Cycle Three Begins

We had a great Christmas filled with family, friends and lots of food! My visit on Tuesday with Dr. Chadha was the first one without getting reminded that I need to gain more weight. I have 5 pounds to go to get back to pre-surgery, so I am getting there! Unfortunately, I also have to get back to my no sugar diet which I totally ignored over Christmas :)

We have had a bit of a change of plans with my treatment. I am going to cancel my CT at MDAnderson and have it done with Dr. Chadha here. It is really stressful going to MDAnderson so we are just going to consult with them after we get the results. Currently my CT is scheduled for 1/9/11. I will start a fourth round of chemo while we are working with my team to discuss the resection of the two small tumors.

I am at chemo today starting my third round. I am always really sad to come on this day because I felt so good the last week. I just try to remind myself that I am getting one step closer to the end of this nightmare.

Hope everyone enjoyed the holiday!

Week Off!

It is my week off from chemo and I am really looking forward to it! Even though I am still working this week it feels like I am on vacation. While I can't complain too much since a lot others have it worse, it will be nice to have a week without all the side effects. I still have a few side effects on my week off but it is much less.

We are headed to San Antonio on Friday for Christmas. Hayden is very excited to go to Grandma's house!

Hope everyone is getting all of their last minute Christmas shopping done!

Second Week of Round Two

Sitting in chemo for the day and I have some good news! All blood work was great AND my tumor marker has come down within 10 points of normal! No promises until we actually have a scan, but the downward trend of the CA19-9 marker is indicative of a positive response to chemo. My carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) level is now within normal range. It should be below three and it was .7. Yay!!!

I've decided to start planning my 30th birthday party in June. Can't decide between St. Lucia or St. Croix any thoughts are much appreciated :) We haven't had a proper vaca since I found out we were expecting Hayden the week we got back from Australia in 2008!

Round Two

I started my second round of chemo today. I was a little bummed because I was just starting to feel back to normal. The Internet was off and on so unfortunately I did not get to catch up on my shows. On a good note, I sat next to a really nice women, who I found out is a coworker of friend. She also found out she had cancer shortly after her baby was born. It was strange to find out how much we had in common and it was great chatting with her for the day.

Chemo is going pretty well. The nausea is generally controlled with meds, but the fatigue I just have to sleep off. The only hiccup I have had is a low white blood cell count which was fixed with a shot. Today all my blood work was good! Since it is going relatively well, we are going to do three rounds of chemo before my next scan.

I did successfully ask my oncologist a question he had never been asked. His nurse claimed she had heard it all until I asked if I could continue my laser hair removal while undergoing chemo. They got a good laugh and said I could "laser away!" I am thankful that it doesn't appear that I am going to lose my hair on the current chemo meds.

I can feel my unwelcome visitor shrinking by the day!

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!