FINAL CHEMO TREATMENT DONE!

Hip Hip Hooray! The final chemotherapy treatment was on Wednesday, August 4th, and the final Neulasta injection on the 5th. DONE, DONE, DONE! I'm sooo thankful that this part of my treatment is OVERWITH.

Now, to get through the final round of side effects. Since that was my last cycle I'm ready to move forward and have a thousand ambitions swarming through my mind, but... of course, they'll have to wait until I'm feeling better. It's hard to wait! :-)

I'm thinking--- 85th birthday party for my father in early Sept., walking in the Susan Komen Race for the Cure and attending the breast cancer support group retreat in Sept., having friends over for a meal to thank them for the weekly meals they've provided throughout treatment (we've been so anxious to get together!), helping my niece through her treatment, planning something fun for my husband's birthday as well as his vacation week in October. The twins will start kindergarten on Aug. 30th and I want to do fun things with them as well as school shop. I WANT TO MOVE FORWARD WITH MY LIFE.

However, surgery decisions will need to be made in the coming weeks. I'll meet with my oncologist again in three weeks and my surgeon on Aug. 31st. I'm leaning toward requesting a mastectomy as to just have peace of mind regarding all that I've been through and disliking that "traitor" breast--- and fearing a local recurrance in that breast, of course. However, that would involve reconstructive surgery, having drains to tend to, etc. Please pray for wisdom in decision making for me. I'll ask to meet with a plastic surgeon to discuss options, as well. My general surgeon feels that I'm a good candidate for just having more tissue removed. THAT would be easier, but could I forgive myself for not having a mastectomy if I were to have a local recurrance in that breast? Hmmmm.

My oncologist DID present my "case" to experts from Dana Farber in Boston. On Wednesday she told me that one of the doctors felt that this last cycle of chemo would be sufficient, given my low Oncotype DX score (the genetic testing done on my tumor when sent out of state) --- that reading suggested that I have a 15% chance of having a recurrance of breast cancer. The score is low enough that if I'd not had node involvement, I'd not have needed chemo at all.

The other doctor who gave input felt that I should have FOUR cycles of AC, rather than three, as that's 'protocol'. But, they reached a general concensus that my initial treatment with TC and the added three cycles of AC (along with the extra Cytoxan treatment I got) should be enough.

There is even a question if chemotherapy will benefit me at all. It's a gamble. My cancer is very slow growing and the Oncotype Dx score is reassuring. But, because not enough information is available for women with postive (cancerous) nodes and the Oncotype DX testing--- we (doctor and I) felt it was best to go ahead with chemo to get any potential benefit from it that I could.

The oncologist normally waits til radiation time to start patients on Tamoxifen (sp?), but she wants to start me on it soon. It's a hormone cancer drug that I'll be taking (pill form) for 5-10 years. Tamoxifen can cause uterine cancer and blood clots, as well as menopause like symptoms (not fun). Once I have passed through menopause, I can switch to Arimidex (sp?) which has less threatening side effects.

Please pray that God will protect me from serious side effects from the chemo and the hormone cancer drugs. The chemo drug Adriamycin can cause leukemia. :-/

I've been dealing with a side effect of chemo called "chemo brain". It causes forgetfulness. It can be frustrating. I put a container of ice cream on top of the refridgerator yesterday and forgot it. I forget to turn off stove burners, etc. It usually clears up about 10-12 days after chemo.

I can tell that people are praying for me right now. Today should be a really lousy nausea day, but so far, it's manageable. I do a few things, drink gingerale, rest, and do things again. The biggie today is fatigue. I 've not slept all that well the past couple of nights.

We were able to get away for three days last weekend. WHAT A TREAT! We went to the southern part of the state and spent the night in a hotel with an indoor heated pool. My parents came with us, and the kids thought it was fun to swim with grandma. I was delighted to be able to swim, too, as when we went there in May, I'd had surgery and couldn't do it. I LOVE SWIMMING. (Side note: today, my oncologist signed a persmission form for me to be able to swim on Wednesdays with the breast cancer support group! YAY!)

While away we also visited with a special cousin and her husband. She spoiled us with yummy strawberry shortcake. We were happy to see them! We also ate out at a couple of buffets (American and Chinese). We shopped at a fun store where I bought some fall decorations and window boxes that hang on the sides of doorstep railings or decks. The kids got to play at Chuck E. Cheese and we bumped into my niece and her family there. FUN!

We also went to Cambridge to say good-bye to Stephen's sister Margaret who was leaving for Ghana the next day. That was a long....drive and a LONG...drive for me, as I wasn't quite up to it. Stephen drove us back to the hotel, though, and stayed overnight and brought us home the next evening.

The night before we went home the brakes in my dad's vehicle went metal to metal. (Thank God He kept us all safe anytimewe were on the highway and traveling around the city in that vehicle! We had two cars with us.) We had to fix the brakes the final day before coming home.

One of the things I was feeling bad about giving up this summer was making a perenial garden in front of our house. Well,, Stephen and i were able to pick up some plants on clearance the other day to at least make a start. :-) We REALLY should use a rotatillar as the soil is so hard packed, but we don't have one. But, we're just mixing in potting soil and those little white foam-like balls into it to see if that will help for this year. I can't tell you how much JOY it's giving me to be able to do SOMETHING out there before the summer ends. :-) We also put some mums in our new window boxes. YAY! A relative made this possible by giving me a bit of money to spend on anything I'd like, and I am thankful to her. These perenials will come up year after year (I hope) and they'll be a reminder of her kindness.

Speaking of relatives, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE continue to pray for my niece as she goes through treatment this summer. Her last chemo was postponed due to low blood counts. She's having a really hard time with side effects and has what seems like a long road ahead. Her name is Sara. Please put her on your daily prayer list. Thank you!