Chemo 2 of 6 Today--1/3 DONE!!!

Well, Becky and I went to the Oncology office today for my bloodwork (still looking fine), meeting with my doc, and chemo part 2 of 6.

Finally I had the tech pull blood straight from my port instead of my arm/hand. Yay! No track marks this week!!! The results were fine per the doc, and I got the report for my records.

Meeting with the doc went great. He was very surprised to see that I had so much of my hair left. I have lost about half of my hair on top of my head. Oddly, I have most of my body hair too...hmmm. Well, my head hair is coming out very rapidly...so I don't know how much I will actually end up with, but we shall see.

I asked about the new study about cancer changing receptor status when it spreads to the lymph nodes. I asked specifically if the meds I was receiving would appropriately treat a cancer that had become ER or PR positive in nature. Based on what type of cancer I have, and the meds I am currently taking, we are treating it very aggressively and in a way that would attack any of the types it could morph into. Good news. I might watch this research though, as it intrigues me.

I also asked about exercise...what he would like me to do and if he feels I could go to the gym or not. He said he felt like I should do what feels right for me. He would suggest no heavy cardio work, but that exercise is definitely a good thing and to do it. Walks, light weights, and mild cardio is good.

We are continuing on the diflucan medication as it appeared to ward off the Systemic Yeast Infection that I developed last time. Essentially, I had the yeast infection in my mouth, throat, ears, nose and rectum. That was just so nice. Can we not do that again if possible? I have my script...with plenty of refills, so I can keep that side effect at bay. That side effect may be more related to the steroid decadron...

I mentioned about the lovely bone pain that results from Neulasta shots I get the day after chemo. I know I need them, but those f*#&ers are something else. "Mild" Bone Pain my ass. I did tell the doc that some folks on the internet were trying Claritin to help with the bone pain with some success. I told him I had researched the interactions and found no ill effects...so I had tried it. I told him it worked somewhat...not completely, but seemed to cut down the pain level a bit. He said he would look into it.

I did forget (again) to ask about the BRCA gene mutation test results...or if the test had even been ordered. Oh well, must remember this next time.

Next chemo is moved up to the day before Thanksgiving...and the shot will be on Friday. Works for me...just hoping I am up to do the St.Pete Times Turkey Trot (well, the little fun run version of it, the Gobbler 1 mile) the morning of Thanksgiving. My sis will compete in the 5k and will join me for the Gobbler once I sign up! Cool!

Anyway, back for chemo. They upped some of the pre-treatment medications this time to ensure I did not have a funky reaction like I did last time. Last time I got very hot and faint during the last chemo med administration. They had to give extra steroid via IV Push...that was no fun. But this time, they gave me a larger dose of Decadron (steroid) over a longer period, and they gave me Ativan via IV. Hmmm....that was trippy. Made me loopy and tired very quickly. Funny, my left eye was working okay, but my right eye seemed to be going all sideways to the world. Together, this made for some interesting stereoscopic views of the chemo administration room.

My friend Nancy showed up in the chemo room...I had no idea she was receiving treatment there...she is now doing her ongoing Herceptin treatment. She completed chemo then had a unilateral mastectomy. She will be doing reconstruction about 9 months after her last radiation. We talked for a while about what she had been through during the year...wow! There have certainly been some challenges for a handful of the people I know...for her, I wish continued learning and happier times ahead. I hope the same for myself, actually! It was nice to have her there during a large portion of my chemo today...she is such a good soul!

Anyway, I got my usual Aloxi (anti-nausea), Benadryl, Decadron, Tylenol (oral), Taxotere, Carboplatin and Herceptin. All told, I spent about 5 hours hooked up to meds today. No exciting events like last time...just got a bit nauseous and very slightly dizzy during the last med (Herceptin). Was glad Becky was there for support and to watch over me...I cannot stress the importance of having a good person with you during these treatments. My sister is good for my soul...and I need that during this. Thanks Bec!

Well, we finally got out of the office around 5:30 PM, after picking up my next scheduled appointment listing. Becky drove us home and was able to join her running group over in Tampa. I was able to drive up to the pharmacy and fill the new diflucan script (and grab some of that 75% off Halloween Candy that I really did NOT need). Hmmmm...read a small book on Mickey Mantle while waiting for the med to be filled.

Feeling okay tonight...just a little looped and tired. Took some Zofran to combat the minor nausea I was feeling...ate a decent meal (and too much clearance Halloween Candy to even admit to). Now, I think I will take the other meds as directed, drop some Diflucan and hit the bed a bit earlier than I normally do. This girl is a bit tired tonight.

Next Steps:
Get Neulasta shot tomorrow: ooooh...get ready for that "mild" (bullshit, that is not mild dammit) bone pain...
Have Thyroid Biopsy on November 10th
Next Chemo on November 25th

Need to research more on the reconstruction options...how long after radiation must I wait? Can I get implants after radiation? Some questions have come up during discussions with folks and some of my research.

Need to get script for fake boobies to wear in my bras until I get reconstruction...these cotton padded thingys are just driving me a bit crazy. I was supposed to get the script a couple of weeks ago, I just haven't done it yet.

Well, I am off for now.....
Here is to much health and happiness!
~Tory

Tentative Chemo Schedule...

Here is the tentative schedule for my chemo treatments...
October 15th (DONE!)
November 5th
November 26th (will be moved before or after due to Thanksgiving Holiday)
December 17th
January 7th
January 28th

I "receive" Taxotere, Carboplatin and Herceptin. Herceptin will continue after January 28th...every 3 weeks for a total of 17 doses--roughly 1 year of Herceptin at every 3 weeks.

After the January 28th chemo, I start radiation for 6 weeks, at 5 days per week. I will be getting the Herceptin during these radiation treatments.

Reconstructive surgery will be after radiation is completed.

Fun for all!

Appointment with the Oncologist, Test Results, and Chemo 1 of 6

So, October 15, 2009 was my first date with Chemo. The afternoon of the 14th, the Dr.'s office staff called me and asked me to come in earlier. I failed to ask "why" they wanted this, so I proceeded to freak myself out about the reason they may want to have me come in earlier (this appointment was also where I would hear about my PET/CT/Bone Scan tests.) Yeah, Josh, my Mom and Cheri worked on convincing me that it was just because of cancellations or needing to move around the schedule for something.
I put the Lidocaine Cream on my port area about 1.5 hours prior to my appointment...my mom suggested this based on her experiences with her Dialysis.
Anyway, had my usual bloodwork then my meeting with Dr. Wright, my Medical Oncologist. Cheri and my sister Becky were there with me and they both met him. I asked immediately about my test results, and he said I was "fine." He was surprised I had not been called with the results. I was so relieved to hear that there were no other cancers showing up on my tests...so freakin' relieved!!! There were a couple of anomalies...some nodules on my thyroid, doc said he does not think they are cancer...lots of folks have nodules there, but he wants an ultrasound done "soon." There were some other minor things that I can follow up on later, but my bloodwork was just fine, so there are no real concerns. No other cancer...no metatastes. Thank the universe!!!
So, lots more questions for the doc--mostly about what to expect from the meds, when I should call or be concerned about side effects, etc. He basically said that he did not want me to have side effects or be too affected by them, so he said to let the nurses or him know right away. The nursing staff would be going over all of the potential side effects, when to take the additional medications I had picked up the day before (on what schedule, etc) and other issues.
Went back to the chemo-administration area...nurse put some spray on the site they "jack in" to, and I did not feel a thing when they went in. Hmmm. Not so bad! So treatment started with Aloxi (anti-nausea) then Decadron (steroid to combat any possible reactions to the meds). Then the Chemo: Taxotere...next was the "Loading Dose" of Herceptin (was supposed to get Carboplatin first, but it was not ready yet, and the Herceptin was), then the Carboplatin. About 20 minutes into the Carboplatin, I started having a weird reaction...I felt so freakin' hot from the inside (like a Hot Flash times 10), this weird pain down my left arm...and I started to get tunnel vision. AND, my eyes felt like this strange "wetness" behind them...like cold wetness behind my eyes (weird?) I think I could have passed out, but then again...I may have been able to keep from doing it. My sis went and got the nurse who stopped the meds right away. She gave me some Saline fluids until they could get the doc to check on me. We decided to start again, and I got the same type of response but cut in about half. So, they gave me an IV Push of Decadron. Now...earlier, I had the Decadron over about 20 minutes, this was a push--immediate, and no one told me that there could be some side effects from that!!! Such as: my crotch suddenly felt like I had fire ants biting me all at once!!! Then it spread to a couple of other spots, including the top of my head. That was freaky...I guess if I had known I was going to have "ants" in my crotch and on the top of my head, it would have been easier to handle mentally!
Well, after that wore off a bit, they started me back on Carboplatin again slowly...then they sped it up, no weird response. The Nurse Oncology Trainer sat with me and indicated that she though it might have been the Herceptin that caused me to have the response. Who knows. I suppose I will find out next time.
Anyway, Chemo lasted until 5:45 PM...so I was on the IV from 12PM until then. Wow. Long time. Oh well...one chemo down, just 5 to go of these combo treatments. Still have 16 doses more of Herceptin though.
Ok...so my hair will be gone sometime between 10-18 days after the treatment yesterday...I've decided I am going to be a monk for Halloween. Just need some orange fabric to make a sheath to wear--with my bald head!
After Becky, Cheri and I left, I had Becky go through the drive through at Wendy's...my friend (and fellow Breast Cancer Survivor) Cindy K told me that I might want cold things...she was so correct! I got a Frosty and finished it within about 6 minutes. Damn, that was good. We also went to the CVS on the way home to pick up some Benadryl...to counteract some of the additional side effects I tried to have during treatment.
So, last night was okay really. I just had to take all of my anti-nausea meds and Benadryl...and I slept GREAT. I really did not expect to, and the nurses told me that I may not--but I was fine!
Still felt like I had a furnace burning inside of every single cell of my body...hotter than Hell...oh well. Just keep that fan on me and sweat it out! Drinking lots of fluids to stay hydrated and work everything out.
No real nausea last night...just gassy in my lower intestines and burpy with lots of heartburn. That, I can handle.
Cancer Sucks...at least it appears to have all been cut out so far...now we are covering the "just in case" portion. I really could be quite happy never doing this over again!!!

Shew!