Wednesday, January 21, 2015

It's time to Pay it Forward


At the ending of my hard chemo's I decided that I wanted to make and take a chemo scarf to each of my remaining 11 herceptin chemo's. So far I've been able to do that. This last chemo I took 7 scarves. With only 3 chemo appointments left I have changed my plan. I would now like to take with me to my last appointment on March 20th one scarf for each chemo treatment I received over the past year. That would be 17 scarves, so here's where you come in! I'm looking to see if anyone want to donate fabric to me, I need about 30 inches by 30 inches, and that'll make 2 scarves. I am planning to buy some of this fabric myself so I can find some cute fabric I think women would like. Do any of you sewing friends have fabric laying around that would make a cute scarf for a chemo patient? Let me know if you do and I'll come pick it up, unless your one of my friends who lives out of state. :)
This project is going to be so much fun and I look forward to working on it over the next 8 weeks!

Fast forward to now...


In the beginning of all my treatments I was told that I would have 17 chemo treatments; 6 of them would be the hard chemo with herceptin and the remaining 11 would be herceptin only treatments. Last Friday, January 16th I had my 7th chemo that was herceptin only. My original appointment was on January 12th, but because we started a new health insurance program and didn't have our ID cards yet (or a member ID #), I needed to cancel my chemo. Utah Cancer Specialist were excellent to work with, once I had a member ID # they quickly got me preauthrized and my chemo treatment re-scheduled.
My Dad was my chemo buddy and was allowed to come back with me for my port access. He had brought along his go-pro and camera and was able to video the port access. Up until this point I wasn't able to have someone with me for the port access (well, except for one other time!). I'm really glad to have a video of this to remind me of what I had to go through on treatment days. This may seem silly, but this whole cancer killing/fighting process fascinates me, and it'll be nice to have these pictures and videos (of the whole process, not just the port access). You know, just in case I forget what it was like.

Today we discussed my achy joints. He said that this is most likely caused from going through this whole treatment process. My body has been through a lot, from chemo's, surgery and radiation. We aren't going to do anything to treat my symptoms, other than exercise (which in my book means, stay active and don't sit around).
We talked about my foggy chemo brain and he said that it usually takes about a year after treatments end to be back at 80% of where I used to be. This wasn't what I wanted to hear, I get really frusterated and discouraged because I don't feel normal. He also said I may never be completely back to the way I was before. Double bummer, lets hope that's not the case for me! Before chemo I loved being involved with my kids schools and loved a good brain stimulating challenge, but now I feel overwhelmed so easily.
With radiation complete now is the time I begin taking tomoxifen. We discussed possible side effects, which would be hot flashes, leg cramps, and uterine cancer. I will need to make sure I have my yearly girl visit to check for any abnormalities, and for hot flashes I can take vitamin E pills. Tomoxifen is a once a day pill and I will take it for 10 years. It used to be something done only for 5 years, but they are seeing even better results by extending it to 10 years. If I'm going to have side effects he said I would notice them right away, and today I took my 5th pill and so far no side effects.





With only 3 more treatments I scheduled out my remaining appointments. Did you hear me?! I only have THREE more treatments!! In about 9 weeks I'll be DONE with chemo treatments!! A couple of nights before this last treatment I looking at my calendar with Dave to see what the dates for the next 3 appointments would be, and when I discovered the date of the final appointment I got emotional! My final chemo date is March 20th, that is the day I was diagnosed last year. How appropriate to be finishing on the exact same day! Typing this in my journal makes me emotional still. The feeling I feel is one of complete happiness; that I have been able to survive this whole ordeal! To say I have been supported by all you wonderful friends and family is an understatement, I feel like you have carried me more than supported me through this. The greatest blessing that may come out of this, besides my life, is the love and friendship that has been strengthened with each one of you. Thank YOU!!
So, with chemo coming to an end I think a party is in order!! Here are my thoughts, I would love for any of you that would like to be at the chemo center  when I ring the bell to be there! You wouldn't all be able to sit with my during treatment, but you could be out in the waiting area and we'll come get you to watch me ring the bell. Before I can do this I need to check with the cancer center to see how big of a 'party group' they'll let me have. :)
I'm thinking of reserving my church later that day to have a party! Do something pot luck style so you can come and enjoy some goodies and stay and visit. My daughter said if we do this she will have her friends help her decorate the gym. I'd love your suggestions and ideas too! So start sending them to me!