1st-Chemo

Well, Jeff & I went to my first chemo treatment yesterday Aug. 17th. We got there about 9:50am and saw Foust first well after I had to have weight, temp, and b/p checked. And needle with tube hanging out put in too. Well, it did hurt. The nurse said "she would tell me before she stuck me and when she did I would need to take a deep breath and not move." She told and I did as she asked. She said sorry three times while sticking me with the needle. The second time she said it is when it really hurt bad not enough  to bring tears but very close. 
Doctor went over everything again. Then off to get first treatment.
We got to choose where to set and Jeff told me to pick. So, I picked over in the farthest corner. We watched a 10 min video, listen to nurse practitioner and to nurse about my treatments. I got hooked up to a clear fluid which contained steroid, anti-nausea and something else. Then they put the Cytoxan 1170 mg and it took 30 mins. Once that was done she came over with Adriamycin 117mg (red devil).  She had a shield over her face and gloves on to help protect her. This stuff can eat your skin if it sits still. As long as it is moving in blood stream it if OK. So she had 2 large syringes full of it and had to manually push it in my IV so if it leaked or I had reaction to it she could stop. While all this was going on and before. Jeff was making me laugh and keeping happy. He made me laugh until I cried. It was really cool. I told him tragedy happens and what do we do? Laugh! It was grand. We joked about me being nuclear and reddish kool-aid pee due to the red devil. The Nurse Prac. said that if Katrina happens or something like that to grab the book she gave me with all my info in it. Later on, Jeff said yeah leave the kids but grab that book.HA!HA!

At the end, the nurse asked some questions and before we left I got them to get Dr to get me a wig prescription. We left and went to grab a bit to eat. It had took about 2 hrs. to do actual treatment. We ate around 2pm or little before. We went to Burger King. Well, no one said things would taste funny. The Dr. Pepper taste like metal or tarter sauce. It was nasty. I tried 3 times but couldn't drink it. Jeff told me to go pour it out and get something else but try it before I complete fill it up. So went over and looked over all the chooses. I chose Sprite and it taste almost normal. The fries with ketchup taste funny and so did the chicken sandwich with no lettuce. But I ate one tomato oops.

We were able to get home by 3pm before kids got home. 

I felt great all afternoon and all night. My pupils were very tiny and I felt kinda weird or high. My eyes kinda of hurt like I had been reading too much. I had to take Tylenol this morning due to head ache. It hurt from my eyes all the way over the top to the bottom of my head like a ^ shape. You know. Hurt burn this morning so I am drinking ginger ale which really helps me. other than that it been great so far. I woke up at 3am and couldn't go back to sleep. nervous about this Neulasta which helps my immune system. It makes your bones ache. I go @1pm today.

Two appointment done in one day...

8:15 am: The Echo gram went well at RMC. I had to lay down on my left side, while she took the hand held gadget under my breast to see my heart. It's like an ultrasound. It looked cool. The picture was gray in color. I could see the valves open and close. I saw the walls of my heart move. Awesome. Then it showed red, blue and yellow colors. She put it on my side under my arm too. Then, I had to lay on my back while she checked toward the bottom of my left rib and then on my throat. I was done in about 30 min.

1:00 pm: Next appointment after lunch. We talk to radiation doctor Arwood. He really did explain everything well. 1. Cancer tumor was close to muscle. 2. Lymph node that was positive had issues. It should have had a barrier or hard like wall but it didn't. It had things going to the outside of it. This is not a good thing. These two things make me 50/50 for Rad. So, he really things it would be best to get radiation (Rad.). It could help me by about 5-10%. So, I guess it would be best to do this?????
Yeah, it would but God knows it really hard to keep listening to all these things I should do to get better. I just can wait til it's all done. I will survive!!!
OK. I have to call PS to get the OK to continue fill ups and maybe implant too. Rad Dr. said it shouldn't be a problem. I just have to get PS to approve.
After Chemo, I have to wait 6 weeks to start Rad. I would have treatments Monday-Friday (yes 5 days) for about 15 min. for 6 weeks.  Wow, that's alot ain't it. We or I would have to go to Oak Ridge each day. On top of that, I have that other treatment every 3 weeks for 12 months at the oncologist office in Oak Ridge too.

Got Port

Well, I got my port put in yesterday. I was at RMC hospital at 8:30 am and didn't leave until 2:00pm.
I got registered then went to a room on the 2nd floor. They check BP, temp, and put in IV. I had to pee in a cup to check if I was pregnant since my tubes aren't tied. Then we waited and waited. Jeff was with me. I worked on Sudoku and watched TV. The gown they gave me to wear was light purple my favorite shade. Of course, I thought she said to put it with  the front open and Jeff said no it opens in the back. He was right. Ha Ha! I finally got to got to back and He kissed good bye then went to waiting area. I went back and answered more questions. They put Oxygen on me and of coarse I had a surgery hat on my head. They put more blankets on due to it being freezing temperatures in that room. Then they put demoral and relaxing meds in IV. I wasn't get sleepy yet. Dr came in to sign papers and I ask him "are you well rested?" he said yes and kinda of shook his head. I finally got sleepy and next thing I know I am back in that room again. I thought I never left. I reached up and felt my port on my right side. They took an X-ray right there in the recovery room while I laid in bed. Cool!
I went back to the room and Jeff came in not far behind me. I felt fine. They ask me what I wanted to eat which wasn't much to choose from but I chose banana nut muffin and orange juice. I know what a combo. It was really good. Then once they got the X-ray report back I got to leave. Jeff & I went to get some Krystals cause we were both starved. It was 2:30 pm when we finally got to grab a bit to eat.
Got home and waited for kids to get off the school bus.
I couldn't sleep on my side because it hurt. So, I had to sleep on my back. I hate that too. I couldn't go to work because I can't drive for 24 hrs. Plus it might be hard to work with the little kids.
Tomorrow is the Eco gram of heart and then rad. doctor. Busy days!
Well, this is getting closer to being done. I have to keep focused on just one step at a time. I am holding up pretty good so far. I am nervous but not real bad. Our preacher and a man who has cancer came by and checked on me. Before they left we prayed together. It's great to have people praying for me and my family. We are all doing great so far.

More NEWS...

My oncologist called last night and said that the radiologist feels at my age and with it being 2 mm from the muscle, I should have radiation. So, He wanted me to get an appointment with one. He set one up for me. I go on the 12th. I really didn't want this to happen but I guess this will be another step in this journey.
I called PS and they called back. It would be best to stop getting expander filled and check with radiologist to see if I need to have some taken out. It should be safe to keep it in. I just have to wait to get it filled and to get implant. Next summer, I will get that part done (Hopefully). I go to GS tommorrow and set up time for port to be put in my shoulder. FUN!

Work has been fine so far but no kids yet.

Well, My new next step.

Well, I do have to do Chemo. Still don't know about radiation yet. Here I go trying to explain this.

I am Stage II (2). HER2/neu positive.ER/PR + estrogen/progesterone. These stimulate the cells to grow by hormones. Therefore, I can take a drug for 5 years to help prevent cancer. It is called Tamoxifen. I think he said there was another one I could take also but too much to take in at once.
I will take Chemo: Adriamycin and Cytoxan every 2 wks 4 times.
Then I will take Chemo: Herceptin every 3 wks for one year along with the Taxoxifen or some other hormone treatment pill for 5 yrs.
WOW! one year of chemo, who would have thought. He said it may take 2-4 hrs for chemo treatments maybe less.
He gave me some books and papers on every drug he will be giving to me plus a booklet on breast cancer. So, we can read over them and ask any questions or concerns. He said I would need an eco gram done so we have a base line on my heart. So I go Aug. 12th for that at the hospital. I need a port put in which will be used to give me the chemo treatments.
I go to GS (General Surgeon) next Thursday and  we will set up the time to get the port put in by him.
The lady at the front desk is a 20 year survivor and was nice enough to give me her number if I needed to talk to her or had any questions. I told her I was planning on doing the walk in Oct. She said to call her and she would go with me. I want to get everyone I can to come for that event. I hope I can get some more people to join my family on this Breast cancer walk.

Well, Work: I went back Wed. and told everyone. I got Family Medical Leave papers today. Of course she had to put in my job description too. How funny. I have to be able lift 40 pound and have 8 hrs of energy. I will do my job and go to my appointments. If they don't like it they can kiss my ---.

I will lose my hair. I hate this part but it's not the end of the world. Many women have been through worse. I wish no one had to go through this and maybe one day they want have to.
I am sad, angry, confused, and other things. I am also very happy that I will be cured one day!! I am looking forward to next summer. I am looking forward to helping my family in our everyday life. Cause we must gone on with our lives. Nothing is going to stop that. I love my family and all of us are learning important things about ourselves and growing. God will help us through all of this.

Finally Tube Gone!!!

Today, I got my drain tube out after 15 days. The nurse took it out. She said "on the count of 3 I will pull it out. one, two three" OUCH!!! "that's it" Great now it feels fine. Yeah it hurt kinda like a burning feeling but not really anything to cry about. I have prayed for a week that I could get this out and I did. Thank you God. I got my fill up today too. Can U say WOW? I did. I look almost normal now. The needle she used was very skinny and I didn't feel her stick in at all. Of course, the top of my breast is still numb like too. She had a very steady hand to hold that huge tube on the needle and slowly push the fluid in my expander(my Breast). It was a great day. That's one more step closer to being done. I am still moving forward and looking forward to the day I am completely done with treatments. (Well, I will forever have something done to make sure I am cancer free, but hopefully I want have to go through treatments or biopsies again.) God does listen and answer prays.

The NEWS about lymph nodes

Well, first I had trouble getting the pathology report to doctors. I finally called Park West Tuesday 20th. They said they would fax it to GS and Reg. doctor for me. My reg Doctor (Belitz) called me and broke the news. 
YES, broke it to me so gently. One out of eight had cancer. I cried when I got off the phone. Jeff came in while I was on the phone. So we cried together. 
I just couldn't believe it. I wanted to crawl in a hole somewhere and never come out. 
I took a breath and realized it's OK and it's not the end yet. I will grow old because I found this in time. I am not giving in to this cause I will make it.


OK.....Today I went to GS. He was able to explain everything. My tumor was 1 and 1/2cm. It was close to the muscle (the muscle on my ribs), wasn't in the muscles yet. (that's great news) It was in my nipple. When I had first biopsy, My nipple kept getting a stinging pain which brought tears to my eyes. Now I know why because it was apart of the tissue he was trying to get out. And my nipple was very sensitive and stayed folded downward. I hope that makes sense. Anyways, I will now go see oncologist next Thursday 28th.  GS believes I will need some thing more than just hormone treatment. Probably Chemo. Breath........


I get it. I really do. I must have this and I must be strong and not give up. I get that. I understand that God will help me on this ?????? Journey we will call this. This journey is here for a greater reason or purpose. My wonderful husband Jeff is going to church and is really showing how much he loves me. That is enough for me. But if more great things can happen then so be it. I want my family(everyone!) to know that I couldn't make it without God or them. I love my family even the ones that get on my nerves and push me to the limits. I even love the ones that don't love me any more. May God help those who don't care about me. I want everyone to be in heaven but I can't make them believe.

Sorry about that but I had to get that said. It makes me feel better to write these things out. I just hope someone can see that God makes all things better.

I will keep this up to date. I pray that God will help others not to have to go through this. I will do what I can to help support groups to help find cures for all of us Breast Cancer people(women &men).