Hi again,
It feels like it's been awhile - and I guess it has. Most of December has been a blur. An interesting Advent...waiting, contemplating...praying... but now is the time for joy and celebration and peace.
I've been taking prednisone, bactrim, pepcid, etc. to deal with the pneumonitis and I had to take a little break from chemo. The break reminded me that when I am through, my energy will return. I was able to enjoy a part of the season that I wouldn't have been able to. Instead of my counts being down, I was able to do some shopping and go to a holiday concert. I even went to a midweek advent service. I stayed close to home and the outings were brief, but the turn of events was great. I did, however have some concern as to how my treatment would proceed and what that would mean for me.
I saw Dr. Kennedy on Monday December 15th and got the go ahead to resume chemo on Thursday December 18th at 8am (exactly two weeks later than scheduled). She had been away at a conference and presented my case to her colleagues so I got the benefit of expert collaboration and that is comforting. I won't take the cytoxin this round and there was an initial thought of changing the neulasta to neupogen, but now I'll still take the neulasta only in a slightly smaller dose. The cytoxin is the most likely of the drugs to have caused the problem but it could have been the taxotere. We won't know until I have chemo again but I should be on enough support meds to be safe. Then we would just shift again...add cytoxin, subtract taxotere and then add a new combination of chemo at the end of my scheduled cycles...but I get ahead of myself...I like a plan but all plans come with wrenches...
So Thursday morning went as smoothly as it could. We arrived on time, Dan picked us right up, numbers good, port accessed, pulse ox compatible with life....all set. Relaxing, uneventful, over. Thank God. Friday, back for neulasta shot and home just as the rain turned to sleet and snow.
So now it's just managing the fatigue and side effects. I just have to get some wrapping done. If all goes well I will be able to attend Christmas Eve Service with a mask on...and a completely bald head that I have to admit I am starting to like in its simplicity... (thank you Donna!).
I do have one funny story to share with you before I end this post. After we left chemo we made a quick side trip to Sam's Club. I look like I'm in my pajamas with sweat pants, flannel shirt and my "Fight Like a Girl" Breast Cancer Survivor baseball hat on. The "super-alert" salesperson assigned to sell professional portrait packages approaches me and asks me when the last time was that I had a professional portrait of myself. (I'm thinking my college yearbook picture but that has no bearing on the story) So without missing a beat, I said to the salesman, "I'm not really looking my best these days." To which he replied, "Oh, it wouldn't be today.....it would be this weekend." I'm sure I could spruce up by then but I think I'll pass anyway until I grow some hair...
Until next time....maybe one more before Christmas....
It feels like it's been awhile - and I guess it has. Most of December has been a blur. An interesting Advent...waiting, contemplating...praying... but now is the time for joy and celebration and peace.
I've been taking prednisone, bactrim, pepcid, etc. to deal with the pneumonitis and I had to take a little break from chemo. The break reminded me that when I am through, my energy will return. I was able to enjoy a part of the season that I wouldn't have been able to. Instead of my counts being down, I was able to do some shopping and go to a holiday concert. I even went to a midweek advent service. I stayed close to home and the outings were brief, but the turn of events was great. I did, however have some concern as to how my treatment would proceed and what that would mean for me.
I saw Dr. Kennedy on Monday December 15th and got the go ahead to resume chemo on Thursday December 18th at 8am (exactly two weeks later than scheduled). She had been away at a conference and presented my case to her colleagues so I got the benefit of expert collaboration and that is comforting. I won't take the cytoxin this round and there was an initial thought of changing the neulasta to neupogen, but now I'll still take the neulasta only in a slightly smaller dose. The cytoxin is the most likely of the drugs to have caused the problem but it could have been the taxotere. We won't know until I have chemo again but I should be on enough support meds to be safe. Then we would just shift again...add cytoxin, subtract taxotere and then add a new combination of chemo at the end of my scheduled cycles...but I get ahead of myself...I like a plan but all plans come with wrenches...
So Thursday morning went as smoothly as it could. We arrived on time, Dan picked us right up, numbers good, port accessed, pulse ox compatible with life....all set. Relaxing, uneventful, over. Thank God. Friday, back for neulasta shot and home just as the rain turned to sleet and snow.
So now it's just managing the fatigue and side effects. I just have to get some wrapping done. If all goes well I will be able to attend Christmas Eve Service with a mask on...and a completely bald head that I have to admit I am starting to like in its simplicity... (thank you Donna!).
I do have one funny story to share with you before I end this post. After we left chemo we made a quick side trip to Sam's Club. I look like I'm in my pajamas with sweat pants, flannel shirt and my "Fight Like a Girl" Breast Cancer Survivor baseball hat on. The "super-alert" salesperson assigned to sell professional portrait packages approaches me and asks me when the last time was that I had a professional portrait of myself. (I'm thinking my college yearbook picture but that has no bearing on the story) So without missing a beat, I said to the salesman, "I'm not really looking my best these days." To which he replied, "Oh, it wouldn't be today.....it would be this weekend." I'm sure I could spruce up by then but I think I'll pass anyway until I grow some hair...
Until next time....maybe one more before Christmas....
1 comment:
Well now. If you had maintained the original chemo schedule you would have missed out on the bonehead portrait salesman. Now you're shopping experience is complete. You can truly say you have participated in an American Christmas.
This year for decorations at work I cut BIG holly leaves out of green paper. I had a volunteer add some glitter highlights. Then I taped them to the wall and added holly berries (red balloons).
As you can see, I've not lost my touch. They actually looked good! Or so I thought. A few others were speechless.
Happy Holly Days!
Love, Mauri & Lorraine
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