Serving through the storm

Hi everyone…this is the first day that I’m feeling “normal” since chemo on 9/23. I was told the fatigue symptoms would be cumulative and I felt it this time around. Also, before I had chemo last Friday the air changed in Dallas and I’ve been battling a allergy/sinus attack that will not leave me. I think that is having an effect on my energy levels. I don’t feel like writing but I know I owe a post so here it goes…my first video blog!

Hair cutting day! Thanks cousins!

Pre-chemo selfie with Mother

So how have you been you feeling…

Today, 9/16 I feel GREAT. Yesterday,  9/15 I felt AWESOME and the day before yesterday 9/14 I felt EXCELLENT. You probably wouldn’t think I had chemotherapy a week ago. My hair is still here and I feel “normal” and taking minimal meds to get me there. I’m so thankful! Before 9/14, I was a little “fatigued but functioning”, dealing with the after effects and making it through the day. 
Now - the first night of chemo - I was HANGRY (Hungry and Angry/Anxious) and the food and night meds that I needed to take were delayed getting to me. All I remember is my sweet Mother offering different foods to me, (none of which I wanted even though I wanted something) and us finally settling on chicken salad and club crackers and me going to sleep on the couch until the meds arrived. As I think back, I can hardly remember that night that was less than 7 days ago - it doesn’t even feel like that was me.
After that night, post-chemo was not too bad at all. I remember one day/night I had really bad hiccups - which is a side-effect of one of the meds I should be taking for nausea. But then I had a conversation with myself, I’m not nauseous so why am I taking this drug that gives me these terrible hiccups and makes me tired. So I stopped and that was a turning point of when I started feeling better and more like myself. During this chemo treatment I’ve learned you MUST listen to your body, have more frequent check-ins and conversations with yourself. You have to remember to drink water and when you think you had enough - keep drinking! You also have to keep eating - every 2-3 hours (small meals). That’s hard for me because usually I’ll get wrapped in work and I’ll eat 1-2 times a day (larger meals). 
I think feeling better has also come from my visitors. On Saturday 9/10, I had 2 visitors come out to my parent’s house. Natasha and Fantasia came and their company was great because I have not seen them in a long while and they brought guests and goodies. Natasha brought her 2 daughters by and they colored pictures for me and brought me a rose plant. Fantasia brought Smallcakes by and informed me that there is a location in Rockwall. Side note: if you all have not had Smallcakes - get there! There is also a location at Mockingbird Station in Dallas and I’m a huge fan of the owner. It was great catching up with them out at the parent’s house because I feel it’s so far but it was already close for Natasha and Fantasia just needed to see me and check in. On Monday 9/12, I returned to my apartment (that I’ll be moving out of next week) and Mia M. stopped by from church. I was very happy to see her because she has lived around the corner from me for a while but we were never really able to meet up. She’s sweet…she brought goodies too! Homemade chicken noodle soup and it included a nice presentation. 

On 9/13-9/16, I went back to work at the Bristol office. It was uneventful (and busy) and I thought I could get through the week without going to the doctor’s office but I’m learning that those days are gone for a while. On Thursday 9/15, I had 2 appointments - Advance Directives and Genetic Testing. With Advance Directives and Living Will, it’s not really something fun to talk about but it’s something that you would want in order if it was needed. The meeting had a positive and serious tone. It was interesting to hear all the ways they will keep people “alive” in a hospital at the end of life but then it was important to discuss “quality of life” and what that means to me. Now, I’m not thinking it’s needed at this time (for me with this illness) but I’ll be finishing up the paperwork and getting that filed away. Enough of that…That meeting was followed by a meeting with the Genetic Counselor. This information can aid in sorting out surgery options (which will not happen for me for another 19 weeks). I already know which way I’m leaning but they will be testing for the BRCA1 and BRCA2 (BReast CAncer genes 1 and 2) and other cancer genes. This is all VERY interesting to me because there is basically no cancer in my family history. I filled out a lengthy questionnaire (that included aunts, uncles, 1st cousins, etc.) before this appointment and it produced a family tree with health information. I’ll have to get a copy of that for my family record. The testing results will come back about 5 weeks and I’m sure there will be more to report on that later.

Oh! I just thought this was interesting to share. On Facebook, I am delivered a Message from God at random times and this is the last one that was sent to me on 9/15…

Today, Kimberly, we believe God wants you to know that you influence those around you.
Think well about the seeds you are planting as you influence the people around you every day. You can plant seeds of impatience, fear, and frustration, or of love, contentment, and faith. It’s up to you!

Very random and timely at the same time!

Next up…my provisional year with Junior League of Dallas, the big chop prior to chemo hairloss and other musings on my week.

UNT Researchers Make Breast Cancer Breakthrough

UNT Researchers Make Breast Cancer Breakthrough

Thankful that University of North Texas is leading the way on new treatments for my particular type of breast cancer!

My first impressions about chemo (especially the Adriamycin aka Red Devil and Cytoxan)…and after visits in the Cancer Center

Getting the infusion was actually not as horrible as I thought it would be. There were a few strange effects that happened (that I was kinda warned about) that I’ll talk about in a bit. All in all not horrible - I actually forgot the topical Lidocaine at my parents house, so the oncology nurse tried to numb the port site with ice before the big poke. The ice helped a little - but pokes and stuff really do not bother me so I took it like a champ. Shout out to Candace D. who text me soon after they poked me and asked when I was starting chemo. I responded Now…and even supplied a picture.

So I know I look happy at this point - but this was the very beginning of a 2.5-3 hour treatment. So once the chemo entered it was cold and it felt like someone was pouring something in and onto me. I really did not get that sensation with the premeds but only the chemo. I was told that because it was going in as cold room temperature and we are heated to body temperature. Then, on the Cytoxan I was warned that it should be infused for at least 1 hour and that it could make my nose/sinuses have a burning situation. And sure enough it happened and it was a strange feeling but OK since I was warned it could happen. I’m thankful for the first one I was in a private room because just the thought of chemo is overwhelming but they had some overcrowding - I thought it was very important for me to start on Friday the 9th, since that was what i mentally prepared for and that I’m still trying to work while going through all of this. I was also injected with a med that is going to slow the ovaries down and try and protected them through chemo - so I may be having some menopausal symptoms…fun. And my hormones are a big ole ball of confusion because I just finished taking heavy hormones to produce eggs for the egg retrieval. The doctor warned my mother about this and I’ll talk about this is a bit later in the post. I was also given a Neulasta® Onpro™ to have on me to deliver the Neulasta shot at home instead of returning to the office for 1 shot. Strong chemo can help fight cancer, it can reduce my white blood cell count, weakening my immune system. A weakened immune system increases my risk of infection. - See more at: https://www.neulasta.com/onpro/#sthash.iLTOqEMS.dpuf. Fewer doctor visits is a great thing, so I can continue to live my life. 

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After chemo, I went for a few stops in the Cancer Center. I was looking to visit with Cancer Support Community North Texas Foundation | http://cancersupporttexas.org/ and firm up my appointment with the Genetic Testing office. At Cancer Support Community North Texas they have a beautiful space with rooms for support groups, a demo kitchen, arts and crafts and a room for kids if you need to distract them while meeting. They also offer help on finding assistance Very cool place - will probably spend more time with them throughout this process and work on getting my membership so I can participate in more of their activities. Now for Genetic Testing. My original appointment was on 9/8 but I was a little occupied and getting my port installed for the chemo so I was a no-show. 

I was reminded I needed to set that up again yesterday and they were able to move me to next Thursday. Yay! I’m very interested in seeing the results on that since cancer is does not run in my family. And a quick side note on the port installation: everyone I met at Margo Perot Day Surgery were angels. My nurses Lovella and Mable were awesome (more than words can say) and Dr. Bourland did a great job with the port! I was told he was the best and I believe it - everyone complimented the appearance of the port after 1 day installation. When I was in the office for Genetic Testing, I ran into the director of the Nurse Navigators. I had the nicest nurse navigator called me while I was at work sometime during the week August 29, and she told me her job was to help me through all of this that was happening and about to happen. I was so thankful because I was able to meet her yesterday. She was able to meet my parents and she directed me to the Women’s Health Boutique. There’s more to come from that visit because I have a follow up with Women’s Health Boutique next Thursday to find out all what they have to offer and what my insurance covers.

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On the next post I will tell you about the not fun evening after effects of this chemo and about the day after…so far. Talk to y'all soon!