Today I completed my first chemo treatment and really seemed to breeze right through it! Yay! It was a long session, about five hours, but it all went well. No adverse reactions from any of the meds. They gave the meds one at a time to make sure there would be no reactions to any of them. Accessing the port was easy breezy! No pain at all.
So far, I am feeling just fine! I have a very little tinge of a headache, but that's really nothing new! The premeds they gave me are working well at this point! Hopefully this all sets the trend of how I will be throughout... Haha! I know the worst is yet to come. I am not delusional (well, maybe just a bit!) but I'm sure happy right now.
The oncologist told me 7-10 days will be when it hits me the worse with fatigue, etc. So I know that's out there, but I feel really good about how I'm starting out with it all.
I occupied my time with games on my phone (thanks Rebecca, Julie and Teresa for playing WWFs with me today!), listening to affirmations and meditations (thanks, Lou!) and crocheting a couple necklaces, too! Also, thanks for the text messages I received as well! I feel so loved!
When I first entered the infusion room, I felt kinda emotional seeing all the others in the room already hooked up to their IVs. Just another moment of it hitting home and that there I was, too, amongst others going through the same thing and it seemed more real seeing it happening to them than it did for me. I could hardly make eye contact with Scott for fear of losing it completely. Luckily the feeling subsided fairly quickly and I just got on with my day.
Scott left after a little while and ran some errands and brought me lunch. What a trooper he is! God bless him!
And now we're at Becky and Jared's again, enjoying a nice evening.
Tomorrow I go back again in the afternoon for the Neulasta shot to boost the white blood cell count. They say I may have some bone (back or sternum) pain from that, but hopefully it won't be too bad.
Then my next treatment will be 3 weeks from today.
All in all,Life is good in this moment!
Love you all!

Everything went great today. Dr. Harris placed my port near my collarbone on the left side. Great treatment at Renown. Much better recovery room experience today than with surgery four weeks ago. I even had a nurse that just sat with me and chatted for a while.
So while I was out, I also had Dr. Harris remove a skin cancer lesion on my right forearm too. In November Scott and I went to the skin cancer doctor and both had cancerous lesions (squamous cell and basal cell). We were supposed to have more removed from where they biopsied, but then I ended up having to prioritize my cancers! Geez... Go figure! And here I thought I would always be exempt from any type of cancer- no family history to speak of. I am LIVING proof that it just doesn't matter! Just pay attention to your own little bodies and the hints that something might be up!
Anyway, tomorrow I have the echocardiogram to make sure I'm ticking ok before chemo. I will also have another follow up appt with Dr. Kiener (plastic surgeon) and then the Look Good Feel Better program. My niece, Becky, will be joining me for that! Should be fun!
I feel like I have so much to be thankful for today. From the wonderful care I received, to my sweet Becky and Jared for putting up with us, oops, I mean putting us up for a couple nights!
Thanks again to all of you who read this and keep me in your thoughts and prayers.

It was a fairly busy week for me, well, at least on Wednesday. Got a lot done that day, though. Lots to prepare for chemo. I met with Dr. Harris (my general surgeon), so he could make sure I was healing well from surgery so we could schedule the port surgery. He will place a port under the skin by my left collarbone area for the IV. This will stay in place the whole year that I will receive chemo. It feeds into the superior vena cava (major blood vessel). This way there is easy access and they don't have to try and find a vein every time.
So this procedure will be done on Tuesday, the 19th at Renown. It is an outpatient procedure, so I won't have to stay.
After my visit with Dr. Harris, I went to Bellisima Salon and bought my wig. They spent a lot of time with me there, and had like a million choices for me, but the second one I tried on was thee one! It was me. Other than the fact that I told you all, I don't think anyone will know I have a wig on! That was exactly the feeling I wanted to have! It turned out to be a good experience!
Finally, I had another follow up visit with Dr. Kiener (my plastic surgeon). He had to drain some fluid from my back on the right side. He said this happens frequently, about 60% of the time. Didn't hurt, but I'll probably have to have him do it again when I see him next week. Otherwise, he seems to think I am healing well. Still some soreness and tightness around my chest. They said to really give it about six weeks to feel good. I'm not even at four weeks yet, so I'll be patient!
Next week will be another busy one. Tuesday, the port placement, Wednesday an echocardiogram, a visit to Dr. Kiener and the Look Good Feel Better meeting.
Then on 2/26, I start my first round of chemo. That will be a long day. But I have some movies loaded on my tablet, meditations to listen to, and there's always Word with friends!!!
Speaking of friends, I'm late for my lunch date... More later...

Today was our first meeting with Dr. Reddy, medical oncologist. Great doctor. However, Scott and I both felt like this was our first real reality check. We've been sort of cruising along, thinking we were sailing right through everything, for the most part. Granted, the surgery was HUGE, and I've had pain and emotional ups and downs. Not discounting any of that. But today, I felt like it was really real. Hard to explain, but I felt pretty devastated to hear about my chemo regimen. I guess I had it in my head that my chemo would be easy, with only one drug, no hair loss, and little side effects. Well, that rug got pulled out from under me today. Because my cancer proved to be a very aggressive type, and all the criteria that went along with that, two other types of chemo drugs will be administered along with the Herceptin ( the one with fewer side effects). So, I will receive four rounds of the "T" & "C" chemo, each three weeks apart, and then the Herceptin will continue every three weeks for a year. The "T" drug is the one that will cause me to lose my hair, and mess with my fingernails, etc. in addition to the fatigue, nausea, and all the other typical side effects of chemotherapy.
I don't know why, but the hair loss part is what bothers me more than anything. I can't even explain it. They said it will happen pretty fast, too. Renown offers huge support for this, so I will definitely pursue that help. They have a program called "Look Good Feel Good" where cosmetologists come in and do makeovers and show you how to use scarves, hats and wigs. All volunteers and no cost for the 2 hour consult. So I will partake in that before the chemo starts.
The other component to today's realization is how bad I feel for my husband. He has been with me through every last bit of this. And if you know Scott at all, you know what a "fix it" kind of guy he is. I know how hard this is for him to have to stand by knowing this is the one thing he can't fix. It just kills him. What he doesn't seem to get, is how his presence alone can make me feel better. I really couldn't do this without him. I really believe it is more difficult being the caregiver than being the patient.
Well, that's where my head is right now.
Bottom line... I know without a doubt I will get through all of this, and be better for it. I also know what a powerful force (ie all of you!) I have standing by my side, lifting me up, praying for me, and simply showing your love and support for me. It truly means the world to me.
So thank you and God bless you all!

Yay! The drains are all gone! Saw Dr. Kiener again today and they removed the last two drain tubes. I'm free! The sides, kind of below my armpits still feel kinda lumpy to me and I shared some of my concerns with Dr. Kiener. He said I am healing normally and to turn my worries over to him! He said that's what he is there for! If you know me at all, you know it is simply in my nature to be the worrier! But I thought it was so kind of him to let me just release these healing worries over to him! Then his nurse also assured me that things are progressing nicely. She is wonderful, too. She has been down this road as well, so it always reassures me when I get her honest input, too!
So, my new job is to just chillax, let my body continue to do its healing thing, and be grateful for my progress.
I really do feel sooooo grateful for so many things right now- most especially for all of you that have been keeping up with my blog and send your prayers and healing thoughts my way!
Love you all!
Next date: oncologist on Thursday...

First saw Dr. Harris, my general surgeon. He looked at the surgical site and assured me everything looks great. I, personally, wouldn't say it is great looking at this point, but I guess as far as healing goes, it's looking like it should be. Everything just still feels so tight and sore. Normal at this stage.
Dr. Harris also delivered the awesome news that I have NO lymph node involvement! Hooray! And, definitely NO radiation necessary! Hooray again. While we pretty much knew this already, it is nice to have the final biopsy back it up!
They set up an appt for me with the oncologist, which will be next Thursday, Feb. 7.
It is still recommended that I have the Herceptin due to the HER2 positive receptors. They will probably surgically place a port for this type of chemo. That way I don't have to have a new IV every time. It sounds like it may only be once a month for a year. I will know all this for sure after I have the consult with the oncologist.
So while it still seems like I have a long road ahead, it doesn't feel like it will be a really tough road. I feel so fortunate and blessed to have caught this early enough that there was no lymph node involvement, and it was isolated to the area it was. It really keeps my mind at ease!
My second appt today was with Dr. Kiener, my plastic surgeon. The rest of the staples were all removed today! The two remaining drains may come out on Friday, but more likely next Monday. It just depends on how much fluid is still draining by Friday.
I must say, I still feel so blessed to have the medical team that I have. They have all been wonderful. The drs, nurses, scheduling staff, and receptionists have been so attentive. That doesn't always happen these days! It sure is nice when it does!

Today when we got home from my Dr's appointment, a package from Amazon was on my doorstep! I opened the package to find a wonderful meditation cd. I looked in the package and on the outside of the package, and no where did I find anything to indicate who sent this to me! I would really, really like to know the proper person to thank for such a kind and thoughtful gift that will really benefit my healing time right now! I love it!
So if it was you, could you please email me and let me know?!?
Thank you so much! I have been feeling so blessed by the outpouring I have received. It's simply amazing!
My email: loisfrancesis@gmail.com

So I got more of the staples out today, and two of the four drains. Yippee! Slowly but surely getting there. I guess the back drains will stay in for at least another week.
Back in again on Wednesday, when they'll probably remove the remainder of the staples.
That's all for right now.

So I was pretty excited to be able to take a shower finally. Scott had installed a new handheld shower and there are built in seats in the shower. Sounds pretty easy and straightforward, right?!?
So we decide to empty the drains first and take the corset off. I start to feel a little nausea coming on, but try to ignore it. When I see the full surgery site in the mirror for the first time, wow. I guess it was a little overwhelming for me. More than I realized it would be. I make my way to the shower finally, and step in. Right then I realize I need to lay back down. Not good timing. So, I make my way back to the bed, with Scott's help of course, and get the corset back on. This whole incident was pretty upsetting to me. Everything's been going so well, so it was a bit hard to have this minor setback. And most of it all in my head!
So today, my big accomplishment will be the completion of my shower!
Wish me luck!
On a good note, the drains are looking better and collecting less fluid. Really hoping those will come out tomorrow!
The pain isn't too terrible either.
Happy Sunday, everyone!

So very happy to be back home, almost as much as the doggies are to have us home! But I think "Aunt" Kristy spoiled them quite sufficiently! A huge thank you to Kristy and our neighbors, the Merrills, for taking such good care of our mutts!
Our accommodations at Becky and Jared's were quite nice, as well! It was good to get some uninterrupted sleep!
I had my visit with the plastic surgeon today and all went very well! They checked everything over and it looks like I am healing exceptionally well! They removed half of the staples and will probably remove the remainder on Monday. Also, it looks like the drains will probably come out on Monday, as well!
I am still fairly sore and trying to stay on top of it with meds, but really, not as much pain as I had anticipated.
I attribute how well I am doing directly to the wonderful care, prayers and good thoughts I continue to receive! Thank you all for contributing!
Didn't get the "final" word yet on the node biopsy, but should hear on Monday. I will also return to the plastic surgeon on Monday, then back to the regular surgeon on Wednesday... Whew! Still waiting to get in with the oncologist.
I think I might just sleep all day tomorrow! Haha!
So happy Laura is here now, too! <3