Treatment Taxol/Herceptin 3 of 12

9/23/2014 Chemo Treatment Taxol/Herceptin 3 of 12

It was so great to see so many of my friends and family on Sunday for the Susan G. Komen Race. (I'll blog about this later)  Although by the end of the night by legs were quite sore and even into Monday.

So I thought most of my blogs with my taxol/herceptin treatments were going to sound very similar.  Again to start my morning off, I dropped the boys off at school and then Clara went to Grandma & Grandpa's for the day.  I headed back home and got myself ready, picked up a couple of things and then my cousin Rhonda showed up to take me to my treatment.  We headed off to Subway and then to the clinic by 11:30.  They got us back in the room and started the saline.  This time they threw me off because they gave me the herceptin first which takes about 30 minutes.  I said, "Wait aren't you suppose to give me the steroid drugs,etc. first?"  They said those are needed for the taxol and this order will be just fine.  So Rhonda and I ate our subs, talked about the race day, how the party at the house went, and other things too.  After the herceptin drug came on the benadryl.  I like the fact that it makes me sleepy, but not the other side affect.  Rhonda put on Friends which my nurse Deb even watched a little with us too.  She is so funny!  I love her!  It didn't take long and I was out sleeping away.  Although I had some major leg twitching this time, and it stayed for most of the day into the night for me. Half of me was wondering if I pushed myself to hard with the Susan G. Komen Race, and then the other half was wondering what in the world did they give me.  Something new?  Deb thought it could be the combination of the benadryl and lorazapam that I took.  Who knows?  Eventually the time had passed and I was done with the taxol a little after 2.  I had to go to the bathroom so bad, so they helped me up but I ended up getting really dizzy.  Being to proud I didn't want them to get me a wheel chair.  I figured I could do it on my own, I'm a strong girl.  I sat in the chair in the hallway for only a little while, I really had to pee, so they helped me back up and I made it in time.  One of the nurses walked me back to my room and we stayed a little longer so I could get my barrings back.  At that point all I wanted to do was get home and lay down in my bed.  I think we left the clinic just before 3, in a wheel chair.  Good thing my cousin Rhonda is a prow with pushing one of those things:)

We got back to the house and I gave hugs and thanked Rhonda for taking me.  (THANK YOU!)  Off to bed I headed thinking this was a good idea.  Rhonda waited around until Andy got back from work.  I stayed in bed until after 5.  We ate a little supper and then Andy went to get the kids.  I had a little snuggle time with the kiddos before their bedtime.

Andy and I watched the movie "We're the Miller's", which was super funny.  I'd highly recommend watching it.  It was getting closer to 10 and so we were heading off to bed.  But of course I couldn't fall asleep.  My legs were still bothering me and my sleeping pill and lorazapam just didn't seem to work.  Actually felt like it had the opposite affect.  Finally I just got back up and went to the recliner so I wouldn't keep waking Andy up.  I think I finally fell asleep after 2 sometime.

The rest of the week went well.  I felt pretty good, didn't really need my nausea medication as much.  I had the kids on Thursday already, but definitely could've used a nap but I survived without one.  I even made it to the zoo on Friday:)  Overall, I'm doing good with this treatment so far!

Treatment Taxol/Herceptin 2 of 12

9/16/2014 Chemo Treatment Taxol/Herceptin 2 of 12

Hard to believe I was back at the clinic for another treatment.  Luckily I responded so well to the first treatment that I was ready for another one (well as ready as one can be knowing your getting chemo).  I was able to take the kids to school in the morning and then dropped Clara off at Grandma & Grandpa's for the day.  My friend Lindsey from college came down to take me to my treatment which was really nice.  We got to the clinic at 11:30, they hooked me all up and started with the initial steroid's, etc. We got out our Subway Subs and were able to catch up with each other for about the first hour.  Then came on the benadryl and the Lorazapam which made me quite sleepy.  I couldn't even remember what movie we had picked out to watch, or Lindsey watched:)  All of a sudden it was just before 3 and they said I was all set and we could head out.  I didn't even realize they switched the chemo drug at some point.  Although I would've needed to tell them my name and birth date, so I must have woke up for a little bit.  It's hard to see but Lindsey wore a shirt that was pretty cute.  It had a bunch of bee's on it, and it said, "Check your Boo Bee's".  So get checking!!!!

When we got back to the house we chatted for a little longer and then Andy got back from work.  I actually stayed up until bedtime and felt pretty good.  Even ate supper that night!  Wednesday Andy's parent's kept the kids so I was home with my cousin Debbie Kotes.  I slept in until around 8:30, she made me breakfast, did our dishes, my laundry, trimmed flowers, and even washed some of our windows.  I didn't know if asking her to wash the windows was over stepping the boundaries, but my cousin Rhonda said it was ok.  So blame her Debbie if it was too much!  Thank you for all your help!
I was feeling pretty good, but I still took around a 2 hour nap on Wednesday afternoon, which felt great.  Thursday I was planning on keeping Clara home with me, but I had a rough night of sleep so Andy's parent's kept the kids again and I was able to take it easy.  Friday I was feeling quite well.  Graysen and Clara stayed home with me and we were able to go for a walk and to the park.  It was nice just to snuggle and play with them.  Something that I cherish being able to do while I can.

Right now I'm counting my blessings that I'm responding well to the taxol and herceptin.  Also counting my blessings that I'm able to do more things with the kids each day than I was before.  Again, thank you to everyone that has helped in any sort of way.  Whether it be a meal, sending money/gift cards, spending time with me, or even praying for me.  I'm truly blessed to have such wonderful friends and family in my life.  Even though this journey is hard, it is much more doable having each of you here with me!  Let's keep up the Fight!!!

Treatment Taxol/Herceptin 1 of 12

9/9/2014 Chemo Treatment Taxol/Herceptin 1 of 12

So Tuesday I had the start of my new treatment, Taxol and Herceptin.  They ask a lot of the same questions and I had to spell my last name and state my date of birth quite a few times.  They started me off with the saline, steriod drug, and benadryl.  These all take a combined hour about.  Larry the counselor was there talking with us for the first while which made the time go really fast.  After the first hour had passed they started the Herceptin drug which took 90 minutes, then the Taxol for 30 minutes.  They did give me a Lorazapam during the treatment like with the AC just as a precaution.  They said if it worked last time lets keep doing it.  So it did make me sleepy, but also helped with the nausea.

When we got home from the clinic I went to sleep right away.  I was tired and felt a little out of it.  Andy and the kids eventually came home from school and I got up to be with them.  I didn't feel to bad.  My mom was down and helped get supper on the table and I actually ate food instead of just having chicken broth.  So right there is already an improvement with the new treatment.

This whole week has been much better than after the "Red Devil".  I have had more energy and a better appetite.  I've actually stopped taking the nausea meds on Friday already and have just been using my sleeping pills at night.  That's usually when my mind starts to wonder on me and then I stay up thinking about stuff.

My mom was down for a couple of the days to help with me and the kids.  It was wonderful to have her.  I cried when she left knowing that I would now need to be strong enough to take back over some of the house duties.  And its something about having your mom around when your sick that is so much more comforting.  She reminded me that I was a strong woman and that I will get through this journey.  I love you mom!  Thank you for believing in me!

First Blood Transfusion

Monday 9/8 First Blood Transfusion and Results from Scans

So last week Thursday I went in for blood work, an ultra sound, MRI, and MUGA test.  My Aunt Sue and Grandma Getter came with me for the day (THANK YOU!!!!)  I mixed up where I was supposed to go right away in the beginning of the day (9:30 AM) so they accidentally drew blood, instead of just accessing my port.  After the blood work, I had my ultra sound.  This they needed to get the same screen shots as the first time so they could actually compare them.  During this, the Medical Oncology department tracked me down because I never showed up for the port access.  So after the ultra sound we went straight to that department for them to access my port, then to my MRI.  This went fine, not much to it.  After my MRI, I was tracked down again because they had gotten my blood work results and my hemoglobin level was low.  They were hoping to be able to get me in for a blood transfusion yet that day.  I didn't know much about the blood transfusion, but with all the symptoms I was having after my last treatment and how low the red blood cell count was I agreed that we should get that done too.  So before my MUGA scan we had to go back down to the Med. Oncology department so they could draw more blood and crossmatch for the transfusion.  Now back to the area for the MUGA scan. We felt like we walked all over the hospital.   Again very easy test for me, although I did feel a little more queasy after this test.  Finally, it was about 2:30 and we headed down for the blood transfusion.  They gave me some benadryl which definitely made me sleepy.  I think we finally left the hospital around 5:30.  I was hoping to feel better when I left, but I it was a pretty long day that I was just ready to go to bed.  Friday I felt much better and we had a pretty good weekend up at the Meinecke cabin, minus my bee sting.

Today I met with the doctor to go over the test results.  I was hoping for better news, the doctor used the words "He was satisfied with the results."  Basically, my large tumor has shrunk a little bit, the 2 smaller areas they are watching are the same, and the one lymph node is the same.  My MUGA test came back at 68% which is good.  All of my counts were back up and are ready for treatment tomorrow.  I guess I was hoping to hear that all of the tumors had shrunk, especially after my doctor said that sometimes the smaller ones don't even show up after the 4th treatment of the AC.

Tomorrow I start the 12 weeks of Taxol and Herceptin.  They say I should recover faster than I have been with the AC treatments.  So I'm hoping for a faster recovery, and less side affects!

I received a card the other day and inside my old neighbors had written, "Some days it rains so the sun can shine after."  I think about what this means and the other things I've been reading and that is so true.  God wants me to trust that he has a plan for me.  I guess the saying that he never gives you something you can't handle has to be true.  I just keep hoping, and praying that the sun will shine for me after all of this!

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls." - Matthew 11:28-29.