Today marks 5 weeks since my last chemo treatment. Just last week I started to feel more and more like myself. The fatigue that I have been battling for months has subsided quite a bit. I am able to get out of bed either before my alarm or right when it goes off. My fingernails have not turned white any more than they already were and are starting to grow out. I have to keep them clipped really short until all the white grows out because I don't want to snag them. They still look terrible but that is the last of my worries. Now on to my hair.
My hair has some small stubble up until my last treatment but last week it has really taken off. I have fuzz all over my head but of course most of it is still white. Last week some brown started showing through and I have quite a few hairs that are 1/4" long. I will take it! I am just excited to have a little bit of hair. Of course I wish it would grow faster. I am still using the Nioxin kit and hopefully it will help it grow super fast once everything wakes up. This whole journey has been crazy but watching my hair start to come back has been so much fun. I am hoping that all of my hair will eventually come in brown like it was before. I have taken some pictures but it is really hard to see right now with most of it being white. I still look like I am completely bald but I assure you I am not. My favorite thing all along has been to rub my head, now it is even funner as I can feel all the hair. I am trying not to look to close so that when I do look I will be excited to see the new growth but Jeff and Kaci are so cute and every day they rub my head and get so excited and tell me all about it. I love that my family is just as excited for me as I am. I love them so much.
Today also marks the beginning of the 3rd week of radiation. Towards the end of the 2nd week I started getting a little red but it was not painful at all. Today the gal who helps get me into the machine looked at my skin like she does every Monday since I am on the trial for the Radiation Rescue cream and noticed that my skin was really dry around my scar and was a little bit flaky. She said to make sure I get a lot of cream in that area and really let it soak in. I also need to start putting the cream on three times a day to hopefully get rid of the dryness.
Before when I was on chemo I had to take a lot of pills now that I am onto radiation I have to make sure to put the cream on and sit with nothing on so that it can soak into my skin and then for my hair I put the Nioxin on 3 times a day. I would take this over taking pills any day so I need to stop complaining now. This will all be over here shortly.
Monday, April 27, 2015
Monday, April 13, 2015
3 weeks post chemo
Today I am 3 weeks post chemo. All the achy side effects are gone but I am so tired all the time. I have been trying to work full days and after work I go home and lay down for a little bit. It is the only way I can make it through homework, dinner etc. Of course now radiation has started today I will only be working about 6 hours per day. I am so worn out by 3:00PM each day and where I am still getting up at the same time to make it to Ogden Regional on time I don't know that I will be able to stay longer than 3:00PM. Time will tell.
Last week I got another lovely side effect from the chemo. My fingernails started turning white and lifting from my nail beds. I have to be super careful not to snag them at all or they will tear the part where the nails are attached. While this is not too painful I am sure it will be should they snag. Each morning when I wake up I see more whiteness than the night before. I have trimmed my nails as short as I can get them to try and avoid the snags. I may have to resort to putting Band-aids on all of my fingers if it gets worse. My fingers are still a little bit numb and they do hurt more where the nails are lifting off.
On a good note and I am afraid once again to actually type this out but I still have my eyebrows, eyelashes and the hair on my arms. I am hoping to hold on to them but I am still nervous that they might fall out. If I can make it to 6 weeks post chemo without them falling out then I will have some hope that they might be here to stay but for now I wait.
I started Nioxin which is a shampoo, conditioner and scalp treatment to try and regrow hair. One of my friends that is a cosmetologist got it for me. Along with that is a hair regrow serum that is fairly new for Nioxin but it is similar to female Rogaine. I started it last Wednesday, April 8th. While I won't know if this is working or not I figure it is worth a try. I had quite a bit of stubble during my last chemo treatment and the stubble is definitely longer but it is still white so you cannot see it unless you tilt the mirror just right. I am so hoping it gets its pigment back soon and the color will start to show through. I was told that hair starts to regrow around 6 weeks or so. I can't wait until I can ditch the wig. I will probably ditch it as soon as I have some color on top. People will have to get used to seeing me with super short hair for a while as it grows back. I am totally comfortable with my bald head at home both inside and outside so I don't think I will have a problem with my super short new do. I just need enough color to show through to hide my huge red spot on the back of my head and then I will ditch the wig out in public as well. Hopefully by the end of June I will have enough to cover my head and I can go natural especially with the heat of summer almost upon us.
Last week I got another lovely side effect from the chemo. My fingernails started turning white and lifting from my nail beds. I have to be super careful not to snag them at all or they will tear the part where the nails are attached. While this is not too painful I am sure it will be should they snag. Each morning when I wake up I see more whiteness than the night before. I have trimmed my nails as short as I can get them to try and avoid the snags. I may have to resort to putting Band-aids on all of my fingers if it gets worse. My fingers are still a little bit numb and they do hurt more where the nails are lifting off.
On a good note and I am afraid once again to actually type this out but I still have my eyebrows, eyelashes and the hair on my arms. I am hoping to hold on to them but I am still nervous that they might fall out. If I can make it to 6 weeks post chemo without them falling out then I will have some hope that they might be here to stay but for now I wait.
I started Nioxin which is a shampoo, conditioner and scalp treatment to try and regrow hair. One of my friends that is a cosmetologist got it for me. Along with that is a hair regrow serum that is fairly new for Nioxin but it is similar to female Rogaine. I started it last Wednesday, April 8th. While I won't know if this is working or not I figure it is worth a try. I had quite a bit of stubble during my last chemo treatment and the stubble is definitely longer but it is still white so you cannot see it unless you tilt the mirror just right. I am so hoping it gets its pigment back soon and the color will start to show through. I was told that hair starts to regrow around 6 weeks or so. I can't wait until I can ditch the wig. I will probably ditch it as soon as I have some color on top. People will have to get used to seeing me with super short hair for a while as it grows back. I am totally comfortable with my bald head at home both inside and outside so I don't think I will have a problem with my super short new do. I just need enough color to show through to hide my huge red spot on the back of my head and then I will ditch the wig out in public as well. Hopefully by the end of June I will have enough to cover my head and I can go natural especially with the heat of summer almost upon us.
Radiation has begun
This morning I had my first radiation treatment. I had to be there a little before 8:00AM so that I would be ready to go by 8:00AM. They strive to be on time. Of course it is a Monday morning and the machine was giving them some troubles so they were about 7 minutes late.
I was taken back to the room where the machine is at and had to lie down in the mold that was made during the simulation. They had to get me just right and then I went inside the machine for a CT scan to line up and then was pulled out of the machine while the laser beams on the ceiling did their job. Then was put back into the machine for the treatment and then out one more time for another line up and then back in for more radiation. I didn't ask but I am assuming one was for the chest wall and the other was for the lymphatic system. I don't understand all of this as well as I should but I am sure by the end I will be an expert because I like to ask a lot of questions and understand what is happening to me. The whole time I was in the room by myself and could not move or we would have to start over. Brooke showed me before hand where she would sit and watch me on the computer monitor and that if I needed anything I had to yell for them to be able to hear me because the machine is so loud. I was able to stay still the entire time and relax myself by going to my happy place (Teton National Park) and day dreaming. The radiation treatment is a a little over seven minutes but with the machine going in and out to line up I end up being in there closer to 12-14 minutes each time.
I was so nervous this morning to go and I am sure my dreams last night didn't help my nerves. It really wasn't too bad. The position I have to lay in not very comfortable and I am a little sore from having my arms above my head but I don't feel any burning at all. They said it takes about 2-3 weeks for the side effects to kick in (fatigue, burning, blistering etc.) I am hoping that with this clinical trial burn cream I am on that I won't have too much in the way of skin problems. The fatigue however cannot be avoided. I just hope it doesn't get me down too much. I want to be able to work every day after treatment. It helps me to feel normal and keeps my mind from wandering down "that path".
Overall I am hoping that this treatment is quite uneventful and that I won't have much to post about.
I was taken back to the room where the machine is at and had to lie down in the mold that was made during the simulation. They had to get me just right and then I went inside the machine for a CT scan to line up and then was pulled out of the machine while the laser beams on the ceiling did their job. Then was put back into the machine for the treatment and then out one more time for another line up and then back in for more radiation. I didn't ask but I am assuming one was for the chest wall and the other was for the lymphatic system. I don't understand all of this as well as I should but I am sure by the end I will be an expert because I like to ask a lot of questions and understand what is happening to me. The whole time I was in the room by myself and could not move or we would have to start over. Brooke showed me before hand where she would sit and watch me on the computer monitor and that if I needed anything I had to yell for them to be able to hear me because the machine is so loud. I was able to stay still the entire time and relax myself by going to my happy place (Teton National Park) and day dreaming. The radiation treatment is a a little over seven minutes but with the machine going in and out to line up I end up being in there closer to 12-14 minutes each time.
I was so nervous this morning to go and I am sure my dreams last night didn't help my nerves. It really wasn't too bad. The position I have to lay in not very comfortable and I am a little sore from having my arms above my head but I don't feel any burning at all. They said it takes about 2-3 weeks for the side effects to kick in (fatigue, burning, blistering etc.) I am hoping that with this clinical trial burn cream I am on that I won't have too much in the way of skin problems. The fatigue however cannot be avoided. I just hope it doesn't get me down too much. I want to be able to work every day after treatment. It helps me to feel normal and keeps my mind from wandering down "that path".
Overall I am hoping that this treatment is quite uneventful and that I won't have much to post about.
Tuesday, April 7, 2015
Radiation Simulation
Today Jeff and I met with Dr. Fisher at Gamma West Cancer Center at Ogden Regional Hospital to discuss radiation. The people at this office are so nice and friendly, it is as if I have known them forever. I have met with them two other times, right after my diagnosis and right after my mastectomy surgery. I can't believe I have made it this far and will finally be able to start the radiation part of my treatment plan. I am excited to be through the worst of it and to get done with this part and move forward.
After our visit with Dr. Fisher I then met with Alex and Brooke while Jeff had to wait in the waiting room. I had to undress from the waist up and put on a gown that had one snap on the front. I was then taken back to the CT scan room where I had to lay on this hard pillow type thing. After they got me positioned with my arms above my head and my head turned to my left side they did something that caused this pillow type thing to form to my upper body. Then I was put into the CT machine for the scan. After the scan I stayed in position while they put four tattoo marks on my upper body. All of this is to make the plan for me for the Tomotherapy machine which will be ready next Monday, April 13th.
I will have 5 weeks of radiation which will start on April 13th and be completed on May 15th. The whole process will take 20 minutes and that includes the undressing, radiation and re-dressing. The Tomotherapy radiation treatment will take a total of 12-14 minutes. I will have to travel to Ogden Regional hospital each morning for treatment at 8:00AM. After that I will head to work. It will be nice to make a round trip out of it as part of my day rather than come to work and then have to leave work for treatment and then come back to work. I am excited that I got an early morning appointment and that time will not change during my treatments unless of course I need to change it for some reason. I know it will be a long 5 weeks but I have prepared myself for it mentally that this will be part of my daily routine and that I will not stress about the commute to Ogden Regional every day.
I am also going to do a trial for a new cream to help soothe the burns from the radiation. I had to verbally agree to only use this cream and nothing else during my treatment, unless of course it is not working for me and I am in pain. With that Brooke will need to take a photo of my skin each week to see how it is working for me. I am all about helping other people and hoping this cream does what it is supposed to and I won't have too much pain. I was told to take Tylenol and Ibuprofen for any pain related to the burning and muscle aches from holding my hands above my head each day. I was also told that I will experience fatigue during this treatment but it probably won't hit me for a couple of weeks. I am still so tired coming off of chemo. It is so hard to wake up in the morning and get ready for work and by the time I get home from work I have to lay down for a few minutes to recharge.
The coolest part of this appointment was when Dr. Fisher told me that once I am done with my treatment I will get to put my name on a flag that will then be personally hiked by volunteers to the highest mountain peaks. Some of them have been hiked up to Mt. Everest. You need to check out Dr. Brandon Fishers website called radiatinghope.org. It is an awesome program that he has started. The flags are Tibetan prayer flags which have come to represent strengh, hope, good health and well-being.
Here is a statement from Dr. Fishers website radiatinghope.org:
Cancer patients often describe their cancer like climbing a mountain: it’s difficult, but when you succeed, there is a huge sense of accomplishment and meaning.
During the journey, cancer challenges us to discover the strength and courage in each of us. We learn to rely on the talents and support of others.
It forces us to re-order our priorities and teaches us that life is a blessing and that we shouldn’t let a single minute go un-lived.
Isn't that cool! I am so glad that I have found such good doctors to be a part of my team and I cannot wait until I sign my name to a flag that will be flown high on a mountain top somewhere as I sign that I am now a cancer survivor!!!!
One last thing, Dr. Fisher will be on Channel 2 news this Thursday, April 9th at 5:00PM regarding his cancer center and the Radiating Hope Organization.
After our visit with Dr. Fisher I then met with Alex and Brooke while Jeff had to wait in the waiting room. I had to undress from the waist up and put on a gown that had one snap on the front. I was then taken back to the CT scan room where I had to lay on this hard pillow type thing. After they got me positioned with my arms above my head and my head turned to my left side they did something that caused this pillow type thing to form to my upper body. Then I was put into the CT machine for the scan. After the scan I stayed in position while they put four tattoo marks on my upper body. All of this is to make the plan for me for the Tomotherapy machine which will be ready next Monday, April 13th.
I will have 5 weeks of radiation which will start on April 13th and be completed on May 15th. The whole process will take 20 minutes and that includes the undressing, radiation and re-dressing. The Tomotherapy radiation treatment will take a total of 12-14 minutes. I will have to travel to Ogden Regional hospital each morning for treatment at 8:00AM. After that I will head to work. It will be nice to make a round trip out of it as part of my day rather than come to work and then have to leave work for treatment and then come back to work. I am excited that I got an early morning appointment and that time will not change during my treatments unless of course I need to change it for some reason. I know it will be a long 5 weeks but I have prepared myself for it mentally that this will be part of my daily routine and that I will not stress about the commute to Ogden Regional every day.
I am also going to do a trial for a new cream to help soothe the burns from the radiation. I had to verbally agree to only use this cream and nothing else during my treatment, unless of course it is not working for me and I am in pain. With that Brooke will need to take a photo of my skin each week to see how it is working for me. I am all about helping other people and hoping this cream does what it is supposed to and I won't have too much pain. I was told to take Tylenol and Ibuprofen for any pain related to the burning and muscle aches from holding my hands above my head each day. I was also told that I will experience fatigue during this treatment but it probably won't hit me for a couple of weeks. I am still so tired coming off of chemo. It is so hard to wake up in the morning and get ready for work and by the time I get home from work I have to lay down for a few minutes to recharge.
The coolest part of this appointment was when Dr. Fisher told me that once I am done with my treatment I will get to put my name on a flag that will then be personally hiked by volunteers to the highest mountain peaks. Some of them have been hiked up to Mt. Everest. You need to check out Dr. Brandon Fishers website called radiatinghope.org. It is an awesome program that he has started. The flags are Tibetan prayer flags which have come to represent strengh, hope, good health and well-being.
Here is a statement from Dr. Fishers website radiatinghope.org:
Cancer patients often describe their cancer like climbing a mountain: it’s difficult, but when you succeed, there is a huge sense of accomplishment and meaning.
During the journey, cancer challenges us to discover the strength and courage in each of us. We learn to rely on the talents and support of others.
It forces us to re-order our priorities and teaches us that life is a blessing and that we shouldn’t let a single minute go un-lived.
Isn't that cool! I am so glad that I have found such good doctors to be a part of my team and I cannot wait until I sign my name to a flag that will be flown high on a mountain top somewhere as I sign that I am now a cancer survivor!!!!
One last thing, Dr. Fisher will be on Channel 2 news this Thursday, April 9th at 5:00PM regarding his cancer center and the Radiating Hope Organization.
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