This is a diary of my breast cancer diagnosis and treatment. I've been adding it in reverse order so the most recent information is at the top.
Thanks for the cards, e-mails and flowers. I do appreciate being in your thoughts and hearts and prayers.
Nancy
June 27, 2006
Whew! Just got back from my LAST Taxol!! I still will have Herceptin every three weeks, but the nasty stuff will be over when the side effects of this one subside.
To mark the occasion, we went in the parking lot and I smashed the rest of my Decadron pills (and the bottle) with a hammer. Hated that stuff.
Lots of doctor appointments coming up. Surgeon follow-up at the end of this week. My oncologist scheduled scans for the end of July as well as tumor markers. Unfortunately he is leaving to move to the mainland in mid-August so I now need to start the search for a new one. At least it's kind if a good time (after chemo) to switch rather than in the middle. Dr. Cortez, my PCP, gave me a couple names when I saw him on Monday, and I do want to check out the doctors in Honolulu.
I go Thursday to have blood work after the Mind-Body-Spirit support group and then not until July 18 for the triple dose of Herceptin. It will be every three weeks from now until April 2007 unless the studies show that getting it longer is beneficial.
I have BC support group at Teshima's (restaurant) this evening at 7 pm. Jonathan said he could drop me off. I'm a little groggy from Benadryl for driving.
June 25, 2006
I'm feeling more energetic today after sleeping for over 11 hours last night.
Last evening was the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life in Kailua at the soccer field near the Old Airport Park. There was a nice reception and dinner for cancer survivors and their care givers around 5 pm and some opening ceremonies a little after 6. The survivors lap was just before sunset and then each walking team paraded around the track. After that they switched to shifts of walkers and would walk all night. I walked with a couple people I have met over the last several months. I sure didn't have much stamina and wasn't up for more than the one lap.
They had a live radio broadcast and a locally famous radio guy as MC along with music and events to keep the walkers entertained all night. We stayed about 2 and a half hours or so. Jonathan took pictures.
After that we made a stop at Chuck and Val's house for Val's birthday party. We got to see quite a few people from the diving crowd we haven't seen for a while since I've been such a home body. We were home and in bed by 10 PM and I conked out for a long rest. I didn't get up this morning until after 10 am.
June 23, 2006
I'm a little behind in updating this week. It has been quite busy. Chemo went fine - no mistakes or anything. My blood work was a little improved from last week but still on the low side. Good enough to get chemo though.
I have been having some redness, warmth and swelling in the right breast and decided it would be good to have Dr. Henry look at it again. He said it is skin edema from the radiation and not an infection. He said is it not common but normal for some women. It happens more often in fair-skinned, large-chested women like me since the surface dose of radiation is higher for us. It could take quite some time, even a year to resolve, but it's not anything to be worried about.
Dr. Kashef worked together with a a local psychiatrist/holistic doctor to set up a series of 6 support sessions for cancer patients. The first was yesterday. It was quite interesting and will include some relaxation, imagery, stretching, yoga poses, meditation and traditional group talk. If it works out, they will try to continue it beyond the 6 weeks.
I'm am extremely pooped today. Yesterday I had that support group and the doctor appointment and then we went out on the Hula Kai for a late-afternoon/sunset snorkel cruise. I over did a little bit and ended up going to bed around 8 pm. If it weren't for the bulldozer next door starting up at 7 am, I might still be snoozing.
June 15, 2006
Chemo went fine yesterday. I did have a bit of a booboo by the chemo nurse as she ran my Herceptin at 2 hours. She thought she hung the Taxol first. So we did the Taxol at 2 hours too which made for a very long day. But it was quiet and Adam and Molly and I just read and did puzzles/ homework. By about 3 pm I was the only patient there.
My blood work was a little low on the WBC but the neutrophils were fine. My RBC and hemoglobin were both low again and I got a shot of Aranesp.
I'm flushed from the Decadron again today and will probably get in the pool to cool down later this afternoon after we go to lunch and go into town to get groceries.
June 6, 2006
Finished Taxol #9 today/Herceptin #10 - getting down to the wire. Everything went fine. The infusion center was busy as usual. I had an appointment with the oncologist this afternoon. It's kind of weird thinking about finishing up the chemo part. He spoke of having scans and tumor markers tested in July. Of course, he also mentioned that once I finish with the Taxol and the steroids, I need to get going on a low-fat, high fiber diet plus exercise and drop excess weight. I'm thinking of asking to consult with a nutritionist.
I should have a mammogram in September at my usual time and keep following up with the radiation oncologist. I do need to call them tomorrow and let them know that we think I'm having a bit of radiation recall from the chemo. I'm all red, but in exactly the shape of my radiation fields. I'll give Poppy a call and see if Dr. Henry would want me to do anything.
Dr. Kashef is leaving to move to Dallas in August and we don't know yet who will replace him. So I will at least be done with everything but the Herceptin and will have the tests and such done before he goes. Hopefully that will help with a transition to a new doctor.
June 5, 2006
Just back from my appointment with the cardiologist. There was a different technician this time who did the echo. My ejection fraction has NOT gone down!! Her calculations actually showed it going up to 82%. Dr. Wohl reviewed it and said that it looks so similar to the last one that he thinks the 82% she got is probably a bit higher than it really is, but it is at least the 70% we got last time. It is definitely not going down and looks really good.
Whew. What a relief. So far Herceptin has not caused a problem and I can continue to get it. My next echo will be in September.
I stopped by the American Cancer Society on the way home and signed up for the survivor's lap at the Relay for Life on June 24.
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