An Afternoon Outing

Mom and Dad wanted to go on an outing this afternoon. Dad has been wanting to go to the Cleveland Museum of National History for years. Today was a perfect day to make that trip. Mom had a bit more energy, even though her legs were really aching. So, we ventured to University Circle and the museum. Mom would wander in room and then found a bench to wait for Dad and I to see the exhibits. Then we would go to the next room and repeat the process. I hadn't been to the Museum in at least 10 years, so it was nice to wander around seeing the dinosaurs, gems and minerals and animals. After the museum, we took a tour of Lakeview Cemetery. Yes, it does sound morbid, but I was on a mission to find Daffodil Hill. Dad was not so thrilled to be driving around a cemetery in a downpour, but Mom and I thought that it was an adventure! We drove around until we were actually driving by Daffodil Hill! It was much larger than I thought and really pretty, even in a rainstorm! The day was topped off with an early dinner in Little Italy at Trattoria. Yummy! It was a long afternoon out for Mom, but she did very well, especially as this is the time that her blood counts are really low. I'm sure that she will be relaxing tomorrow, though!

Plugging Along

Mom is in week one of the side effects cycle. Her chemotherapy treatment was a week ago. Thankfully, Mom has not had issues with nausea. She is given anti-nausea medicine in her pre-treatment drugs. Plus, she has a prescription for anti-nausea medication. She takes those pills for a few days after the treatment, but that is it. Obviously, the hardest thing is the fatigue and the body aches. The second hardest thing is regulating her glucose levels after she is off the steroids, which she has to take for 3 days around her treatment. Once that is re-regulated, she is feeling much better and feels that she can get out and do things.

Wednesday, she had a busy day with going to see our hair stylist, Stephanie and then going to her chiropractor. Mom was in major need of a haircut before she started chemotherapy. But, with her hair coming out, it really needed to be cleaned up. Mom opted for a short pixie cut. We don't know if she will lose more hair at this point, but if she does, it won't be as traumatic with her hair shorter. Also, whatever hair is left is pretty gray. It is a bit strange to see as Mom has been going gray the past few year, but she still had her brown color. It will be a surprise to see what color her hair comes back in. Thanks Stephanie for your help!

Yesterday, Mom was in a shopping mood, so we went to Dilliard's so she could get some new spring clothes. I did a quick trip to another store in the mall, while Mom waited. But, she wasn't alone when I got back, she saw a neighbor walking in the mall and started talking to her. This neighbor will stop at Mom's door to get her out and walking, which is a really good thing!

Starting today, Mom's blood counts will be at it's lowest level for the next 4-5 days. This is also the time when she feels depression. According to Dr. Bagai, this is natural as she is feeling her worse. Then by the end of next weekend, she is feeling better just in time for the next treatment. It is all in cycles. Thankfully, we will only have to go through this one more time!

Three Down....One More To Go

Friday was Mom's third chemotherapy treatment. Only one more treatment to go!! We can see the end of the tunnel of treatment!

It was another long day at the chemo lab. We got there at 8:30am for blood tests and the doctor's visit and didn't leave the lab until 4pm. Mom's blood tests were okay other than an elevated glucose level. This is a side effect of the steroids that she is on to help prevent reaction to the chemotherapy drugs. So, basically, one side effect from a drug can wreck havoc with another side effect of a drug. I told Dr. Bagai Mom's side effects and he said that they were all the usual side effects. He was pleased that she hasn't had anything more extreme due to her other health issues. I asked the doctor about the fatigue and body aches and he said that it will get worse for the last two treatments. I also asked about the depression that Mom has the second week after treatment. He said that could happen because during the second week after treatment, Mom is feeling the worse. It is strange, as soon as that second week is over, Mom's depression goes away. Dr. Bagai wanted to keep an eye on her glucose count this time during treatment. He lowered the dose of one of the steroids that she receives as a pre-chemo drug. Because of this, there could have been a chance of mom having another immediate reaction to the taxotere. So, we watched her for any reaction when she received the taxotere. She seemed to have a slight reaction to the taxotere. She said that this time she felt the medicine going into her body. The nurse kept an eye on Mom for 15 minutes and kept asking questions, but Mom said that the feeling went away and no other reactions occurred. The taxotere was on a 3 hour drip again and then she had the cytoxan for another hour. Mom only has to go through this one more time on May 7th.

I think that I have mentioned before that being in the chemolab is quite an experience. There are all different types of patients in all different levels of treatments. It is always amazing to watch the nurses at work with the patients, too. To make the day even more lively, an older patient passed out in the bathroom. There was a "thud" and one of the nurses said "What the Hell was that?" and all the nurses went running to the restroom. Nurses called for a doctor, they called for a "code blue" at the hospital and called 911. Doctors from the hospital (directly across the street from the Moll Center) came running. The patient came to as the paramedics arrived. He was taken to the emergency room and released a few hours later. Three weeks ago, the paramedics were at the chemolab to take an elderly patient to the hospital. Seeing all that definitely puts my mom's illness into perspective.

On a happier note from the day at the chemolab, my Mom saw another patient who she met at breast cancer seminars provided by the Moll Center. Lori was having her second treatment yesterday. She is under a more aggressive and intensive treatment than my mom, but her attitude is so positive. Lori and my Mom are perfect matches for survivors. They can both spread their positive attitudes to others around them. Mom and I also ran into Lori and her husband at Fairview Hospital yesterday afternoon so they both could get their neulasta injections. I think that contact is so important for any cancer patient. This is just the way that my mom is, she will talk to anyone!

The Upswing Week

Mom went out with her longtime girlfriends this afternoon for a choir concert. It was the first time that mom has been out and about in a few days. I hope that she is having a good day!!

This should start the "upswing week" for Mom. She started to feel better the 3rd week after her treatment, just in time for her next treatment. Hopefully, this will hold true this time around. The fatigue and really achy legs have been rough for this round of treatment for Mom. Add on the bad allergy season to this and Mom hasn't been feeling that great the past two weeks. It was a battle to get mom out to do things for the past week. I mentioned that she need to go for a walk multiple times, but I don't think that she did. The fatigue won out. I have a feeling that it will be more of a battle to get her to do some exercises and walking for the next month.

A week ago was our family Easter gathering. Mom did very well! She and Aunt Marilyn were the "queens" of the event. Everyone came up to them, instead of Mom and Aunt Marilyn going to them. It was a very nice gathering. I barely got to talk to either of them, as I was keeping an eye on Brynn and Beckett.

Mom has started to receive statements and bills from Cleveland Clinic and her insurance company. If you didn't know a statement of services from an actual bill, you would be in big trouble! The insurance statements in themselves are confusing to me, but thankfully, Mom understands them. I told her that obviously she needs to concentrate on the bills from the Clinic. This would actually be what she owes, because the insurance company has finished negotiating the prices. Speaking of prices....this is an eye opener. Mom received a statement from the insurance company for the neulasta shot that she receives the day after chemotherapy. The Cleveland Clinic billed the insurance company $13,000 for the shot. Yes, I said $13,000!! The actual cost was renegotiated to $6,000. Mom will have to pay $428, so far. This is an example of the craziness of the health care costs! This is only the beginning of the bills coming in......

Breast Cancer in the News

Martina Navratilova, the tennis great, has just announced that she has breast cancer. She had a lumpectomy and will have 6 weeks of radiation. She is one of the many famous women who have fought breast cancer in the last five years: Melissa Etheridge, Sheryl Crow, Christina Applegate, Robin Roberts and Kylie Minogue to name a few. All of them go public and re-iterate how important it is to get yearly mammograms. Martina mentioned in the video how important a support system for the cancer patient is as well. I believe that the more that you know about what you have to deal with, the better it is. That is why I wrote this blog.

Flowers

Mom got these flowers sent from her nephew, Paul, who lives in New Jersey, a few days ago. Very pretty and it definitely brightened her day! Also, a belated thanks to Karen for her lovely daisies. Sorry, I didn't get a picture of them, but they were very appreciated.

It's been a whirlwind of family activities for Mom for the last few days. She can handle one activity a day and then she is totally wiped out. Friday night and Saturday for lunch, was a visit from cousins Bruce and Joyce. This morning was Easter basket fun with the kids and tonight will be family Easter dinner. She'll be pushing it energy-wise for the dinner tonight, but she will be a trooper and will be there. I think that she is looking forward to seeing family. Aunt Marilyn is supposed to be there as well.

She "stumped" the oncologist on Friday. Brynn broke out in a rash as a reaction to her rubella/mumps shots earlier in the week. Brynn also has a cold. Sue called the pediatrician and asked about Brynn and Mom being in the same room. Mom also called Cindy, the oncology nurse about it. Both doctors had to look up information, because they hadn't had that question asked before! Cindy told mom that she can admire Brynn from afar, but she can't touch her. That was the same thing that the pediatrician said. So, Mom admired from afar, but Brynn kept coming up to Mom wanting to be held. It was so sweet and a bit sad at the same time. Beckett can still give hugs though and that is most important.