Not much new to report. Mom's levels increased when she had bloodwork this week, so that was a good sign. She gets her 1st treatment of the new chemo drug on August 5th. She is fretting about it. Very much. This is supposed to be more harsh on her body and decrease her energy level even more.

I will let everyone know how it goes......................................keep praying. WE appreciate it more than you will ever know. :)

Mom & Dad visited with Britt & I last night. They were over for about an hour or so. Mom was tired, though, and they decided to get home. She gets worn out so much faster these days.

She has a rash on her one leg that is bothering her. I told her to talk to Dr. Simon's about it. I am not sure if it could be a side affect of the chemo or not. She said that it calms down at night, but in the AM it flares up again.

I received an email from Jane, whom I told everyone about. She would like to get together with Mom & I sometime. I gave her Mom's telephone number. Funny how something as awful as cancer gives you the opportunity to meet so many wonderful people.

I'm at work, so that's the update for today.

More to come............................please pray.

O.K. Everyone should not be alarmed. I have now blogged 2 days in a row! :) Mom was feeling a little better yesterday. Not quite so tired. She & dad are coming to visit with Britt & I tonight and I can't wait to give her a hug. And to show her Jane's message. Jane posted two comments yesterday on my blog and I can't wait for Mom to read them.

As always, I thank everyone for their thoughts and prayers.

Until tomorrow..............................

Well, again it has been too long since I have posted. I am such a procrastinator.

Mom has continuted to be quite the trooper, but the chemo is having it's affects on her. She is now completely bald (and beautiful, I might add). Brittany shaved her head for her so she didn't resemble a cupie doll anymore! Her lack of energy is increasing and she gets tired so easily. The Nuelasta shot she receives the day after chemo makes her bones ache and it is getting difficult for her to climb stairs. Her mood remains upbeat, though. She is such a fighter and I am so proud of her!

She met a woman who worked at Westminster yesterday. Her name is Jane and she is currently going through her 2nd bout with cancer. There was an article about Jane & her husband in the New Castle News (both have cancer) and an address was listed for Jane's blog. I have since read it each and every day, and it is the reason I begain a blog for Mom.

I am not as dedicated as Jane, though. I shall try to do better.

Anyhow, please keep Jane in your prayers as well. I am so glad that she & Mom met. Perhaps they can be an inspiration to each other.

Mom begins her next round of chemo on August 5th and will be receiving Tamoxere. Dr. Simons told Mom that this drug will be hard on her veins (still no port) and will probably result in strong fatigue. Mom is not looking forward to it. She went yesterday for bloodwork and her platelets are low. If she had been scheduled for chemo yesterday, she wouldn't have been able to recieve it.

The dr. told her to be extremely careful not to get cut. With the platelets being so low, her blood won't clot properly. I am going to meet her & dad at her next chemo appt. so that I can have the nurses explain her counts to me and what they mean. Mom gets a copy of her report each time she has bloodwork, but has no idea how to read the report. There is so much info to keep up with, it is amazing.

The mass in her breast and under her arm are both decreasing in size! YAY. The mass under her arm has decreased the most. From 5cm to 2 cm. We see her surgeon on August 11th, and are hoping for a date for surgery.

My brother is coming up from Florida for a long weekend in August. Mom is so excited. She loves having both of her us here at the same time.

My aunt was diagnosed with breast cancer, as well and had a lumpectomy on Monday. Her lymph nodes looked o.k., but some were removed for further testing. If all goes well, she will have to have radiation; no chemo.

I am so tired of hearing of people having cancer. You don't realize how many people it affects until someone you know and love is diagnosed.

Until next time.....................please keep praying.

Thursday

Just talked to Mom. She isn't feeling well today. She had her shot yesterday (Neulasta) and the day after is normally a down day, but today she had to take her meds for naseau, which is unusual for her. Her tummy was not feeling well this morning. She has been laying in her chair all day. :(

I worry about her so much. Please continue praying..........................................

Maureen

3rd Chemo Treatment Today

Gosh, I am horrible at posting, aren't I? I must try and do better. Mom is having her 3rd chemo treatment as I type. (5 more to go.) Still no nausea; thank you God!

Today and tomorrow she will have less energy than usual, but other than that, she has been feeling good. She has developed a nagging cough, which Dr. Simons said was a side effect of both the chemo and the Neulasta shot. Mom's lungs and heart are in good shape AND her veins are holding up wonderfully. She absolutely does not want that port inserted!

Brittany being home has helped increase her spirits. Now that she is back, it is hard to believe she was in Australia for so long. The time went by so quickly.

Emotionally, she has both good and bad days. She hasn't contacted a support group yet, or reached out to anyone else w/cancer. When she is ready, she said.

My Aunt Bonnie was diagnosed with breast cancer recently...she will have the lump removed and then radiation. She has survived open heart surgery, so this should be a piece of cake. We hope, anyhow! Please pray for Aunt Bonnie as well as my mom.

This is a short one because I am working. I will let you know how Mom is feeling tomorrow.

Maureen

Cupie Doll

It is Wednesday June 11th and I can't believe it has been so long since my last post. Mom had a 2nd chemo treatment on Tuesday June 3rd, and her Neulasta shot on June 4th. She usually feels crumby after she gets the shot. She told me she has been coughing; thus taking her temp. every 5 minutes. With chemo, you have to watch your temperature, as you are more prone to getting sick.

I went to Mom & Dads for dinner on Monday and Mom said she looks like a "cupie doll". I told her that she looks beautiful, but she wasn't buying it. She was crying and said how hard it is to look in the mirror. Again I told her that she is beautiful. Whether she has 1 hair on her head or 1,000 hairs on her head! We decided that if the small amount of hair that is left, remains, we are going to put a little baret in it and let it stick straight up!

She went for bloodwork this Tuesday and everything was o.k. Her platelets are down about 3,000, but the nurse said that the levels are normal for someone who has had 2 chemo treatments. I have yet to find the time to research this info. Deb, I believe I will be calling you one of these days for some expert information!

Mom has 6 more treatments to go; she was scheduled for a total of 8. This should take us through September at which time she will be scheduled for surgery. We see the surgeon in early August, so we will know more than.

One of Mom's friends from Westminster took her to lunch and a movie on Saturday June 7th. They ate at Bob Evans and then went to see Indiana Jones. Mom sounded so happy when she got back. I was working at Joey's, but she called and told me she had a really good time. That is what she needs. Friends and family supporting her. It is amazing what love and laughter can do for a person's spirits.

Speaking of spirits, Mom's will be wonderful this Friday evening at 9:55 P.M. We are picking up Brittany at the airport, as she is returning from Australia (FINALLY!). My mom is going to cry hysterically, I just know it. There shall be lots of Kodak moments that evening!

For the most part, (back to the "c" subject) Mom has been feeling pretty good, despite the chemo. She has not been sick to the stomach or thrown up or been in bed all day one time. Her energy level is down, of course, but she is such a trooper. The nurses told us that as long as she feels up to doing her normal day-to-day activites, let her do them. And of course, Mom insists on doing what she normally does.

I am so proud of her and how well she is handling all of this. I know she has her bad days, angry days and extremely sad days, but she still has that beautiful smile on her face and keeps on trekking.

Well, as I am at work, I suppose I should get to work. Please continue praying.

Maureen

P.S. Happy 21st birthday, Joshua Trey!!!