UPS & DOWNS of BC

Well, 2 down and 2 to go. I felt rough Thursday. My muscles ached and felt sore. My hair well .... It is coming out really fast now. I hate to brush my hair. Every time I brush it comes out full of hair. My hair is half gone as of Friday today. I am depressed but not real bad about it. I keep trying not to cry over my stupid hair. It will come back but the tears are getting harder to fight back. I want to be strong and live life as though nothing is wrong.
I am working and trying to take care of family. They have ate soups and sandwiches a couple of days and egos. I tried to make up for it on the days I feel better. I had to take nausea pill today.
People at work are trying to be supportive and are being really kind to me in so many ways. Even Husband's work people are being nice and praying for me too.
Everyone shouldn't worry about me. There are children and others out there worse off than me. My hope is that cures for cancer will help children and then the rest of us.
Thanks for all the prayers and wonderful things each of you have done for me.

Chemo#2the half way point

Well, second dose today. I feel pretty good I guess. We laughed again and the time past by pretty good. I got a felt hat from chemo basket they have theie. It's a red color like Alabama's football color (Jeff said it was).
Arrived @8:15am saw doctor @ 8:30am
I lost 1pound so that's good. He said I need flu shot mid Sept. then another one Jan. I also need phenomena shot too. Blood count looks good.
We went back to chemo room. Is was very slow today but when we left the chairs were almost full. So going early is less crowded. One lady has to stay 6 hours. WOW! poor lady. I am glad I don't stay that long. We left around 11:30-12 noon.
We went shopping for me a hat but no luck. The nurse told us about Across the Creek on Clinton hwy. So  maybe we can go there to look at wigs, hats, & scarves.
We went Krystal and got it to go because it was so busy with it being noon time. It tasted great! WOW! no metal taste today.
We got home and I was so sleepy I took a 2 hour nap and woke up 5min before kids got home. I can't believe I slept.
My stomach is feeling a little yucky right now I hope it stops but if not I guess I'll take a pill for it.
Last week I ate a lot of sweets to make up for the days I couldn't.
I am starting to shed a little more hair. So it begins.

After Chemo and shot

Well, the Neulasta shot wasn't too bad. It didn't make my bones hurt. I was tired the next day which was Thursday. But today I feel great. I had a head ache yesterday too. I still can't taste things like normal. Some things taste ok. I ate an ego with syrup tonight and it taste pretty good. Coke taste funny. So I drink water and ginger ale. I have been drinking 64 oz of water a day. I usually on drink 32 oz if that much.
I got double dose on my expander today. Since I haven't had one in 2 wks he doubled it. It feels tight but doesn't hurt yet. It's only been two hours. I hope it doesn't start to hurt.
I go Thursday to get blood work done to see how my white blood count is doing so far.
We are going to Knoxville tomorrow to look at wigs and get me one (Maybe).

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.