A little misinformation in the last post:
Allison went back for a shot yesterday to keep her white blood count from going down too far. She said she got it in the stomach, which was new to her. She goes in on August 5 to get her white blood count checked, chemo treatment #2 is scheduled on August 19.
Friday, July 31, 2009
One Treatment Down, 27 To Go!!
Just a quick update to let you know that Allison began chemotherapy on July 29. It was a very long day, starting with surgery to put in the port through which her chemo will be administered, and ending with her first dose of chemotherapy. She said it was very surreal to see everyone don their Hazmat suits and gloves to administer the drugs. The only upside to this is that she got to spend 12 hours in airconditioning at Evergreen Hospital on Wednesday, instead of at home in our record-setting heat! She went back yesterday to have her white blood count checked, and will be back for treatment #2 on Wednesday, August 5.
Right now, she still doesn't know how she will react to chemotherapy. In most patients, days 3 and 4 are the roughest, so by Monday she will likely have a good idea on how she will fare. Right now, she seems mostly to be tired, from the long day and the treatment as well as the hot weather. She is taking it easy and has her mom here to help her until tomorrow.
Because the chemotherapy affects her white blood count and her immune system, she will be laying pretty low, and it is even more important that she not be exposed to anyone who is ill. Thank goodness germs don't travel via the phone, email, or regular mail.
Thank you to all who have offered to bring meals or help in other ways. One of the blessings of a trial like this is to feel the love of friends and family through their service.
Right now, she still doesn't know how she will react to chemotherapy. In most patients, days 3 and 4 are the roughest, so by Monday she will likely have a good idea on how she will fare. Right now, she seems mostly to be tired, from the long day and the treatment as well as the hot weather. She is taking it easy and has her mom here to help her until tomorrow.
Because the chemotherapy affects her white blood count and her immune system, she will be laying pretty low, and it is even more important that she not be exposed to anyone who is ill. Thank goodness germs don't travel via the phone, email, or regular mail.
Thank you to all who have offered to bring meals or help in other ways. One of the blessings of a trial like this is to feel the love of friends and family through their service.
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
The Calm
Now's a rather calm time, Allison is continuing to recover from the surgery and is getting ready for chemotherapy to begin on July 29. So, she will get to enjoy her nephew's wedding this Saturday!
The blog has not been very busy, either, as there has not been much news to report, but expect that to change once chemo begins.
Allison is so appreciative of all the support she's received!
The blog has not been very busy, either, as there has not been much news to report, but expect that to change once chemo begins.
Allison is so appreciative of all the support she's received!
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Update From Allison, July 9, 2009
This post is written by Allison.
Concerning the lymph nodes, the first node came back with a 0.4 reading with cancer and all the other 8 were clear. But the 0.4 is dangerous enough so I am scheduled for both chemo and radiation. Radiation will begin after the chemo treatments.
The results found the left breast had pre-cancer cells in the ducts. They only did a biopsy on the left breast in the tissue 2 weeks before surgery in a spot that the MRI caught. So now after the fact, it is a good thing to just have gone bilateral and taken both.
The 2nd mass behind the first aggressive cancer mass that was found on the right breast came back pre-cancer cells, but some of the areas were larger than they thought. Not too much larger but with the size difference and a lymph node with cancer I am now listed as a Stage 2. One of my doctors predicted that the aggressive mass would have been very large 6 months down the road. It was a 2X rapid aggressive growth cancer.
The treatments will be a marathon run and no wind sprint. I will go in and get a port placed in my chest on July 22nd, have a bone scan on July 24th, and start chemo on July 27th. I am glad they are letting me wait just a few more days to start chemo since my nephew is getting married on Saturday July 25th and this will give me the opportunity to be a part of it.
I will start chemotherapy on the 27th with two drugs, adriamycin and cytoxan, which will be very hard on me. I will have the recipe every 3 weeks, repeated 4 times for a total of 12 weeks. I will then switch to taxol and herceptin and have them weekly for 12 weeks. Then, I will be on herceptin 1 time every 3 weeks for one year. These will all be given through the port and at Evergreen Hospital. I will be bald before I receive the second injection. Bald and breastless. Is that part of the new “B's?” Let’s add beautiful to it just for fun. So if you have a 2-hour window at the beginning of the treatments, or a 3-hour window later on down the road, and would be willing to go with me, just let me know. Company is always welcome.
Yesterday was the hardest day since surgery. I may have caught a cold from Madison and then one of my JP drains became clogged. By yesterday morning I was really hurting. I went to the doctor and they were unsuccessful in getting the clog out so they just removed the drain. I understand it is supposed to hurt to have the drain removed, but releasing the pressure and getting it out felt so much better than the pain. I had no idea that the part that was in my body was about 12 inches long. It was very fascinating. A long flat tube about 1/4-3/8" wide with little holes to collect the fluid that would channel it down to the clear tube outside my body to a grenade-type suction bulb.
Wow, what amazing things medicine does. It just got clogged outside my body right at my skin and started to cause problems. They then took some syringes and drained 3 big tubes from by chest. Good thing I am still numb because I didn’t feel it.
So after being so up and cheery and with energy I took a deep slide. I am taking a precautionary antibiotic and dealing with the most pain so far. I could hardly lift my arms up well and really struggled to open the medicine bottle. Tonight I am feeling a little better.
Thank you so very much for the food, cards, visits, phone calls, and taking the kids. (always, always, welcome) We truly have felt the many prayers that have been offered up for us. The Lord has blessed us greatly to have such a wonderful group of friends through community, church, school, sports, relatives and all.
Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ lives, He comforts when in pain; He has been there for me to silence my fears; He lives my kind wise Heavenly friend. I KNOW THIS.
We love each and every one of you. It would be unbearable to go through this trial without you. Stay close and contact us OFTEN.
Love,
Allison and the Davis Family
Concerning the lymph nodes, the first node came back with a 0.4 reading with cancer and all the other 8 were clear. But the 0.4 is dangerous enough so I am scheduled for both chemo and radiation. Radiation will begin after the chemo treatments.
The results found the left breast had pre-cancer cells in the ducts. They only did a biopsy on the left breast in the tissue 2 weeks before surgery in a spot that the MRI caught. So now after the fact, it is a good thing to just have gone bilateral and taken both.
The 2nd mass behind the first aggressive cancer mass that was found on the right breast came back pre-cancer cells, but some of the areas were larger than they thought. Not too much larger but with the size difference and a lymph node with cancer I am now listed as a Stage 2. One of my doctors predicted that the aggressive mass would have been very large 6 months down the road. It was a 2X rapid aggressive growth cancer.
The treatments will be a marathon run and no wind sprint. I will go in and get a port placed in my chest on July 22nd, have a bone scan on July 24th, and start chemo on July 27th. I am glad they are letting me wait just a few more days to start chemo since my nephew is getting married on Saturday July 25th and this will give me the opportunity to be a part of it.
I will start chemotherapy on the 27th with two drugs, adriamycin and cytoxan, which will be very hard on me. I will have the recipe every 3 weeks, repeated 4 times for a total of 12 weeks. I will then switch to taxol and herceptin and have them weekly for 12 weeks. Then, I will be on herceptin 1 time every 3 weeks for one year. These will all be given through the port and at Evergreen Hospital. I will be bald before I receive the second injection. Bald and breastless. Is that part of the new “B's?” Let’s add beautiful to it just for fun. So if you have a 2-hour window at the beginning of the treatments, or a 3-hour window later on down the road, and would be willing to go with me, just let me know. Company is always welcome.
Yesterday was the hardest day since surgery. I may have caught a cold from Madison and then one of my JP drains became clogged. By yesterday morning I was really hurting. I went to the doctor and they were unsuccessful in getting the clog out so they just removed the drain. I understand it is supposed to hurt to have the drain removed, but releasing the pressure and getting it out felt so much better than the pain. I had no idea that the part that was in my body was about 12 inches long. It was very fascinating. A long flat tube about 1/4-3/8" wide with little holes to collect the fluid that would channel it down to the clear tube outside my body to a grenade-type suction bulb.
Wow, what amazing things medicine does. It just got clogged outside my body right at my skin and started to cause problems. They then took some syringes and drained 3 big tubes from by chest. Good thing I am still numb because I didn’t feel it.
So after being so up and cheery and with energy I took a deep slide. I am taking a precautionary antibiotic and dealing with the most pain so far. I could hardly lift my arms up well and really struggled to open the medicine bottle. Tonight I am feeling a little better.
Thank you so very much for the food, cards, visits, phone calls, and taking the kids. (always, always, welcome) We truly have felt the many prayers that have been offered up for us. The Lord has blessed us greatly to have such a wonderful group of friends through community, church, school, sports, relatives and all.
Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ lives, He comforts when in pain; He has been there for me to silence my fears; He lives my kind wise Heavenly friend. I KNOW THIS.
We love each and every one of you. It would be unbearable to go through this trial without you. Stay close and contact us OFTEN.
Love,
Allison and the Davis Family
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