2 months post surgery and 1 chemo down!
Hi everyone! It's been a a while since my last update, and a lot has gone on since then. Firstly, I am 2 months post surgery and doing really well with that. Also, I had my first round of chemo on Friday, July 14th (1 of 6 every 3 weeks).
We'll start with the "foobs", as they are fondly called on the breast cancer websites LOL. I have been back three times for a tissue expander filling. During surgery, they filled the expanders to 300 cc's. My first fill, I had 50 on each side, and the other two fills, they put in 75, so I am now at 500 cc's. The expanders are 700 cc's and can be filled to 750 if needed. I know that sounds HUGE, but trust me, it's not. Just remember, a 300cc implant on a regular boob would be the size of a 600-700 cc "foob" where the whole breast is gutted, leaving no breast tissue behind. For each filling appointment I have been seeing my Dr's PA, and this coming Tuesday I meet with my plastic surgeon again to check in on the fills etc. I will have an opportunity to ask about what implants he plans on using, all the pros & cons etc etc etc.! My next surgery wont happen for months... The end of the year, maybe later.
Now, on to the chemo... The night before I have to take Dexamethosone right before I go to bed. It's a steroid that I believe is used to help with the bone pains caused by chemo. The major side affect is insomnia. Friday night I went to bed about 10pm, took my pills, and was wide awake at about 2:30 am! It was probably a combo of the pills and my nerves, but I tossed & turned the rest of the night.
Check in at Kaiser was at 8am. Katie took me and hung out with me until the IV was in and the fluids were dripping. They put me in a room with a bed since I was going to be there all day. I wasn't in the row of recliners that I assumed I would be in. My chemo "cocktail" is TCH (Taxotere [Docataxel], Carboplatin [Paraplatin], Herceptin [Trastuzumab]).
After the IV was in, I was given two Tylenol pills and some sort of Benadryl for nausea via the IV. The first med given was the Herceptin, that took a long 1 1/2 hours! After it was done, I had an hour wait for observation. During that hour, they gave me the steroids I have to take by pill at home in an IV form. I don't know how much was in that bag, but it sure did keep me up that night... We'll get to that later though :)
The next one was the Taxotere, another long one! This one was a two hour drip !!!! No observation after that one though.. More pills swallowed for anti nausea then the last bag was administered. This was the Carboplatin and it was a quick one... Just 1/2 an hour. So when that one started, I texted Kate to come and get me. She got there just in time to see the last drips go in, and the IV come out ! We were walking out the door at 3:15. My next treatment will be exactly the same as the first, then they start speeding things up. I am not sure if that means they will cut out the hour observation, speed up the drips, or both???
So the Dex that I have to take the night before chemo, I also have to take for the two days following. But I can take them first thing in the morning.. Hopefully getting it out of my system before bed??? NOPE! I didn't sleep much that weekend, especially Sunday night. I was told I would start feeling things Sunday... But I actually felt pretty good... by Sunday afternoon I was feeling a bit tired, but I hadn't slept that well. I thought to myself, hmmm... If this is the worst of it, it's not so bad. Boy was I wrong. Monday morning I tried to be the trooper and go to work... I lasted 4 hours. The bone aches were horrible. The fact that I was so tired didn't help anything. I can describe it as feeling like you have the worst flu you've ever had, then getting hit by a truck... Twice. Hubby took me home and I walked right to bed and I swear I fell asleep as soon as my head hit the pillow! I slept a few hours and was woken up by my Dr letting me know I could take some Norco for the pain (Tylenol wasn't cutting it!) I made a PB&J, took the pill with a ton of water and fell back asleep.
Over the next few days my sleep pattern got better, and with sleep that bone pains were tolerable. The side affects are crazy. The inside of my nose was raw and bloody, all my taste buds went crazy... It felt like my tongue was a brillo pad LOL. Then the diarrhea started (sorry folks!) By Friday (1 week after) I went to Kaiser to fill a scrip and had one of the oncology nurses take a look at a rash that popped up about an inch above the IV hole (turned into a big bruise too)... I went over all my side affects and she ok'd me to take OTC Imodium, that helped! Vaseline up the nose helped too.
By week two I was feeling pretty good, my appetite had returned and I was sleeping well each night. I was doing my daily activities of work, errands, chores etc. Minus the barn... A compromised immune system around horse sh*t, chicken sh*t, squirrel sh*t probably isn't a good combo! Jason has been on horse duties since chemo, he's loving it... He claims he's got a new horse! (I think I should bill him for the feed LOL)
Now we come to last weekend... Who needs hair anyway??? I always sleep with my hair tied up in a loose bun. Saturday morning when I took out the hair band I noticed a lot more hair stuck to it! I didn't wash it that day and just used a dry shampoo. When I brushed it out, there was a lot of hair left in the brush... I thought oh no, it has started!!! Sunday when washed it, it was falling out by the handful. I had said from the beginning that when it started I was going to shave it all off... So that's what we did. Jasons brother Josh came over with his clippers and did the deed. The Bandits offered up a clipping party, but I just wanted it gone, not waiting for everyone to get together for it, it was Sunday afternoon after all! He did his dads when he was having chemo, so I gave him the task! They both wore pink wigs and had a good time. Katie was the photographer! So I am now sporting scarves and hats, or simply going el natural!
Today I will swing by the oncology department and have my blood drawn to check my levels before my Dr appointment tomorrow. The day before each treatment I meet with my Dr for a pre check to make sure I'm A-OK for chemo the next day. Then Friday is #2... 1/3 of the way done!
So that's just about it... I got the OK from the Avon Walks' Oncology Dr to walk my 8th time in September. We are just over a month away!!! Yikes LOL I don't know how many miles I will be able to do... But I know you will all be supporting me! Xoxoxo

by Anna Priest on Wed, Aug 02, 2017 @ 1:07 PM

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Update, 3 week post surgery!!!
Hi Family & Friends!
Well, yesterday marked 3 weeks post surgery. I feel pretty good, but do have my down days! I feel like I live at Kaiser LOL!
Last Monday my drainage tubes were removed, that was almost the best day ever... I was worried that they may hurt being pulled out, but I really felt nothing. The tube on the right was a bit longer, and I just felt "movement" inside (it's amazing how long they are inside the breast tissue!). Nurse Jackie was an angel, answered more of my many questions, and took them out with no issue.
I was scheduled for today to have my first fill up. I think they will be putting in 75cc's, and filling every two weeks, but I'll update that later.
We've had a bit of a heat wave in Southern California, so my crankiness has gone up a bit (shocker!) Fabric is irritating on the skin where only partial feeling is there. Trying to sleep at night is a nightmare. I am still stuck on my back, and can somewhat get on the side with proper pillow positioning lol.
I'm not going to lie, the tissue expanders hurt. When they are mostly deflated they cause a hard ripple on the bottom of the breast tissue... the muscle is also really tight. I've been doing a lot of reading on breastcancer org and most ladies say that the hardness starts to go away with each filling... I hope I have that outcome too!
I start Chemo on July 14th, and we are going to try to get in a camping trip to Yosemite the week after. I am hoping one treatment wont totally kick my ass... and assuming I'll get more tired with each additional treatment. I think I have posted before, but I have 1 treatment every three weeks for 6 treatments. This will take me to the end of October. (I double checked, there is a Kaiser Hospital right off the Yosemite freeway in Fresno, just in case I spike a fever and need to be checked out!)
I have ordered some head scarves, gone to Target and stocked up on household supplies, made sure there is ginerale and crackers in the house. I'm just really trying to get everything in order so if I am drained, I don't have to worry about sending the family to run my errands. They will have enough to do!
I still can't turn out Wolfie, but since the drains came out, I am able to go feed him everyday, and give him a light brushing. I am not taking a chance of him rearing up with me turning him out and tearing something inside! The guys at the barn have been turning him out for me on the weekdays and hubby does it on the weekend. They've even been giving him a quick bath for me :)
So that's my update... in just over 3 weeks, the Chemo starts... keep me in your thoughts, and again, thank you for all of your support.
xox
Anna

by Anna Priest on Tue, Jun 27, 2017 @ 11:09 AM

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Back to reality, back to work!
Hi everyone!
A week ago yesterday, I had the bilateral mastectomy. Everything went smoothly. We arrived at Kaiser at 9:45, and was checked in, and in my bed by about 10:15. My great nurse went over my history, got all my stats, and go my IV going. She put in a pepcid type antacid so when I wake up, I don't feel too sick.
Dr Arteaga (plastic surgeon) came by and marked all my chest for Dr Wood (oncology surgeon) so he knew what would be needed for my reconstruction. My anesthesiologist came by and introduced herself... she was my new best friend!
Every question Jason asked, they answered... everyone was friendly and even comical! It put a lightness in the air, a good mojo!
I was scheduled to go to surgery at 11:45, but they wheeled me in at about 11:15. I received some kind of iv drug before going in, and that put me in a bit of a la la land! I am glad I was able to say goodbye to my hubby, at least I think I did?
I remember scooting from my bed to the surgery "bed", them attaching the arms, and that was it... lights out! The next thing I know, I'm back in my bed... asking for ice chips! My throat was so sore and scratchy from the breathing tube. That lasted a good 4-5 days.
They then wheeled me back to the same area I was at in pre-op and Jason & Katie were there waiting for me! I was happy to see them, and they sure were happy to see me! I was given a juice box (tasted awful to me, but that was the meds)... my best friend was the ice chips. After an hour or so, they had me walking, got me dressed and sent me home. While I was walking, Jason ran down to the pharmacy to get my meds. Jason left to get the truck, and Kate stayed with me. Per hospital rules, the nurse had me in the wheelchair and helped me get into the truck.
I got home, got right into bed and slept for a few hours. When I awoke, my throat was dry, and my body was sore. I took my meds and went back to sleep.
Tuesday is pretty much a blurr... I slept a lot, peed a lot (that was blue from the dye the put in the lymph nodes LOL) At some point, Jason made me some soup with crackers, that was yummy. I watched a lot of tv and dozzed off for hours.
Wednesday when I woke up, I realized I'd made a mistake. My meds were take every 4 hours, my last pills were at 6pm... 13 hours later, I was in so much pain!!! I did not let that happen again! From then on, I made sure I took a pain pill and muscle relaxer at about 10-11pm so I was better in the morning.
For the week, I pretty much stayed in bed, getting up and walking around the house if I need to use the restroom, or get water. They want you up and walking to prevent clots.
By Friday I was feeling ok, good enough to swing by work for a few hours and get some checks run. My chest wasn't hurting too much, more pain was coming from the swelling above my breast area (more on that later).
Emptying the drains is pretty easy. Even Kate did it a few times. She was such a trooper. The gold star goes to Jason, everything I needed, he did... he's been my rock.
By Monday I was ready to go back to work, taking it hour by hour as to how long I stayed for, depending on how I was feeling. By then, my back hurt more than anything else. Too much time laying down did it!
I had an apt with my PS to check on the wounds, and if possible, remove the drains. The wounds look good, I was given the ok to shower. But the drains stayed in... I'm still draining 20+ ml in 12 hours, it needs to be under 25 in 24 hours. Now on all the swelling...I kept waking up with a lot of swelling that extended from my pit to above my breast. Turns out I have a hematoma. It's not really a big deal, I just have to put on a heat pad and massage the area a couple times a day to loosen up the clotted blood that's in the tissues.
When I go back to have the drains removed, he will start adding fluids to the expander. He put 300 cc's in initially, and will add another 75 to each side.
Now, as for the pathology results. Not the news I hoped for, but it's still really early.
The DCIS (stage 0) "mass" they removed (all the affected ducts) was 8.5 cm. Inside that, they found a 1.5 cm invasive mass that had gone from stage 0 to stage 1 (invasive cancer). They removed 3 lymph nodes, 1 of the 3 showed cancerous cells. Nothing more than that.
I tested positive to estrogen & progesterone, and also HER2 (human epidermal growth factor receptor 2, which promotes the growth of cancer cells) The pathology on the left came back clear.
I am waiting for Oncology to set me up with my first apt with them, so we can go over the plan. I met with Mary, my BCC on Monday after my plastics apt, and she went over everything with me. She said all the cases she has seen with all my factors do require chemo, so I need to be prepared for that. Also meds, one that I will take for 5 years.
So now I wait... more waiting LOL. When I get my apt, and meet with the Dr., I'll post again updating the plan!
xoxox
Anna

by Anna Priest on Tue, Jun 13, 2017 @ 2:23 PM

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Monday is almost here!
Hi all!
So this Monday 6/5 is surgery day... I have to be there at 9:45 am and I'm scheduled for surgery at 11:45. I think I've posted before, but the time schedule is about an 8 hour process... 2 hours of pre op, 5 hours for the 2 surgeries, and 1 hour post op. If all goes well, I will be going home Monday evening/night.
I am really ready to just get it over with... before Memorial weekend, camping was on my mind.. I was really looking forward to the long weekend of nothing but relaxation. Now that that's over, the waiting is on my mind a lot.
Before camping I had my pre op apt, had a physical, mental check, and signed all the waivers... from that apt, I headed over to the genetics dept and had my testing done for that. The results take about 2-3 weeks, so I have no updates on that as of yet.
I wanted to also post a very big THANK YOU to everyone who has donated and helped me reach my goal, and then some! Not having to worry about raising the funds to walk this Sept is a huge weight off my shoulders. I can spend the months leading up to the walk recouping and getting ready for the implant surgery!
I will post an update after Monday when I'm fully functional! LOL
Love you all
Anna
xoxox

by Anna Priest on Fri, Jun 02, 2017 @ 12:53 PM

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Surgery date is set... June 5th.
The surgery date is set, June 5th at 12:30 PM. I meet with my plastic surgeons nurse this Thursday to go over all my pre op paperwork and what I need to do leading up to the big day. Then later that same day I have my apt with the gene department to make sure I'm not carrying the gene, that I could have passed to Kate. I don't think I am, since it doesn't run in my family... Here's hoping!
I've been on a bit of an emotional roller coaster after getting the call of my actual surgery date. They had told me I would take about a month to get on the schedule, so when the call came so quickly, and the date under 3 weeks away, it really hit me, hard. A big slap of reality!
We leave this Friday for our annual Memorial Day camping trip, so I've been focusing on that. We went through all of our supplies over the weekend, and I've started grocery shopping, trying to keep my mind busy.
When going through the list of what I will need after surgery, the main thing I needed was front button shirts... Huh, I don't own anything besides flannels that button up, and that's just a bit too hot LOL. I live in tank tops, jeans & shorts! So I had to go shopping. Found a few, so that will have to do. Surgery is out patient, but I have to make sure I have a bag in the car just in case I do end up staying the night. So many small details I'll have to tackle the week leading up to the big day.
I'll post another update after my 2 appointments this coming Thursday.
Anna
xox

by Anna Priest on Mon, May 22, 2017 @ 11:32 AM

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Double Mastectomy ahead...
Met with my plastic surgeon today. Went over all my options, and surgery will be scheduled in about a month. After the double mastectomy is done by my oncology surgeon, plastics take over and put in my expanders and drainage tubes. The tubes will stay in a couple of weeks, and the expanders for up to FOUR months! That all depends on how the muscles stretch. After that time I go back for a 2nd surgery to remove the expanders and put in the implants. Hopefully I'll hear from them this week as to when it is scheduled to begin!
Anna
xox

by Anna Priest on Tue, May 16, 2017 @ 2:33 PM

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Mastectomy it is...
Update time! So yesterday we met with my Oncology Surgeon to discuss the results of the MRI and how we move forward. I knew what he was going to say, that a lumpectomy was out, the I would have to have a mastectomy. He described how the procedure would be done, and what my options will be. This will not be a one time surgery, but multiple (yikes!). Hubby asked a great question about the likelihood of our daughter getting it, of which he said probably not since we don't have a family history. But he did put in a request for me to have genetic testing done.
We met with Mary, my breast care coordinator (BCC) about all my other questions, from me being vegan and how soy affected me to my costs of this whole thing, and everything in between. The support that Kaiser has given me through all this is amazing. What's even better is if I chose not to have reconstruction done at the time or the mastectomy, I can do it years later and I'm still covered! Also, they will do the other side whenever I choose to!
On that topic... My Dr said it is entirely up to me as to whether or not I do a single or a double mastectomy. I have come to the decision that I will be doing both. I'm 44, and have many years ahead to worry about every single lump, every single mammogram, and I just don't want this hanging over my head for the rest of my life. I wan't to just be done with all this and move on.
So on Tuesday, I meet with my plastic surgeon, and we will go over everything in regards to my reconstruction, and how that all will be done. We will then schedule surgery. Since we have to have two different departments scheduling together, it will probably be in a month.
So until then, we will enjoy our Memorial Day annual camping trip, the Renaissance Faire this weekend, celebrate Mothers Day, and get my house super clean since I won't really be able to do much of that after surgery LOL
So I will post again on Tuesday and let you all know how it went with plastics.
Xoxo
Anna

by Anna Priest on Fri, May 12, 2017 @ 10:29 AM

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As I wait some more... I got a little surprise
In my 7 years of walking in the Avon Walk For Breast Cancer, I've always had my laptop covered with breast cancer stickers... bedazzled pink ribbons, 39.3, f*uck cancer etc etc etc... Yesterday my rock of a husband gave me a new one... It reads "Hey Cancer, you picked the wrong bitch !" the exclamation mark is a pink ribbon. How sweet is that?
With everything we've gone through last month, with the passing of his mom, our dog getting sick, and me... He's been so strong for me, truly being my rock. I guess 26+ years together does that!
PS... I have room for one more... It will read "I kicked cancers ass!" xox

by Anna Priest on Tue, May 09, 2017 @ 11:12 AM

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MRI results are in...
Today at 10:05am, Mary, my breast care coordinator called to let me know she got the scans from Tower St Johns, and has reviewed them with my Dr. The left breast was clear, no signs on cancer.
The right breast, that the ultra sound had showed fibrous tissues, was actually not fibrous, it was how extensive the ducts were affected. There are lots of ducts in there LOL.
I meet with my Dr and BCC on Thursday where we will discuss what happens next. I am guessing with the extent of the spread in the ducts, that a lumpectomy is out, and I will end up having a mastectomy. But that's just a guess...
I'll keep you wall posted with an update on Thursday!
xox
Anna

by Anna Priest on Mon, May 08, 2017 @ 12:46 PM

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Oh the MRI
Yesterday Jason and I headed over to Santa Monica to the Tower St John Imaging for my 6:15pm apt. We figured the traffic going from the valley on the 101 & the 405 would be a nightmare, so we gave ourselves 2 hours. Go figure, we hit Tampa and the 101 opened up and we got there in 1/2 an hour LOL.
So we cruised around Santa Monica and Brentwood for a while killing some time and then headed over to the apt.
I filled out my paperwork with a waiting room of others, and I thought to myself "I wonder why they are here?" Wondering if each lady was there because they too have breast cancer? Granted, they do scans for just about everything, so who knows....
The door opened, and my name was called... Emil took me back, had me change from the waste up and then escorted me to the IV chair. I don't know why I was so nervous... I donate platelets all the time, and that's in both arms! He got the iv in and we walked to the MRI room... Got me up on the bed, face down and told me a little about how it would feel. My ear plugs were in, my panic button in hand and the machine sucked me in.
The overwhelming feeling of panic started in... We hadn't even started yet! I hit the panic button and Emil came back in, talked to me, letting me know everything was ok...that we can take as much time as I needed, as I was his last scan of the day. Lots of deep breaths and I was feeling a bit better. He opened up the paper protector in my face cradle and wow, there was a mirror!!! This made the world of difference. I could see out and look through the window to him, watching him as he talked to me on the speaker. Phew!
If I remember right, there was a total of 6 scans. The first one was short, just 75 seconds, the second was 3 1/2 minutes. I think there was a 5 minute one before the longest of 7 1/2 minutes. All those were full of bangs, but the next one was beeps... This one was maybe 5 minutes again. Emil then had the machine inject the contrast into my iv (I assumed he's come and inject me!). He said I may get a metallic taste in my mouth, or feel like I have more saliva. I didn't taste metal, but did have a bit more spit. The last scan with the contrast in lasted 6 1/2 minutes, and seemed to have a combination of all the noises I heard in the other scans.
Every time I would get in my head and start thinking about what I was doing, and the machine I was stuck in, I'd make myself count the bangs the machine was making... It got me through it, and I can honestly say, I could do it again.
I am very thankful I had a great tech to guide me through the whole process. Thank you Emil!
So the waiting game begins... When I talked to my breast care coordinator on Tuesday, she said she may hear from them Friday, but really didn't think she would be calling me until Monday, especially since I had a late apt yesterday. I am optimistic that the cancer is still just in my ducts, and hasn't moved into the fibrous tissues, and that I will still just need either a lumpectomy or mastectomy.
And on that topic, when I first heard those words, I was thinking, just take it off, get rid of it all... Now I'm leaning towards the lumpectomy. But that's something my Dr, my hubby, and myself with be discussing on my next apt (I'm assuming lol). So many emotions going on!
Keep me in your thoughts...
Anna xox

by Anna Priest on Fri, May 05, 2017 @ 11:14 AM

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My Breast Cancer Battle
It all began in April, with a "leaky" boob!
My breast cancer finding started with me leaking milk from my breast. I assumed I must have an infected duct, and really didn't think too much about it. After about 2 weeks of it not clearing up by itself, I made an apt to see my dr.
I saw her on 4/14. She wasn't too worried, as I didn't have anything else wrong with my breast. The only thing she felt was a fibrous area. I've always had fibrous areas, that get worse with caffeine.
First thing we did was blood work to check my hormone levels. They came back fine (nothing in my brain affecting my pituitary gland). She also had me set up an apt for an ultra sound... just to take a look at the fibrous area. Side note, I had a mammo in Sept '16, and it looked perfect.
So the following Monday, 4/17, I had my ultra sound done... nothing was found accept the fibrous area. But with anything abnormal found, I now had to have a consult with Surgery. So the apt was made for Friday 4/21.
Now I'm in the waiting room, feeling a bit nervous (just as my blood pressure measured lol) and I'm calling in to see my Dr. He too isn't too concerned, but does want me to do a biopsy, just to rule things out. That hurt (as fibrous tissue does) but it was done, and the waiting game began. I was told it would take 3 days, and since it was Friday, I wasn't expecting a call until Wednesday.
The call came, WEDNESDAY APRIL 26TH AT 10:01 AM. The call that stated "you have breast cancer".
I was shocked, stunned, and feeling broken. I honestly did not think I would be hearing this! With tears on the phone, I agreed to meet with my Dr at 1:00 later that day.
My husband went with me and helped me listen as my Dr guided me though "the cancer". It was Stage 0, found very early! But, I will either have to have a lumpectomy or a mastectomy. But, before any of this... He really wanted me to have a MRI to take a look at the fibrous area, since the mammo & ultra sound didn't show much.
So, tomorrow, my husband and I will head over to Santa Monica, to the Tower St Johns Imaging at 6:15 pm. I'm nervous, I don't like confined spaces... so I'm just going to tell myself, it't the 90's, and I'm in a tanning bed LOL !
My Breast Care Coordinator said she will have the results for me by Monday... So I'll post an update then.
PLEASE, if you haven't already, please donate to my 8th walk xox

by Anna Priest on Wed, May 03, 2017 @ 1:27 PM

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