Pictures Chemo #2

Chemo number 2.

Vanna seeing how cold the caps are.

Vanna kneeding the caps to the proper temperature.

Vanna and Cathy checking the caps.

Cathy holding up a cap.

Smudge wearing a cap with his Momma.

TCH Chemo #2

Today was my second "big chemo". It was taxotere, carboplatin and herceptin. I was very stressed out going into this. Its really hard when I know I am feeling pretty good right now and won't shortly. It was a whirlwind getting it all together. The ice, thermometer, breaking up the ice, packing the coolers, etc. Then going to othe drug store and fighting for the pills. They are supposed to be monthly but I am getting chemo every three weeks. This all while worrying about neglecting Julianna. My brother Rich was visiting so he was able to amuse Julianna for awhile. She is now staying at my friend Colleen's house. It is a HUGE help.

We got there with the packed cooler. Cathy and Vanna came. Cathy was going to teach Vanna what to do. They didn't like the idea that I had two people with me so we had to do the teaching part fast and Cathy had to leave. Despite Cathy's absence Vanna did a great job. we started the Cold Caps around 2. We finished them at 9pm. It was a very long day.

I didn't have any immediate side effects. When I got home I was having some trouble with balance.

The nurses at the chemo place said I should lose my hair by Christmas. It is still here. Today they said I should certainly lose it after this treatment, I am planning to prove them wrong.

Keep your fingers crossed that I have no side effects this time. Thanks so much for your support!

Herceptin #3

I had my third herceptin on Monday. It wasn't too bad. I am having some GI issues (still) and nosebleeds. Not too bad though.

The nurses at chemo were surprised I still had my hair. They said the real test is this week since it is almost always gone by the third week. I haven't seen ANY signs of loss. I am feeling pretty confident.

Thanks everyone!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Happy Birthday Nancy!!

Happy Birthday to my cousin Nancy!! I hope you make it through the blizzard. Here is some cake!

Walking

Going for a walk in the cold.

Me walking with Julianna, Smudge and Haley.
Cathy pushing Julianna. Smudge is running after them.

Cathy with her dogs Haley and Pippin.

We are supposed to get a big blizzard tomorrow. It is super cold out. Despite this I thought it would be a good idea to go walk. I bundled up Julianna, took Smudge (naked) and went up to Syosset to meet Cathy and her two dogs. Cathy's dogs were wearing their winter coats. Smudge's God given coat is pretty think and he hates clothes so he went as is. When we got there the car said it was 25 degress, waaaaayyyyyyy warmer then the cold caps.

We walked around the big field twice. It was nice. Julianna loved watching the dogs run. Despite the cold walking was a lot easier then it was the other day. So things are really looking up. I feel sooooooooooooo much better then I did. It is nice that the body can rally and bounce back.

After the walk we went to the grocery store to buy things in case we are snowed in for a few months. We are ready for whatever nature brings.

Getting Moving

Today was a pretty nice day. It was over 50 degrees which is great compared to how it has been. I am still having bone pain and stomach pain. I am also now getting mouth sores, also a side effect. Despite all that I knew I had to get moving today. I took Smudge up to Syosset to walk around the big field. We went around twice. Every step was hard but I know I really have to do it. It is about a mile around. After that I went to the grocery store, also exhausting. Its amazing that it can be so hard to do such normal things. I refuse to give in and Smudge won't let me.

I am going to try to move a little every day. I am hoping this bone pain goes away soon. I am not going to do the neulasta next time so I shouldn't get it again. If anyone wants to walk give me a call. I will go with you!

Herceptin #2

I went to see Dr. Citron (oncologist) today and then had my second herceptin infusion. Dr. Citron asked how it was going since the first big chemo. I told him about all the side effects I was having. He said the first one is often the most difficult because we don't know what to expect. Now that we know, we can treat the side effects. He said the stomach pain, nausea and bowel issues are because the chemo kills the lining of the GI tract. Then, when you add the decadron (steroid) you can get lots of issues. Not everyone does. I did. He gave me prescriptions for axid, prevacid and carafate. They are all to reduce acid or coat the GI tract. He thinks these may help a lot. He said a lot of people are on these everyday for all the months of chemo. He also told me we will skip the neulasta next cycle. We can do neupagen instead. Neulasta is the long acting form of neupagen. They checked all my blood counts and everything was within normal range. So, the neulasta did its job. Next time I hope I have the same counts with the neupagen. He also weighed me. I GAINED 3 pounds. I can't even believe it. They say it is from the steroid. I would figure I could at least lose a few pounds while doing chemo.

I then went to the infusion room for the herceptin. I was looking around and the room was really full of sick people. I mean visibly sick. I can't help but think, what the h%^& am I doing here? I feel like I got on a plane to Florida and it landed in a foreign country. I sure hope my hair stays in and I don't get yellow, pale, puffy or gaunt. I do not want to blend in with this group.

I asked them if I could exercise and they said yes. The last few days there was no way but I am really going to force myself to walk if I can. I finally got the results of my MUGA scan and my ejection fraction is 69%. I am told that is excellent. So I have no excuse to sit around too long.

The herceptin infusion took about an hour. I had some port issues but eventually it got going. That's two down on herceptin. I am not 100% sure but I think I need 15 more.

Thanks everyone!!!!! Thanks for your support. Julianna says "donk do."