Happy Memorial Day weekend, hope everyone is having a wonderful start to the summer. I had the first CSA dinner this weekend and everyone had a wonderful time. The food was an adventure for some and conversation very lively. So those that could not come to the first dinner, there will be another opportunity so stay tuned for next dinner invitation. Hopefully the weather will cooperate, and we can eat outside.
Week 9 we continued with the Taxol and Herceptin. One of the main reasons was that the rash was somewhat stable, and the neuropathy seemed to come and go based on level of inflammation that implied it could be temporary. I also was interested if there were any studies that indicated the effectiveness of Herceptin with only 8 weeks of Taxol rather than 12. Per my Oncologist none of the studies had a large enough sample to be able to draw any conclusions. The closer to the 12 Taxol and Herceptin infusions I could achieve the better off I would be. We continue to make the decision week to week. During this week the rash on my arms does not seem to be responding to the cortisone cream as well. During the middle of the day and at night – about 5 hours after application – I start to feel itchy, the rash seems to become raised and look a bit more red. I cannot tell you how hard it is not to scratch. The neuropathy has settled into my finger tips and pads, and more often I am feeling pain in my hands which seems to be happening when my arms and hands feel swollen – inflammation. I ask the oncology nurses what else I could do to eliminate the inflammation, and they had nothing else to tell me that I was not already doing. My decision at the very beginning of this journey to change my diet and eliminate foods that cause inflammation and other sources of inflammation in my life, has proven to be prophetic. I suspect I would be having a much more difficult time if I had not done this. Once the chemo started, I would not have had the ability for my body to fight back inflammation since the chemo creates it by its very presence. The only day that I felt off this week – funky stomach - was Friday, but I was not able to walk that day due to appointments and running around I had to do. Walking in the morning makes all the difference as to how I feel the entire rest of the day. I am sure I feel it more acutely because of how sensitive my system is right now, but I am hopeful I can keep this up even after this year is over. Things are starting to build, and I am feeling a bit more lethargic during the middle of the day. Not so much tired as unmotivated because things feel like too much to do. I can power through this most days, and usually I feel better afterwards. I have decided I am done with this game, I do not want to play anymore. No one seems to be listening, oh well I power on. For my Lions this week, make sure you take advantage of the long weekend that marks the start of summer no matter where you are and what the weather is like. Make sure you hug those you care about and seize the moment for those spontaneous opportunities. We go around once; the moment may not present itself again. My seize the moment for this weekend, it to take the opportunity to meet new people and learn new things. Happy Memorial Day Weekend.
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AuthorLesley is an adventurous, musical and happy person that has been diagnosed with stage 1 breast cancer. Archives
October 2018
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