Chemo Tx 6

Hi!  What a great day I have had today.  I woke up, went to church- heard a fantastic message, hugged lots of people I love, played with my son outside and inside, visited with mom and stepdad, had a good dinner and conversation with my husband, ate girl scout cookies, and flat out enjoyed the day feeling good!  :):)

Monday morning (2/27) at 9:15am is chemo treatment number 6!  This is the final one of this round- being the Adriamyacin (red devil are what the nurses call it) and Cytoxen.  :)  My next treatment will be in a couple of weeks begin Round 2: Taxotere for 12 weeks, once per week.  Hair loss and fatigue will continue, but sounds like it will be a bit easier than this first round, and maybe no nausea? :) 

Thank you for your prayers, love and support!  I am so thankful.  I know its been a process.  You have stuck by me with your support.  Its easy to slack, but you haven't.  Thank you.

Hi.  Today is day 7 from chemo treatment number 5.  I sit here this morning physically tired to think about getting in the shower.  I ate a bowl of Special K with protein and fiber.  These things are good for me.  I saw a nutritionist because I know I am not eating right.  Yes, I have to eat what I can and what I feel like, but, I can eat most things, so I do need to watch it.  What is most intriguing to me, is that I can eat food to fight cancer.  So food becomes not just about my weight as it always has been, but about what I am putting into my body to help fight cancer now.  So, I am trying to eat more protein, make wild berry shakes, and good amounts of fruits and veges.

With that said, I am experiencing hot flashes.  I am assured it is not pre-menopausal.  Though between those and the lack of right words or connected thoughts at times, it is as close as I am going to get hopefully for a while once this is done. 

When I started this journey, I had a strong healthy body.  So, I was able to take a chemo treatment here, a chemo treatment there and get back up and keep going.  Now after 5 chemo treatments and sugery, my body is feeling these effects and is becoming exhausted.  I don't have that energy reserve that I had a few months ago. 

The deal is, I am fighting this and I am going to win.  I found out last week that when I started this, I was probably late stage 3 and when they removed everything, it was staged at 2b.  These final treatments including 7 weeks of radiation will take me into August and it is everything they can do to me to reduce my risk as much as possible for its return later.  So bring it on!

Last night, I watched a show that Oprah did about Tony Robbins.  He is a "life coach" and very good at what he does.  He talked on stage for 11 hours about how to live to your best and then had them walk on fiery hot coals.  Part of his intent is that you feel empowered about everything in your life because you can do anything if you can walk on fire.  Cancer is probably like my fiery hot coals.  I am feeling empowered in this experience.  I don't think you need fire or cancer to be empowered in life.  I am learning what makes great moments is with what you have right in front of you or inside of you.  Sometimes pulling it out is like pulling a shiny new object out of murky waters depending on where life has taken you.  Everyday we have a choice to be the person we want to be (assuming you want the best) or designed to be.  In my relationship with Jesus, I have learned that the most.  I have a choice to be in my agony and exhaustion, or to be on my feet ready to be the best I can be.  My world is not just for me to be rid of cancer and go on; its for those around me to experience a freedom and peace that comes with knowing God and knowing that there is more inside of us.  If we become satisfied with status quo, time will run out and then who will do it?

This became a personal journal session.  But, I'll tell you, I have never been committed to journaling in the 50 times I have tried, but I am committed to this blog.  So you get little very personal pieces of me from time to time.  Hope its okay with you.  Thank you for your prayers and support.  Love to each of you, Amanda

Chemo Tx 5

Hi.  Well, here we are.  February 13.  I have chemo treatment number 5 at 10:15am.  My appointment begins with the doctor and then into chemo.  I say actual treatment is approx. 2 hours.  However, I have to be there at 9:15am to get blood checked.  Then, we will leave between 2-3pm, once I meet with doctor, wait, premeds, etc.  I look forward to continuing this process and getting it done! 

Please pray nausea is easy and side effects will be manageable.  Thank you!  I will update again soon!

Lots of love!  Amanda

Believe it to be possible!

Hi!  Say it with me...GOOOO GIANTS! :)  What a great Superbowl!  We are pretty excited at our house being Giants fans and all!  I enjoyed good food, good friends, good game.  I appreciate my neighbors very much!  They hosted a superbowl party at their house; while they are Steelers fans, they were happy to do it. :)  Barb and I worked on a little project last week that was good therapy, a fun cakepop display- complete with zipline camera man, Giants offense, Patriots defense, Giants fans, Madonna, Michael Strahan and Terry Bradshaw showed up as commentators, and Tom Brady was on injured medical transport.

On this past Thursday, I met with my surgeon for follow up.  He removed the gauze, took out my staples and removed my drain.  He went over the pathology report.  The mass in the breast had shrunk to less than one inch and the one lymph node removed showed microscopic traces.  My oncologist is "tinkled pink".  This is really great news for me.  So, I will be resuming chemo on Monday, then have last one of this round (Adriamycin- nurses refer to this one as "red devil" & Cytoxen) on 2/27.  Then, my second and final round of chemo (Taxotere) will start for 12 weeks, every week.  Radiation is after that, which I will be meeting with my Radiation Oncologist on February 9th.  I will give you an update of that.  I do still have a small superficial blood clot in my arm which means that I have to remain on a blood thinner.  I have to limit my leafy green intake and watch bleeding- minor bleeds could be hard to stop.

With that said, this week should be a great week for feeling great.  I am 2 weeks out from surgery and I am 1 week away from my next chemo appt on 2/13.  So, I will catch up on stuff and go as fast as I can go.  Physically, I am doing well, extremely mobile and getting around great.  Emotionally, I am doing well. My family is doing well.  My son is provided with normalcy and routines and talks that do well for him.  He doesn't know I have a wig, he knows that I have new hair. :)   I ask what he thinks often and ask him if I should wear a cap or hair.  His favorite is my long hair.  We guide him the best way possible that we know how.  There is no right or wrong.  We do the best we can do for a 4 year old.   

As you may have picked up from this blog, I spoke at a local church on 1/15.  In the weeks following, the pastor was alerted that the cancer he fought 12 years ago may have returned.  So much so, that he drove to Mayo Clinic, ran tests and the surgeon removed several inches of his small intestines.  The day of his surgery, I even posted on his blog for him that they removed a cancerous area but didn't know definite results.  Within days after the surgery, the doctors informed him that it was not cancer and it was not related to his cancer 12 years ago and it was not going to require treatment.  Without a doubt, God worked miracles for Pastor Chuck.  It is amazing what can be done when you believe.

Thank you for your continued prayers and love for me.  Some of you are really close to me through this in your prayers and in your thoughts.  Some of you, I am aware of and some I am not, and some of you I don't even know.  Thank you for fighting the fight with me.  Believing the impossible to be possible!