#5 and the start of Taxol

The holiday's were okay my MIL came in for Christmas and left today. I am feeling somewhat better since the blood transfusion but it did not raise my levels enough so I may have to have another one.
I seem to be the queen of rare side effects. but what can I say I strive to be unique and different!
On Wednesday I started my first Taxol treatment and it went okay very long and the bones are achey from it. To be expected.
I am almost done with Chemo and have 3 treatments left. So far I have a tentative surgery date for 2/27 looking forward to that and starting the new chapter in this battle.

Halfway done with bumps in the road

Last weekend I took Tyler to see Santa at the mall. As we were standing on line waiting another woman walked up behind me and said I sported that same look a couple of months ago. That is when I realized that I belong to a club I never wanted to be part of. But talking with her was good and it was her second time with breast cancer.
On Wednesday I had my 4^th treatment of Chemo so that makes me halfway through treatments only 4 left to go. This one though was a little harder. I had to get a blood transfusion this time around. So that was interesting. I am hoping that this makes me feel better and less tired, but so far it has not. I guess I do need to give it some time though.

Chemo # 3.......

Last Wednesday the 28th I had my 3rd round of chemo. Or as I like to call it the one that kicked my ass. They started late. i had to get the blood draw from my hand instead of my port because they were backed up. Once that was done I spoke to the PA and she informed me that my HGB counts are very low and if it continues on this path then I will need to get a blood transfusion after the next round. I guess it is par for the course with me. If it can go wrong then it will.
I went to work on Thursday and Friday I was pretty tired but got through it.
Then came Saturday I was tired I slept until 9 am and thought I could go to the mall but was barely able to get myself dressed without feeling tired. I wound up going to sleep most of the day and then slept through the night. I was still pretty tired on Sunday so it was another relaxing day and in bed by 9.
If it wasn’t for Richie I don't know what I would have done throughout all of this. He has been there for me for everything and taking care of everything.

Holiday's & Cancer

The holiday's are always a sad time for me. Thanksgiving is when I miss my Mom the most. This year was a little more sadder for me. I am mad at her for not being here for me during this time. I know that if she could she would have. I have gone through all major adult stuff without her getting married, having Tyler, going through infertility, moving, having a miscarriage and now breast cancer. Can't I get a break? Um no so for Thanksgiving I got mouth sores, thrush and a cold. Yeah in one week. Go me! So Thanksgiving this year instead of spending it with family and friends I spent it home alone napping and trying to get rid of this cold. Today it is almost gone and the thrush is gone. Mouth sores are still here but I have a feeling they are here to stay.
Today I started to go through a box of pictures and kept the ones I want to scan and keep. It made me smile to see pictures of me with my parents and as I was growing up.
I am very thankful for my husband and son. They are my rocks but I am also very thankful for what my mother had taught me wit her battle with cancer to say FU I will beat you and I will be around for my children. Now I have another FU I will not let you come back and take me from my son. I want to see him fall in love and get married and meet my grandchildren. That is my goal and I will get to it one step at a time.

Chemo # 2

Yesterday was my second round of treatment and I went straight from work. It was pretty easy to do by myself. First they drew my blood then said I was going to have an appointment with the Doctor. This was good because I wanted to discuss that my insurance company will only cover 10 Ambien pills for 25 days….So seriously what am I to do for the rest of the month? So I have a new one to pick up today at the drug store.

Beside the new prescription Dr. Singh did an exam and determined that the Tumor is shrinking from the Chemo. So yeah for Chemo! I am pretty happy about that.

Today I go back for the Neulasta Shot and hopefully I have a good reaction to the Chemo as I did last time.

On December 17^th I have an appointment with one of the GYN doctors to discuss my hysterectomy that will hopefully happen with the first surgery.

Second Opinions and More!

This is a post that I have been thinking of writing for awhile. Two weeks ago my Aunt suggested I get a second opinion just to make sure I am on the right track for my surgery and for the chemo. I decided to go to Duke Cancer Center to meet with their team.
When I first called I didn't get that warm feeling when you call an office. To be honest I almost quiet right there, but I decide to go ahead. Then they called me back to make all the appointments I told them the dates and times I was available because of my limited schedule at work. I made all my appointments and thought we were all set for Monday the 12th. Then I get a call back. They had me mixed up with another patient and cancelled all my appointments and moved them to Wednesday, when I told them I had Chemo on Wednesday I needed the appointments for that Monday they put me back in. This did not go over well with me. If they can't get my appointments right how can they get my treatment right? I decided to go ahead with all the appointments and see what they had to say.
I am glad that I did. I was told that they would do the same Chemo with me as I am getting now for the same time frame. I was pretty happy with this. They still say I will have Radiation after the surgery and maybe more Chemo but they wouldn't know that until after my surgery. So because I started at the Cancer Center of NC I will stay there for my 8 Chemo sessions and then more to Duke for the surgery.
This is where it was interesting and differed from the original surgeon that I saw and the plastic surgeon.

The Duke Doctor (Rachel A. Greenup, MD) stated that she would only remove the cancer breast during the initial surgery and all of my lymph nodes since they are positive. The reason for the one breast removal is less of a chance of infection. Since the right breast is healthy there is no need to take it right away. Once that is done I would start Chemo and/or Radiation. Once the radiation is complete I would then have another surgery to remove the right breast and also have what is called a TRAM Flap surgery (http://www.breastcancer.org/treatment/surgery/reconstruction/types/tram) this is actually better since I like the idea of not having to get new implants in 20 years, and as an added bonus I get a tummy tuck.

I really liked the Breast Surgeon Dr. Greenup and the Medical Oncologist Dr. Kelly Mitchell. I am going to switch over to Duke once Chemo is finished. My next appointment is in January and the then I will also meet with the Plastic Surgeon and the Radiation Oncologist.

So I guess it was a good thing that I went today and am happy with everything that was said.

Work

On Friday I decided to go to work with out the wig on. I need to wash it and style it. The amount of compliments I got was amazing and I felt so much love. I am not one for church and prayers but accept them with an open heart.
I believe with all my heart that I will beat this it doesn't matter what stage you are in.
I have so much to say but need to organize my thoughts. Next treatment is on Wednesday.