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.
Friday, August 20, 2010
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!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Friday, July 30, 2010
Follow Up with Dr. Chung
This morning was a follow up visit with the surgeon I had who did the lumpectomy in February, Dr. Kelli Chung in Vancouver at the Mill Plain Kaiser.
I was suppose to have a follow up visit at the 3 month mark, which surgery was in February, so that would have made it May for my follow up. However, I didn't know I was suppose to have a follow up visit and never got a call from Kaiser until last week. Its almost at the 6 month mark now!
Appointment was early today, 8:45am. So Richard and I went to Vancouver, my appointment was about 10 minutes long!
All she did was check my scars, asked a few questions, checked my port and that was it.
Dr.Chung said I should have a mammogram in January or early February 2011 and than schedule an appointment with her after that. Than the next visit would be a year later (2012) when as she put it, " we will have a two year graduation party at that point for you ".
This appointment did give me the chance to ask her about Lymphodema, which can occur in the upper arm once the lymph nodes have been removed. (this is when the other lymph nodes can not drain correctly and the arm swells up, there are exercises to do to help relieve the pressure but once you have it, you cant get rid of it.) She said if I haven't had any problems with my arm yet, most likely I wouldn't, can't guarantee that , but keep using my arm as normal but keep an eye on it. After surgery and removing lymph nodes 10 to 15% of patients develop Lymphodema.
So I feel pretty safe knowing that my arm is as normal feeling as it was before the surgery.
Between the chemo appointments, I am feeling really really good. The Herceptin that I am getting weekly doesn't seem to make me sick in any way. So the side effects only come after my chemo treatments.
I was suppose to have a follow up visit at the 3 month mark, which surgery was in February, so that would have made it May for my follow up. However, I didn't know I was suppose to have a follow up visit and never got a call from Kaiser until last week. Its almost at the 6 month mark now!
Appointment was early today, 8:45am. So Richard and I went to Vancouver, my appointment was about 10 minutes long!
All she did was check my scars, asked a few questions, checked my port and that was it.
Dr.Chung said I should have a mammogram in January or early February 2011 and than schedule an appointment with her after that. Than the next visit would be a year later (2012) when as she put it, " we will have a two year graduation party at that point for you ".
This appointment did give me the chance to ask her about Lymphodema, which can occur in the upper arm once the lymph nodes have been removed. (this is when the other lymph nodes can not drain correctly and the arm swells up, there are exercises to do to help relieve the pressure but once you have it, you cant get rid of it.) She said if I haven't had any problems with my arm yet, most likely I wouldn't, can't guarantee that , but keep using my arm as normal but keep an eye on it. After surgery and removing lymph nodes 10 to 15% of patients develop Lymphodema.
So I feel pretty safe knowing that my arm is as normal feeling as it was before the surgery.
Between the chemo appointments, I am feeling really really good. The Herceptin that I am getting weekly doesn't seem to make me sick in any way. So the side effects only come after my chemo treatments.
Monday, July 19, 2010
Round 6 Sickness
Just taking it easy.. not trying to be too active and over do it.
However, on Saturday, I talked myself into going to a Stampin Up card making party, and I am pretty sure it was too much. I had fun though, but probably should have stayed home.
Sunday I was down and out, just not feeling quite right, really tired.
But the side effect of the Taxol is what I have been fighting the most. I guess the best way to explain it is like restless leg syndrome. My legs start to hurt and feel like I have to stretch them but the stretching is never good enough. I thrash around in the bed because they constantly hurt. Sometimes the pain just shoots through my leg or knee. And when I walk, it feels like my legs are going to give out from under me. I guess it feels like a growing pain in my leg. So I haven't been sleeping too well, even with the help of some Lorazepam.
As time goes by, it will work its way out of my system, until its time to go again!
However, on Saturday, I talked myself into going to a Stampin Up card making party, and I am pretty sure it was too much. I had fun though, but probably should have stayed home.
Sunday I was down and out, just not feeling quite right, really tired.
But the side effect of the Taxol is what I have been fighting the most. I guess the best way to explain it is like restless leg syndrome. My legs start to hurt and feel like I have to stretch them but the stretching is never good enough. I thrash around in the bed because they constantly hurt. Sometimes the pain just shoots through my leg or knee. And when I walk, it feels like my legs are going to give out from under me. I guess it feels like a growing pain in my leg. So I haven't been sleeping too well, even with the help of some Lorazepam.
As time goes by, it will work its way out of my system, until its time to go again!
Friday, July 16, 2010
Chemo Round 6
Yesterday, July 15th was round 6 of chemo.
Richard took me this morning. I didn't want to go (I dont think there has been even one time I have wanted to go!). I had told him that they didn't care about me. It was just their job and they were only there because they got paid to be there.. so of course he had to tell them all that!
On my after care page from the Dr. it says, We Love You and a smiley face inside a heart. And on my aftercare page from the infusion nurse it says You know we love you!
I really like my oncologist, Dr. Richert-Boe. She isn't a ball of fire type of person and not much personality but I really like her. After her visit she gave me hug and said they all love me!
My appointment was with the Dr. at 8:30am..a little early for me since I am not a morning person, but it gets the appointment over with earlier! I was in my chemo chair by 9:00am
Today was another loooong day. Not as long as last time. I was out today at 2:45pm.
Before they give me the chemo drug Taxol, they give me by IV Benedryl and Pepcid. The Benedryl almost instantly made me sooo tired I could keep my head up I felt like my head was bobbing around on a wobbly neck. I had to lay back for a little bit. Richard was still there and my mom had showed up too, so they visited while I rested and tried to focus on what was going on for a little bit.
After these meds. I got the Taxol. This is what takes so long, they start out giving it really really slow than increase it amount but it over all takes the majority of the time, and then about a 20 minute rinse of saline to make sure my port is doing OK. Then they gave me the Herceptin, that took 30 minutes than another 15 minute rinse of the saline. It all takes more time than I want it to take!
Mom sat and visited with me the entire time and than took me home. She didnt have to, but I am glad she always does.
I got home at 3pm and went directly to bed until 5pm. I was so tired. After my nap I sat outside on the patio and enjoyed the really nice summer weather.
After Richard went and got us dinner I came inside and took some anti nausea medicine. I took one of the Compozine and before bed a Lorzapan to help me sleep and calm me down.
Today, July 16th, feel really good. Going a little slow, just a little queasy but not bad. Stayed home from work to take it easy and make sure there weren't any weird side effects. I am wearing my pink Survivor T shirt with the pink ribbon for cancer awarness on it that a friend at work gave me. Reinforce in mind that word Survivor!
I asked Dr. Richert-Boe about follow up treatments since several have asked me when will I be tested again for cancer. This was her comment:
When I am done with the chemo and radiation, I will be checked every three months for 2 years, then every 6 months for 3 to 5 years, then once a year after that for possibly 5 years.
I had my blood lab work done on Wed July 14th (always the day before my chemo) and one of the tests called ALT Serum showed my last result on 6/23 as a count of 23, this time it on 7/14 it was a count of 55. The standard range is 10 to 58. So I was worried that by next time, it will be out of the "good" range but the Dr. said no, it was just fine.
This test according to Kaiser is: an alanne aminotransferase (ALT) test measures the amount of this enzyme in the blood. ALT is found mainly in the liver but also in smaller amounts in the kidneys, heart muscles and pancreas. ALT is measured to see if the liver is damaged or diseased. The low levels of ALT are normally found int the blood. But when the liver is damaged or diseased it releases ALT into the blood stream, which makes the ALT levels go up. Most ALT levels are caused by liver damage.
So since I had read this before my Dr's appointment I had asked her since this had me worried about liver damage. But the Dr said my range from the blood test was just fine and not to be worried about it. So that took my mind of that little worry.
glad this one is over... only 2 more chemo's to go!!!!!
Richard took me this morning. I didn't want to go (I dont think there has been even one time I have wanted to go!). I had told him that they didn't care about me. It was just their job and they were only there because they got paid to be there.. so of course he had to tell them all that!
On my after care page from the Dr. it says, We Love You and a smiley face inside a heart. And on my aftercare page from the infusion nurse it says You know we love you!
I really like my oncologist, Dr. Richert-Boe. She isn't a ball of fire type of person and not much personality but I really like her. After her visit she gave me hug and said they all love me!
My appointment was with the Dr. at 8:30am..a little early for me since I am not a morning person, but it gets the appointment over with earlier! I was in my chemo chair by 9:00am
Today was another loooong day. Not as long as last time. I was out today at 2:45pm.
Before they give me the chemo drug Taxol, they give me by IV Benedryl and Pepcid. The Benedryl almost instantly made me sooo tired I could keep my head up I felt like my head was bobbing around on a wobbly neck. I had to lay back for a little bit. Richard was still there and my mom had showed up too, so they visited while I rested and tried to focus on what was going on for a little bit.
After these meds. I got the Taxol. This is what takes so long, they start out giving it really really slow than increase it amount but it over all takes the majority of the time, and then about a 20 minute rinse of saline to make sure my port is doing OK. Then they gave me the Herceptin, that took 30 minutes than another 15 minute rinse of the saline. It all takes more time than I want it to take!
Mom sat and visited with me the entire time and than took me home. She didnt have to, but I am glad she always does.
I got home at 3pm and went directly to bed until 5pm. I was so tired. After my nap I sat outside on the patio and enjoyed the really nice summer weather.
After Richard went and got us dinner I came inside and took some anti nausea medicine. I took one of the Compozine and before bed a Lorzapan to help me sleep and calm me down.
Today, July 16th, feel really good. Going a little slow, just a little queasy but not bad. Stayed home from work to take it easy and make sure there weren't any weird side effects. I am wearing my pink Survivor T shirt with the pink ribbon for cancer awarness on it that a friend at work gave me. Reinforce in mind that word Survivor!
I asked Dr. Richert-Boe about follow up treatments since several have asked me when will I be tested again for cancer. This was her comment:
When I am done with the chemo and radiation, I will be checked every three months for 2 years, then every 6 months for 3 to 5 years, then once a year after that for possibly 5 years.
I had my blood lab work done on Wed July 14th (always the day before my chemo) and one of the tests called ALT Serum showed my last result on 6/23 as a count of 23, this time it on 7/14 it was a count of 55. The standard range is 10 to 58. So I was worried that by next time, it will be out of the "good" range but the Dr. said no, it was just fine.
This test according to Kaiser is: an alanne aminotransferase (ALT) test measures the amount of this enzyme in the blood. ALT is found mainly in the liver but also in smaller amounts in the kidneys, heart muscles and pancreas. ALT is measured to see if the liver is damaged or diseased. The low levels of ALT are normally found int the blood. But when the liver is damaged or diseased it releases ALT into the blood stream, which makes the ALT levels go up. Most ALT levels are caused by liver damage.
So since I had read this before my Dr's appointment I had asked her since this had me worried about liver damage. But the Dr said my range from the blood test was just fine and not to be worried about it. So that took my mind of that little worry.
glad this one is over... only 2 more chemo's to go!!!!!
Friday, July 9, 2010
Herceptin Med 2nd Visit
Yesterday, July 8th I went for my second Herceptin med treatment.
Again, it took a full two hours. I sat there all connected to my port and the IV machine/pole for 40 minutes before I had any medicine. But once the meds showed up, it went pretty fast there. Doesn't seem to have any side effects yet. I say yet, because this is the med I am on weekly until the end of August and then it will be every three weeks for the next year.
Now I just have to coordinate my lunch hour on treatment day.
Again, it took a full two hours. I sat there all connected to my port and the IV machine/pole for 40 minutes before I had any medicine. But once the meds showed up, it went pretty fast there. Doesn't seem to have any side effects yet. I say yet, because this is the med I am on weekly until the end of August and then it will be every three weeks for the next year.
Now I just have to coordinate my lunch hour on treatment day.
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