My last chemo treatment was Friday, June 13th.
A couple weeks prior, Jon and I had gone to Saugatuck and after dinner decided to visit a couple of the cool shops. We stumbled across a really fun store named Hoopdee Scootee. Let's just say that we ignored the signs that said "no pictures please" while Jon snapped away as I tried on lots of funny wigs. We were having entirely too much fun and laughing hysterically, until we were politely asked to leave. I think we may have been a little over the top. The next morning we woke up and decided to head back to the store for damage control...actually, to try on more wigs and take more pics! We were the first ones to get there when the store opened and were greeted by the owners (husband/wife). We explained what had happened the night before and apologized and the owners were so sweet...the wife shared how her mother was also a breast cancer survivor and that we could try on as many hats/wigs and take as many pictures as we wanted!
After lots of great wig options, we decided to go with the hot pink ROCKSTAR wig:
and Jon dared me to wear the wig for my last chemo treatment...except I had to wear it from when I woke up 'till when I went to bed. Hmmm...my sweet husband lost another bet. That morning I came down to make breakfast for the kids before school and you better believe I was sportin the new do.
We had so many laughs at my last chemo treatment. I even had another patient ask for my autograph.
Ok, I had some funny looks out to dinner at Old Boys!
The side effects with my last treatment were worse than the three before, but again nothing too crazy. Mainly muscle/bone aches from the white blood cell count shot. My next oncology appt. is this Friday. I will go every 3 months for the first year, then every 6 months the second and third year and then once a year my fourth and fifth year to make sure that my lab work is good and that there are no signs of the cancer returning.
My biggest hurdle since the last treatment has been the recurring c-diff (Clostridium Difficile) which I've had two additional bouts. Evidently, it is common to have c-diff return especially during chemo since your immune system is weak and compromised. Thankfully, not requiring a hospital visit/stay, but had me in bed several days. I am currently on a new medicine and I'm praying that the c-diff is in the past and won't return.
The surgeon consultation went well with Dr. Hammond. He was confident that once my body had time to recover and heal from chemo, that he would be able to help me with the next phase of my GI-JEN journey...tatas. What I wasn't expecting to hear is that he would need to remove and replace my right tissue expander (left expander was removed in March due to an infection). Basically, starting over. At first, a tough pill to swallow until he explained that the right tissue expander had capsuleture (scar tissue build up) and that it would have to be replaced in order to heal properly and effectively for final reconstruction. My next appt. is this morning (Monday) where we will hopefully schedule the first surgery for the right expander to be removed and two new expanders put in. Welcome back drain tubes! Then it's "fills" until my tissue has expanded to the breast size that I'm comfortable with...sorry honey, no double DD's for this chickaroo! Then it will be time to schedule the final reconstruction surgery...woohoo!
Other than the bouts with c-diff, I feel better every day. I'm slowly starting to workout again. It's hard to believe that other than a few times, it's been almost 10 months. I'm feeling very out of shape, but trying to be gentle, forgiving and patient on my body. Boy, do I look forward to getting back to a regular workout regimen.
My hair is also starting to grow...ever so slowly. I kind of look like a freshly hatched baby chicken...my new hair is very fuzzy and soft. I've been told that it could come back a different color (usually grey) and curlier and will take about a year for it to be similar to my old hair color/texture. It's odd, but I was actually more comfortable with being completely bald than with this next phase. I am quickly reminded that it could be so much worse, so I will embrace this "baby chicken-like" hair style!
I continue to pray that God uses me to share my story so that I can help and educate others about the issues related to dense breast, but even more importantly, to share my faith.
Words cannot express the gratitude that my family and I feel for your continued prayers, support and love! Thank you so very much!
If anyone is interested in a fun day of golf, I would love to see you at this fundraiser to support Are You Dense, Inc, an organization dedicated to early breast cancer detection. Thanks to my sister, Jody, for putting this together!!
Prayer request:
C-Diff does not return
Scheduled date for first of two surgeries
Oncology appt. goes well with lab work
Opportunities to share my story
We love you,
Jen, Jon and family
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You continue to inspire with your courage, love and intensity. Love ya girl!!!
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