Chemo cycle 8, part A - days 1-2

It's hard to believe that I'm nearly done with chemo. I've already received cycle 8, part A, and have just one more infusion (part B) next Tuesday and then the day after I'll get my final shot (either Neulasta or Neupogen) to boost WBC production and then I'll be done with chemo! Just before receiving #8A, Dr.B informed me that I'm even more anemic than last time and that if I go any lower when I go in for #8B next week then I will probably have to go to the hospital for a blood transfusion - he didn't want me to be surprised by it so he was letting me know now. ;/. They're working on getting insurance approval to give me another shot like I had once before for this but he said it's benefit is limited and it could take too long to take effect. So....if this happens my completion of this final chemo cycle could be delayed a bit. But I have faith that my body will do it's job...that my prayers and the prayers of so many of you for me will help me avoid a transfusion and delay. I also have faith that if I do end up needing a transfusion and getting delayed it will be what needs to happen as part of God's plan for me. So I'm not worried. When I went in for my shot this morning I joked with the nurses that I might just have to keep going in to talk to them even when I have no other reason to be there after chemo is finished. They said they won't mind at all seeing as I come bearing gifts every time I show my face there. The other day one of the nurses told me that some of the patients even come in asking "is Julie going to be here today?" :) That put a huge smile on my face. One of these patients was there yesterday during my chemo infusion and he and his wife conversed with me the entire time he was there. It was his final chemo yesterday and when they left (about halfway through my infusion), they handed me a paper with their name, email address and phone number and asked if I'd share mine with them so they could keep in touch. I was happy to do that. I have met some incredibly brave and wonderful people through this journey - many of whom I will always consider as part of my extended family now. Anyway, it's not like I won't be there plenty of times once chemo is over. I'll have plenty of blood draws, scans and exams, to be followed closely for the next few years, especially since the cancer was triple negative, making the first three years critical. And while the chemo chapter comes to a close, there is still lots of treatment left for me - most notably the radiation chapter which will have me in another doctor's office DAILY, M-F, for 2-3 months, beginning in February. Between Dec.16th and Jan. 14th the only appointments I'll have will likely be blood draws to evaluate my fitness for my next reconstructive surgery on 1/14, and consultations with both of my medical oncologists, the radiation oncologist, and the holistic M.D., to discuss my post-chemo path. It may sound like quite a lot in a month but really that's nothing compared with getting chemo 2 weeks of every month and daily visits for shots for the week following chemo infusions. I'm told by many of my friends who've gone before me that radiation isn't quite as difficult as chemo so that is nice to hear, although chemo wasn't too bad for me - praise God! So far, this cycle feels similar to the very first one. Today I woke with a burning sensation in my belly. Thankfully though, it didn't lead to the very unpleasant digestive symptoms that followed that feeling in the first cycle - at least not so far haha. I had a twinge of nausea that quickly went away once I took today's dose of Emend and Zofran in the morning and didn't need to take anything later in the day so that's good. My salivary glands are still not happy so I need to force myself to drink more water. I haven't mentioned this yet but for the past three weeks or so I've had some strange feeling in my pelvis area - not quite like period cramps, more like a twisting sensation that comes and goes. I mentioned it to Dr.B (my local medical oncologist) and told him I had an ob/gyn check up later this week and he suggested I get an ultrasound to have Dr.N (my ob/gyn) take a look at my ovaries and that region to be sure there isn't anything going on there - so I'm having an ultrasound on Friday to take a look. Dr.B said that chemo causes aches and pains all over and this could be just another location of that, but it never hurts to take a look and be sure. I love Dr.B. Many doctors would just assume it's one of those aches/pains but he knows this is not the time to assume anything - if there's something going on down there we need to know now. I trust that all is OK but I continue to pray and ask for prayers that is true. Thank you all for your continued support and prayers. I'm grateful beyond what any words can express.

Chemo cycle 7, part a - received :)

I forgot to post that I did indeed receive chemo cycle #7, part a, on Tuesday. My counts were great - WBC up to 7.3 - hasn't been that high since the very first couple of treatments. Platelets were over 250 and in the normal range, and the other numbers all looked pretty good for a gal that's had 6 rounds of chemo already. I am a bit anemic so they're awaiting insurance approval to give me a shot to remedy that and help me avoid a transfusion for that craziness. Speaking of insurance, mine has finally given in and paid for that breast MRI they were challenging. Lucky for them because the wrath of Julie is...well, they didn't want to go there haha. So I'm on day 2 of this cycle and here's how it's going so far...queasy but not horrible thanks to the anti-nausea meds which are taking the edge off - well that and ginger ale and toast. As has been the case previously, the first day of neupogen (today) brings forth a flush red tone over my face and neck. In the early cycles I thought this was due to the steroids and they did too...but it seems it's actually from the neulasta (back then) and the neupogen (now). I have the tell-tale bone pain back too - centralized in my skull, producing a headache and achy neck. Taking tylenol helped but not quite as much as an Advil or Aleve would do but I'm avoiding those drugs b/c of their effect on platelets since I have to have good numbers again next Tuesday to get part b of the chemo. I'm achy all over - back, neck, legs, arms - doc said that's typical for those that have been on chemo this long or longer. I'm OK with all of this - kind of makes me feel like it's working and doing its job. I'm not complaining at all. As I near the end of the chemo part of my journey, with just 1.5 cycles left, I am excited and nervous too. Excited to be another step closer to being done with cancer, but nervous and terrified that going off chemo would make me vulnerable again - it makes me feel protected right now. I'll need to work through that. The nerves are really working at regenerating under my armpits and while I welcome the return of some feeling - especially the left side where the numbness is insane from the lymph node dissection - the sharp pains and itchiness this process brings is not fun and makes me nervous. That, combined with the freaky dream I had the other night about finding another lump under my arm, just is driving me batty sometimes. I catch myself feeling my armpits frequently and at random times in random places - like the grocery store. I must look like a total weirdo standing in the produce department with a bald head and my hand under my armpit feeling for lumps that damn well better not exist. LOL This is yet another thing I'll have to work through. sigh. I put it all in God's hands. He will cure me and make me well and allow me to live to see my son get married and give me grandchildren. I believe in Him. I praise Him every night for the blessings He has bestowed upon me. I know He has given me the fighting spirit, the will and the resources to be my own best advocate, and put me in this place and time so that I would have the best support, the best healthcare providers, and the will to live and beat this disease. He has a plan for me and I'm ready to fulfill it, whatever it may be.