Still having issues…

 

I started a new medication on the 9th and by the 16th the speech difficulties came back. So, the oncologist told me to stop the new medication and see her next week. My appointment is on Wednesday.

I spoke with neurology today and the neurologist said if I get any new symptoms to head straight to the ER. She’s confident it’s medication related, not anything more. While talking with her, I had the same speech difficulties that I had on the video visit on Tuesday that prompted the call to the oncologist and neurology. The neurologist also said to have a low threshold for heading to the ER if I get any new symptoms.

I’ve noticed that the speech difficulties come back if I’m at all anxious about the conversation I’m having.

It’s all very weird but just another part of this cancer journey.

Time for an update

 

There seems to be less and less to update about these days. However, on June 28 I experienced an episode of severe speech difficulty. I was talking to our office manager at work and my tongue and lips just didn’t want to cooperate with my brain. I wrote it off as sleep deprivation because I had only gotten 4 hours sleep. It continued through the first half of Saturday then tapered off.

I sent a message to my oncologist’s office to see if it could be a side effect of the Anastrozole (hormone suppression medication). I heard back Monday and they got me in Tuesday afternoon. My oncologist directed me to stop taking it for a week and update her at that time.

So I stopped the medicine that Tuesday night and Wednesday experienced it again so I went to the ER as directed. They did a head CT, but we’re unable to do an MRI because my tissue expanders have metallic components. After talking to my oncologist and a neurologist the ER doctor agreed with stopping the Anastrozole for a week but also started my on low dose aspirin in case I had had a mini stroke, or TIA.

Yesterday I got a new hormone suppression pill, Exemestane. I’ll take it at night and am praying I don’t get any bad or weird side effects. This past week+ has been stressful for sure.

Another update I forgot to mention that my oncologist wrote me a prescription for Ativan for sleep. It’s only short term because it can be habit forming. I’ve been on it for a week now and I’m definitely getting more sleep. I still feel sleepy from time to time but not exhausted like I was.

My community care appointment for the insomnia is with a pulmonologist and they couldn’t get me in until July 31!! Not sure how much longer after that I’ll have to wait for a sleep study. We shall see…..

I forgot…need sleep

 

It seems I forgot to mention that my oncologist wrote me a prescription for Ativan for sleep. It’s only short term because it can be habit forming. I’ve been on it for a week now and I’m definitely getting more sleep. I still feel sleepy from time to time but not exhausted like I was.

My community care appointment for the insomnia is with a pulmonologist and they couldn’t get me in until July 31!! Not sure how much longer after that I’ll have to wait for a sleep study. We shall see…..

All punked up…

 

Another good report…

 

I saw the oncologist yesterday and we will be moving to seeing her every 6 weeks instead of every 3 weeks. I will still be getting the injections every 3 weeks, until September 11 (right before surgery on the 16th, lol). All the labwork was good and my magnesium is back to normal again.

 

My oncologist pushed the VA for a sleep study sooner than “routine” so I have to call the community care office at the VA about getting scheduled here in town. Even at that, the hospital they’re referring me to is still booked out 3-4 weeks. I will be glad to have this insomnia evaluated.

 

Other than that, all is well. I got my first “haircut” since losing my hair today. It’s been exactly 8 months. All I got was a little trim around the ears and neck.

 

Thank you so much for your support, it means so much!! ❤️ ❤️ ❤️

Yes, it’s growing!

 

Whiter than before but I’m still wishing for curls!

Bone scan results…

 

I finally got my bone scan results. I had to get my medical record number from the company that did the scan and sign in to their patient portal. The scan just showed arthritis in various spots, no metastasis. Yay!! Now we just gotta figure out why my lower back hurts so much, lol.

A few more results…

 

I saw my oncologist Tuesday and the head CT came back normal. We’re still waiting for the bone scan results. I’m still slightly anemic but she said we’ll keep an eye on it. However, my magnesium is still low so I’m going to take Slow Mag again, for 2 weeks. I had my phesgo injection Wednesday.

Image Reborn Retreat

 

I was blessed to be able to go to an Image Reborn breast cancer survivor retreat this weekend.

https://imagerebornfoundation.org

It was at a beautiful home, donated by a wonderful woman who has a heart for breast cancer survivors. We had opportunities to experience yoga, reiki, massage and gentle exercise. There was a hot tub for us to use. We had group meetings where we introduced ourselves and spent some time relecting and processing. Rodizio Grill donated an awesome meal Saturday night.

We were showered with gifts from supporters and sponsors. We did an art project last night where we passed around a canvas and added to what the previous person had done. The first round we got 2 minutes to paint and the second round we had a minute each. The finished product is my last photo here.

It was so good to meet these women and the volunteers (who are all breast cancer survivors) and talk with people who really get what you’re going through.

Short update on medication

 

So far, after a week of the Anastrozole, the only side effect I have is fatigue. I’m taking more naps and that helps a little bit. We’ll see how it goes after I’ve been on it for longer. I have my head CT scheduled for Wednesday and my bone scan on Thursday. I will update on those later.

I've got hair!

 

Time to reveal the hair. I stopped wearing beanies a week ago (except for cold days like the last couple of days). My last chemo was 12/29, so about 3.5 months to get to here.

The battle continues…

 

I saw the oncologist Monday morning and we addressed several things:

~ I will be starting Anastrozole (hormone therapy pill) as soon as Walmart gets it back in stock

~ Sleep issues – ask PCP to order a sleep study

~ Low back pain – bone scan scheduled for May 2

~ Headaches, increasing lately – head MRI ordered

However, apparently my tissue expanders have metal in them so I can’t have the MRI. We can do a CT instead. I still need to schedule this.

Had my hormone therapy injection Wednesday (It works by targeting and blocking the HER2 protein on the breast cancer cell) – all went well. My labs from Monday came back good. My hemoglobin is still low, but just barely. So, the anemia is resolving.

I’m going out and about without a beanie or hat now. It’s warmed up enough that I can do that. However, were heading into cold weather again today, so I may put one on, at least for when I’m outside. I will try to remember to take a picture without a beanie or hat and post it.

Please pray that I will not have many side effects from the Anastrozole. It has a lot of potential effects. Thank you.

Another checkup and some unexpected pain

 

I went to see a lymphedema specialist at Occupational Therapy yesterday. She said my scars have absolutely no adhesions. Yay! However, when I reached above my head to adjust the pillow, I got what felt like a cramp right under my left breast. She checked the area and said we’d keep an eye on it. I forgot it the rest of the day.

Then, in my shower last night, the pain came back with a vengeance. I couldn’t even dry myself off, I had to ask Kenn to dry me off. On a pain scale of 1-10, it was a 9 easily. I would say an 11 but that’s reserved for when I had a chest tube put in in the ER.

I mixed up some electrolyte drink and practically guzzled it. I also put some magnesium lotion on. I think my electrolytes must be off because I’ve been without pain since I drank the electrolyte mix. I’m going to call OT in the morning to see what I should do…

UPDATE: Update on my left side rib pain. I spoke with the nurse at the plastic surgeon’s office. She said it sounded like I had pulled out a stitch. The expander is stitched to the muscle in 6 places one of which is right where I had the pain. She said to just take it easy and if something starts to hurt, to stop it.

Saline done!

 

The view from my plastic surgeon’s office today. I have enough saline in the expanders and don’t need to be seen by him until my pre-op appointment Aug 21. I just have to see oncology every 3 weeks for my injection and labs.

A little update...

 If you are in my Facebook group you've already seen this...

On the 26th, I had the air in my expanders replaced with saline today. I feel like I have breasts again! Yay team, I’m no longer flat!!!

Oncologist Visit – 3/25/2024

 

I saw the oncologist this morning. They scheduled me for another injection 3 weeks after the one this Wednesday with labs and a doctor visit Monday of that week. Some of the labwork they drew this morning was hormone tests to see if I’m pre or post menopausal. It will decide which maintenance meds I take. Those results should be ready in a few days.

My anemia is getting better, slowly but improving. She looked at my drain sites and said they looked good. She also took the steri-strips off my incisions because they hadn’t fallen off like we thought they would and they were turning into glue.

I will be getting labwork drawn every 3 weeks until about August or September. So, I decided to leave my port in for now. I’ll get it removed before my reconstruction surgery because it will be in the surgical field (according to my breast surgeon).

She said I can go back to my old skin care routine. I’ve been using Cetaphil wash and lotion because I had eczema on my face. She said it was the chemo that dried out my skin so bad and I’m well past that. So, I’ll just finish what I have and then go back to the Oil of Olay.

And, finally, yes, I am
CANCER FREE!!!!

It's official!

 

We just had my post-op appointment with the breast surgeon. We went over my pathology report and she said I am officially NED (no evidence of disease). Woohoo!! I will follow up with her every 6 months for 2 years, then we’ll go to once per year.

I see the oncologist next Monday and the plastic surgeon next Tuesday. At the plastic surgeon’s appointment, we’ll exchange the air in my expanders for saline.

Not so hairless anymore, plus more news!

 

And....
   Got my drains out yesterday!! Now I have more choice of what to wear, yay! And there was no pain.

Reconstruction Surgery Scheduled

 

My breast reconstruction surgery is scheduled for September 16th. It will be done by my plastic surgeon and will take 12-14 hours. I will spend 3-5 days in the hospital. He will be doing a DIEP flap surgery. Here is the description from the Mayo Clinic page about the types of reconstruction.

DIEP flap

During a deep inferior epigastric perforator (DIEP) flap procedure, the surgeon removes a section of abdominal skin and fat, along with the associated blood vessels. Using complex microsurgical techniques, the blood vessels are attached to the ones in your chest and the skin and fat are used to create a breast. copyright Mayo Clinic

Recovery is much longer than my double mastectomy and I will be out of work for several weeks, maybe more than a month. My mom plans to come out and help for for a week or two, giving Kenn a break and letting him get back to work. And yes, there will be drains – again!

And again, thank you everyone for all your support and help.

Ups and Downs ~ Yes and No

 

My big YES was getting to take a shower yesterday AND sleep in my bed instead of the recliner downstairs. Heaven!

My big NO was getting the two drains out today. I just spoke with the nurse and, as I suspected, there’s still too much drainage (80 on one side, 70 on the other, in 24 hours) to remove the drains. It needs to be 30cc in 24 hours. Thinking Monday for sure.

Plastic Surgeon Visit – 3/6/2024

Just saw the plastic surgeon on Wednesday. The drains didn’t come out because they’re still draining too much fluid. The nurse is going to call me Friday morning to see if they are draining less and if I am in the right range, she will take them out at the office Friday. They gave me a compression bra to help get the fluid out. I see them again in 3 weeks to exchange the air in the expanders for saline.

They took off the bandages and put on steri-strips. I can now shower I just have to be careful not to get any water on the drain site. I can also sleep in the bed rather than the recliner, yay! She said that depending on the oncologist’s choice they can do the next surgery in 4-6 months.

Thank you so much for joining me on this journey!!! 

Dropping mom off at the airport

Oncologist Visit – 3/5/2024

Just got done at the oncologist’s. My surgical results were fantastic!! No remaining cancer and no cancer in the lymph nodes. So, I do not need to do radiation. That’s a huge weight off of me!! I will resume my targeted therapy of Herceptin & Perjeta starting today. That will continue till August or September. Then in three weeks we will get labs drawn to see if I am pre or post menopausal. Those results will determine what maintenance therapy I go on at that point. Tomorrow I see the plastic surgeon and hope to get my drains removed.

Out of the house!

Kenn and I went out and about running errands today. We were out for about 5-6 hours and I only had a few twinges of pain. I have plenty of energy and am adjusting to my post-op restrictions (no lifting >15 pounds, no stretching to reach things, etc). I’ve been adjusting to sleeping in the recliner. I see the oncologist on Tuesday and the plastic surgeon on Wednesday. I should have my pathology report by Wednesday. Thank you all for your support!!! It is greatly appreciated!!

Mitzi helping me work on the computer

Big day today!

 Just chilling in in the recliner. Today’s agenda includes a sponge bath, yay team!! LOL

It's done!

Sheri’s mom here….

Yesterday went very well. My grandson (Sheri’s son), Ryan, drove in from Kansas the night before. We all headed to the hospital at 5:15 am. Once there, we were surprised by Sheri & Kenn’s old pastor and he was gracious enough to take our photo. 

My hubby took one at home as well, all to show our support.

The nurse took Sheri and Kenn back to prep her while Ryan and I waited. The pastor ran out and got me a large coffee. I was so grateful. 

Soon we were allowed to go back to be with Sheri before they whisked her away.

Still smiling...

We listened to both the breast surgeon and plastic surgeon talk to Sheri and answer her (and our) questions. Before we knew it, they wanted to give her the nerve block and drugs in her IV and we returned to the waiting area for the next umpteen hours. This was just before 7:30.

It briefly snowed, then cleared, as we waited. Several trips to the cafeteria and a visit by Sheri & Kenn’s current pastor later, the breast surgeon arrived to tell us all went well. She removed two lymph nodes and with one she took a little extra because it looked a little different. We will get pathology reports on that one next week but she didn’t expect any surprises. Less than an hour later, at around 1:30, the plastic surgeon came out and let us know all was good and gave us some additional instructions.

Recovery took a bit longer than we expected, two more hours, then we all headed home. Ryan and I stopped at Papa Murphy’s for bake at home pizza (a welcome meal for us all). By 5:30 we were all home, fed, and Sheri settled into her power recliner.

Yup, still smiling!

We all went to bed early and had a decent night’s sleep. Today is a day of rest and adjustment. The pain is mild, thanks to the nerve block (which should last a couple more days) and pain meds. Kenn is taking care of the drains which have to be emptied and recorded a couple times a day. They should come out next Wednesday, if all goes well.

I will make a medication spreadsheet where they can easily check off when one is taken – there are a few and are taken at different times. Oh joy!

A few words from Sheri…

Thank you to everyone who has been thinking about or praying for me and my family.  We all really appreciate it! I’m having a hard time “believing ” that I had surgery.  I’ve got plenty of evidence what with the drains and all, but it still seems so unreal to me. I’m thinking it will seem more real when the bandages come off on a few days.

Almost time!

 

Well, the day is nearly here. Double mastectomy tomorrow. I have an appointment with my retinologist today, then a radiology procedure to prep for the surgery. I’m still apprehensive about the surgery but I feel much calmer than in the past. Frustrated that I can’t seem to sleep, oh well.

Short update

 

First, I had my echocardiogram done and the results were fine. Phew!

Then I got sick with a yucky cough. Hubby, Kenn, convinced me to go to urgent care. Turns out I have the flu, type A, which was good news because if I had something bacterial that would be worse. They did a chest xray which showed a tiny bit of fluid which could be from the cancer itself. So, luckily I have an appointment with oncology on Monday so I can update them and they can keep an eye on it. We’re on our way to the pharmacy now for some cough suppressant.

M&M

Nope, not M&M candy but Magnesium and Me!

Mini update: I see the oncologist today because I have twitching muscles around my eyes that is getting worse and I have really sore thigh muscles and it’s getting worse too. It feels like I ran 2 miles but I didn’t. She said that is from the low magnesium and to drink Pedialyte. I got some yesterday and the flavor I tried is super sweet. We’ll see how the other flavors taste….

Later update: I saw oncology. They are having me come back tomorrow morning to give me IV magnesium to try to get my levels up. She said the low magnesium is why my thighs are so sore. As for the eye twitching, she said it’s from fatigue and my mental health provider already ordered some antihistamines for me, this kind has made me sleepy in the past so were going to try it again and hope it works. Hoping and praying we can get the magnesium levels up and I can get some better sleep.

Surgery scheduled

 

I met with the breast surgeon yesterday and the plastic surgeon yesterday afternoon. The first surgery will be the double mastectomy on February 27th. The second surgery, the reconstruction, will not happen for several more months and will be dependent on if I have to have radiation or not. We will know about the radiation about a week after the first surgery, when the pathology report comes back. I am apprehensive about the surgery, but who wouldn’t be, right? I have complete confidence in both my surgeons, so that’s a bonus.

The MRI showed one spot that is completely resolved, gone. The other spot they can not evaluate because of the magnetic “seed” they placed for finding the mass when we were still thinking lumpectomy. There’s a new questionable spot, but since it’s all coming out, there isn’t a concern about it.

Jan 5th Update

 

From Jan 5th – belated post:

I just realized I’ve not written up an update since I had my last chemo a week ago. I’ve been fatigued, as usual and running a fever with diarrhea today. The fever is being controlled and I think I finally got a grip on the diarrhea too. Tomorrow we have a birthday party for our soon to be 10 year old granddaughter. Nothing else planned for the rest of the weekend. Thanks for your support!!