Ups and Downs of Chemo

I had my last treatment of the dreaded AC (Adriamycin and Cyclophosphamide combo) on Thursday. On Friday I spent the day sleeping. I had good days on Saturday and Sunday. My friend Leslie came by on Saturday for a nice long visit. Steve had decided that he wanted to sit with me for my last treatment, so Leslie came to visit at the house rather than sit with me in the chemo room. It was certainly more pleasant at home and a lot more fun. I was able to do the evening walk with Steve and the dog on Friday through Sunday. That was a step in the right direction. Then around 8PM on Sunday, the drugs started doing their thing. I did not feel good. Luckily, I had medicine to take that alleviated the nasty feeling that I was having.

Today is a gorgeous fall New Orleans day. I don't feel like going outside, but I have all the window treatments open and lots of light coming in to make the house feel cheerful. I can lie in bed and see the wind rustling the crape myrtle tree. Phase I is almost over, and I can't wait.

Showered with Gifts

On Monday at school I was inundated with gifts that the teachers and students brought to me from the race on Sunday. I got a key chain from one of the students, a scarf was put in my mailbox anonymously, a teacher brought me a pink koozie from Touro Hospital, another teacher ordered a pink lunch bag for me and Peg Martinez (my friend Leslie's sister) sent me her medal that she received after running the Komen race. I also got a box of pink Savon soaps from Steve's sister; as well as a couple of pink ribbon pins from my sister. It is all about the pink during October's breast cancer month. It is very touching that so many are thinking about me now. Thanks to you all--it means a lot. 

Tomorrow is it my last chemo treatment. I don't get to ring the bell though because I will be returning to the chemo room in January for 10 treatments of Avastin. I will receive that drug every three weeks, so my treatment won't be complete until some time in June. Then I get to ring the bell. Thank goodness the side effects of Avastin don't include hair loss and nausea. 

Komen Race for the Cure on the Bayou

Today was the annual Komen Race for the Cure that raises money for breast cancer research. The Taylor Tiger team was over 30 people strong with students, faculty, and the faculty's kids. On Friday at school there was a pink ribbon day to help raise money for the team. I don't know the total, but it was one of the best ever for the school. I did not think that I could make the three mile walk this year, but Steve and I did go out to cheer the team on their way. I saw about half of the students and faculty, as they were spread throughout the mass of runners and walkers. It was a beautiful, cool morning, so it wasn't much of a hardship to hang out on the bayou and wait for the racers. We stood near the end of the bridge that you see in the picture above, then we crossed the bridge to catch the group as they made their way back.

I heard that there were 7500 registered in the race. Here is a shot of the mass making their way to the 2 mile marker. The bayou was filled with youngsters enjoying canoe rides; I don't think that they had any connection to the race.



Below are two of my students from Taylor. They were near the back of the pack. The student on the left was complaining that she couldn't walk the 3 miles. I will find out tomorrow if she made it back to the park.

One Week until LAST Treatment

I shouldn't have gotten so excited about my upcoming appointments. They have been moved to later dates. I found out that to fit the protocol for my clinical trial I must wait 3 to 4 weeks after the last chemotherapy before I can have an MRI. Then it takes several days after the test for the results. I can't see the surgeon until he sees the MRI. This test is key because it will determine the current size of the tumor and whether I am a candidate for a lumpectomy or a mastectomy. Surgery is definitely after November 18th and probably after Thanksgiving. That is what I had originally thought.

I have been at school every day for the last week, but I am not feeling that great. I keep pushing along knowing that this phase of my treatment will soon be behind me.

One week after

Again it has taken me a week to recuperate from my last treatment. I had a pretty good day today. I was even able to run a couple of errands in the neighborhood. I plan to go back to work tomorrow. Next week is Teen Read Week, and I have lots of neat activities to prepare for the library onslaught. Anyway, I hope that there is a library onslaught.

When I started the chemo, I met Judy. She was going to be my chemo nurse every time I went. That didn't exactly happen, but she was my nurse this last time. She has been a cheerleader for me every time that I do visit. I took my picture with her so that you could meet her too.

I cannot believe that there is only one treatment left of the eight. It has been an ordeal. I have made it through so far; there should be no problem with the last one. Though if the doctor said I could skip the last one, you know I would.

Please take a look at my upcoming appointments. I have now started scheduling for phase two of this process. I am on the books to see my surgeon on election day. We will make the appointment for the surgery then. I am so looking forward to moving on and finally getting to eat food that tastes good to me. I haven't talked much of how bad food tastes, but chemo wreaks havoc on the taste buds.

Oh, have I told you about the hot flashes? Something else I am anticipating--the change in seasons to temper my hot flashes. More on that another day.

Time for Another Round

Tomorrow I go back to Ochsner to experience the continued onslaught of drugs. No, I am not looking forward to it, but I know that it is a necessity. If it takes me awhile to post again, then you know that I am feeling down in the dumps.

Here is a picture of some of the Taylor students who walked on Sunday in the annual N.O. AIDS walk near our house. I could not walk the course. However, I went out to cheer them on. That is me on the far left looking out of place as I stand in the street.