Side Effects and NEW HAIR!

After my last chemo treatment my 3 middle toes on each foot, the bottoms, and the heels of both feet went numb.  After about my 4th chemo treatment, my heels would be numb, but they had come out of numbness by my next treatment.  By January all but my middle toe tip on each foot had come out of numbness.  The bottoms of my feet are mostly not numb anymore, but they hurt after I have been sitting for awhile and then stand up.  After a few minutes of walking they don't hurt as badly.  I also ended up losing my 3rd and 4th toenails on my left foot and my 3rd toenail on my right foot. 

When I started radiation my thigh muscles and calf muscles became extremely sore.  It was painful to walk, stand, sit, lie down, … anything.  I had to make sure I walked for at least 15 minutes before I went to bed or I would be up all night in pain.  They felt like when I had my really bad days when I was doing chemo.  I asked the doctors about it and the radiation doctors said it must be chemo after affects and the chemo doctors said it could be the radiation.  After I finished radiation they began to improve dramatically until the affects were pretty much gone.  Now they are doing well.  The back of my right knee hurts when I bend down and I have a hard time getting up.

My upper arms and shoulder are sore when I raise my arms to pull off my shirts.  I don't have seem to have the range of movement I had pre-treatments, but it's better than it was initially.  That's always a good sign.

About 2 weeks after I stopped chemo my eyelashes and eyebrows went from thinning to falling out.  Within a couple of weeks they had all fallen out.  That was something I hadn't expected.  I thought I was through with all of that.  

My taste was very slow in returning.  I had thought it would follow the usual chemo trend of returning by the time I was back to treatment in 3 weeks.  That didn't happen.  By Thanksgiving I could taste some things, but still not carbohydrates.  By Christmas I could taste most carbohydrates, but still not desserts or candy.  By February things taste extremely intense.  Sweet things are super sweet, sour things are super sour, salty things are very salty, but cakes and cookies still don't taste right.  Chocolate still tastes like unsweetened cocoa powder.  

Since my eyelashes started growing back my dry eyes have mostly cleared up and don't tear up like they had started doing about half way through chemo.  

My mouth is slowly becoming less dry.  I still have to have water to drink during the night but I've gone from drinking 1 to 2 quarts a night to 1/2 - 1 quart of water.  I carry water in my purse and try to make sure I have a water bottle or access to water at all times.  I can't go more than about 15 minutes before I need to drink something.

I still get tired easily, but I forget that I am still recovering and don't rest like I should.  I end up exhausting myself and pretty much down for a day to rest and recover from not doing so daily like I should.

When I go to the doctor I have my list of questions because I don't know what could be an indicator that cancer has reoccurred.  Here is a list of questions from my last visit to Dr. Dickson, my oncologist.
Taste extremes (normal and should keep improving) 
Numb middle toes (improvement is good sign)
Right shoulder blade itching (dry skin from treatments)
Tickle in rt ear (wax buildup)
Dry eyes/mouth (normal and should keep improving)
CAT scan (not unless showing symptoms)
Sore feet when get up (slow improvement is good indicator)
Cough since Christmas Day (if doesn't improve, come in)
"Bubble" where port was (that had become infected by my appointment)
Numb back when stand for long periods (muscles adjusting to not having large chest)
"Zit" in crease under arm (was gone)
Dr. Dickson is very patient with my concerns and understands I don't know what could be a symptom that should be a concern.

I started getting hair 1 November.  I would have Ray to feel my head every day, asking if it felt different to him.  He couldn't really tell any difference, but I could!  After about a week I could really tell and my hair started to become visible.  My eyelashes, eyebrows, hair on face, in nose, in ears, arm, and leg hair started growing at the same time.  My arm and leg hair came super fast growing straight out.  

1/8/14-Arm hair

1/8/14-Leg Hair

My eyelashes and eyebrows are still coming in.  I ended up with "mutton chops" on my face that Elvis would have been envious of.  I could literally grab it and pull it and  I wasn't shaving it because I was afraid it would come in looking thicker and darker.  Luckily it was really fine and blonde.  I asked Dr. Dickson about it and he said it's like when a baby is born and has the fine hair all over its body and usually it just falls out.  I bit the bullet and shaved it soon after the appointment and so far (a couple of weeks later) it is still light and fine and has not grown back more than my normal face hair length. 

My hair on my head is a little darker then it was before and the part is on the left instead of the right like it was before I lost it.  I can't tell if it will be straight or not, but it seems pretty straight so far.  I am just so grateful to have hair again.  

6/16/13-Hair thinning (w/ old pic of Daulton)

6/9/13-Before shaving hair shorter

6/9/13--After shaving hair shorter

6/24/13-Patchy

6/24/13-..w/ super creepy eyes

6/27/13-Shaved off patches

7/11/13-Totally bald

9/16/13-Last day of Chemo! ... Still bald.

9/22/13-Persistant "whiskers" that persisted the entire time I was bald.  After I shaved the patches off of my head I didn't shave it again.

11/15/13-My hair is becoming visible

11/15/13-Close-up of visible hair

12/2/13-Hair filling out more every day.

12/26/13-Hair growing in thicker.

2/2/14-Being daring and spiking my hair a bit to try something new.

1/5/14-First day I felt comfortable going out in public without a hat.  It's a new year.

I think losing my hair and having to stay away from people because of my compromised immune system has made me somewhat of a recluse.  I am a bit self-conscious of my hair because it is to the point I look like I cut it this way on purpose, trying to make a statement or something.  (I have had several people ask about my short hair.)  I am still nervous about being around sick people since I don't think my immune system is up to where I would like it to be.  My WBC #'s are good, but it takes time to recover from what I've had to go through.    

I have declared 2014 a "Year of Healing" physically, mentally, emotionally, socially, and spiritually. Let's all join our energy into being positive and becoming healthy in all aspects of our lives.

Radiation

On 30 Sept, 2013 I had my Radiation appointment with Dr. Todd in Idaho Falls.  We discussed my options and decided to go forward with the radiation.  I want to do as much as I can on my part to eliminate the possibility of ever having to go through this again.  Dr. Todd is also in Pocatello so I had to option to receive 33 radiation treatments in Pocatello instead of having to drive to Idaho Falls every day for treatments and appointments.  At 33 treatments he would determine whether or not I would need a couple more treatments.

On 1 Oct, 2013 I had a simulation/imaging radiation appointment at the Cancer Center in Pocatello.  I had to lay on a foam form that they formed to my back and head.  When they were finished they sucked all of the air out of the form and it was my form for all of my treatments.  I was marked on my chest in two spots and on my side as well for triangulation of the machine.  They did X-Rays so Dr. Todd could plan where the rays would target when I came in.

I started Radiation on Tuesday, 8 Oct, 2013.  The Cancer Center is right up the hill from our student housing apartments so it was very close.  The first day they tattooed the spots for triangulation so they would not wear off and have to be remarked.  When I arrived I would undress from the waist up and put on a gown.  I would go into the treatment room and lay on my form on the treatment table.  The form put me in the proper position so getting all of the lasers lined up with my tattoos only took a few minutes.  The X-Rays would take a few more minutes while the machine would rotate around the table and hum and buzz.  Eventually I was able to count how many hums then how many buzzes it took for my treatment.  It was the same everyday for 27 treatments.

Lying on the form to keep me in position as the big eye looking thing rotated around the table shooting beams of X-Rays targeting the cancer bed and lymph nodes.

The last 5 treatments were called booster doses.  They used a paint pen to trace across the center of my chest and under my arm.  This is where they targeted concentrated doses of gamma radiation.  I didn't turn green or be endowed with superhuman strength, although extra strength would have been awesome at this time.  They made plates called cakes, I believe, that are made from Cadmium, Tin, and Bismuth.  They were the exact shape of the painted area.  A Styrofoam shape was cut first, then they made a mold of the shape, and then the metals were poured into the mold.  They would put the plate on the radiation machine and line up both areas.  They would do the same thing with the other plate before they administered the radiation.  They would also put a "Bolus" sheet like silicone on to compensate for missing tissue and intensify the gamma rays.  The hums and buzzes were not in the same sequence as the non-booster doses and took a little less time, about 3 minutes vs 5 minutes. 

The  on the risers put on the eye of the machine so it was almost right against my chest and would target the gamma rays at a specific area.

The plates, and the "Bolus".

My Radiation Team.  They were always so kind and respectful.  I never felt uncomfortable or scared thanks to their professionalism.

During radiation treatments I didn’t feel any different.  It was like getting an X-Ray.  When the treatments started my mouth went extremely dry.  They said since the rays weren’t targeting the neck it couldn’t be from the treatments, but it happened.  They had me turn my head slightly to the left to keep the “scatter” from my salivary glands.  This seemed to help a little.  

Every Tuesday I would see Dr. Todd and they would take X-Rays to track the targeted area and make sure everything was going as planned.  

It was just the same thing every day.  I couldn't really do anything else during the week, Monday - Friday.  Since I didn't need any extra treatments I finished radiation on 21 November, 2013.  

My radiation schedule:
Oct 7-10   4:45 pm
Oct 11   11:30 am
Oct 14   9:15 am
Oct15   4:14 pm
Oct 16-23   2:45 pm
Oct 24 - Nov 21   9:45 am
  It was good to have completed the last stage of my treatment.  I won't miss doing any of this ever again.

The Pink Tea

Minnie Mouse

On Saturday, October 19, 2013 I attended the Pink Tea at the Juniper Hills Country Club.  I was invited by Kathy Warth who I met at a yard sale she was having.  When she found out I was fighting breast cancer she asked me if I would like to join her at her table at the Pink Tea.  She was a breast cancer survivor as well.  I happily accepted.

Beach

Besides the fact that it was for breast cancer survivors I had no idea what a Pink Tea was.  I was very impressed.  All of the tables were decorated differently by different people.  There was a very nice lunch, door prizes, drawings, and singing (not creepy commune type singing).  Part of the program was an outward facing circle (I was a participant) to remember those that hadn’t conquered cancer.

My take home gift specific to my table

Lovely Flowers and Collar Necklace Door Prize

Everyone got a mug to remind them of the fund raiser "Drive for the Cure" Golf Tournament.

Pink Halloween

Tea Party

There was also a wonderful young keynote speaker.  She talked about finding her cancer as a teenager, no one believing her because of her age and size, and how we need to raise awareness that ideas of who can get cancer are very narrow.  One thing she said that I really liked was, “When the dragon is going to attack the knight, he doesn’t call and make an appointment.”

Pretty in Pink

Beach

My table.  Lots of fun ladies.  Kathy is standing in the background on the right wearing a pink breast cancer T-shirt

I met new people who can relate and also became acquainted with member of a support group at the Cancer Center I go to for radiation.  The meetings are on Mondays from 5:00 – 6:30pm.  I think I will go and see if it is something that will work for me.  

Me in my favorite hat made by an aunt of one of the BHS football players.  It's like I have pink hair.  Love it!

All in all, it was a very uplifting and productive afternoon.  Thank you so much to Kathy for inviting me to this event and being gracious enough to allow me, a complete stranger, to sit at her table so I could meet others that will support me in my fight.    

Kudos to the Blackfoot High School Football Team!

The Blackfoot High School Football Team honored three ladies that were battling breast cancer.  I was lucky enough to be one or the three.  The team gathered donations from around town and dedicated their game on October 18, 2013 to the fight against breast cancer.  

The entire team signed this card for me.  Maybe one of them will be famous some day.  In my eyes they are all famous!

All of the players sported pink socks and tape in support of the fight.  We were presented with gift bags that contained all of the donations the team had so selflessly gathered together.  It included gift cards, socks, breads, cookies, a pink jewel studded cup, honey, aloe vera, and a handmade hat (now one of my favorites).  The announcer told a little about each of us and then we went out on the field with the team captains for the coin toss.  

The amazing gift bag that was presented to me containing the items the team had worked so hard to gather.

Don't you love this fantastic hat?!

I am putting what I wrote on the thank you card here because I was so impressed and touched by these amazing students.  Every word is genuinely heartfelt and sincere.

I am so proud that the hometown I grew up in has produced such quality young adults that have such caring and compassion for others battles.  The time and energy that was dedicated to helping in my struggle is greatly appreciated.  We are all going through battles. It may be on the football field, in the classroom, or personal struggles, like cancer, but by supporting each other we can emerge triumphant.  Thank you for being allies in my battle.  Onward Broncos!  Fight for victory!