Sunday, November 6, 2011

Almost DONE with CHEMO!!!!!!!

I know it's been forever since our last posting but life has been crazy. What a summer we have had. Izzi turned 7 in June, Blake is now 5 and Alex is 16- and ready to drive- HOLY COW!

Becky's cycles of treatment have been every 3 weeks without interruption. She has handled the nausea and fatigue by taking 3-4 hour naps everyday for the first week while taking Ativan, Compazine and Zofran around the clock. By day 10 her abdomen would swell up making her look like she were ready to deliver our 7th grandchild. We went to the ER twice without success. After some research by the nurses at Yale it was discovered that Becky had developed a condition called Lymphodemia of the Abdomen- a rare condition that occurs in women who have had the DIEP procedure before chemo. What that means in English is: by Becky choosing to have her mastectomy and then immediate reconstruction with her own tissue from her abdomen. The pathways of the lymph system were affected and every time she has her treatment the tissues in her belly become inflamed and swell. There wasn't much they could do for her - lots of CT scans and pain meds with hydration.

This past weekend (Halloween) was another new development for her. She started experiencing numbness with pins and needles in her feet and hands. She actually had fallen 3x in public. Fortunately she didn't hurt herself but she did laugh a lot. By Tuesday she had started swelling from her head to her toes - literally. So with the MOMMA(nurse) PUSH we were in the car heading back to Yale ER. Becky was very uncomfortable about being considered a complainer with the staff but I had to help her understand there are certain conditions and side effects that the staff needs to see - SO ON TO THE ER!!!! It was a trip well worth taking. She was given Lasix IV for the FLUID OVERLOAD and Neurotin for the Peripheral Neuropathy. By the next day she had a beautiful jaw line and normal neck.

So this Tuesday (Nov 8) we are on our way to Yale for her LAST treatment. So as I said before WHAT A SUMMER. You have all been so supportive to Becky. Our next journey will be with the Genetic Testing that started last week. I will be posting a comment on that journey soon.

5 comments:

  1. WHAT WONDERFUL NEWS ABOUT THE END OF CHEMO- BECKY HAS BEEN AN AMAZING ROLE MODEL OF HOW TO DEAL WITH CANCER. SORRY TO HEAR OF THE SIDE EFFECT PROBLEMS- GOING THRU THE TRAUMA OF A CANCER DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT IS ENOUGH WITHOUT THAT. THANKS FOR SHARING EVERYTHING, BECKY- AND DEBBI HERE. IT HELPS OTHERS WHO HAVE NOT GONE THRU THIS TO UNDERSTAND, TO KNOW-A BIT- WHAT TO DO WHEN A RELATIVE, FRIEND, LOVED ONE IS GOING THRU THIS. THE TIME YOU HAVE TAKEN HERE TO BE OPEN ABOUT THE JOURNEY IS VERY MUCH APPRECIATED! LOVE, HUGS AND CONTINUED SUPPORT- AUNT LYNNE (AND SIS)

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  2. So, so, happy to hear the last treatment is in sight!

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  3. I am so happy it's coming to an end! When I saw her last week, she was so swollen and uncomfortable. I'm glad she is doing better.

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  4. Keep your spirits up! You have been the glue holding the pieces together. I hope you know you are a wonderful and amazing mother! I am so thankful Becky has you!

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  5. So glad Becky is done with chemo! I know you have been a rock of support for her, no matter the toll on you. I hope you have your own support as well. Sure do miss you guys! Give Becky a HUGE hug for us!!!!

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