9/24/10... 3 days 'til first chemo

Hello All,

Just a note that first chemo starts Monday 9/27/10 8:30 a.m.  See the oncologist first then apparently 10 minutes of the A drug and 2 hours of the Cytoxin drug.  Mom will be there with me. Then, possibly off to wig store unless vomiting. They said my hair would fall out between 2-3 weeks of this first treatment.

I made my case that I should be a candidate for the Blood cell booster shot whether my counts were too low or not based on my addiction to exercise and my 2 snotty nosed kids, but the nurse just sort of laughed.  When I said “ I will not be happy if I am not able to exercise due to low counts” she simply stated “I can see that about you”.
She also said that some people just get right through this without much trouble,  then she said “ I can see that happening it this case- oh I don’t usually say that out loud”.  Well ,that made me feel good anyway.

They say that Chemo can decrease your appetite.  We’ll see.  Nothing’s ever done that to me before, except that one time Richie broke up with me. Correction: One of those times Richie broke up with me.

As far as this port is concerned, it is still sore, but I still plan to jog on day 11.  They said to wait 10 days.
Not to worry, I’ve kept up with stationary bike, spin class and stair machine.  But, they were right about the jogging. Because, as you might have suspected, I’ve tried several times the elliptical and jogging, and it just wasn’t right, so back to bike.

Anyway, I’ll be off work Monday and then see how it goes Tues. and Wednesday.  They said day 2 and 3 are often the worst.  Wish me luck-

Emily

Control Issues Vs. Methodology-Update

Control Issues Vs. Methodology-Update

Sent: Monday, September 13, 2010 10:18 AM
Subject: RE: Control Issues vs. Methodology-Update

Hello all,

Thanks to my baseline anxiety,  plus heightened anxiety due to Cancer and the support of certain OCD friends,  I went into full panic mode Friday pm around 4:00 and began calling every doctor I know.   At 4:50 pm the oncologist did call me back and told me he just received the pathology report on the hormones, and it is ER+ -which is apparently good because there are drugs for that.  “That is your gift for the weekend”, he said.  And, as crazy as it sounds, it really was a gift for me to have spoken with him and have some… not to quote the worst president in the history of USA (given my limited knowledge of history, of course) …resolve.
Anyway, he told me that he spoke with the surgeon “discussed your case over breakfast” and they decided to do chemo first.  He instructed me to call the surgeon on Monday to make appt. to get port/cath.  placed for use with the chemo, and we’d begin the chemo sometime next week.  So, I have an appt tomorrow with Surgeon to discuss  this port placement, etc, then on Wednesday at 1:30 p.m.  to actually put it in.    Apparently it takes 30 minutes, but has to be done at the hospital.  Then, I have the Oncologist appointment on Thursday 8:00 am, which Richie will be at.  His job is to make sure that the doctors understand that I am addicted to running, and that  I too (like Lance) will require EPO treatment during, or after the Chemo, and that other details/plans are laid out and written down.

Thank you all for hanging in there with me.  Again.

Emily

 

PortaCath and Pre Chemo

PortaCath and Pre Chemo

PortaCath and Pre Chemo Treatment 9/13/10 ish


Hello all,
Saw Surgeon, Dr. Lamar Jones, this Tuesday am to discuss placement of PortaCath. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Port_(medical) It is basically a disc that is placed under the skin that replaces having to have an IV inserted for chemo and blood draws.  Yesterday had the thing put in.  It turns out it was a small day surgery.  More than I had expected, but still like day spa treatment compared to the Biopsy.  I was put under sedation for the procedure, got a good nap, then got pretty buzzed on Percocet afterwards and had P.Terry’s because it is hormone free beef, and therefore good for you.  Then some pain later, but tolerable, once I laid down again.  Thanks to Cindy being there it was mostly enjoyable chatting and catching up, and keeping my mind off of things. 
Today, met with the Oncologist, Dr. Sandbach, with Richie there to take notes and help me ask questions.
So what I know (take that l word with a grain of salt please) so far is:
Ductal Carcinoma.  Invasive.  He did not stage it.  It’s at least Stage II because it’s about 5 cm and in the lymph node.  Most likely stage IIIA.It’s ER+.  It will be chemo first, then Bilateral mastectomy and reconstruction.  Radiation is undecided at this point, but Oncologist and Surgeon lean away from it if all is going well with the chemo and surgery.
On Monday 9/20/11  I’m scheduled for CT scan of abdomen and MRI of brain to see if we can see anything anywhere else.  On Thursday 9/23/10 we go to Chemo instructional class for more detailed info on chemo.

9/27/10  will be the 1st  Chemo treatment:
There will be four rounds of a drug called AC in 3 week cycles to = 12 weeks.Then another 12 weeks of another drug which I cannot think of the name right now, starts with a T.
24 weeks of Chemo total, then 2 weeks recovery, then Surgery.
Then apparently 5 more years of an oral drug that the oncologist says is no problem.
If the Genetic BRCA test comes back (+) for genetic mutation, there will be more drugs for up to 10 years, maybe, and the ovaries will need to come out at some point.
I guess that’s all I can think of right now.Emily

Control Issues vs. Methodology

From: Howell, Emily
Sent: Friday, September 10, 2010 11:23

Subject: Control Issues vs. Methodology

Hey guys,

I’m writing a quick email just to update everyone.  My appointment with the Oncologist today was unfortunately postponed until next Thursday.  The reason given for the delay was that the pathology report was not all back yet.  They thought it would be.  They are waiting on the results of the hormone receptors.  They need this information before making a full plan of action.  This should be to the Doctor by Monday, but the doctor is out until Wednesday, so the appointment is now scheduled for Thursday 8:00 a.m. next week.  I’m sure you can all imagine how I reacted when the poor (stupid) girl who had called me, asked me if I was OK with that.  Rest assured that I did make this girl come to near tears.

Then, after a few tears of my own,  I succumbed to the method.

But….I am still driving this train, damn it.    I will show up to that fucking appointment on Thursday.

Emily