My Cancer Journey

Steroids are helpful. They relieved some of the side effects from chemotherapy, and helped treat the pneumonitis that was caused by the radiation. Some get aggressive when taking them. This was not the case with me, but I did get frustrated more easily. It is not fun feeling out of control, especially when you are a control freak like me. It was not easy, but I was able to control my frustrations most of the time. Knowing it is drug induced and therefore most likely not the effect from what someone said or did helps. You cannot walk around being angry or frustrated with people who really haven’t done anything to deserve it. My first experience with taking steroids was the pre-med for the chemotherapy. I took 8 mg of Dexamethasone per day the day before, day of, and the day after the infusions. My cheeks looked like they belonged on a chipmunk, and my face was round and ruddy.  The infusions were every three weeks. By the time my face started looking more normal it was time for anot...

Supporting Friends with Cancer Some of us are fortunate to have a spouse, other family, or a close friend to help and support during our cancer journey and struggles. I am blessed with a kind husband who loves me and is concerned about my wellbeing. He cooks and cleans, takes me to infusions and other medical appointments, and does whatever else is needed. Our children, siblings, and friends have all been fantastic. They check in to make sure we are both okay, send sweet cards and messages and gifts that are helpful and bring up my spirit. I have not lacked. Maybe this is why it hurts my heart so much when I read about how some women in my support groups are treated by those who are supposed to love them. I am amazed at how many husbands and boyfriends leave them while they are going through treatments. It does not seem to matter how old the woman is. There are some that have young children as well as grandmothers who have been married many years. Their spouse either claim they cannot ...

I had built up my stamina to walk about three miles most days and was excited to be able to slow jog for part of those miles June 20 and 24. That was unfortunately the only days I was able to do this. June 26 the headache and cough got much worse. I took the maximum allowed on the packages of Excedrin Migraine, Tylenol, and cough syrup each day. They helped, but I was still exhausted, got out of breath whenever I moved, coughed whenever I moved or talked, and the headache was almost constant.    Tuesday, July 2, I saw my oncologist in preparation for Kadcyla infusion 6 or 14. She was concerned about the cough and sent me to get a chest x-ray after the infusion. Cough and headaches are side effects of Kadcyla but should not last the full three weeks in between the infusions. What concerned her most was that the worst week was the one just prior to the infusion. This is when I should have been better.    The x-ray showed I might have pneumonitis. Had to look this up - ...