Tuesday, January 25, 2011

What a great day!

Today was SO fabulous!

First... I woke up to find two eager beavers working on my backyard.  In the last 10 hours my little yard  has gone from "jungle junk yard" to "ohly oasis"!  Don't worry, this was planned...  I knew they were coming...

Next... I watched some morning TV with my faithful companion, Sampson, and answered some emails... checked my phone messages, etc.  Of course everything on TV looks better now that I'm watching it on an HD TV (so crisp... so clear... yay!)

I left the house at 10:30, stopped by Starbucks, did a few errands... O.K. maybe this doesn't sound uber fabulous to you, but after wandering around the house in pajamas and feeling loopy for the last few days, it was exciting to be awake (and WANT to be awake) for more than a half hour at a time.

I confirmed an outing for Wednesday, talked with Cathy and made plans for Thursday, and Saturday... AND found out for sure that my Aunt Jeannie will be visiting in a couple of weeks.

I like having some fun field trips on my agenda!

I know I'm supposed to be feeling more and more tired in the next few weeks, and even though I know I MAY need to cancel some plans, it is nice to have a few things to look forward to and to feel motivated about something (again, rather than that loopiness I mentioned earlier)...

I met with my physical therapist at 2 p.m. She showed me some interesting new stretches to relieve the crazy shooting pains I've been getting in my right arm and my neck feels a LOT better now!

O.K. so here's the REALLY cool part... I got to see a whole bunch of friends from school at our association meeting at 3:30.  It was great to see so many familiar faces all in one place at one time talking about school stuff.  There was food and Jamba juice, too.  Being in a group setting instead of planted on the couch watching TV... catching up with everyone and talking about "normal" things instead of finding out who the baby's daddy is or Oprah's secret sister... had kind of a relaxing effect on me.  I'm glad I have so many good friends around me and that I was able to spend time with them today.  I am rich in SO many ways.

To finish off the day (yes I've been awake this whole time...  not a single nap!) I went and had an aromatherapy facial at Santana Row (a most excellent last minute decision) and got some Chinese take out - MY favorite.

So I didn't win the lottery or go sky diving, but today was a really great day.  If you were one of the people I was able to be with today - thank you - you made it fun. 

Now I think I'll turn in for the day... after all I have plans tomorrow!

Monday, January 24, 2011

Ding, Ding! Round 1.

Thursday was a long day, but I made it through just fine - really!

Mom was at my house by 10 a.m. to help me with a few last minute things, and we left at 11 a.m. for Starbucks.  (yay!)  We made it right on time for my 11:30 a.m. appointment and before I knew it I was in my chair / cubby hole / station / cubicle.

I'll post more later... nap time.

Long story short, all went well.  I tolerated everything well, and didn't feel any drastic side effects.

Did I mention it was a LONG day?  I wasn't done until 7 p.m.  Of course, I knew it was going to be that long, but - yeesh!  I read my Twilight and Philosophy book, surfed online, chatted with my mom (she balanced her check book), and checked out a couple of magazines.

Thursday, January 20, 2011

Today is the DAY! ("yay" and "ugh")

I'm heading into Kaiser at 11:30 for my first chemotherapy treatment.

After a long talk with my Aunt in Colorado, and Lisa in Livermore, I'm feeling pretty positive about the whole thing (not that I"m NOT worried and dreading it, but I'm glad we're getting this party started). Thanks a TON to everyone (especially Susie) who has answered my questions about chemo and hair loss and wigs... and EVERYTHING.

I went into a different wig store yesterday on a whim and found a wig I really, really like...  AND it isn't going to break the bank (if I decide to purchase it).  I don't think I've ever had hair looking that good before.  As much as I understand the idea of having a realistic wig after I lose my hair, this is (hopefully) the only time I'll be able to have such "pretty" hair.  I'll let you know what I decide. Maybe the wig shop lady will let me take a picture and I can post it for your opinions.

OK - time to finish my last bit of laundry, make my bed, and pack up my gear (I'm bringing Eclipse, my Just Get Me Through This - breast cancer book, People magazine, my laptop, and Mama Mia on DVD).  With all of this I'll probably end up sleeping for most of it.  I tossed and turned all night last night.  I was ex-HAUSTED, but no matter how much Sampson tried to get me to settle down, I really only rested my eyes a bit... very little actual sleep.

Ah well, such is life!  I'm signing off for now.  I'll check in again later.  I hope that YOU have a great finish to YOUR week and a super weekend.

Peace, Love, and AOT (for those of you who know what AOT means)

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

And the winning drug combination is....

OK - So it looks like I am signed up for the Chemotherapy "TCH"

What the heck does TCH mean? 

That's exactly what I wanted to know! 

So TCH stands for the three drugs I'll be getting.

1) Taxotere (aka Docetaxel)

Taxotere works by preventing the normal function of the microtubules of the cancer cell of the cancer cell which are important in the process of cell division.

Side effects of Taxotere include:

...Hair loss occurs in all that are given Taxotere

...Lowered blood counts ...Taxotere causes lowering of bone marrow activity where blood cells are made.  It can lower the red blood cells, which results in anemia.  Anemia can cause fatigue and pale coloring.  It can also lower the white blood cell count causing neutropenia.  Neutropenia causes the body to have weaker defenses against infection.  It can also lower the platelet count (cells that prevent bleeding) causing thrombocytopenia.  Thrombocytopenia can cause bruising and bleeding

...Arthralagias and Myalgias ... short periods of joint and muscle aches and pains

...Peripheral Neuropathy... irritation of the nerve fibers resulting in numbness, burning, and tingling of the fingers and toes

...Nausea (rarely)

...Diarrhea (occasionally)

...Fluid retention

...Rash

...Irritation of the veins



2) Carboplatin (paraplatin)

Carboplatin works by disturbing the normal function of DNA, the building block of chromosomes.  It is an alkalyting agent.

Side effects of Carboplatin include:

...Lowered blood counts (see above)

...Nausea (well controlled by medication)

...Vomitting

...Neuropathy (see above)

...Hair loss (uncommon)

...Allergic reactions (uncommon)



3) Herceptin (Trastuzumab)

Herceptin works against the overexpression of the Her2 (human epidermal growth factor receptor 2) protein found in 25-30% of primary breast cancers.  It is in the class of drugs known as monoclonal antibodies.

Side effects of Herceptin include:

... Sensitivity reactions ...possible fever, chills, nausea, headache, itching, and rash

... Cardiac side effects ...rarely causes changes in heart function

... Diarrhea ...mild to moderate after treatment


So aside from all of that stuff,

no sweat! 

I have been prescribed a number of anti-nausea medications which I may use / experiment with at my leisure and include: ondansetron, prochlorperazine, and lorazepam

I'll also have the mighty drug, dexamethasone, at my disposal (to prevent allergic reactions).

Now - ENOUGH with all the big words and sh---tuff.

T minus 60 hours until I'm in the chair.  Ick!  But, I have my ipod, my laptop, my New Moon book, and... 
my fingers crossed.  Ick! 

As I roll my eyes yet again, I sign off and into the night with my trusty, fluffy, nufferson, Sampson at my side.  I suppose I'll be dreaming of shaved heads, naked heads, wigs, halos, and sleeping caps.  It's a good thing I do not have to wake up early for work tomorrow...  I have a feeling it is going to be a restless night.

Pthththttttt!

Saturday, January 15, 2011

Tick Toc Tick Toc

Have you ever seen that one episode of Two and  Half Men?  You know, that one, with the guy...  and the other guy...  and the thing?  The one where Charley discovers he is good at writing children's songs and he does a whole children's album as Charlie Waffles? And he has to do a concert?

Well, anyhow... there's this one episode where all that stuff happens... and he makes up this one song (to the tune of Mary Had a Little Lamb) that goes, "I drink from a sippy cup, sippy cup, sippy cup, I drink from a sippy cup, cuz I'm a big kid now".  Then, (to the tune of Good Night Ladies) "Bye Bye Boobies, Bye Bye Boobies, Bye Bye Boobies, cuz I'm a big kid now."  I keep getting that song stuck in my head.  Maybe it's the bye bye boobies part.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x-KFb192Ub0 

I know I already wrote about my pathology results - I basically copied off of the paper they gave me.  In a nutshell (curled up with Austin Powers) I had stage 2 cancer in one part of my left breast and stage zero cancer in another part of my left breast.  The stage 2 cancer was grade three which means that, on a scale of one to four, it was capable of spreading pretty quickly.  The surgeon removed a couple of key lymph nodes to see if the cancer had spread and it hadn't.  So chemotherapy is scheduled to begin on Thursday January 20th.

Tuesday, January 4, 2011

Pathology results are in!

Official Pathology Report...


Tumor #1 in breast (the one I felt)
Synoptic type: Breast carcinoma invasive
Histologic type: Ductal
Histologic Grade: Grade 3
Tumor Size: 3.0 x 2.0 x 1.5 cm
Margins: Clear (yay!)
Lymph Nodes: Negative (yay!)

Tumor#2 in breast (the pre-cancerous cells I did not feel)
Synoptic type: Breast carcinoma in situ
Histologic type: Ductal
Histologic Grade: Nuclear Grade 3
Tumor Size: 1.4 x 0.5 cm - flat
Margins: Clear (yay!)
Lymph Nodes: Negative (yay!)

Lymph Nodes (left axillary, sentinal node biopsy)
No evidence of tumor (super yay!)

Permission granted to remove clear bandages covering wounds.
Permission granted to wear underwire bras (if I so desire).
Permission granted to drive (as long as I am not taking pain medicine).
Permission granted to rest as often as desired (yes!)

Permission denied to perform moderate to heavy lifting (handling of t.v. remote control OK'd)
Permission denied to perform moderate to heavy lifting (no vacuuming, dusting or cleaning of any kind - at least that's how I interpret that one)
Permission denied to perform rigorous exercise (ha ha, like that would have happened anyway)

Besides two minor meltdowns last weekend, thanks to a wonderful family and a super supportive roommate, all else is well.  I slept almost all day Saturday thanks to a new Rx for Flexerall (a muscle relaxant), and actually got all of my Health Ed. grading done on Sunday.

Monday was my first day back at school.  I had my Health Ed class in the morning, a break, lunch, then one P.E. class.  It was a pretty mellow day, but I was pooped by the time I finished with my doctor's appointment at 3:30.  I went home and collapsed on the couch.  Sampson kept me company and made sure I didn't fall off the couch - what a great guy!

Tuesday (today) is proving to be significantly more difficult for me.  Despite getting a full 10 hours of sleep, I feel like I'm on "half-power."  I don't know if I'm groggy because I've been able to sleep whenever and wherever I've wanted to over the past two weeks (despite the surgery), or if the grogginess IS due to the surgery.  I think I'll take a nap during lunch and see.

Looking forward to...
my 4:30 Oncology appointment tomorrow with Dr Song,
hanging out in my super clean house,
having Kitty, the dog, back at my house to keep me warm, and
sleeping sleeping, sleeping the afternoon and night away!