ketchup

 

 

Ok- picking up where I left off:

 

5/17/13 brought another ultrasound, and it was supposed to be a biopsy as well, but due to the density of my breast and the location of the spot they could not see the lump with the ultrasound. So we scheduled an MRI biopsy for 5/30. I am a little apprehensive about that. I know that means it is pretty deep and that means a possibility of muscle invasion and a much larger surgical outlook.  Also- OWWWW!

5/19 I had a few close friends over for grilling and Blue Hawaiians. I am pretty sure I drank an entire blender full myself. Not everyone was aware of my situation, which was good because as much as I wanted to talk about it, I also really wanted it to just be a “normal” day.   I had a really wonderful day, and enjoyed myself immensely.

Monday 5/20 I had my first appointment with my oncologist. She is great. Really nice and makes me feel confident about my treatment plan. Since I had not gotten it done yet, we set up a BRACA test, and were also waiting on the Her2 test to come back. Also, as the 2nd biopsy was not done yet, we decided to go ahead and plan for the information we had.  That means I start chemo on 6/3. It is invasive ductal carcinoma Stage 1, Grade 3, but the lymph node they tested was clear. The first lump is big- over an inch. I will have 2 kinds of chemo over the course of 16 weeks. After the blood work we are waiting for comes back and my MRI biopsy is complete, we can decide on my surgical plan and any radiation therapies.

The chemo I will be having is: Adriamycin/Cytoxan for the first 4, then Taxol for the second 4. You can find more info about these at www.chemocare.com if you like. Basically it will be horrid. And get this: because of the complementary meds used with these- it is highly likely that I will GAIN weight. Murphy has nothing on Jeni’s Laws.

Absorbing the fact that I actually have a “chemo plan” is hard. There are so many restrictions with chemo. The food you eat (if you can eat,) housework, yard work, fun things, going out to eat, going to the grocery store. All the normal life things are all either off limits, or severely inhibited because of risk of infection. There will be blood tests to monitor my white and red blood cell count because this chemo affects your bone marrow. It also affects your heart muscle, so on 5/24 I had to have a MUGA scan of my heart to make sure that it is healthy enough to even go this route. I also had my chemo class with the head oncology nurse. She has got to be one of the sweetest people I have ever met. It was informative, and she answered all my questions clearly and thoroughly.

I don’t want to skip over the fact that on 5/22 John and I went to see Sir Paul McCartney!!! OMG it was awesome! I am an monster Wings fan, and a huge Beatles fan, and love pretty much everything that he has ever done. The show was phenomenal! He played for about 3 hours, and I would have been even happier if he played 20 more. He was funny and still as cute as ever. I CAN”T BELIEVE I GOT TO SEE  A BEATLE PLAY LIVE!! I cried a lot. Happy and sad tears. It was a beautiful show.

John and I have just been trying to get things done around the house before I am not able to help as much. Once my chemo port is put in on 5/31, I was told that I cannot lift more than 10 pounds. That means I can’t even pick up my cats. grrr. We have been moving the 3 truckloads of decomposed granite to the back in this area where we have a big umbrella. My plan was to sand and repaint this wicker bench that I was given and have it there. That will just have to wait.

The mosquitoes have been INSANE while we’ve been out there working. I am covered in welts. Eff those bitches! I don’t need West Nile on top of cancer- thank you very much!

Since I won’t be allowed to go swimming at all after the 2nd biopsy, I am taking the day off tomorrow to head up to Georgetown to take a dip at my favorite swimming hole around here. We’ve had some rain, so hopefully it will be full, but not gross. I just want to float around and not think about anything but the cold water.

After my MRI biopsy on 5/30 I also have an appointment for a 2nd opinion with the oncologist that worked with Bret’s mom, and some of her friends. She comes highly recommended. Mostly, I just want reassurance that the care that I am getting seems to be in order, and the plan for killing this cancer is a good one. I will take whatever advise and guidance I can from those who know more about this than I do.

And with that- you should all be mostly caught up. I’ll try to post some photos of the swimming hole and the yard project tomorrow.

much love to you all <3


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