Yesterday I had my second round of chemo. I feel some comfort in knowing what to expect. With chemo, the side effects are accumulative. So, what I experienced the first time, I will experience again but the side effects will be a little bit worse each time. What I experienced the first time was diarrhea, slight nausea, tingly finger tips and toes and joint pain. The joint pain was the most frustrating and hard to control. I also had insomnia for a few nights from the steroids they gave me along with the chemo to fight nausea.
I am pretty much completely bald. I have a little stubble on the top of my head. I am enjoying not having to shave...anywhere. I haven't shaved in two weeks and I still feel smooth. I still have my eyebrows. They should go away from this round of chemo in about two weeks.
I am keeping busy trying to figure out how to use these experiences for my one woman show. I have a few ideas in the works that are making me giggle. I think it is helping me to have a creative outlet.
Thanks for reading.
Judy
Friday, December 28, 2012
Thursday, December 6, 2012
No cancer in my brain!!!!!
If I enjoyed dancing I would be doing a happy dance around the apartment right now. My doctor just called to tell me that they did NOT find ANY cancer in my brain. He did say that my brain looks like a raisin but otherwise, looks good ;) I feel that I can finally focus on getting healthy now.
Tuesday, December 4, 2012
Let's do this!
I had my first round of Chemo today. I arrived at the hospital 45 minutes early (I guess I was a little anxious). They brought me back a half an hour late. The waiting began. They had to do some blood tests and then send them to my doctor for approval. This took FOREVER. Once I was approved to go ahead with Chemo the Pharmacy had to mix the chemo. This took a long time, too. It was 1pm before they even started an iv of saline. The chemo arrived in a box that said, "HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCE". The nurse geared up in protective gloves and a gown and then started the chemo around 2:30p. Keep in mind that my brain MRI was scheduled for 2pm. The nurses were great - they called the MRI department for me and the MRI department said to just come over when I was done. So, that was nice.
The MRI went fine. I layed perfectly still. They said I did a great job. I will find out these results by the end of the day Thursday/Friday. Hoping for Thursday. Hoping for there to not be any cancer.
The nurses said I will start feeling the side effects in two to three days. There were a bunch of 'em. The main ones are : hair loss (which could come in two to three weeks), fatigue, tingly finger tips and toes. Other ones include: forgetfulness, weight gain or weight loss, constipation...and others that I stopped reading. I have been obsessing this evening thinking that I am starting to feel the symptoms already. I think that's a side effect!
Something I find funny: My birthday was in October and I asked my girlfriend for six laser hair removal treatments. She bought them for me but the treatments expire in February. Well, I can't use them now (getting in six treatments before my hair starts falling out would be impossible) and because of the chemo will have my own laser hair removal. It figures.
Also, something I find entertaining is how many times different nurses keep asking me if there is any chance that I could be pregnant. I know they have to ask - I even had to take a pregnancy test before one of my tests. I assure them that there is no way that I could be pregnant (without telling them that I am a Lesbian). When they ask, I giggle and look at Kelly.
I had many visitors today. That was really nice.
My attitude is staring to get better. Let's do this and kick Cancer's ass. I have a lot more of my story to share!
The MRI went fine. I layed perfectly still. They said I did a great job. I will find out these results by the end of the day Thursday/Friday. Hoping for Thursday. Hoping for there to not be any cancer.
The nurses said I will start feeling the side effects in two to three days. There were a bunch of 'em. The main ones are : hair loss (which could come in two to three weeks), fatigue, tingly finger tips and toes. Other ones include: forgetfulness, weight gain or weight loss, constipation...and others that I stopped reading. I have been obsessing this evening thinking that I am starting to feel the symptoms already. I think that's a side effect!
Something I find funny: My birthday was in October and I asked my girlfriend for six laser hair removal treatments. She bought them for me but the treatments expire in February. Well, I can't use them now (getting in six treatments before my hair starts falling out would be impossible) and because of the chemo will have my own laser hair removal. It figures.
Also, something I find entertaining is how many times different nurses keep asking me if there is any chance that I could be pregnant. I know they have to ask - I even had to take a pregnancy test before one of my tests. I assure them that there is no way that I could be pregnant (without telling them that I am a Lesbian). When they ask, I giggle and look at Kelly.
I had many visitors today. That was really nice.
My attitude is staring to get better. Let's do this and kick Cancer's ass. I have a lot more of my story to share!
Friday, November 30, 2012
Here we go again
Oh boy. I thought I was done with this blog. But no. Here we go again.
What we know: The Breast Cancer is back. It is in my lungs, lymph node, ribs, collar bone, tail bone and vertebrae. Ugh. I will start chemo this Tuesday and in the afternoon get a brain MRI to make sure there is no cancer there. I will do three rounds of chemo and then get a PET scan to make sure the chemo is shrinking the Cancer. Also, at this point we will deal with my ovaries. Either remove them or get a shot that will stop me from producing estrogen. There might be three more rounds of Chemo after this.
GOOD NEWS: This is treatable and I don't have any symptoms. I am lucky that my doctor ordered the MRI in the first place! Also, Kelly and I can still go on our planned trip to Mexico in 2 weeks! The doc even said to drink a lot. doctors orders!
I am terrified and shocked. I am not at the hopeful stage or the fighting stage yet. I am sure I will get there but just not right now.
The support from everyone has been so amazing. I truly appreciate it and feel so blessed. Thank you.
GOOD NEWS: This is treatable and I don't have any symptoms. I am lucky that my doctor ordered the MRI in the first place! Also, Kelly and I can still go on our planned trip to Mexico in 2 weeks! The doc even said to drink a lot. doctors orders!
I am terrified and shocked. I am not at the hopeful stage or the fighting stage yet. I am sure I will get there but just not right now.
The support from everyone has been so amazing. I truly appreciate it and feel so blessed. Thank you.
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Negative is positive!
My results for my mammogram and MRI came back negative! I am cancer free. I could not believe it. I thought I believed that that cancer was gone but it wasn't until I heard, "benign" and "no abnormalities" that I could finally take a deep breath. Immediately following that moment I smiled, then cried, then got angry. From here on out I will be getting a mammogram and MRI yearly.
For the past six weeks I have been working out with a trainer and have changed my diet (to a keeping cancer in remission diet. No soy, dairy, sugar. Mostly eating veggies, veggies, veggies and fish). I have more energy and my mood has gotten much better. Now that I am cancer free I have gone back to obsessing about my weight. I am very happy to say that I have lost ten pounds! My oncologist said that with being on Tamoxafin it will be hard to loose weight due to messing with my hormones. Slowly but surely.
Speaking of Tamoxafin (the pill form of chemo that I am on for 5 years). Apparently one of the side effects is loss of vision. So, a few weeks ago when everything became blurry I freaked out. I didn't know at the time that it could be a side effect of Tamoxafin but had wondered if it was a side effect of chemo so I called my Oncologist. He said that it is a side effect so he told me to stop taking the tamoxafin for a week and see if my vision gets better. I can see but everything is annoyingly blurry. If it is the Tamoxafin then he will put me on another drug (with even more side effects). I am trying to not get worked up about it and just wait till next and see...and hopefully really see!
Oh, funny story. Oh. First you should know that my breasts are not even yet. My plasic surgeon wants to see if my left one will go down a size from loosing weight before doing another lift or reduction. Etc. Ok. Now the funny story. So, I moved last week and you know how when you move things get thrown into random boxes, especially toward the end of the packing? Well, I had my right breast (pad) sitting on my dresser so I would know where it was...while I was loading the car my right breast got packed away! I have not found it since. So, I have been stuffing my bra with a rolled pair of underware. Oh, cancer!
That is all for now. I am in the car with my family and my dog heading up to Ashland, Wisconsin to visit my brother and niece and nephew for Thanksgiving. I am looking forward to it! I have a lot to be thankful for this year. With everything going on this time last year, I don't remember Thanksgiving at all last year. I really don't remember a thing!
Happy Thanksgiving!
Lots of love,
Judy
For the past six weeks I have been working out with a trainer and have changed my diet (to a keeping cancer in remission diet. No soy, dairy, sugar. Mostly eating veggies, veggies, veggies and fish). I have more energy and my mood has gotten much better. Now that I am cancer free I have gone back to obsessing about my weight. I am very happy to say that I have lost ten pounds! My oncologist said that with being on Tamoxafin it will be hard to loose weight due to messing with my hormones. Slowly but surely.
Speaking of Tamoxafin (the pill form of chemo that I am on for 5 years). Apparently one of the side effects is loss of vision. So, a few weeks ago when everything became blurry I freaked out. I didn't know at the time that it could be a side effect of Tamoxafin but had wondered if it was a side effect of chemo so I called my Oncologist. He said that it is a side effect so he told me to stop taking the tamoxafin for a week and see if my vision gets better. I can see but everything is annoyingly blurry. If it is the Tamoxafin then he will put me on another drug (with even more side effects). I am trying to not get worked up about it and just wait till next and see...and hopefully really see!
Oh, funny story. Oh. First you should know that my breasts are not even yet. My plasic surgeon wants to see if my left one will go down a size from loosing weight before doing another lift or reduction. Etc. Ok. Now the funny story. So, I moved last week and you know how when you move things get thrown into random boxes, especially toward the end of the packing? Well, I had my right breast (pad) sitting on my dresser so I would know where it was...while I was loading the car my right breast got packed away! I have not found it since. So, I have been stuffing my bra with a rolled pair of underware. Oh, cancer!
That is all for now. I am in the car with my family and my dog heading up to Ashland, Wisconsin to visit my brother and niece and nephew for Thanksgiving. I am looking forward to it! I have a lot to be thankful for this year. With everything going on this time last year, I don't remember Thanksgiving at all last year. I really don't remember a thing!
Happy Thanksgiving!
Lots of love,
Judy
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
It's been a while
FUNK
Hi. Since I last wrote I am/have been in a funk. Its hard to get out of it! Man, oh man. Am working on it though so I will keep you posted.
BIRTHDAY
On my birthday, a week back, I saw my Oncologist to check in, talk about how I am doing on the Tamoxafin, etc. My first reaction to only have found time to meet with him was on my birthday was, "What a birthday." But then realized how lucky I am to have found the lump when I did, catching the cancer when I did, allowing me to celebrate another birthday (and many more to come). It was an emotional birthday - in a good way.
HALLOWEEN
Tomorrow is Halloween and it was last Halloween that I was sitting in Ashland tire and auto fixing my flat when I received a call from Howard Brown telling me that the results of my mammogram and MRI were not. All I remember about Halloween last year was standing in a crowd of people watching the parade in boystown...all of it being blurry and in slow motion. I am very excited this year about taking Daphne trick or treating. I can't wait. She says she is going to be a princess or a spider. She understands about dressing up and pumpkins but she doesn't quite understand the trick or treating part. The terrified look she gives me when I try to explain to her that we are going to walk around and ring peoples doorbells and then when they answer say trick or treat and they will give us candy- is priceless.
MISC
Other things on my mind are: my Cancer date (Nov. 7th- the date I got the call from my doc confirming it was 'the bad kind')...Christmas in the hospital...all of these firsts are going to be sentimental for me. Making me think about where I was, Where I am now and what's next.
NOV 9th
November 9th is the date I am anxiously awaiting. That is when I have my mammogram and MRI. I am anxious to have this done so that I can believe that the chemo really worked.
ME
I have been trying to focus on me lately. I was in such a deep depression and didn't know what to do. So, three weeks ago I joined the gym, started a diet and started taking all of my meds that I stopped taking when I was diagnosed (many people told me that that seemed like the worst time ever to go off my meds. Its true...and funny to me now).
I am still not completely, "in the moment" but I knew I had to start somewhere and trying to loose some of the 45 lbs I gained from the steroids and the depression seemed like a good place to start. Oh, and taking my meds seems to be helping, too. Who knew?!
HEALTH INSURANCE
I still have no health insurance by the way. Still trying to get public aid but apparently me being a lesbian mom really complicates things. According to my case worker my case is, "confusing and complicated and the strangest case I have ever seen." Makes me feel special.
IN MY THOUGHTS
In my thoughts are Rachel who recently found out that she has to fight this fight again and Linda who fought so hard but was taken away from us last week. My heart goes out to their families and friends as well.
Love to you all,
Judy
Hi. Since I last wrote I am/have been in a funk. Its hard to get out of it! Man, oh man. Am working on it though so I will keep you posted.
BIRTHDAY
On my birthday, a week back, I saw my Oncologist to check in, talk about how I am doing on the Tamoxafin, etc. My first reaction to only have found time to meet with him was on my birthday was, "What a birthday." But then realized how lucky I am to have found the lump when I did, catching the cancer when I did, allowing me to celebrate another birthday (and many more to come). It was an emotional birthday - in a good way.
HALLOWEEN
Tomorrow is Halloween and it was last Halloween that I was sitting in Ashland tire and auto fixing my flat when I received a call from Howard Brown telling me that the results of my mammogram and MRI were not. All I remember about Halloween last year was standing in a crowd of people watching the parade in boystown...all of it being blurry and in slow motion. I am very excited this year about taking Daphne trick or treating. I can't wait. She says she is going to be a princess or a spider. She understands about dressing up and pumpkins but she doesn't quite understand the trick or treating part. The terrified look she gives me when I try to explain to her that we are going to walk around and ring peoples doorbells and then when they answer say trick or treat and they will give us candy- is priceless.
MISC
Other things on my mind are: my Cancer date (Nov. 7th- the date I got the call from my doc confirming it was 'the bad kind')...Christmas in the hospital...all of these firsts are going to be sentimental for me. Making me think about where I was, Where I am now and what's next.
NOV 9th
November 9th is the date I am anxiously awaiting. That is when I have my mammogram and MRI. I am anxious to have this done so that I can believe that the chemo really worked.
ME
I have been trying to focus on me lately. I was in such a deep depression and didn't know what to do. So, three weeks ago I joined the gym, started a diet and started taking all of my meds that I stopped taking when I was diagnosed (many people told me that that seemed like the worst time ever to go off my meds. Its true...and funny to me now).
I am still not completely, "in the moment" but I knew I had to start somewhere and trying to loose some of the 45 lbs I gained from the steroids and the depression seemed like a good place to start. Oh, and taking my meds seems to be helping, too. Who knew?!
HEALTH INSURANCE
I still have no health insurance by the way. Still trying to get public aid but apparently me being a lesbian mom really complicates things. According to my case worker my case is, "confusing and complicated and the strangest case I have ever seen." Makes me feel special.
IN MY THOUGHTS
In my thoughts are Rachel who recently found out that she has to fight this fight again and Linda who fought so hard but was taken away from us last week. My heart goes out to their families and friends as well.
Love to you all,
Judy
Saturday, July 18, 2009
New Pics
Hi. I have added some pictures to the beginning of the slide show on this page. Pictures of my latest surgery (may cause queeziness. It sure did for me. Almost passed out acually!), my ugly uncomfortable surgery socks and me with hair!
Enjoy.
Judy
Enjoy.
Judy
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