Cycles 1-4 consist of 3 different types of chemo drugs: Fluororacil, Doxorubicin ("Red Devil" 👹), and Cyclophosphamide every 3 weeks. Chemo week is supposed to be the hardest. It starts on day 1 (chemo day) and symptoms are supposed to progress through day 7. Today is day 6 of dancing with the devil. Somehow, my body tolerated the dance incredibly well!
Nausea/ fatigue- Overall, just a little nausea and exhaustion. I experienced about an hour (over the span of 6 days) where the exhaustion and nausea were pretty strong but those moments passed very quickly. As an example (on day 2), I took a shower and loaded clothes into the dryer. Just those 2 tasks, KNOCKED ME OUT for about 15 min. haha! From then on, I've had to downshift my energy level to about 25% by sitting most of the day.
Stomach / Pain- Night 4, I experienced some wicked stomach cramps!!
Hair loss- So far, hair is still on my head but I'm dreading the moment it begins to fall out. I fear brushing it and seeing a clump on the brush.
Appetite (Weight loss/Weight gain)- The steroid the first couple of days gave me a huge appetite but the nausea helped me keep it under control. So far, I haven't lost or gained any weight.
I feel so damn lucky. 💗
Chemo Round #1
Things are about to get real. I had to buy barf bags online last night and had my 1st chemo cycle this morning. We arrived at MD Anderson at 6:15am. Had blood work and at 7:30am went into this room. I was expecting a very large room with lots of people having treatment in reclining chairs, so a private room was a pleasant surprise.
We were in the room for 3 hours. The first 30 minutes consisted of flushing my port and administering 3 different nausea medications and a steroid. The following 2.5 hours consisted of the 3 chemo drugs (F.A.C). One of them has a "street name" of Red Devil. Love the warm and fuzzy feeling that it gives me hearing the name, but I'll welcome and embrace this little cocktail as it helps me beat this thing. Thankfully, it was a non eventful day and I feel great other than sleepy and a little queasy.
CHEMO #1 with MY #1- ✅ ❤️
7 to go!!!
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| It was actually RED. 👹 |
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| Sunrise from MD Anderson this morning. |
Port Surgery
I had my port surgery at MD Anderson yesterday with Dr. Ervin Brown. He is an incredible surgeon that specializes in port surgeries. He has done over 11,000! He is also known for singing oldies to his patients during the entire surgery (I was in there for an hour and 20 minutes). At the end of the surgery, he held my hand and sang "Hooked on a Feeling". The nurses were singing along as well. Amazing right!? For me, this was an experience, not a surgery. Then, last night Dr. Brown sent me an email with "A Song For You" written in the subject. He included his rendition of "What a Wonderful World". This man is doing what he loves and it shows. I am so thankful to get to know these wonderful people that are taking care of me. I would have never had the privilege to experience something like it, but I got to because of you, cancer. You are not as big and tough as you think you are!!! 😤
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| Ready! |
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| My new friend. |
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What A Difference A Year Makes
Exactly 1 year ago, we were preparing to surprise the boys on a week long trip to Disney World. This year, I'm wig shopping. A week from today I will have had my first cycle of chemo. I have this crazy urge to accomplish a bunch of things that I assume I will not feel like doing soon. I can only describe this feeling as "nesting" as one would with the upcoming arrival of a baby. Christmas decorations are almost done. Wig shopping has begun. The dilemma? How in the world am I going to find a wig that doesn't make me laugh. Or cry?
Although this November isn't quite as fun as last November, I feel luckier than ever for all of the humans in life. 💟
Although this November isn't quite as fun as last November, I feel luckier than ever for all of the humans in life. 💟
IN CASE YOU WERE WONDERING...THESE ARE WIGS. 😜
Bring It!!!
Joe must have felt like he was in college during our appointment today because he took 5 pages of notes on his iPad. I'll keep this update brief and try to highlight the most important points.
MD Anderson confirmed the original diagnosis. HER2 results came back as positive. The doctor said this is good news as it gives us something besides chemo to attack the mass.
I am scheduled to have my port surgery on Monday, Nov. 20th. I'll get to keep that little guy until February of 2019. A whole year and a couple of months. 😳 On Tuesday, Nov. 21st, I start my 1st of 8 cycles of chemotherapy that will take place over 6 months (1 cycle every 3 weeks). This means I'll spend almost a full day every 3 weeks in the Medical Center. That doesn't seem so bad to me.
The first 3 months will consist of F.A.C (3 chemo drugs: Flouroracil, Doxorubicin and Cyclophosphamide). If they had asked me, I would have suggested a better name like, F.U.C. 😜 The last 3 months will consist of P.T.H (1 new chemo drug and 2 HER2 targeted therapy drugs: Perjeta, Taxotere and Herceptin). The HER2 drug will continue for an additional 9 months after chemo resumes.
The CT scan detected a tiny nodule in my lung and a cyst in my pancreas but Dr. Ibrahim told us it was nothing to be concerned about... We will monitor with scans but he does not feel an MRI or biopsy are necessary. We also discussed the side effects of chemo. The one that the boys seem the most concerned about is hair loss. I should start to lose my hair somewhere between 1 and 3 weeks after my first cycle. So, if you see me next month without any hair, do not be alarmed. I told the boys I was going to get a pink wig. They keep begging me to do a normal color and even helping me look for wigs online. 😍
I'm feeling positive and anxious to get started. I don't like to wait. I guess I better get my Christmas shopping done and find a wig QUICKLY!
XO ~
Urs
MD Anderson confirmed the original diagnosis. HER2 results came back as positive. The doctor said this is good news as it gives us something besides chemo to attack the mass.
I am scheduled to have my port surgery on Monday, Nov. 20th. I'll get to keep that little guy until February of 2019. A whole year and a couple of months. 😳 On Tuesday, Nov. 21st, I start my 1st of 8 cycles of chemotherapy that will take place over 6 months (1 cycle every 3 weeks). This means I'll spend almost a full day every 3 weeks in the Medical Center. That doesn't seem so bad to me.
The first 3 months will consist of F.A.C (3 chemo drugs: Flouroracil, Doxorubicin and Cyclophosphamide). If they had asked me, I would have suggested a better name like, F.U.C. 😜 The last 3 months will consist of P.T.H (1 new chemo drug and 2 HER2 targeted therapy drugs: Perjeta, Taxotere and Herceptin). The HER2 drug will continue for an additional 9 months after chemo resumes.
The CT scan detected a tiny nodule in my lung and a cyst in my pancreas but Dr. Ibrahim told us it was nothing to be concerned about... We will monitor with scans but he does not feel an MRI or biopsy are necessary. We also discussed the side effects of chemo. The one that the boys seem the most concerned about is hair loss. I should start to lose my hair somewhere between 1 and 3 weeks after my first cycle. So, if you see me next month without any hair, do not be alarmed. I told the boys I was going to get a pink wig. They keep begging me to do a normal color and even helping me look for wigs online. 😍
I'm feeling positive and anxious to get started. I don't like to wait. I guess I better get my Christmas shopping done and find a wig QUICKLY!
XO ~
Urs
Two Hearts 💜
Today, I had a second marker (link for more info: coil embolization) inserted into the mass. I don't like the word tumor so I will call it a "mass" or "bump". One of the markers is in the shape of a ribbon 🎗and the one they inserted today is in the shape of a heart 💜 on each side of the mass. I guess they thought I needed a second heart? This will allow them to track it's size during chemo and location during surgery.
On the way to the hospital I received a call from the Genetics Counselor. The BRCA1 and BRCA2 (link for more info) gene mutation test came back negative. Good news since we know it's not something that was
inherited. This also means I won't have to have a hysterectomy as well as bilateral mastectomy. The statistics on developing ovarian or breast cancer when an individual has these 2 mutations is alarming. Small victories!
We go back to Dr. Ibrahim (primary Oncologist) tomorrow and should have more to update in the next day or two.
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| Since they make me wear this fancy robe, I'm going to start pretending I'm going to the spa instead... 😝 |
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