I changed the description of my blog from “A diary of my
experience with breast cancer.” to “A diary of my experience with cancer.” It
was difficult for me to write my last blog as I had just found out that day
that my youngest sister, Mary has an 8 cm tumour on her lung. Since that day,
she was given a diagnosis of stage 4 non-small cell lung cancer. This blog in no
longer just about my breast cancer experience, but it now encompasses my
experience with my family’s cancer diagnoses.
In 2011, my Mother battled breast cancer at the same time
her sister was battling stomach cancer and then in 2012, my Mom’s brother passed
away a very short time after he was diagnosed with cancer. A few months after
that, my Aunt passed. 2012 was a very
rough year form my Mom’s family, besides losing 2 members of the immediate
family, there were other cancers found as well in the extended family. Those
battles still continue.
In September of 2013, I received my cancer diagnosis 2 days
after my Mother suffered a stroke. Now, here it is February of 2014 and my baby
sister is facing her battle. They plan
on giving her chemotherapy and they want to put in a catheter so she can drain
off the fluid build-up in her lung which allows her to breathe easier.
My diagnosis followed by my sister’s has left people in
shock. People cannot believe that 2 sisters in their forties can be diagnosed
with cancer at the same time. Prior to
2011, there was really not much cancer to speak of in our family, my aunt who
passed from stomach cancer had breast cancer years earlier, but she was treated
and cured. My uncle’s wife also had breast cancer. She has since been cured of
the cancer, but continues to struggle with lymphedema and other issues as a
result of her breast cancer treatment.
This has been a rough week for us, but I found out we are
not the only family who has been hit hard. I read in the Brandon newspaper that
a mother, who took time off of work to deal with her young son’s leukemia, has
now been diagnosed with breast cancer herself.
I cannot believe how evil cancer is; I pray a cure is found very soon.
Both my sister and I have received an outpouring of well
wishes, encouragement, and prayers for us. It has been extremely helpful in
boosting our hopefulness, especially for my sister who has heard people’s
personal stories of people living productive lives with stage 4 lung cancer
diagnoses. She is ready to fight and everyone is behind her all the way.
I just completed my 4th round of chemotherapy the
Friday before last and should only have 2 more to go. My treatment regime had
me on 3 chemo drugs (Fluorouracil, Epirubicin, and Cyclophosphamide) for the
first 3 rounds and 1 chemo drug (Docetaxel) for the last 3 rounds. The first couple of days after this last
treatment were pretty good. I wasn’t wiped out and needing sleep like I had
been after the other treatments. Then on Sunday, I started developing an itchy
rash on my back which spread up my back and popped up on my sides and stomach the
next day. Also on Monday, my fingers and thumbs started to really hurt and the
skin on my face began to get dry. I took Benadryl for the rash, which did not
help and on Tuesday when I woke up, I had a swollen upper lip and a slightly
swollen tongue, so I went into urgent care at CancerCare Manitoba. The
oncologist on call said it looked like I had been scratched by a cat, but it
was me scratching myself in my sleep. She prescribed me 3 steroid pills to be
taken once a day and a steroid lotion to apply to my rash. She also advised me
to keep taking the Benadryl.
On Wednesday the rash was still spreading and by Thursday
morning it had moved up onto the back of my head, so I called again and they
told me to come back. The same oncologist saw me once more and prescribed
another 2 more days of steroid pills and then consulted with another oncologist
about my case. Both oncologists agreed that I am likely done with the
Docetaxel, but my own oncologist would make that call. Later that day, Dr.
Bob’s nurse called and confirmed when I would be in for my exam prior to the
next chemo cycle and said that it is likely Dr. Bob will switch my chemo med.
Throughout this week, my fingertips and nail beds increasingly
become more painful leaving me unable to manipulate small objects; I could no
longer open up packages without help and I wake up with stiff hands that
resemble claws. It is now Saturday and the pain in my fingers has lessened,
which has made typing up this blog much easier. I had started this on the
weekend, but had to abandon it until my hands felt better. Even though the pain
has lessened in my fingertips, I have noticed my hands have darkened and the
piece of skin between my thumb and finger is very dark and the skin is quite sore
today.
Yesterday when I woke up, I rubbed my eyes and could not
believe how my lids stung. I looked in the mirror and surprised at how dark the
skin around my eyes is and how sensitive it is to the touch. My bald head with the darkness around my eyes
really makes me look like a cancer patient now. I have replaced my face lotion
with Glaxal Base, which is the best for sensitive skin and I am hoping the skin
around my eyes recovers quickly.
Eating has been difficult as well after this treatment. I have lost my sense of taste but I am having a lot of trouble swallowing. Even taking tiny bites and small sips, it is still painful. My mouth is also very sensitive to temperatures; food can be icy cold or too hot too eat. I take so long to eat now that I find that my food ends up being room temperature before I can even get half finished, so the problem kind of solves itself.
I will be really relived if they take me off of Docetaxal
and put me on something else. I am scared that the next allergic reaction will
be worse than this one and cause my airways to swell up and stop me from
breathing. On the other hand, I am also apprehensive about switching the med,
because I am worried about a higher recurrence of cancer. This was the
recommended treatment for me with all of my factors. I suppose I will find all
of this out when I go in to see Dr. Bob next week. I am not sure if a change in
my med will require more cycles of chemotherapy or not. I was supposed to have
my last cycle on March 28th and then 6 weeks after that I start
radiation treatments. I met with the
radiation oncologist two weeks ago and I hope to write about it in my next
blog.
After trying my new wig on a few times I have decided to
take it back. I find it to be kind of irritating and hot to wear. I find that I
am more comfortable with my hats or with my head not covered. I find that I
carry a couple of different weights of hats with me when I go places, so that
my head is neither too warm nor too cold.
And here again for all you
non-facebookers are another ten hats from my Hat of the Day project:
1/21/14
Today's Hat of the Day arrived in the mail this afternoon from Jona along with 2 other hats that will appear later. This hat was a little small on me, so I altered it by pulling the brim down. My apologies to the designer, but the Jacqueline Original from Toronto looks smart with the brim up or down. Thank you Jona for the beautiful hat!!!!
1/22/14
Today's Hat of the Day is a scarf I picked up from Target on Monday. I thought it was a little on the gaudy side, but something about the colours and the pattern struck a chord with me. I wore it around the house all day and I liked it so much I didn't want to take it off, so I figured I would dress myself up to match.
1/23/14
Today's Hat of the Day was my favourite hat to wear golfing. These days it means a little more to me. It has been at least 8 years since I spotted this breast cancer awareness hat in an expired Avon book and called up my Avon Lady, Keri to try and find me one. She told me they were tough to come by, but she managed to locate one for me. Thanks Keri!
1/24/14
How to put a flower in your hair when you don't have any.
Today's Hat of the Day is one I received from CancerCare Manitoba's Guardian Angel Caring Room. They had dozens of these hats in many colour combinations. I receive compliments from strangers whenever I wear it.
1/25/14
Today's Hat of the Day arrived on Friday from Quebec. It was accompanied by a note that said it was made with love & healing in every stitch. Thank you Margaret for the beautiful toque. It is keeping me company along with my little old man Finnegan while I recover in bed after yesterday's chemo.
1/26/14
Today's Hat of the Day is another purchased from an estate sale years ago. the hat's label says it is an A. Jolann Creation. I am also wearing a red velvet coat that I bought at a thrift store a couple of years ago.
1/27/14
Today's hat of the day is a CHICKEN! 2 of these arrived in the mail last Friday and I knew they were sent by my good friend and partner in crime, April. We will be wearing these the next time we go geocaching together. I cannot wait!!!
1/28/14
Today's Hat of the Day is too small for my head, but too wonderful not to show you. This complete feather hat was made by the Hubbard Felt Co. I did a little research into the company and according to a copy of the July 10, 1946 Montreal Gazette, Hubbard Felt Company Limited are "...manufacturers, wholesalers and distributors since 1926 of hats wool hoods and findings." I also found in an archive that Hubbard Felt changed their name to Hubbard Dyers in April 1965 and then Hubbard dyers was acquired by Dominion Textiles in 1972.
1/29/14
Today's Hat of the Day is another one sent to me by Jona. There are a couple of stamps in the hat, but they are too faded to read. I absolutely love the colour and the and style of this hat! Thanks again Jona!
1/30/14
Today's Hat of the Day is my Betty Boop bandana. I actually bought this bandana in 2004 to tie on my suitcase handle so I would be able to spot it when it came down the luggage carousel. I started wearing it on my head a couple of weeks ago. Pretty comfy. I think Lori might be right about her bandana collection!
