Half-Time

We are half way through the chemotherapy!  I start round #4 this Friday, July 6th.  My doctor is having me wait a few extra days before starting the 4th round.   I am thankful for the extra few days to regain my sense of self and to have the opportunity to spend time with my family, get out of the house, have some fun and also catch up on some things around the house.  But, I am also anxious for the chemotherapy to be over, and want to just get it done!  A few more tests on the horizon...I have a liver ultrasound and full body bone scan on Monday.
   Some of the Myler family came to Roseburg this weekend and it was so nice to see them and feel well enough to visit and spend time with them.  I feel very lucky to have such a wonderful extended family.  I have felt nothing but love and support from all of you!.  THANK YOU!!

Chemo side effects and helpful tips

I have been thinking alot about all of the side effects that chemotherapy has on your body lately.  I thought it might be helpful to write them all down and also document some of the things that I think are helping me through this process. I truly hope that none of you ever have to go through this.  This information is to help me remember, once this summer is over, but also to help anyone else who may know someone going through chemo.  Remember, these are things that I am experiencing, and have found that help me, everyone reacts differently.  So, here it goes....

Fatigue................................1Tbsp of bee pollen in the morning mixed with juice.
Weakness............................bee pollen. Rest, rest, rest!
Dry lips................................a great chapstick (I use Burt's Bees-thank you Ranelle)
Dehydration.........................have both water and Powerade with you at all times, alternate back and forth.
Nausea................................wear SeaBand nausea wrist bands meant for motion sickness, they work!   Can also drink ginger water.  Eat Ritz crackers periodically throughout the day. That helps to settle your tummy. 
Scalp pain.............................This happened at the beginning for me, right before my hair started to come out.  It only lasts a few weeks.  Once your hair falls out, it doesn't hurt anymore.
Hair loss................................Sorry, not much I can do about that!  It will just happen.
Cold bald head........................Buffs are my new best friend-thank you mom and Robin!
Hot bald head.........................Put a cold rice sock on your head.  Just go bald as much as you can.
Taste changes.........................Again, not much I have found to help that.  Food just doesn't have much taste during chemotherapy.  Your taste buds are fried.
Dizziness...............................Try to stay as hydrated as possible.  Lay in bed. :)
Fever/chills..............................Call your doctor if over 100 degrees.  They will let you know what to do.
Watery eyes..............................
Fingernails are sore......................
Runny nose....................................keep tissue with you at all times.
Steroid cheeks............................You have to take steroids twice a day for the first four days of chemo, they are supposed to give you energy and help your body accept the chemo.  They seem to make my cheeks flushed and also a little puffy.  Not much to do about that.
Loss of appetite..........................just try and eat when you can.  Lots of fruits and veggies.  Healthy foods!
Pale skin.....................................I try to sit out in the sun for half an hour at a time, it really feels good!
Constipation................................Take stool softeners.  Sorry, just being honest.
Muscle/bone aches....................Can take Aleve, but for me it only lasts a few days, so I just try and get through it.  Pain killers are constipating, so I opt not to take them, if I can help it.
Chemo brain..................................This is the dark cloud I have been talking about.  I do think that the bee pollen is helping somewhat with this, but I can still tell when it comes over my brain and it doesn't leave until about day 9 after chemo. 
Fingernails get brittle and break off...........This did not happen until about 1 week after the 5th round. My nails were still sore, but then they started to come away from the skin about half way down the nail. They then started to break off.  So far 5 of the 10 nails have come off.  So far my toenails are still intact.

Vitamins I am taking:

Calcium
Magnesium
Zinc
Essiac Tea
Fish Oil
Vitamin C
CoQ10

  I was taking all of these vitamins at the very beginning.  Then, the nutrionist advised me not to take them during chemo.  The CoQ10 I was taking to protect my heart, but she said that it protects the cells, which we don't want during chemo.  I want the chemo to kill the cells, I don't want to protect any cancer cells.  I did continue to do the Essiac tea as I could tolerate it.  It really tastes horrible, so some days I just could not stomach it.  But I tried.  So, I would say, talk to a nutrionist about what vitamins, if any, that you should take during any kind of treatment. 

+++First thing in the morning, get up grab your Powerade and water.  Drink as much as you can. 
+++Get hats, Buffs and wig before your hair falls out.
+++If you are up to it, put on a little makeup.  It helps me feel more like me and not so much like a chemo patient!
+++Pack a bag with a blanket, Ritz, chapstick, water, pillow, book, etc.  to take with you to your appointments.  This has really come in handy for me.  Most times I can't concentrate on reading, but sometimes I am sitting there for 2-3 hours, so it is nice to have some options.  
+++Buy a great scarf.   It's amazing how cold your neck gets without hair.  Also, all of the infusions make you feel cold.  I rarely leave the house without my scarf around my neck.

My thoughts today before Round #3

I am nervous.  I am anxious.  But, I kmow that I can do this.  I read a blog about another young mom who was going through breast cancer and chemo.  She wrote how she felt right before chemo as if she was going away on a trip for the next 7-10 days, but the only place that you are going is to your bed.  And don't forget on this trip you are going to be very, very sick.  I can totally relate to how she feels.  So, if I don't reply to your emails or calls for the next week, just remember I am away on a "trip." 

“One day at a time--this is enough. Do not look back and grieve over the past for it is gone; and do not be troubled about the future, for it has not yet come. Live in the present, and make it so beautiful it will be worth remembering.”

It's shrinking!

Tuesday we went up to Eugene to see Dr. Schauer, our surgeon.  He did an ultrasound to compare the size of the tumor from when we first started this whole process.  It is now down to 2.8cm.  The surgeon was SO happy.  He really felt like it was shrinking very fast and by the time my 6 rounds of chemo were over, that it would be completely gone.  To see the black spot on the ultrasound this time was very different from the first time.  He was having a hard time locating it this time!!  The first time there was no question where it was, and the black spot was very big on the screen.  He really had to search for it this time.  So that means that the chemo is working!!  Well, also the Essiac tea that I have been drinking and also the lemon water that I drink constantly has been helping, I am sure.

Did you know that lemons are a great cancer fighter and are supposed to be stronger than chemotherapy in killing cancer cells?  Everyone, eat and drink lots of lemons this summer! 

We sent Meg off to Girls Camp this morning.  Actually, it is just Beehive Camp.  The older girls are going on a Trek, so the Beehives get their own camp this year.  They are going to Camp Mooney, just outside of Winston.  She will be back Saturday evening.  She has some great leaders, I am sure they will all have a fantastic time! 

Yesterday was our last day of school!  I am so glad!  That was one of the really hard parts about being so sick, was that I felt guilty that the kids were not getting their school time.  So now I won't have to worry about that.  School starts on September 4th and I am hoping that I will be done with chemo and also have had surgery by then.  So I will be healthy enough to start their school year again!  Meg will start 7th grade and Roman will start 2nd. 

I am starting to feel more like my old self these past few days.  It is nice to be able to do things and spend time with the kids.  We are going to enjoy this weekend and try not to think about Round #3 starting on Monday. 

It is so nice to see the pictures of the boys' hair cuts and everyone sporting pink!  I know that I am not alone in this process.  Thank you for that.  It means the world to us to know that our family is supporting us, even from a distance. 

Roman and I were talking yesterday and he said, "you know, I thought it was going to be scary when you told us you had cancer, but it isn't."   I secretly let out a huge sigh of relief.  Then gave him a BIG HUG!!

Winning....

"You NEVER know how strong you are until being STRONG is  the only Choice you have."

Josh

Ryan J

Michelle and Nathan ran Race for Ohm last weekend.  All proceeds went to Roseburg Cancer Center

   Everyone is doing what they can to help support Kristen.  No gesture is too small and no gesture is taken for granted. 

.

Nathan

     From the very beginning of this process everyone has been so supportive and have shown their love for Kristen, Darryl, Meg and Roman in so many ways.  Everything from family shaving their heads, care packages that included a cozy blanket, socks, scarves, hats, treats, Buffs and chapstick.  Many have made meals, dropped off cookies, notes of encouragement, flowers left on the doorstep, giving Meg and Roman rides, inviting them to do stuff, cards, running races, wearing pink, phone calls, endless prayers and more. 

Colton sporting his pink socks for summer basketball.

Mikayla wore pink for her basketball games.

Every little and not so little thing is so appreciated and is helpful in keeping Kristens spirits high... especially on the bad days.

With so much love and support from family and friends Kristen has no choice but to WIN!!

No mutation!

Today we got the results back from the genetic testing that they did about a month ago.  They were testing to see if I was genetically more susceptible to other types of cancers.  The surgeon had told us that if this was positive, then they would just do a mastectomy and also a hysterectomy, as ovarian cancer is closely related to breast cancer. 

Well the results are negative!!  YAHOO!! 

Tomorrow we go back to Eugene to see the surgeon.  They will measure the tumor to see how the chemo is working.  It started out at 4cm.  Anyone want to take a guess at what it will be tomorrow, after two rounds of chemo??

A look at Round #2-Week 1

I am truly blessed to have such a wonderful family!  I got a text from Devery with Denise and Rance's pictures and I was completely overwhelmed.  I was speechless!  The tears just starting flowing!   I hope each one of knows how much you mean to me and that I can feel your love and support each day.  A little birdie told me that a few of the boys are planning on shaving their heads too, if you decide to do it, please take pictures, I would love to see them and also to put them on the blog for everyone in the family to see! 

 Darryl had to shave my head again today.  So now it is definately BALD!  It is a very weird feeling.  But the tiny little hairs were falling out all over the place.  When I wake up in the morning my pillow is all "fuzzy" as Meg put it. Each time I would touch my head, I would have hair all over my hand.  What a strange reality we live in!

  I am going to try and recap last week....Friday started Round #2 of chemo.  Saturday and Sunday felt so weak and run down.  Which was different from the first time around, which I did not feel too bad until day 5.  Monday-Wednesday went each morning and got 1 liter of fluids.  Also got the Neupagen (white blood cell booster) shot on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.  Wednesday after my fluids I really felt horrible.  I went home and laid down in bed.  About an hour later, I started a fever up to 101.6, chills, sweats..we called the oncologist and he told us to start an antibiotic and to take Tylenol every 4 hours.  That was a very long day.  I was in bed from noon until about 6am Thursday.  I was able to sleep some of that time, but not much.  Thursday morning the fever had gone down to 99.0.  I had an appointment for lab work at 11:00 and then back to get fluids.  Darryl took me in, usually it takes 5 minutes to get blood work.  But that day the phlebotomist was new and not as fast.  We waited for about half an hour.  She finally got us in and drew my blood.  We went right upstairs to get fluids.  By then I was feeling so weak I did not think I could even make it back to the chair.  I pictured myself just collapsing right there in the waiting room.  Fortunately, I did not do that!  They got me right back, took one look at me and got my IV started.  They did 1 liter of fluids, then 1 liter of Rocephin (an antibiotic) and then another liter of fluids.  Darryl said I was so pale and that my lips were white.  Went home and slept.  Friday morning mom came and took me back for more fluids and also the Herceptin therapy and the Neupagen shot.  We were there for 4 hours. 

  Today I am feeling weak, but better than Thursday for sure!  I am glad that I got the Mediport put in.  All they have to do is put a little bit of Lidocaine under the skin and then poke this little thing into the port under my skin.  It is SO much better than trying to get a vein every time.  I was able to take off the binder that I have been wearing since surgery.  It is just a wrap that they wrapped around my chest and abdomen to keep pressure on the surgery site.  There is a big bruise under my arm and it is very sore. 

  I want you to know that prayers are answered.  I have said so many little prayers over these past few weeks.  Little things like, please don't let me throw up,  don't let me throw up.  Or just let me make it back to the chair, or make this dizziness go away, please make the dizziness go away.  All of these things have been what I needed at the moment and Heavenly Father has helped me.  I know He is with us and He is watching over our every need.  I love you all!  Have a great weekend!

We Love You!

New Happenings at the Larsen home!

 We loved Kristen's new look and thought we'd join her--our hair will grow when hers does!

We love you Kristen!

...Isla wasn't so sure what to think about all of grandma's hair on the floor... but she's fine now!

Happy Dance

Finally some good news.  All 7 nodes that were taken when Kristen had surgery came back NEGATIVE!!! The cancer has not spread to the Lymphatic system. YAY!  If she wasn't hooked up to an IV at the Cancer Center Kristen would for sure be doing a happy dance.  Feel free to do your own happy dance in her honor!   I know I am. 

Round #2 and the hair cut

Well, it has been a few days.  Thursday, the day after surgery we rested and tried to recooperate.  Then Friday it was back to the Cancer Center for Round #2 of chemo.  I must say, I was a bit apprehensive, knowing what I was getting myself into.  But, I am trying to picture little soldiers marching into my veins, armed and ready to kill those awful CANCER cells.  Unfortunately, chemo doesn't just kill cancer cells.  It kills the good ones too.  So I guess that is why I feel so miserable. 
  Friday night I could not stand it any longer, the hair had to go.  It was getting so matted and brittle and as hard as it was to get the clippers out and do it...it actually felt good to get it off, even through the tears!!
 Meg kept telling me, "You're okay mom, you're okay." 
 Roman said, "You look like me!" 
I think we have the bravest kids in the whole world.  I know this is hard for them, but they are showing such bravery and strength, I am so proud of them!

I know, it is not pretty.  But, that is what chemo does to you! 

Back to get fluids tomorrow and hopefully to find out the results of the 7 lymph nodes that the surgeon took out.