May 29 update

It's been a while since I have updated.  Things have been going on pretty normally.  I went in today and had chemo treatment #3.  Only 5 more to go.  Woo hoo!  My blood test looked good.  They did say my red blood cell count was on the low side (9.5).  It wasn't low enough to have a blood transfusion yet.  I will probably feel a little more tired and winded.  They told me to just listen to my body and if I need a nap, take a nap. (Yay naps!)  

Also, this weekend I started having mood swings.  I would feel really sad and start crying for no reason.  I  checked with the nurses today and that is a side effect of the chemo.  Chemo can send you into menopause.  I was very glad to know that it was a side effect and I wasn't going crazy.  

So that's all I know right now.  So far I haven't had any nausea this afternoon. (Yay nausea medicine)  I think a nap is on the agenda this afternoon.

May 15 update

I went for my second chemo treatment yesterday.  I saw Dr. Gupta first.  The results of the blood test I took on Friday were good so chemo was a go.  He said whatever I was doing, keep it up.  I still have permission to give people a hard time but he told me I have to listen to Mom.  Mom really liked hearing that. :)

Chemo lasted about 1 1/2 hours.  So far the nausea hasn't been to bad.  I think I have a better handle on taking the nausea medicine and eating small amounts throughout the day seems to be helping.  I still have my bouts of being tired.

I go in for a followup shot this morning.  I am hoping I feel better later in the week to enjoy the rest of my vacation.

Thanks again for all the prayers and warm thoughts.  I know they are getting me through this.  Keep them coming.

May 12 update

When I started the chemo I was told my hair "would fall out".  I wasn't sure how I would notice as I shed like a dog most of the time.  Well when I went to wash my hair this morning, I figured it out.  My hair was coming out in huge strands.  It continued through the day, so this evening I went to my brother's house and he shaved my head.

It wasn't traumatic at all.  Trying to keep my positive attitude, I came up with some positives of losing my hair.  They are:

1.  I can save money on hair products.

2.  I love my hair dresser but I can save money on hair cuts.

3.  When my hair comes back in, it's supposed to be darker. Hopefully no gray! 

4.  I might actually get hat to fit my big head.

5.  I can wear earrings and people will actually see them.

6.  I won't shed like a dog (better get the house cleaned up)

7.  I actually resemble my brother now. 

I am sure I will think of others.  I am considering this just another stop on my journey to being healthy again.

May 8 update

After work today I went to Mom's to go see Gracie's softball game.  While eating supper I realized I hadn't called home for my messages.  So I checked and I got a message with some very good news.  The biopsy results were in on the spots on my left breast.  Both spots were benign.  Praise the Lord!  Now I can concentrate on kicking what cancer I do have in the other breast to the curb.

I go back to see Dr. Schmidt on June 7.  I will see what the game plan is then.  Thanks so much to everybody for your prayers.  God is good all the time!

May 3 update

Today I went to Indy to do another ultrasound on the additional spots that the breast MRI discovered.   The day started early, which kinda stunk since I worked till 8:15 last night.  Luckily I am a morning person so getting up early wasn't too hard.  We again got to the office an hour early.  (Mama raised her a perpetual early person).  Once I got call back, they did the ultra sound to see if they could find the spots that were found on the MRI.  Since the right breast is going to be gone in a few months, they didn't pay too much time on that one.  They located the spots on the left breast.  One of them was in the shape of a peanut.  (Go figure, I have an odd shape tumor).  They then elected to do a core biopsy on those spots.

The biopsy was a piece of cake.  They numbed it VERY well.  They then used an instrument to take tissue samples from each spot.  Each time they took a sample, it made a clicking noise.  I told Mom it sounded like a stapler.  I felt a bit of pressure but it didn't hurt at all.  

They did say while they were doing the procedure that the peanut shaped tumor rolled around quite a bit and that is usually a good sign (of it being benign).  We shall see what the tests say. 

After all that, I had to go get a couple of mammogram pictures taken. (I don't think they thought they tortured me enough)  Before I left, they gave me ice packs to keep on the incision and told me to take Tylenol.  

I should get the results of the biopsies by Tuesday at the earliest.  Please pray for good results.  I am planning on relaxing the rest of the day.  I think I deserve it! . :) 

May 2 update

Just thought I would give everybody a quick update.  Sunday, Dr. Gupta called to check up on my to see how I was doing after my chemo treatment.  I told him I was nauseated and fatigued.  He said that was normal and in a couple of days I would be turning cartwheels.  Well yesterday afternoon I started feeling better and I guess today would be the cartwheel turning day.  Since I was never able to do a cartwheel, this would be classified in the miracle category. :D

I also received a call from the genetictist about my breast cancer gene testing.  They are 90% sure I have no mutation in the 2 genes that are considered the breast cancer genes.  I then asked her if the means that mine is a sporadic case.  She said she wouldn't say that either.  Since I am so young, it could still be family related and environmental.  (Her words not mine)  There is another test that they could do but that costs $800 and only improves the detection by 1 or 2 percent. (She didn't recommend doing that for those odds).  She did say if anybody else in the family gets cancer, we would need to put that back into the equation and see if that changes anything.

I am not quite sure what to think about all this, but I am going to take that as a positive and go on from there.  I am also happy that the insurance payed for the test as it is very pricey.

April 27 update

Good Evening!  Today was my trip to see Dr. Gupta to find out the results of my MRI.  I won't lie, I was a bit nervous waiting for the results.  Dr. Gupta finally came in and told me the MRI was clear!  Praise the Lord!  I know with all the prayers I have been getting, God had his hand in this!  

Since the MRI was clear, I got to start chemo today.  It was very exciting to finally get down to doing something.  Before we started, Angie asked him about what Stage of cancer I was in.  He said since I haven't had surgery yet, it was hard to tell.  Since the cancer hasn't spread, I could be considered Stage I but without seeing the lymph nodes, it was hard to tell.  He also said the was about a 30% chance of when they go to do the mastectomy, the cancer might be gone.  He did say it was an aggressive form of cancer.  The type of chemo they are giving me is aggressive.

So the chemo they have me on is ACT.  It takes about an 1 1/2 hours to administer.  While it was being administered, I got a class in chemo therapy and all the possible side effects (Barb did a wonderful job).  My hair will fall out in about 18 to 20 days.  They said it should come back darker and curler (no more grey, Woo Hoo!)  And then they listed to all the other possible side effects.  I won't bore you with those.  It is like I told Mom, basically, if anything weird happens, call the doctor.  They also gave me a lot of good nausea drugs.  Mom isn't too keen on having me take Ativan (which is only as a last resort).  I will let her explain to you why. :) 

We have also elected not to do a port at this time.  My veins look really good, so they are going to do it via IV. (If it doesn't work, we will do the port)  Because of this, my chemo treatments are going to be on Mondays from now on.  That way I can get the necessary blood work on Friday or Saturday and my vein have a chance to heal.  I will also have a shot on Tuesday to help my white blood count.  I will have 8 treatments all together.  My next chemo will be May 14.  My last chemo treatment is August 6. (yes you read that right)

Before I left, I got to pick out this fleece blanket.  

It was donated in memory of Jim Hodson.  The tag says "When Life Gives You Lemons, Make Lemonade".  I really like that sentiment.

After the treatment, Mom and I went to lunch and did some shopping for some supplies I might need.  

One of the things I purchased was this hat.  Gotta be prepared. 

When I got back home, I was kinda tired.  I was also a little nauseated, but the drugs worked very well. So I will spend the rest of the weekend relaxing.  I think I deserve that.

Thank you again for all the prayers that were lifted up in my behalf.  God answered them.  Please keep them coming.