Treatment Taxol/Herceptin 4 of 12

October 7, 2014 Treatment 4 of 12

I was very excited to have my dad come down and take me to my treatment this week.  I wanted him to meet all the great people that are working with me.  I also was glad that my counts were high enough for me to have my treatment.

So we headed to Subway to get my usual Spicy Italian and then to the clinic.  They hooked me up and started with all the pre-meds.  I spelled my last name and stated my birthday a zillion times.  While we waited for the pre-meds to get through my system Dad and I talked about a bunch of stuff.  We usually don't have that much time that the two of us just hang out together.  It was so nice!  Dad helped me fill out my Power of Attorney for Health Care and now have that on file.  We put on the movie Something about Mary, got as comfortable as we could, and then it was nap time.  The bet was out on who would be sleeping first, dad or me.  Well the verdict...Dad:)  He was snoring a little bit, but I wasn't to far behind.  Not sure if either of us watched much of the movie.

After treatment we headed back to the house around 3 and I took a pretty long nap, don't think I got up until around 5.  Andy brought the kids home and I took it easy.  Dad helped get supper ready for the kids, homework done, and get them ready for bed.  We watched a pretty stupid movie on TV that night.  I think I finally fell asleep close to midnight.  

Dad stayed over to help on Wednesday with Graysen and Clara.  It sure is hard to keep little ones quite, good thing I have a pair of ear plugs.  Not sure when I got up, but after breakfast we went for a long walk around the block.  It felt really good, but I was getting pretty tired towards the end.  I took an afternoon nap, but didn't wake up feeling to good.  I never really felt nauseous, just a little out of it.  I couldn't remember when I took my medicine even though I write it down.  I was questioning if I had actually took it or just wrote it down and still needed to take it.  It was a weird feeling not knowing.  Dad stayed and helped with supper again, and getting the kids ready for bed.  I was able to relax with him there helping Andy.  

The rest of the week I've felt a little bit more fatigue than I remembered with earlier rounds of the taxol/herceptin, but still manageable.  Friday I had another MRI done, but haven't heard any results from that yet.

I want to thank everyone who brought us food this week, prayed for us, sent kind thoughts, or helped out in whatever way.  It is amazing how much love a person can feel; which when your faced with a battle like this, I need it!

Now for my Dad.  The love and strength that you have given me is more than you know.  I look at my own children and the love that I feel for them is indescribable.  I would give anything for them to not have to feel pain.  I know that you feel the same for me.  It probably was hard coming along and watching me get the chemo drugs knowing that you can't take that pain away from me.  I just need you to keep on holding my hand.  You have raised a strong woman and I will fight through this!  

Race for the Cure

9/21/2014 Susan G. Komen Race - Racing for the 1 in 8

What a wonderful day this was for me.  At first I wasn't sure about doing a 5K and if I would even be able to finish the race/walk.  I had know idea how the treatments would be going and if I'd be up for walking.  As the day got closer, and I could see all the support I was getting it was well worth every step.  I loved the head bands "Sheila's Squad", the shirts, and buttons.  I felt like I had an extra little bounce in my step this day.  The music was fun, and there were just so many people.

After the race we came back to our house for a potluck.  It was probably one of the first parties we had that I didn't feel like I was running around like crazy.  Grandma Getter and some other people were instead:)

Back at the house we thanked everyone for coming and I tried to share some of the emotional feelings that I've been having through this journey.  Some of the hardest things is to put my trust in God.  There are days when I question why he would give me breast cancer.  What did I do to deserve this?  Will I make it through?  Will it come back?  How is this affecting my family?  I also talked about the many books that I've been reading, internet searching (although that I need to monitor and cut back on this).  I have one book that I read little passages every night that talks about God being by our side.  Giving me hope, and trusting that he has a plan for me.  I asked my family and friends to sing "In Christ Alone" with me which has been one of the songs that I continue to sing for hope and courage.

Again, thank you to everyone that was able to come and walk/run, join us at our house, or just thought of me on this day.

I tried making a video from the pictures I had from the day, but the one below might be blurry, so then I uploaded it to you tube and it seems to be a little better.  So here's the link for that http://youtu.be/oSUGxNatJNU

No Treatment - too low white blood counts

9/30/2014 NO TREATMENT - too low white blood counts :(

So I didn't expect to receive this phone call on Monday night, but it finally did happen to me.  My NEUTROPHILS (part of my White Blood Counts) were too low for treatment.  In fact, they went from 1.71 to 0.53.  They are supposed to be at least at 1.0 for treatment otherwise my immune system will have a difficult time fighting off any germs/infections that may come my way if they proceeded with chemo.  

So now the question becomes, what does that exactly mean for my course of treatments?  Basically, everything will get pushed back with Taxol.  I still will be getting my 12 rounds, but now the last round gets pushed into December:(  So not exactly sure what that means for surgery then either.  I'm guessing it still may happen in December, depending on if I miss anymore treatments.  I also asked why they just don't give me the Neulasta shot after my treatments like they did with the AC to help boost the white blood cells.  They did say if my counts don't bounce back there is a different shot called Neupogen that I can get that would help boost the counts.

They did give me Herceptin, nonetheless.  This is that targeted treatment to combat my HER2 status that I will get every 3 weeks after chemo is over.  Again, Herceptin is not considered to be chemotherapy, but I will get infused with this drug until August of 2015. There are limited to no side effects with Herceptin, thankfully.  

My friend Kelly came down still and took me to the clinic.  We picked up Subway, shocking I know, same sandwich for me every time:)  I was awake the whole time for this one, so it was so nice to catch up and be able to talk with Kelly.  Thanks so much for taking me!

So right now I feel great!  Bummed out that I couldn't get treatment, but there isn't much I can do about it.  Just hoping that my counts bounce back up for next week.

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.