Results...

I just got off the phone with the Dr and he said my chest x-ray looked good and my white blood count is up from the Neulasta shot (I guess that's good). My Ecko he said had dropped quite a bit in such a short time. My first Ecko was the week that I started the new chemo had an efraction injection (I think that is what he called it) of 76% and only 12 days after the new chemo it is now 57% which he said is a considerable drop for such a short time. He said that he is going to get another cardiologist to read it again just to make sure the numbers are right. If that is what the numbers are he is going to go over the MRI again and see what he thinks about dropping the Herceptin for the next 3 and final chemos. He said that he will let me know what plan he comes up with by next Friday the 27th, that is when I see him and have my next chemo. Well that's all for now-

Heading to Duke tomorrow

This round has not been good at all, but that is what they told me from the start. I did get to work a couple of days last week but when Friday rolled around I felt terrible with horrible back aches and shortness of breath. I took a shower on Saturday and started one load of clothes and it felt like I ran up 5 flights of stairs. (and i don't run anywhere unless being chased by mean dogs) So that was frustrating and all weekend I would wake up with my heart beating out of my chest and not feeling like I could catch my breath. I also have a horrible cold, yucky stuff and coughing all the time. They called in some antibiotics for me to start taking and I have 3 appointments at Duke tomorrow-Ecko, chest x-ray and something else-can't remember. We called my Dr. on Sunday and Corky talked to him. I felt so horrible Sunday that I cried all day so when I paged Dr. Marcom and he got on the phone I just broke down like a 3 year old and handed the phone to Corky. Dr. M said that the ecko will show if the herceptin and other chemos are affecting my heart and he will have to back off a little next time. So we will see. Everything about this is so darn hard but I know I have to hold my head up high and move forward there is no other option. I know there are alot of people alot worse off than me so I really shouldn't be whinning. Well I just wanted to let everyone know what was going on for tomorrow Tuesday the 17th. Thanks to everyone who has been so supportive to me in my family in so many ways. We are truly blessed to have such wonderful family and friends. Love Audra

SICK SICK SICK

Today is my first day that I am able to get on this computer and write. I had my doctor visit and new rounds of chemo last friday the 6th. We saw the doctor and she said the Ecko came back fine so therefore we will still continue with the herceptin. Which I was hoping that I wouldn't have to take too. But being how my Mri showed the mass still there-I'm quoting from the Mri report-Although the measurements are similiar, this known cancer is now much less bulky and much less apparent. Two of the right axillary lymph nodes have increased in size. The largerst measured 26mm x16mm on series 504 B, image 30. It is believed to most likely be related to the patients known skin rash rom the Taxol.
So they think what is showing up now is scar tissue where the cancer was. Plus the two swollen lymph nodes that wasn't present last time. But they can't be for sure and don't want to put me through another biopsy so they are going ahead with the full md anderson and herceptin regimen. My doctor did tell me that the effects are more profound and risk of heart problems. But he recommends this is still the best way to go.
They started my iv and gave my my fluids and I received Zofran and decadron. Then my next chemo's are called push chemo's or push meds not sure. One of the chemos was in these huge needle viles and it was red there were four of them and another one was clear. My nurse had to sit beside me and push these meds in at a pretty slow rate then I had my bag of cytoxan then my bag of herceptin. I think we were there about 5 hours total. Halfway home I started getting sick on my stomache and havent' felt right since. I have alternated Zofran, Ativan, and Compazine. I am on ativan right now and am feeling a little loopy.
Monday we went back for the 5Fu one push medicine and the shot Neulasta. They saw me when I got there with a bucket in hand about to throw up and took me on back. My sweet nurse Kim got me a chair in the corner near her and started me with some fluids for about an hour before we even started my medicine. That made me feel so much better I think I was a little dehydrated. I also got a dose of Zofran in my iv that made me feel better too.
The good news is my doctor called on the way home and said that it was a misunderstanding about every week, it will be every 3 weeks on Friday and Monday. So yay that part is good-but I think what they give my is definately stronger I guess that is why it is every 3 weeks. Dr. Marcom also said on the phone to be more careful that this isn't like last time, I will feel more tired and shortness of breath and if I feel an extreme shortness of breath call or go to the hospital because it could be the herceptin and eppiribucin affecting my heart.
I know I am halfway through with chemo but with me feeling this bad after round one I have been a little more than sad, sick, sad, depressed oh I don't know. It just seem like such a long road ahead. When you feel sick it changes things-I'm trying to do mind over matter. Today is the first day that I had to ask someone in my neighborhood to pick up my kids for me. She was so kind and said anytime. But that sure does make it seem like things are slipping from what they use to be. Well thats all for now-Love Audra

Feb 4th

Yesterday I went to Duke for a test on my heart and another MRI. I have a funny feeling about the heart test for some reason-you kind of get to know a certain look the doctors and nurses and techs give you. After being told you have cancer yes, your lymph node we biopsied is cancer yes you kind of can tell-maybe I'm wrong. The MRI went pretty well. The Cat scan is the one I don't like.
For the past week we have been trying to figure this Neulasta shot out-I thought I was going to be able to get it at 200.00 dollars copay. Well we have had our triage nurse tell us that insurance companies will come back and say they are not going to pay any because I am self administering it to myself. So then we were going to get a prescription for my doctor here to give it to me at the hospital. But being how my doctor here isn't ordering the chemo I don't get the umbrella effect where it covers it. So now we think I will have to have it at Duke on Saturday. So that means Friday chemo stay over for the shot on Saturday come home and go back on Monday for chemo again.
I am thankful that I have insurance. But they should really figure out something for cancer patients that they don't have the stress of figuring all this insurance mess out. That is stressful by itself.
I will let everyone know about Friday-hopefully that MRI shows the cancer is gone.