..bye, bye port

TODAY the port came out. Was a little leery that the doctor was doing it IN THE OFFICE and not in the OR, but it went fine. Only discomfort was the 900 needles to numb it!! (well, maybe only 3-5) No stitches, just derma bond and a couple of steri strips. Started to bleed, but I put a bandage on it, doing good.
Doctor said the lead was not working properly. My only good thing is that I DON'T EVER WANT TO HAVE TO USE ANOTHER PORT AGAIN!!!
Came home and finished "THE HELP" on the cool, cool porch. Took a little nap and I think I may retire early. Just a little sore...tylenol extra strength usually works good!!
Ahh....port no more...maybe now I'll try PORT WINE!!

RELAY FOR LIFE

Well, I did it. Walked the track as a survivor and what better way to do it than with family and friends by my side!! I feel so blessed to be here and able to do that. My goal was to raise $500, I raised almost $900! It was a beautiful night, very warm but emotional. Stayed until my body gave out at midnight, then headed home to sleep in my own bed. Exhilarating to say the least!!

 

..and I'll HUFF & I'LL PUFF....maybe!

No 'huffing and puffing' here. Went back to Urgent Care for a follow up on Tuesday, May 25. She was very thorough and gave me a nebulizer treatment. Seemed to work, brought up 'something' with the cough that had been un-productive. Told me to up the dosage of prednizone, and get an inhaler. THAT was a trip and a half! Made my heart race and I felt really out of control. DONE with that! She made a call to my pulmonary doctor to see me before the end of June. Saw him on Thursday, May 27. He is certain with all the tests and the function of my lungs that this is definitely acid-reflux induced. I'm to see a gastro doctor in July. He also wants me to do a sleep study soon to determine how I sleep at night (I COULD TELL HIM THAT, lousy!!)and maybe this too has something to do with all this nonsense.
I am SO looking forward to getting away and having a few laughs and fun in the Big Apple. So I cough all around the city, what else is new!!

--meds to go

After a week of coughing, (so what else is new? this is getting WAY old!) I called my PCP and he was booked. Went to urgent care and saw a very nice lady doctor. She listened to my chest, 'heard' some sounds but sent me for a chest x-ray to see what is going on. She then proceeded to put me on steroids (guess I won't be playing any major league sports any time soon!) So it's prednizone for a month; starting with 4 a day for a week, then 3, etc...by month's end I should be good to go? Or will I? She also mentioned that radiation and my GERD (acid-reflux) have a lot to do with the mucous lining in my esophogus. Radiation dries a lot of it up and it takes a while to recoup that back to 'normal'. She' having me take a Bactrim (antibiotic) 1x a day for a week to see if we can clear up the 'sounds' in my chest.
Now I'm feeling like a walking pharmacy. I used to laugh at my Mom taking so many pills in a day as well as my mother in law. NOW I AM ONE OF THEM!! I take 10 YES, TEN, pills a day to get by. That has to be a record. Can I look back on all this in a few months and laugh?? Let's hope so!!!
Gearing up for my Relay for Life walk in June. AND my birthday celebration/revitalization weekend in the BIG APPLE next week. Can't wait to laugh and see a Broadway play and have dinner at ELLEN'S STARLIGHT DINER where they make 'big' of your birthday complete with singing waiters/waitresses!!!
Along this road I travel there are many highlights!!!

..oh PORT...once more!

Well, I go to get my monthly 'port flush' at the cancer center on Friday. As she's flushing, the skin above my port starts to 'inflate'! Not what it's supposed to do. She can't get a blood return, but it flushed ok with saline. She was very concerned, so she contacted my oncologist. Over to the hospital to have a 'dye study' done with an x-ray. Easy procedure, took less than 20 minutes and a cutie patootie doctor to boot!! Back to the cancer center to have them take out the access needle and I get chest pains. OHMYGAWD. Nothing major, just stinging pains in the area of the swelling. Only lasted for a couple of minutes, but the nurse was concerned it could be something else. My oncologist wants me to go downstairs to get a CT Scan, again...oh man. Lucky me, no vein is to be found on my arm so he has to get to the side of my elbow and now I have this big fat black and blue! Looks like I met my match in an alley!! Up to see what the results of the scan are and the oncologist says there is some pneumonia. Of course there is, why can't anything ever be EASY with me?!! She wants me to go on 10 days of an antibiotic. Am suffering terribly with the pollen here. I'm all clogged up and my cough is worse than ever. Pump up those anti-allergy meds!!
This dang road to recovery has more speed bumps than I anticipated. Stay tuned, I'm sure there is more drama ahead!!

...news I CAN'T 'lose'!

Saw Leslie at the Breast Care center today...she is as awesome as everyone has told me. She was surprised this was our first meeting. Had some great things to tell me, one was that my cancer is gone. I am a 'survivor' but not to label myself as such. Cancer is a strange disease. Being cancer-free is everyone's goal, but not to say that it could and very well might occur again. Her main goal as well as mine is to be 'cancer-free' for the next 30 years! WOW. Something to look forward to in my 'golden years'! She examined me and found nothing, that I am healing so well was music to my ears. She will see me every 6 months until 2011; then I will be checked every year. MAMMOS are a must every year as I knew already. Her concern was the cough. Told me to STOP using any/all perfumes/colognes for a month and see how my cough is. Imagine!! I think I will try it. She said my body, tastes and overall being was dramatically altered with chemo drugs. I have sensations in my mouth that are sometimes very uncomfortable. Hot burning sensations on my tongue, making a lot of foods very un-appealing. She said it's attributed to the chemo drugs and may take many months to years to get back to 'normal'. She said I was ok in making the decision NOT to do the last four rounds of Taxol. Also gave me some exercises to do with my arm so that lymphodema doesn't set in. Arm and hand measurements were very good. They need to do this every 6 mos. to be sure that the lymph nodes haven't 'erupted' even though they are gone. Lymphodema isn't pleasant. I have seen it first-hand. She also told me that the Prozac in such a low dose is a good thing. NOT to expect miracles, the Arimidex has a lot of side effects that can be very uncomfortable. SO I only have 4.5 years to go on it....guess I can make that sacrifice to stay well!!
I AM ON THE ROAD TO WELLNESS...ready to take that journey one step further. With the love and support of all of those around me, this will be a 'walk in the park'!!

...check me out!

Today I had a check up with the oncology radiologist. She said all is well and I'm 'lookin' good'!! Music to my ears. She re-read the mammo from March and said she's certain it was too early to have one done since I was very scarred from the radiation. I will follow up with her in 4 mos, right around the time of the next mammo! Tomorrow I will have an appointment with the Nurse Practioner, Leslie at the Breast Care Clinic. I hear wonderful things about her...we shall see. Saw my gyn a week or so ago. She's happy with my weight loss, my Vitamin D levels were low, so I scheduled blood work to be done last week. Follow up was good, levels look good! I NEED SUN, that's all!! She prescribed Prozac (holy cow!) for my nasty hot flashes from the Arimidex. One of those lovely side effects you get when you take a new med. I told her I didn't want to be a 'walking zombie' and she assured me the dosage wasn't high enough to do that! PHEW!
I'm looking forward to good weather, celebrating life and wellness with my nearest/dearest. Gearing up for a trip to the Big Apple for my birthday end of May and we've booked Palm Desert, CA for November!! THAT will be my 'wellness trip'! A little R&R with loved ones and friends. Can't wait.
It's been a journey to remember. My hair is slowly growing in, I got a new wig and I get a lot of compliments and folks are floored when I tell them it's 'temporary hair'! I think it looks natural and I feel comforatble in it. STILL not comfortable enough to go bare-headed! Not that brave yet.
I am looking forward to our RELAY FOR LIFE walk in June..and me walking the SURVIVOR'S WALK with my loved ones. The family/friends are on board to walk this with me and for that I am grateful.
Looking towards the future and no more CANCER. New beginnings...

...Spring has sprung

The good weather is FINALLY here. Perhaps all that wetness contributed to me feeling lousy most of the week. OR it could be to that new med, ARIMIDEX. My bones are achy, but that is a side effect. I'm also nauseous, so now I know I have to eat something before I take that. The hot flashes are also a nuisance, they come in full force at night. Again, another side effect. My appetite is so-so. Some days I can't get enough food, other days I could care less if I ate. My hair is not coming in like I want it to, I feel at this point I will probably be lucky if I am able to go without a wig by JULY!! UGH.
I got the results of my latest mammogram in the mail, and although it looks like all went well, the radiologist wants to be sure that I book another mammogram in six months because, as stated on his report: "your mammogram did NOT show any significant abnormalities, but there is an area in your right breast that I feel should be re-examined in 6 months..." And then he goes on to say that the 6-month follow-up is an extra precaution to re-check a specific area of your breast...
WELL....SHOULD I BE NERVOUS ABOUT THIS NEWS? Barry said if it was anything really significant, the oncologist would be in contact with me. I think maybe when I see the radiation oncologist next week, I will mention this little tidbit of information!! Will it ever end?
Spring is a time for new beginnings...I am taking it one step at a time to assure myself that I am OKAY. I will be fine. It just may take a bit longer than normal!!

...the long and winding road

It's been a very long and winding road. I think that I have finally found a way to get OUT and get back on normal ground. Finished up radiation on 3/22. What a send-off they give you, complete with confetti and a diploma (did I accomplish something big? you bet I did!) I left the gals with a couple of bags of 'doctor and nurse' gingerbread cookies. They let ME leave there with a smile on my face! Did see the pulmonary doctor that morning. He says that all my 'functions' (i.e.: lung capacity, heart, breathing) are fine. Determined this cough is triggered by seasonal allergies and post nasal drip. Guess that's a relief. I am now an offical 'druggie'..I have more drugs to take daily than I thought humanly possible. TWO acid reducers; TWO allergy pills; cough medicine with codeine at night to help me sleep (and it has after only THREE rounds of coughing first!!) then there is that dreaded 'anti-cancer pill' Arimidex. Waiting for the shoe to drop on that one. Hated reading the side effects, maybe I will get lucky. I am on the road to wellness..so if it takes a few drugs along the way, so be it.
My 'girls' took me to dinner last night as well. Fun night, lots of laughs, delicious dinner. I then went to an "INSPIRATION NIGHT" at a Yoga studio afterwards. How uplifting and spiritual for me. Feel like I got a lot of 'junk' out of my system. Tears and laughter and rejuvenation. Miserable night, but I was in a good place.
Slept fine for the first time in months. Supposedly the sun is going to shine again today. Let's wait and see..
I am NOT taking a U-turn on this road, I am forging ahead!

there is a light at the end of the tunnel...

Here it is, week #6 of radiation. I am burned to a crisp, but am so looking forward to NOT having to go out every night to get 'zapped'!! I will be officially done on March 22. Had to go an extra day because last week the machine broke down and they had to cancel everyone's appts. I was fine up to week #4; then I started to burn at the radiation site. I have used all kinds of creams, ointments and patches. I finally got the doctor to get me a prescription for Aquafor with lidacaine. Feels so much better!
Saw my oncologist on Friday, March 12. She says that all my tests are looking good, scheduled me for a bone density this week along with a mammogram. I am a bit nervous about the mammo. I pray they don't 'find' anything anywhere else. It's not UNcommon.
I had an appointment for a pulmonary function test on Monday, 3/15. I will see a pulmonary specialist on 3/22. It took an act of congress to get this appointment, fortunately for me one of the receptionists at the Cancer Center knew the office and made the call!! She's my special angel, Liz!! Guess it's WHO you know!! I am still coughing and my ribs kill, but I will be patient and see what the doctor says. Had another CT Scan last week and the oncologist told me it was CLEAN!! WHEW!!! We'll get this hacking under control yet!!

I have forged many a friendships with my 'radiation ladies'. They are wonderful and we are all in the same boat..just wanting to be CLEAN of cancer. We promised each other we won't lose touch. How can you? We have been a part of each others' lives for over a month and waited each night 'patiently' while our allotted times come and go...!!
I am now looking forward to my hair growing back in (not much there yet!) and walking the SURVIVOR'S WALK with my family and friends by my side at the Relay for Life on June 18, 2010. WHO KNEW at this time last year that I would be a SURVIVOR!??
So there is a light at the end of my tunnel and I am going to shine it brightly when I emerge!!

..half way there

It's been three weeks of radiation. I THINK I'm doing ok, at least that's what the doctor/nurses tell me. NO burning...but that could still come later on. A bit tired, but that's ok, my scheduled appts are late afternoon. SO many nice women I've met. All of us are in the same boat.
Was on vacation this past week, scheduled my radiation around my being home and they were very accommodating. Opted out of a day at the casinos fearing germs and smoke.
The cough is still there. I have contacted a pulmonary specialist so I'm hoping to get in to see him soon. Also decided it's time to get back to the pain clinic about this sciatic nerve that acts up at all the wrong times. That's in a week or so.
SO much to do..so little time to do it in.
Just beaming me up each day!!

..beam me up!

RADIATION HAS BEGUN...
Well, I decided to make all my appointments for 5 p.m. thinking that's a great time, everyone is home making dinner, piece of cake, not too many folks there since the center closes at 6, last appointment! NOT TO BE.
Went in on Monday, February 1 for my 'preliminary' which means they take films of every angle AND they gave me a 'new' tattoo..apparently the 'old' ones weren't in line with where they had to radiate!
Back on Tuesday, Feb. 2 for my treatment. FOUR other women in the waiting room ahead of me...that should have told me ...'someting's wong' here...since one woman said her appointment was 4:15; another was 4:30; another was 4:45..me at 5. Yup. It was 6 pm before I even got taken in to the radiation room! Then a few more films and **Z*A*P**! DONE! Out of there by 6:20; get dressed ...see you tomorrow!! REALLY wish maybe they could've called and said the computers in Boston were down, we're running a bit late...
(missed my nail appointment!!)
So I will go back on Weds., Thurs., Fri...have a weekend reprieve and then back for 5 more weeks!
BEAM ME UP, SCOTTY!!!

....snowy days and IV's

Today we woke up to snow. Now it's a good thing there was no school due to the 'special election' or maybe there might NOT have been...anyway I thought it would be a GREAT day to finally do some 'me' pampering. Nails/pedi. AHHH...
Got myself to the salon, but didn't feel great getting up this a.m. Just downright BLAH, but knew I had to get moving. Did my 'thing' at the salon, and thought, I need something to get me moving today. Home and called the Cancer Center. Told them I had no energy, just felt yukky...GET UP HERE, they said, so I did.
In to the power port..no blood return. This is getting crazy. My BP was 'better' than it has been, the body just isn't doing it's thing. In comes Nurse Maureen to poke me in the arm to get some blood! UGH. After all this, I should be able to handle most anything! Nurse Sue comes in with a GIGANTUOUS bag of IV fluid, or at least it looked that way to me!! Took almost two hours to drip it through. Could say I did feel a bit better although I wasn't sure I was all that dehydrated, but then again, it's been so long since I've felt really GOOD, how would I know? We headed home, voted, and I managed to get some pasta into me. Now I'm ready for BED! Want to get to work tomorrow. NEED to work, need to be productive. It's my only saving force right now.
Let's see how it goes....

..again

Yep. AGAIN. Thought it started out to be a good week. Up each morning to school, feeling 'decent', aside from this nasty cough. Wednesday, January 13, I go about my business, head to the nurse for my daily temperature reading and it's 99.6! She's concerned as she figures later in the day it will get higher. Suggests I go home and rest. Off I go..rest I do.
Woke up around 4 pm and the fever has spiked to 101.7! OH OH. knowing that in my case a temp of 100.5 is cause to hit the ER, I called the cancer center and spoke to the nurse. She advised me to get up to the ER as it could be pneumonia. Fortunately for me, when you are a 'cancer patient' you get preferential treatment. They don't take any chances when you're running a high temp. Off to chest xray; negative. ER doc comes in and wants to do a CT Scan to rule out a blood clot in my lungs. That too, came back negative, so it was determined that I had a very bad case of bronchitis. On a strong antibiotic to combat that.
My oncologist calls me tonight (Thurs) and said she was concerned about some nodules that had shown up on BOTH the CT scan's I have had in the past week. She wants to keep a close eye on them along with the radiation doctor. They will do another CT Scan in a month or so to see how it looks. She's pretty sure it has to do with the cough, so I'm not even going to worry about THAT right now!
Radiation begins on 2/1/10.

..should've read those 'vampire books'...

So here's the deal. NO ONE feels as lousy as I did for over ten days and not have it be 'part of the process'. I knew it was more. Sometimes ya just gotta take the bull by the horns and insist. Had a chest xray on Tues. 1/5. No word from the doctor on Weds. I figured if it was pneumonia, she'd call. On Thursday, 1/7, I had an appointment with radiation. The nurse taking my vitals said my BP was extremely low as was my oxygen levels. Upstairs for some IV fluids. Well...I became the human pin cushion. ME? WHO HATES NEEDLES!?? Oh yah. SO dehydrated, no one could get any blood from my 'dry veins' OR from the port! FINALLY, we get a nurse who could, and I was able to give some blood so they could do a blood gas on me. They put in four bags of IV fluid to 'perk me up'. Sent Susan home, enter Barry. Oncologist comes in and we 'discuss' my options for NOT doing the Taxol. She made me feel a LOT better about bowing out. She feels that with the radiation and the pill afterwards for 5 years, I should be good. She also said my red cell count was low and I needed to come back to the cancer center on Friday for a couple of pints of blood. No problem, I'm coming in for a CT Scan anyway.
The CT SCAN: ohmygawd. Had to drink two bottles of berium in the morning. One was bad enough. Had the second on my way into the center. NEVER made it to the garage, up it came. YUK. Just about dragged myself into the center; they grabbed a wheelchair and a bucket for me. Had CT SCAN and upstairs for my 'blood'!! Should've been a vampire!!
HOME AGAIN...on the couch. Maybe in the a.m. I will feel like a new person!!!

..oh what a week

Well, my last infusion was on December 28. By December 29, I was 'down for the count'. Couldn't get out of bed, felt like death was knocking on my door. God Bless my husband, Mother Teresa in disguise. He made me eat/drink, even though I wanted NOTHING to do with either. I passed on so many 'social events' this evening being yet another. I just can't get it together. I'm wondering about school tomorrow morning. Not sure I'm going to make it out of bed, let alone get there early.
I will just take it one day at a time. I am still battling a cold and cough, something that won't necessarily go away anytime soon with my cell count down. If I feel this way on Monday I will call the doctor. Don't want anymore overnights in the ER!
And here I thought 2010 would be my road to wellness.....