Follow Up Appointments & Brain MRI

Since radiation ended and Herceptin & Arimidex began, I've had several follow up appointments. 

On 9/23/16 I returned to Dr. Ehrichman (my plastic surgeon) so that he can see how "the new girls" are doing and if radiation has affected them at all.  I always feel so good seeing him, he always greets me with a big gianormous hug, it's good for the self esteem (LOL).  We talked about where I am now in treatment and how I've been.  After he evaluated me - he was extremely happy with how my right breast looked after radiation.  Even though my skin has been damaged & the implant has become stiffer than the left breast, he was encouraged with where I was and how my chest looked.  I had many, many questions for him (as usual).  We discussed if we will make any adjustments to the left breast to even it out to the right since radiation altered the look and feel of it.  We also discussed finishing the girls off, meaning getting the nipples on!  Yes, that's right, with surgery & radiation, first the skin has to heal before we can complete the appearance of them.  That will be the last part to complete.  He still doesn't think we are ready for that as we need to give the skin another 4 months to heal before we can make those decisions, but it was a good and funny conversation to say the least! 

I also had a follow up with Dr. Zhou (my radiation oncologist) on 10/12/16. I was fortunate that my skin didn't get damaged until of course, the very last week of radiation.  Despite that, Dr. Zhou, was happy with how my skin and chest looked.  The radiation did make my right breast area stiffer so she did recommend that I make sure to continue with the arm exercises to maintain my range of motion.  She wants to see me again in 6 months!


Every 3 weeks when I go for my Herceptin treatment, I see Dr. Browne (my oncologist).  We reviewed where I am, discussed the joint pain that hasn't changed since July, the results from the rheumatologist and also she evaluated me.  Because the results from the Rheumatologist didn't give any signs as to why I am having this intense joint pain, she recommended that I now reach out to my primary doctor and request for a second opinion from another rheumatologist AND to test out taking Aleve to see if it would break the pain cycle.  I did reach out to my primary and she suggested that I try taking a steroid.  I took Dexamethasone for 3 days and it did make the joint pain go away a bit.  Based on those results, she wanted to me to also take Prednisone to see if that would also make the pain go away completely.  Honestly, I was hesitant to take it and haven't yet.  The pain has since come back and now I'm re-thinking trying it out.  I just don't want to take pills for pain.  I want to understand "WHAT" is causing the pain - then, I will commit to taking anything for it.  I understand it's about quality of life because the pain is so intense, but man, I just really dislike taking any more meds than I already have to - UGH!  I'm still debating if I should give in to it - or just continue to struggle with the pain?  Mind over matter is what I keep telling myself.  I've also been getting some bad, consistent headaches, which is unusual for me.  I brought this up to Dr. Browne and she wants me to go get an Brain MRI to be sure there is nothing going on.  Scary stuff.  I can't even imagine!  I'm happy that she is proactive - I go on 11/12/16 for the brain MRI.  Now, because I had a allergic reaction to the contrast dye that your have to take for the MRI a while back, I have to take other meds to prevent another allergic reaction.  So much for not taking any additional med, huh?  Gosh - will this ever end?  I feel like every day, something new presents itself.  I'm so aware of what "used to be normal" for me before the "Big C", but since, I'm still figuring out what is normal now.  I don't want to be a hypochondriac, but I find myself being so conscience of my body and how I feel and how things feel and what feels ok versus not, but honestly, I'm not quite sure what is normal or not these days.  It's really frustrating!  I just want to feel normal, I want to feel good, I want to drop these 30 plus pounds that don't want to come off my body and I want to feel healthy again.  There's days I feel awesome and then there's days I feel like I'll never really feel truly normal again.  I try NOT to complain because at the end of the day, I'm alive and I'm here and that's EVERYTHING!  But, when you are in constant daily pain, it just sucks!  Ok, rant over.... off to the brain MRI I go - wish me luck!


Brain MRI Results - Negative for anything abnormal!!!  I can breathe!!!

Making Strides Against Breast Cancer 10/30/16

On Sunday, October 30th, 2016, Team Alton participated in the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk in Nashua, NH at Greeley Park.  Words cannot express my gratitude for everyone who has supported Team Alton in this past year in numerous ways.  Many thanks to everyone who donated and walked with Team Alton.  We were recognized as a Top Earning Team, raising over $4,000 towards future research for breast cancer.  My heart is beyond warm.

 

Let there be Hair!!!!!!

Is that hair I see - YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!  OMG, I can't even begin to explain how exciting this is to see hair growing back!  One always fears that it might NOT grow back.  I am so happy to say that it is!!!  Today is an amazing day!!!

9/19/16 Continuation of Treatment - Herceptin & Arimidex - where we go from here.....

Everyone keeps saying "you're done, now you can move on".  I chuckle and think to myself.....if only it was that simple.  Sadly, me being "Done", couldn't be further from the truth!   I'm NOT done, far from it actually. 

Although, I've completed the "major" parts of my treatment, I still have to go for Herceptin treatment thru the chest port (oh that damn chest port) every 3 weeks until what looks like March of 2017 and I'll be on a drug called Arimidex for the next 10 years of my life, not to mention a few more surgeries on the horizon within the next year, I'd say I still have a long way to go, but as always, hopeful and full of gratitude!! 

Herceptin is nothing new for me as I had begun with that from the very start with the beginning chemo back in January 2016.  Because I am HER2+, it is a targeted treatment that helps reduce estrogen production which causes certain breast cancers. 

Arimidex is an Aromatase Inhibitor which also reduces estrogen production.  People that are Post Menopausal tend to go on this drug.  I am beginning this today 9/19/16 and will be on it, assuming I can tolerate it, for the next 10 years of my life.  The lovely side effects that go along with Arimidex are - hot flashes, joint & muscles pain, bone loss, hair thinning among many others - sounds fun right?  If my joint pain gets any worse, I worry that I might not be able to walk, it's that bad!  Time will tell and I'm hopeful that I can tolerate the drug and not have any major side effects.

9/19/16 Rheumotologist - Oh the Joint Pain!

Beginning mid July, I started having some joint pain, mainly in the ankles.  I didn't think much of it because when we went on vacation we did ALOT of walking, so I thought it was just that.  However, since then, the joint pain that began in my ankles has moved up to my knees, my hips, my shoulders, my elbows, my wrists, my hand knuckles all the way full circle to my toes!  I have a pretty high threshold for pain, but this is unreal!  It's excruciating!!!  Its painful to walk and my hand and feet are swollen.  I can't even wear my wedding rings and half my shoes don't fit.  I mentioned it to my obgyn oncologist at my follow up appointment from my hysterectomy & oophorectomy surgery and also to my regular oncologist and they both agreed that these are not normal side effects from treatment or the recent surgery.  All the potential reasons of why I would have joint pain are not issues for me and they cannot figure out WHY I am having the severe pain.  Meanwhile, I am at the point in my treatment where Dr. Browne wants me to start Arimidex, which is the medication I will be on for the next 10 years.  It's an estrogen blocker which I will need to take to prevent recurrence, but one of the side effects of this drug is that it does cause joint pain.  Both oncologists suggested I go see a rheumatologist to see if there was something else going on that is causing the pain through every major joint area within my body.  Because of this, they want me to hold off on starting Arimidex until I see the rheumatologist to not alter any tests they might have me go thru.


On 9/19/16, I went to see Dr. John Gorman, he reviewed my case and he did an evaluation.  He also suggested that I get a full blood work up with some very specific tests to see if there is any issues.  Got all the tests done today.  The results came back reflecting that I have a Positive ANA which is an indicator of Lupus, however, all other variables that would indicate Lupus, are negative.  I also had elevated levels of inflammation.  The end result is that nothing they saw on the blood testing indicates why I am having the joint pain or what can be potentially causing it from that perspective.  Back to square one with the pain.   I hope this isn't going to be the "new normal" because I must say, my whole body HURTS constantly!!!

9/2/16 End of Radiation

I've been looking forward to this day ALMOST as much as I did to the end of chemo, almost!  Today completes my Radiation treatment - whaaahoooo!!!! Six weeks (28 sessions) of radiation is done!  Overall, I've held up pretty good considering all things!  The side effects are cumulative and I was doing great until the last week.  That's when the side effects kicked in for me.  I never really had any additional fatigue, but the skin changes appeared despite my treating my skin with Aquaphor and Eucerin.  My right chest wall is what was radiated directly.  When I look at my right chest side, it now looks like a have a REALLY dark brown/red tan/burn.  It really hurts.  Apparently, it may get worse before it gets better as the effects are cumulative.  Doctors orders were to continue with the lotions and if it becomes blistery, skin breaks or bleeds to contact them immediately.  I thought I got lucky with no effects, but not a chance!  I'll take the skin changes because it represents another phase DONE!  I even received a Radiation Completed DIPLOMA!  As proud I am of my MBA, this diploma means more than words can express!  It's a LIFE SAVING diploma!





2nd Opinion - Peace of Mind

For those that know me very well, they know that I am relentless for information and facts.  As much as I have been happy with my medical team - they have been phenomenal, I had this feeling in my gut that keeps pushing me to get another opinion as a check to my overall treatment since surgery.  I have this unsettled feeling that perhaps there is MORE that can be done, anything, something more to decrease my chances of recurrence.  I needed to either hear all the same information from someone else with a new set of eyes or something completely different with some other possible options.  In my past, my gut has NEVER led me in the wrong direction, only when I haven't listened to it.  So, with that, we decided that we needed to seek out that other opinion. 

On 8/1/16, I finally got in to see Dr. Steve  Isakoff from Mass General.  He had all my records, had reviewed all my charts etc and we had a wonderful conversation about my treatment and prognosis.  He concurred with all that I had done so far and the plan for the future.  I did not qualify for any clinical trials at this time but we discussed possible future ones.  We also discussed all the things "I can do" going forward for myself to help myself beyond all the treatment and surgeries.  I walked away from our meeting, feeling PEACE OF MIND and for that, I am beyond grateful!