9 radiation treatments done (21 to go).
8 herceptin infusions done (10 to go). Had herceptin infusion number 8 on Thursday; these continue, with little if any side effects, every 3 weeks until I've completed number 18.
7 (and a half) months since my diagnosis, and the last time I ran. That is, until yesterday! Echocardiogram came back normal, and cleared by Dr. M for any physical activity. Did a 30 minute slow run-walk yesterday (mostly walking so far).
6 (and a half) months since surgery. 6 rounds of chemo completed. 6 months until I'll be done with the herceptin infusions. Next weekend, on November 6, I'll be walking (with a little running thrown in) a...
5K! Looking for one to run (with a little walking thrown in) in December or January. It's been 5 months since my first chemo. Thank God that's over.
4 more weeks until I am done with radiation.
3-week cycles for herceptin to continue until done.
2 great yoga classes for me to choose from on Sunday afternoon or Wednesday evening, to help get me through the stiffness my body is feeling, especially my shoulder, exacerbated by my positioning in radiation.
And...
1 normal mammogram result from earlier this month. Holding on to that one for dear life!
Sunday, October 31, 2010
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
6 RADs down, 24 to go: the routine
Whew, I am exhausted from running around from home to hospital to work to other appointments, and back again. But, it is less stressful now that I am getting used to the routine. Which is....
Leave home by 8:30 a.m. (thankfully my regular appointment time was moved from 8:15 a.m. to 8:45, and then to 9:00). Park in the special lot using my parking lot magnetic card. Then, use my patient ID key card to check in at Sibley (there's a bar code which gets read by a machine). Head to the dressing room where I put on my dressing gown (open to the back) and on top of that my robe (open to the front). Since patients being radiated can't use deodorant, it's a bit stinky in the changing room.
Then, on to the waiting area. Usually my technicians call me within a few minutes, although the other day they were delayed about 20 minutes. They bring me back to the special room with my very own linear accelerator. But first I must give then secret password (no, not "open sesame;" my birthdate). They always have pleasant music playing in there. But it is f-r-e-e-z-i-n-g. I disrobe and they put a very tight white mesh "tube top" on me, which holds the left breast in place for zapping, and keeps the right one out of the way so it doesn't get zapped.
Next, I hop onto my table. I lay on my back, and my arms are above my head in stirrups (all designed to immobilize me). My favorite part of the morning comes next - the technician brings me warm sheets to cover me, since it really is COLD in that room. They spent ten minutes or so positioning me. And I do my practice breathing. First, my cleansing breath. Then, when the technician tells me, I take a deep breath in (I count slowly to seven) and then hold, with my ribs high up, designed to keep the heart out of range of the radiation. We usually do that 3-4 times.
Finally, the technicians leave the room (they don't want to be zapped of course) and speak to me over an intercom while they watch me via a video camera. When directed, I take my cleansing breath, and tell them when I am ready. Then, deep breath in, hold (about 20 seconds), and zap.... invisible radiation waves aimed at any potential stray cancer cells. The radiation comes from the circular device which moves around me, kind of like a dental xray machine. I get nuked from two different directions - the first is above me (maybe a foot) and about a 45 degree angle to the right. The second is slightly below me and 90 degrees to my left. Each zap is about 15-20 seconds. A special sound and red light go off while the radiation is being emitted from the machine.
After, the machine and table move back into starting position, and I can bring my arms down. We remove my mesh tube top, back on with the robes, change, and leave. I'm done by 9:30 - 9:45 ish.
Here's a photo of my room:
Once a week, on Tuesdays, they take xrays to track progress, and I also meet with my dr. who assures me that all is going according to plan (at least that's what she told me yesterday).
My skin is already turning red and I'm getting stiff and swollen. But at least it's not chemo.
Leave home by 8:30 a.m. (thankfully my regular appointment time was moved from 8:15 a.m. to 8:45, and then to 9:00). Park in the special lot using my parking lot magnetic card. Then, use my patient ID key card to check in at Sibley (there's a bar code which gets read by a machine). Head to the dressing room where I put on my dressing gown (open to the back) and on top of that my robe (open to the front). Since patients being radiated can't use deodorant, it's a bit stinky in the changing room.
Then, on to the waiting area. Usually my technicians call me within a few minutes, although the other day they were delayed about 20 minutes. They bring me back to the special room with my very own linear accelerator. But first I must give then secret password (no, not "open sesame;" my birthdate). They always have pleasant music playing in there. But it is f-r-e-e-z-i-n-g. I disrobe and they put a very tight white mesh "tube top" on me, which holds the left breast in place for zapping, and keeps the right one out of the way so it doesn't get zapped.
Next, I hop onto my table. I lay on my back, and my arms are above my head in stirrups (all designed to immobilize me). My favorite part of the morning comes next - the technician brings me warm sheets to cover me, since it really is COLD in that room. They spent ten minutes or so positioning me. And I do my practice breathing. First, my cleansing breath. Then, when the technician tells me, I take a deep breath in (I count slowly to seven) and then hold, with my ribs high up, designed to keep the heart out of range of the radiation. We usually do that 3-4 times.
Finally, the technicians leave the room (they don't want to be zapped of course) and speak to me over an intercom while they watch me via a video camera. When directed, I take my cleansing breath, and tell them when I am ready. Then, deep breath in, hold (about 20 seconds), and zap.... invisible radiation waves aimed at any potential stray cancer cells. The radiation comes from the circular device which moves around me, kind of like a dental xray machine. I get nuked from two different directions - the first is above me (maybe a foot) and about a 45 degree angle to the right. The second is slightly below me and 90 degrees to my left. Each zap is about 15-20 seconds. A special sound and red light go off while the radiation is being emitted from the machine.
After, the machine and table move back into starting position, and I can bring my arms down. We remove my mesh tube top, back on with the robes, change, and leave. I'm done by 9:30 - 9:45 ish.
Here's a photo of my room:
Once a week, on Tuesdays, they take xrays to track progress, and I also meet with my dr. who assures me that all is going according to plan (at least that's what she told me yesterday).
My skin is already turning red and I'm getting stiff and swollen. But at least it's not chemo.
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
1 down, 29 to go
This morning met with Dr. Croog and she showed me the treatment plan (there is a whole big black binder all about me, including some very unflattering photos of me lying on the treatment table during simulation). She told me that the treatment plan avoids the heart, and while the radiation will hit the lungs, the degree to which it will is less than average. There is a small risk that I will develop radiation pneumonitis.
So - the plan is 30 treatments over six weeks. The first 23 will be a larger area, and the last 7 targeted at the lumpectomy site. My appointment time will usually be 8:45 a.m. Although today's appointment took an hour, they usually will be quicker. Most of the time is spent situating me on the treatment table, having me practice my breath-holding. The zapping part is really only a minute or so. We'll see how tomorrow goes...
So - the plan is 30 treatments over six weeks. The first 23 will be a larger area, and the last 7 targeted at the lumpectomy site. My appointment time will usually be 8:45 a.m. Although today's appointment took an hour, they usually will be quicker. Most of the time is spent situating me on the treatment table, having me practice my breath-holding. The zapping part is really only a minute or so. We'll see how tomorrow goes...
Saturday, October 16, 2010
Radiation Stress
Given my level of stress this week, you wouldn't know that I received good news three times recently (BRCA negative; clean mammogram; and negative biopsy).
But it was a stressful week. Most of it radiation stress. My radiation was supposed to begin last week but was postponed because of the biopsy I had last Thursday. Then, it was supposed to begin this past Thursday. There were scheduling issues that are too tedious to describe. The short version is that despite three phone calls to confirm, my calendar still differed from Sibley's (the hospital where my radiation will be).
In any event, on Wednesday, I had my "dry run" and they took X-rays. I was in a prone position (on my stomach) because that was supposed to best protect my heart and lungs from receiving radiation. But it was quite uncomfortable and the doctor decided that this position wouldn't work for me. She explained that it is very important to be able to maintain the position and because my shoulder, neck and jaw were cramping up, it was not a good idea to try to use this position. I was freaked out because I thought the prone position was what would protect my heart and lungs.
So, I had to redo the simulation on my back (the traditional radiation position for breast cancer) and do a special breath holding technique. I will hold my breath as they direct me at certain times which will help bring the heart out of the radiation's path. The new dry run and X-rays will be on Monday, and I will start for real on Tuesday. I spoke with my radiation oncologist on Friday afternoon (she returned my call - I love a doctor who returns calls!) and she assured me that the treatment plan will have the radiation avoiding my heart and lungs, so I am much calmer now than I was earlier in the week.
Also on Monday I will have an echocardiogram to evaluate my heart's functioning to see if there has been any adverse effect so far from the herceptin, which can cause heart damage.
As I write this, it doesn't sound all that stressful. Nonetheless, I was a bit of a basket case this week. Luckily, the week is now over and I am looking forward to a relaxing weekend.
But it was a stressful week. Most of it radiation stress. My radiation was supposed to begin last week but was postponed because of the biopsy I had last Thursday. Then, it was supposed to begin this past Thursday. There were scheduling issues that are too tedious to describe. The short version is that despite three phone calls to confirm, my calendar still differed from Sibley's (the hospital where my radiation will be).
In any event, on Wednesday, I had my "dry run" and they took X-rays. I was in a prone position (on my stomach) because that was supposed to best protect my heart and lungs from receiving radiation. But it was quite uncomfortable and the doctor decided that this position wouldn't work for me. She explained that it is very important to be able to maintain the position and because my shoulder, neck and jaw were cramping up, it was not a good idea to try to use this position. I was freaked out because I thought the prone position was what would protect my heart and lungs.
So, I had to redo the simulation on my back (the traditional radiation position for breast cancer) and do a special breath holding technique. I will hold my breath as they direct me at certain times which will help bring the heart out of the radiation's path. The new dry run and X-rays will be on Monday, and I will start for real on Tuesday. I spoke with my radiation oncologist on Friday afternoon (she returned my call - I love a doctor who returns calls!) and she assured me that the treatment plan will have the radiation avoiding my heart and lungs, so I am much calmer now than I was earlier in the week.
Also on Monday I will have an echocardiogram to evaluate my heart's functioning to see if there has been any adverse effect so far from the herceptin, which can cause heart damage.
As I write this, it doesn't sound all that stressful. Nonetheless, I was a bit of a basket case this week. Luckily, the week is now over and I am looking forward to a relaxing weekend.
Monday, October 11, 2010
Getting back to normal & vacation pics
It's now been four weeks and four days since the last chemo. Still some lingering side effects (acid reflux, periodic sore throat, nails breaking, eyebrows have gone missing, tingly and slightly numb toes on one foot (maybe a baby case of neuropathy), still get out-of-breath walking up a flight of stairs). But on the other hand, I can drink water again! And I don't have a major case of "the ick" (aka Days 5-12)!
Had a good weekend. Over ten miles of walking, including several miles in rock creek park on saturday and several miles sunday joining a friend for the last few miles of the Komen 3-day breast cancer walk ... 60 miles in three days... go Jenn!
Especially loved the decorated motorcycles and the parade of the survivors' circle at the end.
GOOD NEWS ALERT.... got the results of thursday's biopsy. All fine and negative. No inflammatory breast cancer, just redness from accumulation of fluid, as doctors suspected.
Because of the biopsy, radiation's postponed until thursday.
And finally, vacation photos. It started out foggy and rainy on Skyline Drive in Shenandoah National Park and I engaged in much "couch potato" nature photography from the dryness of the car.
Explored Luray Caverns and learned about stalactites and stalagmites.
Onto Chincoteague and Assateague. A beautiful sunset on the beach followed by a day of pounding rain, and then, finally, shortly before heading home...
...spotted the famous wild ponies. More pictures uploaded here, where uploading is much quicker.
Had a good weekend. Over ten miles of walking, including several miles in rock creek park on saturday and several miles sunday joining a friend for the last few miles of the Komen 3-day breast cancer walk ... 60 miles in three days... go Jenn!
Especially loved the decorated motorcycles and the parade of the survivors' circle at the end.
GOOD NEWS ALERT.... got the results of thursday's biopsy. All fine and negative. No inflammatory breast cancer, just redness from accumulation of fluid, as doctors suspected.
Because of the biopsy, radiation's postponed until thursday.
And finally, vacation photos. It started out foggy and rainy on Skyline Drive in Shenandoah National Park and I engaged in much "couch potato" nature photography from the dryness of the car.
Explored Luray Caverns and learned about stalactites and stalagmites.
Onto Chincoteague and Assateague. A beautiful sunset on the beach followed by a day of pounding rain, and then, finally, shortly before heading home...
...spotted the famous wild ponies. More pictures uploaded here, where uploading is much quicker.
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Just Herceptin
Back from vacation last night. Had a really nice - albeit, rainy - time. Will post pics later.
Today, back to the chemo room for my once-every-three-week herceptin infusion. Supposedly herceptin will not have any of the chemo side effects. Herceptin, as you may recall, is the antibody to help fight my Her2 positive oncogene... read more about it here. This will continue for the next eight months.
Am postponing radiation until next week so Dr. C can check me out first on thursday and, if need be, do a biopsy. May not be needed because redness is much less. We'll see.
Today, back to the chemo room for my once-every-three-week herceptin infusion. Supposedly herceptin will not have any of the chemo side effects. Herceptin, as you may recall, is the antibody to help fight my Her2 positive oncogene... read more about it here. This will continue for the next eight months.
Am postponing radiation until next week so Dr. C can check me out first on thursday and, if need be, do a biopsy. May not be needed because redness is much less. We'll see.
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