Amy's Cancer Story

The treatment only lasted about 5 minutes. The technicians put you in your calculated position and you have to stay perfectly still. The x-ray machine moved in three positions and shot the rays. The machine shot at both surgical sites and on my neck at the top of where my lymphnodes extend to. So much better than chemo but I have the high possibility of getting very burned and toughening up like leather. Everyone’s body reacts differently. It is extremely important for me to wear sun screen if I go out and am wearing a tank top.

I was fortunate the first time I had cancer in 2005-2006 that the chemo did not bother my finger nails. This time it is a bit different. Not until I was finished with chemo on May 12 did my nails turn yellow and break off very easily and sometimes too far down my finger. Another strange thing is some of the nails of ridges in them, probably a ridge for each round of chemo. It is going to take about 6-9 months for them to grow out back to normal. Until then I will have to get some nail polish out.

I should be in good shape by fall, I should have my nails in better shape, radiation should be done and the burns gone, and a decent amount of hair back. 🙂 Something to look forward to . . . .

Last week I went to a final planning session for my radiation. I had to lay there as if they were really radiating me. They took more photos and today is the day. My first session is this afternoon. I really hope I do not have a lot of fatigue.

June has been a busy month for me and I am glad to say that because it is a blessing to be able to feel healthy and live life fairly normally in between chemo and radiation. My family had the opportunity of a lifetime to go visit my sister in Greece. We had had some assistance with Frequent Flyer miles that we had banked and mounting for about 10 years and some other amazing circumstances. It is a funny thing that I used to get frustrated that circumstances would never work out to use these miles up but if I had used too many of the frequent flyer miles prior to this trip, I may have not had enough to fly my whole family to Greece. But all in all we had a wonderful time, took over 2300 photos. If you are on Facebook with me you should be able to see the 150 photos that I have up already. I will be posting more as I have time.

A couple of days after returning from our trip, I went to see Dr. Ellis, my oncologist. He said everything looked good with all my counts. He started me on Tamoxifen a hormone pill that I will be taking for 5 years. This is one thing that helps prevent the breast cancer from returning. So far I have had not noticeable side effects.

He also set me up an appointment to meet with the radiologist. I met with Dr. Jones the following week on June 16th. She went over everything. I did not have any real concerns. I can explain more in detail about that later.

Last week I went for photos, CT planning scan, tattoos and measurements. The doctor has to apply the radiation around specific calculations to avoid damaging your heart and lungs. I have to go back tomorrow for a few more photos and measurements and talk with the doctor. While on the phone with them this morning, they told me I will be starting radiation on Tuesday.

I am really happy to say that my hair is growing in nicely. It is still peach fuzz but not enough for me to feel comfortable with out anything on my head. Maybe another month or so. I am generally wearing a bandanna or scarf because the wigs is just too darn hot (other than when meeting clients).

Went to visit Dr. Ellis on 6-9-10, Wednesday. Everything looked good. He set up an appointment to discuss my next steps with a radiologist. I will be visiting her the 16th. He said I will probably be undergoing radiation for 6 weeks (every day). Dr. Ellis also prescribed Tamoxifen which I will be taking daily for the next 5 years. This pill will reduce my chances of a recurrence of breast cancer by 30%.

I have pain in my skull on an off on the left front side. I had this before I was diagnosed with cancer for the second time. The PET scan that I had did not scan my skull so to make me the and Dr. both feel better he has prescribed a CT scan on my head and I will have that done before I see the radiologist on Wednesday. The Dr. thinks it could be nerves from my neck but wants to be sure. Hopefully nothing else will be wrong. Prayers are appreciated.

Last Wednesday was my last day of chemo. Did not have the opportunity to speak to any other patients. Had a fever over the weekend but made it through. I feel great today being a week out. I am thankful for many prayers and support of many people in my life.

I will be starting radiation and the daily pill of Tamoxafin ( not sure of spelling ) in June. I am exited to have the opportunity to visit my sister this summer while she is staying in Greece. God made the opportunity possible. We thought it would not be. So that is something to look forward to. I love taking pictures so that will be a blast. Will keep everyone posted.

This past weekend was my chemo weekend as I call it. It usually hits me hard and I look and feel like I cannot do much. For some strange reason, I seem to have some energy after Wednesday chemo and then the weekend hits and I crash. So this weekend, the family went out of town for sports tournaments. The best thing for me to do was stay home – although wishing I could have gone to take photos. So I had the whole house to myself. Unfortunately, I don’t get much done because I have no desire to read or use the computer much or even clean – no energy -in that state so I end up watching TV (usually HGTV and FoodNetwork). I managed to prepare a few meals and take care of the dogs.

Sunday was great. After church, I just hung out in the backyard on a lounger. I even rigged up a golf umbrella to my daughter’s soccer goal for some well needed shade. It worked perfectly and so did the weather until about 4 pm went the storm rolled in.

Sunday evening I had a fever of 100.2. I was hoping that was just due to hot flashes but took some tylenol and went to bed.

On Wednesday, before my last chemo, Dr. Ellis said he thought I was handling everything great. Party of me was hoping that I would not so he could cut off a treatment or two. The minimum was four rounds and I have had that. But he said since I am young, my body is handling it ok and my counts are great. My mother-in-law drove me down to the doc’s office for my Neulasta shot on Thursday, and we swung in Sam’s Club on the way home.

Another thing that is driving me nuts is my eyelids keep flickering many times through out the day. This is most likely due to the increasing nerve damage from the chemo and/or the steriod pre-meds. I am really hoping that side effect does not stick with me. It is a enough to drive you crazy.

I thought I would have more energy today being Monday after. I think I just have to get moving and get some blood flowing.

I am sitting at chemo right now. It is a great time to catch up. About a week ago, I mentioned my head sweating ( and btw, thanks to those who gave me comments ). I was at a local sporting goods store found a skull cap from Under Armour. This hat is designed to keep moisture away from your skin and boy does it work. I would be burning up from a hot flash or night sweat and did not have to removed it to wipe the sweat off. When I wear a bandanna, I wear it underneath and it helps soooo much.

It is almost 12 noon. Got to the chemo office about 8:30 and still have some time to go. Visited with Dr. Ellis before chemo and he said I am doing wonderfully. He said because I am young, I am handling it well.

There have been three people that sat here with me. The first man was an Italian and his wife sat along with him. It had a strong accent even though he has been living in the states since the 1950s. He had lymphoma. I did not talk to the second party as he left in 5 minutes or so after his check up. The third party is sitting here with her second half. We are the high tech cubicle, all four of us or sitting here with our laptops. It is a pretty funny sight.

Interesting thing is the third woman sat right next to me in the make up class. She is on her second round of chemo. Her breast cancer spread to her liver but not her lymph nodes but she is pretty confident that she will be ok and is in good spirits.

I have had all my premeds and not am on Taxotere. The local grocery chain, Giant Eagle, is right next to the hospital. It is tempting to stop in and get some sushi as we have done before. I am getting pretty sleepy. Going to take it easy.

I know that giving up is not an option it just seems easier than holding on at times! I am just thankful the Lord continues to grant me the strength to go on!

I have gotten many notes, too many to post all but here is a neat one from a great girl (from college).

“Hey, I hope you’re doing well! I just showed my son, Alec, your photos with your wigs and without wigs. He had his hair cut yesterday and was completely psyched about it, only to have some stupid kids tease him today. We have his 8-inch ponytail here ready to be sent off to Pantene’s Beautiful Lengths program, and your photos really encouraged him! Thanks for posting your photos and your story, Amy. Praying for you when you pop up on FB or in my mind, and can’t wait for your cancer free report! 🙂 ” -Michelle

Yesterday was very hot. Temps got up to 90 in the city of Pittsburgh. After showing homes to a client, my head was sopping wet with sweat due to the wig I was wearing. I had to get home to take my wig off and sop up the major water molecules. I put on the bandanna for the rest of the night even though I was headed out to two soccer games. I got some strange looks but as soon as someone noticed that I noticed they were looking, they looked away. Funny thing is I walked into the rink at the same exact time as a bald woman with a baseball cap on. I felt better I was not the only one.

Not sure if I mentioned previously but part of what chemo does is kill your actively growing cells such as hair, etc . . . Another is ovaries. So chemo puts you in menopause, which has its advantages. I do get sweats and light-headedness.

Today I was at the store with Kate and broke out in a sweat, having to remove my bandanna. I am thinking a bandanna or hat is not going to cut it for summer covering. I am going to be dying of the heat. I think I need to invent a head covering that has air conditioning or a cooling feeling.

I was truly amazed today that I found out that I won sales associate of the month for March 2010. I was honored to received it a few times last year but this time it was sales associate for all the offices (the entire company which I have never done). And to beat all of that – I did it while on chemo.

I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13