Hello to all,
Well I made it through all six chemo treatments and am officially done with chemo…good riddance! I certainly won’t miss any of the side effects and am just starting to get my taste buds and appetite back. I still occasionally have a slightly metallic taste, which is fairly new. It’s taking me much longer to recover in terms of my energy level. I really didn’t do any walking for two weeks post chemo, except for two small jaunts to the dog park. I was surrounded by family and my dearest girlfriend around the holidays, so I probably did more than when it’s just mom and I. I’m still feeling quite fatigued and certainly have not gotten my stamina back as quickly as before. I’m also experiencing weakness in my quads (large thigh muscles), which means when I stand up, they feel weak and I want to/have to sit down. It is better when I walk though. The MD said it was from the steroids and should go away. I started pilates a week ago Monday and have to take it slow…I’m also doing a 45 minute walk in about 60 minutes on the other days. I was very busy with work last week, so that I’m sure is contributing to some of my fatigue. I also wasn’t able to have acupuncture or Reiki for three weeks during the holidays. My first acupuncture was yesterday and my first Reiki is next Monday….again, that may be contributing to my slower recovery.
I met with the radiation oncologist, had a CAT scan and received three very small tattoos for exact placement and will begin radiation on January 21st. I go for a trial run on the 20th for the last measurements. Radiation is everyday M-F for 6 ½ weeks for a total of 33 sessions. It should take about 15 minutes per day. I also need to continue to go for the Herceptin infusion every three weeks for the remainder of a year which ends in September. I will meet with the medical oncologist every 6 weeks. I also have to have another MUGA scan of my heart the first week in February since a side effect of Herceptin is possible heart damage….so far my last MUGA scan came back very strong. I also received a clean bill of health with my whole body bone scan and chest x-ray…meaning they looked the same as before starting treatment, so no spread to my bones…hooray for large miracles!
I had a phone consultation with the naturopath in Scottsdale and she tweaked some of my supplements to help support me during radiation, but I still take ~12-15 after each meal. So as you can see, I’m quite busy being a “patient” and I’m starting to lose my “patience” with the whole process. I just want to wake up and feel refreshed and have energy throughout the day. I guess I’m entitled to one small complaint…so that was it. With that said, I’m very grateful that I have a condition that is treatable with the goal of full recovery and the prospect of a long and healthy life….I need to keep the outcome in sight and just get through the day to day process. As always, your cards, emails, phone calls and packages are instrumental in keeping me motivated and inspired as well as being greatly appreciated.
Big hugs,
Geri Lynn
Sunday, February 8, 2009
Update #6
Hi All,
It’s been a while since I sent out an update and have since gone through chemo #4 and #5….only one more left on December 23rd, Merry Christmas to me! The fourth round hit me the hardest in terms of fatigue and all the other crappy side effects (loss of appetite, alien mouth/taste buds, diarrhea). I think I tried to do too much too early resulting in lying very low and resting the second weekend out. By comparison, today is the second weekend out from the fifth round and I feel great! I actually did Pilates on Friday and took my usual hour walk yesterday and today as well as catching up on some work reports over the weekend. The difference is I didn’t schedule much work last week except one four hour clinic on Wednesday. Thursday was filled with my usual Herceptin infusion and a whole body bone scan and chest x-ray for comparison to the baseline ones they took before beginning chemo. Who has time for work?? My medical oncologist said I’m “flying through this treatment”…
Friday at the acupuncturist she said my “whole body chi” was very strong and stronger than most people she sees including herself. She said that if I hadn’t told her about my diagnosis she would say that I was “very healthy” from her assessment. I agreed with her and said that I don’t have the cancer anymore, I just need to go through the rest of the treatment. I also emailed the naturopath in Scottsdale to let her know about my decision to go ahead with radiation…here is her email response, “I think that your decision to do radiation is proactive and is coming from a strong place. I recognize that it can be scary, but you are healthy and strong! On a positive note, your blood work looks very good, your blood cell counts are holding very well.” I’m scheduled to have a phone consult with her in January to determine which supplements I should take to support the radiation process.
I continue with the weekly Reiki and have started visualizing my “chakras” balancing every night before I go to sleep. It must be working since the Reiki therapist commented that I seemed very balanced last week. I have asked Scotty to learn to do Reiki with me when I’m done with all my treatment and he said yes…so I’m looking forward to learning more about this energy work and being able to do it to one another and on others as well. I will probably volunteer at the Caring Place that I’ve been going to for my Reiki treatments so I can help others that are on their path of recovery.
As some of you have suggested, I have added a “blog” to my website that links to these updates. I wanted to have a way to get this message out to more people. I still have to “editorialize” the updates and add some other insights-when I have more time and energy. Eventually I would like to send requests to some magazine editors in the hopes that they will want to publish my journey.
I’m really looking forward to being done with chemo (especially all the white food) and will be surrounded by family and friends that last week in December as we celebrate my completion of this round of treatment. Finally the light at the end of the tunnel is glowing brighter and brighter this holiday season….
Thanks again for all your emails, cards and visits….they really do help pick me up and help keep me positive.
I’m wishing you and yours a very healthy, happy and joyful holiday and New Years!
With love and big hugs,
Geri Lynn
It’s been a while since I sent out an update and have since gone through chemo #4 and #5….only one more left on December 23rd, Merry Christmas to me! The fourth round hit me the hardest in terms of fatigue and all the other crappy side effects (loss of appetite, alien mouth/taste buds, diarrhea). I think I tried to do too much too early resulting in lying very low and resting the second weekend out. By comparison, today is the second weekend out from the fifth round and I feel great! I actually did Pilates on Friday and took my usual hour walk yesterday and today as well as catching up on some work reports over the weekend. The difference is I didn’t schedule much work last week except one four hour clinic on Wednesday. Thursday was filled with my usual Herceptin infusion and a whole body bone scan and chest x-ray for comparison to the baseline ones they took before beginning chemo. Who has time for work?? My medical oncologist said I’m “flying through this treatment”…
Friday at the acupuncturist she said my “whole body chi” was very strong and stronger than most people she sees including herself. She said that if I hadn’t told her about my diagnosis she would say that I was “very healthy” from her assessment. I agreed with her and said that I don’t have the cancer anymore, I just need to go through the rest of the treatment. I also emailed the naturopath in Scottsdale to let her know about my decision to go ahead with radiation…here is her email response, “I think that your decision to do radiation is proactive and is coming from a strong place. I recognize that it can be scary, but you are healthy and strong! On a positive note, your blood work looks very good, your blood cell counts are holding very well.” I’m scheduled to have a phone consult with her in January to determine which supplements I should take to support the radiation process.
I continue with the weekly Reiki and have started visualizing my “chakras” balancing every night before I go to sleep. It must be working since the Reiki therapist commented that I seemed very balanced last week. I have asked Scotty to learn to do Reiki with me when I’m done with all my treatment and he said yes…so I’m looking forward to learning more about this energy work and being able to do it to one another and on others as well. I will probably volunteer at the Caring Place that I’ve been going to for my Reiki treatments so I can help others that are on their path of recovery.
As some of you have suggested, I have added a “blog” to my website that links to these updates. I wanted to have a way to get this message out to more people. I still have to “editorialize” the updates and add some other insights-when I have more time and energy. Eventually I would like to send requests to some magazine editors in the hopes that they will want to publish my journey.
I’m really looking forward to being done with chemo (especially all the white food) and will be surrounded by family and friends that last week in December as we celebrate my completion of this round of treatment. Finally the light at the end of the tunnel is glowing brighter and brighter this holiday season….
Thanks again for all your emails, cards and visits….they really do help pick me up and help keep me positive.
I’m wishing you and yours a very healthy, happy and joyful holiday and New Years!
With love and big hugs,
Geri Lynn
Update #5
Hello Again,
Woohoo! I’ve hit the half way chemo mark…three down only three to go. Thankfully, this last chemo didn’t hit me as hard during the usual 5 day post-period …I was able to eat more, even fresh fruit, with less nausea, less fatigue and was able to walk each day around the dog park, less diarrhea (started drinking Gatorade during chemo and for the next week as suggested by the naturopath) and that seemed to really help. Again, I started craving sushi and tofu…so that seems to be a winner and let’s me know when I’m ready to start eating “real food” again. I’m sure some of you wouldn’t describe sushi and tofu as “real food”. Interestingly, for the next two weeks I didn’t recover back to the usual 85-90% and instead have been hovering around 75-80%...I guess eventually the chemo does take its toll. I’ve needed to rest more and have the GI stuff going on. The good news is that I was able to get some Marinol (marijuana derivative prescription that helps with nausea and increases appetite)….I’ve only taken it three times because a bonus “side effect” is that I get “high” and can’t really do my work nor do I want to. So I wait until the end of the day to take it and then relax and munch out!
I forgot to mention in the last update that I had a phone consultation with the naturopath in Scottsdale after my second chemo and she was very pleased with my response and actually said I’m having a “healthy response” to the chemo. I didn’t even know there was such a thing…but glad I fit into that category. My acupuncture doctor feels my pulses and looks at my tongue and keeps saying how good I’m doing and that I have “good genes” meaning an overall healthy disposition. She did pick up on my “weak stomach” a few weeks back. What an amazing way to diagnose by feeling my pulses….Western medicine could learn a few lessons from Eastern medicine. I’m still doing the Reiki energy work almost weekly and that has been very helpful. When I told her that I have been feeling a low energy level and need to take naps, she said she could tell I’m normally a high energy person and that where I am now is probably where most people are every day. So that was an interesting perspective. I continue to do Pilates three times a week and take an hour walk with the dogs on the other days. I think that is really helping to keep my energy level up…my motto is to keep moving! I am working through all of this except for the 5 days post chemo.
I did have a second consultation with the radiation oncologist last week accompanied by Scotty and Madie. She was great and spent an hour and a half answering all my questions. I told her I didn’t want radiation and it was her job to prove to me why I should. She went into the historical research and statistics. The bottom line from her perspective is that you only get one chance to cure breast cancer the first time around and that you don’t want a recurrence. The most compelling piece of information was that the scar tissue around the tumor removal site and lymph nodes is not able to receive the chemo since it is supplied by the blood and it doesn’t circulate through scar tissue. So if there are any renegade cancer cells in the area, chemo won’t get to them. Thus the need for radiation. So, the treatment plan for that is to begin about three weeks after chemo ends (last week in December-Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!) and that takes us to the end of January. The course is every day
(5 days/week) for six weeks….let the roasting begin! The doc claims it is the “icing on the cake” and is much easier than the surgery and chemo. The main side effect is fatigue. I don’t even want to think about any possible long term side effects so I won’t go into those and will just block them from my reality. I will also continue to get the Herceptin infusion every three weeks for the remainder of a year through September. Not to mention the quarterly MUGA scan to check my heart…just had the second one last week….it’s almost a full time job being a patient!
So this is quite the journey I’ve undertaken….I really appreciate all of you sharing in the ride and helping me along with all your amazing emails, thoughts, prayers, love, support and the surprise packages, cards and gifts. THANK YOU, THANK YOU and THANK YOU!
Big hugs to all of you!
Geri Lynn
Woohoo! I’ve hit the half way chemo mark…three down only three to go. Thankfully, this last chemo didn’t hit me as hard during the usual 5 day post-period …I was able to eat more, even fresh fruit, with less nausea, less fatigue and was able to walk each day around the dog park, less diarrhea (started drinking Gatorade during chemo and for the next week as suggested by the naturopath) and that seemed to really help. Again, I started craving sushi and tofu…so that seems to be a winner and let’s me know when I’m ready to start eating “real food” again. I’m sure some of you wouldn’t describe sushi and tofu as “real food”. Interestingly, for the next two weeks I didn’t recover back to the usual 85-90% and instead have been hovering around 75-80%...I guess eventually the chemo does take its toll. I’ve needed to rest more and have the GI stuff going on. The good news is that I was able to get some Marinol (marijuana derivative prescription that helps with nausea and increases appetite)….I’ve only taken it three times because a bonus “side effect” is that I get “high” and can’t really do my work nor do I want to. So I wait until the end of the day to take it and then relax and munch out!
I forgot to mention in the last update that I had a phone consultation with the naturopath in Scottsdale after my second chemo and she was very pleased with my response and actually said I’m having a “healthy response” to the chemo. I didn’t even know there was such a thing…but glad I fit into that category. My acupuncture doctor feels my pulses and looks at my tongue and keeps saying how good I’m doing and that I have “good genes” meaning an overall healthy disposition. She did pick up on my “weak stomach” a few weeks back. What an amazing way to diagnose by feeling my pulses….Western medicine could learn a few lessons from Eastern medicine. I’m still doing the Reiki energy work almost weekly and that has been very helpful. When I told her that I have been feeling a low energy level and need to take naps, she said she could tell I’m normally a high energy person and that where I am now is probably where most people are every day. So that was an interesting perspective. I continue to do Pilates three times a week and take an hour walk with the dogs on the other days. I think that is really helping to keep my energy level up…my motto is to keep moving! I am working through all of this except for the 5 days post chemo.
I did have a second consultation with the radiation oncologist last week accompanied by Scotty and Madie. She was great and spent an hour and a half answering all my questions. I told her I didn’t want radiation and it was her job to prove to me why I should. She went into the historical research and statistics. The bottom line from her perspective is that you only get one chance to cure breast cancer the first time around and that you don’t want a recurrence. The most compelling piece of information was that the scar tissue around the tumor removal site and lymph nodes is not able to receive the chemo since it is supplied by the blood and it doesn’t circulate through scar tissue. So if there are any renegade cancer cells in the area, chemo won’t get to them. Thus the need for radiation. So, the treatment plan for that is to begin about three weeks after chemo ends (last week in December-Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!) and that takes us to the end of January. The course is every day
(5 days/week) for six weeks….let the roasting begin! The doc claims it is the “icing on the cake” and is much easier than the surgery and chemo. The main side effect is fatigue. I don’t even want to think about any possible long term side effects so I won’t go into those and will just block them from my reality. I will also continue to get the Herceptin infusion every three weeks for the remainder of a year through September. Not to mention the quarterly MUGA scan to check my heart…just had the second one last week….it’s almost a full time job being a patient!
So this is quite the journey I’ve undertaken….I really appreciate all of you sharing in the ride and helping me along with all your amazing emails, thoughts, prayers, love, support and the surprise packages, cards and gifts. THANK YOU, THANK YOU and THANK YOU!
Big hugs to all of you!
Geri Lynn
Update #4
Hello Again,
I’ve made it through my second chemo and will be going for the third round this Thursday, October 23rd. That will be the half way mark! I was much better prepared for the side effects this time around and started the anti-nausea and anti-diarrhea meds sooner so that helped. I also wasn’t trying to push myself to eat so much knowing that I would feel better in a few days. It was the same outcome…felt okay day of and day after chemo then started feeling crappy on Saturday. I had an appointment on Saturday morning to get my head shaved because my hair was starting to fall out. I have a beautiful, bald head (see below) and am enjoying not having to shampoo or shave during my showers. It’s also easier to take a nap and not worry about “bed head”…I just put on my cute hat and am ready to go….I prefer going the hat route as opposed to scarves or “Sasha” the wig. After the shaving, I balanced out the morning with a pedicure….we must keep our priorities straight! I started coming out of the fog on Wednesday and was craving the sushi and tofu again. I’ve always been one to like routines, why would this be different.
I’m continuing all my therapies including the weekly acupuncture, Reiki, boatload of supplements, pet therapy (taking Madie’s dogs, or my grand dogs as we refer to them, on walks to chase rabbits or just to go pet them in the back yard), Sawyer fix (spending time with my beautiful 6 month old niece pictured below) and body work/massages. I had a massage last week by my dear friend Terry who has been working on me for over 10 years. She said that I was the best she had ever felt me (energetically speaking)-the most calm and centered. I also told Scotty that I feel “lighter”…so this is part of the silver lining already shining through from this experience. More confirmation came when another dear friend, Lelia came over and gave me a great foot massage with essential oils. As she was finishing and placing her hands on my upper chest, she smiled and said “pink light”….apparently she always sees light when she is working on people, but she said she has never seen “pink” light. She felt like my healing was done and that I just needed to go through the process. That’s how I feel about it too! I’m very pleased that the second chemo side effects were at about the same and certainly not worse than the first go around. I had thought it might be cumulative and get worse each time…I’m not planning to have that happen. I’m also able to continue with my Pilates 3x/week and hour walk the other days except for the 5 days post chemo…small price to pay for a lifetime of perfect health.
Thanks again for all your responses, care packages, cards and of course prayers, love and support.
Until we write again.
Big hugs,
Geri Lynn
I’ve made it through my second chemo and will be going for the third round this Thursday, October 23rd. That will be the half way mark! I was much better prepared for the side effects this time around and started the anti-nausea and anti-diarrhea meds sooner so that helped. I also wasn’t trying to push myself to eat so much knowing that I would feel better in a few days. It was the same outcome…felt okay day of and day after chemo then started feeling crappy on Saturday. I had an appointment on Saturday morning to get my head shaved because my hair was starting to fall out. I have a beautiful, bald head (see below) and am enjoying not having to shampoo or shave during my showers. It’s also easier to take a nap and not worry about “bed head”…I just put on my cute hat and am ready to go….I prefer going the hat route as opposed to scarves or “Sasha” the wig. After the shaving, I balanced out the morning with a pedicure….we must keep our priorities straight! I started coming out of the fog on Wednesday and was craving the sushi and tofu again. I’ve always been one to like routines, why would this be different.
I’m continuing all my therapies including the weekly acupuncture, Reiki, boatload of supplements, pet therapy (taking Madie’s dogs, or my grand dogs as we refer to them, on walks to chase rabbits or just to go pet them in the back yard), Sawyer fix (spending time with my beautiful 6 month old niece pictured below) and body work/massages. I had a massage last week by my dear friend Terry who has been working on me for over 10 years. She said that I was the best she had ever felt me (energetically speaking)-the most calm and centered. I also told Scotty that I feel “lighter”…so this is part of the silver lining already shining through from this experience. More confirmation came when another dear friend, Lelia came over and gave me a great foot massage with essential oils. As she was finishing and placing her hands on my upper chest, she smiled and said “pink light”….apparently she always sees light when she is working on people, but she said she has never seen “pink” light. She felt like my healing was done and that I just needed to go through the process. That’s how I feel about it too! I’m very pleased that the second chemo side effects were at about the same and certainly not worse than the first go around. I had thought it might be cumulative and get worse each time…I’m not planning to have that happen. I’m also able to continue with my Pilates 3x/week and hour walk the other days except for the 5 days post chemo…small price to pay for a lifetime of perfect health.
Thanks again for all your responses, care packages, cards and of course prayers, love and support.
Until we write again.
Big hugs,
Geri Lynn
Update #3
Hello to my Family and Friends,
Well I made it through my first chemo on September 11th with the help of mom and Madie. I did fine the day of and day after, but by the third day it hit me hard. I now fully and completely understand the definition of fatigue, loss of appetite, diarrhea and some nausea. I’ll be such a better dietitian now J It lasted from Saturday until Wednesday. Mom kept trying to get me to eat and nothing sounded or tasted good….she tried sour dough grilled cheese which I ate a few times, macaroni and cheese, crackers, baked potato with cheese, all the “white” foods I never usually eat… then Boost (canned liquid meal) when all else failed and it was easy to just down it for 350 calories through a straw. Fortunately by Wednesday afternoon I started craving “sushi and tofu” so Scotty and I went to our favorite Sushi restaurant and I ate miso soup, edamame, 6 pieces of sushi and 8 tempura tofu….it was a feast and felt so good to finally eat a real meal followed by Cold Stone-only had a few bites and saved it for the next two nights.
So slowly my appetite came back…my mouth was very dry and my tongue was sore even though I am rinsing after every meal with a warm water solution of salt and baking soda. My energy is better but certainly not like before. I’m enjoying daily afternoon naps anywhere from 1-2 hours in between working appointments. I also have been getting weekly acupuncture on Fridays and weekly Reiki (energy work) on Mondays. I’m taking a boat load of supplements three times a day from the naturopath. Now I’m really pushing the calories in anticipation of the next round…I can’t believe I’m eating banana splits at nights-well only three times so far and other high calorie foods…I feel like I’m pregnant again when I barely gained 17# after feeling so nauseous the first 5 months.
I’ve gone every week for my labs and Herceptin infusion (ends up taking about 2 hours even though the actual infusion is only 30 minutes). The day after chemo I have to go get a shot of Neulasta which helps my bone marrow make good blood cells to keep my immune system up. It causes some “bone pain” but wasn’t too bad. So I’m getting into the routine of weekly Thursday infusions and sort of enjoy the relaxation of sitting in the recliner listening to meditation tapes and other relaxing music. Madie is my designated “chemo companion” and will be going with me to all the appointments and mom will come done on the day after chemo and stay as long as I need her.
I’m gearing up for my second round of chemo this coming Thursday. Now I have a better idea of what to expect and am taking the full week off after chemo. It’s hard work “reformatting my immune system” and I definitely feel like I need to “reboot” every now and then…those are the afternoon naps. J It’s great to know that I will bounce back after a few days and the side effects go away for a while-I hope that stays the same throughout the treatment. I saw my doctor on Thursday and I don’t have to see her again for 4 weeks….the little joys in life.
I really appreciate all your emails, cards, phone calls and of course PRAYERS, LOVE AND SUPPORT. Please keep them coming...I can’t always answer each one personally, but I definitely enjoy hearing from all of you.
Until next time.
Big hugs,
Geri Lynn
PS. The first night after chemo I went to my monthly “women connecting” dinner with 10 girlfriends-we were celebrating our 5th anniversary. After dinner the host had angel cards and we each selected one. I went first and picked from the Angel Healing Cards….I fanned out the cards and looked at them, one seemed to “jump out at me”…I picked it up and it said “MIRACLES” with the following passage: “Miracles are occurring all around you right now. Begin to notice them, and you will experience even more miracles. This card is the angels’ way of telling you to expect a miracle. Perhaps you feel that you need one right now because you can’t see any other way to a solution. Be open to allowing God to help you resolve your challenges in ways that will surprise you. You open the door for miracles when you become willing to surrender your fears to God. Visualize the angels carrying away he issue, and feel yourself supported by God’s wisdom and creativity. As you relax into the Source, you are assured that blessings are surrounding you right now. Be open to a miracle coming your way.”
Needless to say, I cried tears of joy and know that all of your prayers and thoughts are being answered and I truly am expecting a miracle with complete recovery. I not only will be a cancer survivor….I will be a cancer thriver!
Well I made it through my first chemo on September 11th with the help of mom and Madie. I did fine the day of and day after, but by the third day it hit me hard. I now fully and completely understand the definition of fatigue, loss of appetite, diarrhea and some nausea. I’ll be such a better dietitian now J It lasted from Saturday until Wednesday. Mom kept trying to get me to eat and nothing sounded or tasted good….she tried sour dough grilled cheese which I ate a few times, macaroni and cheese, crackers, baked potato with cheese, all the “white” foods I never usually eat… then Boost (canned liquid meal) when all else failed and it was easy to just down it for 350 calories through a straw. Fortunately by Wednesday afternoon I started craving “sushi and tofu” so Scotty and I went to our favorite Sushi restaurant and I ate miso soup, edamame, 6 pieces of sushi and 8 tempura tofu….it was a feast and felt so good to finally eat a real meal followed by Cold Stone-only had a few bites and saved it for the next two nights.
So slowly my appetite came back…my mouth was very dry and my tongue was sore even though I am rinsing after every meal with a warm water solution of salt and baking soda. My energy is better but certainly not like before. I’m enjoying daily afternoon naps anywhere from 1-2 hours in between working appointments. I also have been getting weekly acupuncture on Fridays and weekly Reiki (energy work) on Mondays. I’m taking a boat load of supplements three times a day from the naturopath. Now I’m really pushing the calories in anticipation of the next round…I can’t believe I’m eating banana splits at nights-well only three times so far and other high calorie foods…I feel like I’m pregnant again when I barely gained 17# after feeling so nauseous the first 5 months.
I’ve gone every week for my labs and Herceptin infusion (ends up taking about 2 hours even though the actual infusion is only 30 minutes). The day after chemo I have to go get a shot of Neulasta which helps my bone marrow make good blood cells to keep my immune system up. It causes some “bone pain” but wasn’t too bad. So I’m getting into the routine of weekly Thursday infusions and sort of enjoy the relaxation of sitting in the recliner listening to meditation tapes and other relaxing music. Madie is my designated “chemo companion” and will be going with me to all the appointments and mom will come done on the day after chemo and stay as long as I need her.
I’m gearing up for my second round of chemo this coming Thursday. Now I have a better idea of what to expect and am taking the full week off after chemo. It’s hard work “reformatting my immune system” and I definitely feel like I need to “reboot” every now and then…those are the afternoon naps. J It’s great to know that I will bounce back after a few days and the side effects go away for a while-I hope that stays the same throughout the treatment. I saw my doctor on Thursday and I don’t have to see her again for 4 weeks….the little joys in life.
I really appreciate all your emails, cards, phone calls and of course PRAYERS, LOVE AND SUPPORT. Please keep them coming...I can’t always answer each one personally, but I definitely enjoy hearing from all of you.
Until next time.
Big hugs,
Geri Lynn
PS. The first night after chemo I went to my monthly “women connecting” dinner with 10 girlfriends-we were celebrating our 5th anniversary. After dinner the host had angel cards and we each selected one. I went first and picked from the Angel Healing Cards….I fanned out the cards and looked at them, one seemed to “jump out at me”…I picked it up and it said “MIRACLES” with the following passage: “Miracles are occurring all around you right now. Begin to notice them, and you will experience even more miracles. This card is the angels’ way of telling you to expect a miracle. Perhaps you feel that you need one right now because you can’t see any other way to a solution. Be open to allowing God to help you resolve your challenges in ways that will surprise you. You open the door for miracles when you become willing to surrender your fears to God. Visualize the angels carrying away he issue, and feel yourself supported by God’s wisdom and creativity. As you relax into the Source, you are assured that blessings are surrounding you right now. Be open to a miracle coming your way.”
Needless to say, I cried tears of joy and know that all of your prayers and thoughts are being answered and I truly am expecting a miracle with complete recovery. I not only will be a cancer survivor….I will be a cancer thriver!
Update #2
Hello to Family and Friends,
Much has happened on this cancer rollercoaster after ending the last update on such a positive note. I met with the medical oncologist, Dr. Heather Allen. She said that even though I’m considered Stage 1, that the “biology” of my tumor indicates that it is aggressive. This is referring to the receptor sites; negative estrogen and progesterone with positive her2neu. Couple this with isolated cells in my lymph node and the proliferation rate of 57%...all indications of aggressiveness. So the guidelines for my specific breast cancer are to receive chemotherapy and Herceptin (this is because of the her2neu receptors). The chemo is given IV every 3 weeks for 6 courses over an 18 week period. The IV Herceptin is given weekly during the first 18 weeks then every 3 weeks for the remainder of a year. I will need weekly lab work to monitor my immune system response. Needless to say, I wasn’t happy about this recommendation.
Last week I went to the naturopath, Dr. Lise Aschuler in Scottsdale and she basically agreed with the aggressiveness of the tumor and the need for chemo. She also started me on an aggressive nutritional supplement program to support my body during chemo. She wants me to call her after the second round of chemo and then at the end of the 18 weeks. We are still undecided if I will have radiation or not. Dr. Lise recommended me to get at least 2 other opinions and statistical proof as to the benefit of radiation versus no radiation with chemo. She was extremely knowledgeable and made me feel much more confident about getting chemo knowing my body would be nutritionally supported.
So with the chemo decision made, I starting making calls from the Phoenix airport. I am scheduled on Tuesday, September 9th to get a Port in my chest for easier IV access and blood work. I will start my chemo on Thursday, September 11th…seemed like an “apropos” date. My mom is coming down to be with me and help out and Madie said she would also join me at the first treatment. Scotty is busy with his work now, but is never too busy for a few hugs here and there and to go to my appointments with me…such as the “chemo class” on Friday morning.
Yesterday, I went and had my hair cut very short so I won’t have to see it fall out. I also was given a very expensive, handsewn, natural hair wig from a gal at Pilates that had breast cancer 5 years ago and was “waiting for that special person to give ‘Sasha’ to”….I took it to my stylist and she is dying it my natural color. So I will finally have long hair, when I want to! I will also pass “Sasha” along when I’m through with this whole experience.
I’m still keeping a very positive, up beat attitude. What other choice is there?!? I appreciate all the love, support and prayers you have all given me. I especially want to thank my cousin Todd for chauffeuring my dear friend Nancy and I around Scottsdale and letting us stay at his house. Also special thanks to Nancy for her invaluable input and support throughout all of this and especially in Scottsdale. Kinda sounds like an acceptance speech….not sure what I’ve just won….maybe over time I’ll figure it out…they say blessings come from our most difficult times.
Hugs,
Geri Lynn
Much has happened on this cancer rollercoaster after ending the last update on such a positive note. I met with the medical oncologist, Dr. Heather Allen. She said that even though I’m considered Stage 1, that the “biology” of my tumor indicates that it is aggressive. This is referring to the receptor sites; negative estrogen and progesterone with positive her2neu. Couple this with isolated cells in my lymph node and the proliferation rate of 57%...all indications of aggressiveness. So the guidelines for my specific breast cancer are to receive chemotherapy and Herceptin (this is because of the her2neu receptors). The chemo is given IV every 3 weeks for 6 courses over an 18 week period. The IV Herceptin is given weekly during the first 18 weeks then every 3 weeks for the remainder of a year. I will need weekly lab work to monitor my immune system response. Needless to say, I wasn’t happy about this recommendation.
Last week I went to the naturopath, Dr. Lise Aschuler in Scottsdale and she basically agreed with the aggressiveness of the tumor and the need for chemo. She also started me on an aggressive nutritional supplement program to support my body during chemo. She wants me to call her after the second round of chemo and then at the end of the 18 weeks. We are still undecided if I will have radiation or not. Dr. Lise recommended me to get at least 2 other opinions and statistical proof as to the benefit of radiation versus no radiation with chemo. She was extremely knowledgeable and made me feel much more confident about getting chemo knowing my body would be nutritionally supported.
So with the chemo decision made, I starting making calls from the Phoenix airport. I am scheduled on Tuesday, September 9th to get a Port in my chest for easier IV access and blood work. I will start my chemo on Thursday, September 11th…seemed like an “apropos” date. My mom is coming down to be with me and help out and Madie said she would also join me at the first treatment. Scotty is busy with his work now, but is never too busy for a few hugs here and there and to go to my appointments with me…such as the “chemo class” on Friday morning.
Yesterday, I went and had my hair cut very short so I won’t have to see it fall out. I also was given a very expensive, handsewn, natural hair wig from a gal at Pilates that had breast cancer 5 years ago and was “waiting for that special person to give ‘Sasha’ to”….I took it to my stylist and she is dying it my natural color. So I will finally have long hair, when I want to! I will also pass “Sasha” along when I’m through with this whole experience.
I’m still keeping a very positive, up beat attitude. What other choice is there?!? I appreciate all the love, support and prayers you have all given me. I especially want to thank my cousin Todd for chauffeuring my dear friend Nancy and I around Scottsdale and letting us stay at his house. Also special thanks to Nancy for her invaluable input and support throughout all of this and especially in Scottsdale. Kinda sounds like an acceptance speech….not sure what I’ve just won….maybe over time I’ll figure it out…they say blessings come from our most difficult times.
Hugs,
Geri Lynn
Sunday, November 30, 2008
Diagnosis and Update #1
July 28th, 2008, I was diagnosed with stage I breast cancer after a routine mammogram, necessitating an ultrasound and subsequent biopsy. I had a partial mastectomy (lumpectomy) on my right breast with sentinel lymph node biopsy (3) as an outpatient on Monday, August 11th. I was surrounded by my wonderful husband, daughter, mom and dad. They stayed with me the week of my recovery which went very well-perfect timing so I could watch the Olympics all day long. On Friday morning, I went in for my check up with the surgeon and he informed all of us that the lymph node biopsy was positive in one of three nodes and I was now stage II-big bummer and I wasn’t expected it. I also had done several CT scans (abdomen and pelvis) along with a whole body scan of my bones. The CT scans were all negative, however, the bone scan revealed “activity” in my left femur above my knee. Since I couldn’t remember any accident, an MRI and 5 x-rays were ordered to rule out metastatic disease-cancer in my bones. These were done last week on Wednesday. So back to the surgeon on Friday, yesterday, to get the results. He came into the room and said “I have good news for you!” and proceeded to tell the story of how the medical care is usually fragmented and all the parties involve do not consult with one another and he wanted to change that. So several years ago The Breast Center at Sunrise Hospital started having weekly meetings where all the disciplines discussed each of the cases. Dr. Gardner presented my case on the previous day. As he was explaining my findings, the pathologist stood up and stated that since the lymph node only had a few isolated cells around it that were small, statistically, it isn’t considered “lymph node involvement” and he upgraded me to Stage I (first miracle of my journey). I told him I kept thinking all week that it just didn’t feel right that it was in my lymph nodes and he said, “well, I guess your connected to the universe”-little does he know J. He also said during the medical conference, my MRI was shown and that I had an earlier “infarction” (injury) to my bone and that it was not cancer. Whew….dodged two bullets in one day. After he left the room, I looked at the nurse and said, does that happen very often-she smiled and said she has never seen it before. She also said, that when people are unable to remember an injury, the bone issue usually end up as cancer….
The next step in this journey is to go to the medical oncologist on Tuesday, August 26th to find out her proposed chemo treatment recommendation. I already met with the radiation oncologist and he is recommending radiation for 33 sessions. I also am going to a Naturopathic doctor (Dr. Lisa Aschuler) in Scottsdale on September 3rd and 4th to get another opinion for treatment options. She wrote the book “The Definitive Guide to Cancer”. My dear friend and colleague, Nancy will be joining me to help hear the recommendations and my cousin Todd is picking us up at the airport and has generously offered us his house for the night.
I’m in a great mental state-the massage and energy work today helped, not to mention the 5 hour session I had on Thursday with another “healer”-too esoteric to even try to explain in an email. I totally understand the message that is being sent to me and how I need to change my life. As another cancer survivor said to me yesterday “we are the chosen ones”…I completely agree.
So I will keep you all updated on my progress as the days and weeks go by...
All love, support, and especially prayers are welcomed and appreciated!
Big hugs to you all,
Geri Lynn
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