3 down - 7 to go

Today was my third chemo treatment. I am doing really good so far. With the exception of the major muscle/body aches and hot flashes I have weathered it really well. This time around I plan on dipping into the Vicodin. Tylenol and Ibuprofen are just not enough. If I take the Vicodin, maybe I will sleep through the pain. That is my hope. My labs have been better than they were prior to chemo starting. My nurse said that I am one of her only 2 "star" patients. God has answered all of your prayers and has made this ordeal bearable. Thanks also for all your cards/notes, phones calls, meals, flowers, gifts, etc. With all this support I am getting through this.

We came home to more treats from our kids. This time was Jason and Julie's turn. They left me a subscription to a quilting magazine and a beautiful breast cancer necklace that has "live, laugh and love" inscribed on it. Thank you! I think that the kids (and grandson's) are trying to one up each other. They have been great throughout this ordeal. I am so blessed!

Yesterday, we were able to get out and ride our tandem. We rode 14 miles and I felt good. I hope that I can continue to get a few miles on the bike at the end of each cycle.

My hair is pretty much gone now. The process of losing the hair has been interesting. The pigmented hair came out first leaving me with just white hair for awhile. That was a bit of a surprise. I wonder what it will be like when it starts growing back.

One more thing. We discovered that there is a 10 year old girl dealing with breast cancer. While there definately no right age to have this disease, 10 years old is just not right. She has a blog at: http://www.ourlittlesweetpea.com/

Thanks to all,

Vonnie

Sunday, Sunday

Sunday, Sunday
Cant trust that day
Sunday, Sunday
It just turns out that way
Whoa, Sunday, Sunday, wont go away
Sunday, Sunday, its here to stay

(My apologies to The Mamas and The Papas)

The Sunday after Chemotherapy has turned out to be the worst day. Chemo has been quite bearable due to the great anti-nausea drugs but the Neulasta shot (to stimulate the bone marrow to produce more white blood cells) is another story. During both of the two rounds of treatment, sometime Saturday afternoon begins bone and muscle pain. Sunday is "I got hit by a truck day". Everything hurts on Sunday but it is helpful to know that it will let up on Monday. Our nurse said that Vonnie is a "poster child" for the Neulasta. Her labs showed her counts (just prior to Chemo #2) where actually higher (better) than before she started chemo. It is good to know all this pain and the extreme expense of this drug is worth it. It is now Monday afternoon and the pain is almost gone.

Our son Jason came over on Saturday and spent the day working for us. He tilled the garden, helped us pick out a tree, dug a hole and planted it in the back yard. We will watch this tree recover and thrive as Vonnie does the same.

Round #2 and Hair Cut Day

Today was chemo #2. The blood test done just prior to chemo showed the white blood cells had recovered so well that the counts were actually above what they were prior to chemo #1. That was very good news. The day was beautiful and we were able to spend much of the time out in the sun on the deck along with our mascot Kemo Sabe. It made the process much more pleasant, as if you can say chemotherapy is pleasant.


This morning we discovered that the hair had begun taking its vacation. So we decided to send it on its way just a little bit early. We got home late afternoon and were surprised with a bunch of goodies and a movie from our daughter Robyn. That was soon followed by the delivery of a wonderful meal, thank you Heather. After supper we went outside and Len gave me a buzz cut. The picture to the right shows me with two of my grand kids. We expect that in the next couple days I will really shine!

With all this going on and Len working a week on week off schedule there was a concern about keeping up the lawn. I would generally cut the grass on the weeks that Len was working but that won't be practical this year. With the fenced in yard and only a small gate we could not use a commercial lawn service so our son and two son-in-laws came out and built us a new gate. Their fine work is shown below. Thank you Dan, Dustin and Jason.

Happy EASTER

Happy EASTER! We had a wonderful day going to church and spending the day with our three children, their spouses and our three grandsons. It was a real treat to have our family plan and prepare everything. We only had to show up! Thank you so much! I worked 4 hours yesterday at the pharmacy and spent the evening with good friends celebrating a retirement. Then after spending Easter with the family I find myself exhausted. We planned on an afternoon ride on our tandem but backed out and spent the rest of the day in my easy chair. We hope you all had a blessed Easter.

Insurance approval

It's Friday night. Yesterday was my appointment to get get blood work done and check my white blood cell counts. My blood counts were pretty good. They were below normal but still within the acceptable range that would be needed to have chemotherapy. The nurse said she was pleased with the levels so I guess that is good. I have been pretty tired this week but never had any nausea from the first session of chemo and I am very pleased with that. I pray that the next treatments go as well.

I got word today that the insurance company finally approved the treatment plan. They had to have the Carboplatin removed from the therapy before they would approve it. Insurance companies have far too much control over what the doctors can do. We told the Cancer center that we would pay for this drug ourselves but it seems that if they have it listed in the treatment that the insurance company would see it and deny everything. We need to see if there is any way around this assuming the Oncologist feels this is needed therapy.

I tried going back to work today. I took a four hour shift in the evening and that was plenty. I wouldn't have expected to be this tired after only 4 hours. I am scheduled for another 4 hours tomorrow. If I can handle it, I hope to work at least one shift every couple weeks just to keep my job. Next chemo is next Thursday. Will write again after that.

Vonnie

One down - Nine to go!

Just an update to let everyone know how I am doing. Yesterday, I felt like I was "coming down" with something - major body aches, slight nausea and tiredness. I woke up this morning feeling good again. I am so thankful for the minor symptoms that I have had so far. Hopefully this is a sign of how I will handle future treatments. One "off" day isn't too bad!! 

Two days past Chemo

It has been over 48 hours since chemotherapy. We were told that side effects sometime start on the following day but most likely the second day. So far so good. Yesterday she had some sinus congestion which cleared up. Today there have not been any noticeable adverse effects or nausea. We are crossing our fingers that this continues. That would be a wonderful surprise if it does.
Our chemo pet mascot has a name. KEMO SABE. Kemo Sabe will be attending the rest of the chemotherapy treatments with Vonnie.

Chemo #1

It has been an interesting day. Today was chemotherapy #1 that almost wasn’t. We got a call yesterday afternoon telling us that our insurance company denied coverage for our treatment plan. Huh? With chemo less than 24 hours away we began a series of phone conversations with the cancer center and an insurance company assigned case manager. After several phone calls we finally came to the conclusion (which we are still not totally sure about) that the insurance company does not agree with one of the chemotherapy drugs being used. The drug in question appears to be the carboplatin. Even though the carboplatin is in the second set of chemotherapy that starts 12 weeks from now all of the chemotherapy was denied. We had hoped that it would be resolved by our 9:45am appointment today, but it was not to be. We finally gave up hope for a resolution just prior to noon and, hoping and trusting that it will be resolved (it is in appeal), we decided to have the chemo today anyway. To do so we had to pay upfront in the amount of $6500! We will need to pay this every two weeks until the cancer center gets paid and is able to reimburse us. Cancer and chemo is stressful enough without having to deal with this!

Chemo was done around 5pm. So far Vonnie feels no ill effects, except for hot flashes. She really isn’t expecting any significant side effects for the first 24 hours. We came home and had a nice supper of soup. Thank you Joan for the great meal! We were surprised when we got home with tulips, balloons and goodies hidden around the house. We had an early “Easter egg hunt” thanks to our daughter Julie. Also included with the goodies was what we are calling a “chemo pet”. The attached picture shows a stuffed spotted leopard that will accompany Vonnie to her chemo treatments. We need a name and are asking you to help us name her. Click image to enlarge.

NAME THAT LEOPARD! If you have a suggestion please either put something in the blog comments or you may email us at lvsypkens@gmail.com.

24 Hours Before First Chemo

Tomorrow I am set to start chemo. I am ready to start crossing these sessions off my calendar, one by one. I have been so blessed with support from a great husband, great kids and grandchildren, friends, other family members, MUTS (our tandem bicycling family), our Westview Church family, and co-workers. I know that I am not in this alone and that is a great comfort. I have a good idea what to expect with the chemo and its effects on the body, but I am still a little anxious to see how it affects me. If I tolerate the chemo and don’t have to adjust the every 2 week schedule – Len will be able to be with me for the first 6 treatments and be off work for 5 days following these sessions. This will be a great help to have him here when I am at my worst.

Thanks for all the prayers, cards, flowers and meals that have been sent. I truly have a great support system!

I (or Len) will let you know tomorrow how things went. We love you all and appreciate all the support!

Vonnie