Monday, June 25, 2012
Beginning of week #3
Today I had my 15 day follow up blood test, called Nader. I had my 11th radiation session (not that I'm counting or anything) and walked across the lobby to get my blood drawn (from my port). I was interested to see how low the count was. Here's the rundown of it: white blood count 3.6 (avg 4.2-10.5), red blood count 3.93 (avg 4.04-5.48), HGB was normal range at 12.7 (avg 12.0-16.0), HCT 37.4 (avg 38.0-48.0), platelet count 94 (avg 140-450). There were a few more on the print out provided when I asked if she'd write it down for me. Basically I am doing great and the counts are not alarmingly low. Nothing to worry about and I can rebuild from here until the next chemo treatment on July 9th. The effects of both chemo and radiation are cumulative so I'm preparing for the worst and expecting the best just as I have done from the beginning which seems to be working out for me. So far I'm feeling really good, working everyday, and I stil have hair. Happy day!
Friday, June 15, 2012
1 Week Down, 5 To Go!
I'm so excited. It's Friday and I got my little friend (the chemo-pack, affectionately nicknamed "Hummer" by my hubby because of the sound it makes every 15 to 30 seconds) removed today. It was nice to have the tube taken out after hauling it around for 5 days. Don't get me wrong, I was super happy to have the privilege of taking this thing everywhere with me because it's got a big part in helping to fix me up. Since I love pictures, I knew I had better get some quick shots of this device before they took it out so the photos below were taken last night. I'm a dork, I know.
P.S. A lot of people have commented that they can't "comment" on the blog and have sent me separate messages which I love. But it you want to post a comment on here what you do is scroll down to the bottom of the post where it says, 0 commentsand double click on the word 0 comments. Or, if it says 2 comments, double click on that. That will open up the box to post a comment. :-) You will need to have a google account or sign up for one. But, once you have that, you can post. Easy.... Just sayin'
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| The "Connection" |
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| Carry Case for Chemo Meds |
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| On the inside (5FU) |
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| The front and how it works (battery) |
Anyway, I flew through the first week without so much as a side effect. If I have to claim one, I'd say I was a little tired. However, that might have just been from the sound of the pack going off all night long, or maybe having to rotate around the tube while trying to sleep, or maybe just having to get out of bed an hour earlier every day to make my 7:30 am radiation appointment. I keep on hoping for the best, drinking lots of water (trying to drink the recommended 3 liters a day) and eating small meals every two hours. Willie makes sure my snack bag is out on the counter every morning so I don't forget it. So far so good. I am staying ahead of the curve.
Monday to Friday was pretty much routine starting out with radiation at 7:30, work at 8:00 and then home to rest. Then, I'd do it all over again the next day. I'm happy for the weekend and looking forward to a drive up to Bear Lake on Sunday for a visit with Amber and Adam. Then home to pick up my friend Cindy who is coming for a few days to visit.
I'm waiting for the next shoe to drop on the radiation treatment. Apparently it can make you more tired than usual and I'm pretty much guaranteed to get a giant sunburn on my you know what and groin area since that is the target. They are burning out the abnormal cells of the tumor which they say, will not regenerate as quickly as the healthy cells. That's good news! I can say that I am not looking forward to being sunburned in that area and how to "deal" with it. I guess I'll just think about it tomorrow.
For now I'm sliding into the weekend triumphant in knowing I have a little break from treatment, and reflecting on how many phenomenal friends, family, coworkers, past acquaintances I have and how much their love, prayers, thoughts of hope, and little pick me up presents and flowers have meant to me in the month since I was diagnosed with cancer. Truly these things have brightened my days and made a stressful time one of the most remarkable in my life so far.
P.S. A lot of people have commented that they can't "comment" on the blog and have sent me separate messages which I love. But it you want to post a comment on here what you do is scroll down to the bottom of the post where it says, 0 commentsand double click on the word 0 comments. Or, if it says 2 comments, double click on that. That will open up the box to post a comment. :-) You will need to have a google account or sign up for one. But, once you have that, you can post. Easy.... Just sayin'
Monday, June 11, 2012
First Day Chemo/Radiation
Today went amazingly well. We left the house at around 7:00 this morning for my 7:30 "real deal" radiation. As we were pulling out of the driveway I told Willie that I felt like I was forgetting something and he told me that I can just forget my cancer at the treatment center (smile). Since I am the first person of the day each day for 30 treatments I just walk in, change into my gown and go radiate for awhile. It really wasn't so bad. They play some nice toons while you get zapped. The first one on was "Celebrate Good Times, Come On" by Kool and The Gang. So I rocked out that treatment and went to breakfast afterwards. It didn't hurt a bit.
We were promptly back in the lobby at 8:50 to wait for the chemo treatment and to talk to Dr. Gregg. I didn't get in for the appointment until 9:40 but that was okay by me. There was one false alarm at 9:10 when they called for Catherine, but it wasn't me....... :-) I was really nervous for all of this but as with all the other things I've been through, this too was not so bad.
Before meeting with the oncologist, the chemo nurse took my baseline blood sample out of the port. The first prick is the worst one I hear but I dutifully applied my Lidocaine-Prilocaine Cream the size of a quarter 1 hour before and then reapplied it at 9:10 just in case. Even with the cream it still hurt a bit when she put the needle in the port but once it was in I was A-Okay. My blood pressure was a bit higher than normal but I guess that's normal really (147 over 90 and normally I'm closer to 130 over 80 normally, but I have all kinds of new normal now).
After that, I met with Dr. Gregg and got all my questions answered. She wrote me a few scripts to pick up; 2 anti nausea (Compazine (prochlorperazine) 10mg and the other one is a narcotic called Ativan (lorazepam) 1mg which will help me sleep along with helping with nausea), she also gave me 1 antibiotic prescription (to only take if directed for fevers over 100.4 called Levofloxacin 500 mg). I have decided it's good to keep all of these on hand. I just hope I'm not afraid to use them. I've sort of decided it's okay now that they've officially pumped some Kryptonite (seriously) into my viens, or it is arteries, or heart. Whatever, it's in there now.
After meeting with Dr. Gregg, I learned from Erin (my other chemo nurse) that I may have a few other new side effects of my specific chemo drugs: mouth sores, and "hand foot syndrome" which is redness, tenderness, swelling and potentially peeling and blistering of the skin on the feet and hands. I bought some L-Lysine that will help that if it happens and some Biotene which will help with the mouth sores if I get them. All of these things I'm supposed to call if they last more than 24 hours. Geez! I hope none of them happen but then I might think that it isn't working and they aren't pumping enough poison in me. The chemo treatment is aimed at the mucus areas of gastro intestinal track which begins at the mouth and goes all the way to you know where. I guess compounding the radiation with the chemo is supposed to really make me tired but we'll see. Exercising and eating right will help so I'll do that instead. My favorite tip of the day was the BRAT diet. I think it's quite appropriate for me. BRAT stands for bananas, rice, applesauce and toast. I'm supposed try and stick to non-acidic gastrointestinal friendly foods. And, the good news is sugar is NOT a no no.
Now for the grand finale. Check out the size of the super needle with the dark blue (but in the tube it looked more like the purple of a glow in the dark necklace) below. I've included a few photos of the progression. After Erin explained the process, effects and dietary needs, she started with some saline, then a steroid (which took 20 minutes to go in) and then the 10 minute "push" of the mitomycin (chemo-drug) and then she hooked me up to my nifty little carry home bag at noon that stays connected for 96 hours dispursing 5FU and sent me off. I go back on Friday, June 15th at noon to unhook. In the meantime, Day 1 of chemo / radiation "check", only 29 more to go.
We were promptly back in the lobby at 8:50 to wait for the chemo treatment and to talk to Dr. Gregg. I didn't get in for the appointment until 9:40 but that was okay by me. There was one false alarm at 9:10 when they called for Catherine, but it wasn't me....... :-) I was really nervous for all of this but as with all the other things I've been through, this too was not so bad.
Before meeting with the oncologist, the chemo nurse took my baseline blood sample out of the port. The first prick is the worst one I hear but I dutifully applied my Lidocaine-Prilocaine Cream the size of a quarter 1 hour before and then reapplied it at 9:10 just in case. Even with the cream it still hurt a bit when she put the needle in the port but once it was in I was A-Okay. My blood pressure was a bit higher than normal but I guess that's normal really (147 over 90 and normally I'm closer to 130 over 80 normally, but I have all kinds of new normal now).
After that, I met with Dr. Gregg and got all my questions answered. She wrote me a few scripts to pick up; 2 anti nausea (Compazine (prochlorperazine) 10mg and the other one is a narcotic called Ativan (lorazepam) 1mg which will help me sleep along with helping with nausea), she also gave me 1 antibiotic prescription (to only take if directed for fevers over 100.4 called Levofloxacin 500 mg). I have decided it's good to keep all of these on hand. I just hope I'm not afraid to use them. I've sort of decided it's okay now that they've officially pumped some Kryptonite (seriously) into my viens, or it is arteries, or heart. Whatever, it's in there now.
After meeting with Dr. Gregg, I learned from Erin (my other chemo nurse) that I may have a few other new side effects of my specific chemo drugs: mouth sores, and "hand foot syndrome" which is redness, tenderness, swelling and potentially peeling and blistering of the skin on the feet and hands. I bought some L-Lysine that will help that if it happens and some Biotene which will help with the mouth sores if I get them. All of these things I'm supposed to call if they last more than 24 hours. Geez! I hope none of them happen but then I might think that it isn't working and they aren't pumping enough poison in me. The chemo treatment is aimed at the mucus areas of gastro intestinal track which begins at the mouth and goes all the way to you know where. I guess compounding the radiation with the chemo is supposed to really make me tired but we'll see. Exercising and eating right will help so I'll do that instead. My favorite tip of the day was the BRAT diet. I think it's quite appropriate for me. BRAT stands for bananas, rice, applesauce and toast. I'm supposed try and stick to non-acidic gastrointestinal friendly foods. And, the good news is sugar is NOT a no no.
Now for the grand finale. Check out the size of the super needle with the dark blue (but in the tube it looked more like the purple of a glow in the dark necklace) below. I've included a few photos of the progression. After Erin explained the process, effects and dietary needs, she started with some saline, then a steroid (which took 20 minutes to go in) and then the 10 minute "push" of the mitomycin (chemo-drug) and then she hooked me up to my nifty little carry home bag at noon that stays connected for 96 hours dispursing 5FU and sent me off. I go back on Friday, June 15th at noon to unhook. In the meantime, Day 1 of chemo / radiation "check", only 29 more to go.
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| I was a little nervous waiting |
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| Blue Mitomycin |
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| Letting it sink in with my warm blankets (favorite part) |
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| All done (sort of)! YAY Me! |
Friday, June 8, 2012
The Friday Before the Big Monday
I had a busy doctor day today. My morning started off at St. Mark's to get the sutures taken out (from my port). That took all of 2 minutes so I got in to work at 8:30 am as usual. This reminds me that I got the bill for the surgery last night. It was a whopping $10,989! Talk about sticker shock. I don't know what I expected but I guess this is worth it. This little implant is going to save me a bunch of needle sticks for the next 6 months. When I go back to get it removed, I can keep it. I think I might do that because the port implant cost $1702 (of the $10,989). I don't have many things I own that cost that much money. And, since it will be a part of my body for awhile, I might as well keep it and frame it or put it on a key chain or something. Ideas anyone? It's nice the sutures are out because I had to cover it with Saran Wrap during showers. Now I can just shower and not worry about that. It's tucked neatly inside the skin now.
Next came the noon "dry run" on my radiation. That was interesting. Starting on Monday, I get to be the first person of the day. My appointments for the next 6 weeks (weekdays) are at 7:30 am. The process will only take about 15 minutes so off to work by 8:00 am afterwards. The radiations will shoot beams into me in 10 different spots in the groin/pelvic area that basically circle my body and destroy the bad cells by burning the living heck out of them. Yay! I can't wait to get started...... ask me how I feel in a couple weeks though.
The final appointment of the day was a mammogram at 3:00 pm. I skipped last year so decided that I needed to get all my annual exams caught up before the treatment started. I had the PAP last week as I missed that one last year too. The results of that test came in last night too and they are fine. I feel that the colonoscopy taught me that early detection is good. I'm going to pay a lot more attention to my medical things from now on. So far, I've been able to pretty much ignore them because I've always been so darn healthy. I still am healthy, so I want to keep it that way.
I topped off Friday night by working until 7:35 pm and drove home to a yummy dinner that Willie cooked. He's so wonderful and not a bad cook. Of course, he's had a lot of practice in 31 years of marriage because dinners are a 50/50 split between him and I. Or, maybe he cooks 60% and I do 40% but who's counting. I'm glad to be caught up at work for now until the next wave hits next week.
Monday is the big day. I'll go in at 7:30 am for the radiation treatment. We'll probably go get some breakfast at the nearby Marie Calendar's after the radiaion but before my first chemo-therapy session at 9:00 - 11:00. Willie, Amber & Adam, will go with me to keep me company Monday. Only one at a time can go in the room with me. It's sort of a group setting with 10 - 15 chairs and not enough room for more than one at a time. The mitomycin goes in for about an hour. Then I get the pack to take with me for 96 hours of 5FU (I love that). I will head back on Friday for that to be removed and slide into the weekend.
Next came the noon "dry run" on my radiation. That was interesting. Starting on Monday, I get to be the first person of the day. My appointments for the next 6 weeks (weekdays) are at 7:30 am. The process will only take about 15 minutes so off to work by 8:00 am afterwards. The radiations will shoot beams into me in 10 different spots in the groin/pelvic area that basically circle my body and destroy the bad cells by burning the living heck out of them. Yay! I can't wait to get started...... ask me how I feel in a couple weeks though.
The final appointment of the day was a mammogram at 3:00 pm. I skipped last year so decided that I needed to get all my annual exams caught up before the treatment started. I had the PAP last week as I missed that one last year too. The results of that test came in last night too and they are fine. I feel that the colonoscopy taught me that early detection is good. I'm going to pay a lot more attention to my medical things from now on. So far, I've been able to pretty much ignore them because I've always been so darn healthy. I still am healthy, so I want to keep it that way.
I topped off Friday night by working until 7:35 pm and drove home to a yummy dinner that Willie cooked. He's so wonderful and not a bad cook. Of course, he's had a lot of practice in 31 years of marriage because dinners are a 50/50 split between him and I. Or, maybe he cooks 60% and I do 40% but who's counting. I'm glad to be caught up at work for now until the next wave hits next week.
Monday is the big day. I'll go in at 7:30 am for the radiation treatment. We'll probably go get some breakfast at the nearby Marie Calendar's after the radiaion but before my first chemo-therapy session at 9:00 - 11:00. Willie, Amber & Adam, will go with me to keep me company Monday. Only one at a time can go in the room with me. It's sort of a group setting with 10 - 15 chairs and not enough room for more than one at a time. The mitomycin goes in for about an hour. Then I get the pack to take with me for 96 hours of 5FU (I love that). I will head back on Friday for that to be removed and slide into the weekend.
Sunday, June 3, 2012
Sunny Sunday - 1 week to go
I love weekends. It's a great time to relax, unwind, do useless things around the house, watch Ridiculousness (LOL), and get caught up on work. This time of year the weather in Salt Lake is glorious and it's so great to enjoy the sunshine and fabulous weather.
As I reflect back to last week with it's flurry of appointments, Friday made me smile. Friday morning started out with me going to St. Marks to have radiology look at the port to be sure it's okay. Steve, Anne, and Josh were all there and let me know that they, "were still talking about me in there". They asked if I needed some "drugs" while they took off the dressing (smile). Funny funny funny... it's so important to laugh. Josh removed the old bandage and left it off the top incision and rewrapped the bottom one (with the port under it). I didn't have to see it which is good because I'm such a chicken. They said it looked great which was enough for me. Today, I finally got brave and unwrapped it myself because it was kind of tight and itchy. It was time.
I looked in the mirror and discovered it was not quite as monstrous as I imagined; looked pretty okay actually. I have an appointment on Friday, 6/8 to go back and have them take out the stitches. I'm glad I have the extra week to heal up. I also opened up the manual because I didn't really understand how this thing works and it was kind of creeping me out a little. Looking at the picture, it makes sense. I'm glad that I have a port so I don't have to get stuck every single time I go in to the doctor now.
I took a trip up to Huntsman Cancer Institute this morning to visit a friend from Elko. She is beating lung cancer and has done a helluva job at it for the past year basically shrinking out the tumor(s) with chemo and stuff. She is so inspiring, beautiful, brave and positive. At 35, with 5 children ages 4 - 19, she lives life with energy and force that most people don't even come close to having. I am so happy I got to see her and visit for awhile. She's been there for 9 days and gets to go home tomorrow probably, after they take a couple of tubes out of her and do a couple more CT scans. Her doctors are fabulous and she follows their directions and takes care of herself so she is healing well. It is so cool!
Today is a beautiful sunny Sunday. I am excited for each day next week that takes me one day closer to my cure.
As I reflect back to last week with it's flurry of appointments, Friday made me smile. Friday morning started out with me going to St. Marks to have radiology look at the port to be sure it's okay. Steve, Anne, and Josh were all there and let me know that they, "were still talking about me in there". They asked if I needed some "drugs" while they took off the dressing (smile). Funny funny funny... it's so important to laugh. Josh removed the old bandage and left it off the top incision and rewrapped the bottom one (with the port under it). I didn't have to see it which is good because I'm such a chicken. They said it looked great which was enough for me. Today, I finally got brave and unwrapped it myself because it was kind of tight and itchy. It was time.
I looked in the mirror and discovered it was not quite as monstrous as I imagined; looked pretty okay actually. I have an appointment on Friday, 6/8 to go back and have them take out the stitches. I'm glad I have the extra week to heal up. I also opened up the manual because I didn't really understand how this thing works and it was kind of creeping me out a little. Looking at the picture, it makes sense. I'm glad that I have a port so I don't have to get stuck every single time I go in to the doctor now.
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| Diagram of Power Port |
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| After I took off the dressing today :-) |
I took a trip up to Huntsman Cancer Institute this morning to visit a friend from Elko. She is beating lung cancer and has done a helluva job at it for the past year basically shrinking out the tumor(s) with chemo and stuff. She is so inspiring, beautiful, brave and positive. At 35, with 5 children ages 4 - 19, she lives life with energy and force that most people don't even come close to having. I am so happy I got to see her and visit for awhile. She's been there for 9 days and gets to go home tomorrow probably, after they take a couple of tubes out of her and do a couple more CT scans. Her doctors are fabulous and she follows their directions and takes care of herself so she is healing well. It is so cool!
Today is a beautiful sunny Sunday. I am excited for each day next week that takes me one day closer to my cure.
Friday, June 1, 2012
Tattoo(s)
I got my first tattoo(s) yesterday. I never wanted a tattoo but these were necessary. Willie and I met with the radiologist yesterday at 11, Dr. Jeffrey Lee. He explained the process of radiation, side effects, and hopeful outcome. He also indicated that he needs at least a week to map out the radiation therapy and make sure the dose is correct therefore after consulting with my oncologist they decided to move the first day of my chemo/radiation to 6/11 to allow enough time to plan the proper treatment. I'm a bit disappointed that it got moved, but on the other hand the extra weeks time works for me right now. I have to get my port checked this am and then the stitches come out on 6/8 so it will be totally healed by the time I start chemo which is good. And, I get to do a trial run on the radiation on Friday, 6/8 also. On that day, they will give me my 6 week schedule of times that I get to go in. I asked for mornings so that I can get it done and then go in to work. After that, it's on to the big day........ 6/11, my first chemo/radiation session. I have plenty to do to gear up for that.
After my meeting with Dr. Lee, I went back into the medium donut room (CT Scan room) where I will get all my radiation and got my tattoos. The tattoos are necessary to line up the radiation. I have 3 of them. No, they aren't exciting at all. They don't give you an option for skull and crossbones, or butterflies and flowers. They are just tiny freckle dots on both of my hips and one above my pelvic bone.
Today is Friday. TGIF! Got through the work week and flurry of doctors appointments. I'm excited for the weekend so that I can get caught up on things and relax a little. Right now, I'm off to get my port checked. I still haven't taken off the bandage to check it out. I'm a bit of a baby. But it doesn't feel bad at all. It will be interesting to see what it looks like.
After my meeting with Dr. Lee, I went back into the medium donut room (CT Scan room) where I will get all my radiation and got my tattoos. The tattoos are necessary to line up the radiation. I have 3 of them. No, they aren't exciting at all. They don't give you an option for skull and crossbones, or butterflies and flowers. They are just tiny freckle dots on both of my hips and one above my pelvic bone.
Today is Friday. TGIF! Got through the work week and flurry of doctors appointments. I'm excited for the weekend so that I can get caught up on things and relax a little. Right now, I'm off to get my port checked. I still haven't taken off the bandage to check it out. I'm a bit of a baby. But it doesn't feel bad at all. It will be interesting to see what it looks like.
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