February 18, 2022

Happy Fri-yay y’all!

Today I had my 10th Taxol Treatment, or if we are counting down it’s Taxol #3 – which means as of today I only have 2 Taxol treatments left – Can you ‘effing believe it?  Where has the time gone?  I don’t like rushing time now that I am older, however, for this, I’m happy that it feels like time has been flying by. 

First I’ll talk about my chemo infusion today.  Y’all all know that I have an amazing Chemo Nurse, Brandi. She gets me and we’ve become buddies and friends through this process.  Of course, I had to kid Brandi today about not giving me that “generic steroid” that she did last week which did nothing for me.  I even told her that I blogged about it.  Somehow she missed the blog where I said that, however, today she guaranteed me that I got the good steroid and so far I know she’s right.  I have had quite a productive afternoon.  I worked some, talked with a friend who needed some advice/information on TNBC because a family member of hers was just diagnosed (PRAYERS please for Pat) and now I’m blogging.  See productive.  We will see what tomorrow brings.

It’s strange in a way, I am going to be sad to no longer be doing chemo on Fridays.  I mean, the obvious reason is I will miss Brandi and all the lovely ladies in the Texas Oncology Infusion room (including you too – Erin).  I mean today, I suggested we all still get together on Fridays but just in the afternoon and preferably at a place that had great Happy Hour specials  Everyone seemed amenable to that – Go figure! LOL.  But seriously, when you are in chemo it feels like you’re in the ring – gloves on and kicking ass.  After 5 months of mentally and physically going through all the shit to kick Cancers Ass, it’s going to feel very strange to then do nothing.   It’s hard to explain, hopefully, you understand.  I am looking forward to NOT doing chemo also, trust me, I will be glad to get my taste buds back, not have aching muscles and legs, constipation, all the meds, etc., etc.  I am looking forward to giving my body some time to get back to normal – whatever its new normal is.  (PRAYERS please for an easy transition back to the “new normal”.)

I asked the PA today in my appointment what could I expect after chemo.  I said, “Will I be coming in each Friday for you guys to take blood and monitor that for a few weeks or so after I stop chemo?”  and she said, “No. We don’t do that.  You will see Dr. H at your last appointment and she will then tell you the aftercare that you can expect. Customarily, you will see Dr. H two weeks after surgery and she will go over your pathology report with you and then finalize your ongoing care.  Usually, you will do some sort of MRI, Mammogram, etc. every 3 months for the first year or so and then it will change to every 6 months after that.”  

Hmmm……see what I mean, after being diagnosed and having your life fast-forwarded to a million doctors appointments, scans, chemotherapy, etc. It seems weird to have an appointment every 3 months.  Trust me, I have read enough and I know this is standard protocol.  Just saying – it still feels weird.  But I will adjust as I completely TRUST Dr. H.  Anything she says, I know will be the right protocol.

This week I saw the ENT who checked on my ear.  The good news is that my ear(s) are both fine. There is no fluid and they are healthy.  (PRAISES – finally).  My nose, however, is still raw and I still have incidents with bleeding and bloody nose situations during the days but it is what it is – considering that I have no nose hair (see my previous blog here) and with our crazy weather (30s today, 80s tomorrow, 25 the next day) it’s not helping.  We agreed that until the chemo is done it will just be what it is.  Thus I will continue with what I am doing now – using Ayr saline gel at night to keep my nose moist, using a saline spray with an antibacterial gel as many times of a day as I need to, using my defuser and essential oils at night, and just move forward, remember I ONLY HAVE TWO TREATMENTS LEFT – I CAN DO THIS!  (PRAYERS for managing nose bleeds and dry nose issues).

My muscle aches have been crazy this past week. I’ve had to start taking Extra-Strength Tylenol some of the days and Tramadol at night.  I believe this is compounded effect of all the chemo that I have done to date.  I still have no symptoms of neuropathy (PRAISES) so I will take that trade and praise God for taking care of that.  I am adding photos of what my fingers look like when I am doing chemo and icing. They get crazy red and burn but eventually, it doesn’t hurt.  I will continue to do this – it’s working so I will just SUCK IT UP BUTTERCUP!  I ONLY HAVE TWO TREATMENTS LEFT – I CAN DO THIS! 

Now on to PRAYER requests:

• This week a very dear friend of mine lost her father.  Please pray for the Berry Family as they go through the loss and grief of their family member.  He was an amazing husband, father, and friend.  
• I also found out about another sister diagnosed with TNBC this week.  I am praising God that I was able to share a lot of information with this newly diagnosed sister – hopefully, my walk just ahead of hers helps her to navigate the waters and provide some comfort with the research that I have done.  Prayers for Pat and her family, please.
• Prayers for me to have a better week – fewer leg pains and fatigue and just continue to march forward as a finish this Marathon strong.

And PRAISES:

• Praises for my amazing medical care team – all the doctors at MDA, Dr. Beth at Texas Oncology, My nurses Brandi / Erin and all the ladies in the infusion room. 
• Praises for all of you – my village.  I absolutely love you all and can’t say thanks enough.  The FB posts, the cards, the texts, the calls, the care packages, etc. YOU GUYS ROCK!
• Praises that I only have TWO TREATMENTS LEFT.

I want to wrap this up and head to have dinner with my family. 

Xo,

Tracy