Great Genes.
I'm here. I'm not exactly on the other side of infusion 2, as I am still struggling mightily. But I have covered a lot of ground since the last update!
First things first, infusion day was Wednesday and today is day 5. My mouth tastes like metal, my nose is raw, and I'm still nauseous around the clock, but my hair is still in tact! (The small things.)
I found out before the infusion that my blood work was not so beautiful this time around, and my platelets tanked and did not rebound from the last round of chemo. My white blood cell counts were also on the low end of normal, and I officially have iron-deficiency anemia that will land me iron infusions with the next round. We were able to go ahead with the infusion this time, but if I am lower next time, I'm told I will have to hold off a week or adjust the meds.
The nurses and intern and I had a "laugh to keep from crying" moment when we realized I had experienced nearly every side effect of the meds. Go big or go home! The one thing I didn't deal with is neuropathy of the fingers or toes, which, I forgot to mention in the last post, is thanks to freezing my fingers and toes during the chemo meds. It works the same way freezing my scalp works! I was also eating ice chips and popsicles to attempt to keep away mouth sores, which I have done, but it did not work to keep away the raw sandpaper feelings. We cannot win them all.
To manage the freezing of all of my limbs, I had the heated seat on the chair, and an electric blanket to cover me. Total freeze time is 2 hours for fingers, toes, and mouth, and 4 hours for head. This go 'round, I managed to make snow on my head, which I will take as a nice, tight fit. I skipped the Ativan this time, in an attempt to avoid the cumulative effects with the Benadryl, and I took advil before cold capping started to avoid the headache. I still felt mildly nauseous and heavy, but not as bad!
On Thursday, I felt well enough to take James to his "meet new families and teacher" day at school, which felt like a big deal. I hung around for a bit and then ducked out to take an important call: genetic testing results.
The good news! The genetic counselor opened the call by saying "you have great genes." There were no mutations in any of the 84 genes they tested. There were "two variances of unknown significance" for two genes associated with colon cancer, but (1) she views them as "clinically negative" and nothing to worry about, and (2) they are not associated with an increased risk of breast cancer.
So this is great news for me and for my entire family, obviously, but I can't help but think....then where did this come from? If there is nothing in my genes that would cause breast cancer to grow, then it truly just grew out of having fibrous breasts. And that, it seems, will inform my discussion with the plastic surgeon when the time comes. I have said all along that I trust I will beat this. But how do I keep it from coming back?
Thursday wrapped up with an evening acupuncture appointment that fell the day after chemo and during my Neulasta injection, which truly felt like the cancer-patient-trifecta.
Things started to go downhill a bit on Friday, but I managed (with the help of my mom) to take the kids for hair cuts, and then head in for fluids. I would say it was unremarkable, but I got to hear a chemo patient "ring the bell" for her last treatment, with a team of supporters there with her. And I got to sit next to an older gentleman who was there for his first infusion and was, frankly, a delight to speak to because he was fantastically positive and cheerful while he was there. Sometimes, we just need a little help from our "friends" to feed the positive energy to get through another couple of rough days.
Pics of my adorable children and their haircuts, for posterity and happiness. <3
First things first, infusion day was Wednesday and today is day 5. My mouth tastes like metal, my nose is raw, and I'm still nauseous around the clock, but my hair is still in tact! (The small things.)I found out before the infusion that my blood work was not so beautiful this time around, and my platelets tanked and did not rebound from the last round of chemo. My white blood cell counts were also on the low end of normal, and I officially have iron-deficiency anemia that will land me iron infusions with the next round. We were able to go ahead with the infusion this time, but if I am lower next time, I'm told I will have to hold off a week or adjust the meds.
The nurses and intern and I had a "laugh to keep from crying" moment when we realized I had experienced nearly every side effect of the meds. Go big or go home! The one thing I didn't deal with is neuropathy of the fingers or toes, which, I forgot to mention in the last post, is thanks to freezing my fingers and toes during the chemo meds. It works the same way freezing my scalp works! I was also eating ice chips and popsicles to attempt to keep away mouth sores, which I have done, but it did not work to keep away the raw sandpaper feelings. We cannot win them all.
To manage the freezing of all of my limbs, I had the heated seat on the chair, and an electric blanket to cover me. Total freeze time is 2 hours for fingers, toes, and mouth, and 4 hours for head. This go 'round, I managed to make snow on my head, which I will take as a nice, tight fit. I skipped the Ativan this time, in an attempt to avoid the cumulative effects with the Benadryl, and I took advil before cold capping started to avoid the headache. I still felt mildly nauseous and heavy, but not as bad!On Thursday, I felt well enough to take James to his "meet new families and teacher" day at school, which felt like a big deal. I hung around for a bit and then ducked out to take an important call: genetic testing results.
The good news! The genetic counselor opened the call by saying "you have great genes." There were no mutations in any of the 84 genes they tested. There were "two variances of unknown significance" for two genes associated with colon cancer, but (1) she views them as "clinically negative" and nothing to worry about, and (2) they are not associated with an increased risk of breast cancer.
So this is great news for me and for my entire family, obviously, but I can't help but think....then where did this come from? If there is nothing in my genes that would cause breast cancer to grow, then it truly just grew out of having fibrous breasts. And that, it seems, will inform my discussion with the plastic surgeon when the time comes. I have said all along that I trust I will beat this. But how do I keep it from coming back?
Thursday wrapped up with an evening acupuncture appointment that fell the day after chemo and during my Neulasta injection, which truly felt like the cancer-patient-trifecta.
Pics of my adorable children and their haircuts, for posterity and happiness. <3
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