartburn...ever. My stomach and esophagus is on fire every time I swallow. It actually hurts to eat or drink unless it's room temperature water. Yesterday, I had to go back and get blood work done (through a vein in my arm, not my chest which makes it OK) and asked about this new development. They said it's "just the chemo" and gave me two more prescriptions. Have you ever heard of Magic Mouthwash? I kid you not, that's the name of this stuff and it works. You just swish it around your mouth and swallow. It coats everything and makes it numb and awesome. I love it! The other prescription is just another pill I take to help stop the production of stomach acid. I thought I needed that stomach acid....
The other side-effects are the same. Dry-mouth and fatigue plus a few headaches. Otherwise, I'm good. I'm doing good!
Lastly, for those who want to know what kind of stuff I'm taking, here's a shot of my drug list. Just one more cycle of this, then on to a new cocktail. 2 cycles down, 4 more to go!

Some Good News

I have some great news, especially for my blood relatives. I had some genetic testing done. It tests the BRCA1 and BRCA2  genes to determine if they are...well...essentially to determine if they are mutants. I know...what a word, right? I guess it is the Halloween month of October which is also the month of breast cancer awareness. So the word mutation is appropriate! What I'm taking a very long time saying is this: There is no mutation found in my BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes! YAY! I'm still a mutant, because I still like to get all weird and make my own specially formed mutated cells, but at least I haven't passed this on to my kids. Huge sigh of relief! And my mom, sisters, nieces, even the males in the family...this is one thing you cannot peg on me! So don't go all Angelina Jolie on me and get everything removed. Keep your girls! However, get your girls checked out earlier than the suggested age of 40 and do self exams. I realized the other night that if I had not found this tumor myself, it could have easily spread and I'd have died. I may be a little late to the ballgame, I know. But sometimes things that you know with your brain hit you in your heart a little later. Self exam people! Did I mention that I had an official OBGYN examination just months before I found this tumor that had grown to over 3 centimeters?

By the way, if you want to learn more about the genetic testing I had done, just click on the blue words above and it'll take you there.

Relief!

I have a video for you to watch. I had my head shaved on Saturday. So if you want to watch, there are some ground rules. 

1.  No crying, pitying, or feeling sorry for me.

I guess that's just one basic ground rule. So if you want, go ahead. It was a great moment for me...total relief!

Symbolic

OK, walk with me on this one. I am not one for getting all deep and seeing a lot of  symbolism in life, but this is just too obvious. You see that dumpster in my front yard? It means that my old decrepit floors are being removed and the concrete slab will be ground down to be clean and smooth. You see that little bathroom selfie of me? That marks the day in which my hair has begun to fall out. At least 5 strands every time I pull my hands through it...not a lot yet considering how much hair I have. But how ironic that  after 6 months of floor issues and nonsense, they are all finally coming out at the very same time as my hair. And it's perfect timing. These floors are an exciting distraction for me...I can't wait to show you the end result!

Chemotherapy

SO, everything and everybody had me prepared for chemo. I was curious as to how I would handle it. I am such a newbie to all of this and everyone is so reassuring (even doctors, patients, etc...) that the fear wasn't there. Nerves, yes, but not fear.
So in I went on September 11th, the day of destruction, to kill all of the little cancer cells that may be lurking inside me. As they hooked me up, I became more and more anxious of the whole procedure. For instance, they draw blood out of my chest. Yes, there is a port in my chest and they draw blood from it. THAT is wrong. They have to check my blood every time, so there is that to look forward to. Then, I get a patch for nausea and two other medications intravenously to combat nausea. I'm thinking that I'm going to be set! Then there are a few meds they have to push through and another that goes on a drip. By noon, I'm done. Sounds easy, right? I've also been given two other anti-nausea meds to take home with me, so I've got my bases covered!
Not so...a few hours later, I have acute nausea. So BAD. I have tried everything. I came home from the appt. feeling good, just a little tired. But by that night, I was begging Adam to give me a blessing and resorted to the final anti-nausea pill that causes drowsiness. After the blessing and the final pill, I slept that night. I've pretty much done nothing BUT sleep since Thursday. There is a metal taste in my mouth all the time and an aversion to food, but today the nausea is lifting. So I'm going to expect this every time and be a little more prepared.  I guess I'm the "special one" who nausea enjoys to torment, but at least I may have found the magic sleepy pill that works on me. Here's the awesome news...only 5 more to go! Then I'm done!!!

Before and After

I know that it's been awhile, sorry about that. But I'll catch you all up on stuff. First, here is a quick before and after of my hair. I was supposed to wait until the day before chemo to get it cut, but I couldn't handle thinking about it anymore, so in I went and off it came! It's not my favorite and not even what I actually asked for, but the stylist took 2 hours trying to get it just right. The lady waiting after me was so sweet and patient as well, so here you go! It's fine, and if it was staying then I'd probably go back. I'll enjoy it for a few weeks!