Chemotherapy in process

March 21, 2013 - went to go get my wig fitted today. It was fun & I'm very happy with my purchase. What do you think?

I'm totally loving not having hair. Just sucks because I have to wear makeup because I look like a little boy. Lol!  While being fitted, we turn around & see Zac like this....

Never a dull moment.  LOL I've been told he looks like a pirate.  I love the wig, but its hard to get used to having SO MUCH hair.  My hair has always been so thin.  

March 22, 2013 - I had several appoints at MDA today, but my last appointment was my first chemotherapy treatment.  It was suppose to start at 3:00, but that didn't happen because of miscommunication.  We FINALLY got into the room at about 5:00 only to have the nurse tell us that they see Xrays of my port, but have no record of it.  Really??? It's sticking out of my chest.  They sent me down the hall to have my port accessed and we waited for about another hour.  My treatment lasts about 3 hours and since we left at 9:00 am I was exhausted, grumpy, and anxious; not a good combo.  Needless to say, I went Cajun on some folks (and later apologized).  After the port was accessed, we went back to our room to begin chemotherapy.  

My first drip was a combo of anxiety meds, steroids, and anti-nausea meds.  I was a happy girl!  Then we started with the FAC treatment.  Here is a pic of all my IV drips...

We didn't get home until around 9:30 pm.  Don't really remember much, because I think I slept.  

The past week has been ok.  I've been a little tired and have had some tummy issues.   I haven't puked or anything so that is good.  My first 10 days following treatment my white blood cell count goes down and I've very prone to infection, so it is suggested that I stay away from sick people and out of the general public.  I have tried to stay indoors, but I'm going crazy and I'm pretty sure I'm driving Zac crazy.  I would love to spring clean the house, since I have so much time, but I get tired pretty easily.  Going to go home to "The Groves" this weekend to celebrate my Godchild, Hannah's, birthday with a crawfish boil.  Probably won't eat much because I don't have much of an appetite, but I just want to be with my family.  Hope everyone has a happy Easter!!!!  We love you all and thank you for your support!

Spring is in the air & all I hear is buzz buzz buzz

March 20, 2013 - First day of Spring!! We celebrated by shaving our heads!  I was really nervous about doing this, but because I'm a control freak (yep, who would have thunk it ;)) I decided to shave my head instead of just letting my hair fall out. I prepared myself mentally for an extended period of time so I wouldn't freak out or cry. It helped that Zac shaved his head with me. So we went to his mom's & his dad came over to enjoy the show. Lol. I did save my hair (if you were wondering). I have to say, I love the bald feeling!!! I did attempt to do a mohawk, but when you have curly hair, that doesn't seem to workout.  Here are a few pics.

Cutting off the ponytail

Ponytail cut off

In process

Kissee Face

Your turn hunny!

Finished Product!

Zac's Mom & me

Besides being cancer free, this is the best news EVER!!!

March 7, 2013 - Zac and I were suppose to get some good news yesterday, but no news is good news right?  Well we got our awesome news today.  As he is walking out the door to go to San Antonio/Lake Travis for the weekend, my phone rings.  I recognize the number and look up at him shaking.  All he can say is, "just answer it".  The news...We successfully have ONE embryo that is frozen for us to use in 5+ years after ALL of my treatments are complete.  Yep we are (as Zac's brother Josh says) deferred parents. :) I have never felt so much emotion and even writing this, the tears are flowing.  Cancer may have taken my boobs but you will not take away the child we have always wanted.  Granted, it is not how we all want to start having children, but WE will be parents.  As soon as I repeated what the nurse said Zac started crying and I'm trying to keep composure until I got off the phone.  We cried together for a while and then he left to celebrate with friends for not only a bachelor party but our future child.  I then called our parents and texted close friends and family.

The best part about all of this (because you know I have to look at the positive) is we have 5+ years to pick out names, and save up to give our child to have the best of the best.  Well, there is a possibility of us to have a couple babies because the fertility drugs we used has a side effect of multiple births.  Damn, I guess I may need to open another account just for our baby(ies).  LOL!

DISCLOSURE: We wanted to share this with everyone reading the blog and have supported us.  We know that this is and can be a touchy subject, so please no one debate on here their opinion on if they feel that this is right or wrong.  This is not the time or the place and those comments will be deleted.  We would really appreciate it.

Thank you all for your prayers and support!

Let's catch up...

So since my surgery I've had a couple of appointments. 

February 21, 2013 - me, Zac, & mom went for my follow up visit with my shrink to make sure all of my meds were working out. Before the appointment we went to the cafeteria so I could eat a little something. I got a call from Dr. Caudle's PA, Angela, to let me know that my pathology came back. She said nothing was different from what they discovered during surgery. Recap - they took out 3 ancillary nodes under my arm and cancer was laying on top of 1 of them. It had not penetrated into the actual node and it was measured at 1 mm. They tested 20 other lymph nodes and those were all clear. What that means is I should not have to have radiation!!! Yay!!! Needless to say, I went to the shrink crying of joy....that will be the only time she sees me cry. Lol

My final cancer is Stage IIB, T2 (size of tumor >2cm), N1 (cancer was found in 1 node), Mi (the cancer found on the node was 1mm in size)

February 22, 2013 - yep we are back at MDA for a follow up visit with my reconstructive surgeon, Dr. Crosby & her PA, Rachel. They took out two of the five drains. Everything looked great except I must have been allergic to the tape they used because I had blisters. No wonder why in the hell I've been itching so bad. They wanted to pump up the tissue expanders, but I declined because I was still super sore. We also met with my Medical Oncologist, Dr. Melhem; she will be the one in charge of my chemo. This is what my chemo schedule looks like:

Stage 1 - I will be taking Fluorouracil, Doxorubicin (Adriamycin), & Cytoxan (aka FAC) every three weeks for four cycles and this starts March 22, 2013. This will have to be done at MDA, but the remaining treatments can be done in The Woodlands.

Stage 2 - I will be taking Taxol & Herceptin weekly for 12 weeks

Stage 1 & 2 (a total of 6 months) will be the reason I will lose my hair...

Stage 3 - I will be taking Herceptin, alone, every 3 weeks for one year and the drug Tamoxifin for 5 years.

I will be a busy girl!  I should be going back to work during Stage 1 around treatment #3 or #4.  It's going to be really hard because I get tire real easily now without chemo involved, but I will just need to take it one day at a time.

February 27, 2013 - very bittersweet moment.  I am back at MDA to meet with Dr. Caudle (my Surgical Oncologist) for my final follow up visit.  Everything went well and she said I was healing well.  I gave her a little present for thanking her for spending Valentines Day with me and taking good care of me. 

March 1, 2013 - Now off to see Dr. Crosby & PA Rachel.  I got the remaining 3 drains out and was pumped up an additional 30 cc's (15 cc's in each breast).  It really hurt because it's done with a needle which caused my chest to start having muscle spasms.  I have video, but won't share because you can see my boobs and I don't want anyone to get jealous LOL, but I will look to see if I can find something on youTube to show how it is done.  I was in pain all weekend because the tissue expanders were so uncomfortable.

Anti-HER2 Therapy for Breast Cancer: Johns Hopkins Breast Center

Anti-HER2 Therapy for Breast Cancer: Johns Hopkins Breast Center

I was HER2 positive and this is one of the treatments I will be using. I will still lose my hair because of the chemotherapy I will be on before this step. This will be step #2 for me.

Breast Reconstructive Surgery (Tissue Expanders): Johns Hopkins Breast Center

Breast Reconstructive Surgery (Tissue Expanders): Johns Hopkins Breast Center

This is a little information about the tissue expanders I found online.  I think they feel weird.  Like a foreign object in my body.  I am hoping eventually over time I won't notice them as much.

Study: More Young Women Being Diagnosed with Advanced Breast Cancer

Study: More Young Women Being Diagnosed with Advanced Breast Cancer