July 29, 2009
As Katie posted on Tuesday, my blood counts were phenomenal and I was able to complete my last infusion as scheduled. The day was somewhat anti-climactic: I didn’t feel the giddiness I thought I would feel, although that will probably come next Tuesday when I DON’T have to go back! I thought I might feel a bit of nostalgia as I took the elevator down from the third floor, but NOPE! Not going to miss that place one bit. The nurses were fantastic, but I won’t miss them either. The fish tanks were cool…nope – won’t miss them. Bye bye nice lab people who have seen me no fewer than 20 times but still ask, “Arm? Or port?” every time I’m there. See ya later Billy, the well-meaning lab tech who, when he asks me to confirm my birth date, says every time, “Oh! My birthday is one day before yours!” Toodle loo, sweet cancer patient with the fantabulous real-hair wig whose infusions are also Tuesday mornings. It was nice visiting with you and your nice husband in the waiting room, but I won’t be seeing you anymore. Adios, Dr. Kaplan’s nurses, whose names I purposely never learned. Sayonara to the barista at the Swedish Starbucks who twice made me a short raspberry mocha instead of a short ristretto shot mocha. And good riddance to the insanely tight parking stalls in the garage. By some crazy stroke of luck my car made it through five months of visits with nary a scratch.
While I won’t be seeing these folks on a regular basis anymore, I’ll probably run into them from time to time. My visits to Swedish are going to continue, since I’ll be visiting the first floor of the Cancer Institute for daily radiation treatments for six weeks starting August 31. I also have a “staging MRI” next Thursday – a head to toe post-chemo scan to make sure there aren’t any tumors lurking anywhere. Throw in a few mapping visits to the radiologist to get that course of treatment all squared away and my August is filling up quickly.
My visits to the oncologist will slow significantly from here on out. After a visit next Friday to go over the MRI results, I’ll only see him once every few months for the next two years, then every six months for two years after that. I’ll have MRIs and mammograms on a regular basis during that time as well.
I’m considering a preventative treatment using a drug called Zomeda. It is a drug that has been used for the past 10 years to treat osteoporosis in post-menopausal women. More recently, it has been used in patients whose cancer has metastasized – or spread – to the bone. And even more recently, it has been used proactively on women who have finished breast cancer treatment and face some risk of recurrence. When cancer returns, it often returns to the bone. This drug may inhibit the production of osteoclasts, which break down bone and emit hormones that create tumors. The drug would be administered via IV once every six months for two years. There’s a tiny risk of kidney damage or jaw problems associated with the use of Zomeda, but this has only been seen in people who take it weekly. My dose would be significantly lower, and my risk of these side effects “miniscule,” according to my oncologist. There is actually a trial study going on that uses this drug, along with two oral drugs. I am eligible for the study, but I am leaning toward just using the Zomeda. I am all for furthering scientific study, but when it comes right down to it, I think I’d rather go with a drug that is known to help, rather than take the risk of being assigned to a study group that administers one of the lesser-known drugs. I’m hoping to study up more on Zomeda before I decide to do this. If I choose to, I would start once radiation is complete.
Other than recovering from my final infusion I, along with the rest of the Pacific Northwest, have been trying to stay cool in our 100 degree-plus weather. As I write this, four fans are whirring about me, doing little more than blowing 90 degree air around. Uncomfortable, but hey – it’s SUMMER. This is what I have been waiting for!
The countdown to Maui is on and I’m on track to finish my last two work assignments by Friday. I’m taking it easy in August thanks to a hard-working hubby.
Lunch anyone?
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Green Light
This just in~
Sheila's white blood cell count was at 14.6 WAY up from 2.6 last week.
As she said, "we're ready to roll!"
Stay tuned!
Sheila's white blood cell count was at 14.6 WAY up from 2.6 last week.
As she said, "we're ready to roll!"
Stay tuned!
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Message to white blood cells: RALLY!
July 22, 2009
At my Tuesday appointment my labwork indicated that my white cell count dropped again - this, after the promising numbers a week earlier. Frustrating! My dosage Tuesday was reduced by 25 percent and I am giving myself two doses of Neupogen (similar to Neulasta) via injection this coming Sunday and Monday morning. Hopefully this will boost me up so I can complete my last infusion next Tuesday. I really don't want this delayed, so cross your fingers the shots do their job!
I'm off to the support group at Gilda's Club this evening, mostly because they are serving Vietnamese sandwiches. ;)
Oliver is enjoying his summer camp at Kids Inc. - the go on lots of fieldtrips. Monday they rode the Duck and today they visited the Center for Wooden Boats.
Nice hot weather, eh?
At my Tuesday appointment my labwork indicated that my white cell count dropped again - this, after the promising numbers a week earlier. Frustrating! My dosage Tuesday was reduced by 25 percent and I am giving myself two doses of Neupogen (similar to Neulasta) via injection this coming Sunday and Monday morning. Hopefully this will boost me up so I can complete my last infusion next Tuesday. I really don't want this delayed, so cross your fingers the shots do their job!
I'm off to the support group at Gilda's Club this evening, mostly because they are serving Vietnamese sandwiches. ;)
Oliver is enjoying his summer camp at Kids Inc. - the go on lots of fieldtrips. Monday they rode the Duck and today they visited the Center for Wooden Boats.
Nice hot weather, eh?
Sunday, July 19, 2009
Blood Counts: A+
July 19, 2009
I received good news at my last chemo treatment last Tuesday: both my white and red blood cell counts were well within normal range. The shot of Neulasta and a week off seemed to do the trick. My oncologist was very pleased, and suspects those high counts will hold me through my final infusions. I am down to just two more now – one this Tuesday and one on the 28th.
On Friday, my 3-Day teammate Carol and I co-hosted our much-anticipated Drink Pink Happy Hour at my house to raise money for the 3-Day walk. We were both blown away by the generosity of our friends and family. You guys are phenomenal! The weather was perfect (if not just a bit too hot!) and the company was terrific. We drank pink drinks: cosmos (thanks, Anne S.!), pink champagne, vodka cranberries and pink lemonade. We snacked on fruit (great job, Mom!), veggies, cheese, crackers, chili cheese biscuits (again, thanks Anne S.!) and mini pink cupcakes (kudos, Tina!). The kids cooled off in the inflatable pool out front while the adults socialized and helped us raise money for a worthy cause. Thank you to everyone who attended!
This weekend we are heading over to Spokane for my friend Chelsey’s wedding. We’re looking forward to helping Chels and Santavorn celebrate and showing Oliver around the Gonzaga campus. We’re excited about the hotel pool – it has a slide!
Last night Jason and I corralled our friend Chris and headed off to join friends Kate and Bill (and about 20 others) to sing karaoke at a Ballard dive bar called the Wagon Wheel. We had a blast and had a hard time leaving! I had to get home and get some sleep, though, to prepare me for a 15-mile training walk with Carol this morning. I cut the walk a bit short (probably 11 miles or so?), but Carol kept going. We’re contemplating a couple laps around Green Lake early tomorrow morning. We’re feeling more and more confident that we’ll be able to tackle those 60 miles in September with minimal pain!
The 3-Day organizers have promised to let us know the exact walking route as the event nears. We’d love to have cheerleaders meet us along the way! If you’d like to be on our email list when the route map is released, let me know in a comment or send me an email.
Also, friends and family members are encouraged to write letters or send cards to 3-Day participants. They must be received by Sept. 1 to be delivered during the event. (Envelopes only – no care packages!) If you’d like to send a letter to me (or anyone else on the walk), mail them to:
Breast Cancer 3-Day Camp Post Office
PO Box 78646
Seattle WA 98178
We’re having some great weather in Seattle this summer. I hope those of you here are enjoying it!
I received good news at my last chemo treatment last Tuesday: both my white and red blood cell counts were well within normal range. The shot of Neulasta and a week off seemed to do the trick. My oncologist was very pleased, and suspects those high counts will hold me through my final infusions. I am down to just two more now – one this Tuesday and one on the 28th.
On Friday, my 3-Day teammate Carol and I co-hosted our much-anticipated Drink Pink Happy Hour at my house to raise money for the 3-Day walk. We were both blown away by the generosity of our friends and family. You guys are phenomenal! The weather was perfect (if not just a bit too hot!) and the company was terrific. We drank pink drinks: cosmos (thanks, Anne S.!), pink champagne, vodka cranberries and pink lemonade. We snacked on fruit (great job, Mom!), veggies, cheese, crackers, chili cheese biscuits (again, thanks Anne S.!) and mini pink cupcakes (kudos, Tina!). The kids cooled off in the inflatable pool out front while the adults socialized and helped us raise money for a worthy cause. Thank you to everyone who attended!
This weekend we are heading over to Spokane for my friend Chelsey’s wedding. We’re looking forward to helping Chels and Santavorn celebrate and showing Oliver around the Gonzaga campus. We’re excited about the hotel pool – it has a slide!
Last night Jason and I corralled our friend Chris and headed off to join friends Kate and Bill (and about 20 others) to sing karaoke at a Ballard dive bar called the Wagon Wheel. We had a blast and had a hard time leaving! I had to get home and get some sleep, though, to prepare me for a 15-mile training walk with Carol this morning. I cut the walk a bit short (probably 11 miles or so?), but Carol kept going. We’re contemplating a couple laps around Green Lake early tomorrow morning. We’re feeling more and more confident that we’ll be able to tackle those 60 miles in September with minimal pain!
The 3-Day organizers have promised to let us know the exact walking route as the event nears. We’d love to have cheerleaders meet us along the way! If you’d like to be on our email list when the route map is released, let me know in a comment or send me an email.
Also, friends and family members are encouraged to write letters or send cards to 3-Day participants. They must be received by Sept. 1 to be delivered during the event. (Envelopes only – no care packages!) If you’d like to send a letter to me (or anyone else on the walk), mail them to:
Breast Cancer 3-Day Camp Post Office
PO Box 78646
Seattle WA 98178
We’re having some great weather in Seattle this summer. I hope those of you here are enjoying it!
Sunday, July 12, 2009
A week off, Fourth recap and Happy Hour invite!
July 12, 2009
I have started serious training for the Breast Cancer 3-Day walk. Yesterday I joined a group of about eight people on a 15-mile training walk. It was fun to see some of the same people I trained with several weeks ago (when the walks were a mere eight miles!) and meet some new people. A “pace car” followed us along the six-hour walk manned by a couple generous volunteers and packed full of bagels, bananas, cheese sticks, Chex mix, watermelon and M&Ms (pink, of course!). There was no way we were going to go hungry!
Thanks to my generous friends and family members, I have met my required fundraising goal of $2300 for the walk and am well on my way towards meeting my personal goal of $4000. My teammate Carol and I are co-hosting a fundraising happy hour at my place this Friday, July 17, from 4 to 8 p.m., complete with pink drinks, free childcare, yummy snacks and great company. Visit the Evite (http://www.evite.com/pages/invite/viewInvite.jsp?inviteId=GQUDMGJEIQRECGAXPUKD ) to RSVP – the more the merrier!
Jason and I visited another radiologist to get a second opinion regarding radiation, and it was decided that I would do it. We both agreed that we’d never forgive ourselves if I decided not to go through with the treatment just to avoid the hassle and the cancer returned. I will be starting daily treatments August 31 every weekday for approximately six weeks. Each session lasts only about 10 minutes start to finish and it’s unlikely I will feel any side effects aside from a pretty nasty sunburn towards the tail end of the six weeks.
In other treatment-related news, my last chemotherapy session is scheduled to be July 28, assuming these last three go well and none are postponed. Everyone cross your fingers! I get giddy thinking about this part of the treatment ending. I am so ready for this to end, I can’t even put it into words. I have really been so lucky that I have not had any crazy side effects to the chemo. I’ve heard horror stories of women reacting adversely to the treatment and requiring 24-hour IV drips every week. One woman I see regularly at Swedish got an infection of some sort and has had to have antibiotics administered daily for several weeks.
Math whizzes will notice there’s a month of NO TREATMENTS between the end of my chemo and the start of radiation treatments. Jay and I noticed too, and decided to skip off to Maui for five days! Actually, we have a reason: our friends Kendra and Jason have conveniently scheduled their wedding on the Hawaiian island on August 14. We decided we deserve a quick getaway and promptly booked our flights to help them celebrate.
I’ve been enjoying the great weather we’ve been having this summer and Oliver and I are looking forward to visiting my friend April and her sons Wednesday in Snoqualmie. Thursday we’re hooking up with Miki and her daughter Ava at Golden Gardens for a picnic on the beach.
Friday is the Drink Pink party. Won’t you come raise a glass?
P.S. I love the photo below – Oliver came with me to the hospital for my white cell shot July 2 and noticed several bulletin boards of breast cancer ribbons that family members and friends have posted for their loved ones. Oliver wanted to write my name on one and pin it to the board. He was so proud of himself. As was I. 
Long time since my last post! Last week was a “free” week – no treatment. I have been enjoying the added energy that comes when I don’t have an infusion. As mentioned in my last post, I had a half-dose of chemo on July 1 because my white blood cell count was very low. The following day I went in for a shot of Neulasta – a drug to promote white cell production. All was well until that Thursday, when I got a brutal migraine. That was followed by some pretty severe body aches, apparently side effects of the Neulasta. By day two of our awesome camping trip (see photos below), I was feeling fine and have continued to feel good.
The Fourth of July was spent at the tip of a sand spit on the Key Peninsula – property owned by friends Janice and Chris. We joined about 30 other campers at the property and enjoyed a near-360 degree view of the Puget Sound, 85 degree weather, wonderful camp-mates and some astounding food. The first night we were treated to king salmon, corn, red potatoes and a variety of side dishes. The next night we ate some clams that we dug that day on the beach. Oliver had a great time playing on the beach, messing around with several other kids his age, and riding in various water craft. We were so lucky to be invited to come along on the trip – an annual event that has been going on for the past 22 years!
The Fourth of July was spent at the tip of a sand spit on the Key Peninsula – property owned by friends Janice and Chris. We joined about 30 other campers at the property and enjoyed a near-360 degree view of the Puget Sound, 85 degree weather, wonderful camp-mates and some astounding food. The first night we were treated to king salmon, corn, red potatoes and a variety of side dishes. The next night we ate some clams that we dug that day on the beach. Oliver had a great time playing on the beach, messing around with several other kids his age, and riding in various water craft. We were so lucky to be invited to come along on the trip – an annual event that has been going on for the past 22 years!
I have started serious training for the Breast Cancer 3-Day walk. Yesterday I joined a group of about eight people on a 15-mile training walk. It was fun to see some of the same people I trained with several weeks ago (when the walks were a mere eight miles!) and meet some new people. A “pace car” followed us along the six-hour walk manned by a couple generous volunteers and packed full of bagels, bananas, cheese sticks, Chex mix, watermelon and M&Ms (pink, of course!). There was no way we were going to go hungry!
Thanks to my generous friends and family members, I have met my required fundraising goal of $2300 for the walk and am well on my way towards meeting my personal goal of $4000. My teammate Carol and I are co-hosting a fundraising happy hour at my place this Friday, July 17, from 4 to 8 p.m., complete with pink drinks, free childcare, yummy snacks and great company. Visit the Evite (http://www.evite.com/pages/invite/viewInvite.jsp?inviteId=GQUDMGJEIQRECGAXPUKD ) to RSVP – the more the merrier!
Jason and I visited another radiologist to get a second opinion regarding radiation, and it was decided that I would do it. We both agreed that we’d never forgive ourselves if I decided not to go through with the treatment just to avoid the hassle and the cancer returned. I will be starting daily treatments August 31 every weekday for approximately six weeks. Each session lasts only about 10 minutes start to finish and it’s unlikely I will feel any side effects aside from a pretty nasty sunburn towards the tail end of the six weeks.
In other treatment-related news, my last chemotherapy session is scheduled to be July 28, assuming these last three go well and none are postponed. Everyone cross your fingers! I get giddy thinking about this part of the treatment ending. I am so ready for this to end, I can’t even put it into words. I have really been so lucky that I have not had any crazy side effects to the chemo. I’ve heard horror stories of women reacting adversely to the treatment and requiring 24-hour IV drips every week. One woman I see regularly at Swedish got an infection of some sort and has had to have antibiotics administered daily for several weeks.
Math whizzes will notice there’s a month of NO TREATMENTS between the end of my chemo and the start of radiation treatments. Jay and I noticed too, and decided to skip off to Maui for five days! Actually, we have a reason: our friends Kendra and Jason have conveniently scheduled their wedding on the Hawaiian island on August 14. We decided we deserve a quick getaway and promptly booked our flights to help them celebrate.
I’ve been enjoying the great weather we’ve been having this summer and Oliver and I are looking forward to visiting my friend April and her sons Wednesday in Snoqualmie. Thursday we’re hooking up with Miki and her daughter Ava at Golden Gardens for a picnic on the beach.
Friday is the Drink Pink party. Won’t you come raise a glass?
P.S. I love the photo below – Oliver came with me to the hospital for my white cell shot July 2 and noticed several bulletin boards of breast cancer ribbons that family members and friends have posted for their loved ones. Oliver wanted to write my name on one and pin it to the board. He was so proud of himself. As was I.
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Tuesdays with Sheila
Tuesday was another chemo day for Sheila. After a 5 a.m. spin class (her, not me) and a morning smoothie I picked her up at 8:15 for the trek to Swedish Medical. Once again she went through the routine like the star that she is although this day was a bit different.
Our first stop was at the dermatologist to have stitches removed due to a mole removal she had more than a week ago. She is fine, THANKFULLY. But it was quite a scare--the mole had a lot going against it in terms of color, shape, size, etc. but again, NO WORRIES now.
Then the usual routine began--to the lab, see the doc, and then to chemo (pop a pill, receive anti nauseau meds and then the "cocktail" of chemo begins). We spend a lot of time swapping stories, flipping through mags, over hearing conversations of others--some people shoot the breeze as though they were chatting over coffee and others share their very difficult struggles and diagnosis and how hard it is to traverse the path they're on. Sheila handles each step with such grace.
Her white blood count was down some yesterday so she was only able to receive half of her chemo treatment but as one lovley, upbeat, and courageous patient also getting her chemo treatment pointed out to me after we expressed slight disappointment, "A half treatment is better than no treatment; always look for the silver lining in this process."
Sheila went in for a shot early Weds. to help boost her white blood cell count. I shot her a text to check in on her. Her reply: "Doing well! Got shot first thing this a.m. to boost white cells. Feeling Fine!"
Clearly, Sheila is seeking the silver lining herself. Rock on, sister, as you continue to Stomp This!
Our first stop was at the dermatologist to have stitches removed due to a mole removal she had more than a week ago. She is fine, THANKFULLY. But it was quite a scare--the mole had a lot going against it in terms of color, shape, size, etc. but again, NO WORRIES now.
Then the usual routine began--to the lab, see the doc, and then to chemo (pop a pill, receive anti nauseau meds and then the "cocktail" of chemo begins). We spend a lot of time swapping stories, flipping through mags, over hearing conversations of others--some people shoot the breeze as though they were chatting over coffee and others share their very difficult struggles and diagnosis and how hard it is to traverse the path they're on. Sheila handles each step with such grace.
Her white blood count was down some yesterday so she was only able to receive half of her chemo treatment but as one lovley, upbeat, and courageous patient also getting her chemo treatment pointed out to me after we expressed slight disappointment, "A half treatment is better than no treatment; always look for the silver lining in this process."
Sheila went in for a shot early Weds. to help boost her white blood cell count. I shot her a text to check in on her. Her reply: "Doing well! Got shot first thing this a.m. to boost white cells. Feeling Fine!"
Clearly, Sheila is seeking the silver lining herself. Rock on, sister, as you continue to Stomp This!
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