I hope everyone is doing well and enjoying the summer!
I had my 4th chemo treatment yesterday. My sweetheart of a friend, Jill, rearranged her schedule and was with me the whole day, and it was a long day. Also, my good, good friend Mere and her mother Ruth, who herself is a breast cancer survivor (4years!), also stopped by to say hello, it was very thoughtful and I appreciated it sooooo much!
Had dr. visit and bloodwork before chemo, so it really did add to the longness of the day, and Jill was such a trooper. My onc informed me I will be having radiation after my surgery, that was the first I had heard that, but it makes sense to me after he explained it. Its to prevent recurrence, which I'll gladly do. I never want to go through this again. However, because of the radiation, it will make reconstruction more difficult in choices, and the timing of it all will be extended. I thought I might be able to slip into 2011 on the way to recovery and no more surgeries, but it looks like that will not be the case. I hope to have this all behind me sometime in mid to late 2011, and having it done the right way, with enough time to recover between the multiple surgeries, I think is the smartest and safest way to go. Sure, I'd like to rush through this whole process and get it over with, get back to some sense of normalcy, but I'll be patient and get there when I get there.
I get the neulasta shot today, it makes your bone marrow produce more white blood cells, and really knocks me down, but it will help get my immune system back where it needs to be, so I do it. I'm on an antibiotic full time now, to prevent more infections. Its getting a bit much, all the meds I'm taking. I asked the pharmacist, jokingly, if they had a buy 10 rx and get the 11th one free card. I can't believe all the pill bottles I lug around each day.
Well, hope to get some productive things done today while I'm on the steroid high. Up at 5:15am is for the birds, literally.
Well, that's all I have to update. Boring details of going through cancer treatment, but I know some of my friends and family want updates, and facebook makes it really easy to do so.
Thanks to everyone for all your support, it would be so much harder without you!
Happy weekend everyone!
Ter
Saturday, June 19, 2010
Monday, June 7, 2010
keeping on
Getting to be time for bed, but took a large nap earlier, so I'll justify it that way.
Sleeping has started to happen whenever, there is no bed time anymore. When I'm tired, I sleep if I can, and that seems to help the most. My body is asking for rest and I need to do it to keep up.
I'm also getting the groove of how all of this is working out. Treatment, followed by a good week of bone aches, major stomach issues, fatigue, memory issues along with concentration, sometimes cannot find the most common word, its frustrating. Another infection from my blood counts being so low, but I got the antibiotic again, and will have to from here on out every treatment. As long as I can control the pain, its better.
Not to complain so much, its just getting a bit tougher. But, it could be a lot worse, so i feel bad griping.
Looking forward to my appt with Dr. Vaidya this week. Wondering if they'll do a halfway scan to see if the chemo is working. I'm a little concerned with the 2nd tumor, I feel as if its attached itself to my chest wall and that scares the crap outta me. I read too much.
i have started to receive bills and EOB now. Really, I had no idea, each chemo is $19,000. Are you kidding me? And I get a Neulasta shot each Saturday after treatment to boost my white blood counts. The shot, one shot, that takes less than 5 minutes at a nurse's station at the hospital, costs $13,540. I about fell over when i saw that. Yikes.
My sister has knitted a bunch of super cute hats for me, but with the warmer weather, it gets a bit too warm, so i've been wearing bandanas. Very lightweight, but haven't ventured out to wear them at work yet, still wearing wigs to work, which is very very hot.
I can't wait to be done with this chapter. I'm tired and want to have fun again. I try to as much as I can with my friends, but its not the same when you don't feel well. Come on, lets get this over with, I've got things to do. Places to go and people to see.
On a last note, why on earth are they calling the BP disaster a "spill"? I don't think its a spill at all. Oops, I spilled my milk, lets see. Lets call it a gusher, or geyser, or who knows. Anyway, a spill sounds ridiculous. A spill.
Sleeping has started to happen whenever, there is no bed time anymore. When I'm tired, I sleep if I can, and that seems to help the most. My body is asking for rest and I need to do it to keep up.
I'm also getting the groove of how all of this is working out. Treatment, followed by a good week of bone aches, major stomach issues, fatigue, memory issues along with concentration, sometimes cannot find the most common word, its frustrating. Another infection from my blood counts being so low, but I got the antibiotic again, and will have to from here on out every treatment. As long as I can control the pain, its better.
Not to complain so much, its just getting a bit tougher. But, it could be a lot worse, so i feel bad griping.
Looking forward to my appt with Dr. Vaidya this week. Wondering if they'll do a halfway scan to see if the chemo is working. I'm a little concerned with the 2nd tumor, I feel as if its attached itself to my chest wall and that scares the crap outta me. I read too much.
i have started to receive bills and EOB now. Really, I had no idea, each chemo is $19,000. Are you kidding me? And I get a Neulasta shot each Saturday after treatment to boost my white blood counts. The shot, one shot, that takes less than 5 minutes at a nurse's station at the hospital, costs $13,540. I about fell over when i saw that. Yikes.
My sister has knitted a bunch of super cute hats for me, but with the warmer weather, it gets a bit too warm, so i've been wearing bandanas. Very lightweight, but haven't ventured out to wear them at work yet, still wearing wigs to work, which is very very hot.
I can't wait to be done with this chapter. I'm tired and want to have fun again. I try to as much as I can with my friends, but its not the same when you don't feel well. Come on, lets get this over with, I've got things to do. Places to go and people to see.
On a last note, why on earth are they calling the BP disaster a "spill"? I don't think its a spill at all. Oops, I spilled my milk, lets see. Lets call it a gusher, or geyser, or who knows. Anyway, a spill sounds ridiculous. A spill.
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