Update on treatment #2

Wow... its been a week since I've last updated.


After treatment last Thursday, I felt about the same as the 1st treatment.  Thursday night i felt nauseous.  I took a Zofran.  My doctor had said to only take the Zofran, to see if it was the other pill that was messing with my eyes.  Well low and behold, it was and my eyes were fine after this treatment!  That was good.

Friday I felt OK, Maddie went to CoCo Key with camp, and I did some shopping. Afterwards I went home and gave myself the Neulasta shot and went back to CoCo Key to pick up Maddie.  I knew that Saturday was not going to be fun.

Saturday was rough again.  I feel like it is a double-edged sword in a way.  I feel nauseous and know I need to keep eating little bits, but I feel like if I eat, i will feel sick because of the food.  On the Saturday after, I feel like its a no win situation!  I was able to make it through the day by forcing myself to eat a little and take the Zofran every 6-7 hours.  By dinnertime I felt a little better and was able to eat more.  Compared to after the last treatment, I think this week went a little better.  Maybe I was just prepared for what was to come?  Maybe it was because I was just taking the one pill? Who knows?

I may have to go back to the doctors to get the next two Neulasta shots.  The office isn't sure how to bill the insurance company since they are not technically "giving" me the shot.  They tried writing it as a script and sending it to CVS, but the shot is not available at a retail pharmacy.  They are checking to see if it will be covered by mail.  I will have to wait and see.  I may be making 2 extra trips to Worcester.

Sunday I started to feel better, and have been progressively better each day since. 

Monday I went to the "Look Good, Feel Better" class.  My mom came with me.  It was good.  They talked about wigs, how to tie scarves, skin care and make-up.  Everyone got a bag filled with all sorts of make-up, face wash, moisturizer etc.  It was a good time, I'm glad i went.

My hair is FINALLY coming out.  Everyone in the medical field had said it would fall out between day 10-14 (with treatment #1 being day 1).  Mine didn't happen till day 21.  I think it took so long because I shaved my head.  I was not touching, brushing or running my hands though it.  It is pretty much all out now.  There are a few patchy spots and some very fine hairs left, but it is mostly gone.  My scalp is so white!  Oh well, its only hair!

The next week should be smooth sailing, till treatment #3 a week from today.

Treatment #2

Treatment #2 is done!  Mike came with me to keep me company, and the time seemed to go by faster this time.  We snacked, played with our phones, and played Scrabble.  The score was close, but I ended up winning - using the word Quit on a double letter and triple word score really racked up my points :)


hooked up and ready to go


I talked to the doctor about my vision issues and the anti-nausea meds and he seems to think that the Compazine was causing it.  He told me to only take the Zofran and to see if that helps.  Hopefully it will! 

Yesterday when I got home I had a few nice surprises.  There was a card and gift certificate for a massage from my cousin Lyndsay.  And a "where's waldo" postcard (to pass the time) from some of my friends.  Both were very thoughtful!  Thank you!

This past Tuesday Maddie and I spent time with Jill and Ally.  They surprised me with a beautiful bouquet of flowers!


flowers from Jill


Today my mom gave me (and Maddie) a Kindle.  That should make it easier to keep all my books in one place.  Thanks Karen!

Last week, my friend Cyndy gave me a hat that she got while on vacation.  It is blue patchwork pattern.  Very cute! Thanks Cyndy!

The best thing of all is the "special" way my brother Travis has chosen to support me.  He shaved his head practically bald to match me!



bald Trav

Up next is the Neulasta shot tomorrow and then a not very fun Saturday!

Goodbye Hair

As a lot of you already know, I shaved my head last night.  I was ready to do it, as I did not want my hair falling out in big clumps.  I had originally planned on doing it Sunday morning, but i figured, whats 12 hours early?

Mike was going to shave it for me, but as he put it, he "wanted to be know as the supportive boyfriend, instead of the one that shaved my head".  That was fine, his dad Paul, shaved it for me and he did a great job!  Mike did do a few "clean up" spots - so he did end up helping in the end!

Mike and I went to the Cape - that's where his parents were - to shave my head.  We lit a fire in the fire pit, and as the time got closer, we were all getting a little nervous.  Finally, around 7:30pm we really got ready to go.

All set for the first swipe

My hair ended up being really fine and it was hard to get it to catch on the clippers!  That just meant it was time to get inventive......

still smiling.....



even with a T shaved into my head!

After Paul was done doing the majority of the work, Mike took over and cleaned up around my ears and got any strays that were missed.

make sure you get every piece

Finally we were done, and if i do say, I think I look pretty good for being practically bald!  Luckily, my head is not lopsided or something!



front



and the back

 I do have hats that I am planning on wearing when I am out, but when I am home, I am not wearing anything - unless my head gets cold or something!

Maddie was not with us when all this was going on, she hung out with Karen and Jimmy's family at the lake and then with Karen and Raf at the Bazaar.  When she first saw me, she told me to keep my hat on.  That lasted about 5 minutes, the hat came off, and by the time we got home, she was rubbing my new head!




Wigs

Today my friend Krust (her real name is Kristy, but I will save the story behind her nickname for another day!) came with me to my wig appointment.  Although i am not planning on wearing a wig at all, my insurance covered the full cost of one, so i figured i might as well get it and have it "just in case".  Who knows, I may have a wedding or a night out that I want to have "hair" for!  Lets just say that I am so glad she came with me!  We had a blast!!!!!!


I finally settled on a look that was pretty close to my natural hair color but with highlights.  It is going to take some getting used - it was so weird looking in the mirror at myself with a wig on!  Pretty creepy even!

Here are some THUMBS DOWN, yet FUNNY pics.....


As Krust put it "you look like the dentist from Roudolf".....

 Long with bangs.....

Very bad pixie that we were laughing so hard we were almost crying.....

Blond bombshell.....

Then the one that I finally chose (it was actually the 1st one that I tried on I think)......

and a back view.....

This weekend I will be going to the Cape and Mike's dad will most likely be shaving my head on Sunday.  I would rather shave it sooner rather than later - when it decides to come out in clumps. 

Also, I am waiting to hear back about the "Look good, Feel better" class that is offered for patients with cancer that lose their hair.  I should hear back next week!

Genetics

I got some good news today.....

The genetic councilor from Mass General called me today and informed me that both of the genetic tests that I did came back NEGATIVE!!!!  Although that means we are not sure where my breast cancer came from, we can safely say that it is not genetic.  

The BRCA1 and BRCA2 (breast cancer 1 & 2) which would have made me have a higher chance to get BC was negative.  Someone with BRCA1 or 2 has a 50-85% chance of developing BC and a 20-55% chance of developing ovarian cancer.

Also, the P53 (Li Fraumeni) gene - which increases your chances (about 50% for a 1st occurance by age 30, or 90% by age 70, and 15% for a 2nd occurance) of not only breast cancer, but also any other cancer, was found to be negative as well!  That means that I will not have to worry about anyone else in my family having the gene - or a higher chance of developing cancer.  Also, my daughter will not have to be tested prematurely to see if she has it. 

The chance that I would develop breast cancer was the same as anyone else - 10-12%.  I just had the "good luck" of getting it about 15 years early.  And the "really good luck" that I FOUND it 15 years early!

Side Effects

Why is it that I have to get every possible wierd side effect?  My body is just not made to handle all these different meds. 

After I had my port put in, I was given a script for percocet.  I was a little apprehensive about taking them, but I did end up taking 2 - one around 5pm the day of surgery, and the other around 3am that next morning.  I woke up the next day having all sorts of odd feelings.  I was weak, couldn't pick anything up wihtout my hands shaking, severe dry mouth, blurred vision.  In my mind, the port was put in wrong, and I was dying.  I went to my oncology appointment that afternoon, and after telling the doc all my side effects, he made sure to show me the x-ray of the port and let me know that it was, in fact, put in correctly. 

Come to find out, all the side effects I was having were "uncommon" side effects of the percocet.  Lucky me!  Needless to say, that was the last time I will ever take those!

Which brings us to the luck I have with the anti-nausea meds I have.  After taking them the last few days, I noticed that I did feel better, but once again, my vision was messed up.  I had a constant blurry feel to my eyes, and I couldn't focus on the tv or read a book.  It felt like one eye was nearsighted and the other was farsighted.  I could still function, but it was annoying.  I figured that the chemo had changed my eyesight, and I was going to have to go to the eye doc and get new contacts.  Yesterday, I only took one anti-nausea pill in the AM, and by the afternoon, I noticed that my vision was getting better.  I then looked up the side effects, and surprise, surprise, one of the "uncommon" side effects is blurred vision!  Again, lucky me! 

I am going to check with the doc to see if I can take something else, or if this is more normal than I think.  I can deal - at home - for a few days every other week, with the vision problems.  As long as I know they are only temporary.

As for how I am feeling, I feel really good today!  I went to work in the AM, hung out with a friend at school for a few hours, and went to my moms for an hour.  I am not feeling nauseous today and I may go on my elliptical again tonight - i was able to go on it yesterday!  Boy, am i glad I am feeling better!