Surgery went well

We had to be at the hospital at 6am this morning for my lumpectomy surgery.  I didn’t get a lot of sleep last night.  I don’t think it was necessarily from anxiety about the surgery... more from feeling terrible from the head cold I picked up in San Diego.

Surgery wasn’t scheduled til 10:00 but there was some things that needed to be done beforehand.  Besides normal pre-surgery stuff (getting an IV, etc), they had to do what’s called a “needle loc” in the radiology department.  It’s essentially a mammogram guided wire placement. When I had my original biopsy done in March, they placed a metal clip into the breast tumor and into the lymph node showing where the cancer was located at the time.  As was hoped, the chemo shrank the tumor down to nothing.  The surgeon, Dr. Kennedy, needed a way to see where the tumor used to be so she could remove the tissue and have it tested.  Hence, the needle loc procedure.  HERE is a link for a description if you want to read about it.

The mammogram technician came to get me about 8am.  We got all setup and the radiologist came into do the procedure.  It included several mammogram images, poking a needle into the spot where the metal clip was, and then using the needle to thread a wire into the former tumor spot.  It took the radiologist 3 tries to get it in the right spot.  Did it hurt? Um, YES!  The words I would used to describe the pain are not too lady-like so I’ll let you use your imagination.  ;-)

Once that was over, the rest was easy.  I got to take a long nap.  Dr. Kennedy took out the tissue with metal clip and that will be tested in the lab.  She also took out some lymph nodes.  All in all, surgery went well.  And now we wait.... pathology results should be back by end of the week.

I’m planning to take it easy for the next day or two...

Back from vacay and ready for Step 2

We had a nice family trip to San Diego- got home yesterday.  Unfortunately, I have a cold.  :(  I'm still scheduled for my lumpectomy surgery tomorrow morning (Monday).  Prayers are gladly accepted.

We stayed at the Paradise Point Resort which was really nice.  A few of my favorite highlights were an evening at Belmont Park, day trip to Tijuana, dinner at the Melting Pot, and a massage at the spa.  It was really nice to get away and have a break.  Here's a few pictures from our trip:

I got to be...

Since March 16, I've been a cancer patient.  Doctors appointments, blood work, chemo treatments, hospital stay, scans, mammograms, etc.  That's been my life for the past four months.  I have focused on the goal and taken each step as was necessary.

We just returned from Abigail's freshman orientation at Cal Poly and, while we were gone, I got to be someone else for the 3 days.  Other than the fact that my eyes are still watering from chemo, I didn't have much of a reminder that I'm still a cancer patient.  And that's a good thing!  It was so nice to be focused on something else.

While we were gone,

I got to be a Cal Poly alumni.  I will admit it's pretty surreal being back on campus for our daughter's start at Cal Poly. It's been 21 years since Andy and I graduated.

I got to be a former San Luis Obipso resident.  We walked to Farmers Market from our hotel and walked by the house that I lived in my sophomore year.  It looks so different!

I got to be a mom of a kid going off to college.  The parents were separated from the students for most of the orientation.  We had a day and a half of sessions of how to prepare our student (and ourselves) for moving away from home and the start of college.

I got to be a consumer of adult beverages.  I haven't had anything to drink since my treatment started.  It was nice to be able to have one each night.

I got to be someone who was reminded how hilly and spread out the Cal Poly campus is.  My feet were definitely hurting by the end of this day.

I can't tell you how great it felt to do some "normal" things.  We will take Abigail back down mid-September and get her moved into the dorms.  That will be tough to drop her off.  As hard at it will be for us, I'm very excited for her to start this new chapter.

Humboldt Relay for Life

The American Cancer Society's Relay for Life in Humboldt County started last night.  It's a 24 hour event that starts off with an opening ceremony and a Survivor's Lap.  It hadn't crossed my mind to go but my mom invited me to go with her.  I don't quite yet consider myself a survivor, even though I know I should.  At what point should one consider themselves a survivor?

 

I admit that I had an unsettled feeling driving into the event.  I can't quite put my finger on why but I think it has something to do with the fact that my cancer diagnosis still doesn't quite seem real.  Or maybe surreal is a better word.  I still have a hard time thinking to myself that I have cancer.

I'm a "get it done and cross it off my list" kind of person.  I had a friend of ours say that he thinks I've "handled" this cancer diagnosis and treatment in a very business-like manner.  I don't think I would've come up with that description myself, but I think he's right.  You get the news, you make a plan, and you work the plan.  Step 1... step 2... step 3.  Yep, that's me.  It's probably the only way I could've gotten through this.

Back to Relay for Life.  I've never, once, doubted that I'd get through this.  Going to Relay helped me see that there are lots of other survivors out there that got through it also.  Here's a picture of me with a family friend, Michelle, that is also getting through this too.

And a picture that was taken during the Survivor's lap of my mom and I.  It ended up in the Times Standard...

They had a big white canvas that Survivor's could put a handprint with their name and how long they've been a survivor.  Mine is the pink one, under the 2018, close to my hands.  

People can buy these luminaries (a white paper bag with a candle in it) and have something written on them.  You can do it in honor or in memory of someone.  My parents bought this one in honor of me.  When it gets dark, they light all the candles and it's pretty cool.

I should be all done with my treatments by this time next year.  I plan to walk in the Survivor's Lap again.  Anyone want to join me?

Clover for luck?

Back in March, just before I found out about my diagnosis, my very awesome bestie, Sandi, gave me a clover plant.  It was right before St. Patrick's Day.  She said something to the effect that she was hoping it would bring me good luck with my biopsy, etc.

Those who know me well know that I am not a very good plantkeeper.  They don't usually make it.  I really do try and I'm not sure if it's over- or under-watering them that's the problem, but let's just say that I'm lucky my children are still alive. ;-).  Anyhoo, the plant has lost a LOT of leaves.  I probably should've transplanted it into something bigger a couple months ago.  Hey, maybe that's another problem. I've thought it was dead and almost thrown it out, but something has kept me from doing that.  This plant has been part of my journey.  

I haven't come across a 4 leaf clover YET, but I'm not losing hope.  And even if it doesn't happen, it's okay.  I'm okay with the fact that I'm a better cancer survivor (or shall we say cancer ass-kicker!) than a plant keeper or clover grower.  I'll let you know if I find a four leaf clover.

This time is different

Round 4 of chemo has been mostly the same as the previous 3.  I've felt similar the few days afterwards, but, mentally, it's been better.  I've been able to focus on the fact that, hopefully, I won't have to go through these post-chemo days again.  The Sunday and Monday afterwards are the hardest and I'm through with them!  And each day is one day closer to the end of this.

One other thing that's really helped me is that on Friday, I shipped those cold caps back to the company!  I love them for helping me keep my hair but I couldn't stand to look at them any longer!

I've struggled with stomach problems throughout... not nausea; just an irritated, angry stomach.  It comes and goes, but it's one of the toughest parts for me.  I'm thankful there hasn't been much nausea... I know some people really struggle.  I'm still having the stomach problems but hopefully it will get better.  One thing it does do is keep me from wanting to drink alcohol.  I thought I might want a drink or two after chemo was all done, but I have absolutely NO desire whatsoever.  My liver is probably thanking me though.  It is still recovering.

I know there are still a lot of steps left in my treatment plan but I feel one step closer each day!

Taste buds

I think we all take our taste buds for granted. I know I used to... but now, oh how I wish my taste buds were fully functional.  I used to not think twice about if things tasted "right."  Hopefully they recover soon.  It's hard to explain what the problem is but things just taste off.  Water, especially, tastes weird.  After my past chemo sessions, things usually start to improve right about 3 weeks out.  Hoping that that's the case this time too.

Thinking about taste buds reminds me of this class activity that I did when I was in elementary school.  We were learning about sense of taste.  We had to taste 4 different items:  pretzel (salty), marshmallow (sweet), lemon (sour), and orange peel (bitter).  When I'm eating and missing my sense of taste, I think about this and tell myself that I WILL taste normally again.

Drip, drip, drip

Chemo #4 has started.  Sitting here with Andy and Abigail.  Drug #1 is complete and we’ve started the cold caps.  Have to wear them 1 hour before the hair-loss chemo starts, all during chemo, and 3 hours afterwards.

One thing I’ve done for all 4 Chemo rounds is to wear the exact same outfit and same jewelry.  One of my survivor/warrior friends gave me the idea.  Bracelets courtesy of J.T., Norma, and Maile.

Pins courtesy of Norma, Grandma Jane, and Jill.

Doctor's update

I have chemo #4 tomorrow (Thursday) so I thought this would be as good a time as any to do a little medical update.  I had a mammogram on Monday to check the progress of how well the chemo is working.  Great news- it's working very well and has shrunk the tumor to the point that the radiologist can't see any evidence of it.  Yay!

I had an oncology appointment yesterday and he outlined the rest of my treatment going forward.  After tomorrrow's chemo (the last of the "harsh" variety- 4 meds: Taxotere, Carboplatijn, Herceptin, and Perjeta), any infusions I receive will be shorter and have relatively little side effects.  I will also not need to do the chemo cold caps anymore.  That will be awesome!  My next infusion (not technically chemo) will be on August 16.  It will be targeting/blocking the HER2 receptors.  I won't go into too many details but HER2 is essentially a type of hormone that my cancer tested positive for.  I will have to do at least 12 of these infusions, every 3 weeks.

I will have lumpectomy surgery on July 30, which should be an outpatient procedure.  At some point in the next few weeks I will have a consultation appointment with the radiation oncology department.  I will have to do 4-6 weeks of radiation, 5 days a week.

In about 3 weeks, I have to start a prescription called an arotamase inhibitor and will have to take it for 5-10 years.  This helps prevent recurrence from happening by blocking estrogen that would make cancer grow.  In addition to the arotamase inhibitor, I have to get an ovary suppression injection every 3 months- menopause here I come!  Can't wait for that... <insert eyeroll>.  I also have to get an injection every 6 months to prevent osteoporosis, which is apparently a side effect of this whole cocktail.

That's probably more than you ever wanted to know about breast cancer treatment...  questions?  Let me know.  I'm glad to answer them, especially if it helps someone else who may go through this.

Hair report

Yes I still have my hair!  There's this look people get on their faces when they know I'm going through chemo treatments but they haven't seen me in awhile... I can see the question running through their minds, "why does she still have hair?! Shouldn't she be bald by now?"  The answer is, yes, I probably should be bald.  But I've found a magic weapon against hair loss, at least on my head. 

Some people may not know that I'm using the chemo cold caps.  Not everyone knows about that.  I've talked to at least 3 people in the medical field that haven't heard of them.  It is a somewhat new option in the US, recently approved by the FDA.  They've been available in Europe for 30 years or more.  Guess we're a little behind the times here in the good ol' USA.   I'm happy to report that the cold caps are working really well.  

This picture was taken today (after 3 rounds of chemo) so you can see that I still have my hair.  My lower eyelashes and eyebrows have thinned a little but I still have them.  As far as the hair on the rest of my body, I don't have to shave which is a little silver lining you could say.  I can only wash my hair once a week which is tough.  I re-defined what I used to consider a "bad hair day."  I wear my hair pulled back a lot because it's easier.  But I'm very grateful to have my hair still.  We all know how you look affects how you feel.  

I hope more people try the cold caps.  It's catching on slowly.  If you know anyone who's on the fence about it, I'd love to share my experience with them.