My Friends

Slow as the gains are it is proof positive they are moving in the right direction may the dark days become a thing of the past and in Gods light you bathe.
Amen.

OMG, she came home from the doctor yesterday and said he is putting her on a chemo pill as soon as she is done with radiation because in her words, she has a remnant of the tumor left. I was flabbergasted. I asked if she was sure that's what he said, yes. He even showed her the medical records.

So she has an appointment this morning and I decide I'm going with her to sort this out. Turns out it was exactly what I suspected, he was talking about the tiny remnant left after chemo that was removed with surgery. So I had to calm myself down and then contact the girls and her sister to calm them down.

She had no idea what this would have meant if it were accurate. I guess that's the good thing about the whole affair. She was more concerned if it was going to take her hair again (it won't).

The radiation is a precautionary measure to kill anything that might have been missed in the breast

The chemo pill is a precautionary measure to kill anything that could possibly have spread to somewhere else in the body.

Communication. Boy, some can and some can't. I went with my wife to all the pre- and post-surgical visits and much of her rehab when she had her right knee replaced. I really had to pump several of the rehab specialistas and even the surgeon. They could make these broad, negative generalizations that turned out to be boilerplate disclaimers to cover butt if something negative happened. If you didn't immediately gt clarification it could really raise your anxiety level and your hackles, so I know what you mean.

Bob

I'm not blaming the doctor on this one. She misunderstood and didn't ask questions. She does this a lot. Then she worries about it all day or all weekend until she or I can go and ask. I don't really get it, she isn't afraid to ask questions, sometimes she just doesn't think to ask questions. She's been told all along that she will get through this and that everything is going very well so she just assumes everything is fine. I know enough about breast cancer to know that if it comes back after the first treatment, it's time to make plans as there are maintenance treatments that can extend but they aren't always pleasant, etc.

Radiation is complete, she had a little ceremony on Wednesday and is happy. Things are healing up already, much like a sunburn does. Her next phase hasn't started yet, seems like they keep adding things as we go along.

This is chemo pills. The pills arrived Friday. We have not seen them yet as they are in a little bag she isn't supposed to open until Monday when she's with the doctor. She has to take a class on taking the pills which seems to indicate that like everything else, these are hazardous to her health and is supposed to handle them carefully.

She is hoping they are small because she has to take 8 each day, four in the morning and four 12 hours later, both with food which is a problem because it has to be food and meals are typically not 12 hours apart. She takes them 7 days for two weeks, then one week with none for a cycle of six so it's 18 weeks total.

They aren't supposed to make her sick and she won't lose her hair but they have other weird side effects. A container of O'Keefes Working Hands came with the pills of all things. I guess they dry out her hands and feet.

Immunotherapy will continue once every three weeks. This is similar to the chemo where she sits in a chair and they pump it in through her port. This also doesn't make her sick or cause her to lose her hair. So the daily office visits are over.

Another road to travel for you both still wishing and praying for you both.

Glad to hear things keep going in the right direction. Prayers do work!

Congrats on passing another mile marker!

Bob

A second set of ears is always a plus. She is fortunate to have you as an advocate.

Two weeks into the chemo pills. She doesn't like them. She has to take four in the morning and four in the evening. It's somewhat awkward because there is food intake required and the schedule doesn't really meet our eating schedule. But she's making due. Contrary to what she was told, they are making her sick. Not badly but upset stomach, headaches and sometimes chest pain are bothering her. They also make her feel cold all the time which is fun because I'm roasting now. No other weird side effects so far. One they seemed really concerned about which hasn't materialized is her hands and feet drying out. She's using cream and being preventative.

All in all, she has a pretty good attitude about it. We can do normal things for the most part and she isn't as ill as during regular chemo. First cycle of two weeks taking pills is over. Now one week with none and then three more cycles to go.