Getting Ready for Chemo #4

Well, it’s almost that time again. Tomorrow I have the 4^th and final chemo treatment. Boo and Yay! I’m so looking forward to being done with this part of my treatment.

I’m feeling a little better than the last time I updated. I’m still not great. The two most annoying symptoms this time have been the extreme fatigue and hand problems. I’m still very tired, but at least my hands are getting a little better. I have gotten some feeling back in my fingertips and my hands don’t hurt quite as bad. They are mostly just peeling right now. I still have a hard time doing fine motor skills. Morry has to help me open certain things and it’s difficult getting the kids changed and dressed.

Even though I’ve been tired, I have tried to start doing a little bit of exercise. I have a DVD of 10 minute dance workouts. I have done a few of them – just 10 minutes at a time. I didn’t want to overdo it. I was pretty tired after just 10 minutes. I’m looking forward to having the chemo out of my system so that I can really start walking, running, and doing other aerobic stuff again.

I’ve been reading a book our neighbors bought for me. It’s called Anticancer: A New Way of Life. It’s very interesting. The author is a doctor who underwent chemo and treatment for brain cancer and did a lot of research on natural ways to fight cancer. He stresses how important a good diet is with more organic foods and less processed products. He talks a lot about following a Mediterranean diet. I’ve been trying to do more of that. We just bought a juicer yesterday so I can make vegetable and fruit juices.

Morry and I went out a date last night. I was finally feeling up to going out. We had a nice, relaxing dinner and dessert. Things have obviously been a little stressful around here. I just want to say how amazing Morry has been through all of this. Not only has he supported me and shown we are in this together (ie shaving his head), he has been taking care of the boys, the house, the animals, etc. Luckily he was so hands on before all this. He is great taking care of the kids, in fact Evan wants Morry to do everything with and for him. It’s cute, but it can get exhausting. Morry is doing a great job balancing everything. I just wish there was some way I could give him a break and let him relax a little.

Michael and Jen get in this afternoon. We are all looking forward to seeing them and having their help.

I’ll try to update you again in a few days and let you know how my last chemo treatment went.

Acupuncture and M&M Cookies

This morning Jodie picked up Evan and brought him to school. It’s his last day of school before the holidays.

Matt and Rachael came to help again this morning.

I had an acupuncture appointment at 10:15. The appointment I went to last week was just for testing before they do any kinds of treatments. The woman did a few different tests like blood pressure, looking at my tongue, and some other things which they charged $73. I thought that was pretty expensive for not even getting any kind of treatment. Today she mostly just talked about treatments they offer and drew stuff on the whiteboard. It felt like a sales pitch. The actual acupuncture was maybe 20 minutes. It took about 5 minutes for her to place a few (maybe 10) needles in various spots. Then, she left the room for 15 minutes and came back in to take them out. That was it. I was charged $63 for today. I’m wondering if that is normally how it works or am I getting ripped off. It sure seems like that to me. I don’t think I’ll go back there. I’m going to ask around for recommendations of a different place to go.

On the way home I stopped at HEB and got some groceries.

Matt and Rachael stayed until after I ate lunch.

When Evan got home I put the boys down for naps.

For dinner Jill and Michael ordered Austin Pizza Garden for us and Morry picked it up on his way home.

After dinner I made M&M cookies. It had been a while since I made cookies. It seemed like a good day for it.

My hands are still hurting, but they are getting a little better. They are starting to peel now and it’s still hard for me to do some every day things.

Well, we just put the boys to bed. Noah was good during the day today, but got really cranky tonight. He seems to be quiet now. Evan is still up.

Update - Still Recovering from Chemo #3

Well, here’s another update – a post chemo #3 update. I’m still not feeling so great. For some reason this treatment has been harder on me. It has been a longer recovery. The worse day this time, was better than the worse day last time, but I feel like it’s more drawn out with chemo 3. I’m still nauseous and very tired. This time I have had an annoying symptom. My hands have been hurting, almost like they are burned. It’s mostly the tops of my hands and in between my fingers. The pads of my fingers are sore too. The doctor said it is a reaction to the Taxotere (one of the chemo drugs) and gave me some steroids to take.

I had a blood test yesterday. My white blood cell count is good, but I am anemic and have a low platelet count. The doctor said that could definitely be making me tired, although it is expected and nothing to worry about.

This whole thing has really not been fun. I’m trying to stay optimistic and make the most of all of this. Although no time is a good time for cancer, I’m trying to look at it as a decent time. I was young and healthy and active. My parents are young and healthy and able to help us out. They have been able to make many trips to Austin from Dallas to help with me, the family, and stuff around the house. I have a great support system of friends and family. So many people have helped us out with meals and child care. It’s been nice having the help, but I’ll be glad when things get back to normal and I can do things on my own and take care of my family. I’m really looking forward to being active again. It’s been hard sitting around the house so much. Before all of this I was walking or running many days during week and taking the boys out of the house almost every day. Even if it was just to run errands, we were getting out of the house and doing things.

I’m not sure how this is going to change things in my life, but I know I want to make something good out of this. I want to be able to use this experience and be able to help others. I’m hoping to be able to do some of that now though my videos on YouTube. I just posted another one here. It’s not so cheery and upbeat, but I wanted others to see all sides of this.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GqCUkCzwBq8

My next, and final, chemo treatment is December 31. Since my parents will be in Israel at that time Michael and Jen (my brother and his wife) will come in for a few days to help. I’m looking forward to seeing them – the chemo, not so much.

Hope you all are having a great weekend.

Love, Rachel

Doctor

This morning I dropped Evan and Noah off at Jenny’s house (a mom in the Moms Club) and went to the doctor. Evan and Noah seemed fine when I left. She has 2 girls, one Evan’s age and one Noah’s age. Jenny was also having a playgroup at her house this morning so she had lots of help with the boys. She said they both did well. Noah seemed to miss me and got upset a few times, but they were able to distract him.

At the doctor they did a blood test. My white blood cell count was good. My platelets were low and I’m still anemic. That can cause the fatigue. My hands have really been bothering me. It looks almost like a burn on them and it hurts when anything touches them as well. The doctor said it was a reaction to the Taxotere (one of the chemo drugs). She gave me a steroid to take for a few days. I’ll also have to take it again the few days before and after my next chemo treatment. I really hope that helps my hands. Just typing this hurts.

Evan and Noah were not very well behaved when we were home eating lunch. Noah threw his whole plate on the floor. Neither one ate much.

I put them both down for naps, but only Noah napped. Evan wouldn’t sleep so I put on a movie for him so that I could lie down a little.

For dinner we ate food that Alissa brought over. It was all really good. We even had latkes.

We celebrated the last night of Hanukkah. Evan got a Leapster game system and Noah got a train for Geotrax.

Noah was so cranky tonight we put him to bed earlier than Evan.

It seems to be quiet in Noah’s room.

Evan is in his room now. We’ll see how the night goes.