Hi Everyone!
Well, it's been a little while since I wrote last (am I supposed to say "blogged?") and I have the same excuse that most everyone else has...it's been a busy couple of weeks. Oh, and I still have a few chemo effects charging around, too.
I have been lucky enough to be able to work between 2 - 6 hours most days, some days better than others. My pattern has been to get up feeling pretty OK, to work in my office and be couch potato in the afternoon. Weekend before last I slept a 13 hour night, napped twice during the day on Saturday and slept another 10 hours that night! Didn't do that much better this last weekend. Although I do love football, that much TV is just wasted time! But, I think my body is sending clear messages...I'm not totally back on my feet yet.
Speaking of chemo changes: I am much less dizzy than I was in the week that I managed to faint. That fact likely means that my bone marrow is making more red and white cells, as it is supposed to do. My low energy level tells me that I am probably still anemic, but not being dizzy is a start. Yeah!
I still have peripheral neuropathy (numbness and tingling in my fingertips and toes), which is a side effect of the Taxol. I'm told it may take months to go away - and, for some people, it doesn't. I hope the latter isn't me: it's really weird to try to place your feet properly when walking or to hold on to something you really can't feel. Folks who are diabetics and others who have heart disease or other issues, can have this problem. Until now, I never knew what they were going through. It doesn't hurt (at least for me), but it is so weird!
The title of this blog refers, of course, to the fact that I had my first radiation treatment today. It was easy enough and weird enough, but I think it will quickly become routine. Several minutes of positioning by the techs, recording of numbers (91.5, 87.5, etc.), techs leaving the room, the machine beeping and whirring, and presto-chango, all done. Maybe 20 minutes total and this one was longer since it was the first. No pain, no sensation whatsoever. Just calm, steady position holding for a few minutes on my part - I asked if I could breathe while the radiation was being delivered and was told "we recommend it." Hah!
I left you at last blog with the correct impression that I had some remaining questions about the radiation dosage prescribed for me at the Sacramento office. I want to let you know that my medical oncologist coordinated a very nice second opinion for me with a radiation oncologist in San Mateo. This doc reviewed my chart, read all my surgery notes, chemo details, looked at my pathology slides and talked to the pathologist. Then, he called me and told me that what was prescribed was exactly what he would do in his shop. He explained that the difference in dosage was due to the timing of the recommendation - the longer treatment period (and higher dosage) had been discussed before I had the mastectomy and all the tumor was removed (clean margins).
I feel comfortable now in my Sacramento radiation location - and am very grateful to the wonderful docs in San Mateo for helping me get my questions answered. Sometimes the health system does work!
Jim and I loaded the car yesterday with two cats and one bird (Booker) and a bunch of my junk and moved me into Joy's house. I've spent a little time today getting organized and settled here. The cats are doing well, though they and Booker are still nervous. Sneakers is under Joy's bed...apparently for the day today. Isn't it amazing how cats learn about where their litter box is and just go for it?
It was hard to leave Sal (our lovely Double Yellow-headed Amazon parrot) and the dogs at home. I'm not sure how they'll interpret it and I'm most worried about Sal since he's been so strange since I've been hairless and wearing hats/scarves the past several months.
Jim is here until Friday morning and that's a real treat for me. We get time together and I appreciate every second of it. It will be hard and harder once he goes home and we start the long time apart!
BTW: we are thinking that something has crawled into the engine or vent system of my lovely Toyota and died. I had a weird noise experience last week when I started it - kind of a rattling, bumping sound from the front passenger side. The noise went away without any obvious resulting problems... until the last couple of days. Now we have a very foul odor, which seems to be getting worse and we both think we've got something really dead lurking somewhere. Unfortunately, there is nothing obvious to be seen. Do you have any ideas of what to do?
We will likely take the car to a dealer and have it disassembled to find what the issue may be. In the mean time, don't ask for a ride with us unless you have a really bad cold or allergies!
With thanks for all your good thoughts and prayers and with hopes that you have a wonderful week!
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Part Three - Coming Up October 27, 2010
Greetings Everyone!
Right now in Crescent City it's a beautiful, sunny, somewhat windy, fall day with rain projected at 70 - 90% today and maybe a total of one inch by the time the storm moves on. Last week we had huge wind, lightning and rain storms that brought big tree limbs down, cut our power twice in 24 hours and filled our gutters (again) with all the tree debris that's been accumulating since the last storm. One of Jim's big home owner jobs is to take my electric blower (yes, mine - and, it was a birthday gift, too!), get on the roof and blow all of the mess off of the roof and out of the gutters. He's already been up there once this season, and it immediately stormed and clogged the gutters again. I argue strongly against this dangerous little home chore when the roof is wet - which is pretty much all the time at the moment. I don't always win. Cross your fingers for dry days this weekend - that's usually when the urge to roof climb strikes.
So...the last chemo is doing its best to make me miserable, but beginning to fade. I was able to work last week (Tuesday through Saturday - yahoo steroids!) with energy falling as the week went on. By Sunday, I was a couch potato and slept most of the day. Monday I actually managed to pass out - an unexpected event, since I am usually really able to monitor being dizzy and manage it to not actually faint. Got surprised, but not injured. A better day Tuesday and today, so far. The good news is that I should be able to climb back up and out of this in a few more days - and the GREAT news is that I don't have a cycle to start again next Monday!!
However, the next part of this journey has begun...information, set-up, planning and scheduling of radiation. I've really been re-immersed in the numbers that got us started on this journey again, which (lucky you) I've decided to share. Here goes:
But, I wrote in this vein today partly because this is how I'm dealing with stuff...and how I plan to keep dealing no matter what happens. Radiation - big scary machines that do invisible things to kill cells - is another step on this journey and has me thinking again about this little trip Jim and I (and you) are on. I want to have all the information I can find that 's accurate and informative. I wish I'd paid better attention in statistics those many years ago so I could really understand the statistics in some of the research I'm reading. I wish I understood cellular biology and angiotensin growth factors and many other clinical/biological things that are being researched that may come to apply at some point. None-the-less, my plan is to do the best I can with the cards dealt and to know about as many of the cards that are not yet face up...and sprinkle a little denial into the mix once in a while. I will be a partner in my health care and I will be making the decisions about what happens to me. This won't be happening "to" me - it's happening in me and with me and I'll be right there asking questions and trying to figure out the next best steps for me. Right now, those steps involve a big scary machine and hormone therapy to get to a cure.
And, just so you know...Jim's giving me about another week to "get over" chemo and then he has a work-out, shape up plan that sounds grueling. Studies do show that women with breast cancer who exercise and stay at the correct BMI (ahemmm), live longer than those who don't. Any of you remember me when I worked out hard 6 - 7 days a week? Well, Jim does and he's making plans for my re-addiction to the whole exercise thing. Maybe whining will divert him for a little longer.
Thanks to Susan, Kelly and Karen for the great lunch today. Happy Birthday, Susan!
BTW: It's raining! :)
Right now in Crescent City it's a beautiful, sunny, somewhat windy, fall day with rain projected at 70 - 90% today and maybe a total of one inch by the time the storm moves on. Last week we had huge wind, lightning and rain storms that brought big tree limbs down, cut our power twice in 24 hours and filled our gutters (again) with all the tree debris that's been accumulating since the last storm. One of Jim's big home owner jobs is to take my electric blower (yes, mine - and, it was a birthday gift, too!), get on the roof and blow all of the mess off of the roof and out of the gutters. He's already been up there once this season, and it immediately stormed and clogged the gutters again. I argue strongly against this dangerous little home chore when the roof is wet - which is pretty much all the time at the moment. I don't always win. Cross your fingers for dry days this weekend - that's usually when the urge to roof climb strikes.
So...the last chemo is doing its best to make me miserable, but beginning to fade. I was able to work last week (Tuesday through Saturday - yahoo steroids!) with energy falling as the week went on. By Sunday, I was a couch potato and slept most of the day. Monday I actually managed to pass out - an unexpected event, since I am usually really able to monitor being dizzy and manage it to not actually faint. Got surprised, but not injured. A better day Tuesday and today, so far. The good news is that I should be able to climb back up and out of this in a few more days - and the GREAT news is that I don't have a cycle to start again next Monday!!
However, the next part of this journey has begun...information, set-up, planning and scheduling of radiation. I've really been re-immersed in the numbers that got us started on this journey again, which (lucky you) I've decided to share. Here goes:
- In April, I was diagnosed with invasive lobular carcinoma of the right breast;
- In June - after two lumpectomies - I had a mastectomy and extensive axilary node dissection. All cancer that was seen was removed. The margins (edges) of the main tumor were "clean." However, 23 of 24 nodes were positive for cancer.
- The extent of cancer that was found caused me to be "staged" at Stage 3. There are four stages given, based on the size of the initial tumor and whether or not lymph nodes were found to contain cancer. Because of the larger size of the tumor and the large number of positive lymph nodes, I moved right up to Stage 3. (Stage 1 is very early and, of course, Stage 4 is a late catch.) Stage 3 is considered "advanced" disease - but because I had no evidence of distant metastasis (as in bones, liver, etc.), I am not at Stage 4 or "late" disease.
- Statistically (based on data from 2001 and 2002), women in my situation have about a 49% five-year survival rate overall. This means that, with treatment, its about a flip of a coin for me. Not the best number, but still hopefull since I have no obvious mets. And, survival rates are improving every year...
- Both Jennifer Brown, the medical/chemo oncologist, and Janice Ryu, the new radiation oncologist, confirm that survival is increased when chemotherapy, radiation and hormone therapy are given after mastectomy. Dr. Brown told me she has gone for a "cure" with the chemo and has been very aggressive. I believe her.
- Dr. Ryu has prescribed 5,000 rads total dose of radiation over 25 daily treatments. This is a lower number of treatments than I've heard proposed before, so I'm still gathering information about how "aggressive" she's being. I plan to ambush my oncologist on Friday with this somewhat sensitive question. At this moment, I start radiation on November 16.
- Hormone therapy is given to women whose tumors test E2 and P2 positive, which mine did. Dr. Brown says that the tumor type that I have is actually very responsive to hormone therapy and that this is one of the most important components of the total treatment plan. For me it will be an aromatase inhibitor, which is a newer class of drugs designed to remove all the remaning estrogen from my body. Like menopause didn't do enough, already! I'll take hormone therapy for at least five years - so I'm told today. Who knows what will change and/or be new in that amount of time.
- By December 22, I should be done with radiation, chemo and nicely adjusted to hormone therapy. The side effects of all of this year will march on for a little longer after that. But, as my friends said today, then normal life - real life - begins again at our house.
But, I wrote in this vein today partly because this is how I'm dealing with stuff...and how I plan to keep dealing no matter what happens. Radiation - big scary machines that do invisible things to kill cells - is another step on this journey and has me thinking again about this little trip Jim and I (and you) are on. I want to have all the information I can find that 's accurate and informative. I wish I'd paid better attention in statistics those many years ago so I could really understand the statistics in some of the research I'm reading. I wish I understood cellular biology and angiotensin growth factors and many other clinical/biological things that are being researched that may come to apply at some point. None-the-less, my plan is to do the best I can with the cards dealt and to know about as many of the cards that are not yet face up...and sprinkle a little denial into the mix once in a while. I will be a partner in my health care and I will be making the decisions about what happens to me. This won't be happening "to" me - it's happening in me and with me and I'll be right there asking questions and trying to figure out the next best steps for me. Right now, those steps involve a big scary machine and hormone therapy to get to a cure.
And, just so you know...Jim's giving me about another week to "get over" chemo and then he has a work-out, shape up plan that sounds grueling. Studies do show that women with breast cancer who exercise and stay at the correct BMI (ahemmm), live longer than those who don't. Any of you remember me when I worked out hard 6 - 7 days a week? Well, Jim does and he's making plans for my re-addiction to the whole exercise thing. Maybe whining will divert him for a little longer.
Thanks to Susan, Kelly and Karen for the great lunch today. Happy Birthday, Susan!
BTW: It's raining! :)
Sunday, October 17, 2010
The Last One! October 17, 2010
Hi All You Sweeties!
I'm feeling pretty darn good - and pretty excited for two reasons: first, the last cycle of chemo was the "best" so far, and second, tomorrow will be the last of the chemo!
To be honest, I am sooo grateful to have had only a few 'down' days in this past cycle. I was able to work - not complete days but enough to contribute some to our local Building Healthy Communities project at an important time in it's life. And, I actually made soup last week - the first meal I've cooked in months! It felt good to have some energy coming back, to not be so dizzy all the time, etc.
Have to say, though, that I'm really relieved and happy to be knocking on the door of this last treatment. If it can be combined with the same sort of "easier" post-treatment cycle as this last was...is it too much to hope for?
Next week I'll see a radiation oncologist to see if there's a match between her approach to treatment, what is offered in San Mateo, what I know about treatment, and her personality/communication style/etc. and mine. If so, there are going to be appointments to finish the expansion of the pre-reconstruction insert to get it stable prior to radiation, then appointments to get everything set up to reproduce radiation doses over six weeks or so of treatment. I'm hoping to know soon what the start and end dates will be.
That's it for today. Hoping you are all doing well and that you've had a great weekend. The 49ers won one! The Giants one their first playoff game in Phillie! Life is getting better as the end of chemo approaches. Fall is here! Things aren't so bad, right?
Love to you all!
I'm feeling pretty darn good - and pretty excited for two reasons: first, the last cycle of chemo was the "best" so far, and second, tomorrow will be the last of the chemo!
To be honest, I am sooo grateful to have had only a few 'down' days in this past cycle. I was able to work - not complete days but enough to contribute some to our local Building Healthy Communities project at an important time in it's life. And, I actually made soup last week - the first meal I've cooked in months! It felt good to have some energy coming back, to not be so dizzy all the time, etc.
Have to say, though, that I'm really relieved and happy to be knocking on the door of this last treatment. If it can be combined with the same sort of "easier" post-treatment cycle as this last was...is it too much to hope for?
Next week I'll see a radiation oncologist to see if there's a match between her approach to treatment, what is offered in San Mateo, what I know about treatment, and her personality/communication style/etc. and mine. If so, there are going to be appointments to finish the expansion of the pre-reconstruction insert to get it stable prior to radiation, then appointments to get everything set up to reproduce radiation doses over six weeks or so of treatment. I'm hoping to know soon what the start and end dates will be.
That's it for today. Hoping you are all doing well and that you've had a great weekend. The 49ers won one! The Giants one their first playoff game in Phillie! Life is getting better as the end of chemo approaches. Fall is here! Things aren't so bad, right?
Love to you all!
Monday, October 4, 2010
A Post during Chemo? October 4, 2010
Hello Everyone,
I'm in the chemo room of California Cancer Center, getting ready for the next round. This will be 7 of 8 for the total treatment cycle and 3 of 4 for the Taxol. I'm gonna try to blog as it happens, tho I'm behind already. Technical difficulties with the iPad may get in the way - or I may fall asleep midway - but we'll give it the old college try.
Here's what's happened so far:
- in the chemo room, I chose a lounge chair with a great view of the outside. Tim, my registered nurse for the day found a vein, injected a little lidocaine and inserted the catheter, getting good blood flow return. He drew a CBC, hung a tiny bag of normal saline fluid and went to get the lab run.
Lab work is good to go...which means my hemoglobin and white counts are high enough to give me the Taxol. Now, Tim is here with the first of the IV pre-meds: Benedryl 25 mg and Zantac. The Benedryl is to prevent a possible hypersensitivity reaction, which Taxol occasionally causes. The Zantac is for nausea...also a possible side effect, though much less of an issue with Taxol than with the Adriamycin/Cytoxan cycles. This runs for about 20 minutes...the Benedryl is the one that may send me to nap time.
Last week was a tired one, with lots of dizzy/wobbly spells. Today I feel better again...eating well, no dizziness (other than my usual strange self) and feeling energetic. Started my prep for this round with dexamethasone yesterday and will get more IV today. Pretty much makes me "up" and wired.
Jim is here, making his Blackberry smoke. Once again, he's re-arranged his schedule to sit with me for these 4 hours. At the hospital, it's budget season and Jim is up to his eyebrows in getting the operating and capitol budgets done. And, it's time to get ready for year-end close, followed by audits. This week, he has Finance Committee and the Board meeting too! Busy and nerve wracking for Jim! Though I love having him here, it's a hard week for him to do it!
The next round of pre-meds are up and running. Zofran, another anti-nausea med and the steroids, dexamethasone. Another 20 minutes or so and it will be on to the Taxol. I got here at 10 am and it's now 10:50 am.
Now the Taxol. They start it slow to be sure I'm not going to have one of those hypersensitive reactions. I haven't so far, but they can be dangerous. Shortness of breath, swelling, etc. Reminds me that this stuff is poison! Total time for the Taxol will be a couple of hours.
So...a brief hair - or lack thereof - update. Taxol is also one that makes hair fall out, so not expecting any regrowth to happen. We buzzed my head two weeks after the first round of A/C. It fell out quickly and I now have a tiny halo of gray fuzz that remains. The fuzz hasn't fallen out nor has it regrown in one bit. I shaved my legs at about the same time and there's still no re-growth. Have lost most arm hair, but still have eyebrows! I'm altering between my wig and scarves. Don't really like wearing a wig...itchy, hot, strange. I wear it outside the house when I'm tired of being stared at...when I wear the scarves, strangers do double takes. You can almost hear them say " poor woman.". Ugh!
Thank you ALL for the wonderful cards, wishes, blog comments and support. I read them all and am continually amazed at how many friends and colleagues are out there taking this journey with me. Thank you, thank you!
So, all's finished. 2:00 pm. IV removed. Time for lunch - I feel good and then our long ride home with Jim at the wheel...he doesn't let me drive at all. Wishing you all a great week!
I'm in the chemo room of California Cancer Center, getting ready for the next round. This will be 7 of 8 for the total treatment cycle and 3 of 4 for the Taxol. I'm gonna try to blog as it happens, tho I'm behind already. Technical difficulties with the iPad may get in the way - or I may fall asleep midway - but we'll give it the old college try.
Here's what's happened so far:
- in the chemo room, I chose a lounge chair with a great view of the outside. Tim, my registered nurse for the day found a vein, injected a little lidocaine and inserted the catheter, getting good blood flow return. He drew a CBC, hung a tiny bag of normal saline fluid and went to get the lab run.
Lab work is good to go...which means my hemoglobin and white counts are high enough to give me the Taxol. Now, Tim is here with the first of the IV pre-meds: Benedryl 25 mg and Zantac. The Benedryl is to prevent a possible hypersensitivity reaction, which Taxol occasionally causes. The Zantac is for nausea...also a possible side effect, though much less of an issue with Taxol than with the Adriamycin/Cytoxan cycles. This runs for about 20 minutes...the Benedryl is the one that may send me to nap time.
Last week was a tired one, with lots of dizzy/wobbly spells. Today I feel better again...eating well, no dizziness (other than my usual strange self) and feeling energetic. Started my prep for this round with dexamethasone yesterday and will get more IV today. Pretty much makes me "up" and wired.
Jim is here, making his Blackberry smoke. Once again, he's re-arranged his schedule to sit with me for these 4 hours. At the hospital, it's budget season and Jim is up to his eyebrows in getting the operating and capitol budgets done. And, it's time to get ready for year-end close, followed by audits. This week, he has Finance Committee and the Board meeting too! Busy and nerve wracking for Jim! Though I love having him here, it's a hard week for him to do it!
The next round of pre-meds are up and running. Zofran, another anti-nausea med and the steroids, dexamethasone. Another 20 minutes or so and it will be on to the Taxol. I got here at 10 am and it's now 10:50 am.
Now the Taxol. They start it slow to be sure I'm not going to have one of those hypersensitive reactions. I haven't so far, but they can be dangerous. Shortness of breath, swelling, etc. Reminds me that this stuff is poison! Total time for the Taxol will be a couple of hours.
So...a brief hair - or lack thereof - update. Taxol is also one that makes hair fall out, so not expecting any regrowth to happen. We buzzed my head two weeks after the first round of A/C. It fell out quickly and I now have a tiny halo of gray fuzz that remains. The fuzz hasn't fallen out nor has it regrown in one bit. I shaved my legs at about the same time and there's still no re-growth. Have lost most arm hair, but still have eyebrows! I'm altering between my wig and scarves. Don't really like wearing a wig...itchy, hot, strange. I wear it outside the house when I'm tired of being stared at...when I wear the scarves, strangers do double takes. You can almost hear them say " poor woman.". Ugh!
Thank you ALL for the wonderful cards, wishes, blog comments and support. I read them all and am continually amazed at how many friends and colleagues are out there taking this journey with me. Thank you, thank you!
So, all's finished. 2:00 pm. IV removed. Time for lunch - I feel good and then our long ride home with Jim at the wheel...he doesn't let me drive at all. Wishing you all a great week!
Monday, September 27, 2010
Where Have I Been? September 27, 2010
Hi Everyone,
Actually, I didn't mean to be a non-blogger for these past couple of weeks...during my last chemo (September 20), I was on my iPad giving you a blow-by-blow description of what happens from IV stick to lab draw to chemo. I discovered, however, that the iPad isn't completely compatible with this blog program and I was unable to save a portion, return to it, and still have all the tools available to me to continue writing. I thought I saved what I had written, but it isn't posted on the site today so I think that effort was totally lost. Oh well!
My first round of Taxol was really lousy. Several medication changes were made for the last one which helped a lot. A new stomach medicine so I have less upset and can eat some. More steroids so the really achy, flu part of things is reduced in the first week. The result was that I did feel better last week - in fact I was able to WORK on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday! I actually got something done!
Unfortunately, the slide started on Friday (which was still an OK day, just not a working day) and continued through the weekend. Not as bad, however, as the first round...tired, bone achy and quite dizzy. I spent much of the weekend on the couch watching college and NFL football - ask me who won out of our state teams...not many! Nebraska won, though!
Time is going by quickly. Hard to believe it's the end of September! I have two more chemo treatments and then I'm done! After the chemo is rest for about a month or six weeks. I'm really hoping to get back on my feet then. Am starting to make decisions about where to get radiation - San Mateo through the same program or Sacramento. I'm lucky enough to have family/friends with homes in both locations - it helps a lot as I'll be able to consult with both doc groups and get a sense of who will be best to work with.
Sorry for the break in communication! I hope you are all doing well, enjoying apple pie and other wonderful fall goodies. BTW: for those of you who live up north as we do, did you know that Michelle at Vita Cucina makes the BEST blackberry pie ever! It was my birthday "cake" earlier this month and I've never had pie so good! Try other kinds too...I'm sure they're fabulous!
Actually, I didn't mean to be a non-blogger for these past couple of weeks...during my last chemo (September 20), I was on my iPad giving you a blow-by-blow description of what happens from IV stick to lab draw to chemo. I discovered, however, that the iPad isn't completely compatible with this blog program and I was unable to save a portion, return to it, and still have all the tools available to me to continue writing. I thought I saved what I had written, but it isn't posted on the site today so I think that effort was totally lost. Oh well!
My first round of Taxol was really lousy. Several medication changes were made for the last one which helped a lot. A new stomach medicine so I have less upset and can eat some. More steroids so the really achy, flu part of things is reduced in the first week. The result was that I did feel better last week - in fact I was able to WORK on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday! I actually got something done!
Unfortunately, the slide started on Friday (which was still an OK day, just not a working day) and continued through the weekend. Not as bad, however, as the first round...tired, bone achy and quite dizzy. I spent much of the weekend on the couch watching college and NFL football - ask me who won out of our state teams...not many! Nebraska won, though!
Time is going by quickly. Hard to believe it's the end of September! I have two more chemo treatments and then I'm done! After the chemo is rest for about a month or six weeks. I'm really hoping to get back on my feet then. Am starting to make decisions about where to get radiation - San Mateo through the same program or Sacramento. I'm lucky enough to have family/friends with homes in both locations - it helps a lot as I'll be able to consult with both doc groups and get a sense of who will be best to work with.
Sorry for the break in communication! I hope you are all doing well, enjoying apple pie and other wonderful fall goodies. BTW: for those of you who live up north as we do, did you know that Michelle at Vita Cucina makes the BEST blackberry pie ever! It was my birthday "cake" earlier this month and I've never had pie so good! Try other kinds too...I'm sure they're fabulous!
Monday, September 13, 2010
Book Titles- Septermber 3, 2010
Hello Everyone!
One of the games that Jim and I like to play is about made up titles for books we "plan" to write. For example, the last couple of years we've been thinking about a book called Presumed Republican. If you are the middle-aged/senior-aged, chief financial officer in the local hospital who is a member of Rotary, you are ...presumed Republican. Since just about everybody knows exactly where we live, imagine the surprise and confusion when Obama and No on Prop 8 signs appeared on our "Republican" (not) lawn a year ago. It got most interesting when we received feedback from the K - 8 school down the street from us that teachers were concerned about the effect of the Prop 8 sign on the children.
Anyhow, my latest book title is Chemo Sucks (Or 50 Things to Remember Even After Chemo Fog Does Its Best). This week's top entry for the list of 50 is "don't believe everything you're told." Yes folks, it's been one lousy week since the Taxol. Very close to as bad as the first round of A/C.
Remember when I asked "easier than what?" when my docs said that "most women" do better with Taxol? Less nausea, more energy, generally feeling better I was told. "In my experience, if you had a hard time with A/C, the Taxol will be easier." (a quote from my doc). "My friend was jogging on the 6th day after her infusion." (a quote from infusion RN). Hah!
In the rush to be optimistic, it is important to remember one really key thing - Taxol is chemotherapy, poison to cells. How much fun can it be? Bottomline for me this past week...it hasn't been any fun at all!
I was infused on Tuesday last, got home Tuesday night, felt good until Wednesday at about noon. From then on, you name the symptom and I've had it - bone aches all over (a Taxol specialty- you feel like your bones want to crawl out of your skin and no position is comfortable except asleep), low grade nausea which of course eliminates the appetite, dizziness, no energy, diarrhea, and more. Am at my computer for the first time in almost a week. Actually went for a ride in the car yesterday to get out of the house for a little while. Thank goodness the trial was cancelled; I was supposed to show up for jury duty this morning! I totally forgot to get my medical excuse taken care of and I slept til almost 10:00 this morning. Don't think the judge would have been too excited by my disregard of the legal system.
That's the news from Crescent City today. BTW: if you'd like to contribute to the list for Chemo Sucks, send me your items. We can probably come up with some fun stuff!
Have a great week, you all! Much love!
One of the games that Jim and I like to play is about made up titles for books we "plan" to write. For example, the last couple of years we've been thinking about a book called Presumed Republican. If you are the middle-aged/senior-aged, chief financial officer in the local hospital who is a member of Rotary, you are ...presumed Republican. Since just about everybody knows exactly where we live, imagine the surprise and confusion when Obama and No on Prop 8 signs appeared on our "Republican" (not) lawn a year ago. It got most interesting when we received feedback from the K - 8 school down the street from us that teachers were concerned about the effect of the Prop 8 sign on the children.
Anyhow, my latest book title is Chemo Sucks (Or 50 Things to Remember Even After Chemo Fog Does Its Best). This week's top entry for the list of 50 is "don't believe everything you're told." Yes folks, it's been one lousy week since the Taxol. Very close to as bad as the first round of A/C.
Remember when I asked "easier than what?" when my docs said that "most women" do better with Taxol? Less nausea, more energy, generally feeling better I was told. "In my experience, if you had a hard time with A/C, the Taxol will be easier." (a quote from my doc). "My friend was jogging on the 6th day after her infusion." (a quote from infusion RN). Hah!
In the rush to be optimistic, it is important to remember one really key thing - Taxol is chemotherapy, poison to cells. How much fun can it be? Bottomline for me this past week...it hasn't been any fun at all!
I was infused on Tuesday last, got home Tuesday night, felt good until Wednesday at about noon. From then on, you name the symptom and I've had it - bone aches all over (a Taxol specialty- you feel like your bones want to crawl out of your skin and no position is comfortable except asleep), low grade nausea which of course eliminates the appetite, dizziness, no energy, diarrhea, and more. Am at my computer for the first time in almost a week. Actually went for a ride in the car yesterday to get out of the house for a little while. Thank goodness the trial was cancelled; I was supposed to show up for jury duty this morning! I totally forgot to get my medical excuse taken care of and I slept til almost 10:00 this morning. Don't think the judge would have been too excited by my disregard of the legal system.
That's the news from Crescent City today. BTW: if you'd like to contribute to the list for Chemo Sucks, send me your items. We can probably come up with some fun stuff!
Have a great week, you all! Much love!
Monday, September 6, 2010
Heading to San Mateo - Again September 6, 2010
Happy Labor Day Everyone! I hope you've all had relaxing, fun weekends...maybe with a little sun and outdoor time involved?!
Here in Crescent City, we've been lucky enough to have sun and relatively warm weather (60s - which is really nice here). Jim went crazy yesterday in his garden and brought in handfuls of tomatoes (yellow babies, various red heirlooms - so good!) and actually canned five quarts of pickled beets. He just loves having those veggies from his childhood in the pantry for winter-time surprises. For me, the pickling brine smelled good, but frankly, I couldn't imagine actually eating the final product. Maybe later.
So we're about to join the traffic as we head to San Mateo for my chemo (#5) tomorrow. Again, not looking forward to it...though it will be a new drug and a new experience. The AC kicked my butt again this time during the first week - but relented a bit last week. I was able to be up and about for some hours everyday Monday - Friday...got some work done, saw some friends. Yeah! Have been a couch potato for Saturday/Sunday, but the US Open Tennis tournament is on...
The big news for me was getting in an airplane and flying to the Bay Area for my doctor's appointment on Friday. I haven't been in the air since before the first surgery in April - a long time, given my business - but finally saw a physical therapist about potential lymphedema in my right arm and was told what to do. Turns out that every mastectomy patients has about a 2% chance of getting lymphedema (swelling) in the arm/s where the lymph nodes have been removed. That risk continues, apparently, into the future and prevention activities help to avoid it.
I don't have lymphedema now and have a pressure sleeve for my arm which I wear, especially when flying. Turns out that the pressure gradients while in an airplane can drive lymph fluid into the arm cells and make things worse. The long and short for this trip? No problems...except for getting diverted from Arcata Airport to Redding because of fog (first time for me since living up here), staying overnight there and then being bussed back on Saturday. Nothing related to my wonderful medical issues...just another adventure! Thank goodness our friend Rick drove Jim to Arcata to pick me up and drive me home on Saturday afternoon - I would have made it, but I was tired!
You can tell, I'm sure, that I feel better this week. I am anxious about tomorrow, but trying hard to use my semi-Zen breathing and meditation techniquest to calm down and stay focused on good things. Thanks to everyone for all your support and for letting me be a princess-sized whiner! Randy, am thinking of you everyday - hope your first week has gone well.
Cross your fingers for chemo tomorrow and the week afterward! Should have less/no nausea and an "easier" time - that's how it's advertised. Love to you all!
Here in Crescent City, we've been lucky enough to have sun and relatively warm weather (60s - which is really nice here). Jim went crazy yesterday in his garden and brought in handfuls of tomatoes (yellow babies, various red heirlooms - so good!) and actually canned five quarts of pickled beets. He just loves having those veggies from his childhood in the pantry for winter-time surprises. For me, the pickling brine smelled good, but frankly, I couldn't imagine actually eating the final product. Maybe later.
So we're about to join the traffic as we head to San Mateo for my chemo (#5) tomorrow. Again, not looking forward to it...though it will be a new drug and a new experience. The AC kicked my butt again this time during the first week - but relented a bit last week. I was able to be up and about for some hours everyday Monday - Friday...got some work done, saw some friends. Yeah! Have been a couch potato for Saturday/Sunday, but the US Open Tennis tournament is on...
The big news for me was getting in an airplane and flying to the Bay Area for my doctor's appointment on Friday. I haven't been in the air since before the first surgery in April - a long time, given my business - but finally saw a physical therapist about potential lymphedema in my right arm and was told what to do. Turns out that every mastectomy patients has about a 2% chance of getting lymphedema (swelling) in the arm/s where the lymph nodes have been removed. That risk continues, apparently, into the future and prevention activities help to avoid it.
I don't have lymphedema now and have a pressure sleeve for my arm which I wear, especially when flying. Turns out that the pressure gradients while in an airplane can drive lymph fluid into the arm cells and make things worse. The long and short for this trip? No problems...except for getting diverted from Arcata Airport to Redding because of fog (first time for me since living up here), staying overnight there and then being bussed back on Saturday. Nothing related to my wonderful medical issues...just another adventure! Thank goodness our friend Rick drove Jim to Arcata to pick me up and drive me home on Saturday afternoon - I would have made it, but I was tired!
You can tell, I'm sure, that I feel better this week. I am anxious about tomorrow, but trying hard to use my semi-Zen breathing and meditation techniquest to calm down and stay focused on good things. Thanks to everyone for all your support and for letting me be a princess-sized whiner! Randy, am thinking of you everyday - hope your first week has gone well.
Cross your fingers for chemo tomorrow and the week afterward! Should have less/no nausea and an "easier" time - that's how it's advertised. Love to you all!
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