I know I haven't posted for a while. Busy season is kicking my butt. On Friday morning, though, it will all be over. And then I get two 4-day weekends in a row. Woo Hoo! No medical information to report because I haven't had any appointments lately. I have both a radiation follow-up and a plastic surgeon consult in January. Then, nothing until March.
Monica has an ex-friend who contacted me anonymously (from another friend's phone) to report that Monica has been smoking cigarettes and pot and sneaking out to be with a man that is 6 years or so older than her. She finally confessed who she was when Kevin and I started calling that number to find out who it was. I no longer smoke, so I would smell smoke on her if she had been smoking, and I know that this ex-friend does most of the things she accused Monica of.
I contacted her mom and suggested that they come over to hash things out and move on with their lives, and that Monica was willing to take a drug test so we should test them both. She agreed to be here today at 2. I brought the test home yesterday and Monica took it. Nothing. (I'm not the least bit surprised.) Today, they called to ask if they could postpone. Eh. Whatever. I like this lady and have no beef with her at all, so if they ever come over, that's fine. If not though, it'll be no skin off my nose.
The allegations of Monica sneaking out prompted me to ask when this supposedly happened last. Ex-friend said that it was on Monica's birthday. Umm, if you are going to make things up, make up a random date. Don't pick one so easy for us to remember. Monica was with me all evening. We were laughing about the stupidity of a guy who was sending stupid texts to her. We stayed up late that night.
This other girl just thrives on drama. I know that all teens have some drama, but this one is over the top. She tried trash-talking about me to Monica, and that was the last straw. This family has had enough drama in the past year without some immature little girl making up stories. Also, being faced with my mortality has made my children pretty dang protective of me. We're content to just be happy together.
So, with the afternoon free, we cleaned house and I made a big pot of chili. Time for some football and a nap. I love weekends.
Showing posts with label drugs. Show all posts
Showing posts with label drugs. Show all posts
Sunday, December 16, 2012
Wednesday, June 27, 2012
Chemo, Round Two
This time, I remembered to jot down the names of everything they give me in that IV. I know they switch things out a lot, and I was mad at myself for not taking notes the first time. I'll share what they are, but first I have to give a shout-out to my girls.
I went by myself this time, armed with computer, books, etc to occupy my time. I fired up the computer, and within five minutes, Monica was sending a Skype request. I accepted, and then laughed the remainder of my time there. She started out by dancing for me. She turned on music and just went to town, dancing and dancing longer than you can imagine. The nurse got a big kick out of it, too.
Soon, Natalie joined her and they both danced. We chatted and made bad jokes and laughed. Monica even played her guitar and sang for me! At one point, the nurse called another nurse to come watch. They both laughed with us. Later, she told me that she's been doing this for 23 years, and has never been serenaded before. It really made the time fly by!
Now, back to all the IV bag swapping! Here is the stuff that I currently get, every other Wednesday. Bags 3, 5, and 7 are the same bag, they just switch to it between other stuff. All of it goes through my port access, but the Adriamycin has to be done via syringe (slowly) and watched. It's some bad-ass stuff. Fun fact: Makes me pee red, too. TMI? Sorry. Too late. Here goes:
Bag 1
Dexamethasone - Steroid
Famotidine -Nausea
Palonosetron - Nausea
Bag 2
Emend - Nausea
Bag 3
Saline
Bag 4
Adriamycin via syringe (2) - Chemo
Bag 5
Saline
Bag 6
Cytoxan - Chemo
Bag 7
Saline
I went by myself this time, armed with computer, books, etc to occupy my time. I fired up the computer, and within five minutes, Monica was sending a Skype request. I accepted, and then laughed the remainder of my time there. She started out by dancing for me. She turned on music and just went to town, dancing and dancing longer than you can imagine. The nurse got a big kick out of it, too.
Soon, Natalie joined her and they both danced. We chatted and made bad jokes and laughed. Monica even played her guitar and sang for me! At one point, the nurse called another nurse to come watch. They both laughed with us. Later, she told me that she's been doing this for 23 years, and has never been serenaded before. It really made the time fly by!
Now, back to all the IV bag swapping! Here is the stuff that I currently get, every other Wednesday. Bags 3, 5, and 7 are the same bag, they just switch to it between other stuff. All of it goes through my port access, but the Adriamycin has to be done via syringe (slowly) and watched. It's some bad-ass stuff. Fun fact: Makes me pee red, too. TMI? Sorry. Too late. Here goes:
Bag 1
Dexamethasone - Steroid
Famotidine -Nausea
Palonosetron - Nausea
Bag 2
Emend - Nausea
Bag 3
Saline
Bag 4
Adriamycin via syringe (2) - Chemo
Bag 5
Saline
Bag 6
Cytoxan - Chemo
Bag 7
Saline
Thursday, May 3, 2012
The Report from My Oncologist (The Plan)
I'll try to keep from rambling from place to place in this post, but I'm on information overload, so there are no guarantees.
I'm taking part in a clinical trial. No, this doesn't mean I'm getting un-tested drugs or anything. I will get the same mix of chemo drugs that the doctor would prescribe anyway, but because of this trial, there is a 50% chance I'll be chosen to get an extra drug that has not typically been used in cases like mine, but might be beneficial. There are slightly over 3200 women, with cancer similar to mine, who will be a part of this trial. It was purely voluntary on my part.
Some people with breast cancer are HER2-positive. In that case, they are given Herceptin. It is to fight this protein. When it comes to your HER2 number, you are a +1, +2, or +3. +3 means you are HER2 positive. Otherwise, you are considered HER2 negative. I am a +2. Technically, that makes me HER2 negative, but they are doing this trial to see if "HER2-Low" patients (me) might benefit from Herceptin. Whether or not I get this extra drug is the only variable based on the trial. Other than that, all other drugs/treatments will be the same.
My chemo will start in late May. Probably another 3 weeks or so. My cocktail will be Doxorubicin and Cyclophosphamide. This will be given every 2 weeks for 4 cycles. After that I will take Paclitaxel once each week for 12 cycles. If I am in the part of the trial getting Herceptin, I will receive it during this same 12 week period, plus every 3 weeks for a year. There is no additional cost to me for this drug, since it is part of a trial.
After all chemo is over, they will talk to me about doing radiation. That isn't a decision that has been made, but it seems that they are leaning that way. We'll get through the chemo nonsense first. Woo Hoo! A summer vacation for the ages, no?
I can't find that I've explained tissue expanders much on here, so if I have, ignore this part. When they did the mastectomy, they inserted a tissue expander. This is basically a special type of breast implant that is deflated. Because of my original size, they filled it partially while doing the surgery to insert it. After the final drain is out (more on that later*) I will start visiting the plastic surgeon's office every two weeks for a "fill." They will add a bit more saline each time.
This is basically stretching out that pectoral muscle in preparation for the permanent implant. Here is the cool part: We just keep going with this plan until I am happy with the size. (Yes, Kevin gets a vote.) When we decide it is what I want to have forever, then they do reconstruction on the right side to match. (Take THAT, gravity!) Because of chemo, we'll schedule the fills around that. My blood counts will be at their best the day before chemo, so that is the day I'll get a fill.
Wow, I hope this all makes sense. Please feel free to ask ANY questions you have at all. I'm still figuring it out, and certainly feel better after a nap. If I had tried to type this right after getting home, it would have been gibberish.
*Oh, and as far as that second drain? I've decided to embrace the drain and adopt it as a member of the family. His name is Jaxson. He is QUITE productive. He will be a part of my life until he gets lazy enough to produce under 30cc in a 24 hour period. This morning, that ambitious little guy gave up 85cc before noon! Ahhh. Isn't he precious? I think I'll draw a face on him and accept him as a permanent part of the family.
I'm taking part in a clinical trial. No, this doesn't mean I'm getting un-tested drugs or anything. I will get the same mix of chemo drugs that the doctor would prescribe anyway, but because of this trial, there is a 50% chance I'll be chosen to get an extra drug that has not typically been used in cases like mine, but might be beneficial. There are slightly over 3200 women, with cancer similar to mine, who will be a part of this trial. It was purely voluntary on my part.
Some people with breast cancer are HER2-positive. In that case, they are given Herceptin. It is to fight this protein. When it comes to your HER2 number, you are a +1, +2, or +3. +3 means you are HER2 positive. Otherwise, you are considered HER2 negative. I am a +2. Technically, that makes me HER2 negative, but they are doing this trial to see if "HER2-Low" patients (me) might benefit from Herceptin. Whether or not I get this extra drug is the only variable based on the trial. Other than that, all other drugs/treatments will be the same.
My chemo will start in late May. Probably another 3 weeks or so. My cocktail will be Doxorubicin and Cyclophosphamide. This will be given every 2 weeks for 4 cycles. After that I will take Paclitaxel once each week for 12 cycles. If I am in the part of the trial getting Herceptin, I will receive it during this same 12 week period, plus every 3 weeks for a year. There is no additional cost to me for this drug, since it is part of a trial.
After all chemo is over, they will talk to me about doing radiation. That isn't a decision that has been made, but it seems that they are leaning that way. We'll get through the chemo nonsense first. Woo Hoo! A summer vacation for the ages, no?
I can't find that I've explained tissue expanders much on here, so if I have, ignore this part. When they did the mastectomy, they inserted a tissue expander. This is basically a special type of breast implant that is deflated. Because of my original size, they filled it partially while doing the surgery to insert it. After the final drain is out (more on that later*) I will start visiting the plastic surgeon's office every two weeks for a "fill." They will add a bit more saline each time.
This is basically stretching out that pectoral muscle in preparation for the permanent implant. Here is the cool part: We just keep going with this plan until I am happy with the size. (Yes, Kevin gets a vote.) When we decide it is what I want to have forever, then they do reconstruction on the right side to match. (Take THAT, gravity!) Because of chemo, we'll schedule the fills around that. My blood counts will be at their best the day before chemo, so that is the day I'll get a fill.
Wow, I hope this all makes sense. Please feel free to ask ANY questions you have at all. I'm still figuring it out, and certainly feel better after a nap. If I had tried to type this right after getting home, it would have been gibberish.
*Oh, and as far as that second drain? I've decided to embrace the drain and adopt it as a member of the family. His name is Jaxson. He is QUITE productive. He will be a part of my life until he gets lazy enough to produce under 30cc in a 24 hour period. This morning, that ambitious little guy gave up 85cc before noon! Ahhh. Isn't he precious? I think I'll draw a face on him and accept him as a permanent part of the family.
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