How the chemo grinch tried to steal Christmas.......

For those who haven't been exposed to chemo treatments (and I pray you never will)!

While my last post told how well chemo went and how good I felt afterwards,  much to my disappointment it did not last. 

I had chemo on Wednesday 12/17 afternoon. 

Thursday I felt OK. 

Friday, I began to feel really tired, had a sore throat and just wanted to rest. Because I was tired I chose to miss a volunteer luncheon I was invited to attend. 

Saturday, December 20th (just like they explained the side effect meds given at the beginning of each treatment last 48-72 hours,) found me flat on my back either in bed or on the couch. I was wiped out with total fatigue, sore throat, and rash all over with uncontrollable itching from head to toe. It took everything I had just to get up and eat or drink something as I knew I had to in order to sustain physically.

Sunday, pretty much the same. My sister attended my needs to make sure I ate or drank like I needed to and another day passed. 

My doctor felt if we did chemo on the 17th then I would feel better by Christmas. So in my controlling mind, Christmas is on Thursday so Monday is technically Christmas week so I should be feeling better. Right?  Wrong!  I called the doctor to advise about the rash and uncontrollable itching. I knew the sore throat and fatigue were typical side effects of the chemo but mentioned just to be safe. I so don't want to be a wimpy patient. They called me in a steroid dose pack and said they would see me for my routine post chemo check up on Wednesday 12/24. 

Tuesday, Christmas Eve Eve came and me, Abi, Pat and my boyfriend Steve had our Christmas together. I felt some better at least like sitting at the table and enjoying gifts and time together.  Pat prepared hamburger steaks, baked potatoes and salad as I had requested for our dinner and we had a lovely time together. We have normally done our gift exchange before actual Christmas Day because my children usually had to switch up holidays between me and their dad. That is our special little thing we do and of course Abi is going to use that card to her advantage. 

Wednesday, Christmas Eve I went for my check up and blood work. Dr Gian advised that my white blood count (WBC) was only 300 which means that I have no immunity in my body to fight off anything. "Please stay away from crowds or anyone who may have any kind of cough, cold, or illness your body cannot fight off a simple germ that others can. If you start to run a fever call the office and we will bring you in but if the office is closed go straight to the ER And they WILL admit you. A fever would mean that you are getting sick and your body can't fight it."

Well I heard that loud and clear!  I know what is at the hospital and that is not where I want to be! WITH THE SICK PEOPLE. 

My fatigue, sore throat and rash are all common side effects of the chemo. However my WBC being so low is not the optimal response they hope for. Therefore after each of my next 3 treatments I will have to go back 24 hours later and have a Neulasta shot. This stimulates my immune system to generate neutrophils. You can read more on that by searching Neulasta. In addition, this shot comes with own unique set of side effects. 

I praise Jesus that I have not had nausea or vomiting as side effects!!  Dr. Gian said I was maintaining my weight which is good and means I am eating enough. I have always been good at maintaining my weight. LOL. 

After going to the doctor I came home and took a rest so I would feel up to going with Steve to have Christmas with his family that evening. That worked out well having dinner and time with them at his niece's house. 

Christmas Day -  for the past 15 years I have had to joy to spend Christmas lunch with some extra special extended family in Nashville. They are my ex-husbands biological father, his wife and their families. This works because my ex-husband chooses to not acknowledge them or have anything to do with them. (Long story, generational curses, parents teaching kids to choose one parent, his loss is definitely my gain!). Steve has gone with me the past 3 years and we all just get along and enjoy the people God has blessed us with. 

We were supposed to be in Brentwood by 12:30 which meant leaving home around 11:30. Everything now after chemo started is about pacing myself. As I got out of bed and walked to the den I just didn't have the mental or physical energy to shower and go anywhere. Although I had already checked to make sure no one or their children were sick I felt like I might have a slight fever and did not want to take any chances. I chose to stay at home on the couch and not use my energy to shower and get pretty. 

Pat and Abi offered to stay home with me but I really wanted everyone to go about their plans and enjoy Christmas Day with all of our people. I sent them on their way to Huntsville for Christmas with our family. Originally Steve and I were going to drive to Huntsville to see my family after lunch and visiting in Brentwood if I felt up to it. One of the little ones there had a slight cough so I had elected already to not make that trip.

After Pat and Abi went on their way I called my next door neighbor Judi. She and her family are more extended family that I have been blessed to have in my life for the past 15 years. They were having Christmas breakfast that was prepared by her granddaughter Ellen and no one there had any sniffles or ailments so I knocked my hair (yes it's still there) down put on some clothes and walked over to have breakfast with them.  Thank you Judi, Hank, Lisa, Leigh, Ellen and my most special boy Stephen. I can't begin to tell you all how much this sweet little family means to me. God knew our futures when I moved to this house!

After my little breakfast visit I walked back home then Steve came over for the day. I spent the day on one end of my sectional and he on the other watching TV. Steve went and got Hardee's burgers for lunch. Pat and Abi returned home at 7:30 bringing a spread of Christmas dinner from my mom, sister Brenda and niece Priscilla. 

In the past 3 years Steve and I have had the joy of going on a beach trip the week after Christmas. While we had a trip planned for this year we chose not to go because of my treatment and care. I must say YES I miss the ocean but it feels good to be at home while I feel this way. 

The past 2 days I have started to feel better and have more energy. This is exactly how they tell you chemo will be. Feel OK day of, feel bad to really bad the next week, start feeling better by 2nd week, feel pretty good by 3rd week then have your next treatment. YEP I'm textbook I would say. 

Today is day 11 after my first treatment. I still have all of my hair because I elected to keep it as long as it wanted to stay. Generally it starts to come out between day 7-14 so we will see when my new look  happens.  Food does not taste like my mind knows it should. Fortunately I don't have the metallic taste that many get. On the other hand chocolate and sweets taste rancid if I chew too long or have more than one bite. Food must be very moist (yes Elizabeth and Misty I used that word!) otherwise it becomes a blob I have to spit out. After about three bites of anything it just feels like chew and swallow with no taste at all. My favorite foods this week have been dill pickles, plain Lays chips and French onion dip. Told ya I could maintain my weight! 

An interesting fact I read about maintaining weight while on chemo is that for every pound you weigh you need to consume 16 calories. In other words a person weighing 160 needs to consume 2400 calories per day. That would be no issue if food tasted good. At this point it is oddly a challenge to consume that many calories.  Boost extra protein is my go to snack, drink, just give me something to consume. Chocolate of course!

This Wednesday 12/31 I have blood checked again then next chemo on 1/8 then Neulasta shot 1/9

By next post I will probably be modeling my new hats and scarves that I have received. New year, new look, new boobs 2015 is gonna rock! 

And I want to give a big shout out and prayers to my dear friend Lisa as she embarks in the morning on a whole new chapter in the life of her and her husband Greg. Lisa leaves in the morning to fly to St Thomas USVI where they are moving to live. I am so proud that you all are taking this step in faith to persue your dreams!  If you can't follow your dreams why have them?  God, I pray you protect them and show them grace as they serve others through healthcare and follow their dreams. 

“Have courage. Open your heart, and listen to what your dreams tell you. Follow those dreams, because only a person who is not ashamed can manifest the glory of God. 
There is no sin but the lack of love. Have courage, be capable of loving, even if love appears to be a treacherous and terrible thing. Be happy in love. Be joyful in victory. Follow the dictates of your heart. 
Meet obligations in life. But obligations never prevented anyone from following their dreams.” 
― Paolo Coelho

Love you all and stay strong!

Sherry

That right there is one pretty gal. I love her so!

What a blessed first chemo day.

Let me share what a blessed day I have had. 

The first blessing of the day was that I learned that I and my brother-in-law Brad Stoker in Texas were having chemo at the exact same time. While I had my first treatment Brad was having his first of a new treatment to, slow the progression of Glioblastoma (brain tumors) that he had surgery for 2 years ago. The tumors are recurring and growing. He is such an amazing fighter through all of this. I LOVE YOU BRAD!  It was so good to see him and my sister Janet as they came for Thanksgiving. Prayers for them too please!

God has covered me so well with answered prayers that so many of you continue to lift for me. Chemo actually didn't get started until closer to 2:00pm so I didn't get finished until 5:30. That was ok because when I was seated in my treatment chair I was surrounded my many seasoned patients who have been at this much longer than I have. I ask that when you pray for me you pray for the comfort and healing of the patients I come in contact with and that God will use me to inspire and share Jesus with them as he would desire and the time is appropriate.

1st 30 minute IV bag was decadron (steroid, hence the reason I am awake this time of night) and Aloxi for anti-nausea, next 15 minute bag was another anti-nausea med then 1hr bag of chemo med Taxotere, then another 1hr chemo bag of Cytoxan. Praise Jesus that I had no reaction to any of the meds, especially the Taxotere as that is the med many have a reaction to which is shortness of breath. 

Also during the Taxotere they whipped out the cool gloves which are great big fur lined, thick gel filled, frozen mittens. The purpose of the cool gloves is that it helps reduce the nerve damage to fingertips and finger nails. The chemo can make fingernails turn dark and die. 

This was my home alone pose!  But I was not alone. Along with Jesus sitting right beside me I was accompanied by my girl Abi and sister Pat.  Thumbs up 👍

Then later in the day my friend Malinda came to visit and brought me this wise owl that I owl always cherish. Min case you didn't know damask is my fave pattern, especially black and white!

When chemo was over I was feeling pretty spry thanks to the decadron and no nausea thanks to those bags so we went to dinner with Malinda and her family. Needless to say I ate good and plenty!  While I had a good appetite I thought I would indulge it. 

When arriving home after my chemo/feast but "what to my wandering eyes did appear"

These pretty pink boxing gloves left on my porch by my dear friends Nancy and Sam. I love a good fight ha know!

But wait there's more...

Right there perched in my recliner was tucked a little Christmas bag from my thoughtful sister Frieda and husband Glenn. And folded neatly inside were 2 beautiful scarves for me to stylishly wrap my head in when my hair moves out in the next 7-14 days. I am encouraged about that by all of you and especially by comments from my friend Kelly that I mentioned in an earlier post as traveling this route ahead of me. Thanks Kell!  Yesterday at work Elizabeth showed me how to wrap a head scarf then Holly at the ABC wig bank showed me as well ....and here is my very first attempt at doing a head wrap on myself that I was so unsure of on Monday, I got this what was I thinking?

Well my eyes are getting heavy and the reflux from overeating and chemo is subsiding, the 2nd hot flash (oh my on top of the ones at night already) has passed so I think I will call it a night!

What's next:  PET scan that was scheduled for tomorrow 7am was cancelled because insurance wouldn't pay because my lymph nodes were clear (that's a good thing).  So now it is whole body CT scan at 11:50 tomorrow which means 6hrs NPO before and that I need to get up at 5:30am to eat to fight nausea and fatigue. Next chemo is January 8 (Elvis' birthday). I need to borrow or buy a cheap Elvis wig to wear so I can put some smiles on the faces of my new chemo friends who are there and are fighting a tougher battle. If you can hook me up you know how to find me!

Love to all!

I told you I am blessed and I hope you feel loved and blessed to!

Sherry

Chemo time!

Since my last post I have done very well with recovery from surgery. To date I have received 3 fill ups in my tissue expanders and will have at least one more on 12/23. I have felt really good and returned to work on December 8. This was just 4 weeks after my double mastectomy. 

I also had a birthday on December 9. This particular birthday was more humble for me considering the fact that cancer could have taken my life. 

On Thursday, Dec 11 I had my first visit with oncology. It was a very informative appointment. I learned that in addition to the ER/PR/HER status of my cancer there is also another level that is checked which is the Ki67 level and mine was 36. This level indicates that my cancer was one that multiplied rapidly.  Below I will show a couple of pictures I took while Dr. Gian was explaining everything to me. This made understanding much easier for me. It may not make much sense to you but I am putting them here for me to refer back to.  

The first picture explains how the biology of my cancer is determined as well as the receptor results. 

The picture below is the flow of my treatment plan. 

Up to now the surgery and recovery have been an easy path to travel. I know that is largely due to answered prayers that have been lifted by many many people. Now, the rubber meets the road. The oncology appointment and all of the information given to me is a bit overwhelming. From Friday, 12/12 to Thursday, I have 8 appointments for various things. Three of these appointments were elective for educational and assistance as provided by the ABC program through YMCA.  Here is a glimpse of my week. 

Friday, 12/12 - evaluation by lymphedema therapist for baseline and education

Monday, 12/15 - 9:20 GYN appointment, 2:45 Chemo learning class (and I will say I learned everything I NEVER wanted to know about chemo

Tuesday, 12/16 - 8:30 expander fill appt, 2:00 Wig bank appt with ABC -got wig, 3:00 eval with dietician for ABC Program

Wednesday, 12/17 - 12:45 first chemo treatment

Thursday, 12/18 - 7:00am PET scan

Let me tell a little about chemo teaching. The chemo nurse gave me a tour of the chemo treatment area and explained how things would flow during my treatments. This is when reality really hit that I am actually going through this. She explained each medication I would receive and the sequence they would be given in. She went over all possible side effects that could occur with each drug along with everything I should watch for and what to do in the event they happened.  Yes I will lose my hair and this generally happens between 7-14 days after the first treatment. The nurse advised the you can usually know when your hair will come out because you have a scalp pain not like a headache. This is indication that the hair cells are dying resulting in hair loss soon. Many people choose to go ahead and shave their head at that point. 

So my next big decision is do I want to shave my head this weekend or wait and see if I can keep my hair for Christmas and shave it after Christmas?  In either choice, all I want for Christmas is head wraps, hats and scarves.  So that I don't shock anyone when walking in at Christmas events, I will likely play the waiting game and shave after Christmas. If that doesn't work, I got a really pretty wig today. 

I wish you all a Merry Christmas and Healthy New Year with love and peace!

Sherry