“Triple Negative” nicely sums up the past 12 months

I should have known.  I can’t even get ‘normal’ breast cancer! 

I’ve been telling this story so much lately it’s almost unbelieveable you haven’t already heard?  Well, in case you haven’t….

The pathology of my cancer had some problems.  It’s triple negative and there was some lymph vascular invasion.  On an aggression scale of 1-9, my tumour was a 9 (Grade 3).  I won’t go into all the details of everything here as there’s plenty of info on the web if you’re interested.  I had to go back for a second surgery so they could clean up the ‘dirty margins’ that could only be seen with the pathology.  I’m still sore and bruised.

The upshot is…I start chemo in the first week of March and I am opting into a trial which will take 12 months to complete.  I’ve taken up to 6 months unpaid leave from work.  I have to say my boss and colleagues been very supportive which confirms I made the right move leaving the previous place where I was so miserable.

I asked the Oncologist about how the chemo will ’sit’ with my Graves.  She told me she’s had other patients where the chemo has pulled them out of Graves remission.  Before I start I have to have a raft of blood tests including TSH, T3, T4 and antibodies and my onco and endo will talk.  Apparently there’ll be times I won’t know if I’m suffering side effects from chemo, Graves symptoms, or menopause (which I am told I can expect to kick in during treatment).  Delightful!

Meanwhile, my weight continues to explode!  I know it seems silly to be thinking about that at a time like this but I don’t feel like me.  I’m going to lose my hair and I’m convinced I am going to look like a big ol’ waxy potato!  I don’t think I can do the wig thing.  Any suggestions for head covering and especially makeup tricks (I’m going to lose my eyelashes and eyebrows too) gratefully received.  

Fab to know despite everything, vanity is my most prominent characteristic!

Another day, another blood test

So home from a long, long day. A day that’s stretched over about 36 hours in fact and involved an overnight stay to see family. Boy is my ‘kitteh’ annoyed! Still, I had left her with about 9 days worth of food, cat milk, water, clean litter…but she did give me a fairly raucous homecoming (she doesn’t meow so much as screech at me) and lots of head butts. I often take her with me but this time my sister had brought along her little yappypants dog (he’s quite sweet but misunderstood) so she had to stay home. They don’t get along.

My next blood test is taken tomorrow. I think this is maybe the 7th (?) since this all began so I’m getting pretty good at it. Then I see the endo early next week. I’d love to see some improvement but in my heart (and in my heart) I suspect that won’t be the case. I’m still experiencing palpitations and shortness of breath on occasion. After many hours on the road today my sister commented that I all of a sudden seemed to deflate and my breathing was almost asthmatic…very wheezy. I think it’s just being over tired, not able to shake this head cold, same old same old….will make sure I get a full look over at the docs.

In the middle of two weeks off (yay!) so keeping my stress levels low and my sanity on track…or as much as possible anyway!

Can’t have a simple sore throat anymore!

Yesterday I woke feeling a little…off. And as the day went by I could feel the telltate signs of a head cold coming on. Woke up at 3am this morning with a throat that felt like I’d been swallowing razor blades. So…bearing in mind the warnings of my Dr., rang her office as early as I could. I sort of assumed she’d say something like “See how you feel tomorrow” but no. Turns out they take this sore throat thing very seriously. I had to go get a full blood test as soon as possible and make sure they process it urgently. This is to check there’s nothing funny going on with my white blood cells. So currently waiting on results which should be back in the next hour or so. Of course in waiting I’m feeling better – throat feeling a little better, no fever. Really tired but then I didn’t sleep well. Work is not thrilled I’m off sick…especially as I only have a week to go and I’m done with them (yay!).

I’m also having some intense tingling in my left hand that seems to have started at the same time as my increase in meds. When I talk to the Dr later I’ll ask them what they think this is. My GP looked up drug interactions but couldn’t find it so hopefully the endo will know more.

OMG all the dramz! Ready for a holiday.

Deja vu all over again

New blood test back and a call from my endocronologist. “No change”. I mean…what? Despite increasing the dose from 2 up to 3 x 5mg carbimazole per day…no change. My T3 is still too high and is exactly the same as 6 weeks prior. So the doctor describes me as a puzzle and has asked me to go up to 5 tablets per day. Now most of the time, the dose is decreased…not increased! Can T3 toxicosis be resistant to drug treatment?

Meanwhile, I still get heart palpitations from time to time, but not as often as before. I still have trouble sleeping but always have had. And my muscles are sore and my skin is itchy. I guess I should have anticipated a set back.

Another month, another blood test, and another doctor visit at the end of it. Sheesh!

And also by then, a new job which I’m looking forward to. Hopefully, a change of scene will do some positive things for my health. I mean…c’mon!

I’m still special

My sister’s blood results were all normal which is great. Regardless, I’m glad she went to get a check up and the doctor, my GP, has ordered her a bunch of general tests that are long overdue.

We girls in our thirties and older always seem to consider ourselves last don’t we?

Back to work blues

Back to work in the morning following a sunny weekend spent mostly on the road heading to, then from, my parent’s new house in the country. Chatting with my mother, she told me about a first cousin (who I haven’t seen since childhood) who was also diagnosed with Graves some years ago and she opted not to follow up with any treatment. Nothing at all. I should add she’s also Schizophrenic so I imagine Graves doesn’t seem that big a deal to her. She’s also living in a small redneck village with limited professional medical resources let alone specialists near by. I hope she doesn’t regret her choice later. Tomorrow I’m going for a blood test which will see if the medication is doing anything so far and I’m going to try to convince my sister to go get her blood tested too.

I’m taking an oath here and now not to get too stressed this week…lots of politics and intrigue at the new job…but I am going to try and stay serene and rise above. Good freakin’ luck to me!