Herceptin #15: Almost done!

Another three weeks have flown by, and I headed up to the RMCC for my Herceptin treatment. I haven't felt the best this week- (not Cancer stuff but lady and headache stuff) but nothing to keep them from drugging me up. LOL Although my blood pressure ended up being a little lower than usual. Maybe that's why I've wanted to stay in bed all week? [Not that it was low enough to do anything this time]

I've never had problems with my blood pressure before even with having all four of my children. Because of that, I've never taken the time to understand what it means. I actually have no clue what it even measures (HaHa...ok- I know it's the pressure of my blood, at least) So for my own benefit, here's a little info about blood pressure. Always interesting to find out how much I really don't know. LOL:

Blood pressure is typically recorded as two numbers, written as a ratio like this:
SystolicThe top number, which is also the higher of the two numbers, measures the pressure in the arteries when the heart beats (when the heart muscle contracts).
Diastolic
The bottom number, which is also the lower of the two numbers, measures the pressure in the arteries between heartbeats (when the heart muscle is resting between beats and refilling with blood).

How Is Blood Pressure Measured?

Blood pressure is measured with a simple, painless test using a blood pressure cuff -- doctors call it a sphygmomanometer. It consists of a small pressure gauge that is attached to a cuff.

The inflatable cuff is wrapped around your upper arm. Some blood pressure cuffs wrap around the forearm or wrist.

When taking your blood pressure, your doctor will use a stethoscope to listen to the blood moving through an artery.

The cuff is inflated to a pressure that’s known to be higher than your systolic blood pressure. As the cuff deflates, the first sound heard through the stethoscope is the systolic blood pressure. It sounds like a whooshing noise. When this noise goes away, that indicates the diastolic blood pressure.

The systolic blood pressure number is always said first, and then the diastolic blood pressure number is given. For example, your blood pressure may be read as "120 over 80" or written 120/80.

Blood pressure is measured in millimeters of mercury (mm Hg).

My Herceptin Nurse today was Janae. She was great! She got me in and out super fast! I was home a whole hour earlier than I usually am. Yeah! Thanks to my dear Hubby for helping me out with little Glory today. One or two more treatments and then we'll put this chapter behind us! I CAN"T wait!

YMCA Commercial

After Robbie and I graduated from Livestrong, the Y asked for comments about our experience with the YMCA and the Livestrong Program. I was in my "angry at the world" mode of life, so I didn't feel I had anything worth saying. Robbie on the other hand, had very nice things to say and sent them in. As a result, her and her family were picked as the local Y Family. I'm so excited for them! The honor comprised many things including a photo shoot that landed them on the Cover of the new Spring/Summer Program Guide (their story is on page 3) and being featured in a YMCA commercial. How cool is that?
What does this have to do with MY cancer journey? Well,  part of her comments included things about me and how she started coming to support me. AND because of that, they asked if I would be willing to be part of some of the filming. So today, I met Robbie downtown at the Fercho Y to shoot a YMCA Commercial. LOL first, we met the Y staff and the film crew. Then headed upstairs.
We started out in our Zumba class. They had to have everyone sign a waiver in case they got in the shot. It was a LARGE class so it caused quite the excitement. It's always an upbeat class but you bring in a film crew and the energy jumps through the roof. Too funny! Then, we danced while they filmed. I think they mostly shot Robbie but I was standing next to her so maybe I'll be in there? We only did a couple songs then slipped out to go downstairs.
Down in the weight room, they filmed us doing some exercises on the arm and leg machines. We also both did a few reps for our biceps in the same shot. Our next filming op was on the treadmills. I even did a little running just to show off.  Go me! We finished our time together by doing a few exercises with Katelyn. It was fun to have us all back together for a bit! It was so hilarious to have the camera man walk around us and zoom up close. I obviously have a smaller "personal space bubble" than I thought. LOL But it was still a fun Adventure to do together.
Thanks for letting me be a part of it, Robbie. You have been an awesome friend through this journey of mine. I will never be able to repay you and your family for your kindness. Luv ya, lady!
They continued to film Robbie and her family doing other things around the facilities but we made sure we got a picture to remember our experience. (Hopefully, I can link the commercial when they get it all done!) But, here's us with our film crew for the day. Thanks to the Y for the opportunity to be a part of your great program!

My Final Word on Wigs

I probably should have wrote this post a long time ago but life keeps flying by so quickly it's hard to keep track of it all.
I haven't really worn a wig at all since the end of October {almost 4 months ago}. Looking back at pictures of when I stopped wearing one, I can't believe I ever left the house like that. It was SOOO short! But I do remember that as it was growing back and  I was still wearing the wig, it was smashing the new fuss and stunting the growth in some places. Brett kept encouraging me to let it do it's thing and go natural. At least that was the mentality behind the abrupt stop to the fake do.

A few things that I did learn about wigs from my experience. Take it for what it's worth!---
* Get one really great wig! You'll end up spending a few bucks but it's worth it. It doesn't necessarily have to be made of real hair (and in fact I enjoyed NOT having to fuss with styling it. "Slip it on, smooth it down and go" was the best for me!) But get at least one you really LOVE! Getting more than that would purely be for fun!
* Make sure you try it on before you buy it. Best advice ever! Wish someone would have told me that! I bought a couple online but neither of those are my favorite. Such a bummer! So... Try before you buy! My two cents from first hand experience.
* I would spend the extra money and get a monofilament cap (and possibly with a lace front). That way it looks like the hair is coming from your scalp. Have no idea what I am talking about? LOL Well, while I was researching for wigs at the beginning, I came across this WIG GUIDE on wigs.com. It's really helpful!
* Buy yourself a soft "Cancer Turban". This 3 seam cotton one was my favorite. Cuz let's face reality. Wearing a wig ALL the time is a pain (and itchy)! I wore this a lot!!!

* Take a deep breath. Hair grows back. Maybe not as fast as one would like but you won't be wearing a wig forever!

A Head FULL of Hair

My journey from Bald to Beautiful is gonna be a LONG one! But keeping track of it almost every week has allowed me to realize how far I have come! It's fun to actually see the slight changes that happen. And having hair again is nice! It's coming in WAY thick with quite the wave. I'm not sure what you would call the color? And... often I have wondered how people describe me? LOL Especially because I still categorize myself as the "blonde chick". Weird, I know! It's definitely darker than before but the tips are getting lighter. Only time will tell what I really am! ;) I [and especially my girls] are looking forward to having "girl" hair again but I will admit- having short hair has been SO nice in the getting-ready sense. What used to take me HOURS to dry and do- is completely done (straight out of the shower) in like 3 minutes. Wahoo! Maybe short hair will become my norm? LOL

Here's to slight changes!!!!

P.S. As of beginning of Feb, I finally am able to tuck my side burns behind my ears!

BOOBLESS- My Surgery Recovery: (with Pictures)

This post is dedicated to living BOOBLESS! LOL 

It's been six months since my surgery to remove both my breasts. I have hesitated to include this post due to it's graphic and possible offensive nature BUT this is the reality of breast cancer with a bilateral mastectomy. And afterall the reality of My Breast Cancer Adventure is why I am keeping this record.
I have mentioned it before but another reality of Breast Cancer is that time passes, the shock and worry for those around you fades and everyone "moves on" from the craziness surrounding your diagnosis. But MY reality is that it will never go back to normal. Whatever NORMAL is, right? Taking a shower will never revert back to cleaning a body with a female chest for me. Getting dressed each morning and having to make the decision whether to wear "boobs" or not will always be a part of my life. Not that it hugely matters but it is a daily reminder that Breast Cancer has changed me forever.
My decision to NOT do reconstruction was a personal one. One that seemed natural and less complicated for me. It was one less long-drawn-out-process to avoid.  Before I started this adventure I was unaware that reconstruction takes a minimum of 4-6 months depending on the size you want. And then an extra surgery! um....No thanks!
Another logical reason for me was due to the fact that foobs don't last forever. What? I guess nothing really does, right? The doctors informed me that because I was young I would need to have them replaced once maybe twice in my lifetime. That was not an appealing option for me. Besides, I am an "options" girl and how fun is it that I have so many choices of breast sizes now that I gave myself a flat canvas to work with. ;) Shopping for new breasts was way more fun that I thought it would be! And bonus- I technically could get a new pair of perfectly perky boobs every year for the rest of my life. How many women can say that? LOL
One thing that I did NOT expect was the fact of how often I would choose to not wear anything. Now that I am a worker-outer, it is way more convenient to be boobless. "Boob sweat" is a thing of the past for me, my friend! Besides running on the treadmill and bouncing in Zumba- piece of cake for me now! ;)
One thing that has been a little disappointing was the fact that I had in my head that after my surgery, I would have a perfectly flat chest. The harsh fact of scars never even crossed my mind. Stupid, I know. But it wasn't something I was expecting. Before my surgery  I had came across this elegant black & white picture of this woman that had a bilateral mastectomy  She's beautiful and flat chested-- flawless. That's what I was looking for. Well, at least at first glance and to an untrained (a non-mastectomy participant) eye that's what she seemed to me. Now six months down the road and with a more-than-I-ever-wanted-to-know knowledge, I can see her scars and the fact that her arms stretched up and it being printed without color gives a false impression of perfection. Interesting how we only see what we have the ability to comprehend. {Back in July, I even thought about taking the picture to my surgeon so he knew what I was expecting. I never was brave enough to take it in to him. Maybe I should have??? Oh well! Too late now. Bummer!}
Anywho-- regardless of my pre-amputation expectations, flawless & flat chested is NOT my reality. I had two different surgeons on my big day. Not sure if that added to my certain outcome but in my opinion, one took off too much and the other left too much. Over time and a little beefing up some muscle (LOL), I hope that they will even out a bit. However, regardless of time, two 5 inch scars (and two tiny poke holes from my drains) are now permanent features of my front side. Like I said--- Breast Cancer has changed me forever!
As I talk to (or read) others, it seems everyone has a different opinion about the importance of breasts and whether to reconstruct some resemblance of a former life. Some women (and some husbands:) actually have very strong opinions about breasts. Imagine that! ;) I guess I can understand how people would feel somewhat "attached" to them. LOL But for me, boobless is an ok option!

6 days after Surgery: With Drains in

17 days after surgery: Sterry strips off

1 month after surgery: Healing

Six weeks after Surgery

6 Months after Surgery

Herceptin #14: Going Alone

Wow! Where does time go? I can't believe it's time for another treatment. Yesterday I had a little anxiety about it. I never have any reactions and I'm always done within 3 hours BUT cancer treatments are Cancer Treatments, by golly! Going alone really is the easiest for my Herceptin treatments. (and I have gone to most of them myself) It doesn't waste anyone else's time and I really get a lot of blogging done on my borrowed iPad. Not to mention the quiet time. Love it! However for some reason this time- I felt sad that I am doing "this cancer thing" alone. I even got a bit teary- eyed about it. Dumb, I know. Funny, the roller coaster of emotions cancer life can take you on.
Once I got to the Roger Maris Cancer Center Infusion Center (wow! That's a mouth full), I was fine. I got settled in my heated, comfy, reclining chair. They brought me some ice water and a bag of treats and I leaned back in the quietness to type up a storm. Reminder that I am very blessed and coming alone really isn't a bad thing!
Josette was my nurse for today. We've never met before but we had a lot in common. We chatted about kids, photography, blogs and digital scrap booking. Wahoo! Gotta love a crafty comrade! Other than that... Nothing big to report. I was in and out pretty fast with no complications as usual. Go me! Just get to go home and smell like Mouse Ovaries for the next couple days. LOL

One more down.... Only 2 (possible 3) more to go!! Yeah!