*Reaching the halfway point of chemotherapy is an amazing feeling! It feels great to be done with "red death"! Honestly, just thinking about the a/c treatments made me a bit nauseous. I had more nausea after the third treatment and I kept thinking it would be the same way after my 4th treatment. Yeah, I had some, but again, fortunately, the medicine works and works well! My doctors are the best!
*4th treatment went well! It was great hearing Cole say "Yay!" when my nurse was able to draw blood right away. But not so great about 30 seconds later when he said, "Uh oh!" Yeah, you guessed it. It had another clog. Fortunately, it only took a few minutes of arm movements, head turns, coughs, and lying back in a chair to get it to work again.
*After treatment, we went to one of my favorite places to eat, South Philly Hoagies. We then headed back to the cancer center to meet with the genetic counselor. She went over my test results and explained as much as is known about the CHEK2 gene mutation. Unfortunately, it's a more recent discovery and a lot is still being learned about it. But fortunately, the mutation in my gene is the most common when it comes to CHEK2. In a nutshell, I'm at a higher risk for future breast cancer and colon cancer. There are other cancers involved, but these are the greatest risk for me based upon family history. What does this mean for me? I need to be screened more frequently than insurance typically allows (mammogram, MRI, colonoscopy). Most importantly, it helped me choose the type of surgery I will have. I've chosen to have a bilateral (double) mastectomy. Why? My risk of future breast cancer goes down enormously! If I can greatly lower my risk of going though this again, I'm choosing to do so. We met with my surgeon, Dr. Barton, after the genetic counselor. While speaking with her and before I could ask for her recommendation for surgery, she said that she would choose the same surgery if she were in my shoes. Those words reassured me that I was making the right choice. There is so much more to be decided than just the type of surgery, but I don't have all of that information nor will I go into detail at this time, if ever. I have appointments set up with my plastic surgeon and radiation specialist as I have to have radiation after surgery. I'm very thankful that Dr. Barton felt comfortable enough to go through with scheduling my surgery. July 23 is going to be an exciting day! (3 days after my birthday!!!) She felt comfortable enough to go forward scheduling this due to my success thus far with treatment. This is one type of surgery I never thought I would have - certainly one I would never choose to have! But for serious medical reasons, I feel I am making the best choice!
The genetic counselor recommends that my parents and sister get tested to see who tests positive for the CHEK2 gene as well. This way they can be screened more often to help them prevent going through serious health concerns in the future.
Let me back up for a minute and tell you the best news! During my appointment with Dr. Barton, she did a sonogram of the mass under my arm. It is definitely shrinking! She also did a sonogram on the mass above my collar bone. She couldn't find it! I love those words! She couldn't find it! It doesn't mean that it's not there and much smaller, but she couldn't find it!!!
*I have to say how much I miss my taste buds! Chemo has a lot of side effects! I don't need to tell anyone that, especially those that have personally experienced it. Weight loss used to be one of the effects and still is for some people, but not for me! My appetite is in full swing most of the time. Feels like it's active 24/7 most times. So weight gain is something happening for me. Oh well! I'll deal with that when this is all over and manage the best I can for now. But finding things to eat that have a taste has been a challenge. Fortunately, I don't have the metallic taste that so many talk about. I just don't have any taste. But it doesn't stop me from eating! Ha! I believe our medical and grocery bills are in competition. We also never seem to have a short supply of leftovers. I make something to eat that sounds amazing. Take 2 bites, hate it and put it in the fridge hoping it tastes better the next day. Again, it's just another comical situation...at times!
*I feel like the finish line is in sight! Being realistic, it's a long way off, I know, but I'm getting closer! Getting so much closer to using that "s" word - survivor! I know I already am, but, Cole and I have reserved this word for the perfect time. As I look ahead at the next several months, I have a lot of appointments scheduled to prepare for what's to come. It's a bit overwhelming, but it's also very exciting! One day at a time!!!
*To anyone that's been through this and has reached out to me, I greatly appreciate any and all information you have given me. The connections are great and so very helpful! I know that everyone's situation is very different, no matter how similar the diagnosis, treatment, surgery, etc. Everyone reacts differently to everything. But no matter what, the communication is appreciated! Whether you're the one that is going through it or went through it or a family member or a friend of someone that went through it, you truly don't know what it's like until you experience it. The patient to patient connection is undeniable and such a welcoming thing for me.
*To anyone that is currently going through this, if there is anything I can help you with, please do not hesitate to contact me. It's not easy to go through this, but if I can help just one person...
*Again, I have to say a huge thank you to everyone that continues to support me, Cole, and my family! I am so grateful for the many wonderful people in our life! You are all amazing! It means the world to me, to us!
