May 7th, 2019
Moods: Scared 😢
A bad day….good days and bad, comes with the territory I suppose.
Lots of crying….I am in shock, everything is so overwhelming! ðŸ˜
Bloodwork
May 30th, 2019
Mood: Hopeful 😌
I am still feeling good! I went to my oncologists office this morning for bloodwork. A few things are high and a few are low, but nothing to keep me there to see the nurse.
I am still not used to the short hair but I won’t have it for long after my treatment next week. There is no telling when my hair will start to fall out but it will, there is no avoiding it.
1st Chemo Treatment
May 23rd, 2019
Mood: Hopeful 😌
My first chemo treatment went well today. We met with the PA for the first time and she was great! We had a few questions and she took the time to answer all of them for us. We also met with my oncologist who is amazing! He had the results of my Echocardiogram from last week and I have a very strong and healthy heart, so he was very happy about that.
Health Directive
May 14th, 2019
Mood: Exhausted 😩
Another night of thinking about things….
I am thinking that it would be smart to call the hospital tomorrow and ask about a health directive, whatever is required in GA. I would ask my Dad but I don’t want to scare him with the fact that I am thinking about it.After really talking to Matt, I understand that he has had the same thoughts about the cancer killing me, as I have. It could come back at any time or there could be cells as my oncologist explained that are too small to detect. I am starting chemo soon and I have a positive outlook but I can’t help but notice that nothing has gone as planned since all of this started.
I want to take steps now, if I can, to make things easier for Matt should something happen to me or if I end up in the hospital.
Heavy stuff, but things I need to think about if not act on some time soon.
Goodies
May 8th, 2019
Mood: Hopeful 😌
Matt & I went to my appointment for “chemo teaching” at my oncologists office today.
Our first stop was meeting with a nurse at my oncologists office. We went over some information concerning my chemo treatment and she gave Matt & I a lot of good information about what drugs I can take along with what will be prescribed to help me be more comfortable during my 20 weeks of treatment. She also talked to me about eating before treatment and diet/exercise after each treatment.
Drains & Chemo Plan
May 3rd, 2019
Mood: Normal 😌
Today was a good day….I went to my surgeons office and had the 2nd drain and stitches removed….yay!! I am healing well and I will have another follow up appointment soon. I will also go back to my surgeon to have him put my port in for chemo.
I also went to see my oncologist and he gave me my plan for chemo. I will start chemo on May 23rd, the day after our 15th wedding anniversary. I will have 2 drugs for 4 treatments every other week for 2 months and then 1 drug for 12 treatments once a week for 12 weeks. My last treatment will be on October 3rd, with my reconstruction surgery sometime soon after that.
So why so much chemo?? Because the 18 lymph nodes that were removed during my surgery were all cancer, so there is a concern that I most likely do have tiny microscopic cancer cells in other locations in my body that are too small to show up on an ultrasound. It is not worth taking the chance to leave anything behind so I am going to have the most aggressive treatment and I am fine with that….I trust my doctors to get me past this.
My oncologist said that I shouldn’t have any problems with this treatment plan other than not feeling well at the beginning for several days after, but it is a double dose of drugs and that is why I will only go in every other week for that portion of treatment. He also said that the anti-nausea meds have come a long way in the last few years so my discomfort should be minimal especially with them giving me a dose of them when I go in for treatment as well as having a prescription at home.
At some point during my chemo treatment I will meet with my radiation oncologist to go over the plan for my radiation treatment which will be after my reconstruction surgery.
Whew…..still a long road that could even keep us in GA for Christmas but we are all excited about the plan and Matt and I are very pleased with my doctors.