Update Friday 20th, 2012 - Retry

It was brought to my attention today that I didn't post yesterday . . .  But I did.  I guess I did something wrong.  Not to hard to believe if you know how tech challenged I am.  So here we go again.

My friend Evie went with me again.  Loves to her for spending her day off with me . . .  again.

My platelets went up from 33 to 34.  Not much of a gain, but better than going the other way.  My RBC's are still dropping, but not to the cut off that I need a transfusion.  My hemoglobin came up significantly, so the b12 shot, iron supplements and the folic acid every day - are doing their job.

I've been very very very very tired this past week, along with very weak.  Doc says could be chemo related or else having to do with vitamin b stuff, or  because I'm two days away from steroid free.  We don't know.  Doesn't really matter why, it just is.  But I get a week off of chemo next week.  Don't know that I like that, because every week of missed chemo is a a week that the breast cancer can do what it wants.  I guess I have to trust the doc that I need a week off.  Also got my Xegva shot this week.  Hoping that I don't experience the pain that I have in the past from it. 

Normally the day of chemo and the day after - I feel fairly well.  Not so this time.  Hopefully tomorrow will be better.  Keep our fingers crossed and say our prayers. 

Thanks to everyone for their messages, thoughts, and prayers.  I couldn't make it without all of you.

Love, Heather

Update Friday 13th, 2012

Today my sister went with me to chemo.  Gotta love the sis.

Good news:  My platelets are slowly creeping up.  At 33 this week, woot-hoot the highest since counting.  My RBC up slightly, along with the hemoglobin and hemacrit.  My WBC has gone down slightly.  I lost 3 lbs.  So I got my chemo tx today.

Bad news:  My B12 and folic acid levels are zip.  So now I get a B12 shot every week, and have to take folic acid supplements.  The doc is happy with the steroid wean and says, "I think your face looks much better this week."  This statement coming a week after he told me that he thought my face looked good, so I guess he thinks I'm a beauty queen this week.  hahahaha

The regimine with the new chemo drug Abraxane is three weeks of treatment and one week off.  So one more week of tx and then off one week.  The doc says after the next 3 weeks of tx I'll get another PET scan, MRI and mamogram.  Then we'll see the surgeon with all the results, and see if the breast tumor has shrunk enough for a lumpectomy or even a mastectomy.  So that means a visit to the surgeon sometime the first part of March.  Keep the prayers coming and don't forget to cross your finger.

A day for visitors - 1/10/12

Today my friends Debbie, Judi, Misty, & LaDonna came for a visit.  They brought all kinds of food, snacks, wine & margarita's.  It was a great visit and so appreciated. Judi brought me a hat she made for me, and movies from Sam.  I can't tell you how much these visits get me through week to week, or day to day.   

Then as they left Jesse's Grammy Jean & Grampy Paul came for a visit from Maine.  We had a wonderful visit and then they took Jesse to dinner.  I'm so grateful they came and gave Jess a taste of normalcy.

Thanks to God for wonderful friends and family.  They make the days.

January 6th, 2012

Kudos to my friend Evie for spending her day at chemo with me.  It was supposed to be a shorter appointment, but because of new insurance and the new year it ended up taking twice as long!!  Gotta love it.
Good news:  My platelets went up to 30.   Yea.  My hemoglobin came up a little, so doc says keep up with whatever I'm doing.  My red blood count came down some, but we're waiting until next week, to see if I need another blood infusion. 
On the steroid front:  My white blood count went up somemore, I gained 8 lbs., and my face has swollen:  So he started me on lasix and also slowed down the steroid wean.  So we'll see how everything goes next week.
So for the most part good news and I got my chemo tx this week. 
The best part of the day . . .  Evie and I met Veronica at La Nopolera for lunch.  Had a great time with them. 

Where I am now.

When I was initially diagnosed with breast cancer I was supposed to go on a three chemo tx.  But the breast cancer that metastasized to my bones was eating up the platelets and red blood cells, and the 3X chemo tx would eat up the blood cellls and platelets even more.  So they put me on Taxal, which is a lower dose chemo, that eats up your blood cell products less than the 3X combo.  So I have the Taxal tx every week.  But the carrier drugs and solvents that are involved with Taxal create a huge allergy factor.  I was having such a huge allergy reaction that they had to put me on heavy duty daily steroids.  Then the heavy duty steroids wipe out your immune system.  So I've had to hold chemo tx twice because of low platelets or when I had the sinus infection.

Last week my platelets went up from 21 to 25.  The normal low for anyone else is 140.  But for me 25 is good.  I haven't had to have a platelet infusion since Thanksgiving, they are maintaining in the 20's   The cut off is 20.  My red blood cells have been low, but maintaining since my packed red blood cell infusiion a few weeks ago.  So that's good.  My iron is low again, but I have increased my supplements and have been trying to eat iron rich foods.  Doc says we'll see how the fe goes in a few week.  So all of that is good and I had my taxal chemo tx last friday.

My breast tumor is being fed by estrogen and progesterone.  So I'm on a anti-estrogen/progesterone med called femara.  Between that and the taxal, the breast tumor has shrunk to a 1/3 of it's original size.  Which is really good, and has surprised my doc.  The goal is to shrink the breast tumor and get a lumpectomy, then be on the chemo, radiation  and eventually get a mascectomy.  He thinks that I may not ever have to go on the 3X chemo tx, because of how well the breast tumor has shrunk already.

So this week coming up we're weaning me off the steroids and starting a different chemo tx.  (Can't remember the name, but I'll let you know.)  The new different chemo drug has less allergy factors ( and also doesn't eat up the blood cells.), so we can stop the steroids.  Once off the steroids we don't have to worry about me coming down/or catching something.   The ultimate goal is to not hold chemo.  We need to shrink the tumor, get the mesmetastasized bone cancer under control, and keep all the blood counts up. 

So that's where I am right now.  I'll let you know how everything goes on Friday.

Pray and believe.  Love Heather

The Wall of Love

Ever since I was diagnosed with breast cancer, my friends and family have been sending or giving me things.  Initially it was all just piling up.  But upon realizing that all of these things were sent and filled with love and prayers, Jesse and I decided to make the "Wall of Love."  It is right next to my bed, and is the last thing I look at before sleep and the first thing I see when I wake up.  Thank you to everyone that has sent their love.  Keep it coming . . . .