Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Over the finish line 10/6/2010
I made it! This morning I had the surgery to remove my port-a-cath. With all the chemo, surgery, and radiation done, this was the last piece of the puzzle for me. On with life!
Friday, October 1, 2010
I'm on for Wednesday 10/1/2010
Today I go for an EKG, blood work, and chest x ray in preparation for surgery on Wednesday the 6th to remove my port. A year ago on October 7th, I had my first chemo. As an added bonus, last night was my last dose of coumadin. Once the port is out, I won't need to take it anymore. WooHoo!
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
All done! 9/28/2010
Today was my last Herceptin chemo. Unlike all the others, it only took a half hour for the drip to finish. It's all good. I was asked by one of the nurses if I'd learned any life lessons this past year. Truthfully? I can't say I have. I always knew that I could do anything I set my mind to. I know I have been through much more difficult times. I know I am so fortunate to have a family, and especially a husband that loves me. As ever I am me--bald, curly-haired, straight-haired, short-, long-, or in-between haired. The insides haven't changed. I knew all that before. All the past year has done was to confirm what I already knew. I do look forward to getting my life more completely back. It will be strange (in a good way) not measuring my life in 3 week increments, my reality for the past year.
Next up is a meeting on Thursday with the surgeon who will remove my port. If it were my decision, I'd have him take the port out on Thursday afternoon. But I'll have to get into the surgical schedule. I should know when it can come out by Thursday.
Follow ups with the oncologist will be every 2 months to start. I just had a mammogram (clean), and will have an MRI in February (alternating every 6 months). Other than that, no other tests will be done. My recent blood work was clean, too. So, soon, I will bid this chapter in my life adieu. Onward...
Next up is a meeting on Thursday with the surgeon who will remove my port. If it were my decision, I'd have him take the port out on Thursday afternoon. But I'll have to get into the surgical schedule. I should know when it can come out by Thursday.
Follow ups with the oncologist will be every 2 months to start. I just had a mammogram (clean), and will have an MRI in February (alternating every 6 months). Other than that, no other tests will be done. My recent blood work was clean, too. So, soon, I will bid this chapter in my life adieu. Onward...
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Only 1/3 more 9/8/2010
Yesterday I had my last full Herceptin infusion. Hard to believe it's been a year since diagnosis. I have one more partial infusion to go--on the 28th, and then I'll be done with it. The last infusion will only take 1/2 hour instead of the usual 1.5 hour hookup I usually get. Some doctors dispense with the last treatment, but my doctor is a stickler for protocol. Herceptin: good to the last drop.
I have an appointment with the surgeon 2 days later, at which time I'll set a date for the removal of the port. It can't be anytime soon enough. I can feel the port and the connecting tube (connects to my vein--see a good picture here) just under my skin. It will be a blessing never to need it again.
I have an appointment with the surgeon 2 days later, at which time I'll set a date for the removal of the port. It can't be anytime soon enough. I can feel the port and the connecting tube (connects to my vein--see a good picture here) just under my skin. It will be a blessing never to need it again.
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Living my life 8/26/2010
I got the results of the chest xray: clean. I got the results of my mammogram: clean. I got the results of the CA15-3 test (cancer marker test): clean. All I have to do now is be vigilant. I have one more full chemo to go, and a short infusion on the 28th of September. After that, I'll get the port removed. That's when I can really look back on cancer and say : Good riddance.
But no matter what the future may hold for me, I know that I can handle it. Life is sweet.
But no matter what the future may hold for me, I know that I can handle it. Life is sweet.
Friday, August 20, 2010
Spots 8/20/2010
Since the last time I posted, I have had another visit with the oncologist and another Herceptin infusion. When I meet with the doctor, I usually bring a list of things to discuss that I've written down, so I won't forget to ask. On this week's list were 3 particular issues. When will my last Herceptin infusion be, and when can I get my port out? And lastly, what are the purple spots (they look like small bruises) that pepper my right leg? It turns out that while I thought that I only had one more chemo, I have 1 1/3. I will go on 9/7 for my last full treatment (1 1/2 hours), and again on the 28th for 1/3 of a dose (only a half hour). I have to set up a time for the surgery to have the port removed. So I should be port-free by middle of October at the latest.
As far as the purple bruises, she had no idea. "Let's just wait and see what happens". As a matter of fact, by Thursday (my appointment was on Tuesday), the bruises appeared to be fading. But lo and behold, I now have bruises appearing on the other leg. It's the darndest thing: this is not a skin rash, but small, pencil-eraser sized bruises. Where will they go next?
The Arimidex is still the source of regular hot flashes, not too bad to deal with. But now to get a full night's sleep, I have to take Benadryl before I go to sleep. I fell asleep the other night without taking it, and even though I was very tired when I went to bed, I woke up at 3:00. Sleep disruptions are a side effect of Arimidex. But the Benadryl (the PM part of Tylenol PM) works pretty well to allow me to sleep right through.
Yesterday I had a blood test for my Coumadin level (3.06), and also a CA15-3 blood test. Curious as to what that was, I googled it to find that it is a marker for breast cancer. It is given to monitor the response to treatment of invasive breast cancer and to watch for recurrence of the disease. Needless to say, I'll be watching for those results.
All in all, I feel great!
As far as the purple bruises, she had no idea. "Let's just wait and see what happens". As a matter of fact, by Thursday (my appointment was on Tuesday), the bruises appeared to be fading. But lo and behold, I now have bruises appearing on the other leg. It's the darndest thing: this is not a skin rash, but small, pencil-eraser sized bruises. Where will they go next?
The Arimidex is still the source of regular hot flashes, not too bad to deal with. But now to get a full night's sleep, I have to take Benadryl before I go to sleep. I fell asleep the other night without taking it, and even though I was very tired when I went to bed, I woke up at 3:00. Sleep disruptions are a side effect of Arimidex. But the Benadryl (the PM part of Tylenol PM) works pretty well to allow me to sleep right through.
Yesterday I had a blood test for my Coumadin level (3.06), and also a CA15-3 blood test. Curious as to what that was, I googled it to find that it is a marker for breast cancer. It is given to monitor the response to treatment of invasive breast cancer and to watch for recurrence of the disease. Needless to say, I'll be watching for those results.
All in all, I feel great!
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