Chemo #7 complete!

Second last chemo is in the bag! It was a long day at the hospital. We got there at 8 but didn't finish til about 3:30. Every chair and bed was in use in the treatment room! 

I had my blood taken and dressing changed and then waited quite a while for the doctor. Dr. Amir wasn't there so I saw one of his fellows. No concerns with my side effects but she didn't want to eliminate the pre meds so I still had to take the steroids and benedryl. 

After we saw the doctor I waited a bit more for treatment to begin. I saw a woman and her husband that I had met a couple times before and her husband chatted us up in the waiting area after she went in. He said his wife was first diagnosed when she was 47, and went into remission until she was 64. She started to have some leg pain and actually fell and broke her leg at the cottage. It was then determine it has metastasized to her bones. She was monitored for 15 years after her first diagnosis but then stopped, and that's when it came back. She has been treated for 7 years for the bone cancer, and is now 71. Her husband said that given how much time they have had together since the first diagnosis, they do not feel short changed. Their children have all grown and they have 5 grandchildren. He said what they learned is to not wait to do things. If you want to travel somewhere do it!  At the end of the conversation he said that I will be fine. The whole thing really touched me and gave me hope.

Soon after I went in for treatment.

My regular nurses were busy so I had a male nurse named Jason this time. I got a bed again which was nice. He was very organized so the actual treatment moved along well, but didn't get started til about 11. Long day but I feel excited too. One more to go!!  And then goodbye chemo!

Here are some photos of me, and icing my toes, and some inspiration.

Surgery date

Got my surgery date! It is November 7th. Things are moving along! I have pre- surgery class on October 25th. 

17 days til my last chemo!!

Positive affirmations

Warrior women

I am part of an online support group for women with breast cancer and the women I've met are truly warriors! So this is a bit of an ode to them and recognition of what they have taught me. 

The person who runs the group, Jill, is 7 years out from her diagnosis, she is a survivor, and could easily have left the breast cancer world behind rather than lead the group.  She is truly paying it forward by offering this type of support for women coming after her. I have to ask myself if I would do it. But she does inspire me to do something, to give back, when I am in recovery and have the strength to do it.

Another woman, Jo, has metastasized breast cancer but you would not know it. She is truly inspirational in how she seizes every day. She just went back to college! This is not a woman who gives up or gets down. She lifts us all up.

Finally someone I have connected with probably the most, Tracy, is a younger woman like me, has the same type of breast cancer and also had a stillbirth. She has an amazing sense of humor. She has been put through the wringer and her chemo was even stopped after 3 sessions because of her poor reaction, including blood clots in her lungs and hospital admissions. She wasn't given the choice to complete chemo as her oncologist thought the chemo might kill her.  Seeing her go through this made me really reflect and be grateful that I can continue chemo without any serious consequences to me.  And she still supports me, and others, despite all that is going on with her health. She messaged me and calmed me down when I got the picc line put in. She and I have both been through a lot in our lives and it helps to have a connection like that.

These are just 3 of the women in the group but many others have their own stories, their own amazing spirits and kind hearts. They are warrior women!

A real storm

Side effects of chemo #6

Similar to last round, I have had much of the same side effects including a flushed face on Friday, bone pain from Saturday to Monday and off and on tingling in my feet. The fatigue is still a biggie too.

I took Claritin and Advil this time and the pain was better. Still there but at least it felt like the Advil was working, unlike the Tylenol 3.

I have been told the fatigue is cumulative and I think it has been a bit harder to bounce back. But the countdown is on, 3 weeks til my last chemo! Two more sessions to go :)

I know I won't magically feel better when it is done but it will be a huge accomplishment and relief.

Follow up appointment with Dr. Easson

Today Jeff and I went to my follow up appointment with Dr. Easson, my surgical  oncologist.  It was an interesting feeling being back in that office again. So much has happened since June 15th when we first met with her and she said I should do chemo first. Today Jeff and I talked about how far we have come. It is a good feeling!! I feel like I am much more knowledgable and confident in my treatment plan. And being almost done chemo is huge. I remember when I booked this, it felt like so far away. And yet here we are!!

The doctor examined me and could not feel anything. She almost cheered when she was done! It was very encouraging.

We then talked about the surgery. At a minimum she will be doing a lumpectomy and remove the node that I also had a biopsy of. I forgot this but they put clips in the lump and the node, so both will be removed.  She said that the biopsy of the node was clear but to be safe they will remove it and look at it during surgery to see if there is anything, and if there is, I will have more nodes removed. She doesn't expect this to be the case but it is a possibility and I had to sign consent to this. If it is just the lump and node removal then I will be going home the same day. 

They will be calling me with a surgery date in early November. Feels like things are moving forward and I am looking forward to this next step.