Still Just Kicking Cancer's Ass.....

Well its been a busy summer, I can't believe its September already.  Since my last post I have completed three mini-triathlons.....375m swim, 10k bike, and 2.5 k run.  The first I placed 3rd out of 56 in my age group (30-39) and 33rd overall out of 291 men and women.  The second one I placed 6 out of 60 in my age group and 56 out of 321 men and women.  The third one.... well it didn't go so well....I panicked a bit in the water and almost gave up, but I made myself keep swimming and as I was walking out of the water I took off my swim cap and googles and thought "thats it, I'm done, I'm not doing this today", but then I thought "What are you going to do Shelley, go home and tell your kids you quit?"  So I hopped on my bike and kept on going.  I walked almost the entire run, but I still finished.  Now its on to training for next year, and making sure there are no more panic attacks in the water!!!  I grew up in Newfoundland for christs sakes, and swam like a fish, so whats the problem now???

 I am doing the Run for the Cure again in October, with my awesome possy, we are running this year....no walking allowed!

 Also some friends and I have signed up to do the Ride to Conquer Cancer in June of 2010, its a 200km ride from Toronto to Niagra Falls. Can't wait!

Other than that, only 4 more Herceptin treatments left, after that I am saying bye bye to the Chemo Suite at Juravinski for good!  Lovely people there, but I never want to see any of them again in my life!....and no more freakin' needles!  My veins have actually started playing games with the nurses, they stick the needles in my arm and the vein moves out of the way, they move the needle over to get the vein and it moves again, this game of cat and mouse goes on for several minutes.  Unfortunately it hurts like hell, but it makes me smile a bit and think...."ok veins you've had your fun, now its time to place nice and let them catch you!"

Happy Cancerversary

The New Normal

I know its been awhile since I posted, but there's not alot to tell, I'm not sure if anyone even still reads this.   I am finished all primary treatment now, everything went as well as it could I guess, there is no great climax at the end of it all.  None of the doctors really say anything, they just ask how you are feeling.  No one says "yeah its all gone, you're going to be fine", its just a wait and see game.  Keep your fingers crossed and hope it doesn't come back.  Thats all I can do.

 

So the new normal begins.  Always looking over my shoulder wondering.......  paranoid, feeling my chest, under my arms, and around my neck and collarbone all the time looking for the tinest little bump.  I have actually found a few, but have been assured that they are not cancerous lumps I am feeling.  Everytime my back hurts, or my knee, or anything for that matter, my mind immediately thinks the cancer has metastised.  I am told that this paranoia will eventually get better, it will never go away, but apparently does subside.  The new normal.

 

The whole experience has made my life better though, I eat better....much better, not that we ate bad before, we actually ate pretty healthy, but now we eat super-healthy.  I've lost 30 lbs and feel great.  And overall I think I'm happier, because I try very hard to enjoy every moment and make the best of everyday.  I will take any little excuse at all to have a celebration with my kids, we decorated for St. Patricks day and had a little party, just so they could have some fun.  My kids have been the most important thing in my life, since they came into this world, now, they are even more important to me, and I think I love them and enjoy them more now, because I know now that life can change in the blink of an eye and we all need to make the most of everyday, you never now whats waiting around the corner.

Almost at the End!!!

First I want to apologize for taking so long to post an update.  Surgery went well, I am pretty much recoverd from that, just doing physio now to make sure I get all the movement back on that side.  Radiation is going well, its very tiring as it is everyday, I am starting to feel warn down by it, and want to sleep alot ( which is not possible with the schedule I have).  I only have 6 radiation treatments left, so my last one will be one week from today whoohooo!!!!  I am looking forward to not having to drive to the Juravinski center everyday.  I am also looking forward to life returning more to the normal side, at least as far as schedules are concerned, and not having to arrange for someone else to take care of the kids or drive them somewhere or pick them up, I am looking forward to being able to do all of that myself again.

 

I am feeling well, I have lost about 30 lbs now, I don't think I have been this small since I was in grade 7.  I am looking forward to going back to the gym (have been off since Surgery in November).  Just looking forward to getting back to a humdrum life, with no mention of Cancer, Chemo, Radiation, etc......I know thats just a dream, but no hospital or doctors for awhile will be really nice.... :o)

Surgery

Well, surgery is over, thank god!  It went well, a few little issues before we started, (thought I might have pnemonia-but I didn't), and a few little issues after (there was some bleeding beneath the skin, but it stopped, just had to stay one day longer in the hospital), but it went well.

 

Now I am home and taking it easy.  The pain is not to bad, more just discomfort really.  There are two drainage tubes coming out just below the incission, which are awkward and a bit tender.  Its also tender under my arm, but things are feeling much better than they were on Tuesday and Wednesday.  I can't say than on Monday, because I was on Morphine and felt nothing but happy!

 

Its hard to keep the kiddies from jumping on me, but they are learning.  Annike is learning to be mommy's big helper.  My first day home she put an extra pillow behind my head, covered my up with blankets, brought me some dolls to keep me company, drew me a picture, and gave me cuddles to make sure my boo boo felt better.  And of course she announced to everyone who walked in the door that "Mommy cut off her boobie", so I was spared from having to explain that myself.  What a girl!

My dad is here and Tom has taken 2 weeks off work, so I have lots of help.  Plus Tom's mom is down the street.  I was getting a bit nervous about being alone with 2 kiddies when my dad goes back (13 th) and Tom goes back to work (17th) as I'm not sure how much I will be able to do (i.e. won't be able to lift Matthew in and out of his car seat).  So now my mom is comming back for another 3 weeks to help.  Thank god for parents!

 

I also got an email from a friend telling me about something  called " Army of Women" - Take advantage of this life-changing opportunity to directly participate in breast cancer research. Women of all ages, ethnicities and risks — whether you have had breast cancer or not — are needed now!  Here is the link for anyone who is interested (I of course signed up!)

https://www.armyofwomen.org/

 

Also there is a great show airing on CBC called "The Disappearing Male", it is repeating tonight at 10:00 pm on CBC newsworld, or you can watch it on the CBC website.

"We are conducting a vast toxicological experiment in which our children and our children's children are the experimental subjects." Dr. Herbert Needleman

The Disappearing Male is about one of the most important, and least publicized, issues facing the human species: the toxic threat to the male reproductive system.

The last few decades have seen steady and dramatic increases in the incidence of boys and young men suffering from genital deformities, low sperm count, sperm abnormalities and testicular cancer.  Some researchers say that declining male fertility rates could be the first sign of extinction.

At the same time, boys are now far more at risk of suffering from ADHD, autism, Tourette's syndrome, cerebral palsy, and dyslexia.

The Disappearing Male takes a close and disturbing look at what many doctors and researchers now suspect are responsible for many of these problems: a class of common chemicals that are ubiquitous in our world.

Found in everything from shampoo, sunglasses, meat and dairy products, carpet, cosmetics and baby bottles, they are called "hormone mimicking" or "endocrine disrupting" chemicals and they may be starting to damage the most basic building blocks of human development. "

http://www.cbc.ca/documentaries/docplayer_doczone.html?id=911913844

Chemo is Done!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Whooo Hoooooo!!!!  Chemo is finished!  I had the last one yesterday!  I would love to say no more needles and IV, but I know thats not the case.  I have surgery in 10 days, radiation beginning in December and a year of herceptin (IV drug) starting in December.  But stage 1 is done!!!!!

Chemo #7 and Run for the Cure

Chemo #7 went well, no major problems.......welll unless you consider hooking me up to someone else's drug a problem!  The drip hadn't started yet, they were just running the saline through, but the drug was all hooked up to the tube in my arm, ready to roll.  Then this nurse came out of no where and ripped it out of my arm and marched off!  Tom and I sat there looking at each other.  My nurse came back with another bag and hooked me up to that, when we asked what was going on she mumbled something and off she went.  I made Tom go find out what was going on, and if they had indeed hooked me up to someone elses drug, I wanted a new nurse.  She was a very nice nurse and everyone is allowed to have a bad day.....just not on me.  A few days later I got a phone call from the Director of the Hospital apologizing for the mixup!  Note to everyone....... always check your own medication, if you are receving an IV, check the bag, make sure its your own name on there!

 Hopefully Chemo #8 (last one....whoo hooo) is going ahead tommorrow, I am getting the bloodwork done today, hopefully all will be good!  Surgery is in less than 2 weeks, assuming Chemo is a go tommorrow.  I am a bit anxious about that, I'm certainly not sleeping well these days, I just want to get it over with so I don't have to think about it.

 

The Run for the Cure went well, I raised $2700, the 2 teams here in Ontario raised around $15,000, not to mention all those who were running in Newfoundland!  So thanks to everyone!  There are pics posted on the website, I have to try and figure out how to post them here.  So if there is no link here, go back to the main site.

https://shelleyschulte.tripod.com/run_for_the_cure/

Holy Hot Flashes!!!!!
I'm not sure if my body thinks I'm in Menopause due to the lack of menstrual cycles (caused by chemo) or if this is a side effect of the chemo drug Taxol that I'm on these days....... but holy cow the hot flashes!!!  I don't envy women in Menopause!  I am also having alot of joint and muscle pain this go round, but other than that life is good and things are going well.  Only 2 more chemos to go!

Chemo #6- Taxol #2..... Finally!

I had my sixth chemo session today.  I was supposed to have it last week, but my blood counts were too low, so it had to be delayed a week.  But all went well today. 

 

Surgery (Modified Radical Mastecomy) is scheduled for November 3rd.  This will go ahead as long as there are no more delays in the chemo and as long as my blood counts are high enough that day, which may be a problem as it will be only 12 days after my last chemo.....so keep your fingers crossed.

 

I also had another Ultrasound and the tumour has shrunk to 1 cm from 2.8cm, which is good news, and the lymph node in my armpit is now only 4mm.....not sure what it was to begin with.

 

Besides all the running around to all of the appointments, everything is going very well, I feel great and life is proceeding somewhat normally.  Although I think Team Schulte is funding a new parking garage at Henderson Hospital!   Too bad parking isn't covered under benefit programs!

Sorry I haven't added more updates, but between appointments, kids, and my business, its very hard to find time to update the website and reply to all of the wonderful emails.

I have also decided that I am feeling well enough to participate in the CIBC Run for the cure, so if anyone wants to donate, here is my link.

 

https://www.cibcrunforthecure.com/html/personal_page.asp?track=3053200&languageid=1

Chemo Round 5 - Taxol

I had my 5th Chemo on Tuesday (only 3 more to go!  Whoo hoo!), it was the first of the Taxol drug.  Other than a mild reaction during the first few minutes, it went really well.  Although it was long (3 hours).  I am feeling really good, it doesn't have the side effect of naseau like the last drug did and I seem to have more energy which is good, just some mild muscle and joint pain.  Hopefully I won't loose the eyebrows.  The tumour seems to be reacting well to the chemo, it has shrunk signifigantly in size, I have an MRI and ultra sound on Monday, so on my next visit with the oncologist I should get an update as to actual size.  I also have an appointment with the surgeon this week to discuss and schedule the mastecomy, that will take place late October, early November.  I'm still not sure how to explain that to Annike.....any ideas would be more than welcome!

 

I am also starting something this week called IV Vitamin C.  Its not part of my "medical treatment", its something I'm doing with a Naurtopath.  Its not supported completely by the medical community yet, put the Canadian Medical Association believes that there have been enough positive results that it deserves further studying, it is also now commonly used in many Cancer Clinics in the United States.  Basically, they give you high dose Vitamin C intravenously and its supposed to kill cancer cells.

 

My Vegan diet is also going well, I am getting very used to it and feel great.  I have found many more recipies and don't miss the meat or the dairy at all.  I have also lost 18lbs, but I certainly don't look sick or feel sick!

 

I know alot of people come back to this site to check my progress, so my apologies for not having more updates for you.  Its difficult to find the time to get on here with all the medical appointments, kiddies, and my business.  But thanks for coming back to check on me!

 

Shelley