Tomorrow will be my last chemo.... can't wait. It has been a while since I posted so let me catch you up...
Treatments 2-4 of AC had the same side effects as the first one. No surprises.
Treatments 5-8 are/were Taxol. Much different side effects than AC. Hair still gone, but no nausea. I can tell you though, these side effects are not fun... About 2 days after receiving this treatment, all of my nerves start to fire off and my muscles and joints really start to hurt... The first time I received the Taxol on Monday, the effects started Wednesday and were gone Saturday, but the more that I have the longer they last.... the dr prescribed me something to help with the nerves. It helps some but needless to say, I am very glad this is the last one. I find it helps if you can take some kind of pain meds and just sleep away those days. Also, discuss all the side effects with your dr... they understand and have ideas on how to curb them.
Sunday, December 27, 2015
Saturday, September 26, 2015
Chemo #1, Day 8
It's been a week since my first chemo and for the most part, I have been pretty pleased with the side effects. I am starting to notice some joint pain in my knees, back and groin area. I believe this is from the Nuelasta injection.
I have ran into the chemo constipation and have been taking Senokot S for it. That seems to be working pretty well and no stomach cramping for me. I have been noticing that the nausea is a little more but only in the morning... if I take a nausea pill in the morning, I am good all day. Thats really it... nothing more. Fingers crossed it stays that way.
Sunday, September 20, 2015
Chemo #1, Day 2 and 3
Day 2 and so far so good... Had to go in for my Nuelasta injection. I was given a choice of my arm or my stomach. I asked the nurse which one would hurt less and she said that people have told her that in the stomach. I tried it in the stomach... I am a 200 lb woman with a nice roll of fat and I felt nothing. Thank goodness.... Beyond that, it was an uneventful day. Ate normally, did some running around. No nausea meds today.
Day 3.... started off good. Ate breakfast and did some running around. Had a late lunch at Del Taco and got a little more stomach troubles later in the evening. Not sure if it is related to the food or the chemo, but I did take a nausea med just to make sure. Oh and yes... still peeing orangish.
Day 3.... started off good. Ate breakfast and did some running around. Had a late lunch at Del Taco and got a little more stomach troubles later in the evening. Not sure if it is related to the food or the chemo, but I did take a nausea med just to make sure. Oh and yes... still peeing orangish.
Friday, September 18, 2015
Chemo #1, Day 1
Today was my first chemo infusion. For the most part it was pretty easy and painless. I was a little worried since my port was still tender, but they were able to use it and the needle poke wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. Best part is that they do the blood from the port also so no more arm sticks that I know of.
This chemo cocktail wasn't as long as my husband's was for his colon cancer a few years ago. This one was a bag of nausea meds dripped through the IV. When that was completed, they pushed in the IV a small vial of Adavant and then the A (Adriamycin) part of the AC was pushed into the IV very slowly. It is a little scary that this drug is red and there was 2 vials of it. Oh and by the way, you will pee red for a few times after getting that drug. Then they hung the C (Cytoxan) part of the AC. That drips for about an hour and you are all done. Only about 2 hours.
I left and went home for a while, then went to drop off prescriptions at Walmart, had dinner and then picked back up the prescriptions. So far I am doing pretty good... It is now 5 hours later and I am a little tired but thats it. Really hope it stays that way.
Tuesday, September 15, 2015
Work and Port Placement
Well it is my first week back to work and I have appointment 4 out of 5 days. Tuesday is my port placement, Wednesday is the stress test with the cardiologist, Thursday is the plastic surgeon and Friday is my first day of chemo.
Today was my port placement. The procedure itself wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. The took me in the back and then put in an IV for the "happy juice". This is just to take the edge off. Once in the room, they do an ultrasound to check the neck vein. Then he does some local anesthesia that feels like a bee sting. After that he put in the tube to the vein first and then placed the port in the chest. Stitched it up and closed it up and then I was sent back to the room to wait for an hour just to make sure everything was alright.
I can tell you that although the procedure was easy, it is not too fun after the local wears off. I am having more of an issue with the neck area than the chest area. That may be because the chest is still numb from the mastectomy.... not sure but it is so bad that I am hitting the pain meds.... lots of ice and you have to keep stretching it but man it hurts. I sure hope it gets better tonight because I have that stress test tomorrow.
Today was my port placement. The procedure itself wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. The took me in the back and then put in an IV for the "happy juice". This is just to take the edge off. Once in the room, they do an ultrasound to check the neck vein. Then he does some local anesthesia that feels like a bee sting. After that he put in the tube to the vein first and then placed the port in the chest. Stitched it up and closed it up and then I was sent back to the room to wait for an hour just to make sure everything was alright.
I can tell you that although the procedure was easy, it is not too fun after the local wears off. I am having more of an issue with the neck area than the chest area. That may be because the chest is still numb from the mastectomy.... not sure but it is so bad that I am hitting the pain meds.... lots of ice and you have to keep stretching it but man it hurts. I sure hope it gets better tonight because I have that stress test tomorrow.
Leave of Absence
It has been a very busy time off. After the surgery, I met with the breast surgeon who told me the pathology report came back as everything clear on the right side but the left side had a 2 tumors. The largest one was 8.5 cm and the other was almost 2 cm. They removed the node pad with 11 nodes and 9 of them had cancer. The pathologist staged it as a 3A. The breast surgeon said that means chemo and radiation.
I saw the plastic surgeon and they started the fills. The first time they did the fills, the assistant completed it. She was only able to get one done. The next week, the dr only filled the one that was missed.
I saw the oncologist to discuss the chemo. We will be doing 4 doses AC (Adriamycin and Cyclophosphamide) every other week. When that is complete we will be doing 4 doses of Taxol again every other week. The day after each chemo, I will go back to the chemo center to have a Neulasta shot to help with the white blood count. The oncologist also said that this chemo is hard on the heart so I have to be cleared by the cardiologist. I will also need to have a port-a-cath put into my chest... JOY JOY
Same day I saw the oncologist, I met with the radiologist. He said that I will be receiving 6 1/2 weeks of radiology but not until the chemo is complete. I don't have to meet with him again until December.
Now off to the cardiologist for an echo-cardiogram. Probably something they should have done prior to surgery since it would have been a better read without the tissue expanders. The cardiologist released me for chemo but wants to do a stress test. That will be next Wednesday.
Finally got a call from the place that puts in the ports and my appointment is Tuesday. Not looking forward to it.
Well we will see what next week holds. It will be my first week back at work.
I saw the plastic surgeon and they started the fills. The first time they did the fills, the assistant completed it. She was only able to get one done. The next week, the dr only filled the one that was missed.
I saw the oncologist to discuss the chemo. We will be doing 4 doses AC (Adriamycin and Cyclophosphamide) every other week. When that is complete we will be doing 4 doses of Taxol again every other week. The day after each chemo, I will go back to the chemo center to have a Neulasta shot to help with the white blood count. The oncologist also said that this chemo is hard on the heart so I have to be cleared by the cardiologist. I will also need to have a port-a-cath put into my chest... JOY JOY
Same day I saw the oncologist, I met with the radiologist. He said that I will be receiving 6 1/2 weeks of radiology but not until the chemo is complete. I don't have to meet with him again until December.
Now off to the cardiologist for an echo-cardiogram. Probably something they should have done prior to surgery since it would have been a better read without the tissue expanders. The cardiologist released me for chemo but wants to do a stress test. That will be next Wednesday.
Finally got a call from the place that puts in the ports and my appointment is Tuesday. Not looking forward to it.
Well we will see what next week holds. It will be my first week back at work.
Saturday, August 22, 2015
Surgery Day is Finally Here
Well the day is finally here. I finally get this stuff out of me and find out just how far it is. We take off for the hospital and wait to be called back. Surgery is suppose to start at noon and the plastic surgeon says I should be able to go home afterwards.
I am finally called back by the nurse to get prepped. I explained to her what happened with my other procedure and the IV so she immediately wrapped my hand and arm in a warming blanket while she took all the other information and vitals. She checked my hand, found a good vein and got the IV in the first time.... thank goodness. Next they call my husband back to sit with me while we wait... Not very long after that though the anesthesiologist showed up to discuss what she was going to do and shortly after that the surgeon was there. One last trip to the restroom and the anesthesiologist gave me something because I don't even remember being wheeled into the surgery room. I am sure that was so they could shoot the dye into the nipple on my right breast so that they could do the sentinel node biopsy.
The next thing I remember is vaguely waking up. I remember hearing my husband asking for juice cause he was light headed... silly guy didn't eat the whole day and here it was 5:30 pm or so... I remember thinking that I can't breathe... every time I did, it hurt. I remember the nurse keep asking me if I was ready to go home and that if I was going to go home I needed to start getting dressed. Well I tried... she helped me up to go to the bathroom and it hurt so bad that there was no way I was going home at that point. Back to the bed I went and the next thing I remember was actually being in the hospital bed in the room. The doctor really didn't want me to stay in the hospital and I now know that if the PACU nurse would have given me a few more hours, I would have been OK to go home. I had a wonderful nurse and MA that took care of me overnight and I left the next morning.
The plastic surgeon came in the morning I was in the hospital looked at the incisions... that was the first time I actually saw what it all looked like, but there was lots of gauze over it. To my surprise, I was just fine with it.... and I headed home.
Here are some pictures of what to expect the day after surgery... These pictures are GRAPHIC... Please be aware of this if you choose to open these links. These links will open in another window, so please make sure to close that window when done.
Mastectomy Scars Day After Surgery
Mastectomy drains
More Mastectomy drains
I am finally called back by the nurse to get prepped. I explained to her what happened with my other procedure and the IV so she immediately wrapped my hand and arm in a warming blanket while she took all the other information and vitals. She checked my hand, found a good vein and got the IV in the first time.... thank goodness. Next they call my husband back to sit with me while we wait... Not very long after that though the anesthesiologist showed up to discuss what she was going to do and shortly after that the surgeon was there. One last trip to the restroom and the anesthesiologist gave me something because I don't even remember being wheeled into the surgery room. I am sure that was so they could shoot the dye into the nipple on my right breast so that they could do the sentinel node biopsy.
The next thing I remember is vaguely waking up. I remember hearing my husband asking for juice cause he was light headed... silly guy didn't eat the whole day and here it was 5:30 pm or so... I remember thinking that I can't breathe... every time I did, it hurt. I remember the nurse keep asking me if I was ready to go home and that if I was going to go home I needed to start getting dressed. Well I tried... she helped me up to go to the bathroom and it hurt so bad that there was no way I was going home at that point. Back to the bed I went and the next thing I remember was actually being in the hospital bed in the room. The doctor really didn't want me to stay in the hospital and I now know that if the PACU nurse would have given me a few more hours, I would have been OK to go home. I had a wonderful nurse and MA that took care of me overnight and I left the next morning.
The plastic surgeon came in the morning I was in the hospital looked at the incisions... that was the first time I actually saw what it all looked like, but there was lots of gauze over it. To my surprise, I was just fine with it.... and I headed home.
Here are some pictures of what to expect the day after surgery... These pictures are GRAPHIC... Please be aware of this if you choose to open these links. These links will open in another window, so please make sure to close that window when done.
Mastectomy Scars Day After Surgery
Mastectomy drains
More Mastectomy drains
Friday, August 21, 2015
If its not one thing, its another
Got the results of the PET scan back and not only are the lymph nodes under my left arm "lighting up", but they say there is a spot on my throat that they want me to have checked out.... Off to the Ear, Nose and Throat doctor I go.
He does a flex scope in the office and says that he doesn't see anything that really concerns him, but that I still have my adenoids... Apparently they are no longer needed and usually shrivel up by the time your an adult. He wanted to remove that and have it biopsied. He says it is a quick procedure and done at the day surgery center at the hospital.
Two weeks later, I am having this done. I hate needles and especially IV's. The nice nurse tried the first time and said she hit a valve and couldn't go any further. Then a second, not so nice nurse tried in the other hand... couldn't get it and it hurt so bad I was screaming. They finally wrapped the original hand, my right one, in a warm blanket and got the vein to come to life and finally got it in... That was the worst part of this whole procedure. Everything else was great and we actually did it under like a twilight, were I can hear everything going on.... very interesting.... back to work the next day.
A week later at my post op appointment, the pathology report is clear... Woo Hoo... and no more visiting with the ENT doctor.
He does a flex scope in the office and says that he doesn't see anything that really concerns him, but that I still have my adenoids... Apparently they are no longer needed and usually shrivel up by the time your an adult. He wanted to remove that and have it biopsied. He says it is a quick procedure and done at the day surgery center at the hospital.
Two weeks later, I am having this done. I hate needles and especially IV's. The nice nurse tried the first time and said she hit a valve and couldn't go any further. Then a second, not so nice nurse tried in the other hand... couldn't get it and it hurt so bad I was screaming. They finally wrapped the original hand, my right one, in a warm blanket and got the vein to come to life and finally got it in... That was the worst part of this whole procedure. Everything else was great and we actually did it under like a twilight, were I can hear everything going on.... very interesting.... back to work the next day.
A week later at my post op appointment, the pathology report is clear... Woo Hoo... and no more visiting with the ENT doctor.
Appointments, Appointments, Appointments
Its July and we are finally getting the ball rolling with the oncologist, breast surgeon and plastic surgeon. The first appointment was with the oncologist who read all of the information sent to him by the surgeon in Oregon and sent me to the breast surgeon. He also set up blood work, CT scan and PET scan.
The breast surgeon requested yet another mammogram prior to her seeing me. Once in her office, we discussed what she sees and her thoughts. She believed that the two small tumors is actually a larger tumor. She also was worried about my lymph nodes and did a needle aspiration biopsy in the office. Unfortunately, that came back a cancerous. Based on what she was seeing, she was great with my desires of a double mastectomy. She felt that was the best choice also. She stated that we would end up doing not only the mastectomy but also remove the lymph node pad under my left arm and a sentinel node biopsy on the right side to check for cancer there also. When we were done, she referred me to the plastic surgeon.
The plastic surgeon is really easy on the eyes. He explained what will be happening during the immediate reconstruction. He showed my the tissue expander, which is really more of a plastic type feel compared to what I was thinking. For some reason, I was thinking that they were metal things. After our consultation, I called the plastic surgeon and told her I liked him and was ready to move forward with the "Double Mastectomy with Immediate Reconstruction" surgery. UGH... They coordinate their schedule and give me a surgery date of August 11th, almost a month later, but at least there is a date now.
The breast surgeon requested yet another mammogram prior to her seeing me. Once in her office, we discussed what she sees and her thoughts. She believed that the two small tumors is actually a larger tumor. She also was worried about my lymph nodes and did a needle aspiration biopsy in the office. Unfortunately, that came back a cancerous. Based on what she was seeing, she was great with my desires of a double mastectomy. She felt that was the best choice also. She stated that we would end up doing not only the mastectomy but also remove the lymph node pad under my left arm and a sentinel node biopsy on the right side to check for cancer there also. When we were done, she referred me to the plastic surgeon.
The plastic surgeon is really easy on the eyes. He explained what will be happening during the immediate reconstruction. He showed my the tissue expander, which is really more of a plastic type feel compared to what I was thinking. For some reason, I was thinking that they were metal things. After our consultation, I called the plastic surgeon and told her I liked him and was ready to move forward with the "Double Mastectomy with Immediate Reconstruction" surgery. UGH... They coordinate their schedule and give me a surgery date of August 11th, almost a month later, but at least there is a date now.
Wednesday, June 17, 2015
I AM MAD
OK... So I am officially mad at cancer. This dumb disease made me have to change my plans for my summer and leave my grandbabies. I am so mad that I only got to see them such a short while. I am mad that I had to leave my sister after only a few visits. I AM MAD!!!
During the last 6 or so weeks, I have just thought, "it is what it is... no biggy". That was all fine and dandy when I could "pretend" that it didn't change anything, but it did and now I am mad.
I am happy that I will be going back home to Henderson for surgery and treatment and be around my kids, but I am mad that they even have to deal with this again. They lost their stepmother to breast cancer 3 years ago. They are so worried about me even though, I believe hers was much worse and there is nothing to worry about with me.... just a blip in the journey of life.
I am mad that in this day and age, we even have to deal with this disease.
Sorry for the rant, but for my sanity I just had to put this out there. I know that there are sooooo many people worse off than me. People like my sister, who has been dealing with some form of cancer for 20+ years now.
During the last 6 or so weeks, I have just thought, "it is what it is... no biggy". That was all fine and dandy when I could "pretend" that it didn't change anything, but it did and now I am mad.
I am happy that I will be going back home to Henderson for surgery and treatment and be around my kids, but I am mad that they even have to deal with this again. They lost their stepmother to breast cancer 3 years ago. They are so worried about me even though, I believe hers was much worse and there is nothing to worry about with me.... just a blip in the journey of life.
I am mad that in this day and age, we even have to deal with this disease.
Sorry for the rant, but for my sanity I just had to put this out there. I know that there are sooooo many people worse off than me. People like my sister, who has been dealing with some form of cancer for 20+ years now.
MRI
I know that it has been a little while since I posted.... not much has been going on. Just waiting for my MRI and then we leave to head back to Henderson, NV for the surgery, treatment, etc.
So I had my MRI today. Quite an interesting procedure. You lay down on your stomach with your breast hanging down in a couple of holes on the table, with your arms resting above your head. Your head goes into this round padded area as if you were getting a message.... Boy how I wish that was happening instead of this....
It was a MRI with and without contrast so I had to have an IV and they put it in my arm where they normally would draw blood from. The MRI lasted about 45 mins because they had to redo some of it, but the worst part was that when you are laying down, they have this part of the table that digs into your ribs right under your breast area. They try and put a couple of pads there but that doesn't help. After a while, I started having issues being able to breath all the way because of the constriction from the ribs.
When it was finally all done, I still had some trouble breathing. It does get better but how there is no bruising there, I have no idea. They say that the report should be done in 24-48 hours... so more waiting.
The nurse says that this was the Cadillac of machines, but that a man must have designed it. I think she is right.
PS... sorry, I just realized that I didn't actually post this so posting it now.
So I had my MRI today. Quite an interesting procedure. You lay down on your stomach with your breast hanging down in a couple of holes on the table, with your arms resting above your head. Your head goes into this round padded area as if you were getting a message.... Boy how I wish that was happening instead of this....
It was a MRI with and without contrast so I had to have an IV and they put it in my arm where they normally would draw blood from. The MRI lasted about 45 mins because they had to redo some of it, but the worst part was that when you are laying down, they have this part of the table that digs into your ribs right under your breast area. They try and put a couple of pads there but that doesn't help. After a while, I started having issues being able to breath all the way because of the constriction from the ribs.
When it was finally all done, I still had some trouble breathing. It does get better but how there is no bruising there, I have no idea. They say that the report should be done in 24-48 hours... so more waiting.
The nurse says that this was the Cadillac of machines, but that a man must have designed it. I think she is right.
PS... sorry, I just realized that I didn't actually post this so posting it now.
Monday, June 1, 2015
Scary Research
The internet can be your best friend or your worst enemy. I have been spending the last 4 days research what I can about this type of cancer, mastectomies, reconstruction surgery types and what the insurance pays for. It is exhausting. I have joined 2 awesome Facebook groups with wonderful women going through the same thing.
I hope not to offend anyone who might be reading this, but my original thought about a mastectomy was that it was not a big deal to not have these puppies... I am 50 years old and am not having any more kids... I don't need them, but as I start to do the research and look at pictures, it made me extremely sad. First, when I heard about drains, I was thinking something small like a small tube, but when I saw the pictures, it is almost like IV bags hanging from long tubing. I have even read about people who wear sweatshirts inside out so that the pockets can hold the drains. Then I see the scars and the excess skin under the arms and my head immediately starts thinking why would anyone want to reach over and want to touch me. That made me start researching the reconstruction surgeries.
Apparently you can have implants or something called a flap. That is when they use tissue and fat from another place on your body and make breast out of it. Sounds great but can that tissue get cancer and then I am back to starting this all over again? Switching over to researching implants.... well it looks like those would have to be changed out about every 10 years.
Too many decisions and currently, I won't be back to Las Vegas until July 1st so I won't be meeting with doctors until then.... That may change depending on how this month goes and when the oncologist in Vegas gets the medical records, but for now.... back to the research.
The Start of My Journey
In December 2014, I had my yearly mammogram. The left breast came back clean, but the right breast needed had something and they wanted an ultrasound to make sure it was ok.
Fast forward to mid April.... I found a hard area on my left side of my breast. Not really a lump but like a tough spot. After further inspection, I found a lump near my nipple. As chance would have it, i had a doctor appointment scheduled for the next week so I didn't worry too much about it. The doctor scheduled me to have another mammogram and a ultrasound.
Fast forward to mid April.... I found a hard area on my left side of my breast. Not really a lump but like a tough spot. After further inspection, I found a lump near my nipple. As chance would have it, i had a doctor appointment scheduled for the next week so I didn't worry too much about it. The doctor scheduled me to have another mammogram and a ultrasound.
When the doctor got the results of those scans, she called and said the radiologist didn't like what he saw and referred me to a surgeon, but I didn't ask and she never said anything more about what the radiologist found.
At the surgeon's appointment, he said that the BiRADs for the scans were a 5 out of 6 and that is was 95% cancerous. He requested a biopsy to see what he is dealing with. Now you should know that I absolutely hate needles, so this sounded like torture to me.
I had the biopsy on Friday, May 22nd. They performed an ultrasound guided biopsy using a vacuum needle. The radiologist starts by numbing the area. He was very good and I didn't even feel the prick of the needle he used for numbing. He chose to go in between the two lumps so that he didn't have to run the risk of infection in two places. There was a lot of sensation of tugging or pulling but no pain. When they actually grab the samples, it sounded like a drill. Unfortunately, one of the areas was near a vein and that caused quite a large bruise, but all in all it was not a bad experience. Now the wait begins.... The radiologist said it should be back by end of next week... A whole week... UGH!!!!
Waiting day by day for that phone call is no fun. I finally got it on Friday.... Invasive Lobular Carcinoma with positive estrogen/progesterone receptors. This means that my estrogen is feeding the cancer. The biopsy did come back as HER2 negative which means that it is not a fast growing cancer so that is good. The surgeon stated that they could do a lumpectomy or two if they can't get both in one shot, I could decide to do a single mastectomy or I could decide to do a double mastectomy just to have a clearer mind especially with the right breast issue in December. He also stated that he wanted to get an MRI.
Now starts the research of all of my options. I am a woman of faith and truly believe it will all be alright. I know that I will have the right doctors and the right care and together with my husband, we will make the right decisions.
I had the biopsy on Friday, May 22nd. They performed an ultrasound guided biopsy using a vacuum needle. The radiologist starts by numbing the area. He was very good and I didn't even feel the prick of the needle he used for numbing. He chose to go in between the two lumps so that he didn't have to run the risk of infection in two places. There was a lot of sensation of tugging or pulling but no pain. When they actually grab the samples, it sounded like a drill. Unfortunately, one of the areas was near a vein and that caused quite a large bruise, but all in all it was not a bad experience. Now the wait begins.... The radiologist said it should be back by end of next week... A whole week... UGH!!!!
Waiting day by day for that phone call is no fun. I finally got it on Friday.... Invasive Lobular Carcinoma with positive estrogen/progesterone receptors. This means that my estrogen is feeding the cancer. The biopsy did come back as HER2 negative which means that it is not a fast growing cancer so that is good. The surgeon stated that they could do a lumpectomy or two if they can't get both in one shot, I could decide to do a single mastectomy or I could decide to do a double mastectomy just to have a clearer mind especially with the right breast issue in December. He also stated that he wanted to get an MRI.
Now starts the research of all of my options. I am a woman of faith and truly believe it will all be alright. I know that I will have the right doctors and the right care and together with my husband, we will make the right decisions.
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