Showing posts with label chemo summer. Show all posts
Showing posts with label chemo summer. Show all posts

Friday, September 6, 2013

Chemotherapy Treatment is Over! - wk 12

My chemotherapy treatment  is over!  The weekly blood draws are done!  No more neupogen shots!  I feel good!





Week 12

Aug 25, Sun
We all went to church!

Took Zach to the train station.  He had to be there for the 2:15 train, so we were rushing to get there in time after church and a quick bite. It takes about 30-35 minutes from our house. When I picked him up, I took the wrong freeway and it took me twice as long!   Now that I know the route, it is a bit easier.  It is sort of like going to the airport, so instead of my weekly trip taking Scott back and forth, I take Zach.

Aug 26, Mon
I suppose if someone gets cancer, they might as well get the perks that go along with it!  The American Cancer Society has a program called, "Look good, Feel better!" This is a hands on class for cancer patients showing how to put on makeup.  The best part about it is- all the free makeup and products they give away!  I went to this class this afternoon and received a bag full of goodies!



Aug 27, Tues
I had an appointment with my Oncologist, Dr Bobolis this morning. She was happy with the way my chemotherapy went and we talked about the next phrase of my treatment.  For the next five years I will have hormone therapy.  This will be in the form of a pill that I will take everyday.  My particular cancer feeds on hormones  so the idea is to lower my hormone levels as much as possible so the cancer will not come back.  The thought of having no female hormones is a little disconcerting, but this has been a well proven course of treatment.  Thoughts of me having a lower voice and growing a beard have crossed my mind, but I don't think that will happen. (At least I hope not!)

Another doctor's appointment today with my general practitioner. Just a follow up on my blood pressure meds.  No problems with this one. (I'm referring to a problem I had with an earlier medicine.  If you want to read about it, click here.)

Tech meeting at church to go over Bible study tomorrow night.  This is the third year that I've been the tech person for our women's bible study.  I run the sound board, pro presenter (the computer program used to play the media message that is presented on the screen) and control lighting and music cd.

Aug 28, Wed
Had a nice walk this morning.  I love my walks. I go down a path by the wetlands in our neighborhood.  I can't help but think of God's creation as I turn down the path.  I'm sure God loves beautiful things because He made beautiful things for us to look at and enjoy.

Scott interviewed for a local job.  With him traveling so much for the last five years, it would be wonderful if he could get a job locally. God already has the right job picked out for him.  I know He will provide!

Bible study starts tonight.  We are studying Gideon by Priscilla Shirer.

Aug 29, Thurs
I also do the tech for the Thursday morning Bible study.

Picked up Zach at train station.

Josh had to get his senior picture taken for the yearbook.

Aug 20, Fri
Matt and I grocery shopped.  It is so much easier when he goes with me.

Josh plays tenor drums (or quads) in marching band. The band played their first football game of the year tonight.

Aug 31, Sat
My last blood draw! (For 3 months!)  I won't miss this!

Lorri came over for a float in the pool.  The first time she came over for a swim this year!

*************

Now that I have completed chemo, friends have asked me the status of my condition and I haven't been sure how to answer.  My oncologist told me that I am in remission now, and have been since my mastectomy.  Technically, I can't say I am cancer free until five years from now.

. . . But I am going to live each day believing the cancer is gone!  I'm going to try my best to take care of my health.  I'm going to smell the roses . . . or the tulips . . . or petunias.  I'm going to count my blessings.  And I'm going to thank God each day... for each day!

This is the day that the Lord has made!
I will rejoice and be glad in it!
(Psalm 118:24)



If you would like to follow me on this journey, subscribe to My Breast Cancer Journey by Email. You will be notified by e-mail when I make a new post. Thanks, Pam

Wednesday, August 28, 2013

Almost Over! - wk 11

The end of my three month course of chemo treatment is almost over!  My weekly bloodwork will end soon and so will my frequent oncology visits.  I have continued to feel good and gain strength. 

Week 11
Aug 18, Sun
Church

Aug 19, Mon
Matt, Zach and I went to Santa Cruz to drop off Zach for college! He will be staying at my sister and her husband's house, Bev and Jim, and commuting to San Jose State on the Hwy 17 commuter bus. 


Zach and Josh
(before we left home)

Lunch on the wharf
Mom and Matt

Zach and Aunt Bev

Aw, the ocean

Boardwalk


Aug 20, Tues
Scott and Josh stayed home because school starts for Josh today. My baby is a senior in high school!  He already started marching band practice two weeks ago.

Matt and I came home from Santa Cruz today.

Aug 21, Wed
School started for Zach.

Aug 22, Thurs
Since Zach only has classes scheduled on Monday and Wednesday, this was a short week for him. He rode the train to Sacramento today and I picked him up at the train station.  He'll go back on Sunday. This has been a week of buses, trains and automobiles for sure!

Had to get my blood work done.

Aug 23, Fri
A dip in the pool!

Aug 24, Sat
Another day!

**********
Keep praying for us!!!  Thanks

If you would like to follow me on this journey, subscribe to My Breast Cancer Journey by Email. You will be notified by e-mail when I make a new post. Thanks, Pam

Wednesday, August 21, 2013

It's the most wonderful time of the year! - wk 10

Despite the warm weather we still endure, a new session is quickly approaching - the start of school!  The Staples commercial from the mid 90's is still one of my favorites.   When Zach was young, he would go around singing it and believed every word he was saying.  How quickly they grow up!



Week 10

August 11, Sun
Josh and I ran the cameras at church.
Zach and I went to small group.

So this is what Josh and I do about once a month at church.  We are upstairs in the tech room overlooking the auditorium, but we basically just look at the monitors.  It's actually kind of fun!


My job switching the cameras on Sunday morning.

Josh using the robotic camera, Camera 2.

It's usually more like this,  "Enough all ready Mom!"

Our Pastor, Greg Fairrington

From behind the scenes.

We often have Danny Gokey leading worship.  He is a former American Idol contestant.


More from the Camera Monitor


 


Sunday evening our small group met.  This is just some of us girls!  Thanks friends for being there!

Dayna, Pam, Kristi, Barb


August 12, Mon
Not feeling so well.  This is day 4 after chemo.  It's not my best day. Kristi brought dinner.

August 13, Tues
Still not my best.

August 14, Wed
Feel much better.
Blood work

August 15, Thurs
What do you know! - My neutrophil numbers are good, so I don't need neupogen shots this round!

August 16, Fri
Janelle brought dinner.

August 17, Sat
Helped Zach get ready for college.  He's going to San Jose State next week.

*******
I continue to feel good each day and am on my way to good health! All I need is my hair to grow back!

Scott is still on his job search, but it looks promising. I know God will take care of us!

If you would like to follow me on this journey, subscribe to My Breast Cancer Journey by Email. You will be notified by e-mail when I make a new post. Thanks, Pam


Saturday, August 10, 2013

Last Chemotherapy!!! - wk 9

I am smiling!  I am extremely happy.  I might go so far as to say I am ecstatic!  My last chemo session is over!  Even though things went better than I had expected, I am glad this part of my treatment is over.

I've said it before and I'll say it again, I have been extremely blessed! God has been my rock, my fortress, my deliverer.  He has been my Anchor of Hope! (Hebrew 6:19)

Psalm 18:1-3
 I love you, O LORD, my strength. 
 The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; 
my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. 
He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. 
 I call to the LORD, who is worthy of praise, 
and I am saved from my enemies.

As I was gathering up my things and listening to my last set of instructions from the nurse at the infusion center on Friday, it did strike me that I really was one of the lucky ones.  I only had to go through 4 rounds of chemo.  A fellow patient congratulated me on being done and I found out that she has a total of 16 rounds, and then radiation.  Only God knows what lies ahead for each of us.

. . . But right now, right in this space I feel blessed and thankful !

Week 9
Aug 4, Sun 
I went to church today.  I've missed some Sundays recently, last week when I was itching my skin off and the week before when Scott wasn't feeling well so I stayed with him.  It was good to be back!  It was the first time I wore a scarf and hat and not my wig to church. The first few weeks of thinning hair and then baldness, I guess I didn't want to embrace the fact that yes indeed, I am a cancer patient.  Wearing a wig didn't make me seem as sick.  If I wore a scarf and or hat, people would "know" that I am going through chemo, and maybe feel sorry for me.  I guess I didn't want that. (We humans are so strange sometimes!) After a while it didn't matter anymore.  When the wig got hot or gave me a headache, I didn't care what others thought. . . Hey you know what?  I am a cancer patient!  So just another lesson learned.

Aug 5, Mon
Had an appointment with my oncologist this morning.  Everything looks good.  My last chemo is this Friday! Yay!!!

Aug 6, Tues
Lazy Day!  Thinking about the start of school soon. Josh starts his senior year in 2 weeks from today and Zach will start San Jose State 2 weeks from tomorrow.

Aug 7, Wed
Just thinking of the end of chemo, end of summer, end of a chapter. New beginnings.

Aug 8, Thurs
Blood work

Aug 9, Fri
MY LAST CHEMO SESSION!!! Yippee!


A place that was good for me, but I'm glad I don't have to go anymore.
Here we are!  Just a couple of fun lovin people at the ol infusion center!

This is what I'm doing.
 

This is what Scott is doing!
 

Some of the nurses celebrating my last chemo!
Not me having chemo anymore!
My successfully completed chemotherapy award!

Aug 10, Sat
Would you believe I feel like I'm starting to itch a little bit.  I hope that's not a bad sign.  Other than that, I'm feeling good still.

(I will still continues updates on my chemo summer for another 2 or 3 weeks until I finish my last blood draws and I think I still have to get shots again.)

*********

Last week, I mentioned that Scott is changing jobs and I have to admit, I was a little concerned, but I'm giving this burden to God.

Matthew 11:28-30
"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, 
and I will give you rest. 
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, 
for I am gentle and humble in heart,
 and you will find rest for your souls. 
For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."

It is no surprise then to know that God sees us, loves us and takes care of us. Scott has started the interview process at 2 different companies this week and at least one more lined up for this next week.  I'm looking forward to letting you know what Scott's new job will be, as soon as he gets it! Continue to pray for us! Thanks!  Love you!

If you would like to follow me on this journey, subscribe to My Breast Cancer Journey by Email. You will be notified by e-mail when I make a new post. Thanks, Pam