NEXT STEPS...

THIS SHOULD BE AN INTERESTING WEEK, I have an outpatient procedure to put in another port on Wednesday.  Dr. Phillips, surgeon, took the port out when she did the bilateral mastectomy five weeks ago.  This is a simple procedure, but I am just getting over the mastectomy.  The plan is to start chemo again after the port is put in.  They will be using a third chemical, taxol.  The side effects are not suppose to be as bad.  My hair is just starting to grow back, but this chemical will probably stop growth, but supposedly the nausea will not be as bad.  The side effects were not all that bad the first time.  I just felt 'crappy' after the second treatment, I had the 'blahs' and was tired most of the time, although I did work some.  Feeling 'crappy'  doesn't sound nice, but that's the only way I can think to described it. I learned some ways to help in dealing with nausea, such as eating small portions, not drinking anything after eating, and not lying down, this was in order to allow my body to digest the food normally.  I'll add other tips in a side bar later.  But I also discovered that my taste buds were affected and my sense of smell, and so I didn't want to eat bland foods.  They didn't warn me of this.

I got a second opinion from another surgeon after my surgery, and he stated that the first round of chemo didn't appear to work that well because on the left side there was still a large tumor and the lymph nodes were affected, and they discovered another type of tumor on the right side.  It is still a matter of trusting God, because man, doctors, do not know it all.  I am requesting a pet scan to determine if the cancer has spread.  The surgeon could only say that he could not tell, only that it had spread to the lymph nodes, and a scan would tell if it has spread to other parts of my body.  So like I stated, only God knows.  I'm still praying for healing, a miracle, for what only God can do.

          Also, next week I will get the results of the braca test.  Because a new cancer, different type of cancer, was discovered on my right side, I qualified for the braca test.  This test usually costs around $3,000, and my medicaid plan originally would not pay for it.  But because of the new cancer, which suggests a genetic connection, they will pay for it.  The results of this test will indicate the course of treatment and may provide information for my other family members.

          In addition, I am looking for a new place to live, actually for a home.  Since my house was foreclosed in 2009, I have been living with friends, family and associates.  It will be nice to have my own place again.  I have always had my own home.  I was in my house for 10 years.  It was where I had raised and homeschooled my six children.  I guess I am not the only person in this situation.  But that doesn't make it any easier.  I plan to look into the housing situation for women going through cancer treatment.  It's difficult when you can't work, and have financial issues, in a hurting economy.  Trusting God...