Round 2/Chemo

Round 2 of chemo is tomorrow, Monday the 24th.  I'm just a little better than I was 2 weeks ago, but still apprehensive about the whole thing. 

I finally got the nerve up last Saturday and shaved my head.  My hair was starting to fall out in little bits, and I was getting tired of it, so Mom helped me.  We both cried about it, but we knew it was coming.  I actually have a pretty head, only a couple of scars, but no divots or lumps! LOL!

After all was said and done, I went to Bonnie and Jordan's for homemade baked potato soup for dinner and an evening of being beaten by Bridgette in Rummy, she is the rummy queen and she made sure to let all of us know it!  After all that, Bonnie decided she wanted to shave her head as a sign of solidarity for me.  I told her no about a thousand times, but she is just as stubborn as I am, and this time there was no telling her no this time.  I was wielding a pair of scissors and cut her hair as short as I could then helped her finish shaving her head with razors.  OMG, she is nuttier than I am! 

Just as I am feeling "normal", it's time for a "knock down" for a few days.  Hopefully, things won't be as bad since I have an idea of side effects. 

I hope everyone has a good week coming up.  Love your family and tell them that you love them everyday.  Remember that family is not just by blood, it's those who are there for you regardless!

Love and kisses and FEEL YOUR BOOBIES,
Denys

Chemo Day

So, January 10th came and went.  Day one of chemo.  I didn't do too bad, that day.  Tuesday was ok, felt a little run down, a little tired. Nausea was there, but wasn't running the day.  Wednesday was a WHOLE different story.  I woke up nauseated, walked around nauseated, even took the Compazine (anti-nausea meds) a couple of times.  Then I slept most of the day.  Unfortunately, that's one of the side effects of the meds.  Dry mouth is gonna be a battle as well.  One of the ways to combat that is to use a special toothpaste and mouthwash called "Biotene".  I cannot believe that I spent $6 on ONE tube of toothpaste!  But, hey, it's helping!

I started to feel better Thursday and by Friday, I felt back to normal, or as normal as I am! LOL.

I felt good enough to venture out to Michael's and Target all by myself.  That little one hour adventure wiped me out!  But, I got what I went for, so it was a good day.  I actually ate some london broil and a baked potato for dinner and then Mom and step-dad and the little doggie came down for a visit and we all wound up going to Dairy Queen for a banana split Blizzard for me and Mom and a full blown banana split for my step-dad!  Even the little doggie got to have a taste or two of vanilla ice cream. 

Today is a little better.  I had to go out for a bit to the bank and actually wanted a milkshake!  For the first time in a week, I wanted a milkshake!  Yahoo!!!!!!  That's what Mom said, anyway. 

I am just excited that I don't have to go for chemo tomorrow!  I do, however, have to get up before God and the chickens early on Tuesday for PT to help with lymph edema in my right arm.  I haven't seen 6 AM on the alarm clock in about 6 weeks!  I guess I'm gonna have to get used to it.  I am gonna have to go back to work sooner rather than later!  I told a friend yesterday that I was officially BORED.  She said it was time for me go get back to work just to have people around to talk to!  I guess she's right. 

I am planning on going back around the 2nd week of February.  I'm looking forward to it.  I miss my co-workers and my patients.  They have all wished nothing but the best for me and I love them all for it!

I hope everyone has a great week.

Remember to FEEL YOUR BOOBIES!

Love,
Denys

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year to all my friends!  I did see the medical oncologist last week for results of the MUGA scan and the PET scan.  Muga scans are used to determine how efficiently the heart works and the PET scan us used to detect any cancer elsewhere in the body.

Both came back NORMAL! My heart is working like it should and the is NO cancer anywhere in my body!!!!!!  That was the best thing I think I ever heard.  Mom and I both started crying when we heard that news!  I had many Christmas wishes.  The one that said no more cancer was the only one I really wanted!

I also had to go for my annual GYN exam and everything has returned normal.  Not bad for the end of one year and the beginning of another!

As I sit and contemplate on the last 3 months, it's been an absolute whirlwind.  From diagnosis, to surgery and now on to chemo for the next 16 weeks, then a few weeks of external beam radiation therapy.  Wow.  I am not sure what the next few months bring, but I find myself excited about getting everything DONE!  It's gonna be a long few months, but the end result will be worth it.

I get to go to physical therapy on Wednesday for a lymphedema consult and how to prevent and/or treat it.  Lymphedema happens when there has been damage to the lymph nodes in an area of the body, like in the armpit, groin or lower leg.  The lymph system is a filter system, but it also helps to get fluid out of the extremities.  Any kind of assistance will be great for me.  I also see the plastic surgeon on Thursday for a fill and doctor visit to see how I'm doing and I'm going to ask about returning to work.  It's been one month and I know I still need a few more weeks for more recovery, but I'm going nuts not working. 

I start chemotherapy on Jan 10.  I'm not sure what to expect, but I'm anxious to get things flowing!   I was told that the type of chemo I'll recieve for the first 4 cycles will cause my hair to fall out, but I was expecting that, so I'm just going to shave my head.  I don't know if I'll do it before the first session or wait til after the 2nd, but I am going to do it anyway.  I know I cannot, emotionally, watch my hair fall out in my hands.  Mom says she might as well too because the Methotrexate she's on is making her hair fall out.  I told her she should just get a wig for herself.  She says she just may do that! LOL.  I hope she does.

I heard from one of my friends that these blogs I do help her as much as they do me.  She gets to see how I'm doing and how treatment is going.  Another says she just had her annual GYN exam and has her mammogram in June or July.  Keep up the good work.  Get the word out!

FEEL YOUR BOOBIES!!!!  They're yours, you should know what's normal for YOU!  Every woman's breasts are different.  Know what's right for you and not right for you! 

Happy New Year to all!

Denys