4th and last AC treatment ... woop!
Today is a day to celebrate! It's my last AC treatment. Next up, 12 weekly treatments of Taxol starting May 20th.
We came to the hospital early, after our most fabulous genetic counselor and friend Lori was able to get one of her colleagues to draw blood from me at Mt Sinai (instead of West Allis) for my next genetic testing panel. There were a few tricks we had to do to use my port for the blood draw, instead of having them prick me separately. Happy to say, we were able to get it drawn through my port and avoid any additional needles.
Had a lovely appointment with Dr. Flej today. She was super cute and shared more personal stories today and all our appointment combined. Today we learned about her path to the US from Poland and the path that brought her to WI. I for one am very happy that both happened. :) We had a lot to talk about today related to my medical status. Blood counts looked great and I was a go for chemo today. This is my last AC treatment!!! Words can not express how happy I am for that. Many people find that Taxol (my next drug) is easier than AC. I sure hope I fall into that majority, especially since it's moving to weekly treatments and I won't have much recovery time between sessions. Next we discussed the Taxol schedule. We are moving my treatment day from Thursday to Tuesday as we switch drugs. Good news, this frees up our schedule to travel to WA for two weddings (Aunt Kathy & Aunt Maria's in July and ours in August). Bad news, my body will have 2 fewer days to recover between today's treatment and my first Taxol. Dr. Flej was on top of it, and decided to forgo the Neulasta injection that she could give me tomorrow. She didn't feel it was necessary to put me through the bone pain, when my body may recover on its own. Instead, we are moving my last check-up before the treatment on the 20th to later in the week... and check my blood counts on Friday. This gives my body another day for my levels to bounce back and still gives Dr. Flej time to give me the Neupogen injection if we need intervention to help my numbers come up before the 20th. Best part of today's consult was another confirmation the tumor is shrinking! After 1st treatment, it had pulled away from my pec muscle and was more mobile in my breast. After 2nd treatment, Dr Flej and Heather were confident it was smaller (I was on the fence). The consult after the 3rd treatment (today), even I'm on board that it's smaller and Dr. Flej says it's now smaller than 1 fingertip (it used to be as large as 2). We also discussed another medication I could try to help the nausea. I had some challenges with my GI last treatment and it took over a week for my stomach to settle dow. It's been hard motivating for my final AC treatment, fearing that will be my experience this time also. I just got a new med today, Lorazepam. Apparently it's used for more than anti-axiety and helps combat nausea too. Here's to hoping I don't need it... and if I do, hopefully it will help. =)
As I settled in to start chemo today ... a woman who I often see getting treated at the same time completed her last chemo treatment. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't jealous. Nonetheless, I'm celebrating my own milestone of being done with AC. Most interesting thing about this woman is she wore a cold cap before, during, and after chemo to help preserve her hair. I will say, she has a full head of hair. I personally couldn't imagine going through the extra discomfort, effort, and cost to save my hair. Besides, I wouldn't have enjoyed the social experiments I create virtually daily as a bald woman. I also wouldn't have found the most feminine side of myself... excited to wear earrings.
My last drug is nearing its final drips... so it's nearly time for me to head home. Yay! It was another fabulous day at the Aurora Sinai Vince Lombardi Cancer Center. Heather and I have found a family here with the nurses. They are so wonderful at what they do, and such a pleasure to talk to when we are here. They really make a difference in the experience. If any of you are reading this post... Thank You! Heather and I appreciate you so very much.
Fingers crossed the side effects from today's treatment are better than the last.
We came to the hospital early, after our most fabulous genetic counselor and friend Lori was able to get one of her colleagues to draw blood from me at Mt Sinai (instead of West Allis) for my next genetic testing panel. There were a few tricks we had to do to use my port for the blood draw, instead of having them prick me separately. Happy to say, we were able to get it drawn through my port and avoid any additional needles.
Had a lovely appointment with Dr. Flej today. She was super cute and shared more personal stories today and all our appointment combined. Today we learned about her path to the US from Poland and the path that brought her to WI. I for one am very happy that both happened. :) We had a lot to talk about today related to my medical status. Blood counts looked great and I was a go for chemo today. This is my last AC treatment!!! Words can not express how happy I am for that. Many people find that Taxol (my next drug) is easier than AC. I sure hope I fall into that majority, especially since it's moving to weekly treatments and I won't have much recovery time between sessions. Next we discussed the Taxol schedule. We are moving my treatment day from Thursday to Tuesday as we switch drugs. Good news, this frees up our schedule to travel to WA for two weddings (Aunt Kathy & Aunt Maria's in July and ours in August). Bad news, my body will have 2 fewer days to recover between today's treatment and my first Taxol. Dr. Flej was on top of it, and decided to forgo the Neulasta injection that she could give me tomorrow. She didn't feel it was necessary to put me through the bone pain, when my body may recover on its own. Instead, we are moving my last check-up before the treatment on the 20th to later in the week... and check my blood counts on Friday. This gives my body another day for my levels to bounce back and still gives Dr. Flej time to give me the Neupogen injection if we need intervention to help my numbers come up before the 20th. Best part of today's consult was another confirmation the tumor is shrinking! After 1st treatment, it had pulled away from my pec muscle and was more mobile in my breast. After 2nd treatment, Dr Flej and Heather were confident it was smaller (I was on the fence). The consult after the 3rd treatment (today), even I'm on board that it's smaller and Dr. Flej says it's now smaller than 1 fingertip (it used to be as large as 2). We also discussed another medication I could try to help the nausea. I had some challenges with my GI last treatment and it took over a week for my stomach to settle dow. It's been hard motivating for my final AC treatment, fearing that will be my experience this time also. I just got a new med today, Lorazepam. Apparently it's used for more than anti-axiety and helps combat nausea too. Here's to hoping I don't need it... and if I do, hopefully it will help. =)
As I settled in to start chemo today ... a woman who I often see getting treated at the same time completed her last chemo treatment. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't jealous. Nonetheless, I'm celebrating my own milestone of being done with AC. Most interesting thing about this woman is she wore a cold cap before, during, and after chemo to help preserve her hair. I will say, she has a full head of hair. I personally couldn't imagine going through the extra discomfort, effort, and cost to save my hair. Besides, I wouldn't have enjoyed the social experiments I create virtually daily as a bald woman. I also wouldn't have found the most feminine side of myself... excited to wear earrings.
My last drug is nearing its final drips... so it's nearly time for me to head home. Yay! It was another fabulous day at the Aurora Sinai Vince Lombardi Cancer Center. Heather and I have found a family here with the nurses. They are so wonderful at what they do, and such a pleasure to talk to when we are here. They really make a difference in the experience. If any of you are reading this post... Thank You! Heather and I appreciate you so very much.
Fingers crossed the side effects from today's treatment are better than the last.
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