9-02-10 Long Overdue

Sorry it took me so long to post again. I have been meaning to write a post for weeks, but since I have my energy back and the kids in school I have been running around and working around the house. The steroid hasn't kept me awake till all hours the last 3 weeks, so I don't get that late night time to write anymore. Still there is really no good excuse for keeping all my friends waiting so long. These days when I have no valid excuse, I just pull out the chemo card, so there you go. There has to be some advantage to going through this.

Let's start with radiation. I really had very little information about radiation therapy until this week. All I knew about it was short visits, 5 days a week for about 6 weeks and radiation is involved. Not much to go on, I know, but I have been taking information in small doses as I go along, so that I can digest it all better. These days, I forget about 1/2 of what I'm told, but I'll tell you about that later. I learned a lot this week from speaking to my friend Sara (radiation therapist), my radiation doctor, and her nurse. I remember the Dr's name, forgot the nurse (oops.) Anyway, about 33 treatments, which will be about 6 weeks, since Thanksgiving is mixed in there. I thought I would be done right before Thanksgiving, but they told me I need a 4 week break between chemo and radiation, so that puts me toward mid December. There will be side effects, but they will be mostly localized and for the most part different from what I have experienced on chemo, except for the fatigue. My brain function should begin to return during radiation. Shockingly, the PA at the oncologist's office told me today that most women my age report that the brain never returns to pre-treatment functioning, but she assured me it will get better over time.

Speaking of my brain issues, I'll tell you about some silly stuff I've done in August. Just this evening, I looked at a bowl of peanuts and called them carrots (WHAT????!!!!) A few weeks ago I went for a walk around the neighborhood with a bandana on my head and one hoop earring (ARGHH!) of course Scot was with me and never noticed. I took one look in the mirror when I got home and fell out in laughter. If I only had a dollar for every time I press the tailgate opener to open the garage door and vice versa. I think I start most of my discussions with, "Did I already ask/tell you this?" Last week I was at a restaurant and a picked up my tea, with a straw and proceeded to tip it as though it had a lid on it, which it didn't (OOPS!) There were twice as many of those stories I wanted to write about, but I forgot them.

I have been feeling better physically on Taxol and Herceptin, but there are noticeable side effects. I've lost the amazing sense of smell I had during the AC treatments. Now I have a runny nose that bleeds a lot. I am ALWAYS thirsty!!! I live on Sonic half and half tea with easy ice. When I went for my first office visit after Taxol and Herceptin (3 weeks into treatment) I had gained almost 10 pounds with no change in diet or exercise (I SWEAR). I was bowled over! Then I was told that it is typical to have bloating from this drug treatment. They have assured me it will fall off shortly after I stop taking Taxol. This drug treatment put an end to my monthly periods. Surprisingly, I managed to continue having them during AC, but no longer. In their place I have hot flashes, especially at night. I wake up a few times each night to throw the covers off, only to wake up 30 minutes later to pull them back on because I'm cold. At least when I get them during the day, it adds a little pink to my pale face.

Thinking pink, I am getting really excited about the Austin Komen Race for the Cure On Sunday, November 7. Team M&M in honor of Michelle and I has raised enough money to qualify for a Komen Koach. They will help our team coordinate on the day of the event. They will pick up our race packets for us and generally help the event run smoother for us. If you haven't already signed up, here is the link Click here to view the team page for M&Ms in support of Michelle and Melanie. Remember you do not have to run, most of us are planning on walking and hanging out. If you are not able to be there that day, but you'd like to contribute a donation that's great too. You can donate through the same link, or facebook friends can donate on my facebook page, through my Komen tab. We are going to have team t-shirts printed for race day. Our Team captain is in the process of getting the details from the printer. Look for that info coming soon.

I promise not to let so much time pass between posts.