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Re: Gammaknife, Tykerb...reality check
Hi Friends,
Just a quick update...
Went back to the classroom! Exciting! Fun! I didn't realize how much I missed it...till I met the kids and got started! But...
Oh my goodness! I'm exhausted...every day! I haven't been awake past 9:00 once this week!
And my feet and ankles are sooooo swollen and sore! That has to be related to all the meds...I never had any issue with that before.
And...twice now, I've had to make what Chris calls the "fun run". It was at two different times of day, and doesn't seem to be related to my diet in any way. But hey, two days out of 21...that's pretty good, I think.
I've started having a cracker or small cookie when I take my Tykerb, and it's helped with the nausea very nicely. I know my tummy is supposed to be empty...but Tykerb on a totally empty stomach means a day full of nausea for me. Literally, when I don't eat a little something with the med...I'm nauseous for the entire day. I'm going to check it out with the onc when I see her...but it's really a quality of life issue at this point. What's the use of killing off the tumors in my brain, if all I can do is lay around trying not to toss my cookies?!
I see the docs tomorrow...I'll keep you posted.
Thanks for all the prayers...please keep them coming...I'm not sure what's going on inside of me.
Denise
Oh! I forget to mention...my face, while not back to its normal size...I don't look like the circus fat lady any more! Small steps....silver linings!
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1/11-needle biopsy
2/11-Lumpectomy/axillary node dissection - Stage 3c, ER/PR-14/17 nodes
3/11 - Post-op staph infection,cellulitis, lymphedema,seroma,ARRRGH!
4/12/11-A/C x 4, then T/H x 4, H only,Q3 weeks
8/26/11 finished Taxol!!!
10/7/11 mastectomy/DIEP recon
11/11 radiation x28
1/12/12 1st CANCER-VERSARY!
1/12 Low EF/Herceptin "Holiday" :(
2/12 EF up - Back on Herceptin, heart meds
4/2/1212 surgery to repair separated incision from DIEP recon
6/8/12 Return to work :)
6/17/12 Fall, shatter wrist,surgery to repair/insert plate :(
7/10/12 last Herceptin
7/23/12 Brain Mets %$&#! 3cm and 1cm
8/10/12 Gamma knife surgery, LOTS of steroids;start H/Tykerb
8/23/12 Back to work
12/20/12 Injure back-3 weeks in wheel chair
1/12/13 2nd CANCER-VERSARY!
1/14/13 herniate disk in back - surgery to repair
1/27/13 Radiation necrosis - edema in brain - back on steroids - but not back to work - off balance, poor cordination in right arm
5/3/13 Start Avastin to shrink necrosis
5/10/13 begin weaning steroids
6/18/13 Brain MRI - Avastin seems to be working!
6/20/13 quarterly CT - chest, abdomen, pelvis - All Clear!
7/5/13 finally off steroids!!
7/7/13 joined the ranks of the CHEMO NINJAS I am now Tekuto Ki Ariku cancer assassin!
7/13/13 Symptoms return - back on steroids
7/26/13 Back on Avastin - try again!
8/26/13 Not ready to return to classroom yet :( But I CAN walk without holding onto things! :)
9/9/13 Brain MRI - fingers crossed
“ Life is a grindstone, and whether it grinds you down or polishes you up is for you, and you alone, to decide. ” – Cavett Robert
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