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New Breast Cancer and Awareness items we've come across.

Radiation, what should she expect?

After completing the last round of chemo we begin the countdown to radiation.  She has already been to a preliminary visit to have special pillow formed to perfectly fit her to insure proper aim of the radiation. I wasn't allowed to be present during this measuring and forming process so I really don't have the full details of what exactly occurs. I will ask her to give me a step by step of what was done later and share it with you at a later time. We are aware that there will be some superficial skin damage similar to that of a burn. We were also told to expect some nausea similar to the chemo, I do hope it isn't as severe since the treatment are so short. I may well very well be kidding myself and her but just from what I have seen from the outside I do think she will tolerate the radiation better than the chemo. I just hope what I think turns out right not only for her but others of you facing the same procedures.

                          

Today marks the nine (9) days out since her last chemo and six (6) days out since her last nuepogen injection. She as of yet hasn't lost her voice to the point she did after the last infusion. I think this was due to a two day break away from the nuepogen upon restarting that particular treatment. I will say the flu like symptoms were a little worse.  The symptoms seemed more severe but of a shorter duration.

Now begins the onslaught of a new set of unknowns. We met the Radiation Oncology doctor, he went over the basic detail of the process but there is still more I do not yet understand fully. I will say as with most of the other doctors his primary concern was to ride my wife about smoking. She full well knows the effect of smoking but she also knows that she will not quit unless SHE decides to. I do understand their concerns but I also understand how angery she becomes when the continually hound her on this subject. I do sometime wonder which is worse for her.

I will be back again soon with another update of our journey anyone reading this that would like to ask or share anything please feel free.

Finishing? Chemo ; Independence Day

This is the week my wife finishes her chemotherapy. It's seems to me a very ironic and strangely pleasing that the end of this step in my wife's treatment is falling in the general time of Independence Day. I do feel a certain sense of new independence, and relief. I know the road ahead is still going to be eventful and unknown, but I am very thankful that this particular ordeal is over. I must say this experience has both changed and reinforced some of my views of healthcare facilities in general. It is a well know fact that, King Hostile doesn't "DO" doctors. To my much appreciated surprise I found several of the professionals the did and did not fit in my normal Medical Clowns categories. I found the particular group from the infusion center to be caring and compassionate. I know everyone that goes through this must be as worried and confused as my wife and myself. I found it very odd that even a lot of the actual doctors showed little or no care in the questions that were foremost important to us. I got more information about the real effects and whats to be expected from the crew at the infusion center, than from any other source we had available.
     I am so thankful that this process has been a lot easier for her than I had imagine. I guess it's always best to pray for the best and expect the worst and reality falls somewhere in between. Still at this point she has yet to lose control of her nausea to point of vomiting. She was very set on being one of the few, if not the only person, to go through this process without vomiting. i still don't really understand why this was so important to her but I am glad she achieved this goal if she wanted to. The last treatment falls where she will miss one of the Nuepogen shots that she is given after each treatment. Today being Independence day the breast center is closed so she will begin the regime again tomorrow. I will relate how this affects her treatment in a later post.
     That's all for now I think I will take the rest of the day to relax with my wife, and play some 8 Ball on Google game with her.

Luck

Luck

 Luck is relative -- still, I choose wisely and am not alone. 


Whenever I envision, expect and choose great things, I will then and only then identify, pursue, and experience great things. 


My options are always open and I will acknowledge emotional clutter or unrealistic expectations. 
I am empowered by a desire for understanding and my gift is opportunity or epiphany.

Chemo.5

   I chose to title this post as  Chemo.5  since we are at the half way point in my wife's battle to overcome the cancer that has invaded her life. The treatments she has been receiving, are well underway, with all the expected side effects in place. Since the complete loss of her hair she actually seems to be adjusted to these "side effects. The first treatment seemed to be more of a mental  hurry up and wait program. She spent the majority of her time after the first treatment waiting to see what the effects would be. So far as expected she has had the hair loss, nausea, headaches and a lot of tiredness.

 

   I will say that so far she has yet to become so nauseated that she vomits. This was on of the things my wife has all but refused to accept, she swears she is going to go through the entire therapy and never vomit, and so far she has held on to that thought and has been successful in doing so. Because of this fact we have a running joke going around saying "Ma is a Gangster, not even Cancer can touch her!".

I do hope she can make it through the entire therapy just like she wants to. I think the little goals she set for herself like that tend to help her maintain a hold on what she has to do and what she needs to do in order to overcome this obstacle we call Cancer.

   There are 3 shots she must take after each treatment they are given to her (1) one a day for (3) three days. These Neupogen shots, seem to cause her more suffering than any of the other treatments involved, including the actual lumpectomy. The shots cause her severe bone pain and headaches. she has said that bone pain and nausea almost seems to trade out after the shots, then about  (5) days after the shots, pain gets a little better and the nausea tends to take back over.

Cancer in the Community

Cancer in the Community 

This post is just a simple heads up and thanks to the ones that have really been supportive and informative.

The Lydia Project

Lydia's free services are meant for women currently facing cancer. Receive support for yourself or any woman currently receiving treatment for any type of cancer anywhere in the world by using the buttons to the right to request a tote, prayer, or support.

The Challenges/Situations Lydia Addresses:

Women with cancer
Suffer with depression and feelings of isolation; are afraid to share their fears with family and friends; and seek out tools and other survivors to help them cope with their emotions during this time of crisis.

Caregivers and Loved Ones
Struggle with what to do or say to comfort the woman in their life with cancer; search for tangible signs of comfort and support to give to the cancer patient; and need a safe place to discuss their fears and emotions about their loved one.

Health care Providers
Look for places of referral for cancer patients and families to find emotional and spiritual support; desire to show compassion, empathy and community support to the cancer patient; and value practical tools that complement medical treatment.

Cancer Navigators

You received the diagnosis, and you have begun your journey. Now what...?

Maybe you have done just fine on your own until now...Or maybe you have had wonderful friends or family that have been a wonderful helping hand.

Now, Imagine someone who has been through cancer a dozen times, maybe even a hundred times.

Wouldn’t you want to know what they know? Wouldn’t you want to learn the secrets and shortcuts?

Imagine someone who wants to help you with your financial situation?

Maybe you have no insurance and you need help paying for bills, medicine or even food.

Maybe you are having trouble finding transportation to your treatments, or to the grocery store.

Imagine someone who knows the answers to all the questions you forgot to ask while you were at your appointment.

Wouldn’t it be nice to get those answers with one phone call?

Cancer Navigators is this help...

Harbin Breast Center

Harbin Clinic is a team composed of more than 200 providers and 1,400 employees in 20 locations throughout North West Georgia. But this is only part of the team. Approximately 1,000 other physicians not directly associated with Harbin Clinic from throughout North West Georgia and Alabama regularly refer patients to Harbin Clinic and collaborate on care.

Hospitals, diagnostic centers, insurance plans, and other health care organizations throughout the region coordinate services and work with Harbin cancer doctors. For patients at the Harbin Clinic Cancer Center, this broad team approach to cancer care improves outcomes.

From the development of a shared electronic medical record to the recruitment of world-class doctors, Harbin Clinic continues to provide patient-care leadership in the region.

Closing Doors???

"Sometime we concentrate on closing doors, to the point we don't see others when they open."

Sometime we concentrate on closing doors, to the point we don't see others when they open. I have heard this saying many times throughout my life yet really until rec3ently I had really not understood fully how true this really is. The discovery of my wife's cancer lead to her being able to finally receive some of the other much needed health care she has needed before the discovery. Her insurance only covers certain things and some of her problems were not covered. We have since found many systems of support in place for cancer victims and survivors. Many of these places offer counseling, financial aide, and even transportation to and from the multiple visits that are required to various health care facilities. We only took part in the programs we truly needed as not to over tax the system for others with the same needs. I can only hope others in the system try also to observe this practice in order to keep these entities in place since they do so very much good for the community they serve.

One of the other doors that opened seems to be opened since this discovery is a newly rekindled closeness to her father. Without going into great detail since our marriage my wife's father had for the most part dis-owned her. It had been over 10years since they had spoken face to face. I was very proud to have been present when he did appear at her hospital room door with a smile for her and even a few kind words. I do believe there are more "opening doors" to come and I do believe they will be very important and much needed.