My Breast Cancer Journal
July 23-29
Monday, July 24, 2000
Well, I mostly slept through the last couple days. I have been so tired, much more so than with the previous treatments. We were watching a James Bond movie on Saturday with the sound turned way up and everything exploding. I fell asleep anyway. Slept for hours and didn't think I'd sleep that night, but I slept about 8 hours. Got up, read the Sunday paper and went back to sleep for another 5 hours. Slept 10 hours last night and I'm still tired. Took the muscle relaxant this morning in case I have the muscle spasms again this time - that's not going to help the tiredness. I may spend most of the day snoozing - again.
posted by Karen Weber Monday, July 24, 2000
Wednesday, July 26, 2000
As I predicted, I did spend most of Monday snoozing. I was awake more yesterday, just because I decided to be. I think I could have slept all day again. My stomach is not recovering from this treatment as quickly as it did the first two. I have no appetite now. I'm not really nauseated -- unless I eat. Then I am very nauseated. So I'm taking my phenergan pills before eating to hold off the nausea. The big problem is remembering to eat. This is pretty amusing, as I've never had to "remember" to eat before.I started the Neupogen shots early this round - on Sunday. Taking them at night is definitely better. I'm more awake and it's easier to do the injection. It doesn't seem to really make much difference in how I sleep or how sore I am during the day. Three down, seven to go.
I noticed yesterday that I have begun growing some peach fuzz on my head. No idea if it will stay or fall out next week on schedule. It appears to be white. Rick says he can't see it or feel it. I told him that it was his job as my husband to humor me on this, then I asked him to try feeling it again. He still says he can't see it or feel it. I need to send that guy back to Husbands 101!
NABCO Facts About Breast Cancer
Herceptin: A Novel Approach to the Treatment of Breast Cancer
posted by Karen Weber Wednesday, July 26, 2000
Thursday, July 27, 2000
Gel dosimetry will allow more accurate imaging, radiation therapy - good news for the future of radiation therapy.I'm having nosebleeds today. My platelets may have dropped. How will we know? The oncologist won't do a blood count until next week. My chemotherapy book from the NIH says that I should call him immediately. Of course, he doesn't want to hear from me unless I'm running a high temp or have been throwing up for a couple of days. So if the nosebleeds continue to be a problem, I'll call my GP tomorrow. I am going to ask his opinion of local oncologists to see if perhaps we could find one that would be more interested in me as a whole person rather than seeing me as a "cancer" to be treated. Changing oncologists in midstream sounds tiring, but I'm beginning to think that it would be worth it if I could find someone more supportive. This oncologist acted like he would be before we started treatment, so his attitude since we started has been a surprise to me. I keep thinking I'm overreacting, but as I ask the gals in my support group about things, it becomes clear that I'm not. So I might as well talk to the GP about it now. I'm sounding negative, aren't I? I'm not trying to be. I'm trying to be realistic and proactive as the leader of my healthcare team.
The good news is that my appetite is much better today. We ate out last night and I needed a phenergan. But I had an ice cream craving later on, and when Rick indulged me, it tasted really good! So I now think that ice cream, particularly when mixed with chocolate, has curative properties for chemo patients. But we all knew that already, right?
We had a contractor come out today to look at the back yard about putting in a pool. My most important requests: a lane for swimming laps at chest depth. Swimming is my favorite exercise. Driving to a pool is my least. So I figure that I'm more likely to exercise if we have a pool set up for it. I'm also anticipating that I'll be having a total knee replacement in 15 or 20 years, so the chest depth is for walking lengths. The water supports the knee so there is decreased weightbearing for the early phases and this method almost eliminates limping once you start weightbearing on land. It also provides resistance to strengthen the muscles and provides a good cardiac workout as well. I let Rick deal with him on things like waterfalls, etc. Making these plans for the future, particularly for what I'll need for my knee in 15 to 20 years from now, was very life-affirming for me. This was an exciting day. The contractor promises to have plans and budget ready for us before my next chemo, which is going to give me a big emotional boost. I am jazzed!
posted by Karen Weber Thursday, July 27, 2000
Friday, July 28, 2000
Laser treatment allows killing of breast cancers in situ - the future of breast surgery. Laser kills tumor instead of the woman having to undergo a lumpectomy or mastectomy. Cool!I've posted pictures of my henna tattoo. You'll find a button for it along the side now, plus a button to the infamous Bald Karen page and the Friends in Need Breast Cancer Support group. My mom took the original pictures of the henna tattoo the day of my third chemo. Either she was shaky or I was as they were not in focus. I really regret waiting so long to look at them because some of the lovely work down on my neck has already faded. Too much time snoozing on the pillow! I did keep the one of the back of my head, even though it's a little blurry, because it shows the lovely heart that S Shaliney created over the base of the skull and trailing down onto the neck. This area has faded too much to show well anymore and it was just too special not to have a picture of it. I've learned my lesson. If I ever do this again, I think we should take pictures while the henna is still on because the design would show up so beautifully. Then make sure we have good pictures of the design after the henna comes off before it begins to wear.
I'm feeling better today. I think the problem is that I have a bad cold. I was starting into it the day of my third chemo. I thought the Neupogen would kill it, but it hasn't so far. I spent most of the day yesterday blowing my nose, then having a nose bleed. Today I'm not dripping as much, and I've been wiping instead of blowing so I haven't had any nose bleeds.Phew! Now if I could just breath!
My appetite seems fully recovered. We went out to dinner at a middle eastern restaurant tonight and I had a very tasty vegetarian sampler platter. Yummmmeeeee! Then we went over to Trader Joe's and picked up lots of good prepared foods. All their stuff tastes good to me, it's reasonably priced, and easy to fix. I'd like to thank Trader Joe's for being such a big part of my healthy eating during chemotherapy. So much better than the frozen stuff you find at a regular supermarket.
posted by Karen Weber Friday, July 28, 2000
Saturday, July 29, 2000
Well, I must really be feeling better, because my insomnia made a reappearance last night for the first time since I started chemotherapy. I tossed and turned, kept Rick awake, and bothered the cats. Usually I resent insomnia, but I've been such a slug over the last week that I am grateful for a return to more normal rhythms for me. Now that's over, I'd like to get back to having a good night's sleep again tonight.
posted by Karen Weber Saturday, July 29, 2000