Sixth Treatment

I went into this treatment knowing more of what to expect, so I was prepared and ready to take it on.

First I visited with my doctor and everything is looking good.  However, I let him know that I am having headaches and blurry vision every day.  More than likely it is just my vision and not the effects from chemo, but he wants to rule out the chance of any cancer being in my brain, so I am scheduled for an MRI of my brain on October 24th.  I was taken aback by this course of action, but I appreciate him being thorough with my health.

Treatment went fine, nothing out of the ordinary.

I felt really good today, Thursday, and ran a bunch of errands to prepare for the inevitable aches and pains that will take me out of commission til Monday.  When I told my doctor that I had horrible aches and pains with the last treatment, he reduced the dosage of the Neulasta shot to hopefully lessen the effects of the aches and pains.  I sure hope that is the case.  I will know tomorrow.

That's my update...nothing else to share right now.

WONDERFUL News

I finally got my genetic testing results and, as the title of this post suggests, it was what I wanted to hear.  I do not have the BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes!  I am not genetically predisposed to cancer!!  This means I will not have to have a hysterectomy, I have not passed it down to my boys, and this is more than likely, hopefully, the only time I have to deal with this.  I am so relieved and encouraged to fight to the end.

The effects from my last treatment were not as harsh as the previous four.  I did not have the nausea or indigestion, but I had tremendous aches and pains.  At first I thought it was from the shot that I do every time, but I read the side effects of this new drug, Taxol, and aches and pains are side effects.  The pains were so bad that it took me out all of Friday and Saturday and most of Sunday.  There were shooting pains all through my body and caused me to be bed-ridden during that time because I was quite weak from it.  As hard as that was, I will take it over the nauseousness and indigestion.

Next treatment is Wednesday, October 17th.  I will talk with the doctor to see if they have anything I can take to less the aches and pains this time.

Happy Friday!!

Fifth Treatment

My spirits were a little higher today with some effort.  I was trying to go into this treatment more optimistically, and I think I did pretty well.

I had my doctor's appointment first and I am healthy and am still on track to finish chemo on Nov. 14th.  The results from the ultrasound didn't show much but concluded that the tumors have shrunk.  Again, that still does not change the next steps but good news.  I should know the results of my genetic testing next week.  My insurance finally processed my claim and now I am waiting on the lab.

I think I went into this treatment with higher spirits since it is a different drug and hope that the side effects are not as bad.  It was a very long day.  This new drug takes 3 hours to administer.  That time does not include my doctor's appointment and the other drugs that are administered.  So I was there for 5 1/2 hours total.  With this new drug the cocktail of drugs changed a little.  Benadryl was added to the mix of steroids and nausea meds.  The Benadryl took me by surprise.  As I was sitting there, I started to feel tired and light headed and was experiencing tunnel vision.  I felt like I was buzzed for a short time.  Crazy stuff!  I am scheduled to do fluids tomorrow and Friday just in case nausea becomes an issue.

Love to you all

I'M BACK!!!

I don't know why I always feel that I need to apologize for the lack of posts.  I know so many of you want to know how I'm doing and when I don't post, I feel like I have failed you.  But on the other hand, I know you do not expect to hear from me all the time.  It's a battle I have with myself on a daily basis.

Anyway, I need to catch you up from my last post...

I was hopeful that the beginning of last week was going to be good, but it wasn't.  I had indigestion really bad and it kept me from eating or drinking much at all.  I didn't really start feeling some relief from the indigestion until this past Saturday.  I still feel it but it is tolerable now.  I'm not sure if this will be a continual thing with each treatment or if it was just a one time thing.  I vote for the latter!

Friday, I felt well enough to go to my company's employee appreciation picnic at Perche Creek.  It felt good to be outside and visit with my coworkers.  I was drained by the time it was over, but so glad I went.  There are many very wonderful and caring individuals at my company and I so appreciate your concern and support.  Very uplifting for me.

This journey has been a roller coaster of emotions and quite challenging.  During the week of treatment when I am at my worst, I feel despair, loneliness, anger and fall into a depression.  The constant sickness makes me emotionally weak and I can't seem to keep my spirits high.  Gradually as I start feeling better, I feel hopeful, joyful and loved.  Then the cycle starts over again.  I'm just glad I come back out of the depression.

Tomorrow morning is treatment and I am feeling uneasy as to what this new drug will do to me.  I would appreciate prayers for my emotional well being this coming week.

Love to you all