Posted: 11/12/2015

Phase 1 of Operation Kojak has begun. 

BoobNews: "We don't need no stinkin' risk factors" edition

Posted: 11/11/2015

Today's BoobNews:
One of the most common questions I've gotten about my breast cancer has been if I have any family history of cancer. Nope. None. No cancer of any type in my family. And as matter of fact, there are several things that reduce your chance of breast cancer (have a child before the age of 30, breastfeed, etc.) and I had accidentally done all of those, too. So, essentially I had the absolute lowest possible risk for having breast cancer but...TADA! Tumor!

So, to see if my cancer was influenced by having the BRCA mutation, we did genetic testing. I just got those results this week and I don't have that either. So, there's no easy thing to point to and say, "That's the culprit!" So, if you've shrugged off monthly checks because you're at low risk (like I did), please consider feeling yourself up regularly anyway!

As for the chemo, my first dose last week wasn't too bad. I didn't have any side effects to the chemo itself other than being EXTREMELY easily fatigued for about 5 days. I started feeling better on Saturday, and the last few days now I've felt pretty normal and have even gone to work several times. I've scheduled a couple more shifts, too, so I can see my babies and awesome co-workers a few more times before my next dose on Monday.

That said, word on the street is the effects of the chemo (as well as the bone pain associated with the shot I get afterward to make my white blood cells regenerate) is cumulative. So, the exciting adventure continues. What the hell will my body do next? Who knows?! It's like a frickin' Disney World roller coaster up in here! Wave to the cameras before the next drop!

Speaking of drops, my hair is still all present and accounted for but will probably start abandoning ship here within the week. I was planning to cut and donate it but it's been colored so apparently they can't use it. So, since that option is out I may get jiggy with it in the next few days. Hey, if I don't like how it comes out, that'll get fixed in the next week when it hits the floor. Hm...anyone want to recommend a good wild, intensely colored hair dye brand? I'm thinking maybe purple? Rainbow? Full-on clown 'fro? Brace yourself, Effie!

TL;DR summary: I had no risk factors for breast cancer including the BRCA mutation, I feel pretty good, and I'm not bald yet but it's coming soooooon!

Posted: 11/5/2015

I dropped off the boys at school today, then went to the store for a few groceries. I dropped the food off at home, grabbed a pillow and blanket the 4-year-old had forgotten, and drove it over to his pre-school. And after I came home I was tired and cranky for the next few hours just from that.

That kind of pisses me off because I don't actually feel that bad but this fatigue is keeping me from getting much done. It's BOGUS.

Posted: 11/2/2015

So this is what getting chemo looks like. Not very dramatic. Ironically, my body had a strong, immediate allergic reaction to the anti-nausea medicine but NO reaction so far to the actual poison we're pumping into me. I'm weird.

Posted: 11/2/2015

Apparently I'm quite allergic to the anti-nausea IV med, so we're off to an inauspicious start to the chemo. Phew, was that unpleasant. I turned bright red, had a hard time breathing, started seeing floaters in my vision, my blood pressure spiked, and the oxygen level in my blood dropped the second the med hit my blood stream.

Posted: 10/31/2015

For anyone who's wondered, here's a short instructional video on how my "Power Port" portacath works...

https://www.facebook.com/dulcenea/videos/10156239538115650/

Posted: 10/30/2015

Step 1 done! Got the portacath installed today. My left shoulder is pretty sore but I'm interested to see what it looks like under that bandage. I've never had new jewelry quite like this!