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Things I've learned
Just some things I've learned along this interesting journey I never wanted to go on...
1. drink more water than you think. It doesn't seem you can drink too much unless it's in one sitting. Drink so your pee is light yellow and often.
2. Eat your veggies and lean protein but eat food you enjoy too.
3. Have a glass of wine now and then.
4. Learn to be comfortable in your own skin and any that is usually covered in hair. Do what works for you and experiment with head coverings. The first time around I wore wigs exclusively and later found a great freedom in scarves and hats. I love it when women go out bald but just couldn't do it for me. In winter I found wearing a running scull cap under my scarf and some hats was perfect not too hot or too cold. It was fun to play with different scarves and tying them various ways. Avoid hats on windy days!!!
5. Keep moving. Exercise or even slow walks. keep as much normal routine as possible but if you can't do it allow that. Your body needs to move but is fighting a battle and the chemo wears it down some days.
6. Do things in stages even if it takes 2 or 3 times longer. The sense of accomplishment feels good.
7. Eyebrows can make a world of difference. Find a pencil or cream powder you like and practice with small strokes. You now have the chance to make them what you want but go online or to a beauty store to get them right for your face.
8. Salt and baking soda in warm water squished in mouth does wonders for mouth sores. Tastes horrible!
9.Tastes change with chemo. I was shocked to find I did not care for my decaf coffee anymore but loved decaf and herbal tea that I hardly ever drank. Now I like tea more and enjoy coffee at times. I also found a craving for cottage cheese and canned peaches that I was served as a child. The craving immediately ended when the chemo was done.
10. Ask for help if you need it and be kind to yourself and others. We all ended up in a place we didn't ask for but we can choose to be miserable or happy.
11. Drink water....
I know this is not the extent of my learning and maybe others will chime in with their knowledge.
With lots of hugs... Cathy
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3/06 DX stage III er-pr-her2+++ breast, 1+node
age 49 and 364 days
3XAC 4X taxol and herceptin continue herceptin one year
bilat mastectomy w/TRAM
32 rads
9/08 recurrance 4 sternal nodes
mediastinoscopy, able to remove 3
taxotere, carboplatin, herceptin, x6
continue herceptin indefinately
5/10 recurrance in same node/area
mediastinoscopy, removed nodes
added tykerb
27 rads
10/18/10 PET shows inflammation no active disease
8/2011 recurrence one right mediastinal node, xeloda and proton radiation to node.
D/C xeloda due to toxicity
12/5 PET scan clear
2/2012 colon blockage, breast cancer
(never thought it could go there! thought I was constipated)
start abraxane, herceptin, continue tykerb
10/2012 Kidney ablation (renal CA!)
3/2013 CT and biopsy R kidney (BC met to R kidney)
4/4/2013 Begin Kadcyla
7/30/13 Craniotomy cerebellar mets, 1.7cm 3cm
Sept 4-6 post op cyberknife
Sept 23 ablation right kidney (blow up pesky breast ca met)
Oct headaches MRI Oct 10 (only surgical changes ! Yay!)
Short of breath. CT, pulmonary function, echo
New crap in right lung heart good. Pooh!
12/13 DC kadcyla. Begin halaven
2/14 MRI brain NED Yay!
4/3/14 CT mostly stable but breast mets r kidney growing
4/16/14 ablation right kidney again
Continue halaven, tykerb
dc halaven gemzar?
2nd opinion May 14
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