Monthly Archives: May 2024

I Did It!

Breast Cancer, Cancer Sucks, Change, Healing, Hope, Motivation, Positive Attitude

Yesterday I completed my last round of chemotherapy. And today I got my last shot to increase my white blood count, which always follows the day after a chemo treatment. I was dreading this last treatment. And rightly so, I didn’t have a port, so my veins in my one arm are getting abused. Third poke was the charm, with the help of an ultrasound machine to locate a good vein. My doctor appointment went well after that, but then it took a couple of hours to be cleared from my bloodwork to start the infusion process — because my results were sent to the wrong department. My infusion lasted from Noon to 3 PM. And I finally got to ring the bell!

For as much dread as I’d had the last week leading up to this appointment, I was so excited to ring the bell! I was all smiles as so many nurses gathered around to clap for me and hug me and take pictures. As I walked out the exit, people in the waiting room were clapping for me. It felt great to get through this milestone!! I don’t ever want to do that again!!

Next week is my setup scan for the next milestone – Radiation. From what I hear, it’s way better than the chemo. And I get to start growing my hair back out!

I’m so proud of myself. I almost bypassed chemo altogether for fear of the side effects, but I think this was a good thing. It was doable. Hard, but doable.

Time to move into the next season. More goals ahead.

Stifle Me Not

Getting Through #3

Breast Cancer, Cancer Sucks, Healing, Honesty, Motherhood, Positive Attitude

Treatment #3 was a success. It was delayed, but it happened. I now see why chemo ports are a thing. Since my treatment plan is 4 treatments, I wasn’t ordered to have a port put in. Little did I know how destructive one chemo treatment can be to one vein, and nearby veins. Treatment #1 was easy since I was undamaged. Treatment #2 was easy at first, but I needed a new IV in a new vein by the last medication. By this week, Treatment #3, the nurses were struggling to find a sturdy entranceway.

Everything was delayed by about an hour on Monday because I they had to redraw blood and poke me about 4 different times. God bless the very experienced nurse that was finally able to deal with my veins.

And God Bless my dad for impatiently waiting through it all, and continuing to wait with me for the next 4 hours. My mom helped me out when I had my mastectomy in January. And my dad has been taking me to all of the chemo treatments. I don’t wish this on any parent, no matter how old their child is. I’m so thankful for both of them being here for me, and helping me out with my kids. In the first few days after treatment, I’m useless. My dad has been picking up my son and taking him to and from school when I can’t. My mom checks on me religiously, as does my sister and some of my close friends.

No matter how much this sucks, this experience is making me so grateful for everyone in my life.

Today is a struggle. Somehow, I managed to get out of bed to say goodbye to my daughter before she caught the bus. Somehow, I managed to make my son a bagel, pack his lunch, and send him off with grandpa to school. Somehow, I managed to get on my work laptop to answer a few emails. And, somehow, I was even able to make myself an omelet.

I’m doing it. I’m getting through round #3.

Stifle Me Not

Here We Go Again

Breast Cancer, Cancer Sucks

I’ve had a full week of being semi-normal. I went into work every day. I didn’t work a complete full day every day, but at least 6 hours each day. And I took care of my kids and home, and I had some decent energy. I even did a Pilates workout and plucked a new eyebrow hair. Didn’t see that coming!

But yesterday I filled two prescriptions, one a steroid and one an anti-nausea medication, to prep for my next treatment on Monday. Ugh. It’s crazy how I get through 3 weeks and feel almost great, only to do it all over again. And I’m not even having that many rounds! I will forever feel for anyone who has been in these shoes.

I am now technically halfway done. I’ve been through 2 (of 4) treatments as well as the 3 healing weeks that follow, so 6 out of 12 weeks are complete. Even though I will be so happy and want to celebrate my last treatment, it won’t truly be complete until a few weeks later. The treatments are but a few hours, but the actual healing comes in the weeks that follow.

Tomorrow is the last day I’ll feel “normal” for about two weeks. On Sunday I start steroids again, which cause me to be all over the place. I get a lot accomplished, but it messes with me. Monday is the treatment. Tuesday is a white blood cell injection. Wednesday I go off steroids and begin to not feel well, which lasts into the weekend. By Sunday I can drive again. The next week is somewhat of a wildcard, at least at the start of the week. I have to watch what I eat and how much I do. By the end of the week I’m usually rounding the bend into somewhat normal, but tired, mode again. And then I get a week of regular normal. Until the next treatment.

This is hard. I can do it, but that doesn’t make is less hard.

Stifle Me Not