Sunday, June 14, 2009

A long-overdue update


The past few weeks have been an energy roller-coaster, which is why I think about posting but haven't. But I'm doing pretty well . . .

I think I expected to snap back sooner, but having two surgeries wiped me out more than I expected. For the past few weeks I'll have a good couple of days, think "I'm going back back to work next week" and then have a really bad few days and say "Not quite yet." The last week has been ok, but I was having increasing pain in my breast, to the point where it woke me up. I called my surgeon Friday, and her assistant told me I might have fluid accumulating where the balloon was (the one used for the radiation). I went in, the assistant did an exam, and I wound up in the Breast Health Center (where they did my original biopsy and some of my pre-op stuff), where they used ultrasound to locate the area. Using two big honkin' syringes, they pulled about half a cup of fluid out of my poor breast. Gross, yes--but I immediately felt much better! The area is still sore from the needles, but nothing like before. I'll find out early next week (after the lab work) if I have to go back on antibiotics.

I saw my oncologist last week to talk about several things. First, to set up the chemotherapy. I have my first session Tuesday, and then every two weeks after. I'll spend two hours in a recliner hooked up to an IV--I expect it will be nap time. She said I won't lose my hair, and probably won't have nausea--but she gave me prescriptions for two different anti-nausea meds. I'm kinda nervous, so keep your fingers crossed for me.

When I posted last, I said Dr. O was also going to put me on a bone-strengthening medication that helps fight cancer recurrence. Actually, what she was doing was asking me to participate in a study--there's some good evidence that high doses of some of the meds for osteoporosis also fight the recurrence of cancer. The study is looking at two different meds, and two different doses of one. The researchers sent me the info, and I was reading through it, thinking "fine, fine, fine" until I got to the section on possible side-effects. The info said they were very rare, but one of them is osteonecrosis of the jaw. Osteonecrosis is dead bone, and there is no treatment. When I saw the doc last week I told her that I didn't think I could participate because I had osteonecrosis in both of my knees, and we hadn't figured out what caused it--but I wound up with two artificial knees. She asked me twice if I was sure it was osteonecrosis, as she had never heard of it in the knees, or in someone relatively young. I told her that my orthopedist hadn't heard of it in someone under 70 either, but yes, I'm sure what it was. So no bone strengthener study for me.

Dr. Orwoll also agreed that I should get the genetic testing. Since I had to wait for pre-authorization from my insurance, I said I'd get it drawn at Good Sam (Dr. O is out at Portland Adventist). Then I get a call from Good Sam--I can't get the test done until I compile a detailed family history and go through a 2-1/2 hour counseling session! When I saw Dr. O last week, she told me they could do the test at her office--and they can do the test first, and then if I'm positive do the counseling. I'll get that drawn on Tuesday when I go for my chemo.

When I last posted, I was trying to figure out what to mix the powders from my naturopath with. He suggested fruit juice, but most fruit juice is too sweet for me. Then I remembered some concentrated black cherry juice I had. I mixed a glug of that with sparkling water, and it worked! I also found some pure cherry juice (not a concentrate) at the Farmers Market, and a glug of that works too. I think the potion has been really helping, along with eating lots of whole grains and mushrooms. I'm no longer having lots of stomach acid and other digestive problems. I see the naturopath again about a week after my first chemo session, and he may modify my routine then.

At this point, I'm planning on going back to work next week--I'm just waiting for the letter from the doc to arrive (I have to have medical approval to return to work). I'll probably be less than full time for a few weeks--especially the week after this, when I fly back east for my Dad's 92nd (!!!) birthday. Although there are some things about work that I don't miss at all, I really miss the people I work with!

So what's next? I go back to work in the next few days, I have my first chemo on Tuesday, and I take the "antidote" for the chemo starting Wednesday, including a middle-of-the-night dose Wednesday night. I hope no more fluid accumulates in my breast, and I hope I have the sense to stop moving when my energy runs out!

And, as always, I'll keep you posted.

1 comment:

  1. Hi Jessica,

    I hope your treatments go well. Thank you for sharing this experience.

    I'm Hua, the director of Wellsphere's HealthBlogger Network, a network of over 2,000 of the best health writers on the web (including doctors, nurses, healthy living professionals, and expert patients). I think your blog would be a great addition to the Network, and I'd like to invite you to learn more about it and apply to join at http://www.wellsphere.com/health-blogger. Once approved by our Chief Medical Officer, your posts will be republished on Wellsphere where they will be available to over 5 million monthly visitors who come to the site looking for health information and support. There’s no cost and no extra work for you! The HealthBlogger page (http://www.wellsphere.com/health-blogger) provides details about participation, but if you have any questions please feel free to email me at hua@wellsphere.com.

    Best,
    Hua

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