PET scan

On Dec. 20 I had a PET scan because there was some concern about an area on my sternum that they had seen during the bone scan. The doctor called me the same day with the results and things look good, there's no evidence of cancer anywhere else. I didn't realize how nervous I was until I got the results and felt such incredible relief! I did a happy dance!

6th round

In the chair in the chemo room. I don't want to be here! This should be the last treatment though! Tomorrow I find out more about when the surgery will be or if I need radiation before. I'm meeting with a team of doctors at St. Mary's. I want to be done with all of this...

Hats!

There are people who knit and crochet hats that are given away for free to the patients at the Cancer Center. I love looking in the hat box everytime I'm there and picking out a new hat! There are also prayer shawls that people make also. Gilda's Club gives them away to members. I need to improve my crocheting skills so I can make things for people!

Cost of Care

As I sit here in the chair getting my IV drip of Cytoxan I was looking around and counting the other people here: there are 10 including me. The type of chemotherapy I'm getting consists of 3 drugs and costs over $10,000 for each treatment. The Neulasta injection that I get to boost blood cell production costs (if I read the bill correctly) over $7,000. Cancer is a serious money maker for hospitals.

Surgeon

Finally have an appointment with one of the women breast surgeons over at St. Mary's on Dec. 18. It took a while for my records to be faxed over but the nurse navigator helped get things moving along. I will be meeting with a nurse navigator at St. Mary's and also their financial aid guru. I heard he's great at finding grants and other forms of aid for people.

Back Again...

Had an appointment with my oncologist on Monday and I was supposed to have another round of chemo then. Oops! I thought I was done after 4. So I had it rescheduled to today. I need one more after this one. Apparently the ultrasound showed some improvement and six is the normal number of chemo treatments given. I was SO looking forward to having a good December with no treatments. Oh well....

This place is full of activity today! Met with the nurse navigator and the chaplain. Chatted with the patient in the next chair.

I didn't eat during treatment last time and felt nauseous right away even with the IV anti-nausea meds. I made sure to eat this time to see if that helps. I felt sick yesterday and actually threw up and turns out that's called "anticipatory vomiting". I have noticed that when I have blood drawn the smell from the tape they use makes me nauseous. Also, when my port is flushed with saline I get a metallic taste in my mouth. I have another anti-nausea drug to take along with the Compazine. It's called Zofran.

Stage 3b

The other day I searched online for survival statistics for stage 3b breast cancer.
According to the American Cancer Society site there is a 41% 5-year survival for that stage cancer. Not good. More worry.