Fighting Through Tough Times!

Although the time in the chemo chair was relatively uneventful, the effects of Round 2 really wore down Shermance.  I went to work in the afternoon...maybe I should have stayed home.  Her body was hot and cold, she was teary-eyed, with emotional swings.  She lost her appetite - not even hungry for a morsel of the garlic-infused pork chop feast her mother brought over. Dinner for her was water, Powerade, vegetable broth and a few bland crackers.  She couldn't even keep that down - yuck!  She never wants to see red Powerade again - remindes her of the red chemo syringe.

This was the first time she took both pills for anti-nausea and it didn't take the edge off completely.  After nearly falling asleep on the toilet, she was able to get up on her own for a shower. She felt much better and got ready for bed.  Tonight, instead of doing our night-time routine in the boys rooms, the boys came down to our room, and with Mimi and Boppa we sang, "You are my Sunshine", said our prayers, and tucked Shermance in for the night.

The Red Devil

Chemo Round 2. First Round WINNER: Shermance!

Round 1 was good.  No major side effects.  Some tiredness. No Nausea.  Not sure how round 2 will be. The whole process of chemo is scary.  The day before and the hours leading up to chemo are stressful as Shermance anticipates Dr. Koc's updates, wonders how she'll react to this round of chemo, thinks about needle sticks, and looks forward to 3-4 hours sitting in the chemo lounge with 32 cancer patients in plain view. It's a crowded room that barely allows room for a cancer hero to sit nearby.  The room is bustling with nurses, doctors, and assistants caring for the loungers. People read, fill out crossword puzzles, watch movies, chat, and send emails. Patients are close enough for easy chatting (advice from a neighboring patient below). Unfortunately, it's not a very restful place.

The best NEWS! The cancer is definitely getting smaller, but we need to keep-up the treatment cycle.  Unfortunately in this case Shermance can't be an overachiever.  No shortcuts.  No treatment reduction. Before we complete chemo, we will need to decide whether to remove lymph nodes or have radiation.  Although Shermance has been adament against radiation, she also doesn’t want to wear arm panty hose.  Dr. Kocs responded, “You don’t want to die, do you?”  He has a way of cutting straight to the point.  Shermance responded, "OK, I'll do radiation".  We don't need to decide now, but rest assured we will do whatever is required to ensure longevity.

Shermance was also curious about an "abnormality" that showed up in the initial PET Scan.  Other patients have scared her about the "R-word" - recurrence after this process.  Many have gone years after breast cancer and then had cancer in onther part of the breast, in the lungs or another organ.  UGH!  WE pray we are one and done with this cancer thing.  Doctor Kocs comforted Shermance.  He said the blip on the screen is unidentified, likely nothing of concern and besides, it's 3mm. "Go home and see how small 3 mm is.  We'll definitely watch it, but I would hardly call it a "mass"." It may go away completely on it's own or with the chemo we are receiving.


Dr Kocs

The meds knocked her out

Notes from doc:

• Massages are OK and needed for a dental hygienist who stoops all day doing delicate work in patients' mouths.  Doc said it's a wive's tale that massages spread the cancer.
• He wants a room filled with Australian Opals if they have healing powers of cancer (Shermance wants one to wear around her neck)
• Prada glasses are the bomb.  He's so hot he's gone through three of them in 10 years. Ha!

Shermance's Fringe Me! "bling bandanas" are a hit with the chemo crowd! Everyone asks about them so Shermance will send business Martha's way.

Advice from the neighboring patient who is going through the AC/Taxol cycle (on 9 of 12) and already had a double masectomy:

• Taxol - may cause loss of feeling in fingers.  Keep them dipped in cold to minimize the risk.
• "Look good, feel good program" - is a free make-up program for chemo patients
• PinkPockets.com special shirts for masectomy surgery that have pockets for the drainage pouches
• Wedge pillow after surgery because she needs to sleep sitting up for a few days
• Clutching cross - a cross that fits in the hand to hold during treatment
• Dr. Scott Hedan - recommended breast reconstruction surgeon
• Taxol can affect bone marrow.  Not sure how to limit effects.

Round 2 Meds:
Sodium Chloride - flush out IV
Amend - anti nausea pre-med IV
Dexamethasone - steroid pre-med IV
Palonosetron - small syringe antinausea pre-med (also have pills for at home)
Lorazepam - small syringe antinausea pre-med makes her sleepy (also have pills for at home)
Doxorubicin (called Adriamycin) - Chemo (a large syringe with red liquid adminstered for 5 - 10 minutes)
 - wait 5 minutes -
Cyclophosphamide (called Cytoxan)- Chemo slow drip for about an hour through IV
Total time ~3 hours in the chemo chair

Oncology nurses: Andrea, Elizabeth, and Connie (new this time)

The Bald and the Beautiful

At Trade Winds Dental, the office where Shermance works, they are having a contest to decide who has the best bald head.  Doc Hennington has been shaving his head bald for some time because he's losing the battle with a receding hair line and Shermance is the new bald girl on the block.  They also included Mr. Clean as an option (and he already has a vote). It's all in good fun...Show your support for our girl!

Who's got the best bald head? 
Cast your vote at the Trade Winds Dental site on facebook

To vote:

• Login to facebook
• Click on the link.
• Scroll down about half way on the page to see the poll. 
• Select the radial button for Shermance

I also included a pic of the Disney princesses showing their bald heads.  Great cartoon pic that Leeann posted on fb.  I think Shermance is probably the one on the right...what do you think?

OMG! What's in the Water?

Tonight the Breast Cancer Resource Center (BCRC) held a community awareness forum in our neighborhood. WOW! We found out that 2009 data shows Williamson County had the highest incidence of young breast cancer in Texas.  More recent data shows Williams County has the highest incidence of breast cancer for all ages compared with other Texas counties. What's driving the rate so high?  Tonight we talked about many environmental factors that may contribute including: benzene in drinking water (shocking to find out an elementary school in Leander was built on a former benzene processing plant site), other carcinogens in drinking water (like those used to extract oil from shale or clean-up quarries for limestone), drinking hot liquids from styrofoam cups, smoking, estrogen in vaginal creams (which goes straight into the bloodstream), excessive alcohol consumption, diets (especially if high in fats and sugars), early onset of menturation (a possible result of homones in foods), parabens or sodium laurel sulphate rubbed on the skin... The list goes on, but the reality is these risk factors just show some correlation but no single factor is a guarantee. The information was interesting, but a bit overwhelming for Shermance who is fighting for her life NOW, and can't really advocate or lobby for prevention or immunology at this point.

It was good to come together with other survivors and concerned neighbors.  Before the talk began we spoke with the presenter, who gave us some chemo tips like drinking a very cold drink (like an Icee) during chemo infusion.  This prevents the drugs from infultrating the soft tissue in the mouth, though it doesn't reduce the changes in tastes that is a side effect Shermance is already noticing.  In fact, she now likes spicier foods more than ever before since most foods taste bland.  She also recommended drinking lots of water before, during and after chemo infusion to encourage urination; and going to the restroom often to dilute the toxins as quickly as possible. The BCRC is a great resource for all information regarding breast cancer and for emotional/financial support for those affected.  They will even go to chemo appointments with patients...AMAZING!

Though Shermance has just gone through one treatment cycle, besides her hair falling out and the change in tastes, she noticed a change in smells, some changes in body chemistry, and some changes in appetite.  For everyone it's different but for sure no one makes it through this experience unaffected.  In the next chemo phase which includes Taxol she is expected to have increased energy and could even become somewhat compulsive...we shall see :)

The Warriors Within

This blog about Shermance’s hypnotherapy that was performed by a Christian counselor in Round Rock named Rick Breland.  Before we did the therapy he told us about some amazing results that he personally has seen as a result of “guided imagery” to help with a spectrum of ailments including chronic pain, addictions, weight loss, disease and physical limitations.  One story related the effects on a quadriplegic boy he worked with who was able to regain muscle control that the doctors had deemed impossible considering the extent of his disability. It took time, but the images that boy had in his head to initiate healing kept at work to rebuild the connections that later allowed him to move.

Rick is a licensed professional in hypnotherapy and he had written words specifically for Shermance, unlike most hypnotists who read a pre-written script and have no formal training, classroom observation nor professional critique like Rick had in his formal training.  In Shermance’s case, we asked for hope and healing.  I was allowed to stay in the room throughout the 30-minute therapy.  He explained that validation of his words was required using her thumb since it is one part of the body that is still able to move independently even with the rest of the body fully relaxed in a state very near sleeping. 

I heard Rick’s words and watched Shermance as she allowed complete relaxation of her body lying down on the proverbial therapy couch.  He spoke in a calm, steady tone not unlike “you are getting very sleepy” that cartoons showed as we grew up. Absent was the pocket watch.  Throughout his custom script he’d pause until he’d see the thumb flick to confirm Shermance had received the message and had felt the sensation that Rick was guiding.  As she more deeply relaxed, I looked for the swelling of her bottom lip which he explained is an indication of a deep hypnotic state in many people.  He said she’d be fully aware of her surroundings and what she was asked to do, though hyper-relaxed.

He had her focus on different body parts to make them heavy and relaxed. After each area of the body was described he’d wait for the thumb flick response before moving on.  Some areas were easier than others, since the thumb flick response was not always immediate.  In some cases, it took multiple tries to get the desired response, but Rick stayed calm and responded only after Shermance was ready to move on.

Once he had her in a deep relaxed state, a state that yoga instructors have told him is beyond the level of relaxation they can achieve in their deep meditation, he started the guided imagery.  He asked her to think of two warriors with spears in her mind that would attack negative thoughts and attack the cancer.  He had her imagine the tumors, encapsulate them and move them from their current location, down her body, through her legs and onto the floor. As he went through this, in my mind I questioned whether Shermance would remember this or if it would have an ongoing affect.  We closed the session with a prayer with his wife and the three of us holding hands in a circle.  If this works we want all glory to go to God.

Since the treatment Shermance has had the warriors in her mind and they are vivid images. One evening as I was brushing my teeth, I heard her giggle in the other room.  She told me she was watching the warriors swinging their spears almost like swords as they were preparing to fight the cancer again.  She says sometimes they fight the cancer just during the day, but she has also woken up to have them fighting the cancer all through the night.

We can’t say for sure that the therapy has reduced the size of the tumors.  We don’t know if the chemo has either, but the lumps do already feel smaller.  We go in for another sonogram in mid-July to check on progress by measuring the size of the tumors.  On the other hand, Shermance has had an amazingly positive attitude.  She is wired that way to begin with, but something like this can wear down even the most positive people.  I have to say Shermance has had an amazing attitude with just a few episodes of tears.  She chooses her attitude daily and it starts at bubbly from the time she wakes up at 5 am till she goes to bed at night.  We are very thankful Rick worked us in just 2 days after we found out about cancer.  His one treatment has helped us each day till now! 

Hair Today Gone Tomorrow

Notes from 6/2-6/3

What started out as a wonderful visit to Bastrop, ended with Shermance pulling her hair out, literally.  Shermance spent Saturday morning picking out blinged-up headbands in all colors (to match all outfits and undergaments, of course) from Martha Granger (Fringe Me!).  I met her and the boys at her aunt's place for some frivoling and a movie before we headed out for the evening.

Saturday night Shermance and I relaxed at a wonderul Bed & Breakfast in downtown Bastrop, Magnolia Inn. The inn, located on Main Street just a block away from downtown, is owned by some good friends whom we've met through Jimmie Ann. They gutted the place and restored it for almost 2 years to establish the retro splendor that it has today.  All decorations, furniture, and fixtures take you back to the roaring 20's in a peaceful vintage ambiance. We were full tourists as we snapped pictures at every turn, to get ideas for home.  Though we doubt we can match what they've so tastefully done. We had a wonderful stay in the "Old-Hollywood Suite" and took full advantage of the open-bar happy hours, snacks in the room, and the delicious gourmet breakfast (though we opted against the inn's signature Blackberry Cream Cheese French Toast to reduce cancer-feeding sugars and glutens). We ate with two neat couples from Buda whom we had met the night before during happy hour.  If you'd like to try a get-away there you have to hurry because they have it for sale.

Our Saturday night on the town included patio dining at downtown hot spot, Baxter's, for a wonderful meal and free music that we could hear from another downtown venue. The food was great and we splurged a bit by sampling the HUGE signature Creme Brulee with candied almonds and the Flourless Chocolate Torte. YUM! Our evening ended with foot-stompin' lively Oldie's and Rock and Roll played by the Shop Dawgs at Maxine's on Main. We taught the waitress how to make a Radler, a mix of lager beer and ginger ale, which is a German favorite of ours. It was a fun get-away just a short drive from Austin.

The downer of the evening and Sunday was the start of hair falling out.  So much for the joking about us getting the placebo treatment since Shermance has till now had very few side effects.  The reality of hair loss, although she had been preparing for it for weeks, was more tearful and moving than she thought.  She thought she was prepared, but still having clumps of body hair or patches of her stubble-head fall out was tramatic.  Now we know we are fully engaged in this cancer FIGHT!

Don't BRAC my Heart

Notes from Friday, 6/1

Good News!  The BRACAnalysis results came back negative, meaning Shermance doesn’t fall into the 10% category of women who have a hereditary predisposition for cancer.  If she had a positive result they would proactively treat for ovarian cancer (i.e. surgery) and might change the chemo.  Women with BRACAnalysis positive would also want to notify family members since the likelihood of cancer among that 10% is very high.  Shermance is among the 90% who randomly get cancer presumably due to environmental factors (the breast cancer fund).  It’s startling that 1 in 8 women in the US who are not genetically predisposed is expected to get the same bad news Shermance had about having breast cancer sometime in their lifetime (for men prostate cancer has about the same incident rate).  The doctors keep calling Shermance “so young” because most patients are older women since risk increases after age 55.  

All lab results are looking good.  This was the first time Shermance went alone to an oncologist appointment since I needed to catch up on work.  Shermance asked all the right questions and her body is reacting well to chemo.  The Newlasta is keeping her white blood cells high so her guard against infection or colds remains high.  As a result she may not require the standard weekly blood tests and has been given the OK to travel during the weeks off from chemo (every 3 weeks at this point). They do, however, want her to take yet another blood test for a different genetic marker called the BART test. 

That afternoon Shermance drove to Bastrop to meet our boys who have been staying with Shermance’s aunt this past week on the "animal farm" – 3 dogs, a cat, 8 chickens and no parakeets – since we have those at our house.  Our dog didn’t attack the chickens so all is well there.  Shermance’s white blood count was challenged, since her aunt was getting sick, but so far it hasn’t spread.  They hung out and watched movies that were the precursors to “The Avengers”, while I was back home in Round Rock making final preparations for the Quality Auditor 5-hour exam, Saturday morning.