Not much going on, still a great cycle, but I have noticed a change in the timing of when “things” are hitting. Up to this point the taste buds and “metal mouth” have hit within 24 to 48 hours of treatment, meaning day 2 or 3 of the cycle. I am now on day 5 of the cycle and losing my sense of taste is now coming on, along with the funky metal taste that takes it’s place in my mouth.
Also the peripheral neuropathy in my hands, feet and mouth. It’s coming back on day 5, and I am really noticing it this time. It’s not painful, but irritating. I am having a harder time feeling things with my fingers, so it is harder to knit, put together my fun little metal model of Cinderella’s Castle that I am working on, and I feel like I may “miss” my mouth when I am eating.
My feet are a whole other issue. Not sure how I feel about the neuropathy in my feet. I can walk, it’s not painful, but it definitely concerns me and my plans for Wednesday. I do have my follow up appointment with Dr. Sikaria on Wednesday, I should probably bring this up to her.
The Cancer Support Community is offering a class next Tuesday – The MELT Method, which provides instructions on using physical therapy on the connective tissues to help control the discomfort neuropathy causes. Cecelia, in my support group swears by this class.
Rebecca was back again this week, and I was so glad to see her. She get’s her port on Wednesday and was very nervous about this procedure. I explained my experience to her and showed her how my port looks, the bump it creates right under my collarbone, how it looks like a bruise because the physical port is purple, and I explained to her how the procedure went for me and how I was able to talk to the head nurse and the surgeon during the whole process. I hope this helped her in facing this step in her process.
Hubby and I always plan to get to Support Group night early so we can take a walk around the Redondo Beach Pier. It was a beautiful night, and I was able to grab a great picture of the shoreline at night.
Not bad for a phone camera….
Support Group was good, I am glad Hubby said I had to do this and I am glad I made him go too. When we got out of group last night he was speaking with Rebecca’s spouse Kevin, and was telling him that he didn’t think Support Group would be of any benefit to him, but he has found comfort, solace, and benefit in attending. I didn’t make a big deal about hearing him explain this to Kevin.
There is a gal in my group who has just had he worst luck. She and her permanently disabled adult daughter have found themselves homeless while she has been undergoing her treatment. It started with a repair being made in their apartment and her daughter being sexually assaulted by the repairman, which led to a complaint to the landlord, which resulted in eviction. Yeah, there should be laws about this, and I am sure there are, but when you are focused on trying to remain healthy it becomes difficult to manage other things like this type of situation when you are on your own. So, “M” has found herself homeless and trying to continue her Herceptin treatments to finish off her therapy regime. Some in our group put her up in a hotel for the past week, last night I extended that stay for her for two more days.
“M” has been hooked up with city and county services and has a social worker assigned to her case, but they have not been all that helpful. Every time she comes up with a solution, she is shot down that they cannot get her the documents she needs to complete a process that would get her in a permanent home. I am really praying the two extra days will get her the time she needs to get a home space settled. She has three more treatments left and really wants to complete her process. Please let her find the peace she needs to complete her journey through breast cancer and a safe haven for both her and her daughter.
We had another gal who tried Edibles during her chemo treatments and had such a bad experience she brought all her edibles in for others to take. It was very funny, that conversation! I didn’t feel the need to try any of the edibles, but she really wanted to know who took the “chips” as she ate two chips and was high for over 24 hours and swears there was a baboon in her backyard. (It turned out is was a raccoon…). The bag said it was two servings, she didn’t even complete one serving. Patty who is dealing with stage 4 metastatic breast cancer was first on dips to take what she wanted. We all agreed, she gets first dibs. I hope this helps her!
I really love the dynamics of my support group. I love how we are a diverse group of women, and we share so openly, honestly and care about one another. It helps me feel empowered. It does take a village.
Life is caring for others