Yesterday I had my 12 and final chemo of Taxol and Herceptin YAY!!!! I can't believe I have had chemo for 3 months already-it just flew by. Maybe my next 3 months of chemo will go by just as quick.
We saw the doctor yesterday and he gave me my exam and guess what????????? He said it felt like a normal breast exam. How about that-we are hoping it is already gone. What a miracle. So next week on Wednesday at 4 I have to have a Ecko and Muga scan on my heart and at 6 I have to have another MRI. He said if the Mri shows no sign of the cancer that he will cut out the herceptin until after this chemo because the other chemos I will be on, there is one that when given with herceptin it can cause serious heart damage. That is why I am getting another Ecko and Muga scan to check and see how my heart is doing after 3 months on herceptin. He said though if there is a slight bit of cancer showing up in the tumor spot or in my lymph nodes still then he will go ahead with all chemos and herceptin-because the risk is greater in the cancer part. I hope that just made sense. So I am going to hope and pray that it is gone on the mri because I don't want to deal with heart issuess too-but whatever I have to do.
So after the Mri and scans on my heart I will see Dr. Marcom on Friday again before my treatment then I will go back up on Monday for treatment again. Initially we thought it was going to be a Tuesday and Friday and now it is Mon and Fri. Oh also I will have to give myself a shot or drive back up to duke on saturday-I think I can give myself the shot. I was giving myself the byetta shots for diabetes last year-hopefully this shot won't be much larger that that one. My nurse told me to call and see if my insurance covers it being how I won't be in a clinic or hospital. She said sometimes it won't cover it-you giving it to yourself. So I called my pharmacy and doctor and the shot is THIRTY TWO HUNDRED DOLLARS!!!! My part is 200.00 thank goodness for insurance. The shot is called Neulasta. My doctor said the chemo is going to knock my white blood counts way down and Neulasta makes new ones. They said even if I am around someone with a little cold or eat a fruit with some kind of bacteria where someone else might not get sick I could get sick and die. I really didn't need to hear that. Anyway I just know I need to be real careful these next 3 months.
I am doing really good today-feeling good about everything. Now maybe when I have that Mri and the chemo on Friday that will be a differnet story. But for today I am so happy about everything and blessed beyond words.
God bless to everyone-Love Audra
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Saturday, January 24, 2009
11th one down
I had my 10th treatment last week and nothing new to report on that-and I had my 11th one yesterday and everything went well. Our appointment for our 10th chemo was at 11:00 and they didn't take us back until after 3pm so that was a long day. My appointment yesterday was at 12:45 and we went back around 2:00. But I know there are people every day getting diagnosed and are having to be worked in so I don't mind about the wait because they worked me in on my first one. So many young people getting chemo too-there was a girl around 18 years old getting chemo last week and and another young pregnant girl. We so have to find a cure for this horrible disease. Every time I talk with someone new they know at least five people with breast cancer.
I guess that is all for now-my next treatment next week will be my last on this round-hopefully the next round will go this good.
God bless to everyone and again thanks to all my wonderful friends and family and faithful supportors-Love Audra
I guess that is all for now-my next treatment next week will be my last on this round-hopefully the next round will go this good.
God bless to everyone and again thanks to all my wonderful friends and family and faithful supportors-Love Audra
Saturday, January 10, 2009
9th chemo
Friday I had my 9th chemo. My doctor said the week before that I didn't need to have blood work done the next few weeks as long as I still was feeling fine. So we left home at 6am and arrived at Duke at 9:15 for our 9:30 appt. They called us back at 11 and asked us if we had blood work done and we told them that the dr. said it was ok not to have it. Well apparantly not, you cannot get Taxol without bloodwork so they had to send us down for labs and that took about an hour then we had to wait back in the waiting area again. Finally we got started about 1:30 so we got home about 8:00 instead of 3:30. Oh well all is good and I am still feeling fine.
I am getting anxious about my next 12 weeks of chemo. I have done so well these past 9 weeks on Taxol and I am hoping the next 12 weeks of treatment go as well. I have said in the past blog it is called the FEC MD Anderson. The actual drug names are F for Fluorouracil (Adrucil) E for Epirubicin (Ellence) and C for Cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan). And I will still be on Herceptin. That will be twice a week for twelve weeks. I was going to ask if anyone has taken any of these chemos but I know people that has been on taxol and it was horrible for them and I have been on taxol and worked 10 hour days and have felt fine. I shouldn't work myself up in a tizzy and try to find everything out about the drugs because I know they have a different effect on each person. I am just rambling-sorry! I know I just need to take each day, day by day. But each day I get closer to the next twelve. I am getting so anxious and scared.
Thank you to everyone for your continued support and prayers. I go back and read all the comments people write to me each day and it makes me feel better. Thank you so much. Love Audra
My kids are doing really well, Harlie is in 9th grade at Croatan High School and is doing really good in school. She is a typical teenager-moody most days and really full of energy and conversation when she wants something. I can remember being that age, so I try not to get on her too much although I do think she is spoiled rotten but I love her dearly. Cole is in third grade and the sweetest little man you will ever meet. I signed him up for soccer today. I wasn't going to do any kind of sports for the kids because of the money and time with me going through all of my stuff. But I thought it would be a nice outlet for him. At least he can get out there a couple of days a week instead of seeing me sick and in bed alot. It will start when I am going in my next 12 weeks of chemo. I have some friends that has offered to help with bringing him home from practice. Now I have to find something for Harlie to do, she is 15 now and can work. Only problem is I want her to work at the IGA across the street from our subdivision but she wants to work 15 to 20 minutes away in Atlantic beach at AB Surf shop where she can spend her money before she gets a check. Oh well. What to do.
My wonderful husband is glad the christmas rush for UPS is over. Now he can get home at a decent hour. He has been so good to me taking me to Duke every time except for once when my friends Jaime and Annie took me. My mom has been the best to me too. She comes to see me everyday and helps with the kids so much. I don't know what I would do without her. My father in law has also helped out with the kids also. I have been truly blessed to have such a wonderful family.
Well thats all for the Smith-Odum family.
God bless to everyone-Love Audra
I am getting anxious about my next 12 weeks of chemo. I have done so well these past 9 weeks on Taxol and I am hoping the next 12 weeks of treatment go as well. I have said in the past blog it is called the FEC MD Anderson. The actual drug names are F for Fluorouracil (Adrucil) E for Epirubicin (Ellence) and C for Cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan). And I will still be on Herceptin. That will be twice a week for twelve weeks. I was going to ask if anyone has taken any of these chemos but I know people that has been on taxol and it was horrible for them and I have been on taxol and worked 10 hour days and have felt fine. I shouldn't work myself up in a tizzy and try to find everything out about the drugs because I know they have a different effect on each person. I am just rambling-sorry! I know I just need to take each day, day by day. But each day I get closer to the next twelve. I am getting so anxious and scared.
Thank you to everyone for your continued support and prayers. I go back and read all the comments people write to me each day and it makes me feel better. Thank you so much. Love Audra
My kids are doing really well, Harlie is in 9th grade at Croatan High School and is doing really good in school. She is a typical teenager-moody most days and really full of energy and conversation when she wants something. I can remember being that age, so I try not to get on her too much although I do think she is spoiled rotten but I love her dearly. Cole is in third grade and the sweetest little man you will ever meet. I signed him up for soccer today. I wasn't going to do any kind of sports for the kids because of the money and time with me going through all of my stuff. But I thought it would be a nice outlet for him. At least he can get out there a couple of days a week instead of seeing me sick and in bed alot. It will start when I am going in my next 12 weeks of chemo. I have some friends that has offered to help with bringing him home from practice. Now I have to find something for Harlie to do, she is 15 now and can work. Only problem is I want her to work at the IGA across the street from our subdivision but she wants to work 15 to 20 minutes away in Atlantic beach at AB Surf shop where she can spend her money before she gets a check. Oh well. What to do.
My wonderful husband is glad the christmas rush for UPS is over. Now he can get home at a decent hour. He has been so good to me taking me to Duke every time except for once when my friends Jaime and Annie took me. My mom has been the best to me too. She comes to see me everyday and helps with the kids so much. I don't know what I would do without her. My father in law has also helped out with the kids also. I have been truly blessed to have such a wonderful family.
Well thats all for the Smith-Odum family.
God bless to everyone-Love Audra
Monday, January 5, 2009
Annie's request
You said this is your song to me-so here it is at your request.
What good times-wishing and praying for more-Love ya Annie
What good times-wishing and praying for more-Love ya Annie
Friday, January 2, 2009
8th one down-already :)
I had my eight chemo today. Everything went good. We also saw the doctor today. Actually before I begin this I want to apologize for my writing skills (lack of) they are horrible and I know it and also I can't go in and change the misspellings for some reason. But oh well! Glad I got that out of the way.
My doctor measured the tumor again today and it has shrunk even more. It took her a little while to feel it and get a good measurement. It was originally 5cc last 4 weeks it was 4.5 now it measures 3.8. So Yay!!!!!!!!! Your prayers and support are working, thank you so much. Today we discussed what will be going on in the next year. I will get 4 more treatments of Taxol and Herceptin then go right in the next 12 weeks of my next treatment. It is called FEC MD Anderson effect or experience. I'm not sure.( I am sure my wonderful oncology nurse Kim is getting a kick out of this story-I am pretty loopy when we talk about it-hopefully I have some info right) It will be twice a week probably ending at the end of April. Then maybe waiting a week or up to three weeks to get my white blood count up then surgery. They said the next twelve weeks will probably make me nauseous and very tired. After surgery I will probably start Radiation for about 6 weeks for 5 days a week. There is a place called Caring House near Duke that they told me to contact about staying thru the week and coming home on weekends. Then I will go back to Duke every 3 weeks for Herceptin for a year. They said when it gets to that it will be a breeze from going twice a week to once every 3 weeks. It seems like it keeps getting longer and longer of a process. But whatever it takes to get rid of this cancer for good-that is what I will do.
Today when I was getting my chemo there was this old man getting chemo also-with two prison guards.!!!!!! I feel bad he had no family with him and then to think about him going back to a cell trying to fight cancer. I know it is crazy for me to think about, but I wonder what he did? Rob a bank, steal cars, or worse. I don't even want to think about it really-but then I wonder, what happened to him or what kind of family did he have growing up. So it brings me to really be so thankful for all my family-All of them and All of my friends because they have shaped me and made me the person I am today. I'm not trying to toot any horns but I feel I am a good person who has been so blessed to be shaped by such wonderful people in my life. It is funny how in the past I would pass judgement on that man thinking that whatever he did it must have been bad for him to go to prison-but now I think I bet he didn't have the mom or dad I had or grandparents or aunts and uncles or friends that have all been so good to me. Especially my husband and kids who are the best in the world to me and love me so much. So I think from this day forward I won't be so quick to pass judgement on people anymore. Wow that was deep or something! I just wanted to let everyone that has come in my life to know what an impact you have made on me-for the good. So thank you so much.
Tonight when I say my prayers -I usually pray for everyone that was up in the chemo lab, cancer patients, the nurses who are so good to us and the volunteers. I will also be praying for that old man in prison.
Goodnight everyone and God Bless
My doctor measured the tumor again today and it has shrunk even more. It took her a little while to feel it and get a good measurement. It was originally 5cc last 4 weeks it was 4.5 now it measures 3.8. So Yay!!!!!!!!! Your prayers and support are working, thank you so much. Today we discussed what will be going on in the next year. I will get 4 more treatments of Taxol and Herceptin then go right in the next 12 weeks of my next treatment. It is called FEC MD Anderson effect or experience. I'm not sure.( I am sure my wonderful oncology nurse Kim is getting a kick out of this story-I am pretty loopy when we talk about it-hopefully I have some info right) It will be twice a week probably ending at the end of April. Then maybe waiting a week or up to three weeks to get my white blood count up then surgery. They said the next twelve weeks will probably make me nauseous and very tired. After surgery I will probably start Radiation for about 6 weeks for 5 days a week. There is a place called Caring House near Duke that they told me to contact about staying thru the week and coming home on weekends. Then I will go back to Duke every 3 weeks for Herceptin for a year. They said when it gets to that it will be a breeze from going twice a week to once every 3 weeks. It seems like it keeps getting longer and longer of a process. But whatever it takes to get rid of this cancer for good-that is what I will do.
Today when I was getting my chemo there was this old man getting chemo also-with two prison guards.!!!!!! I feel bad he had no family with him and then to think about him going back to a cell trying to fight cancer. I know it is crazy for me to think about, but I wonder what he did? Rob a bank, steal cars, or worse. I don't even want to think about it really-but then I wonder, what happened to him or what kind of family did he have growing up. So it brings me to really be so thankful for all my family-All of them and All of my friends because they have shaped me and made me the person I am today. I'm not trying to toot any horns but I feel I am a good person who has been so blessed to be shaped by such wonderful people in my life. It is funny how in the past I would pass judgement on that man thinking that whatever he did it must have been bad for him to go to prison-but now I think I bet he didn't have the mom or dad I had or grandparents or aunts and uncles or friends that have all been so good to me. Especially my husband and kids who are the best in the world to me and love me so much. So I think from this day forward I won't be so quick to pass judgement on people anymore. Wow that was deep or something! I just wanted to let everyone that has come in my life to know what an impact you have made on me-for the good. So thank you so much.
Tonight when I say my prayers -I usually pray for everyone that was up in the chemo lab, cancer patients, the nurses who are so good to us and the volunteers. I will also be praying for that old man in prison.
Goodnight everyone and God Bless
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