Kroger supports

My cousins' daughter, Kaitlyn, works at Kroger.  She has been such a wonderful supporter through all of this.  She sent me this text of her name badge with a Kroger name badge with their breast cancer ribbon she wears proudly.  I love you girl!

Fun Dip...Not a Good Idea

So, today is Thursday.  We don't see patients on Thursdays, so I use this day to catch up my work uninterrupted.  I happened to come across a package of Fun Dip.  My stomach seemed to be ok, and I wanted to treat myself to a little indulgence of sugar.

NOT  A GOOD IDEA!  By the time I got home, I fell on the sofa and felt like I was going to throw up all over the place.  Another item to add to the list of not to consume while on chemo.

A Night of Laughter

I want to tell you how much I love my Bible Study girls...
Amy, Jessie, Kelly, Lisa, and Shannon.  I haven't been feeling 
well lately...physically and emotionally...and I so look forward 
to every Wednesday night when I get to see these ladies.  Each 
one brings wonderful energy to our group.  Tonight we decided 
to have fellowship time and order pizza and wings.  They all 
know how tired I am from the chemo and let me lie in the big 
comfy chair, listen to stories, and laugh.  Even over silly little 
things like the towel ring coming off the bathroom wall when 
Shannon was drying her hands. All of you have been such a 
blessing.  I love you so much!

Emily, you have been such a blessing

My co-worker, Emily Beaumont, has been such a blessing.  Breast cancer is something she is very familiar with in her family.  She has been such an encouragement to me over the past two months.  So many things have affected me while fighting this vicious enemy of mine.

As if it's not enough to constantly think if you're going to die from this, but for some people to continue to be insensitive to what's going on is just the cherry on top.  Please understand me, I don't expect special treatment because I have cancer.  Just act like a decent human being and be aware of your actions and words.

I cried all the way home today because my body is torn all the way to the ground, and I feel like I'm being stomped on as well.  I truly don't think certain people really "get" what I'm going through.  At least that's how I'm trying to process it because it is unfathomable that someone could be so heartless. 

When I got the mail out of the mailbox, I had another card from Emily with uplifting words.  Thank you for putting a smile back on my face.  :)

How long do I have to get this Lupron?

I have to get a Lupron injection once a month to stop my body from producing estrogen.  My particular cancer is estrogen positive, which means the more estrogen in my system will cause the cancer to grow that much quicker.  However, it basically makes you body start having the symptoms of someone going through menopause.  Yes, it's really is nice not to have my period anymore, but the hot flashes are all the time!

I took this picture one hour after having my 2nd one.  I don't know if you can really tell how red my cheeks are in this picture.  I feel like I am going to combust all the time!

Hats, hats, and more hats

My mom is staying with us for the weekend to help around the house and take care of me so Jeremiah can have a break.  My mom is crocheting some more hats for Dr. Scott's (my boss) daughters.  I love you so much, mom!

Chemo #3

January 20, 2011

Woah!  My only word to describe today.  I had chemo #3.  I get my chemo where ever my oncologist is.  Today she is at her office at Kennestone Hospital.  When going through chemo, you will start associating certain sounds, smells, and visuals with the entire chemo process...and it's not a good association.  Here are my strong dislikes. 

#1  I officially can not stand the smell of rubbing alcohol or the saline flush (that you can actually taste!) when they are accessing my port.  I literally want to throw up with both of these smells.  On top of that, I accidentally saw the needle that accesses my port.  HOLY COW!  Shouldn't have done that!

#2  The beeping alarm from the infusion pumps.  There are a lot of people in the infusion room with you, and the alarms are constantly going off.  (i.e. the iv bag is low, someone has accidentally blocked the line by sitting on the iv cord or bending their arm too much, and I believe just to drive the nurses crazy)  I seriously jump when I hear any noise remotely near the sound of these infusion pumps.  I wonder if the nurses have nightmares about them?

#3  The color of my chemo.  They call it the red devil for a reason.  It is evil...but it is hopefully going to save my life.  See that syringe with all the red stuff in it?  That's my chemo.  When the nurse started heading toward my chair with it, I told her that she has the wrong person, to keep on moving and check someone else's armband.  No matter how pitiful I looked, she didn't fall for it.  :(

#4 Chick-fil-a.  I know, I know.  What's wrong with me?  How could I not like Chick-fil-a.  Well, I had Jeremiah get it for me for lunch at my first two chemos.  I guess my mind has associated Chick-fil-a with all the unpleasantness of chemo.  I took one bite of my sandwich today, and spit it right into the bag.  Can't do it.  So remember, don't eat anything you truly love while going through chemo.  TRUST ME!

Positives to put against today's negatives:  Dr. Volas-Redd (my oncologist) said it feels like the mass has shrunk 50%, my mom sent me a text about a new procedure to detect cancer cells faster called Liquid Biopsy, a touching story about a toddler who survived breast cancer. 



I want to say thank you to a special lady (Amy Moores) that I first met on the job years ago.  She now lives just 2 miles down the road from me, and we are reunited at a different work place.  Shortly after getting home tonight, she brought supper to my house.  The chocolate chip cookies were calling my name.  They were soooooo yummy!  Thank you so much, Amy!