Successful surgery

Just got word that Kristen is out of surgery and that everything went well.  They inserted the medi-port and removed 7 nodes for testing.  Kristen is still asleep but the surgeon feels like it was a success.  Darryl has been by her side all day.  It's been a long day for both of them and I'm sure they'll be happy to get home.
  Your thoughts and prayers are felt and appreciated as are your possitive, heartfelt comments left on this blog. 

Making the best out of waiting...

Today is the day Kristen gets her Medi-port put in.  She and Darryl went to Eugene for the surgery so they dropped Roman and Meg off at G'ma and G'pa Rebers.  They've been having a great time.  Lucky for them Aunt Ranelle is still in town and has been doing all kinds of fun things with them. She's been helping them get some school work done.  How many kids get to do their school work sitting in the grass under the trampoline.  =)   They made a compass and explored the back field, make trails in the tall grass, gone to the library and are getting ready do a science experiment using red ca bbage.                                              

Ranelle took them on a slug hunt.  This was both cool and gross at the same time.  They found several slugs and snails so the hunt was considered a success.                       Although both kids can't wait to have their mom and dad home they are having fun and learning a few things while they wait.

Just call me Raquel

We went wig shopping today at Merle Norman in downtown Roseburg.  They had about 55 wigs on the wall and there were 3 long ones that I thought might work.  It was a completely weird experience.  I was so glad that I had Meg and my sisters, Ranelle and Rachelle with me. 

  We ended up liking one by Raquel Welch.  It is about my same hair color and a cute hairstyle.
 The owner was helping us and she wears a wig everyday, just because it is less hassle than doing her own hair.  I am not sure if I will ever get to that point, but for this summer I am going to embrace the wig as much as I can. 

  Tomorrow morning we go to Eugene to get the Medi-port put under my skin on my chest and also to test one of my lymph nodes. We will be gone all day.  I don't think I have ever gone under anesthesia before, wish me luck!

Morning of day 12

Five words......my hair is falling out.

Herceptin

Approximately 1 in 4 patients with breast cancer has HER2+ breast cancer. If you have HER2+ breast cancer, Herceptin is a therapy designed to help fight your kind of cancer.

How HER2+ breast cancer is different

Not all breast cancers are the same. HER2+ breast cancer cells have more HER2 receptors (a particular protein found on the surface of cells) than normal breast cells.

• Having too many HER2 receptors may make the cancer cells grow and divide faster, creating more HER2+ cancer cells
• HER2+ breast cancer is considered aggressive because it grows and spreads quickly.
• As part of a treatment course including the chemotherapy drugs Adriamycin^® (doxorubicin), Cytoxan^® (cyclophosphamide), and either Taxol^® (paclitaxel) or Taxotere^®(docetaxel). This treatment course is known as "AC→TH".

I startd my Herceptin therapy yesterday.  I seemed to have no side effects and handled it well.  Yesterday was also the first day in a week that I was able to stay home in the morning and do "normal" things. I made breakfast for the kids, we did some school, changed the sheets, it was GREAT!  I am feeling much better and looking forward to the long 3-day weekend.  Next Wednesday I get the Medi-port in my chest and will get one of my lymph nodes tested.  After that I start Round #2 of chemo and start this cycle all over again.  I am not going to think about that right now.  I am learning that through this process I can't think too much.  I have to just do what is needed today and not think about anything beyond that.  I am also learning that fluids are crucial during chemo.  I need to have water or powerade in my hand at all times.  Being hydrated seems to help the nausea, weakness, fatigue, etc. It is amazing to think that even after two bags of IV fluids, that I could possibly be dehydrated.
  These are just a few of my thoughts this morning.  Sending love to all of you!

My Hero!!!!!

Thanks to everyone that has reminded our family how much my sweetheart has touched the world around her.  I feel so thankful for the courage that she has shown to our kids and myself.  She is even more beautiful to me now than ever.  We can feel the prayers and positive feelings that are sent her way and know that she will have a speedy recovery.  The team of doctors that she has working on her behalf are great and seem to know what they are doing.  They are keeping her busy daily which is really causing her to be wiped out.  As a favor to our family we would appreciate it if you could only pass this on to family and friends.  Pray that she can get the rest she needs and that the proceedures will do their job well.  Thank you again.
Love Darryl, Meg, and Roman

More fluids???

So, this is basically me this past week.  Minus the gown.  They do let me wear my own clothes, thankfully!  Each day I have come into the Cancer Center to get 3 hours of fluids. Felt pretty rotten Sunday afternoon, Monday and Tuesday. Feeling better today, Wednesday.  Basically try to sleep while the fluid is running.  Scalp and bones are so sore.  They say the white cell injection makes the bones sore.  My heart beats have been irregular, racing and jumping all over the place.  So tomorrow is a big day.  Seeing the cardiologist in the early am.  Then lab work.  Then the oncologist.  Hopefully I'm on the upswing now so don't feel like death warmed over.  Actually put on jeans today. Spent the afternoon in bed or on the couch at Mom and Dad's yesterday while Darryl and his dad laid tile in the front bathroom.   
 Love to you all!
P.S.  Thank you Aaron, Sally, Cord and Emery for the blanket.  I have been snuggled up with it every day.  It is perfect.  Also thank you Nancy for the scarves, I know they will come in handy.  You all are so thoughtful.  Thank you!

Feeling Yucky!

Monday.  Went for CT scan early am.  After scan went to CC for IV hydration, 2 bags.  Heart beat is irregular.  Feels cold, clammy, dizzy.    Home by noon, went straight to bed.  Trying to sleep without much success.  Started fever.  MD sent to ER for EKG and Echo.  Home by 6pm.  Trying to sleep.  More IV hydration early Tuesday am.

A bit groggy...

Well, it is day 4 after chemo and I am feeling a bit groggy.  The mornings seem to be better, I wake up around 7:00 and feel like I have the energy to do a few things.  I went to church today and was feeling pretty good.  By the time I got home around 1:00, I was ready to lay down.  My head feels like I am in a dark, thick cloud.  It is a very strange feeling.  It is hard to concentrate.   I am drinking ginger/lemon water, thank you Rachelle, and that seems to keep the nausea away. 
  The kids are doing pretty good.  Meg's young women's leaders are really being supportive of her and helping her feel like she can share her feelings with them as well. 
  Thank you all for your calls and comments, please know that they are so helpful to us. 
We love you all!

Kinda normal Saturday

Kristen, Meg and g'ma went to the Oakland City Garage Sale.  Didn't find much to buy except pepper plants for the garden.  We were all tired from walking up and down the hills but it was a fun morning.  Stopped at the bread store on the way home to stock up our freezers.

My new theme song

This song came on the radio on our way up to Eugene to see the surgeon today.  I had heard it before, but now it really has a different meaning for our family.  Enjoy! 
 So it has been more than 24 hours since my treatment and so far, so good.  I feel like my cheeks are flushed, and I am a little tired, but I can't complain.  I can do this!!

Chemo Day 1

  Today was my first day of chemo, but before my appointment Rachelle and I went to the American Cancer Society to check out WIGS!  Yep.  WIGS. It was a bit weird.  Am I really shopping for wigs?  They had a huge selection.  I'd have been in business if I wanted to look like Carol Brady or Alice from the Brady Bunch!  Seriously!?!  Needless to say I did not leave with a wig.  I did find a couple hats and a beanie that will work however.
  The appointment was at 1pm in the Cancer Center in Roseburg.  Before they started chemo they drew blood to test for a genetic marker to see if I'm more susceptible to other cancers.  The surgeon uses the test results to help determine what kind of surgery I will need.  That lab test takes 1 month for results.   Then they gave me benadryl and pepcid for nausua and Kytril to help ensure I don't have a bad reaction to the chemo.  The two chemo drugs I'm doing are Cytoxin and Taxotere and each of those run for about an hour via IV. 
The benadryl made me very sleepy and relaxed.  When the chemo went in my arm it burned but with the help of a heat sock it wasn't too bad.  After 2 hours my first chemo session is done!!   I go back tomorrow for a White Blood Cell booster shot to help minimize the bad reactions! 
Darryl was by my side the entire time!  Waiting on me hand and foot.  He's been my rock! 
    Tomorrow I go to Eugene for a consult with the surgeon.  They need to put a Medi Port into my chest so that they don't have to put an IV in every time. This will require a small surgery.  The port is where they will administer the chemo going forward.  The fewer the needles the BETTER!!

What a difference a day makes!

Before May 1st.  I was looking forward to the end of the school year, riding bikes and going on hikes as a family and enjoying the long days of summer.  Little did I know my life would change in an instant!  May 11th I was diagnosed with Stage 2 Invasive Ductal Carcinoma.  aka Breast Cancer.   Who would have thought that at 34 years old I'd be faced with cancer.  After seeing my "female doctor", Ultrasounds, mamograms,MRI,  Oncologist and an Oncology surgeon, we finally have a plan.  A plan to get rid of this CANCER!    I start chemo immediately and will have 6 sessions in total.  Each session is two weeks long.   By the end of summer I will be done with chemo!! 
I'm confident that I will be alright....better than alright.  I will be great.   This is just a short bump in the road and I'm sure I will come out stronger and better in the end.
I'm using this blog for an emotional outlet, to document the process and to keep all those we love informed of how we are doing.       Please feel free to leave comments and to give me words of encouragement. 
I love you and am so grateful for your thoughts and prayers on my behalf.