Post surgery

Well it is finally over, the dreaded surgeries are finally behind us. I went in Tues. morning for my surgeries and all went well. I had several visitors when I got to my room. Thanks for the visits, kind words and gifts. Sorry if I said anything weird or strange, I may have been a little drugged at the time. The overnight stay wasn't too bad. The pain was tolerable and I was able to go back to sleep after each time the nursing staff came in to check on me. They took out my catheter, IV and even gave me a bit of a sponge bath all in the middle of the night. Kind of odd but very glad to get rid of the catheter and IV. We left the hospital yesterday around 3pm. Last night I slept in a recliner and I slept pretty good. I was able to take the bandages off and get in the shower today. It was nice to take a shower, although I did get light headed and my ears started ringing. Cut my shower short but I didn't pass out. Jen let me get out of the house for a few hours today. It was nice but it did wear me out. Overall my pain isn't too bad but today I have had these sharp pains in the area of my chest. I got a copy of my pathology report today. I think everything is good, but I want to discuss it with the Dr. first before I start celebrating too much. I do see the Dr. tomorrow at 8:45. Like I said looking forward to him going over the pathology report with me to make sure I understood everything that I read. I am going to relax for a bit and then probably settle down to go to sleep. Thanks to all and to all a good night!!!!

Catching up!

I can't believe it has been almost a month since my last post. Sorry! The first few weeks I was just living a "non" treatment life and the last few weeks have been busy getting ready for Jaxon's Birthday. I will try to catch up on this month

Pink in your think:

The above is a line from a Disney Pixar Short. It has played over and over in my head this month. Pink is everywhere! Since it is Breast Cancer Awareness month, it is hard to run away from it...at the store, on TV, Runs/Walks, campaigns, I even saw pink bubble wrap yesterday?!?!?! This has mostly been positive for me, it is like everyone is out there supporting me (yes, once again my narcissism shows). But there is something therapeutic or "safe" knowing that for at least this month everyone has a heightened awareness of "the boobs"

Echo cardiogram

I had this test on Oct. 8th. It was essentially the same as when they did my baseline test before I started chemotherapy. That is good, no heart damage from the meds yet. The herceptin's (I start this in Nov) biggest side effect is heart damage.

Mammogram

I had this test also on Oct. 8th. The area where my cancer was first seen on the mammogram was still present. Doesn't mean the cancer is still there, could just be "scar tissue". We won't really know about any remaining cancer until we get the pathology report after my surgeries. No new areas were found in either breast.

Oncology appointment

I had this appt. on Oct 15th. The Dr. reviewed the above tests with me, told me my blood work was good, and basically gave me the thumbs up to proceed with surgery. We set the date when I would start infusion therapy again, November 12th or 19th (I can't quite remember). This will be the herceptin, it is kind of like chemotherapy but is supposed to much better tolerated. It is called target therapy and will target a certain "part" of my cancer. I will continue this every 3 weeks until June 2011.

Cancer walk

Oct. 16th - I think I heard that there was over 4000 people that showed for the walk. It was quite amazing and a great day to be outside walking with friends and family. Although we weren't able to stay together as a group, I so much appreciate all those folks who walked to support me! All 4,000 of them : ) Oops there was my narcissism again!

Surgery appointment

I was lead to believe that going to schedule my surgery would be a piece of cake! WRONG! I have been counting down the days until this appointment, ready to finally get the date so I could move forward with all the planning and details. I left with Nothing and did not find out the date of my surgery until Thurs. Needless to say it has been a bit of a sad, angry and stressful week for me.

Surgery

My surgeries are scheduled for November 2nd. I will be have my ovaries removed, double mastectomy, and an axillary dissection of my lymph nodes on the left side. The plans are for an overnight stay and I am planning on taking off work through Nov. 26th.

I can't really begin to process all of this surgery business. Today was Jaxon's birthday and tomorrow his party. I will focus on him this weekend and begin to prepare myself mentally, emotionally and physically next week.

Rash

I have broken out in a rash all over my body. I have had this rash two other times over the last 2 years. Yes Dr. Kukal, I suspect it might be stress related!

I will try to do better with my postings. Good evening all and thanks for the continued support

Side effects?!?!

Was I talking fondly of side effects in my last post? Well today I am cussing them. Friday afternoon after I thought I was in the clear, the evil mouth sores took up residents in my mouth once again. The dreaded, blasted evil mouth sores..... I will definitely not miss them!

I really wanted to post some pics that were taken on the last day of my chemotherapy, however, as usual my computer appears to be out witting me. Were is Shane when I need him!

This Friday was a great day and it was nice to know that it just wasn't an off week and somehow it did feel different. Jaxon had his BIG trike a thon at school and we went to a high school football game.

I ran into a friend over the weekend whose battle with cancer is much more of a struggle than mine and my dad's cancer continues to spread. Although I appreciate all the continued prayers and good MoJo, I know these folks need the prayers much more than I do.

Moving forward!

As I am making it through these side effects for the last time I try to reflect on the journey. The side effects will soon be gone and then I will have something else to focus on or even worse, nothing to focus on. I am so ready to get this horrible taste out of my mouth and yet I know in a very short time I won't even remember it. I will be glad but there is something about remembering that is important to the process. There is something about getting treatment and moving forward that is healing and hopeful. I know that I am on a much needed and deserved break. I know my body needs to recover and prepare for surgery. The majority of my body and mind is so excited about the next month, looking forward to doing things and not worrying how I am going to feel. But there is a very small part of me that feels a little stranded, a little lost. The part that needs a plan, needs something to check off the calendar, maybe the part that needs to feel the side effects to be re assured that we are moving forward.

Ok, that was deep enough! How about a shout out to my friends, family and even strangers who helped to celebrate my last day of chemo! I was greeted as I got up wobbling from the chemo chair by a mob of smiles. Nancy had lead this awesome group of people to what really is a quiet, no kids allowed area. That of course did not detour Nancy and I love her for it! The hugs, the smiles, the kind words, and the gifts were so much appreciated. I felt so looped up, I hope I didn't do anything to silly.

15 down and 1 to go!

It is hard to believe that 8 months of my life has flashed before my eyes - with the main focus of my existence being to make it to the next day. To make it through each side effect as it either knock me on my butt or just annoyed the the piss out of me. Marking off each chemo on my calendar, holding my breath every Thursday until I got the results of my blood work, and counting down over and over how long this was going to take. One more to go, it is so hard to believe that time can move so fast and yet so slow at the very same time.

We went to St. Louis this weekend. We had such a wonderful time with our friends. I am blessed to have so many people around, who have supported me through this journey.

Where to start....

I saw my Dr. on Friday prior to chemo. We have some tentative dates set, which gives us a better idea as to when the surgeries can take place. I have chemo the next two Fridays, that is it, all done! Then I will have a 2 week break. Following that, around Oct. 8th, I will get another mammogram and an ECHO. I then see my Dr. on Oct. 15th for a follow up. If all is good at that time then I will be cleared for surgeries. I will have to get with my surgeons to get the final details in place. But looking like the end of Oct.

My mouth sores were bad again so they took me off my oral chemo medicine for another 7 days. When I go back on it they are reducing my dose to 1000mg (one less pill a night). I will have to keep taking this until the day before my surgeries.

I ended up in Urgent Care yesterday. It appears I got something in my eye while doing yard work. It started hurting around 1pm and at 6pm I decided I had had enough and called nurse on call at St. John's. She recommended Urgent Care and sure enough i had got a cut on my eyeball. They gave me some medicine and told me to stay out of the sun, no TV, no computer, no reading for 24hrs. Well I have mostly followed the rules. It feels much better but I am a little worried about the fluorescent lights at work tomorrow. I have a patch, just in case. Won't I be a site...a patch, a bandanna, .....aahhrr Matey!!!

Words for the day

Caring Coworker (thanks)