Come On!!!

After receiving the AMAZING and drastic results we were so hopefully wishing for, wanting and NEEDING from my CT scan last week, you would think I would be out and about, living it up, partying like a rock star and celebrating the good news.  Well, I can't say partying like a rock star was on our agenda... starting over MLK weekend and slowly working it's way to last week I became sick as a dog.  I'll elaborate on that in a sec, but we did manage to make it down to the 956 to visit my family and make up for the trip we canceled during the Christmas break.  First of all, you can't beat the direct, less than an hour SWA flight from Austin to Harlingen!  Always a restroom in sight!  I tell ya, the things I have to worry about these days... (eye roll)!  Anyway, it was great seeing my family and a few of our family friends (although I pretty much consider them family) while we were down there... the rest of the time I spent sleeping.  Not quite the lively, event filled weekend we normally have down there, but all I could focus on was sleep.  It might have been a combination of not letting myself fully recover from chemo the week before, being exhausted from traveling or maybe from this pesky "cold" that was brewing (again, we'll get to that later).  I would have loved to have spent more time on the island, but my exhaustion kept me happy as a clam sitting on my parents back porch... I had palm trees near by (I don't know why I find the rustling of palm tree leaves in the wind so relaxing), pelicans diving for fish in the Harbor and flocks of ducks flying overhead.  It was peaceful, relaxing and just nice to get out of town.  Since the beginning of December (and now that I think about it, back to November when I was traveling back and forth to San Antonio during the week for the study trial), I've had to cancel or bail on any and all of my weekend plans.  Which sucks!  I think that was so frustrating over the last month or so... feeling like crap and not even knowing if this cocktail is working.  It's amazing how much of a mental/emotional toll cancer can play on you.  BUT we got good results, so at least I now know that this cocktail is not only working, but it's kicking some ass!  AND I know I need to just hang in there and hopefully reschedule all the things I was supposed to do when I start feeling better.  So I feel pretty lucky to have felt good enough to make it to the Valley this last weekend.  Although I'm still in shock that I made it to Arturo's and didn't have one of their famous and oh so delicious margaritas!  UGH!!!  DAMN YOU CANCER (insert: fist pumping in the air)!!!  

As for this "cold" I started coming down with... I started out thinking it was the usual allergies.  Well, then came the fever.  That wasn't a good sign!  So when I went in for my infusion last week, several "samples" were taken to rule out any kind of infection.  Blood samples, urine sample and... well... ummm... and...  a stool sample.

COME ON!!!

It makes me cringe just thinking about it... a stool sample!  UGH!  The things I've had to do since being diagnosed!!!  Seriously?!  A stool sample?!  And get this... as Chemo Nurse Andrea was explaining "the procedure" on how to collect the stool sample, she must have noticed the look of utter disgust on my face (if you're disgusted reading this, imagine how I felt)... so Chemo Nurse Andrea then willingly volunteers to collect the sample for me.  She told me to just leave the "specimen" in the urine hat and let her know when I was done.  WHAT?!?  Who is this woman?!?  My new favorite nurse, that's who (sorry Jeffrey RN).  But really, there was no way I would have or could have let someone else do that.  Seriously!  Disgusting!  So yes, for the first time in my life I had to collect a stool sample.  Not necessarily what I was wanting to cross off of my "things to do in life list."  Well, what do you know, the stool sample came back positive for something called Clostridium Difficile, also known as C Diff.  My interpretation of what that is... an infection in my digestive system possibly caused by one of the drugs I've been taking which killed the good bacteria in my digestive system, leaving the bad bacteria to take over.  Symptoms include diarrhea & flu like symptoms.  Well, that explains a lot!!  This just adds another pill to take for the next 10 days and hopefully won't interfere with my weekly infusions.  And yes, this is all on top of the head cold I'm battling.  When it rains it pours!  

BUT... 

The cocktail is working!!  Woohoo!!!  

And yes, I do apologize for this week's blog entry topic.  As much as I'd rather be blogging about something fun and exciting, this is after all a blog about my ups and downs with cancer and EVERYTHING that comes with it.  Besides...

Stool Happens!!!

Today's Going to be a Good Day!!!

I woke up this morning thinking to myself, "it's going to be a good day."  When I was growing up I remember spending the night at my grandparents house with my red "going to grandmas" suitcase in tote of course.  When it was time for me to go to school, I was clearly dragging my feet and making it as obvious as possible that I was not excited about going to school.  I remember my grandma sitting me down and telling me that it helped to start each day by telling yourself "it's going to be a good day."  I not only remember her telling me this, but it's something I've continued to do over the years.  Now, I can't say I've had a good day EVERY day I've told myself this, but I tell ya what, it surprisingly works!  It's amazing how a positive attitude first thing in the morning can effect the rest of your day.  I can't thank my Mawmaw enough... Not only for this piece of advice, but for contributing to what has become the positive/kick ass kind of attitude I have to kicking this cancer's ass!!

 

So yes, I woke up this morning, Friday the 13th w/ a CT scan scheduled and all, telling myself "it's going to be a good day, dammit!"  Sorry Mawmaw, I thought it needed a little umph!  ;)  After the scan I headed to the infusion room to get fluids and another Neulasta injection... yes, my WBC dipped below the normal range again this week.  I was still able to get my infusion this week, so thankfully we're still on schedule!  So, as I'm sitting in the infusion room I heard a very distinct "click click click" approaching me... the sound of 4 inch heels walking at a brisk pace... yep, it was Dr. Hellerstedt.  In case you don't know Dr. H, she has a love for and rocks the most impressive, fashionable high heels!  So before I know it, there is Dr. H standing in front of me with Nurse Prac Lisa, both of them grinning ridiculously at me.  Dr. H is holding the results from my CT scan and telling me to read it.  What?!  As I'm looking at it, it was a blur!  Not sure what happened, but in these few moments I completely forgot how to read.  I'm glancing over the report not comprehending a thing!  Dr. H finally took the hint and grabbed the report, pointing to the section concerning my liver and read, "Hepatic metastatic disease has significantly improved.  There is a decrease in size of the individual lesions.  For example a lesion in the dome of the liver measures 2.2 x 2.8 cm is compared to 4.5 x 4.6 cm.  A lesion more purely measured 1.4 x 1.8 cm is compared to 2.2 x 2.7 cm.  A large lesion inferiorly measures 1.2 x 0.9 cm is compared a 2.3 x 3.6 cm.  Multiple central lesions have significantly decreased in size."  (Compared to abdomen and pelvis CT scan on 12/2/11 & PET/CT scan on 10/7/11).  WOOOHOOOOOO!!!  That's what I'm talking about!  This isn't just a good day, it's a GREAT day!!  After dealing with the side effects I've been experiencing over the last couple of weeks, this is exactly what I needed to hear!  At least the cocktail is working!  YAY!!

 

As my friend B says, "on a side note,"... as I'm in the infusion room this woman complimented my hair.  I graciously say thanks and then she asks, "where did you get it."  Oh, for the love!  I can't help it that my real hair looks like a wig.  I should have just told her it was a wig because then she wanted to touch it.  As her hand was slowly reaching for my hair and as I'm backing away with what I'm sure was a disgusted "please don't touch my hair look on my face"... thank God we were interrupted by the chemo nurse who needed to take my blood pressure.  I've never been so happy to have my blood pressure taken! 

 

Happy Friday the 13th!!  It's going to be a GREAT day!! 

Happy New Year!

Woohoo!  My white blood cell count (WBC) is back up!  It's still "in the red" coming in at 4.5 (normal range is 4.8 - 10.8), but at least it didn't dip down as low as it did 2 weeks ago. Oooh, that's right, I havent blogged in awhile so you didn't know that tid bit of info. Well, let me catch you up to speed... 2 weeks ago my WBC dropped to 2.9.  This is typical and was somewhat expected to happen... Not just with my new drug, but with taking Chemo in general.  

To refresh...

Chemo works by killing fast-growing cancer cells. Unfortunately, chemo can’t tell the difference between cancer cells and fast-growing healthy cells, including white blood cells which help to fight infection.  As a result, one of the most serious potential side effects of some types of chemotherapy is a low WBC.

I've been fortunate enough this last year that I haven't had any major problems with this.  2 weeks ago when it was as low as it was, I ran the risk of NOT being able to receive my infusion, causing an unwanted interruption in my treatment schedule. To stay on track and continue with treatment, I was given a WBC booster, an injection called Neulasta.  Neulasta works by helping the body make more neutrophils (a type of blood cell needed to fight infection).

Boom!!  The Neulasta worked!  I received my treatment last week and again this week.  The WBC is "in the red," but at least it's high enough to continue on w/ treatment!  So now I'm supposed to be cautious of being around anyone who is sick and I probably need to avoid shaking hands and giving hugs... do you know how hard this is going to be?!  I'm a hugger!  I love a good 'ol hug!  Although this is probably the perfect excuse and chance to break what has become the awkward, uncomfortable and frequent hug I've been giving the guy who takes out my trash at work.  What?!?  Is that weird?!  But it's Joe!  He's sweet as can be and is old enough to be my grandpa.  Okay, okay, no more hugs... even w/ Janitor Joe.  

Other than my WBC, the last couple of weeks haven't been what I call fun.  I've had a difficult time dealing with some side effects, but I guess that comes with the territory.  If this cocktail is working... Bring it on!  I just hope things aren't quite as uncomfortable.  Don't worry, I'm not going to bore or disgust you w/ the side effects I've been encountering, but don't think you get off that easy!  By now you've learned I like to bitch about something or other!  Today's bitch session... it's something we all know and love... acne!!  Awe, let's take a second to recall those prepubescent years.  Ugh!  I know!  I've developed a rash that "resembles acne."  It sucks! I don't remember puberty being this bad, but I tell ya, I feel gross, dirty, ugly, embarrassed... and not too mention it flat out hurts!  You know, I actually had a pimple on my eye lid... MY EYELID!!!  I mean who gets a pimple on their eyelid?!  I'll tell you who... Woogie!!  That's who! You heard me!  Dom “Woogie” Woganowski!  You know who I'm talking about... you know how I love a good 'ol 90's movie!  ;)

I've said this before and I'll say it again... Bring It!  I said... brrrrr, it's cold in here.  There must be some Clovers in the atmosphere!  Okay, okay, Bring it On was made in 2000, but it might as well have been made in the 90's!  For those of you who HAVE seen this movie... try getting that cheer out of your head the rest of the day!!  Goooooood Luuuuuuuuuck!!! 

Anyway, I have a lucky CT scan scheduled for Friday the 13th and I'm excited to see what this new cocktail is doing!

Until then, here's to a happy AND HEALTHY new year!!  

CHEERS (Insert Spirit Fingers)!!!!!!  

Another Day... Another Drug

Well, it's looking like we have some catching up to do... 

I'll start by saying that I have officially been pulled from the clinical trial.  (Insert gasp)  I know, I know, but it's not what you're thinking... I swear I didn't harm the gentleman blaring Christmas music.  What?!  Not what you were thinking??  Lets move on... the week before last (4th week of the clinical trial which was also the last week of the 1st cycle), my right side started hurting.  And if I were to describe the pain, and I know this is going to sound weird, but I could actually feel my liver quiver.  For whatever reason, my liver was twitching/spasming.  And it wasn't a "holy crap I had so much fun partying last night" kind of quiver.  Not that I know what that feels like.  Again, lets move on... So we know from past experience that that's not a great sign.  Thankfully Dr. H was able to squeeze me into her already busy, booked day.  She thought it would be best to order a CT scan to see what was going on.  During our visit I was given the slightest bit of hope that this could actually be a good thing.  My liver could be reacting to cell or tumor DESTRUCTION (man, that has a nice ring to it).  Unfortunately that wasn't the case this time.  The CT showed even more cancer on my liver compared to when I started the trial.  (Insert Debbie Downer music)  Thankfully my lab work showed great numbers and everything else is functioning the way it should... except of course the cancer. 

So where do we go from here?!  Well, like I said before starting this clinical trial, at least we have a backup plan.  We know that the meds I was on prior to the trial were working, so lets go back to what we know with a minor tweak here and there to get things back under control.  So for those of you keeping track of my drugs, this is what my chemo cocktail is looking like...

Herceptin (infusion every 3 weeks)

Zometa (infusion every 4 - 6 weeks)

Tykerb (oral daily)

Femara (oral daily)

And introducing the new drug to the cocktail... drum roll please... 

Navelbine (infusion weekly)

I started this new concoction last week.  With it of course came all the the anticipation and worrisome of how I'm going to react to this new drug and it's side effects.  To list a few of the side effects...

• Allergic reactions like skin rash, itching or hives, swelling of the face, lips or tongue
• Low blood counts (you may be at increased risk for infections and bleeding)
• Signs of infection - fever or chills, cough, sore throat, pain or difficulty passing urine
• Signs of decreased platelets or bleeding - bruising, pinpoint red spots on the skin, nosebleeds
• Signs of decreased red blood cells - unusually weak or tired, fainting spells, lightheadedness
• Breathing problems
• Chest pain
• Constipation
• Cough
• Mouth sores (Nooooooooooooo, not "Can-sores"!!!!!)
• Nausea and vomiting
• Pain, swelling, redness or irritation at the injection site
• Pain, tingling, numbness in the hands or feet
• Stomach pain
• Trouble passing urine or change in the amount of urine
• Diarrhea (cha cha cha)
• Hair loss
• Jaw pain
• Loss of appetite

Hmmm, good times!!

Yes, I experienced a few of these side effects, but the one we were most concerned about was a fever I received the day after my infusion.  Dr. H was out of the office this day, but thankfully the Nurse Prac was able to squeeze me into her busy, booked day.  The main concern was an infection.  Thankfully the fever passed and the lab work showed no signs of an infection.  (Insert sigh of relief).  So ya, last week wasn't much fun, but I'm feeling better and excited about getting this ball rolling.  It's hard not to think that we wasted 2 months on this clinical trial, but I'm glad we gave it a shot.  It might not have been the "miracle drug" for me, but hopefully it will be for someone else.  

Wednes"BAY" Week 3... On a "Toxic Tuesday"

I just wrapped up my 3rd week on Bay 80-6946.  Because of the holidays my infusion was moved up to Tuesday (I know, just like old times), in order to have routine lab work the day after the infusion.  I'm not required to have lab work the day after every infusion, but it is required on the 3rd week of this clinical trial.  The 3rd week also requires another 12 hour long day on infusion day.  The infusion itself is only about an hour to an hour and a half, however I'm suppose to hang around  the rest of the day while being monitored... vital signs are periodically checked and Pharmacokinetic Samples, or PKs are taken.  Talk about a long da... Oh, did I lose ya with the big word???  If so, no worries!  Let me explain...

Pharmacokinetic Samples or PKs are blood and/or urine samples that are collected before, during and after my treatments. These samples can tell us how high the level of the drug gets in my body, how long the drug stays in my body and how my body gets rid of the drug.

Now you're up to speed with whats going on AND you learned a little something.  But before I sign off and wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving, I have a few shout outs to make in the spirit of Thanksgiving...

Thanks to the American Cancer Society for hooking us up with free lodging for the night.  Ooooh, how that helps us out!

Thanks to the gentleman blaring Christmas music for 12 hours straight in the infusion room.  I think I can make it till Christmas 2012 without hearing another Christmas song (insert sarcasm)!

And thanks to the great Chemo nurses in the infusion room. One in particular nurse stands out... But maybe that's because she helped me get through the last couple of hours of Christmas music. She was the night nurse who wore cowboy boots, called me mija and kept a stack of prayer cards in her pocket.  Thanks Maria!

Happy Turkey Day Y'all!

Wednes"BAY"

It would have been exciting if the results from my PET scan came back showing improvement, but instead they came back showing something equally exciting… “STABLE.”  It’s a word I never thought I’d appreciate as much as I do now.  I’ve had a lot of curve balls thrown at me this year after being diagnosed so I actually welcome the thought of being "stable."  Stable is not a bad thing.  I've learned it could be worse.  Ultimately in the long run, we're going to kick some cancer ass, but for now, I'll take "stable!"  But since I mentioned curve balls being thrown at me, let’s take a few moments to review some of them…

Not only do I have breast cancer, BUT it’s spread to my liver (Doh!)

It’s rare to have an infected port, BUT mine got infected (Doh!)

Bone metastasis?!?  (Doh!)

Liver biopsy drama... (Doh!)

So yes, “STABLE” is not a bad thing!  Besides, did we really expect improvement after 2 days from the 1^st infusion?!?  After talking to Dr. Patnaik she said the “possibility” was there, but she’s really expecting improvement over time.  So this week I finished up my 2^nd dose.  Again, I’ll have an infusion every week for 3 weeks, then I’m off a week.  That’s considered 1 cycle.  After the 2^nd cycle, which will be the last week in December, I’ll retake a lot of the scans and images to see where we are at.  Hopefully by then we’ll start to see some improvement!

As for my blood sugar levels, I mentioned that one of the main side effects of this drug is high blood sugar, or hyperglycemia.  Sure enough, after my 2^nd infusion, my blood sugar levels increased.  Thankfully this time they didn’t increase quite as much as last week… we’re thinking my no sugar, low carb diet on infusion day this week might have helped.  So anyway, with the Drs suggestion, we bought a glucometer to help monitor my blood sugar levels on infusion days and the day after.  Other than that, I'm doing great!  

Casey's Cancer Kickin' Krewe 2011

I can’t even begin to describe what an amazing weekend I just had.  Have you ever participated in a Komen race???  If not, YOU SHOULD!!  Over 17,000 people poured through the streets of Austin.  It’s a memory that I’ll cherish forever!  I’m truly blessed to have family and friends who are… well, who are not just supportive, but A-W-E-S-O-M-E!!  Since being diagnosed, family and friends have struggled with not knowing how to show their support.  This race was a great opportunity for everyone to come together, show their support and have some fun.  And boy did we have some fun!!  And if you’ve never worn a pink wig in your life… YOU SHOULD!!  I’m already looking forward to the next time I get to wear it!  Hey, I live in Austin!  It’s a guarantee that I wouldn’t be the “weirdest” person in the crowd!  Ha ha!  Anyway, thanks to everyone who came out on race day… even if I didn’t get a chance to see you.  With over 17,000 people, you could say it was a bit crowded downtown!  ;)

So yes, it would be an understatement to say that “Casey’s Cancer Kickin’ Krewe” was a success!  We reached our goal and then some.  Thank you to everyone who participated and/or donated.  We raised $14,340.  If that’s not incredible enough, on 11/10/11, our anonymous donor matched the total amount raised in Memory of Natalie Hogan.  I know… breathtaking and inspiring!  My heart is smiling right now!  After a few more donations that trickled in, our grand total is up to $28,830.  UNBELIEVABLE!!  I have to thank our team captain for such an amazing job... Thanks Elizabeth!  I love ya girl!

Alright, my next infusion is this Wednes”BAY!”  Come on… I couldn’t stop at “Toxic Tuesdays” and “Manic Mondays!”  So along w/ my infusion I’ll meet w/ Dr. Patnaik to discuss the results of my PET scan last week.  I’m SO excited, yet SO anxious!  I don’t want to get my hopes up, but the “possibility” that we could see results after the first infusion is an incredible thought! 

Woohoo!

The Krewe's Team Captain

SURVIVORS

Winner of "Farthest Traveled" & "Surprise Visit"

Great seeing you Brian!!

Thanks Contigo!  Fun after party!!