Chemo Delayed Again

   As much as I didn't want to get chemo today, I'd rather have just gotten it over with. But my counts were too low again, so I should be getting the last Adriamycin round next Monday instead. They drew the extra bloodwork to send off for the genetic testing. I saw the genetics counselor last Tuesday, and she explained what the results of the P53 gene testing will mean. It's called Li-Fraunemi Syndrome, which basically means the tumor suppressor gene in the body's cells doesn't work right, and that I'd be more prone to multiple cancers in my lifetime. So if I have it, no radiation and more annual screenings hoping to catch stuff early. However, it wouldn't explain Aplastic Anemia. I asked her what happens if this test comes back negative, and she said then they've just hit a wall with what to look for and they'd stop testing me altogether. But we got all the bloodwork and paperwork together and sent it off today, so we'll get those results back in four weeks.
   Two different nurses took my blood pressure today because it was so low (88/60), but Dr. C said he wasn't concerned considering how small I am. I also lost a few pounds, but it's kind of hard to eat much when everything tastes so bad. I asked him about the black line on my nail and he said that's from chemo. He did a physical exam to check the tumor, but it's basically gone now. Which is good, the chemo's working (can I stop now?). I told him how nauseous I was last week, and he said if it happens again to come in and they can shoot something into my port to help.
   I got a copy of my blood counts since he told me they were low, and my hemoglobin was 8.1 and my platelets were only 66, which explains the bruises on my feet from the dogs stepping on them. I just hope my counts come back up at all considering my past medical problems...
   My new chemo schedule might interfere with our travel plans, but hopefully they can do a Friday chemo or something instead of a Monday if needed. But Dr. C OKed air travel, so I get to go to Portland November 9-12 for the Grace Hopper Celebration of Women in Computing. I applied for a scholarship back in April and found out in August that I didn't qualify, but was on a waiting list instead. Someone from the Anita Borg Institute called me last week to ask me if I was going since I hadn't registered yet and the deadline was that night. Turns out I did get the scholarship, but not the second email informing me that I'd gotten the scholarship. But I'm registered now and just need to buy the plane tickets (to be reimbursed later). It's nice having something to look forward to that isn't cancer-related.

Terrible, Terrible Week

   I've spent most of this past week passed out on the couch. I managed to go to my radiation oncology consultation appointment Tuesday and get my Neupogen shot afterwards. The radiation oncologist, Dr. B., doesn't know whether to give me radiation or not. She said if patients have 4 or more cancer-positive lymph nodes removed, they get radiation. But I only had 3. But she's worried about my age. But then she's also worried that my genes are screwed up so radiating me might cause more tumors down the road, but not doing radiation might not cure this bout of cancer.  Great. So she's undecided and is going to check with some other specialists first. I'm going back next Friday, September 30th, to find out what they say. I'm tired of being a medical anomaly...
   I had a test in one class after I got home that day. I somehow got an 82, 10 points above the class average! Not bad for the day after chemo. I had a quiz in another class Wednesday and got an 84. Chemo brain is definitely kicking in, along with the exhaustion, nausea, severe chest pain, a low-grade fever all week, and this terrible taste in my mouth. Usually the side effects lessen by the weekend, but it's now Monday and things are still kicking. I'm miserable.  But I still have three chapters to read in Networking, two homework assignments due for Databases, and a program due Thursday. Of course, these are just the assignments I know about, since I miss a lot of stuff by not actually going to class. But on a brighter note, even if I get D's in all three of these classes, I can still graduate with a 3.5 GPA. Good thing I worked my ass off the last three years so now I can sleep through this one.

A Post About Crap (Literally)

   The nausea's starting to kick in. My appointment was only about two hours this morning since it's only the first part of the chemo. My platelets were 100, which is still pretty low. I only have one more round of the Adriamycin, but the other two parts should be easier on my blood counts (and hopefully the rest of me too). Dr. C checked the tumor and says it feels smaller and flatter and less defined. I asked him about my constantly running nose and he said that's from the chemo. That's the only new side effect I've been noticing, except for the rest of my stubble falling out.
   I stopped by Walgreens after the hospital and found some SeaBands, which are dorky-looking wristbands that use pressure at special points on your wrists to help alleviate nausea. I'm desperate to avoid another week straight of feeling sick, so hopefully they'll work. I also stopped at McDonalds on the way home (bad idea, I know) and got a sweet tea. I could feel the taste get progressively worse over the 20-minute drive home. Water's back to its crappy taste too.
   Another thing going to crap is my brain. I feel like I'm forgetting things all the time and it's SO hard to concentrate, especially when it tastes like there's a dirty sock in my mouth and my stomach hurts and I just want to sleep, sleep, sleep, and then sleep some more. I'll go out to the store and then forget what I came for, and of course I'll have left the list at home. I have a test in one class tomorrow, I just hope I can remember enough to pass it.
   It's way easier to just clean and play with the dogs than to sit down and study or do homework. I got a nice little patio set for the backyard for $32, so the dogs and I can hang out outside (with the mosquitoes). And I bought a really cool pooper scooper, Our Pets Skoop-N-Pak, because there is NO way I'm picking up warm, squishy dog poop when I'm already this nauseous.

   Some pictures of our babies can be found on this Facebook album.

Change of Plans

   We went for round two of chemo today, but my platelets were only at 91. Dr. C said the one study shows that it's most effective to give the A/C chemo combination every 2 weeks, but that there were two other arms that it followed. One was just to do the combo every 3 weeks, though slightly less effective. And the other was to split the A and the C parts, and do them separately every 2 weeks, which is more effective than the three weeks schedule. So we're going to try that, since we kind of don't have many other options. I had my second round of (only) the Adriamycin today (along with anti-nausea meds and steroids). This'll just prolong my chemo, and estimated surgery date, but the side effects should decrease. I'm still starting to feel nauseous though, and my legs hurt, and I'm tired, and that really gross taste in my mouth is coming back. But other than that I'm fine. I'm going in tomorrow to get the single Neulasta shot instead of the 10 individual shots. And then we're going to hopefully do the 3rd round of the Adriamycin two weeks from now.
 
Updates from last week that I missed:

• We had an earthquake Tuesday. The house shook and scared the crap out of me, but there wasn't any serious damage.
• Hurricane Irene hit Saturday night/Sunday morning. The power went out around 2 AM and didn't come back on until today around 2 PM. It was terrible.
• The in-laws are visiting in two weeks and bringing Kyle's super fat dogs. 
• I had a post-surgery follow-up with Dr. K Thursday. Everything looks fine, and I made appointments with radiation oncology to see if I need radiation after chemo and with their new in-house plastic surgeon, Dr. P, to find out about getting new boobs later. 
• Kyle and I shaved each other's heads Thursday night. My hair started coming out in clumps Tuesday and was getting EVERYWHERE, so we kind of needed to do it. Walmart finally brought out winter hats though so I stocked up, because my head feels cold all the time now. But it's nice and round (thanks Mommy!), and I keep thinking of that episode of Roseanne where Jackie's rolling the baby to keep his head from getting a flat spot.

No Chemo Today

   I was supposed to get round two of chemo today, but the doctor saw my lab results and said no chemo today. My platelets are 50, and she wants them at least 100 before doing more chemo. My hemoglobin dropped from 12 to 10.2, but my white count is good (6.2), so the shots worked.
   She told me to come back next Monday and they'll check my blood again. They used to give people chemo every 3 weeks instead of every 2 weeks anyway, so she said not to worry about it.
    Not much to do this week then, except start work for my classes.

And Now I'm Hungry

   I'm feeling much better. I was a little nauseous and tired yesterday, but we managed to go out shopping for new sheets, even though Kyle wanted to whine the whole time. I ended up buying the mattress on my wishlist Friday night, and it got here Saturday afternoon (thanks Amazon Prime!). We've only slept on it one night so far, but I can finally sleep on my side again without it hurting so I think it was worth it. It's much quieter than our other one too, which is good for when I get up to pee five times in the middle of the night.
   The shots are going okay I guess, except for the nasty bruise Kyle left on my leg. My neck and shoulders still hurt from them. And my chest has been hurting since yesterday morning when I breathe in too deep. I'm going to call tomorrow and let them know (what were they going to tell me to do on the weekend besides go to the ER?). I've been checking my temperature and it's been normal, so that's good. I definitely want to switch to the one-time shot instead of 30 more, especially since I'm not having any bone pain. I'll ask about it during my next round.
   My scars look like they're healing okay, the creepy twine stuff finally came off. I'll admit I've been slack on my arm stretches, but I make sure I stretch it out somewhat every day, and it's definitely improving since the surgery. Kyle pointed out the extra piece of skin in my armpit now though. Eww. But I think the feeling's starting to come back.
   I'm glad the nausea's gone at least (for now), but now I have a different problem: It seems like I'm hungry all the time. Food's getting its normal taste back too. It's good to know the week between chemo might not be so bad after all. But it sucks that I have 3 more rounds of this crap, and then some.

Chemo is Kicking My Ass

    I've spent most of the last two days sleeping... We went back to the hospital yesterday to get the shot situation straightened out. The nurse gave us a huge bag of syringes, an awesome reminder of just how many shots I have to look forward to. The pharmacy called yesterday too and let me know they had another 10 vials ready for me by mistake. We also went wig shopping, which is way harder than deciding on a regular haircut, since this is permanent, and a lot more expensive. I need to make sure I have all the insurance stuff in order first before I spend $450 on some nylon hair. Apparently I still need some "Certification of Medical Necessity" for Tricare to cover it, even though the doctor gave me a prescription for a wig, with the reason for needing one written on it. So I guess I'll ask at my next appointment.
    The anti-nausea medication makes me dizzy and drowsy, but I'm hoping the nausea will start to get better. Everything still tastes like crap. The shots aren't giving me any bone pain, yet, thankfully, but my shoulder and back muscles are really sore. And I've been really shaky, which didn't start until after the first Neupogen shot yesterday.
   
    I can't believe classes start in two weeks...