Side effects this time have been a little different. But then, I cant say that it has been the same in the past.
This time,I felt pretty good on Friday and did quite a bit of sleeping on Saturday, along with some crying. At one point, I went back to bed and Richard came in the room and I was crying. He asked what was wrong and I was bawling, " I am just so tired of being sick".
By Sunday night the leg cramps had started and Sunday and Monday night I spent the entire night, not sleeping, but thrashing around constantly moving my legs as they hurt so bad and had sharp pains. Today on Tuesday, I went to work at noon since I hadn't slept last night and I can feel my legs are getting better. Just a little queasy on the stomach.
I can do this, this is the last time I should have to feel like this! The light at the end of the tunnel might be visible now. I don't know if I could handle knowing doing one more chemo appointment so am glad its over.
On Monday I talked to the radiation dept at St. Johns to confirm my apt on Tuesday Sept 7th. That appointment they said would be with the Dr. so still not sure what day radiation will start but I am scheduled for 33 visits.
I think if I can do the nasty chemo, I can do the radiation.
And I am checking my hair daily for growth! I am so excited to think I will have hair again!
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Beth's posting on her blog
Beth,
I cant begin to say how much this blog posting means to me!
Thank you!
Nancy
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Celebrating Nancy's Journey
I was half way through my workout today and I realized what date it was. August 26, 2010. Most of us wont remember today. We wont remember anything special, nothing exciting. Business as usual, just another day.
Not if you are my friend Nancy. Today is her last Chemo treatment. As I said in the beginning of this process, she is an amazingly strong lady. I know she does not feel that way at moments, but she is. She has been so brave. She has shared with her friends and family those moments we may have wondered about. What if one day I have cancer? What does it feel like? What happens? What are the treatments like? Are there glue on eyebrows? How do you go about buying wigs? What is it like to have a port put in? How do the drugs feel as they go in the IV? She has shared her emotions during those amazing moments when friends and family rallied for her. How she felt when her co-workers had numerous cookie sales at work to raise money for her medical expenses. How much it has meant to have her mom by her side at her treatments, and at home. How much her husband has meant to her during this process. How much her congregation has meant to her.
She has posted a glimpse into her next year, what appointments will be looking like, when radiation will begin. She knows she has a ways to go before this is all over with, and will be starting her radiation in September. The projected end date to it all being June 16, 2011.
But with the end of each treatment, the light at the end of the tunnel gets brighter, the end is in sight! It's about 9:30 now, her last treatment will either begin shortly or already has. Today is the last time she'll have to pick out her chair, where she'll be for a few hours, keeping her self busy, no doubt with her mom by her side. And as she said, however bad the side effects, however bad she feels, its the last time she has to do it!
Brian and I ran the Komen for the Cure last year. At the time, it meant a lot to him, as his mom was going through treatment for Breast Cancer. I felt a bit out of place, in a sea of pink. There were women all around us, some were survivors, some were clearly undergoing treatment, some were running in honor of sisters, mothers, friends, and family members who fought with all their heart but lost their battles. It was emotional, but not personal.
This year, my daughters and I will run for Nancy. I don't' think she could ever know how much she has meant to me over the years, especially in my childhood. Her home was a safe place for my sister and I to be. She had no way of knowing what all was going on in my little world, there was a lot she didn't' know and still may not. Her home was the highlight of my life. In those early years, pre elementary school age, I thought she lived in a castle. She had a huge old house, with a huge closet full of shoes for my sister and I to wear around her room. She listened to "real music", not country. One of her fav at the time was George Michael, and her house was the only place we got to listen to him. She would help my sis and I slide down the stairs on whatever slippery objects we could find, while her mom was in the kitchen cooking liver. She taught us how to use the sewing machine and I can't tell you how many needles we broke! We played countless games of Clue, which was the neatest thing at the time. She had cats, which we thought were neat, although the cat litter was in the bathroom under the sink...not so neat. For a while, her grandma lived with them, and I remember thinking she was this neat, older creature. And the patio full of bird seed and birds, the neat old shed full of her dads projects. Her dad wasn't' around a lot that I remember, but I do remember being fascinated by him. He was a gruff teddy bear type, very raspy voice, smelled smokey, had dark mechanic hands, but had a gentleness, and a twinkle in his eyes, and a huge personality. My sis and I would often pretend to be sick so Nancy could come over and watch us. She knew, but never told our secret! She would bring over some project, sometimes laying out quilt squares all over our living room floor. After a day of playing and hanging out with the coolest teenager we knew, I remember about 3:30 she would remind us that we were supposed to be sick....we would settle down and put on our sick faces just in time for mom to get home at 4. She will never really know what an important role in my childhood she played. And she's always been there through out my life. She has always kept in touch, some how remembering anniversaries and sending home made cards, emailing...despite the fact that we haven't' actually seen each other in many years.
I have hated that she has had to go through having cancer, and all the things associated with that. I hate more the feeling that there is nothing I can really do. But I will do the one thing I can do. I consider it an honor and a privileged to run for Nancy. The girls and I will be wearing our pink, and running our hearts out!
Love you, sis!
I cant begin to say how much this blog posting means to me!
Thank you!
Nancy
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Celebrating Nancy's Journey
I was half way through my workout today and I realized what date it was. August 26, 2010. Most of us wont remember today. We wont remember anything special, nothing exciting. Business as usual, just another day.
Not if you are my friend Nancy. Today is her last Chemo treatment. As I said in the beginning of this process, she is an amazingly strong lady. I know she does not feel that way at moments, but she is. She has been so brave. She has shared with her friends and family those moments we may have wondered about. What if one day I have cancer? What does it feel like? What happens? What are the treatments like? Are there glue on eyebrows? How do you go about buying wigs? What is it like to have a port put in? How do the drugs feel as they go in the IV? She has shared her emotions during those amazing moments when friends and family rallied for her. How she felt when her co-workers had numerous cookie sales at work to raise money for her medical expenses. How much it has meant to have her mom by her side at her treatments, and at home. How much her husband has meant to her during this process. How much her congregation has meant to her.
She has posted a glimpse into her next year, what appointments will be looking like, when radiation will begin. She knows she has a ways to go before this is all over with, and will be starting her radiation in September. The projected end date to it all being June 16, 2011.
But with the end of each treatment, the light at the end of the tunnel gets brighter, the end is in sight! It's about 9:30 now, her last treatment will either begin shortly or already has. Today is the last time she'll have to pick out her chair, where she'll be for a few hours, keeping her self busy, no doubt with her mom by her side. And as she said, however bad the side effects, however bad she feels, its the last time she has to do it!
Brian and I ran the Komen for the Cure last year. At the time, it meant a lot to him, as his mom was going through treatment for Breast Cancer. I felt a bit out of place, in a sea of pink. There were women all around us, some were survivors, some were clearly undergoing treatment, some were running in honor of sisters, mothers, friends, and family members who fought with all their heart but lost their battles. It was emotional, but not personal.
This year, my daughters and I will run for Nancy. I don't' think she could ever know how much she has meant to me over the years, especially in my childhood. Her home was a safe place for my sister and I to be. She had no way of knowing what all was going on in my little world, there was a lot she didn't' know and still may not. Her home was the highlight of my life. In those early years, pre elementary school age, I thought she lived in a castle. She had a huge old house, with a huge closet full of shoes for my sister and I to wear around her room. She listened to "real music", not country. One of her fav at the time was George Michael, and her house was the only place we got to listen to him. She would help my sis and I slide down the stairs on whatever slippery objects we could find, while her mom was in the kitchen cooking liver. She taught us how to use the sewing machine and I can't tell you how many needles we broke! We played countless games of Clue, which was the neatest thing at the time. She had cats, which we thought were neat, although the cat litter was in the bathroom under the sink...not so neat. For a while, her grandma lived with them, and I remember thinking she was this neat, older creature. And the patio full of bird seed and birds, the neat old shed full of her dads projects. Her dad wasn't' around a lot that I remember, but I do remember being fascinated by him. He was a gruff teddy bear type, very raspy voice, smelled smokey, had dark mechanic hands, but had a gentleness, and a twinkle in his eyes, and a huge personality. My sis and I would often pretend to be sick so Nancy could come over and watch us. She knew, but never told our secret! She would bring over some project, sometimes laying out quilt squares all over our living room floor. After a day of playing and hanging out with the coolest teenager we knew, I remember about 3:30 she would remind us that we were supposed to be sick....we would settle down and put on our sick faces just in time for mom to get home at 4. She will never really know what an important role in my childhood she played. And she's always been there through out my life. She has always kept in touch, some how remembering anniversaries and sending home made cards, emailing...despite the fact that we haven't' actually seen each other in many years.
I have hated that she has had to go through having cancer, and all the things associated with that. I hate more the feeling that there is nothing I can really do. But I will do the one thing I can do. I consider it an honor and a privileged to run for Nancy. The girls and I will be wearing our pink, and running our hearts out!
Love you, sis!
Round 8 LAST OF THE CHEMO DRUGS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Today August 26, 2010 I had round 8 of my chemo drugs.. my LAST chemo treatment!!! Yippee!!!!
Today when I met with Dr. Richert-Boe, she asked me all the usual questions like, sores in your mouth (no), diarrhea(no), constipation(no) numbness or tingling in your fingertips and toes (sort of ,, only my on my heals), eating OK (yes, too much!). Then she proceeded to say that I have made it, I did it, this is over with.
Dr. Richert-Boe is a retired Dr that came back to work for 2 days a week in oncology. She has even spent some time in the research dept studying cancer. She is quiet lady, has long gray hair that is not pulled back. At first she kind of scared me but as time went on, she has gotten nicer and nicer. Today she even got online on the computer in the exam room and showed Richard I pictures of her horses, (she plays polo in Tacoma on the weekends).
The plan for check ups is the following: I will still go to Kaiser for the Herceptin (non chemo drug that I have been going weekly for.) for the next three Thursday's, then I will go for it every three weeks for the next 9 months (projected end date is June 16, 2011)
Will meet with Dr. Richert-Boe every three weeks for 6 months, then every three months for 2 years, then once every 6 months for a year, then once a year for 5 years.
When I asked how and when they will test me again for cancer to see if its coming back, she said I will still get my yearly mammograms, but its mostly in the Dr's visits that its discovered. By the questions they ask and any symptoms I would tell them I am feeling.
So is still a long road ahead of me.. but winding down!
Now that I have had my last treatment, now I wait for the side effects of the leg pain to show up in the next couple of days.
I did it, I cant believe the tough part of chemo is completely over with! I feel proud and happy, almost giddy about it!!
Side note:
I am done fighting with Kaiser about my bill. They finished their review of my appointments and co pays and said I owed them $140.00. I had receipts for some of it and my bill ended up being $115.00.
And they gave me a voucher that says I have met my out of pocket and deductible and do not have to pay the co pays any more. So today I showed my voucher and it worked great!
However, I still deep down disagree with what has been billed but its to my favor! I guess my policy says I am suppose to pay for the visit with the Dr. and not the copay for the infusion visit the same day. I see they have not billed me for most of the visits with the Dr. (today I think she used the voucher for both the Dr's visit and the infusion so today I think was free of co pays!) so until the end of 2010 my Herceptin visits every three weeks will not have a copay.
I do have to pay the $10.00 copay for the lab work I do before every chemo visit.
I figure if they did a research on it, its not my fault what they bill me, if its less money!
Today when I met with Dr. Richert-Boe, she asked me all the usual questions like, sores in your mouth (no), diarrhea(no), constipation(no) numbness or tingling in your fingertips and toes (sort of ,, only my on my heals), eating OK (yes, too much!). Then she proceeded to say that I have made it, I did it, this is over with.
Dr. Richert-Boe is a retired Dr that came back to work for 2 days a week in oncology. She has even spent some time in the research dept studying cancer. She is quiet lady, has long gray hair that is not pulled back. At first she kind of scared me but as time went on, she has gotten nicer and nicer. Today she even got online on the computer in the exam room and showed Richard I pictures of her horses, (she plays polo in Tacoma on the weekends).
The plan for check ups is the following: I will still go to Kaiser for the Herceptin (non chemo drug that I have been going weekly for.) for the next three Thursday's, then I will go for it every three weeks for the next 9 months (projected end date is June 16, 2011)
Will meet with Dr. Richert-Boe every three weeks for 6 months, then every three months for 2 years, then once every 6 months for a year, then once a year for 5 years.
When I asked how and when they will test me again for cancer to see if its coming back, she said I will still get my yearly mammograms, but its mostly in the Dr's visits that its discovered. By the questions they ask and any symptoms I would tell them I am feeling.
So is still a long road ahead of me.. but winding down!
Now that I have had my last treatment, now I wait for the side effects of the leg pain to show up in the next couple of days.
I did it, I cant believe the tough part of chemo is completely over with! I feel proud and happy, almost giddy about it!!
Side note:
I am done fighting with Kaiser about my bill. They finished their review of my appointments and co pays and said I owed them $140.00. I had receipts for some of it and my bill ended up being $115.00.
And they gave me a voucher that says I have met my out of pocket and deductible and do not have to pay the co pays any more. So today I showed my voucher and it worked great!
However, I still deep down disagree with what has been billed but its to my favor! I guess my policy says I am suppose to pay for the visit with the Dr. and not the copay for the infusion visit the same day. I see they have not billed me for most of the visits with the Dr. (today I think she used the voucher for both the Dr's visit and the infusion so today I think was free of co pays!) so until the end of 2010 my Herceptin visits every three weeks will not have a copay.
I do have to pay the $10.00 copay for the lab work I do before every chemo visit.
I figure if they did a research on it, its not my fault what they bill me, if its less money!
Friday, August 20, 2010
Appointment Dates
Yesterday, August 19, 2010 I went to Kaiser for my weekly infusion of the Herceptin drug.
Since my next visit, next week will be the last of the chemo treatments, I asked the nurse "when do I stop going weekly for the Herceptin and start going every three weeks"
She gave me a post it note that shows my next few appointments and they are as follows:
August 26th Taxol and Herceptin (last chemo!!)
Sept 2nd, 9th, 16th than I get two weeks off - I wont know what to do without an appointment!
then I go back on October 7th and from that date will start on the every three week program until my projected end date of.... June 16, 2011
I also have my first appointment on Sept 7th with the Radiation Oncologist to start my radiation treatments.
I also asked the pharmacist once I am done with the Taxol drug, how long do I have to wait until I can have nice big glass of red wine or a margarita in celebration of the worst part being done. His comment was to wait 3 or 4 days to make sure its out of my system. And then he thew in the comment they they all should have a drink for me. (I don't want to take any chance of mixing chemo drugs with alcohol).
I am so excited for next weeks appointment, even though I know what pain is involved and how I will feel, I wish I could go early -- just to get it over with!
But I have a lot going on between now and then. This weekend is busy with me hosting a Stampin Up party on Saturday afternoon and on Sunday having a BBQ for the congregation.
I think its things like these that have kept me going all this time, along with, of course prayer to Jehovah to have the endurance and the right attitude and to make the right decisions for my health care.
Since my next visit, next week will be the last of the chemo treatments, I asked the nurse "when do I stop going weekly for the Herceptin and start going every three weeks"
She gave me a post it note that shows my next few appointments and they are as follows:
August 26th Taxol and Herceptin (last chemo!!)
Sept 2nd, 9th, 16th than I get two weeks off - I wont know what to do without an appointment!
then I go back on October 7th and from that date will start on the every three week program until my projected end date of.... June 16, 2011
I also have my first appointment on Sept 7th with the Radiation Oncologist to start my radiation treatments.
I also asked the pharmacist once I am done with the Taxol drug, how long do I have to wait until I can have nice big glass of red wine or a margarita in celebration of the worst part being done. His comment was to wait 3 or 4 days to make sure its out of my system. And then he thew in the comment they they all should have a drink for me. (I don't want to take any chance of mixing chemo drugs with alcohol).
I am so excited for next weeks appointment, even though I know what pain is involved and how I will feel, I wish I could go early -- just to get it over with!
But I have a lot going on between now and then. This weekend is busy with me hosting a Stampin Up party on Saturday afternoon and on Sunday having a BBQ for the congregation.
I think its things like these that have kept me going all this time, along with, of course prayer to Jehovah to have the endurance and the right attitude and to make the right decisions for my health care.
Monday, August 9, 2010
Round 7 sickness
This time I felt good on Friday and some of Saturday, just really tired feeling. By Saturday night, I was feeling really tired, my legs really sore, my feet -heels mostly, feeling really numb. My legs feel like they weigh a ton, ache and shoot pain. I am constantly moving and stretching my legs to make the feeling go away. Saturday night Richard talked me into taking some Lorazepam and it helped a little bit, made me sleepy mostly. Sunday I took some more and spent the majority of Sunday sleeping.
Today, Monday, my feet are still really numb and when i stand up, or take a step it feels like my legs are going to buckle under me. So am taking it easy. Will make myself go to work tomorrow on Tuesday.
I think this is better than the other symptoms of having to throw up!
Today, Monday, my feet are still really numb and when i stand up, or take a step it feels like my legs are going to buckle under me. So am taking it easy. Will make myself go to work tomorrow on Tuesday.
I think this is better than the other symptoms of having to throw up!
Friday, August 6, 2010
Chemo Round 7
Yesterday August 5th was round 7 of chemo.
Appointments were a little later than usual this time. My appointment with Dr. Richert-Boe was at 10am and it only lasted about 10 minutes. She gave me hug at the end and said I am doing really good. My blood test on the labs from yesterday showed my hemoglobin to be low. The range is 12.0 to 16.0 and mine came back this time as 11.8.When I asked the Dr. about it, she said it wasn't low enough to worry about and that it actually is really good , usually at this point in the chemo process its way lower than that for most people.
Picked out my chemo chair at about 10:15am, there was a lot of people there, it was pretty busy, got my port accessed and I sat there for what seemed like a long time. They had to order my meds(IV bags of meds) from the pharmacy. The Kaiser phone lines and computers were down most of the day, so they had to figure out by hand the medicine ratio's and that took time.
First they gave me my pre meds, the Pepcid, and the Decadron (this is for anti nausea med). Then about noon I got the benedryl. By this time, Richard was long gone ( he had started his day out at 4:30am and went to work in Portland, made a few deliveries and got home about 9:15am, took me to Kaiser and when my mom showed up about 11am, he left to go home and take a nap) while I got my Benedryl, mom went to get us some lunch, (Subway sandwich for me of course! what would lunch be without a sandwich!!) which worked out good, it gave me a chance to take a little nap/rest since the Benedryl makes me sooo tired for about 20 minutes.
Once the Benedryl was finished I got the Taxol (chemo drug) started about 1pm. Then was that was done, I got about 20 minutes of the saline, this is to clean out the port and flush it. Then I got the Herceptin.
I didn't leave Kaiser until almost 3:45pm. Seemed late, but I got a little later start than normal.
When I first get there, they give me a bracelet with my name, date of birth and Kaiser number on it. Then when I get any of my meds, two nurses verify the IV bag information with my bracelet and ask me my name and date of birth. This way, they aren't giving meds to the wrong person. Nice they are so careful.
As for my port, not sure if i explained how it works. Its completely under my skin on my chest and it has three points, like little bumps. Before they put the needle in, they wipe the area with alcohol and another type of cleaning solution, than they put the needle in the center of those three points, they tape it and put a big bandage over it to keep it connected and safe.That way the needle is connected to the IV tube.
Last time my legs hurt really bad and were really restless. This time, about 8pm I could feel my legs starting to ache. It wasn't too bad last night and I didn't thrash around in bed like I did last time.
This morning I woke up feeling really good. my legs don't hurt at all, my heels always feel numb from the meds but not as bad as last time, and not sick to my stomach. My cheeks are really flushed and red, but with a little make up, they will look fine! Not sure what tonight will bring.
only one more chemo treatment left!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Appointments were a little later than usual this time. My appointment with Dr. Richert-Boe was at 10am and it only lasted about 10 minutes. She gave me hug at the end and said I am doing really good. My blood test on the labs from yesterday showed my hemoglobin to be low. The range is 12.0 to 16.0 and mine came back this time as 11.8.When I asked the Dr. about it, she said it wasn't low enough to worry about and that it actually is really good , usually at this point in the chemo process its way lower than that for most people.
Picked out my chemo chair at about 10:15am, there was a lot of people there, it was pretty busy, got my port accessed and I sat there for what seemed like a long time. They had to order my meds(IV bags of meds) from the pharmacy. The Kaiser phone lines and computers were down most of the day, so they had to figure out by hand the medicine ratio's and that took time.
First they gave me my pre meds, the Pepcid, and the Decadron (this is for anti nausea med). Then about noon I got the benedryl. By this time, Richard was long gone ( he had started his day out at 4:30am and went to work in Portland, made a few deliveries and got home about 9:15am, took me to Kaiser and when my mom showed up about 11am, he left to go home and take a nap) while I got my Benedryl, mom went to get us some lunch, (Subway sandwich for me of course! what would lunch be without a sandwich!!) which worked out good, it gave me a chance to take a little nap/rest since the Benedryl makes me sooo tired for about 20 minutes.
Once the Benedryl was finished I got the Taxol (chemo drug) started about 1pm. Then was that was done, I got about 20 minutes of the saline, this is to clean out the port and flush it. Then I got the Herceptin.
I didn't leave Kaiser until almost 3:45pm. Seemed late, but I got a little later start than normal.
When I first get there, they give me a bracelet with my name, date of birth and Kaiser number on it. Then when I get any of my meds, two nurses verify the IV bag information with my bracelet and ask me my name and date of birth. This way, they aren't giving meds to the wrong person. Nice they are so careful.
As for my port, not sure if i explained how it works. Its completely under my skin on my chest and it has three points, like little bumps. Before they put the needle in, they wipe the area with alcohol and another type of cleaning solution, than they put the needle in the center of those three points, they tape it and put a big bandage over it to keep it connected and safe.That way the needle is connected to the IV tube.
Last time my legs hurt really bad and were really restless. This time, about 8pm I could feel my legs starting to ache. It wasn't too bad last night and I didn't thrash around in bed like I did last time.
This morning I woke up feeling really good. my legs don't hurt at all, my heels always feel numb from the meds but not as bad as last time, and not sick to my stomach. My cheeks are really flushed and red, but with a little make up, they will look fine! Not sure what tonight will bring.
only one more chemo treatment left!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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