Amy's Boobie Blog ..............MY Cancer Story

CHEMO #2 IS HISTORY...AND SO IS MY HAIR 2/26/12 Is it the drugs or the emotional journey that is making me feel so unbalanced?  I'm teetering on the edges of consciousness and sleep, sober and drunk, together and in pieces.  I'm ready for this weekend to be over so I might capture some of the normalcy again.  But I have to wonder how long I can keep coming back to normal before normal isn't there anymore.  My life just isn't the same anymore. Thursday morning was my second chemo treatment.  The doctor said I was doing really well and that my blood counts were good.  That's the most important thing.  I need to remember that. After chemo Nikki took me to JoAnn's to buy fabric for scarves.  Even though my hair had shown very little signs of falling out, the doctor said it would pick up speed fast and I needed to be prepared for my business trip this week.   Mom met us at home and we tried some of them on. I pulled one off and we all saw it at the same time,

GREAT WEEKEND - GREAT FRIENDS - GREAT FOOD This past three day weekend I was 100% Amy again and all go-go-go.  It felt great reconnecting with friends and enjoying myself. On Saturday afternoon Jeff and I headed to Ann's Wig Shop and bought the one Nikki and I picked out a few weeks ago (see option three under "Wig Shopping" on the left).  We had a little scare when she couldn't remember which one it was.  I tried on a few before she went to the back room and found it.  Whew!  It was hard for her because we were looking for the wig that looked like "Amy" and with all the crazy things I've been doing lately to my hair, I don't look much like "Amy" anymore.  LOL  We bought the wig and a cute knit hat.  I really hope I'm more comfortable in hats and scarves than the wig.  We'll see.          BEFORE                                           NOW                                           THE WIG While we were there Jeff remind

THE WEEK AFTER MY FIRST CHEMO TREATMENT I'm past the first week and it was an interesting one.  When I wrote about it last it was on Sunday night (3 days later) and I was coming out of the fog.  I woke up on Monday and planned to work from home.  It was hard and I couldn't focus.  I was dizzy and my mind was still pretty fuzzy.  After a couple hours I decided to take a nap and try to shake it off and it was the right think to do because it really helped. On Tuesday morning I felt great and had a full productive day at the office.  Wednesday was the same.  Thursday I started to slide back a little and had to come home early.  I was having a lot of joint pain and I needed some stronger pain meds. All in all I had a crazy list of side effects:  fatigue, aches, dizziness, dry mouth, mouth sores, bad taste, cravings for pickles and onions, joint pain, red hot skin (line a sun burn), trouble focusing, and my very first hot flash.  WHEW! Life goes on though.  For me, chemo doe

This is a wonderful day.  My lifelong BFF and beautiful sister-in-law Lisa received the results of her fist post breast cancer treatment CT scan.  She is officially cancer free!!!! Lisa was diagnosed just one year and two weeks before me.  The road she traveled was rough, but she did it with grace and unshakable faith.   Without hesitation she is ready to live it again by my side.  I love you sis.   

ON VALENTINE DAY To those who have been there for me these past few months, your love and support has meant more to me than you know.  On this Valentine Day I want to say thank you. To my coworkers... You never made me feel strange for openly discussing my situation right off the bat and you never hesitated to swoop in and cover for me even though your plates were overflowing.    Even when there is business to discuss, you ask how I'm feeling first.  You didn't make it awkward when I visited Cincinnati the first time after diagnosis and surgery, instead you smiled, gave me hugs, and told me how great I looked.  You've made me feel valued. To my friends... You have given me a boost of encouragement daily through every kind of media possible.  You've shared with me your experiences and offered advice.  You remember all the important dates.  You brought me food, gave my kids a hug, and never questioned my choices.  You traveled hundreds of miles just to sit on my c

FIRST CHEMO TREATMENT February 10, 2012 I'm finally caught up on my blog.  This time I am writing about how I'm feeling today. Its been one day since my first chemo treatment.  I woke up feeling very tired and decided to stay in bed a while before getting to work. I had planned to work today.  When I woke up again I was not as tired but mentally drained so I decided to spend time alone, reflecting, and in prayer.  I'll just take a vacation day. My mom, mother-in-law, and aunt came by to see me.  By the time they left the nausea set in.  It isn't overwhelming, but it's there. Today when Jeff gets home from work he will give me a shot.  The shot will provoke my body into producing more white blood cells.  Chemo drugs attack the whole body, they don't know the difference between cancer and non cancer.  White blood cells build me back up.  Unfortunately there is a lot of pain involved in making your body work harder to produce these blood cells.  I'm n

GETTING READY FOR CHEMO My second surgery took place just six days after the first.  Since he only had to reopen one incision the recovery was much easier.  Pathology results showed a clear margin that time so I was ready to move on. I was back to work full time a week later.  It was nice to see everyone again and have something to keep my mind off my health.  I was even able to fit in a visit to Cincinnati to see friends there.  It had been two months since I had gone. Some of the things I did during those three weeks ... Met with the surgeon so he could examine his work.  My armpit had swelled to the size of a plum and really hurt.  If I didn't have ice on it, I walked around with my hand on my hip.  The problem was lymphatic fluid backing up at the spot where the three lymph nodes were removed.  He drained it and I felt instantly better.  I would have hugged him if I didn't think he would be weirded out. Had a "chemo education session " with the oncolog

SURGERY - Part Two Surgery was on a Wednesday.  I told my coworkers on Tuesday I would be back on line Friday and they chuckled, rrightfully so.   What on earth was I thinking?! Jeff stayed home with me on Thursday and waited on me hand and foot.  He set a table up for me with anything I might need between naps:  remotes, books, lemon-aid, and a phone.  I took up "Words with Friends" and had about nine games going. I have three incisions.  One in my left underarm to remove the three lymph nodes, one on my left breast of course, and one on the right side of my chest to place a port that would be used during chemo. My port is a small disc made of plastic about the size of a quarter that sits just under the skin.  A tube enters a large vein and ends just above my hart.  Chemo medicine is given through this port by placing a needle through the skin and into the silicone opening.  It's done this way, rather than through an IV because it can burn your veins and needs a

SURGERY - Part One While waiting for the genetic testing I was able to meet both the surgeon and oncologist.  So, once I learned the  the genetic testing results were negative I already knew what was next and I was more than ready to take some action. January 4th - Surgery Day The day started with a trip to the breast center across the hall.  Because the lump could not be felt (too deep) it needed to be located and marked using an ultrasound so that the surgeon would know where to cut.  Locating it wasn't anything new.  I watched the ultrasound and saw it appear just like I remembered.  Marking it, now that was interesting.  A thin metal wire was inserted into my breast up to the tumor.  The end of it stuck out about two inches and looked like the antenna on an kids remote control car.  Thankfully it was flexible and didn't hurt. The next thing they had to do was inject dye into my breast so that it could be tracked back to the lymph node and identify which one was clos

GENETIC TESTING On December 27th I went to have my blood drawn for the genetic testing again.  Jeff and I were both on vacation that week so we hoped I would be able to have surgery then.  But since I had to wait for the testing results there was no time to fit it in.  It would be another two weeks before I knew what kind of surgery it would be.  At least it gave me time to look into plastic surgeons for reconstruction. Wednesday morning (December 28th) we were sleeping in when the doctor's office called.  They received my genetic testing results.  But how!  I just had it redone the previous day!  Come to find out, the original test WAS sent in.  The only thing that wasn't done was a log update indicating it was put in the mail.  Before my mind could clear enough to really understand what was going on she said my results were negative. (As a reminder.  Positive meant I would have a double mastectomy and total hysterectomy.  Negative meant a lumpectomy.) Jeff was catchin