Breast cancer diagnosis

thank you for the continued updates. I suppose now the key thing is to not overdo it

hugs

Thinking of you daily ♥️♥️♥️♥️

How are you doing? Check in if you can.

They said I am tolerating the treatment pretty well. The drugs they gave me are really controlling the nausea--just have to remember to take the as needed one when I get the wave. I don't know if it is something they give me in the IV drip, but as soon as I get in the car after the treatment, I go out and when I get home, I walk to the bed like I am sleepwalking then am out till morning. Got up, took meds, ate breakfast then out till lunch today. Made lunch then did laundry because all the sleep made me feel good. If it goes like last time, I will sleep a lot again tonight.

Though you couldn't tell if you looked, I am starting to lose my hair so I wear a scarf or hat when I cook. No walk yesterday or today. Laundry counts. And I am forgetting more, as in, having to put in passwords multiple times, etc. I call it chemo brain, but wait, I have always had chemo brain days, they are just happening more.

One of the cats that might have punctured my bed (I have the new mattress set up and under lots of protective layers now--here she is outside the dirty kitchen window -- due to her Puss and Boots looks someone eventually let her in and then she slept on a couch in the comfy AC for much of the day):

Hi TunedOut Thanks for the update. You're dealing with all of this amazingly well. Please know that we're here to listen if you need an ear

“- due to her Puss and Boots looks someone eventually let her in”
I’m glad you are doing alright. This made me chuckle. You do have a great attitude and sense of humor.

Thought I was due to give an update. I have about 15 percent of my hair left. Maybe I won't become a cue ball? Sleep feels so good. Take naps everyday. Sleep hard most of the time. Wake up refreshed after sleep. Still cooking and processed a lot of basil from our garden into pesto yesterday. Froze most of it in an ice cube tray (freezes well so long as you leave the cheese out). Walking 3 miles instead of 4.5 and go very early in the morning because I am supposed to stay out of the sun. Have a lingering cough. My next treatment is on the 25th. The VA has treated me well but the hospital (where I get chemo) is two hours away.

thanks for the update.

I hope that the treatments are going well for you. must be such a difficult time at the moment and so uncertain

The basil pesto sounds delicious. Wish I had some right now


Thanks for the check-in. It sounds like you are adjusting to treatments really well.

Ok, here is my general check in. During my last chemo they said I am developing anemia but the Human growth hormone shots I have been giving myself was keeping my white blood cell counts in the good zone. Makes sense because I am not coughing but do tire more easily. Also am getting a bit of numbing in my wrists, hands and feet. This is probably nerve damage from chemo but I assume it isn't permanent because it is an on and off thing and I once had nerve damage but recovered from it after about two years. Still taking lots of naps and ordered some grass fed beef spleen pills on Amazon for the anemia. I eat eggs and spinach everyday but eating steak everyday doesn't work for our food budget. Still do everything I did before (though my family does all the shopping for fresh groceries) but for shorter periods of time. For example, I am walking 2-3 miles a day (except for the two days after chemo) instead of 4.5 miles. I do shop online (think it is prudent to keep my pantry stocked during these strange times) and bought everyone their Christmas presents and more just in case. One item that got delayed (I missed the calls) was my gene testing but it is back on track. In a group conference I learned that about 10% of the people they test register positive for a gene mutation. If you don't have a gene mutation then they assume the primary cause of your cancer was environmental (of course, there could be a few gene mutations out there that they haven't yet identified, they said there are about 20 known gene mutations and if you have one you have a 50% chance of passing it down to your children/there is a 50% chance your sibling could have the same one.) Anyways, I won't speak anymore about the results of my genetic test because I feel like telling my genetic information is also speaking about my children's and siblings information too. I am interested to find out though and the results will effect future cancer screenings (many genetic mutations put you at higher risk for multiple kinds of cancer). My next chemotherapy is on September 8th. It will be the last of the "dual" chemo I am on then the next four will be a different type which is supposed to be less harsh and more of a "maintenance" kind of chemo. Then when that is finished, on to surgery after my blood counts are healthy enough.

You are an amazing lady. ♥️

Hope you can get on top of that anaemia, that can really tire you out. Dried apricots are good sources of iron too, especially for snacking when you aren't feeling up to full meals. Lentils also - lots of nice recipes for veggie meals, or even just soups if eating lighter.

Thanks for updating us and keep on in there, you are doing so well.

Dizzy, nauseous, stuck in bed this weekend. Last treatment on the first type of chemo has been a doozy. Hope today is better.

Thinking of you and wishing you some better days. ♥️

Thank you for the updates. You are incredible!

Beginning Tuesday, I have been able to get out of bed and actually walked yesterday (the first real walk since chemo). If past patterns hold, I will begin feeling very good on Saturday or Sunday. The new chemo will begin on Tuesday, September 22nd. I lost 8 pounds on this chemo and my blood pressure (bp) is much lower (in a good way) than before though I discovered on Monday afternoon during a telehealth appointment that my bp was very low that day and we concluded that it had probably been extraordinarily low all weekend. Next time that I feel too dizzy to get out of bed, I will be taking my bp.

When I went to my treatment yesterday, I suspected that I had a sinus infection; however, my doctor said, "Let's go ahead with the treatment because if we let up we now, we might not knock it out. I said OK then was ecstatic this morning because I was not nauseous and was able to do lots of things then took a four hour nap. Unfortunately, a little while after the nap, I developed chills followed by a fever. Though I am supposed to go to the emergency room if I have a fever of 100.4 (isn't that kind of low, fevers mean your immune system is working) or above, I am currently watching it (101.3) and took a Tylenol to bring it down. Would rather go in the morning and if it comes down to normal, I will just message my Primary Care Doc with all the details in the morning.

PS. Noticed the fever three or four hours ago. Drank a lot of water and just finished sweating a lot--two hours after taking that Tylenol (I was going to take a Naproxen then if it was still high), my fever is already down. My POV is never go to an emergency room unless you have to -- make an appointment at an office instead. Now I can go to bed.

Dreamed and sweated all night. Woke up with chills and a fever. Took Tylenol and drinking a Propel (pounding the clear liquids). Hoping to get the fever down again so I can just work with my doctor's office on this today......

In a mere hour, I got that temperature down and then messaged my Primary Care Doc. It is nice that I am able to message my docs, look at my records and refill my prescriptions via the VA's MyHealtheVet. I am not that worried about the fever since it is so controllable.

I am glad you are able to get the fever under control
those things are horrible

thanks for the continued updates

Sending you lots of love Tuned Out, this sounds like a very rough storm to ride.

My primary care doc said that though my symptoms (am still dealing with chills, temp fluctuations, sleeping a lot, feeling a little dizzy so I checked my BP and it was 82/60) are probably just due to chemo in order to be safe and since I am immunocompromised, I should get a call scheduling me for a drive-up COVID test as a precaution. They must be busy testing people since I haven't been called yet.