Finally got an email from my doctor tonight... My CT scan was negative for any enlarged lymph nodes or masses!!! I'll get a second PET scan in two months. Hopefully those "two areas of concern" from the first scan will have dissapeared. My Monday night just got a lot better!!! Hope everyone is enjoying their night as much as I am!
XOXO Britni
Monday, January 16, 2012
Thursday, January 12, 2012
2 Areas of Concern
Met my doctor on Tuesday to find out there are 2 suspicious areas on my PET scan. Both could be false positives, but they ordered further tests to determine what they are. I had a CT scan yesterday and am waiting to hear those results. If the doctor finds questionable areas on the CT scan, they will go in and biopsy the tissues. If they don't find anything questionable, then I will wait 2 months and take another PET scan. So now I'm back in the waiting game.
Woke up with a cold today. Hopefully that will go away quickly and I'll hear back from my doctor tomorrow. Cross your fingers for me!
XOXO Britni
Woke up with a cold today. Hopefully that will go away quickly and I'll hear back from my doctor tomorrow. Cross your fingers for me!
XOXO Britni
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
Scan today!
Happy New Year everyone! I had a blast at the cabin and am now back home. Nick, Nicholas, Chloe and I did our best to enjoy what little snow there was. They built a ramp with the snow in front of the house so we didn't have to go far to have fun. While they were "surfing" down the ramp, I stuck to sledding on my behind. I attempted to surf down the ramp twice... Falling on my side 1 second after take off each time. Overall it was a great vacation. Very relaxing, just what the doctor ordered!
On the health front- I have my follow up scan today at 3pm! I won't get the results until Monday at 4:30pm. I'm nervous now and imagine I will be until Monday. I just need to stay positive and focused on good health. Turns out my infection wasn't staph... It was pseudomonas. After 10 days of antibiotics I had to go back in this morning and have the doctor re-open the holes. This time I received 3 shots of numbing medicine before he cut open the spaces. Now cleaned, they got packed with gauze. I have to go to Roseville every 2 days to have it re-packed. There is NO way I could do that myself. I was naseaous just listening to the doctors talk about it! My doctor did say he has never seen an incision take so long to heal. This is one of those situations where you don't feel good about being special! Other than my lingering incision issues all is well. I'll write again on Monday to give everyone the cancer free news!
XOXO Britni
On the health front- I have my follow up scan today at 3pm! I won't get the results until Monday at 4:30pm. I'm nervous now and imagine I will be until Monday. I just need to stay positive and focused on good health. Turns out my infection wasn't staph... It was pseudomonas. After 10 days of antibiotics I had to go back in this morning and have the doctor re-open the holes. This time I received 3 shots of numbing medicine before he cut open the spaces. Now cleaned, they got packed with gauze. I have to go to Roseville every 2 days to have it re-packed. There is NO way I could do that myself. I was naseaous just listening to the doctors talk about it! My doctor did say he has never seen an incision take so long to heal. This is one of those situations where you don't feel good about being special! Other than my lingering incision issues all is well. I'll write again on Monday to give everyone the cancer free news!
XOXO Britni
Sunday, December 18, 2011
Back to "Normal"
It has been almost 3 weeks since I finished both chemotherapy and radiation! My body has begun healing and I'm starting to feel "normal" again. I use quotations because I'm adjusting to a new normal. If you've seen me in person, you know I look completely "normal." Lucky for me, my internal organs are regenerating too. Any pain I have now is random. I get random joint pains, that were actually very painful for three nights. I've added calcium into my vitamin regimen and Aleeve helps take the joint pain away. For as good as I feel now, it feels like I was a normal 26 year old before the surgery and now I'm like a 50-something year old menopausal woman with joint pains and hot flashes! The only lingering issue is my incision. Three months since the surgery and the staples have not dissolved. Three bubbles appeared along the incision which resulted in a staph infection. They had to open and drain the bubbles and put me on a round of antibiotics. Two of the three bubbles are healing properly and one will have to be drained again tomorrow. Ugh... Hopefully this will be the last of my incision troubles. Until then, yoga pants or sweats it is. My post treatment scan and follow-up appointment are in January. The day is TBD, but I'll be sure to post when the time comes!
The weeks since the completion of treatment have flown by and I'm officially ready for Christmas! I leave Christmas night to spend four days at my dad's cabin in Kingvale. When I return, I've got to begin the job hunt. I have enjoyed every last minute of my time off, but I am ready to return to the working world. I'm searching for an Executive Assistant / Administrative Assistant position in the area. I've made a conscious decision to find a job where I can focus on that happy work/life balance. After six years in the Event and Food Service industry, I'm ready to transition into something new. I'm very thankful for my time at Catta Verdera. Whatever I do in the future, I know I can handle anything!
Off to finish wrapping presents! I hope everyone has a happy, healthy and MERRY CHRISTMAS!
XOXO Britni
The weeks since the completion of treatment have flown by and I'm officially ready for Christmas! I leave Christmas night to spend four days at my dad's cabin in Kingvale. When I return, I've got to begin the job hunt. I have enjoyed every last minute of my time off, but I am ready to return to the working world. I'm searching for an Executive Assistant / Administrative Assistant position in the area. I've made a conscious decision to find a job where I can focus on that happy work/life balance. After six years in the Event and Food Service industry, I'm ready to transition into something new. I'm very thankful for my time at Catta Verdera. Whatever I do in the future, I know I can handle anything!
Off to finish wrapping presents! I hope everyone has a happy, healthy and MERRY CHRISTMAS!
XOXO Britni
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
Photos Galore!
My mom just helped me upload a TON of photos to www.theprincessandthec.com! We tried to incorporate all of the photos taken so far, but some are kinda blurry and some were VERY blurry. I apologize if a photo of you and I didn't make it to the site due to the blur! I hope you enjoy a glimpse into this crazy journey I'm on.
XOXO Britni
XOXO Britni
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
Holy "O"
Two days into week 5 and I'm exhausted. The cumulative nature of the side effects is true! I have to admit, I'm most comfortable when I'm lying in bed or on the couch. Overall, I am just wiped out. This past Friday and Saturday were the worst yet. The nausea was overwhelming. When I was in the shower on Saturday, my vision became blurry, I got dizzy and both my ears plugged. I got out and laid in bed for the rest of the day. I had to cancel my movie plans with Felicia because I just couldn't get over the nausea. Things calmed down on Sunday. Just in time to have chemo again on Monday. Nick took me to chemo and radiation this time. I took Ativan to relax and drank lots of water on Sunday, but it still took two pricks to get into a vein. My nurse actually put the IV in a vein that's in between my wrist and thumb. My wrist is a bit sore today. It is hard open bottles.
Chemo was definitely interesting. Besides entertaining ourselves with and angry birds battle, Nick and I had a front row seat to another patient being taken out of the chemo suite on a gurney. He was having chest pains, so they took him to the ER. Oddly enough the building I go to for chemo is not considered the hospital (even though it's on the grounds of the Roseville hospital). So the nurses are required to call an ambulance just like you would at home. Six EMT's showed up (a little overkill?!) and took him out. He was a very cute elderly man who said "I'm still awake, I can walk!" After being convinced that the gurney is protocol, he hoped on. "Fine" he said, "but I'm not leaving here in a body bag!" Hopefully everything turned out well for him.
I spoke with my chemo oncologist and got a prescription for what I'm calling the Holy "O"! Tincture of Opium. That's right people, liquid opium. It's the last resort they can offer me to help with the diarrhea. I'm supposed to take .6ml four times a day until the diarrhea stops. We'll see how long it takes! I thought it would make me loopy, but I actually don't feel anything. It doesn't even make me tired. I should say it doesn't make me more tired than I already am! Tomorrow, I see my radiation doc, get radiation and then see my chemo doc. I learned too late on Monday that I could have switched to a higher anti-nausea drug, so I'll be reviewing my last set of IV's for chemo next Monday. Cross your fingers for me that the nausea doesn't knock me out again this weekend! It's time to begin the countdown; 3 more radiation treatments and 1 chemo! Hot friggin' dog! Once the treatments are over it will take 4-6 weeks for the side effects to go away. The radiation side effects- sunburn, inflamed organs/tissues, diarrhea, and fatigue- will take the longest to go away. Hopefully I won't need the opium that whole time!
So what about after treatment? I wait two months and then go back in for another PET/CT scan. The two month wait is to let my body rebuild after being torn apart for six weeks. If the cancer shows up on the scan, then well decide what to do then. However, I know it won't! That means it's back to living a normal cancer free life! I'll get a scan every three months for two years, then every six months for the following three years. At five years, I'll be medically cured! Thanksgiving this week means yummy dinners with the families and the second year of black Friday shopping with my niece Brooke! We're doing it at midnight this year! 4am was brutal last year, and mornings are even harder for me now. I feel the best at night, so this Thursday night/ Friday morning should be a breeze.
Thanksgiving and Christmas are my favorite holidays. I look forward to chilly weather, crackling fires, hot chocolate, Christmas lights and family gatherings all year long! Thanksgiving is the kick-off for me, and as you can probably guess, this year is even more special. This holiday season is going to be amazing, I can feel it.
I need to say a great big THANK YOU! to all of my mom's colleagues at Sierra College who participated in making me an unbelievably beautiful quilt! 38 people took the time to decorate a square before they had them beautifully sewn together into a quilt. It is an extremely touching gift that I will never forget. Thank you again to everyone who participated.
It's time to hit the sack. Big day of doctors appointments tomorrow. Happy Thanksgiving everyone! Enjoy your food comas! I know I will... I love myself some stuffing! XOXO Britni
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
Middle of week 4! Whoo-hoo!
Back in the chair for my fourth chemo treatment this past Monday. It took 2 needle pricks to find a good vein this time. Good thing this weather calls for long sleeves because my arms make me look like I have a drug habit. I have one large and medium bruise on my left forearm and five small bruises on my right forearm! Only 2 chemo treatments and 8 radiation treatments left!
I had a very relaxing weekend- spent about 18-20 hours each day in bed. I caught the cold my mom had. Luckily for me it was just nasal congestion and a mild cough. I took a nasal decongestant on Sunday and that with a massive amount of rest seems to have cleared it up. I don't feel 100% today, but I don't even know if that's possible with everything else going on. The "D" is still an issue too, but I've added percocet into my regimen of pills. This narcotic along with the stronger imodium like drug they prescribed has helped slow things down in my intestines.
On a bad note, another spot on my incision opened up. It's a small superficial opening, but there is a bigger fluid pocket below it too. I visited one of my doctor's after chemo and thankfully he said the opening and fluid pocket are not infected. I just have to keep a close eye on them. The problem is more of the staples are making their way to the surface. I'm VERY weary about pulling the exposed staples out. I think it opens up the hole deeper. I'd rather they come out on their own and I cover them with a bandaid until they are fully out. I thought that skin around my incision would be numb, but it's actually very sensitive. I would be able to feel the staples being removed if they took the tweezers to them. My doctor agreed to let me do it my way since none of the staples are sticking out far enough yet to pry on.
On a good note, I'm excited to see Tower Heist with Diana today. Then Suzanne is coming over to make Chicken & Dumplings on Thursday! Yummy! No big plans for Friday and Saturday other than relaxing more and then it's time to celebrate Nicholas's 6th Birthday on Sunday. Now if only I could heal my friend Sarah and her adorable boys of their flus. They have been sick for WAY to long so I haven't been able to visit with them!!
I hope everyone out there got a flu shot and is staying happy and healthy!! A little over a week until Thanksgiving! I love the fall & winter and all the family centered holidays they bring. Can't wait to stuff myself like a turkey with the rest of you! One thing is for sure, this Cancer may have given me some side effects, but it hasn't taken away my appetite! I'm still losing weight too (best diet plan ever! Hehehe)
XOXO Britni
I had a very relaxing weekend- spent about 18-20 hours each day in bed. I caught the cold my mom had. Luckily for me it was just nasal congestion and a mild cough. I took a nasal decongestant on Sunday and that with a massive amount of rest seems to have cleared it up. I don't feel 100% today, but I don't even know if that's possible with everything else going on. The "D" is still an issue too, but I've added percocet into my regimen of pills. This narcotic along with the stronger imodium like drug they prescribed has helped slow things down in my intestines.
On a bad note, another spot on my incision opened up. It's a small superficial opening, but there is a bigger fluid pocket below it too. I visited one of my doctor's after chemo and thankfully he said the opening and fluid pocket are not infected. I just have to keep a close eye on them. The problem is more of the staples are making their way to the surface. I'm VERY weary about pulling the exposed staples out. I think it opens up the hole deeper. I'd rather they come out on their own and I cover them with a bandaid until they are fully out. I thought that skin around my incision would be numb, but it's actually very sensitive. I would be able to feel the staples being removed if they took the tweezers to them. My doctor agreed to let me do it my way since none of the staples are sticking out far enough yet to pry on.
On a good note, I'm excited to see Tower Heist with Diana today. Then Suzanne is coming over to make Chicken & Dumplings on Thursday! Yummy! No big plans for Friday and Saturday other than relaxing more and then it's time to celebrate Nicholas's 6th Birthday on Sunday. Now if only I could heal my friend Sarah and her adorable boys of their flus. They have been sick for WAY to long so I haven't been able to visit with them!!
I hope everyone out there got a flu shot and is staying happy and healthy!! A little over a week until Thanksgiving! I love the fall & winter and all the family centered holidays they bring. Can't wait to stuff myself like a turkey with the rest of you! One thing is for sure, this Cancer may have given me some side effects, but it hasn't taken away my appetite! I'm still losing weight too (best diet plan ever! Hehehe)
XOXO Britni
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