For the Ladies

As I mentioned yesterday, I sat next to a lady, Jody, during my session. She was going through her last treatment for a second time with breast cancer. She was only 34 when she was originally diagnosed. Thank god she beat it again, but it was her story I wanted to share with all you ladies.

It was 6 years after her first time with cancer and she was still getting mammograms many times a year. She had Triple Negative breast cancer, so from what she was telling me, making it to the five year mark was a blessing but they will follow it very close for the rest of her life. This year she felt a bump during a self examination and called her doctor immediately. She had not one but TWO mammos that missed it. I was completely shocked to hear this. How on earth can you feel it, but it not show up on the mammos? Finally under her direct guidance they were able to locate it and perform surgery and chemo. My take home message for all you ladies is to take self exams VERY seriously and be your own advocate. If something feels funny to you, don't stop until you have received an answer you are comfortable with.

Chemo Day One Wrap Up

I was at the Infusion Center from 8:30-3:15 and it actually went by really fast. The Infusion Center is another office in my oncologists building that is staffed by oncology nurses and nurse practitioners. Eric was there until 9:30 and my sister came from 11-3:15. Another younger lady was right next to me who was really sweet. She was battling a recurrence of breast cancer (6 years after the first time!) She had a young son the first go-round and it is always nice to chat with people that had similar situations. Especially ones that beat cancer twice and are doing great(it was her final treatment :)) No crazy stories...it was pretty uneventful and strangely a pretty nice day.

One thing we do have to do is watch is germs. My chemo, like many others, brings down your white cell count so the fam and I will be using Purell like it is going out of style :)

I feel pretty good tonight, just tired. Hopefully tomorrow is just as good!

BTW-- loving the port. Only one stick and you're done!

Beginning of Chemo Day 1

By request, I am updating from my chair for the day :) I just got settled and have a thrilling seven hours ahead of me. The schedule for the day is as follows:

1 hour nausea meds (getting pre-mediciated because my Dr. promised I would not be nauseous!)
2 hours fluid (prevents harm to kidneys)
1.5 hours Cisplatin (chemo #1)
30 min Gemzar (chemo #2)
2 hours fluid (clears out the kidneys after treatment.)

Before you come to chemo you have to put medication over your port to numb it (so you don't feel them access it) and cover it with a piece of saran wrap (so it doesn't get on your clothes.) Last night we ran out so I went to HEB to get more. This morning when I opened the saran wrap it was bright red for Christmas! So I am now known as the festive patient :)

In the waiting room this morning, I noticed three different people with McDonalds. I found it odd for all these patients to be eating that crap while trying to fight this disease. However, once I got back in the infusion room I found myself craving Mc Dees- something I haven't done in years. Sadly enough, I joined the group and Eric brought me an Egg McMuffin. It was delicious!

I scored the best seat in the infusion room today! Pretty good start to the day!

Almost forgot...

I almost forgot the funniest/strangest part of my day. So the chemo takes 6-8 hours each time. That's right, hours. It is two drugs: one takes 30 minutes and the other is a pain in the butt and takes forever. Anyway, so my Dr. tells me to bring a friend, books, movies, iPad, or whatever but nothing "risqué." WHAT!!! Seriously, I can't believe they have had an issue with individuals bringing porn to their cancer treatment appointments. I don't know whether to laugh or puke at the thought of this...probably a little of both.

Chemo for the Holidays

It has been a while since I updated, but a lot has gone on. My oncologist in Austin reviewed the MD Anderson scan, he believed that it could be biopsed and got me in last Thursday to have it done. The interventional radiologist went back and forth on whether he could do it or not because it was so small and hard to find. Once he found it, he was able to get the biopsy done. Unfortunately, I found out Friday morning it was in fact cancer. It is not called a reoccurrence since it was probably there the whole time. In fact, we are lucky it was so small and not found before because I would have not been a candidate for surgery if they knew it was there.

The good news is that I finally have a path forward! This Wednesday I am having surgery to put in the port that the chemo will be given through. Next Monday I will start chemo. It will be two cycles (a cycle is once a week for two weeks and then a week off.) I will then have a scan to see if the tumor is responding and getting smaller.

I went back to work last week, which has been a great distraction from all the doctors appointments! Hayden had an awesome time trick-or-treating and has not stopped talking about all her candy. Addison missed out because it was past her bedtime. She did make it to the block party and was the cutest cow there. This morning Addison started crawling! I'm glad most of my energy has returned since we will soon be chasing her all over :)