Kira's Stupid Breast Cancer

Last week's treatment literally kicked my ass. It took me down for the week. I'm feeling better today, but still feel exhausted. Let me try to describe how last week went. Monday I had my treatment with the new cocktail. I was told I would probably feel "a little poopy". To some that might be a headache, feeling like you're hung over or like you have the flu. It's best if they actually didn't sugar coat it and just flat out tell you that you will feel like you have been hit by a train, repeatedly, over and over and over as if that train had some huge grudge against you. Tuesday, my muscles felt like they had cinderblocks weighing them down. My joints hurt. Tuesday I had my follow-up booster treatment for my immune system. This is to stimulate your bone marrow to generate white blood cells to help get the immune system back out of the toilet from the chemo. I told the nurse how I was feeling and it was suggested trying Claritin and Tylenol. No explanation o...

So, pretty sure the mental breakdown I was having last week was at least partly due to the fact that Saturday was the 2 year mark since my mom's passing. I wish every day that she was still here with me, her and dad both. I know they're in Heaven with the Father, looking down on me, my family and friends, but some days I could just use a parent hug and hear them say "everything is going to be fine".  I was also reminded this weekend thru KLOVE radio, prayer and church on Sunday that the negative self talk and stuff is the Devil trying to take control. He is not in control. MY GOD'S GOT ME!  There's a song by Samantha Ebert that is a good reminder that when things seem bleak, good things come out of our trials and tribulations. Here's the link to the song.  Flowers Today starts the new chemo cocktail. I'm hearing that this is supposed to produce some nasty side effects. Fan-freaking-tastic. I managed to skate thru the last regimen without any issues. Pr...

This was a week off from treatment, but still had Dr appts this week. Nothing major to report from that.  I did ask my PCP, Dr. Sargent, about an itchy spot that I have on my leg. It's been there for a few weeks now but getting a little larger. I've used hydrocortisone cream and calamine lotion and neither seem to have been helping much. She prescribed me some steroid ointment to put on it. I can't really tell if it's helping or not. We'll see. She told me to let her know in 10 days how it's doing. She did say it appears stress related. Makes sense. Between the chemo stressing my body, the stress of making the ranch look less like a farm for the wedding, the wedding itself, work... yea, there's been stress.  As for any "side effects", I don't know if it's related to the chemo or what, but just about daily, by the end of the day, my neck and shoulders ache. I kinda describe it as my head is just too heavy for my neck to support it. Laying do...

 Never got around to updating this last week. It's been a crazy couple of weeks.  I did do treatment last Monday, and fortunately, there haven't been issues to report. I did have a different nurse last week, a little Filipino lady named Celerina. She's so sweet! Today's nurse is Shannon. I have no issues with any of the staff here at BRCC. They all do a fantastic job of taking care of every patient.  I will say that I have had to go on a thyroid prescription. The Keytruda (Immunotherapy drug) has the potential to mess with the Thyroid. It did. It only won for one day. the night of the 25th into the 26th I wasn't sure I could function...LITERALLY.  Luckily the script started working quickly. I noticed I was also more emotional and sensitive prior to getting the script going. Not sure if it was Thyroid related or being stressed before the wedding or a combination of both.  Today is treatment #12 on this chemo cocktail. Next up is the same pretreatment concoction o...