Advise & Tips For Other Fighters

I wanted to include a post, and probably more in the future, on tips and advice for current cancer patients undergoing treatment. Here are a few things that are working for me and helping me through my treatments. It is obviously best to consult everything with your doctor before opting to do any of these tips. When writing this post I have so far been through 6 treatments of Taxcol and Herceptin.

Neupogen Injection

Currently, I am getting the Neupogen Injection once a week. You are given the option to receive the injection in your arm or stomach. I received the first two injections in my arm, and my arm was very painful for several days. I have found receiving the injection in my stomach is a much better option. It does tend to be a lull stinging pain throughout the day, and is very sore by the end of the day. The injection is known to make every bone in your body hurt. My oncologist recommended I take a Claritin pill before each injection. Since taking his advice, I have found my neck and shoulders to be sore at bedtime, but by morning everything feels back to normal.

Vitamins

I never really took vitamins in my life, and my immune system has always been strong. Since I have been on chemo though I have been taking Women's One A Day tablet and Biotene (for skin, hair, and nails). Taxol, the chemo I am currently on has potential to drop my white blood cell count. So far, my white blood cells havd held at a normal level, and I believe the Women's One A Day has contibuted some to this.

Before I started chemo, my nails were already extremely brittle due to over maintenance manicures of shellac nails and acrylics. After taking Biotene vitamins for 6 weeks, I have already noticed my nails strengthening. My hair is also silky and shiny, although thinner. I have switched my hair products to Kenra, and I believe these products have definitely enhanced the quality of my hair. It is important to use a good quality conditioner that detangles your hair very well, so when you brush it there are minimal tangles to brush out. Additionally, my skin seems to be less dried out (mind you it is the middle of Winter, and I live in an extremely dry climate area) and has a nice glow to it.

Wigs

So far, I have been fortunate to not need a wig. However, knowing that I have two ready to go when that time comes is that much less stress on me. I will advise any female to start looking at wigs as soon as she knows she will be receiving chemo. As an excess amount of my hair is falling out on a daily basis, I feel prepared to take on what is headed my way. Being Bald!

Placement of Port

The night before I went into surgery, I read all over the internet trying to find pros and cons to getting a port in your arm vs. your chest. I could not find any information that specified this, but decided to go with whatever the doctor suggested was best. My doctor said since I have good veins, the best place for my port was in my arm. Most choose to have it in their chest, but I like it in my arm. I can wear a short sleeve shirt to treatment, and I do not feel like my clothing ever interferes.

THANK YOU and F&Qs

WOW! When I posted my blog on Tuesday evening, I was expecting around 250 people to look at it. To my great surprise, I have now had nearly 12,000 people view my blog. A huge THANK YOU goes out to all of my college peeps, stock show family, judging team members, old high school friends, my family, Brian, and all points in between. I greatly appreciate the overwhelming support I have received!!! Together we will win this fight!

Many of you have asked me the same questions, so in turn I have opted to include a Frequently Asked Questions Section:

1) Have you lost all of your hair?

It is a known fact that when women find out they have cancer the number one thing they fear most is loosing their hair. I am definitely no different! My platinum blonde hair is currently not coming out in clumps, but I am losing an excessive amount each day. It is greatly thinner. Brian says my hair is definitely on a time clock, and in turn I will probably have to shave my head in the near future.

2) Have you been nauseated?

Luckily, no. This treatment of chemo has been pretty good, but I have already researched my next treatment of chemo and I don't know if I will be so lucky on the next treatment.

3) Have you had any side effects from the chemo?

I have had a few, but they are very minimal compared to the horror stories you hear others talk about. I am more tired than normal, and definitely would not be able to maintain my party girl schedule these days. Additionally, my nails are extremely brittle. They break doing everyday things even with the gel polish and nail strengthener on them. If you have any other ideas to keep my nails from breaking I would greatly appreciate your suggestions. I have also noticed my taste buds have deteriorated. I have to rinse my mouth out daily with baking soda, salt, and water in order to prevent ulcers from forming. Over the past week I have been unable to even taste this concoction anymore. Finally, I definitely have "chemo brain"! I use to be able to think of my daily to-do-list as I was getting ready in the morning, and mentally check it off as I went through my day. Now, when I think of something I need to remember, I can't even remember my thought long enough to jot it down on a sticky note. This is probably the most annoying side effect, but like I previously mentioned, I will take it compared to many of the other side effects others endure.

4) How is your white blood count holding up?

So far so good! I have been maintaing in the normal range, and hopefully it will remain there so that I can continue to go about my life as much as normal as possible.

5) How long will you be on chemo?

The treatment that I am currently on last for 12 weeks, and my last treatment will be March 3rd. I am currently being treated once a week, every Monday. This treatment will then be followed with another 12 week treatment, which will be complete in June. When on this treatment I will only have to go in every third week vs. weekly. This treatment though sounds to be a lot more harsh then the one I am currently on. As Brian says though, everyone is different, and the treatments effect every person differently.

6) When will you have surgery?

Currently, we believe it will be mid-June, early July, but things could change.

7) Are you able to work any?

Obviously, since I am receiving chemo currently every Monday, along with other appointments I am unable to work full-time. However, I am working around 20-30 hours a week. Since I have worked at TTU for nearly 10 years I am fortunate to have a good "nest egg" of sick time saved up.

8) Is the party girl able to drink beer?

I am able to drink in moderation, but definitely not able to hoop it up like the party girl knows how to do best.

9) How often will you be posting on your blog?

I plan to post around once a week. Really, when new events happen. This blog is a great way to keep everyone posted, and allows everyone to view it on their own free time.

Thank you again everyone for your support!

First Wig

One of my new wigs! My old hair is on the left, and the new wig on the right. Didn't Yolanda and I do a great job!?!?

So here's the beginning of the story...

Vegas is the place we love to go, that is my boyfriend, Brian Burns, and I. Craps is the game we spent hours playing. On November 10, 2013 I woke up in a Mirage penthouse suite scratching my right breast, and noticed a new, rather large lump. I asked him to feel the lump in my breast to make sure I wasn’t crazy. Brian confirmed it was indeed a lump and prompted me to make an appointment with the doctor as soon as we got home. When I was 18 years old I had a cyst in the same breast the lump was now in. At this point in time I was a bit concerned, but I was nearly certain it was once again going to be a cyst. After all, breast cancer never ran in my family.

 

On November 12, 2013 I went to see my primary care physician. During this visit she confirmed that there was indeed a lump in my breast, but she also noted how it appeared squishy. This made me feel even a bit more relieved, and I continued to believe it was going to turn out to be a cyst. The primary care physician made arrangements for me to receive an ultrasound on my right breast.

 

On November 20, 2013 I was scheduled to have an ultrasound done on my right breast at the Joe Arrington Breast Cancer Center in Lubbock, TX. I recall walking into the waiting area of the ultrasound facility and looking around the room. All of the woman appeared to be the age of my grandmother. I noticed a large board at the entrance area that woman had signed as they were fighting the horrible disease of breast cancer. I felt sorry for all of these people battling such a disease. I knew I was young and breast cancer didn’t run in my family so there was no way I could have it. When the technician began examining me she was stunned to see the size of the mass. She asked me questions if I thought it could be an injury? I couldn’t recall anything. The technician also questioned how long it had been their? I am not a very modest person, and I am living with my boyfriend. When at home, I primarily run around in my underwear and nothing else. Since I am accustom to such an attire, I, along with everyone else was shocked that I did not find this mass sooner. The ultrasound though did not go as I had planned it would. The technician performed the ultrasound on my right breast within 5-10 minutes, and then she informed me she would be back. The technician was gone for approximately 30 minutes, and it was during this time period that I began to feel anxious. The technician finally returned to my exam room with a radiologist doctor. The doctor informed me that the mass in my breast was definitely not a cyst, but was a large mass that they needed to perform a biopsy on. I was stunned. I recall leaving the appointment in disbelief and shacking profusely.

 

My biopsy was performed on November 27, 2013, the day before Thanksgiving. I was very nervous when going to this appointment, but kept trying to be positive. When I was called back for the biopsy the technician informed me she thought when I stood up I was going to get my mom or grandmother to assist them as the patient, because again I was so young to be receiving a breast biopsy. The biopsy took nearly an hour and a half. They performed a core biopsy that involved taking a total of seven biopsies from the troubled mass area. The biopsy was uncomfortable, but I was glad it was over. Now, I just had to wait for the results.

 

During the Thanksgiving Holiday my right breast was sore and swollen, but I continued to hope for the best. On the following Monday, December 2, 2013, the nurse from Joe Arrington called to check and see how I was doing. I informed her of the pain, swelling, and some bleeding. I also asked her when I would hear my test results from the biopsy? She informed me that the radiologist that had taken the biopsies was on a rotating shift, and would not be back in the office for six weeks. The nurse confirmed with me that my primary care physician would be calling me with my test results soon. On Tuesday I still had not heard back on my results, so I called my primary care physician and left a message for her nurse, and I called the nurse at Joe Arrington once again.

 

On Wednesday I was becoming even more anxious as the longer I waited for the results. The nurse at Joe Arrington confirmed with me that the results had been sent to my primary care physician, but she would instruct the lab to send them the results once again. I called my primary care physician, and got the nurse’s voicemail once again. I left a message, and finally a few hours later received a call back from the primary care physician’s nurse. She informed me, in a laughing matter, that they had not received my results and it could be due to the fact that they were having problems with their fax machine. I called and left a message for my primary care physician’s nurse two more times that afternoon, and still had no results by the end of the day.

 

December 5, 2013 is the day Brian and I had been anxiously waited to jet sail with all of our friends to the National Final Rodeo in Viva Las Vegas. We actually met five years previously during this trip, and this made his 25 trip. This trip is filled with friends that have been made throughout the years, and it is something we look forward to all year long. The temperature in Lubbock was a bitter 20 degrees, with sleet and snow. Our flight ended up being two hours delayed due to mechanical problems. At this time Brian was also becoming anxious to know what my test results said. He instructed me to call the doctor’s office every hour until we were Vegas bound. So I did. I began with calling the nurse at Joe Arrington. She informed me at this time that she had called my primary care physician’s nurse voicemail several times on Wednesday, but had not received a response back. She also informed me that she had instructed the lab to resend the pathology reports on Wednesday. I did as Brian said and I left numerous voicemails on my primary care physician nurse’s voicemail as we waited to leave for Vegas.

 

Our Southwest plane finally arrived to get us in Lubbock and take us to Vegas. Brian and I were both in the B group, so we waited patiently. My phone began to ring, and I recognized the number as my primary care physician. Part of me did not want to answer it at that very moment, because I wanted to enjoy my trip. The other part of me wanted to know what the test results and future held for me. I answered the call, my primary care physician immediately began to apologize and stated she had no idea what had happened to my test results. She also informed me that she would not have kept these results from me, and I immediately knew that the news she was going to reveal to me was not good. As I am walking through the terminal my primary care physician is informing me it is indeed cancer, it had not spread to my blood, but that was all she was really able to tell me at that time. She was also going to schedule an appointment for me with an oncologist surgeon as soon as possible. At this point I am sitting on the plane wanting to do nothing but curl up and cry, and I am shacking profusely. I texted my mom (Susan Fritz) and sister (Katie Fritz) letting them know the results before the stewardess informed me that all phones must be turned off, and we were off to Vegas. I later learned during my first oncology visit that the test results from the biopsy were actually posted on November 30, 2013, which was nearly a week before I received the results.

 

Brian and I went to Vegas as planned. I did have some breakdowns, but I am not sure who wouldn’t after receiving such news and not knowing what the future holds. I was scared! Brian and I returned from Vegas late in the evening on Monday, December 9, 2013, and on Tuesday, December 10, 2013 we both made numerous phone calls to determine the best battle plan of action for me. I had an appointment scheduled with an oncologist surgeon, but we needed more. Our neighbor is a well-known anesthesiologist in the Lubbock area. Brian notified him of my situation, and phone calls began to come through with appointments. Additionally, I submitted my application to MD Anderson.

 

Wednesday, December 11, 2013 was a long day for both me and Brian. He went with me to my long day excursion, and I was beyond relieved to have him by my side. Our day began at 9:15 a.m. where we meet with the oncologist surgeon. This doctor informed me that I had stage III breast cancer that was spreading at a 90%. We then meet with an oncologist that had just transferred from MD Anderson. I was very impressed with the thoroughness of this doctor, and he informed me that I would be starting chemo soon because the cancer was spreading at such a fast past. The doctor informed me that they needed to do chemo before surgery in order to shrink the size of the 3 centimeter tumor. He was also concerned that there were other tumors that we currently dormant in my body, and chemo was the only thing that could stop these from progressing. The doctor was also questioned if he felt another lump in my left breast. The oncologist asked me if knew what a port was, and I had no clue. Brian confirmed that I definitely wanted a port, and this would be the place that chemo would enter my body and where blood test would be drawn from. A nurse navigator came to see me at the end of the doctor visit to provide a lot of information pamphlets and support group paraphernalia. By this point in the day it is 1:15 p.m. and I am hungry and shaky. Brian and I head to the cafeteria in the basement and each have a ham sandwich. During this time the genetics nurse called to see where we have gone, and I am impressed they even notice that we escaped for a bit. After lunch we head to the lab where they draw eight test tubes of blood and have me do a urine test. From there we go to register for my surgery on Friday to receive the port in my arm, along with an EKG and a chest X-ray. Brian and I then headed back to the oncologist surgeon to receive the schedule of additional labs, and then I spend an hour with the genetics nurse discussing my family tree. Wheeew!!! The day is finally complete at 5:15 p.m. We are both overwhelmed with information, and I feel as though my head is spinning! Now I am getting a port in my arm in 2 days and on Monday I will begin to receive chemo. What a world wind!!

 

On Thursday, a ct scan was conducted, and I spent the afternoon running errands because I was unsure when the next time would be that I felt good enough to do this again? My mother drove five hours on this day from our family ranch to be with me during this time. My mother asked if I had told any of my friends of my condition, and I informed her I had not. That night as I went to bed, I decided to call my best friend, Greg Clark aka Bub, and informed him of the news. Bub was shocked and very upset to hear the news. This is the exact reason why I had elected to steer away from really informing anyone of my situation.

 

On Friday, December 13, 2013 (what a date for all of superstitious ones out there), I received the port in my arm. We left the house at 5:15 a.m. I was extremely nervous about the procedure. For one, this was only the second time I would ever go under anesthetic. The other time I went under was when I was three years old and had my tonsils removed. I was also anxious and nervous about what my port would look like, and what others would think? My port procedure turned out to be a great success, and I was headed home by 10:30 a.m. Bub had called my mom’s phone an informed me that he was making the six and a half hour drive from his home to see me. During his drive Bub called mutual friends and judging team members to let them know of my diagnosis. Brian had also taken it upon himself to call all of my close girlfriend’s and inform them of my diagnosis during the procedure. The news spread like wildfire, and I began to receive phones calls from friends from all over.

 

During the weekend my arm was sore, as expected. My mom and I did Christmas shopping to help keep my mind at ease, after all I was starting the dreaded chemo in just a few short days.   

 

On Monday, December 16, 2013 I went in for my first round of chemo. Brian and my mom went with me to chemo. We were under the impression that I would only receive chemo every 15 days. The nurse navigator took us back and taught us all of the ends and outs when being treated with chemo. It was during this meeting that I learned I would receive the first protocol treatment of chemo every Monday for 12 weeks, and then it would be followed up with another protocol of chemo that I would receive every three weeks. The nurse navigator went over all the essential information from the 50% chance that I might lose my hair, to the 72 hours my saliva could contain chemo, to the type of diet I should be on, to possible constipation problems. I recall sitting down for my first treatment of chemo and looking around the room, nearly all of the other individuals that were getting treated seemed to be my grandmother’s age, just as they had been when I had first gone to get my ultrasound. I felt as though they were all looking at me and saying, look at that poor young girl through their bifocal glasses.

 

MD Anderson had called me on the previous Wednesday and Thursday. However, due to the stacked up doctor appointments and lab testing I had been unable to talk to their representative. I called and left a message for the representative on the previous Friday afternoon, and she elected to call me while I was receiving my initial saline solution prior to chemo. The representative informed me that since I was about to receive treatment, then they could not see me until this 12 week protocol was complete. My mother freaked out, and called them back to further discuss this matter, but continued to receive the same information. She wasn’t sure if she should pull me from the chemo chair at that very moment since I hadn’t received any chemo yet, or if we should stick with the plan the Lubbock oncologist had provided us with??? So many major and stressful decisions!!! The MD Anderson representative confirmed that the earliest they would be able to get me in would be mid-January. With my cancer being at a 90% progression rate, Brian and my mom agreed that I should begin to receive the treatment protocol as planned that day.

 

After the initial saline injection, two pre-chemo treatments, and two different bags of chemo, I was finally done with my first round five hours later. The doctor had prescribed for me to have an anxiety pill and there was also Benadryl in my pre-treatment, so I was asleep a good portion during the treatment. Brian and my mom continued to work on contacting MD Anderson during this time. Brian was able to come in contact with an oncologist. Throughout the next three days my mom exchanged numerous emails with this doctor, but it was once again confirmed that I could not go to MD Anderson until my first round of chemo treatment is near completion at 12 weeks.

 

The nurse navigator had informed me that I would be receiving my chemo treatment every Monday, and every Tuesday I would receive the Neubogen shot, which is to increase my white blood cells. So, on Tuesday, December 17, 2013, I went to get my first shot. I also had an echo heart exam and a body scan conducted on this day. In order to conduct the body scan, my body had to take in a radiation fluid. My port was stuck for the second time, and let me remind you it had only been placed on Friday. So, at the end of the day, my port was extremely sore.

 

Wednesday, December 18, 2013 was filled with more tests, mammograms, ultrasound, and a breast MRI. I had a melt down by the time I got to the breast MRI at 4:00 p.m. They informed me they would have to stick my port once again, and I freaked out, informing them how very sore my port already was. They needed to stick me once again for the dye to enter into my body. I elected to have an IV ran into my body, and the breast MRI was complete. I left these tests hoping I would not have to endure any more test for a while.

 

On December 30, 2013 Brian, my mom, and I headed to see an oncologist to finally receive all of my test results. My oncologist was out of the office still for the holiday season, but we were hoping the new oncologist could give us some insight on what the ct scan, bone scan, breast MRI, etc could tell us. Boy, were we wrong! When we meet with the oncologist on that Monday morning we found the doctor to be very unprepared. He had not reviewed any of the test results prior to meeting with us. The doctor appeared uncomfortable with answering our questions, providing information, and we all got a sense that he was holding back information from us. He did express some concern that there was suspicion appearing on the 10^th rib that could be either cancer or a prior injury. More testing would be needed to determine this, and he noted that they could have to take a piece of the rib in order to determine if it was in fact cancer. I recall asking the doctor if it was in my bone what could we do, and he replied “there is really nothing that can be done”. This made me cry, and realize how serious my situation was. We also learned during the doctor visit that there is 5mm suspicious area in my left breast, as well as a suspicious lymph node. The doctor did provide us with copies of the test results to keep for my records. Brian stayed with me through chemo that afternoon, which went well once again, and my mother headed back to the ranch. We scheduled an appointment to meet with my actual oncologist on the following Monday.

 

Ok, 2014 please be good to me!!!!

 

On January 1, 2014 I sat down to organize more bills, appointment calendar, test results, etc. I came across the results the oncologist had provided me with on 12/30/2013. I opted to read over all of them so I would know first-hand what was going on. On the breast MRI there were notes in regards to suspicious chest wall invasion. I began to feel scared and angry. Scared because this could mean the cancer was spreading at a very high speed across my body. Angry because the doctor we had met with had not mentioned anything about this.  I also learned from the breast MRI that my tumor appeared to be growing based from the initial biopsies. Additionally, during my first initial ultrasound, which was approximately a month prior to the breast MRI, there was no mention of suspicion in my lymph nodes. The breast MRI now has a suspicious lymph node, which paints an obvious picture at how aggressive the form of cancer that I have is. I was anxious to see what my oncologist has to say about all of my test results during our doctor visit scheduled for January 6, 2014.

 

January 6, 2014, it is my 31^st birthday. Oh yea for me, not! This birthday brought the meaning of “shots, shots, shots” and “slap the bag” (usually meaning slapping a bag of Franzia Wine as you chug it) to a whole new meaning. This birthday was filled with getting real medical shots, and bags of chemo. BOOO! My first appointment being lab was scheduled for 10:15 a.m. My oncologist’s nurse called me at 9:30 a.m. to inform me that my doctor was stranded in the north east area due to bad weather, and we would have to reschedule my doctor’s appointment with him for the following Monday. The weather in the north east had been very treacherous, with temperatures being below 60 degrees, and extreme amounts of snowfall. I felt bad for my mom because she had made the 5 hour trip specifically for the doctor’s appointment, but it wasn’t my fault. Brian went with me to chemo, and that was pretty much the extent of my birthday. I felt pretty depressed on this birthday, were usually my birthdays are filled with fun and excitement. This one felt just the opposite, as I grew one year older.

 

On January 7^th, Brian woke-up early to head to Midland for work. I had my weekly Neubogen shot scheduled for that morning and I had planned on going into work some that day. I took my normal morning routine shower, and was saddened when an excessive amount of my hair was coming out in the shower and when I brushed it. It was not coming out in clumps as people had informed me it would, but it was definitely coming out more excessively than normal. I knew the time to finalize my search for a wig was coming nearer.

 

On January 9^th my new hairdresser, Ms. Yolanda Clay, picked me up and we were on a mission to find me wigs. I was beyond thankful to have a hairdresser go with me to pick out my wigs, and we found a perfect fit! Pictures will be available soon. If you are looking for a new hairdresser in the Lubbock area, you should contact Yolanda at Encore Salon, she is wonderful!!

 

After five and a half weeks, we were finally able to meet with my oncologist to discuss my test results on January 20th. My oncologist showed no concern of the suspicion in the 10th rib. He also confirmed that if there is anything occurring within my left breast, lymph nodes, or chest wall, then the current chemo will treat these areas, and any others that might be affected. We were beyond relieved to learn this information! After meeting with the doctor on December 30th we thought my cancer stage might be increased to IV, but based from this news it could stay at a III. Additionally, the doctor was amazed at how much my tumor was shrinking. My tumor originally felt like the size of a Vienna Sausage, but now feels like a marble. This is a major transformation!!! On this day I also received my 5th chemo treatment, only 7 more to go, and then on to the next set of chemo.

 

 

 

What's my breat cancer diagnosis and treatment???

Diagnosis:

·         Stage III, tumor was 3 centimeters

·         HER2+ (most aggressive type, generally only found in younger women)

·         90% Extremely Aggressive Tumor (10-20% considered normal, over 20% considered fast pace)

·         3% Estrogen+

·         Progesterone-

Current Treatment Plan:

·         Currently completing 12 months of Taxol and Herceptin Chemo (specifically designed to attack HER2+ genes) every Monday. Final treatment will be March 3, 2013.

·         Will complete 12 additional weeks of FEC chemo, and will only have to receive the treatment every 3 weeks.

·         Surgery will occur, being either a lumpectomy or mastectomy, followed by reconstruction. The exact procedure will be determined once the final results are determined from the 24 weeks of chemo.

·         Possible radiation will be needed.