Same old, same old

Sorry for the long gap between posts. It seems that this chemotherapy thing has become rather routine and I keep thinking that there isn't much to write about. I had treatment number 3 on Monday and the after effects have been similar to last time. I felt really zonked out Monday by the time we got home - thanks to Mary for being my chemo-buddy this time! Tuesday I felt pretty good but then had to go get the Neulasta shot, and so Wednesday was another achey, sleepy day. The big difference this time is that I stayed sleepy on Thursday, which is the first sign that this is starting to wear me down. Luckily I only have one more treatment with the AC (Adriomycin/Cytoxin), and my Doctor assures me that this is the hard part and the Taxol, which I do four times after the AC, will be easier. She better be right!

Tuesday I went back to Fargo to meet with the Plastic Surgeon and also for a second opinion with another Radiation Oncologist. The Plastic Surgeon was really cool. Her focus was so different from the other Docs - she wanted to know about my hobbies and activities: what do I do with my body, so she could advise me on how the different surgical options would impact my life. It was so nice to have a Doctor focusing on the real me, not just the cancer in me. I found out that not only am I not fat enough to build a boob out of my belly, but also that moving body parts around would have some other consequences that I hadn't thought about, such as difficulty reaching and stretching, and possible hernia. They can also move upper/back shoulder muscle and fat around, which often leaves you with a weak arm and shoulder. Neither of those sounds to great to me, so I guess I'll hold off on packing on the pounds for now. If it does come to mastectomy it's looking like I'll be an implant gal.

I left the Surgeon and headed over to the Radiation Oncologist. I liked this guy better than the first Radiation Doc. He seemed to be a little more restrained in his attitude, both about the radiation and about my supplements. He's not going to support me taking them during radiation, but he cheerfully acknowledged that I can do whatever I want and it doesn't affect his willingness to treat me. He was also fighting a cold and kept coughing and hacking during our meeting. I reminded him at one point that I wasn't supposed to be around sick people, which did get a rather sheepish response. At any rate, I felt more comfortable with this Doctor than the first one, and there will be some radiation therapy after the surgery since there are lymph nodes under my collar bone that will need to be treated for sure. I'm definitely not looking forward to that part since it requires daily treatment (Monday through Friday) in Fargo for about 7 weeks. At least the weather should be better by then - unless the spring floods close all the bridges - that's a possibility!

I hope you all have a Merry Christmas this year! We'll be having ham and kapusta and watching A Christmas Story (in between the never-ending football games)!