As I start Part 2. of My C-Journey, I will always have the newest post on top.
THANKSSOMEDAY,SOMEWAY, -A-C-CURE, My -C- Journey Continues, Part 2,
The Therapy.
Feb. 10th:Chemo - The last one!!!!! 2:00 appt. w/ Dr Snyder. It went very well. During his consultation he said to me, "This is something I can't say, -0- zero!" I said 0-0 what? He said that I like many others where on a regime of Adriamycin and Cytoxan, yet he added I was on a very high dosage of this toxic medication in addition to the FU-5, and that I will have radiation starting in about 3 weeks and I will follow up with Aroma-base Inhibitor (I think tis is the one he said) for the next 5 years following. Point being he said i believe in all my heart you are one of the few I can feel comfortable saying you have a zero percent chance of this recurrence. Then added i can't say zero so I'll say 10% chance recurrence. I feel so totally blessed. I want to thank all my family and friends that have supported me throughout my journey on this roll a coaster ride. It has been quite an experience. Part 3 to come:Radiation Therapy
Jan 22nd: Still not feeling up to par and wish I could go home again. Jan 21st: Went home early from work, totally exhausted, heart racing, and very flushed feeling.Went straight to bed when I got home. Jan 20th: Chemo 10:00am appt. Dr. Bandari, Start with weigh, blood pressure, chat with onc. Today they begun as usual with checking my white blood count all was well. So, the drip of the pre med began.I took my ativan to calm my nerves, then took my "Emend" once I knew my WBC was good. Then started the usual drip of the decadron, the zofran (they upped this amount) and also this time gave me pepcid in a drip as well. Then I was administered the dreaded "Red Devil" pushed in the Adriamycian. Once that was done they then gave me the Cytoxan drip, which was also a boosted amount from the normal amount I have been receiving. He prescribed me some extra compazine because my stomach has had more problems the last go round. So, to ensure no nausea he prescribed this for me. Jan 17 - 19th: Anticipation of Wed TX# 5 is beginning to close in on my train of thoughts. Again the worry, the pre chemo jitters as I call it, are setting in. I dread another 2 Chemo TX's.Jan 7th - 15th: Still feel just slightly nausea (down to one compazine a day) and I tend to get tired very easily. I am sleeping well, thank goodness for that and I have lost the dizzy feeling for now, YEAH. BUT, now I have noticed my fingers and shoulders and joints just seem to be kinda achey all the time and I have now lost all my eyelashes and most of the brows! This go around has had more downs than ups!Jan 4th - 6th 2010: Still feel under the weather. although I have returned to work after 10 days off I feel so depressed because I just can't shake the aches this go round. Besides the Emend, I now have to take my nausea pills twice daily, Tylenol every 6 hours, antacid meds every day, and depression meds to boot!~~~.I hope soon to feel better. Please Sweet Jesus, heal me ~ SomeDay,SomeWay,A-C-CUREJan 1st thru Jan 3rd: Still at home recouping from the TX on Thursday. I am having a more difficult time after each TX. The build up of the chemo is beginning to take its toll on my body. I feel very weak and tired all the time. My skin is drying and cracking and the headaches and dizziness continues to get worse. I still THANK Sweet Jesus, as I still feel so blessed. My heart knows this could be so much worse~HAPPY NEW YEAR'S EVE 2010Dec. 31, 2009:Thursday at Chemotherapy 10:15 am. Happy New year's Eve to me~I also received the results of my ECHO from Dr. Mabry and he said i was doing quite well. He also said that he was going to stop my chemo after 6 TX's rather than at 8. So, good news there. I'll be done by Feb. 2010 and I'm so happy for that. This also means my 6 weeks of radiation will be over by March. (I hope and pray)I celebrated 2010 by drinking a couple of glasses of champagne and soaking in my new JACUZZIEDec.16th 2009: Beginning to feel alive again and come out of the FOG. The sun is beginning to shine. My head is clearing~I am still dizzy however. Dec 15th 2009: Woke up still a little green around the gills. Managed to make it through the day. I noticed a few slight chest pains kinda like indigestion~continued to be dizzy and had only a slight headache. By after work I was beginning to feel a smidge better, just still in a FOG.Dec.14th 2009: I had a really hard time going to work today. I had to call the boss to let him know I was under the weather and would be late. I made it in about an hour late. I had to wait for the sun to rise, Somehow the vertigo worse while driving when it is dark~~I remained in a sick FOG all day~ when I got home at 5:00ish ~ I took a compazine, a meglazine, a couple of Tylenol X-tra Strength, an Ambium, and then I went straight to bed~slept till 5:30 pm~Dec. 13th 2009; Still feeling pretty good other than the dang migraine headaches. Drove our son back home, he lives 4 1/2 hours away~I won't do that again~Too much vertigo with the long ride~ got home about 6:00ish, started getting nauseated and still very dizzy.Dec 12,2009: Woke up pretty refreshed after a good nights sleep. I took 2 Tylenol and an Ambium CR before bed at 9:00ish. Got up at 9:00am. Fixed a nice breakfast. Fixin to catch a nap now. Till later.I am so blessed!!Dec.11,2009 eveningCooked a wonderful dinner. Grilled Porterhouse Steak,twice baked taters, a wonderful tossed salad, bake dinner rolls. Then baked 3 dozen cookies. I feel amazingly well.Dec.11,2009 @ 2:15pm:#3rd TX First take my"Emend" then she inserts my "Power Port" and OH MY I cried and cried. I don't know why I got very emotional. I felt like a baby. My RN said I was doing well considering I was on one of the very hardest concoctions. I said I had thought I had it very easy. She said NO WAY, I am just dealing with it excellent. My WBC was AWESOME, even better than the last counts next they began the Dexadron and Zofran dripping after they gave an ativan to calm down my anxiety . The started my drips. First the (FU-5) Then came those HUGE RED VIALS of COLD TOXIC Adriamycin, this injected by hand by my RN (Ms Aaron) she is so sweet!Into my PORT in goes.Aaron just chats with me the whole time keeping me calm. Then next the final drip of the Cytoxan DONE!My Cocktail(CA-FU-5) Cytoxan,Adriamycian,and Fluorouracil, drips again. When she Dec.11,2009 @ 11:00am meet w/ surgeon follow up on surgeries. Sue suggested I start a regimen of exercises to prevent lymphedema. She is sending for an approval for me to be seen for a sleeve. I will do rehab myself. I will get the required exercises on line!I CAN DO IT YES I CAN!!!!!
Dec. 7-11 had a little nausea issue. Took. Compazine once a day to help.December 2009-The vertigo continues. I will have to deal with this the rest of my journey.--Nov 19, 2009: 2nd Chemotherapy TX - All went well. I met with Dr. Bhanderi, and was told NO BRAIN METS!!!!!!!!!! YEAH!!!!!!! I had a reaction to the "Zofran" This is one of the drugs given to me to help reduce nausea. So, he cut back on the amount of this medicine to help alleviate the vertigo!!! Dr. Bhanderi was also kind enough to give me a prescription for some Ambien CR. Only 30 he said to use them wisely, he didn't want me to get addicted to them. I was very happy though to have these 30 which I will use for my first 3-4 nights after my chemo. the steroids won't let me sleep on those days and I need my rest to get better. Hopefully my side effects will be as gracious as they where the last 3 wks.
Nov. 17th 2009, Tallahassee Diagnostic received an MRI lasted approx. 2 hours. Will get results when I go for my second round of "Chemotherapy"
November 19, 2009Nov 16th 2009:Called my oncologist and they made an appointment for an MRI. Suggested I could have brain mets and they needed to do this to rule it out, therefore the brain scan. I was scared to death and my hands where shaking like a leaf. OMG. How much more can one take!!!~~~~~~~
Nov. 9th-16th, 2009: Began to almost feel normal then, UTTOH. I started to get vertigo really bad. I called my onc on Thursday the 12th because I was still dizzy,and so the RN called me in a prescription for anti-dizziness. She said if I still had vertigo come Monday the 16th, to call he.
Nov6th- 9th, 2009: I ate like I had never eaten before. I seen a picture of a CAKE and that is all I wanted. I bought (NO LIE) Twinkles, ring dings, Devil dogs, Banana Nut Bread, Snowballs, then I baked a Carrot Cake had to have it, and then an Angel Food Cake. I ate some of each that day. My hubby went shopping on the 6 th, when he came home I just devoured the bags of food. Them steroids are something else. If I eat like this he whole time OMG, what a rolly-polly I'll be.
Nov. 1st - 6th: Headaches lessened some, but I had some kind of gas problems going on. Nothing that hurt, just was burpy and gassy. Appetite improved quite a bit. Then I started by the Nov 6th HUNGER!!!
Oct. 29-31, 2009: My experience with my "Chemo Cocktail" Days 1-3 extremely tired, kinda like being in a fog. I was very fortunate not to experience any stomach problems, no throwing up. I was on a very good medicine called "Emend" I did however experience dull headaches and could not sleep the first three days as well. The steroids keep you wide awake and a sense of feeling good while in this fog. Not much of an appetite either. The headaches where easily controlled with Tylenol X-tra Strength.
October 28,2009:FIRST DOSE of Chemotherapy Scheduled @ 2:00 @ Dr. Mabry's office.To be administered, Cytoxan - 1 hour, Fluorouracil - 15 minutes, Adriamycian - 15 minutes.This is my regular regimen, unless there are unforeseen problems, then they will adjust the dosage.October 28th,after hair/pick up personnel things needed as well, all my prescription meds at Walmatt's on West. Tennessee St.Tallahassee"Emend,Prevacid,and the Zoloft"
October 28, 2009:Early morning appointment with my personnel hair dresser. I am cutting all my hair off to have it sent off to (Hip-Hat-Hair). They will create a cap w/ my own hair attached to it. This should be more comfortable to wear than any wig I've tried. Bless those that have tried to help me with offering a wig. BUT, my CHOICE is my own hair. I also prefer to have it done this way, rather than it suddenly start falling out 2 weeks after chemotherapy starts, in clumps at night in bed or perhaps in the shower, as I'm shampooing my hair. I'm not sure I would deal well with that situation, so this is my CHOICE!
October 23,2009 @ Dr Kent's,(my primary care health physician), received influenza shot during exam to ensure my health before starting chemo on Wed. The 28th. Ms.Kay Fin Law renewed all my regular prescriptions for my Zoloft and for my Prevacid. She said to continue back w/ all my regular meds. They will not interfere with Chemo TX.
October 19,2009: @ 6:00pm: Chemo Class for all new patients diagnosed with Breast Cancer. Dr. Mabry, my chemo oncologist strongly suggested myself and my husband to attend this class to make us well informed of all the in & outs, ups & downs and all side affects of receiving chemotherapy.We choose to attend class.
October 15, 2009:Scheduled for Surgery at TMH w/ Dr. Snyder to have a "Port" placement. This will allow them to give my chemo and any other drugs needed, as well as draw blood, All from the port that is placed surgically just below the collar bone and a bit above the breast., right below the skin's surface. This also is a MUCH safer way of receiving some of the chemotherapy treatments as some are very TOXIC. If any where to escapes into the skin it would cause a BAD reaction and could lead to a very serious infection. Having the "Port" will be a better way to receive the treatment versus the "pic" or by intravenously. Therefore my choice was the "Port"
October 14, 2009:Attending @ 1:30pm Look Good, Feel Better Program, put on by "The American Cancer Society" to help women restore their appearance and self image, held at TMH 'A Women's Place'October 09, 2009:Appointment with RN @ my surgeon's office, Dr. Snyder's. To evaluate the infection caused from the drain tube after my "Axillary Dissection" I must be careful of infection before I continue. I feel confident that the infection is clear.
It's OK! It'll be back! Maybe just not my BLONDE Chicken feather Colour
It's OK! It'll be back! Maybe just not my BLONDE Chicken feather Colour
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