I wonder why it is that some people’s first reaction when I mention that I will be receiving chemo is “will you lose your hair?” It’s not that this question bothers me (o.k., well maybe it bothers me a little bit), but I just wonder why it is the first question. Perhaps its just that a bald head is really what identifies a cancer patient or perhaps its because those individuals can’t imagine the thought of losing their own hair. Whatever it is, I’m sure there has to be a better response unless your planning on buying me a hat.
The hair loss doesnt bother me to much. Dont get me wrong, it sucks, no doubt about it. But I would gladly trade my hair for 6 months in order to get rid of this terrible disease. In the scheme of things, its a small sacrifice to make.
There are also, I think, a lot worse side affects to chemo than hair loss which could include heart damage, increased risk of obtaining other cancers, memory loss (also known as chemo brain...I guess that’s like pregnancy brain), permanent tingling in your fingertips, and much more. Yes, unfortunately with these kinds of drugs comes serious side affects but what alternative do you have? I say none.
So, then what do I do to deal with the hair loss....I prepare by shopping with some fabulous girlfriends for wigs, bandanas and hats. Which by the way, we did last weekend. But more importantly, when I need a laugh, I have my husband (or my friends husbands -- you will look fabulous as a blonde Chuck!) wear my wig around the house.
And, when the next person says to you they need to have chemotherapy, try to hold back the desire to ask if he/she will loose their hair unless you are going to follow it up by asking: “Do you prefer knit or fleece?”
Friday, December 11, 2009
Thursday, December 10, 2009
1 down 5 to go
Well, first treatment down, five left to go. Unfortunately, actually getting the chemo treatment is the easy part, it's the side effects that hit after treatment that makes life difficult. Don't get me wrong, there are certainly cancer patients in the "Infusion room" that are having a hard time with the treatment. You do need to learn to tune those sounds out when you are there or it can make your time a bit uncomfortable. But in general, everyone is just kicked back in their barcalounger with a tube attached to them and a nurse coming in every once in a while to change the IV bag. There are a couple chairs with each barcalounger for guests and a curtain to provide some sense of privacy if you want. For those having a difficult time, there are individual rooms.
My "cocktails" consist of 3 different drugs, along with some anti-nausea medicine first. In total, we were there for about 4 1/2 hours. They give you the drugs slow the first time to be sure that you don't have an allergic reaction which could be anywhere from mild to very serious. Luckily, I did not have any reaction. The next chemo treatment, they can speed up the time in which one of the drugs is administered but I will have to see my doctor first and get blood work done before treatment, so I don't expect to be there any less than 4-5 hours each time.
My port worked wonderfully. I have a "Power Port", though I am still trying to figure out what kind of super powers it gives me. If you are wondering what a port is, check this out..
http://www.bardaccess.com/port-powerport.php
This is truly a chemo patients best friend! It prevents your veins from collapsing with all the times they get hit up for blood, injections, etc. The port is installed under your skin, though you can see the bump in my chest where it is and a tube is run directly into your vein. When its time for chemo or blood withdrawal, they stick the needle in the port, and voila!
Tuesday I felt pretty good, Wednesday was my bad day as expected. Mostly just a nauseous feeling that you feel everywhere in your body. A bit hard to explain. Today, still a bit nauseous but the muscle aches have also set in just giving me an overall achy feeling.
We did learn today that you CAN actually over do it on the anti-nausea medicine. Ooops. Had to cut back on that, it was making me a bit jittery and irritable.
I hope to turn the corner tomorrow, and be on the road to feeling a bit better. The good news is since treatment is once every three weeks, I will have a few weeks of feeling pretty good before I go back again on 12/31.
Chemotherapy is cumulative as well, so as you go through treatments you do progressively feel worse. The drugs build up in your system and you feel more tired, and more side effects start to take hold. But, good news is the docs say "we have a drug for that" so you can curb most of the side effects.
I've added a picture of me in chemo. It really is just this exciting though I did love playing with my new itouch for 4 hours! Next chemo....knitting lesson with Jennifer. Looking forward to crafting our $70 hats!
Love to all.
Monday, November 30, 2009
The battle begins 12/7
Hello all -
It has been quite the whirlwind the last few weeks with doctors appointments and tests. I been behind in getting back to most of you on an individual basis, so forgive me for that.
The good news is the additional tests showed no additional cancer besides for what we already know about, so that is good news. In addition, we now have a plan of attack, and the battle begins on December 7th with Chemotherapy. We have received two separate opinions and both have laid out the same course of action. We feel good about this plan of attack...we are gonna attack this cancer with all guns blazing.
There will be 6 cycles (treatments) of Chemo. Once every three weeks. The first treatment is scheduled for Dec. 7th, the second will be on 12/31 and then for 4 more times after that.
Next step is surgery. The goal is that the chemo will shrink the cancer making surgery easier, hence why we are starting with chemo.
Then 6 weeks of radiation treatment -- 5 days a week.
There will be additional injections for 6 more months (once every three weeks) then a pill for like 5 years.
It's a lengthy plan, but the doctors have no doubt that we will conquer this.
There are a few additional steps that need to happen this week, I will fill you all in on the details a bit later. I wanted to at least post the treatment plan to keep everyone in the loop. More to come later.
Thank you again for your continued support and prayers.
It has been quite the whirlwind the last few weeks with doctors appointments and tests. I been behind in getting back to most of you on an individual basis, so forgive me for that.
The good news is the additional tests showed no additional cancer besides for what we already know about, so that is good news. In addition, we now have a plan of attack, and the battle begins on December 7th with Chemotherapy. We have received two separate opinions and both have laid out the same course of action. We feel good about this plan of attack...we are gonna attack this cancer with all guns blazing.
There will be 6 cycles (treatments) of Chemo. Once every three weeks. The first treatment is scheduled for Dec. 7th, the second will be on 12/31 and then for 4 more times after that.
Next step is surgery. The goal is that the chemo will shrink the cancer making surgery easier, hence why we are starting with chemo.
Then 6 weeks of radiation treatment -- 5 days a week.
There will be additional injections for 6 more months (once every three weeks) then a pill for like 5 years.
It's a lengthy plan, but the doctors have no doubt that we will conquer this.
There are a few additional steps that need to happen this week, I will fill you all in on the details a bit later. I wanted to at least post the treatment plan to keep everyone in the loop. More to come later.
Thank you again for your continued support and prayers.
Anyone else want a piece of me these days?
Let's see in the last few weeks, I have had the following:
12 strangers feel me up
3 sets of mammogram pics (ranging from 3 pics to 8 pics at a time)
3 biopsies
2 different ultrasounds
1 MRI
1 Full body PET scan
A H1N1 shot
A flu shot
A MUGA scan (heart scan)
....and a partridge in a pear tree.
12 strangers feel me up
3 sets of mammogram pics (ranging from 3 pics to 8 pics at a time)
3 biopsies
2 different ultrasounds
1 MRI
1 Full body PET scan
A H1N1 shot
A flu shot
A MUGA scan (heart scan)
....and a partridge in a pear tree.
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Things that have made me laugh this week..
Phew....it felt so good to write all that, now your not gonna be able to shut me up.
Just one additional random note, in regards to item #7 on my "rules of engagement", the following things have made me laugh this past week:
1) My sister's response to my cancer news "How'd you get that?"
Good question! Wish I had an answer for that one.
2) Lori answering the phone "cancer watch 2009" when I call her.
3) Kat explaining to me that cancer is not a hobby! "I thought you took up fly fishing," she said.
4) Jeanine telling me "dont think this means you are getting a discount now"
5) Chuck explaining how he wants to stick his unmentionables in the Dyson hand dryer at Tag.
6) Dan offering to get my blood boiling by yelling at me and waving around, well again some other type of unmentionables.
Thanks all for making me laugh!
Just one additional random note, in regards to item #7 on my "rules of engagement", the following things have made me laugh this past week:
1) My sister's response to my cancer news "How'd you get that?"
Good question! Wish I had an answer for that one.
2) Lori answering the phone "cancer watch 2009" when I call her.
3) Kat explaining to me that cancer is not a hobby! "I thought you took up fly fishing," she said.
4) Jeanine telling me "dont think this means you are getting a discount now"
5) Chuck explaining how he wants to stick his unmentionables in the Dyson hand dryer at Tag.
6) Dan offering to get my blood boiling by yelling at me and waving around, well again some other type of unmentionables.
Thanks all for making me laugh!
Here we go again
Dear Friends and Family -
If you reading this then you know that I was recently diagnosed with breast cancer. I am calling this blog "war on cancer" as I believe strongly that I have declared war on cancer and we will once again beat this disease. I say once again, because as most of you know this is my second war (WWII) on cancer. For those of you that dont know, I had stage IV Hodgkin's Lymphoma in 2001 and had 6 months of chemotherapy treatment and was cancer free and chemo free as of March 8, 2002 (an anniversary Todd and I still celebrate to this day).
On Monday, November 2nd, 2009 I went in for my first mammogram. As I approach the age of 40 (yikes) the doc felt it was time to get my first mammogram. We had no reason to think it would be anything but "routine". While the docs that treated me for Hodgkins disease said that my risk for contracting other cancers was now higher due to the chemotherapy, I have to admit breast cancer was not on my radar screen. It's not like we have a history of it in our family. Anyway, the following day after my mammogram, I received a call to come back for some additional mammograms, an ultrasound and possibly a biopsy. This was scheduled for a week and a half later. After a conversation with my doctor, it didnt seem as if I had to much to worry about. She explained that since it was my first mammo, there was no benchmark to go off of, so they were going to be very thorough and be sure that they understood everything and get a closer look.
I went in on November 12th for the additional tests. After 6 more mammo pics and an ultrasound, the radiologist came in to explain he still wanted to go ahead with biopsies of 3 areas. At that point it all seemed very familiar. I forced the doctor to tell me what was going on. After explaining this was not my first time with "The Cancer" (as my dear friend Kat calls it), the doc gave in and said "I would be surprised if it was NOT cancer."
So, I had 3 biopsies (upper right, lower right and a lymph node in the right) done an hour or so later. Can I just say "OUCH".
On Friday, November 13th (I just realized that was Friday the 13th), the docs called to officially say I have cancer. It was confirmed in 2 out of the 3 biopsies. (Upper and lymph).
As I write this, its been over a week and we are adjusting. If there is one thing that I learned last time around it is that we need to take control of this situation and not let the situation control us. So, we moved quickly, scheduled some additional tests, got tons of recommendations for oncologists (as my current oncologist that has been monitoring me for hodgkin's is a blood related cancer specialist, so this is out of his area of expertise), and scheduled appointments with 2 different oncologists. All of this will occur this week. By end of day Wednesday, we should have an idea of the course of treatment, the timeline and hopefully choose the best team of doctors to treat me.
I started this blog for 2 reasons: 1) to share our progress as we go into battle and then conquer this disease and 2) because so many of you have asked what can I do. In regards to the second reason, I have been wanting to write an article (and shop it around to magazines) entitled "My friend has been diagnosed with cancer, and I dont know what to do...." Well looks like I should stop putting it off and get writing.
Here's my initial thoughts/notes for what I call "rules of engagement" with someone that has cancer. While not all individuals fighting cancer may agree with me, I can tell you this is what I would recommend and what I need in my world:
Rules of Engagement
1) Positive attitudes only (enough said)
2) Don't ask "what if...." and "why me/why you". I've come to the conclusion there really are no good answers for that one.
3) It's o.k. to ask me how I am doing. No need to ask those around me, its o.k. to ask me directly. I'll tell ya!
4) Allow us to, what I call, "cocoon" once in a while. We will need time to adjust as a family at times. There is no way to know if advance if we are cocooning so its o.k. to call, we might just not answer the phone for a bit.
5) I get sick of talking about doctors and test results so its o.k. to tell me about your day and whats going on in your life. It's not all about me...though I may think it is. te he he.
6) Normalcy is key. It's important for me to have some sense of normalcy in my life as we go through this so we will continue to work, hang out with friends, etc. Dont feel strange about calling us and inviting us out to dinner thinking we wouldnt want to do that. We do!
7) It's good to laugh. My dear friends Lori, Kat, Pam and Jeanine who have been through this with me before have been so good for that this past week. Some may find it odd, but we may make cancer jokes, it helps provide some leavity for an otherwise heavy conversation.
8) If you still feel like you dont know what to do, then join a "team". During my first battle, I believe it was my old boss and dear friend Ray Baird that explained the team approach. What's that old saying, it takes a village to raise a child, well I feel the same way with cancer, it takes a team to cure cancer. It's important to get organized and while we dont know what we will need yet, I can tell you last time I had people helping with food/nutrition, headwear, research and much more. Feel free to get involved. We will try and tell you what we need so if you do want to help you can. Otherwise I am hoping that we can use this blog and facebook to communicate and you can connect with others that are in our wonderful support circle.
That about sums it up for right now. I'd like to get to 10 tips for my article, so anybody have any other thoughts/suggestions??
I appreciate all the continued love, support and prayers. Please know that I am ready to kick this cancer's ass!!
I will continue to write here and keep everyone up to date. Writing this has been very cathartic for me. Now off to the grocery store to get ready for turkey day!
Love, Lynn
If you reading this then you know that I was recently diagnosed with breast cancer. I am calling this blog "war on cancer" as I believe strongly that I have declared war on cancer and we will once again beat this disease. I say once again, because as most of you know this is my second war (WWII) on cancer. For those of you that dont know, I had stage IV Hodgkin's Lymphoma in 2001 and had 6 months of chemotherapy treatment and was cancer free and chemo free as of March 8, 2002 (an anniversary Todd and I still celebrate to this day).
On Monday, November 2nd, 2009 I went in for my first mammogram. As I approach the age of 40 (yikes) the doc felt it was time to get my first mammogram. We had no reason to think it would be anything but "routine". While the docs that treated me for Hodgkins disease said that my risk for contracting other cancers was now higher due to the chemotherapy, I have to admit breast cancer was not on my radar screen. It's not like we have a history of it in our family. Anyway, the following day after my mammogram, I received a call to come back for some additional mammograms, an ultrasound and possibly a biopsy. This was scheduled for a week and a half later. After a conversation with my doctor, it didnt seem as if I had to much to worry about. She explained that since it was my first mammo, there was no benchmark to go off of, so they were going to be very thorough and be sure that they understood everything and get a closer look.
I went in on November 12th for the additional tests. After 6 more mammo pics and an ultrasound, the radiologist came in to explain he still wanted to go ahead with biopsies of 3 areas. At that point it all seemed very familiar. I forced the doctor to tell me what was going on. After explaining this was not my first time with "The Cancer" (as my dear friend Kat calls it), the doc gave in and said "I would be surprised if it was NOT cancer."
So, I had 3 biopsies (upper right, lower right and a lymph node in the right) done an hour or so later. Can I just say "OUCH".
On Friday, November 13th (I just realized that was Friday the 13th), the docs called to officially say I have cancer. It was confirmed in 2 out of the 3 biopsies. (Upper and lymph).
As I write this, its been over a week and we are adjusting. If there is one thing that I learned last time around it is that we need to take control of this situation and not let the situation control us. So, we moved quickly, scheduled some additional tests, got tons of recommendations for oncologists (as my current oncologist that has been monitoring me for hodgkin's is a blood related cancer specialist, so this is out of his area of expertise), and scheduled appointments with 2 different oncologists. All of this will occur this week. By end of day Wednesday, we should have an idea of the course of treatment, the timeline and hopefully choose the best team of doctors to treat me.
I started this blog for 2 reasons: 1) to share our progress as we go into battle and then conquer this disease and 2) because so many of you have asked what can I do. In regards to the second reason, I have been wanting to write an article (and shop it around to magazines) entitled "My friend has been diagnosed with cancer, and I dont know what to do...." Well looks like I should stop putting it off and get writing.
Here's my initial thoughts/notes for what I call "rules of engagement" with someone that has cancer. While not all individuals fighting cancer may agree with me, I can tell you this is what I would recommend and what I need in my world:
Rules of Engagement
1) Positive attitudes only (enough said)
2) Don't ask "what if...." and "why me/why you". I've come to the conclusion there really are no good answers for that one.
3) It's o.k. to ask me how I am doing. No need to ask those around me, its o.k. to ask me directly. I'll tell ya!
4) Allow us to, what I call, "cocoon" once in a while. We will need time to adjust as a family at times. There is no way to know if advance if we are cocooning so its o.k. to call, we might just not answer the phone for a bit.
5) I get sick of talking about doctors and test results so its o.k. to tell me about your day and whats going on in your life. It's not all about me...though I may think it is. te he he.
6) Normalcy is key. It's important for me to have some sense of normalcy in my life as we go through this so we will continue to work, hang out with friends, etc. Dont feel strange about calling us and inviting us out to dinner thinking we wouldnt want to do that. We do!
7) It's good to laugh. My dear friends Lori, Kat, Pam and Jeanine who have been through this with me before have been so good for that this past week. Some may find it odd, but we may make cancer jokes, it helps provide some leavity for an otherwise heavy conversation.
8) If you still feel like you dont know what to do, then join a "team". During my first battle, I believe it was my old boss and dear friend Ray Baird that explained the team approach. What's that old saying, it takes a village to raise a child, well I feel the same way with cancer, it takes a team to cure cancer. It's important to get organized and while we dont know what we will need yet, I can tell you last time I had people helping with food/nutrition, headwear, research and much more. Feel free to get involved. We will try and tell you what we need so if you do want to help you can. Otherwise I am hoping that we can use this blog and facebook to communicate and you can connect with others that are in our wonderful support circle.
That about sums it up for right now. I'd like to get to 10 tips for my article, so anybody have any other thoughts/suggestions??
I appreciate all the continued love, support and prayers. Please know that I am ready to kick this cancer's ass!!
I will continue to write here and keep everyone up to date. Writing this has been very cathartic for me. Now off to the grocery store to get ready for turkey day!
Love, Lynn
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