Friday | Breast Cancer's Triple Play!

I’m sitting here at chemo with Xavier. Once again the nurse was able to get blood return from my port so my arm was spared. Thank God for small miracles. The neuropathy continues to be a problem. I can’t sleep. The numbness, tingling, and pain continue to keep me awake, as do the non-stop thoughts that run through my mind. Unisom doesn’t help at all. My right breast continues to fill up with fluid. I see Dr. W on Friday, if not sooner. He will probably remove about 100 cc’s this time.

I got some nice news yesterday. Back in April I saw an article in a magazine that mentioned a website that caters to breast cancer patients/survivors. The website is breastcancerfreebies.com. This website is exactly what it sounds like, a place where people affected by breast cancer can find freebies such as wigs, mammograms, scholarships, lymphedema sleeves, retreats, and financial assistance. I found a retreat that I thought looked interesting: little pink houses of hope.

Little Pink Houses provides FREE week-long beach retreats in private homes in North and South Carolina for breast cancer patients and their immediate families. The aim is to promote recovery and reconnection in a relaxing environment. Meals are served in a common area with other families. Activities include fishing, yoga and parasailing. Babysitting is provided so parents can have a date night. Click Here, or call 336-213-4733.

I applied for one of the retreats that same day. I then forgot about it until a week or so ago. I figured if we had been accepted, we would have been notified in early June. Well, yesterday, I received a call and the woman informed me that my family had been accepted. I guess we were on the wait list. One of the families that had been accepted had to cancel. We will be going to Emerald Isle, NC for a week this summer. I am excited. We could definitely use the break. According to the woman I spoke with, all of the families get their own houses for the week. The house is stocked with breakfast food and some snacks. Lunch and dinner is usually with the other families. There are also activities that the families do together. It will be nice to be with people who are going through the same things that you are. In past retreats, the activities included kayaking, sailing, fishing, hang gliding, golf, stand up paddle boarding, massages, etc. It looks like a lot of fun. The only expense to the families is the cost of getting to the location. We will probably drive down to North Carolina and maybe visit some family on the way.

This morning I did 35 minutes on my stationary bike (the Tour de France model). I did a part of stage 2. I didn’t have time to finish the stage because I had to get to my appointment. I think I’ve only ever done Stage 1, Stage 2, and Stage 3 (not at one sitting, my butt would be hamburger). In one of my last posts I joked that steroids aren’t included but I realized later that I do take steroids. Every week. Unfortunately they are the kind that PLUMP YOU UP. They don’t PUMP YOU UP. When all this is done, I’d love to get rid of the spare tire that has been developing in my stomach area. Damn you steroids. I always had some junk in the trunk but my stomach was always pretty flat, even after 3 kids.

Just finished up with chemo. The needle has been removed. We are heading home. Later!

PS- Family- that date that I mentioned as a possible going away party for Chris, it isn’t going to happen. We will be heading home from North Carolina.

I went to a family reunion last Saturday. It was nice seeing everybody but by 5 pm, I was exhausted. I can do without the fatigue. It makes me feel less than normal.

Sunday I did the readings at the 10:30 mass. Even though my hair is growing in, I wore a fedora. Charles recommended that I dye my hair to cover the gray as I’ve been unhappy about my appearance (one breast, an extra 20 pounds, etc) and I was unhappy with the result. You would think it would be easy to dye very short hair. Not! I felt like I was coloring my scalp instead of my hair, so some spots were missed. I probably should have gone with dark brown but decided to go for auburn. Hey, it’s something different. By Thursday, my hair was looking halfway decent, so the hat came off. Also, it was too damn hot for a hat. By Friday, I was liking the color.

Monday was spent cleaning the house. It definitely looks much nicer when it’s clean.

I had chemo on Tuesday. Xavier brought me. Charles was working on some things at home. It went OK. The nurse was able to get blood from my port. I took a deep breath and held it! Hopefully that trick will work again next week. I appreciate not having to have my left arm poked for blood draws. The whole ordeal took around 4 hours and change. Xavier and I just hung out together and played video games/read on our respective electronic devices. I was queasy for a couple of days after.

On Thursday, I saw the Police Department surgeon. I see him again on July 25th. He is anxious to get me back to work. Hopefully chemo will be done on July 16th and I will go back to work (light duty). I have time built up so I will probably start working just a few days a week and build myself up. Eventually I will have to go for additional surgery, but I don’t want to consider surgery until after we go on vacation in August. I’d like to have a nice time away & not spend my time recuperating from yet another surgery. I need a break (as does the rest of the family).

On Friday, I took a nice bike ride on a trail nearby. I went from Chester to Goshen, where I stopped and picked up a bike helmet and some water and put some air in my front tire. It was a gorgeous day. I made it back to Chester, (my ass was killing me by then), and discovered that my front tire was flat. Thank God I made it and I didn’t have to walk my bicycle back. I then had to take my bike to another bike shop to get the flat fixed. My body is still hurting from the ride. Real bike riding is definitely different from riding a stationary bicycle (even one that inclines and declines so I can “ride” the Tour de France-Steroids Not included). (See Dr. W, I didn’t involve my chest muscles in my workout… at least not that much, just every other part of my body).

Christian graduated today (now yesterday). The weather was beautiful (though a bit hot). We brought a canopy to the outside ceremony so we didn’t have to sit in the sun. I was still exhausted by the time the graduation was done, probably due to a combination of my aching body and the heat. We all then went out for lunch. It was nice. It will be sad when Christian leaves for school. I vegged out when we got home. I couldn’t sleep though. Too achy. We can’t do a graduation party yet so maybe we’ll have a going away party for him instead.

……Hours later……I’m exhausted and I can’t sleep! Damn neuropathy in my right lower leg, foot, and toes (not to mention the pain and itching in my right shoulder and breast area and the pain under my fingernails). And Damn you Taxotere! Your side affects are driving me nuts. I just took an over the counter sleep medicine. I hope it works. Since I didn’t stay asleep, I stepped outside and took a look at “Super moon“. It was definitely super.