Chemo is OVER
I was just trying to figure out why I didn’t blog about my last chemo. It was Election Day. I was distracted. 
It has been about nine days, and I’m starting to feel much better. I’m still a bit tired, but after 6 months of chemo, it might take a couple of weeks to bounce back.
My body does not ache, my balance is returning, I haven’t hurled anything at the ground accidentally for days, my hands and feet are a little less numb, and my vision doesn’t swim.
I had my first every-three-week herceptin on Wednesday. That was no problem except for the time it takes. I had an hour between the doc and the chemo room appointment. I bought a piece of lemon cake and some juice and read Yet Another Terry Pratchett novel.
I’ve been getting herceptin for 12 weeks with no problem. It’s not “chemo” — it doesn’t make me sick and my hair will stop falling out. (I just finished the Taxol part, which is “chemo”.)
Next week I have a PET scan, an Echocardiogram, and an MRI, on Monday Tuesday and Wednesday. Then I just get to go to work for Thursday and Friday.
Then on Monday 11/24, I meet with the surgeon’s assistant. Due to everyone being spastic, from me to my boyfriend to the schedulers, the surgeon was booked. Everyone assures me this is exactly the same. For some reason I have two appointments back to back so I guess this will be involved. Then the next day I meet with the oncologist again, presumably to finalize my plan.
On Wednesday, the oncologist and I agreed that we expect a mastectomy on the right side. I hope I can keep my lymph nodes. I don’t want reconstruction but I might go for a “double” to not be lopsided. I would not care but someone mentioned possible back problems.
At this point the doctor looked thoughtful, and said maybe I would be a candidate for a lumpectomy. I said “I’m not pushing for that. Back in the beginning you said we might shrink it completely and then take it all anyway, and that still seems like a good idea to me.” And she said “it still seems like a good idea to me too.”
It’s too easy to imagine stray cells left over from a tumor that big.
She said the other breast was not an issue for safety, compared to the possible issue of cancer having spread elsewhere.
I’m expecting the surgery to be in the middle of December.
I have this funny feeling in the pit of my stomach. Either I ate too much for dinner tonight or… could it be… maybe… hope?
It’s two in the morning and I’m gnawing away at my mother’s problems and worried sick about Mark. Please, please, please have lots of good news to give me. Good luck on all the scans.
Nobody but you knows what surgery is best, but after all you’ve been through and everything you know about the cancer you’re fighting, I know you’ll make the right decision. Life without breasts (or breast) is LIFE. While reconstruction is an option, it isn’t necessary if you don’t want it. And there’s a lot to be said for not putting uneven weight on your back.
My grandmother wore huge bras (F or FF cup, I think.) At 94, she was terribly bent over with a hunchback that would make Igor (pronounced EYE-gore) jealous. It makes me wonder if a mastectomy is a good thing for more reasons than just the cancer.
Thanks, guys.
I’m only a D, and only recently, and maybe that was cause I had a huge freakin’ tumor in there.
Last night I dreamed someone let me hold their baby. In the dream I said “maybe I should keep this left breast for them to use as a pillow.” I think maybe I had a point there.
It’s so complicated it sounds like you should have a medical degree by the time you’re done with all this. If you have reconstruction, that means you have to have an implant?
I’m glad you’re feeling better, hope the week ahead is not as stressful as it sounds. Fortunately there’s the weekend to look forward to:)
has anyone had a port-a-cath/powerPort? How many days a week were you receiving chemo? and over what period of time?
I didn’t have any port or lines or anything. I had chemo every three weeks for three months, then every week for three months. Now I have herceptin (not “chemo”) every three weeks.
Thanks for stopping by and good luck with whatever you are going through.