Ok so I should have gotten a port weeks ago. What a difference. So nice not to worry about whether the nurse can find a good vein for the IV. I mean Paula is great. (Seriously Paula deserves a raise.) But it had been getting harder to find a good vein each week. The IV was always uncomfortable once it was in, too. And the chemo going into small veins in the hand or arm was NOT fun.

But I barely felt the chemo going in through the port today! 👏🏻

If there’s one thing I’ve learned so far from this whole cancer journey it’s that you have to appreciate the little victories as they come. Because this is a long, miserable process. But today I’m relieved because the port made things easier.

From what I understand this chemo may have tougher side effects than the last one (because the last one was such a breeze 🤪) So I’m not looking forward to the nausea and bone pain that is probably in my near future. But right now, I’m just happy this day went smoothly and the infusion of the two new chemo meds went fine! 🙂

Starting the new chemo on Thursday. Since it’s been getting harder and harder to find a good vein for an IV, this morning I went in to get a port implanted. It works in place of the IV for blood draws, chemo, etc. I was nervous to get it, but it’s done and it will make things a little easier moving forward.

Next up is chemo on Thursday afternoon. Treatment will be every other week for 8 weeks.

I’ve been emotional the past few days since finding out I’d need more chemo, even though I always knew it was a possibility. I guess I was a little too optimistic I wouldn’t need the second round. But now that we’re ready to start the next step, I feel a little better. I always feel better once I have a plan. 👍🏻

Well. Not the results I was hoping for.

The tumor has not shrunk nearly as much as we all hoped. It’s a little smaller and “less angry looking,” as my surgeon put it. Lol. So there’s that. But it’s not a significant enough response to go forward with surgery in May.

Anyway, we’re moving on to a different type of chemo. Every two weeks for eight weeks. (Then a month off. Then surgery. Then radiation.)

2020 just keeps getting better and better!

I’m disappointed. Obviously. Definitely cried on the way home. And I’m probably going to drown my sorrows in the chocolate that was supposed to go in Ben’s Easter basket 🤷🏼‍♀️😝

But the surgeon and the oncologist were both still optimistic that this is treatable and curable. 🤞🏻 🙏🏻

All I can do is just keep going with the treatment. I’m gonna beat this. 💪🏻

Meant to post this earlier. Finished #12!!!

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I’ll go in for tests on Thursday to determine next steps. 🤞🏻

Well I spoke too soon the other day about no more chemo. Non-emergency surgeries have been cancelled, so my surgery will be pushed off to mid-May. I’m disappointed because I was looking forward to moving onto the next step.

The only things I know for sure are:

-I’m going in tomorrow for chemo #12.

-I have a mammogram and ultrasound this Thursday.

Everything else is up in the air at this point. 🤷🏼‍♀️

It’s a little anticlimactic considering I didn’t know today would be the last treatment. Haha. And I’m a little nervous to get too excited because until we get all the tests back, nothing is 100% certain. But for this moment, I’m done with chemo, and things are looking good. 😀

Heading home! So tired.

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Well. It’s been quite a day and I haven’t even had chemo yet.

I was very nervous coming in today, knowing I’d be by myself.

Everybody coming into the building has to get screened. I was given a special name tag so that it’s clear I went through the checkpoints.

Talked with my oncologist. He is very pleased with my response to the chemo. He wants to tentatively move forward with surgery (subject to the results of my MRI, mammogram, and ultrasound that I have scheduled over the next week). Originally, I was going to have surgery at the end of April/early May. Because of COVID-19, surgeries in the second half of April are being cancelled/postponed. My doctor thinks surgeries in May could get pushed back as well. So he is scheduling my surgery for April 14 so that we can get this done.

Today is my 11th chemo infusion (over 12 weeks, since I couldn’t go last week). My dr feels comfortable skipping next week’s chemo so that my body will have a chance to recover a bit more by the 14th.

So today is my last day of chemo! 🥳

Maybe.

There is, of course, a chance this will not go according to plan. If the MRI, mammogram and ultrasound indicate that there are still cancerous cells, then the surgery will be put off and I’ll get 8 more weeks of chemo instead (a different kind of chemo, a more intensive kind – sounds really fun).

So cross your fingers, think good thoughts, pray, whatever you do – I’m really hoping the cancer is gone and we can be done with chemo and we can go forward with surgery on the 14th. 🤞🏻🙏🏻🤞🏻🙏🏻

👍🏻 I’m feeling a little better today! Maybe this cold is fiiiinally going away.

👍🏻 Since I didn’t have chemo on Monday, my stomach issues haven’t been as bad today as they usually are. I’ll take it!

👎🏻 I got an update from Dana Farber about visitors. Patients can no longer bring ANY visitors with them in for treatment. Which means next week Eric has to just drop me off and I’ll be alone while I’m getting chemo. 😕

I’m not happy about this. I understand it, of course. But selfishly I’m really kind of upset. Having Eric there was a huge source of strength for me. At least I’ve already got 10 sessions behind me and I know the routine. I feel bad for anyone out there just starting chemo who has to go by themselves for their first treatment. 😳

I feel like crap. So much so that I called Dana Farber to find out what they thought I should do.

Sounds like I probably just have a bad cold, not Covid-19. But either way my oncologist doesn’t want me to come in Monday for treatment. So we’re skipping a week of chemo so I can get better.

I’m exhausted. Physically, mentally, and emotionally drained.

But we have plenty of food. And plenty of toilet paper 🤣🧻.

So we’re hanging in there.

Looong day today, but here’s something that made me smile. Ellie started feeding herself yogurt and it’s just ridiculous.

How is everyone else?? Share in the comments something that made you smile today. 😊

Two to go!

Today was long because they were really behind schedule with chemo. Just leaving Boston now. The cold cap was really bothering me today too. But it’s done.

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