I spoke with my oncologist yesterday and we are taking a break from the hormone blocking pill, hopefully to get my body out of this depression. I also started Effexor yesterday to help with the hot flashes, mood swings and depression. Unfortunately it usually takes 2-3 weeks to fully get in my system and start working. It also made me nauseous. Not sure why, but we’ll see if that continues…
I woke up this morning with my whole body hurting. It got a little bit better as I moved around the house and got ready for church.
I was feeling kind of down but just pushed through as I wanted to go to church as a family.
By the second worship song I was crying and wanted to lay down in bed and hide under the covers.
So I asked him to bring me home. I decided to take lorazepam to help with the depression today, so I can get through the day with my husband and kids home and hopefully not be an emotional mess the whole day.
Pink!
EVERYTHING IS PINK OR HAS A PINK RIBBON IT.
Don’t get me wrong. I’m thankful for Breast Cancer research. I am. (Although the term “Breast Cancer Awareness” stumps me a bit. Is there actually an adult in the US who isn’t aware of Breast Cancer that we still need to reach????)
When I started this blog last year, one of the reasons I decided to do it, was to educate others who have never walked this path themselves or with someone else. There are things I’ve experienced, emotions I’ve had, thoughts I’ve had, that surprised me.
Before I get into the Dr. appointment I had with the Oncologist today, let me say a little bit more about Friday night and the PET Scan results.
I had asked the Dr. before if he would give me the PET Scan results over the phone, but he said he prefers to do that in person. On Friday, I sent Tom a text saying I was nervous about the results and wish we didn’t have to wait through the weekend. He suggested I just call and ask again. It was 4:30 pm, but I called and left a message, telling myself I wouldn’t read anything into it if he didn’t call (which I expected he wouldn’t based on our last conversation.)
Then, Friday evening, as I was sitting and watching our oldest in her dance class, my phone rang. It was a number from Renton. I knew it was him. He asked if it was a good time to talk and I said yes. He said he had some good news to start off my weekend. Woohoo!! He said the scan was totally clear. On the last scan (after chemo but before surgery and radiation) there was still a light haze over where the cancer had been. This scan, there was no haze and he said if I hadn’t had surgery, you would never have known I had cancer from looking at the scan.
I am typing from my phone at a dance studio but can’t wait to get this news out. My Dr. called and said the PET scan was clear. Even the haziness that was there last time where the cancer used to be is gone! Praise God for this great news!
My PET scan is done and was uneventful. 🙂
Here was my view as I was being injected with the radioactive isotope that will light up on the scan if there are any clusters of cancer cells. (more…)
Scanxiety.
It’s a word I had never hear until about a year ago.
It’s real. Oh my…is it real.
Here’s how my days have gone the past few days…my mind starts worrying that the PET scan will light up like a Christmas tree, showing the cancer has returned…stop thinking that and remind myself that the Bible says not to worry, but to pray about everything. And even if the cancer has returned, remember that God will be with us through whatever treatment is ahead. REPEAT.
This is day 8 of the new medication and I’m feeling pretty good. There have been two times my entire body has been throbbing pretty badly, but so far no depression and I’m very thankful for that. I’m tracking how I’m feeling and what my activity has been around the time I’ve started to hurt. We’ll see what the next week holds.
Meet JenniferBreast Cancer Patient, Chef Wife and Mom
