Archive for the ‘chemo’ Category

Breast Cancer and the Ongoing treatments after surgery

I have had a time out…as in trying to catch up with treatments, give good accounting, I got waylaid by other parts of my life.

Below is what I began:

This is going to be a long few months. June 24 will be last ‘chemo blast’ then onto just the striaght Herceptin! Then I will only be in the chair for a 1/2 hour vs. six hours. I am glad I have some travel , though mostly business, to look forward too! Florida, Amelia Island for board meetings at the Ritz. Santa Monica Lowe’s for a speaking engagement. Milwaukee for another non-profit group and board meetings…and in the middle (May) 10 days in in Hawaii on the Big Island! I don’t think I have a life anymore. I am finding it harder to plan anything but doctor visits; chemo visit; blood work; and those five to six hours in the chair during the chemo blasts, a very long day. I still have someone drive me to and from as I also have to take some benedryl in case of reactions (I have seen a few but haven’t experienced any). Then, too, I have to worry about dog care for the day, as she can’t stay home alone for that length of time.

My blood values are staying stable. I will not have to go through the Epogen or Neupogen blood additives. I have the two terrific days post chemo, then I begin three horrible days of excruciating bone pain. I will be taking two days of extra steroids for the bone pain and it will decrease it some, but not eliminate it. The ringing in my ears is becoming most annoying, and the hand and foot numbness is increasing.

Now I am going to end this piece and move onto the other issues post the last chemo blast.

To connect with Linda, call her at 310-831-4400 or email at  Linda@theidentityadvocate.com

 

 

Solo-preneur and ongoing breast cancer treatments

When my surgeon said, the surgery was the easy part, he wasn’t kidding! I feel like I am always going to the doctors.

So I see the radiation oncologist first. Nice interview, lots of information, brought a friend for that second pair of ears. We had  discussions on the length of time in treatment– everyday! One of my questions included what if I need to miss a day. They will add it on at the end. They want to do the bulk of treatments back to back to get the desired effect. They did a physical exam of my breast. Doctor said it is still swollen but that won’t make a difference yet. They will ‘map’ me as I get closer to the time of treatment. The ‘mapping’ process will include CT of breast/chest, original tumor location, so they know density and relationship to rib cage. He did say I would get to update him once I visited the medical oncologist, as it looked like, in addition to estrogen/progesterone positive, I was Hers2 but that was simply injections every three weeks of Herceptin. Ok, well that no big deal! Let me go do more research on that Hers2 receptor site!!

Medical Oncologist visit. Well, now here is the surprise. We discussed factors used to determine the Hers2 and I am 3+ Oh my gosh! So this not only means Herceptin – IV, not a ‘shot’ as I was originally told, but six chemo blasts to improve the outcome and decrease chances of more cancer someplace else in my body. I need to have a ‘port’ surgically implanted. This will prevent all my veins being blown with all the IV chemo, pre-meds and such. Plus, I need an echo-cardiogram, (every three months) as the Herceptin has a chance of causing heart failure. Really ??? I guess I am buying quite the ‘insurance’ plan to make sure I come away as clean as my surgery had been. I know I am not looking forward to this.

The port is placed two weeks later. Pretty easy in and out surgery. Sets along top of ribcage. Lots of swelling and some redness. My fear, infection. But there was nothing present. However, first chemo, nurses couldn’t access port. Too swollen. SO, burned through three veins that day. Plus, I was there over six hours. Thank goodness I don’t have to return for 3 week. In between, I go to see the oncologist, to make sure I am doing okay.

Next chemo/Herceptin boost, the port is accessed. This makes life so much easier! Everyone should do this if you are getting more than a couple treatments. The Herceptin will continue until end of next February. Here I have really not been sick in my life, now doctors, nurses, infusions, blood draws, something all the time.

First two days post chemo, due to steroids I am in great form. Lots of energy, getting many of things done. However, day three, not only do I  crash down in energy but the bone pain in all my joints is excruciating! The post op lumpectomy pain didn’t hurt like this. Plus, I have numbness and tingling and burning in my feet and some of my fingers. When I call on Monday, they said, oh, gee, this is a little early for that kind of reaction. That usually happens at the end. Well, isn’t that special.

Next oncologist visit, he changes some of pre-meds (steroids) to also be post chemo too to help with bone pain. The we will ‘watch’ the numbness in hand and feet. What has happened. Surgery was so simple. And this will take me through June. I will be traveling around my infusion schedule, for board meetings and speaking engagements. I will do all best efforts to stay healthy!

Next, the ongoing saga of how things change with each chemo blast.

Question, thoughts, conversation, call Linda at 310-831-4400

Breast Cancer, Solo-preneur, and planning the work schedule

The first battle is done, now to think about when to work, how much to work and when to give yourself time off.

I am continuing to ice the surgical site, only about 2 to 3 times a day. Only still taking Tylenold, and part of that is for that silly arthritis type back pain. My breast does not hurt! One week post op and back for first surgeons visit. He said things went well, ultimately (with the aforementioned adventures). Incisions looks great. He is happy. He then tells me I am very lucky as not only were my lymph nodes clear, but I am estrogen, progesterone positive, which just means that daily pill for 5 years. I will learn more when I visit the oncologist. I will also have a visit with the radiation oncologist, as with lumpectomies, if you do not do radiation to the area, you have a 70% chance of getting a tumor back in the same area. Okay, add more doctors to my treatment plan. When am I going to work? Oh, and those daily naps mean a lot to my health and well being...make plans to do them!!

My time I get most tired is about 3 PM, so I give myself permission to snooze about 20 minutes, as that is all it seems to take. I take out my contacts and just getting between the sheets, makes me feel as if I am having a spa moment! There are a couple days that I found I was in need ot more time, and you know what? It was okay. Mornings are my best time to review emails, make a decision on what to do with them (respond later, discard, plan an action for later). I find I am resolving all three of my addresses in an hour. I may have come up with sometime to carry forward when all of the treatments are over! Gee my business coach was right, as she always has been! Next, I am not going to my office on weekends. I still need quiet time, to give myself that joy of not having to be somewhere, and responsible for email, text, linkedin communications. I found by not pushing I could get more accomplished in the morning which has been my best work time anyway!

Next, the visit with the radiation oncologist, before the medical oncologist as we KNOW we will have radiation. Wow, and that will have to be everyday. What a challenge in a work schedule.

Next time, more than I bargained for!

Continuing On: The Breast Cancer, the solo-preneur, Findings that lead to the Surgery

Decisions, Decisions, Decisions…

Now THE  appointment with the surgeon is here (yes, expect surgery if you go to a surgeon, but…) with all results in from MRI of both breasts, and bone scan (not bone density) and I brought along two friends from church. Remember, extra ears and friends taking notes are mandatory! You are under a lot of stress at this point and may not ‘hear’ everything.

Doctor comes in, sits down and says “well, we are going to have a very different conversation today from what I expected”. Now I am thinking oh Lord, what is this going to mean??? He went on to tell me the MRI showed my tumor was only 1.9 mm vs the 5 mm he first thought with biopsy results. Plus, the other breast was clear! Whew! His recommendation was breast tissue conserving surgery, thus a lumpectomy not the mastectomy he envisioned due to initial ‘size’ of my tumor! God was in my life and taking care of my body and  had a plan. Therefore life was not going to be so complicated with a longer surgery, drains, increased prospect of pain, then comes breast revisions and all that recovery time.

Next was to schedule the surgery as he was going on holiday and we would not get started for about 3 weeks. Lots to prepare for now. Get the date set; find care for the dog while out of commission; someone to take me to the hospital, bring me home and spend the night; lab work, EKG; chest x-ray; and scariest of all get my insurance coverage confirmed as I was also changing plans due to change in Cigna…So much to do, so little time and looking at my schedule I expect to keep working during recovery as it is only the lumpectomy, I plan to be working within a week!

 

 

Next up – day of surgery.

 

To connect with Linda, call her at 310-831-4400 or linda@theidentityadvocate.com

Breast Cancer and the solo-entrepreneur: What will you face; what will change; will you lose clients?

The Beginning

You know how it starts..you ignored that funny lump because 1. theres no cancer in the family 2. it hurt and cancer doesn’t hurt and 3. well, the mammogram was negative..Well, of course you didn’t tell them the whole truth either, you didn’t tell them you had a small worry on that funny spot when asked if you had any concerns.

Over the next few months, I am going to share the experiences, the worries, the results, the side effects of chemo, the drugs, the radiation and the things they seem to never tell you…or they things like, wow, that hasn’t happened this soon. So I will tell you.

Therefore,  feel free to follow me on this journey of breast cancers and recovery..The joys, the prayers, the friends, what you need to ask for, how to make it through and not think you are going to die! I  will be blogging once or twice a week. Connect with me at linda@theidentityadvocate.com or call me at 310-831-4400

The journey begins…..Linda


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