Monthly Archives: March 2013

Buzz cut

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Today was the day that I let Jennilee and Tina shave my head.  I was starting to shed more than my yellow lab.  Even though I knew I was going to lose my hair, it was still weird to have it come out in huge clumps and handfuls.  It was difficult to look myself in the mirror after my shave.  I no longer look like me.  I look like Montel (my follicly challenged chihuahua).

On the positive side, I no longer need to shave my legs either!  Yep, that hair is abandoning ship also.  That will be my silver lining as I get used to my new look.

I am feeling a little better this time.  The doctors and nurses have been so good about treating the nausea.  Once again, better living through chemistry.  

Have a Happy Easter everyone!   I am going to enjoy a very relaxing day with my husband and wonderful kids.  

 

 

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It was cake! A cupcake at least.

It was cake! A cupcake at least.

During my treatment this morning another patient came in. She was there for her 50th chemo treatment. She was such a delightful woman. My daughters, Jennilee and Tina, were with me while we chatted about side effects etc. Both girls excused themselves and then came back 45 minutes later with a beautiful orchid and cupcakes to celebrate my new friends 50th treatment. I am so proud of my lovely, thoughtful daughters.
Thank you girls. You did good.
So, I actually had cake at chemo today. They also added a new anti nausea drug.
Fingers crossed!
I have also been wearing tranquileyes during the treatments. They have cool gel inserts that can be frozen. The nurse says that by wearing the cold packs during treatment I will likely not lose my eyelashes! Yes! Love that. Thank you to my brilliant sister, Suzanne, who is the inventor, designer and CEO of EyeEco and tranquileyes! My eyelashes thank you.

Fill ‘er up!

This morning I had an appointment with Dr Mounds.  It was time to start phase one of operation boob fill!  The twins are now at 1/3 capacity.  It was pretty cool.  He just located the spout (for lack of a better word) on the expander, whipped out a big huge syringe, poked it into my breast and kazaam – instant boob job.  It did not hurt.  In fact, I felt nothing at all.  That must be one of the perks of a double mastectomy.  My faux breasts have no sensation at all.   If I had not been watching as he jabbed that needle in to my flesh I would have not even known I had been poked.  Pretty cool, huh?

Phase two is in 2 weeks.  I wonder how many phases before I reach Dolly Parton proportions?  Probably a lot more than I am getting.

Tomorrow is chemo day.  It is not nearly as much fun now that I know there is not really cake……

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I am a Grandma!

I am a Grandma!

The highlight of my week was welcoming my very first grandchild to the family! My son and his wife are the proud parents of this adorable little one, Gwen.

This was a week that needed a bright spot. I have not had an easy time with the chemo and have been battling the dreaded side effects. Finally, today I am feeling as close to my ‘old self’ as I have since the treatment. I intend to enjoy every moment of this weekend and get my mind & body ready for the next round of chemo on Tuesday morning. It is going to be a little tougher walking through the doors to the chemo suite knowing what the side effects are but I also think that now I know what to expect I will be able to better prepare myself for the nausea etc by staying ahead of the game with my newly stocked arsenal of meds.

Have a wonderful weekend!

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Round 2

Round 2

A little monkey wrench thrown in my plans. I came home yesterday and turned into hurl girl. Seriously. So much for chemo being cake. I have never tasted cake like that before.
My oncologist called me last night and was disappointed I was throwing up. He told me to come in this morning for fluids and new meds. He also said my liver values are very high. So now I back at the chemo suite getting fluids.
They are concerned about the liver issues but are hoping it was a side effect of the anesthesia from the port placement.
They will keep an eye on it. The nurse did mention that it could be the breast cancer spread to the liver but I decided that was not the problem.

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Chemo – my new Wheaties!

Chemo - my new Wheaties!

This morning I am enjoying a delightful cocktail of nifty cancer fighting drugs. Sitting here in the chemo suite, nice comfy chair, warm blanket listening to an audio book on my Kindle and wearing my tranquileyes mask. Life is good.
The ‘red devil’ has been administered. It burned like bugger going in but I sucked it up and did not wimper. Much.
It is weird how many things already smell and taste different Jennilee and Tina brought me some saltine crackers and pH water to enjoy while I hang out here for a few hours.

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Hair cut time!

Hair cut time!

This morning I decided to get my hair cut short so it won’t be so drastic when it starts to fall out. It feels good to have short hair. It will not be so bad when it falls out. The chemo bonus is no longer needing to shave my legs! Nice.

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Chemo Teach!

Chemo Teach!

Today was my chemo teach appointment. I had my first port blood draw. Chemo starts on Wednesday morning. The nurse was so nice and gave me some very good information and prescriptions!

Officially ported!

After a long day of hurry up and wait, I am finally home.   Tina and I arrived at the hospital at 8:00.  My procedure was suppose to start at 9:30.   At 1:00 I finally got wheeled in to the cath lab for my port install.  I was on the table, plugged in to all the necessary wires and hoses.  Then I got the boot.  They had an emergency and needed my team.  Back to the holding area I go.   Another 45 minutes pass before we wheel back to the cath lab.   I get draped, taped and dozy while listening to the doctor and nurses chatter about previous patients.   The doctor asked if I would like to listen to music.  I suggested Snoop Dogg or Ludacris.  I got John Denver.  So close.   I thought listening to ‘Drop It Like It’s Hot’  or ‘Get Back’  would be more entertaining.  I guess the guy with the scalpel gets the final vote.

Along with my pretty purple port I received a nifty bracelet and a key chain that announce to the world that I have a Bard Power Port.  Never one to pass up free stuff I asked if they had t shirts.  No such luck.

Yesterday was my meeting with the radiation oncologist.   SSDD.    My tumor was less than half a millimeter from my chest wall.  I am a good candidate for radiation after chemo.   There is a 15% chance of a reoccurring, if I get radiation it will reduce that chance by approx 60%.  Then he suggested I get a second opinion.  Why?  He says many people choose not to do radiation because of the side effects.  I say Nuke me.  My cancer is aggressive so my treatment needs to be also.

More tests to come this week.  The excitement never ends.