Thoughts from the T-Shirt Lady

Update on my daughter - her 3rd chemo treatment done, she went to the radiologist to get ready for her radiation treatments. A full body scan, and a consultation and she was ready. Started her radiation treatments last week - and seems to be doing fine with them so far. She’ll have daily treatments until Thanksgiving or so, go back to see the surgeon and have 3 more chemo treatments. She’s done very good thus far, so I have no doubt she will continue to have good results. And of course, she’s a trooper - working full time and not complaining! ok, maybe a little bit

I have been remiss in writing! A friend asked me if there was anything wrong. Was this ever a nudge to add to my blog…

My daughter’s 2nd chemo treatment was about the same as her first. She had the treatment around 10:30 am, started to feel a little shaky on the way home and promptly went to bed.

She woke up Saturday feeling fine - just like the first treatment. And Sunday was a wash - in bed all day, really struggling to get up to eat… again same as the first. By Tuesday she was back at work. What a trouper

She has even started back to bowling in a league. Good for her!

Her next treatment is the 14th of this month. If all goes true to form, she will be back on her feet early the next week. Then she waits a month while everything is getting set up to do radiation, and that will be for 6 weeks.

I am so glad that she is able to tolerate her chemo so well, and able to get on with her routine!

Sandi

Well, my daughter’s 2nd treatment is coming up tomorrow - instead of last Friday. I guess it has to do with the doctor’s schedule, since she has to see him the morning of the treatment.

We’ve been in touch every day, just to see how she is doing. Her hair started coming out, so like me, she had it buzz cut. She still has stubble and fusses about it, but it will all come out eventually.

She is doing fine at work, no problems. Of course this weekend, if it’s anything like the first treatment she will be in bed all Sunday and most of Monday. I hope that is the way it goes this time, and that she feels good enough to go back to work on Tuesday - since being at work gives her less time to stress over this.

Sent her my turbans - the ones I used when I was going through treatment. She also has a couple of stretchy caps that the clinic gave her to wear. She complained about her head being cold at night when she went to bed. Of course, I had the same problem and always wore a cap to bed.

Will try to write next week and let you know how she is doing.

Sandi

Recently, I had a phone call from my best friend in California, telling me that the doctors have discovered cancer in several places.

A little background - my father was a career navy man, so we as a family moved around a lot. I was born in California, moved away and then went back in 1961 - when I was in 9th grade. There I met a girl who was to become my best friend. We lived about 3 blocks from each other, went to the same high school, and walked to school every day.

Over the years, we have been in touch with each other during trying times as well as good times. I frequently went to California for work - and whenever I did, we made arrangements to get together for several days. It was great reliving old times and catching up!

Now to the present day - she was at work, and while there, she fell down and broke her femur. Once at the hospital, xrays were done, and the cancer was detected. What she has is Multiple myeloma, a cancer of the plasma cell, which is an incurable but treatable disease. If not for the break…

She has been through surgery for the break, in rehab to learn how to move correctly, and help herself, and on to her sister’s home. My best friend’s house is 2 stories, and her sister’s is 1 - so it was best not to have to climb stairs.

She will have chemo and I think radiation too - we chat every so often, so she can bring me up to date with how she is doing.

I’ll have more as time goes on.

Sandi

Finally have some news for you. My daughter in North Dakota finally had her first treatment a little over a week ago (Friday, July 27th). She had gone to the hospital having been told that the treatment would take 24 hours so she would be in the hospital overnite.

When she got there - having been driven to the hospital - they told her it would be 3 days of treatments. She went home via taxi - packed a bag and drove herself back.

Again, she was told something different when she arrived - the treatment would only be 5 hours! What confusion….

Finally started at 3pm, and she was done and checked out of the hospital at 10:30pm. Drove herself home with no problems.

Talked with her on Saturday and she was fine. Called on Sunday and left a message. Didn’t hear from her until the afternoon - at which time she could barely talk, she was so tired. Her joints ached - as did mine at the time of my chemo with Taxol (which is part of what she is taking). Of course, my mother’s advise kicked in with - lots of fluid and plenty of protein to keep her strength up

Since then, I have spoken with her every day. Each day, she was feeling a little better. She went back to work on that Tuesday (much faster recovery then me - my DH said of course, she is so much younger than you…).

Her joint pain diminished as well so she is doing great! Her next treatment will be on the 17th of August, and she now knows what she can expect…. sort of.

Sandi

Spoke with my daughter the other day, and she is slated to start her chemo on the 18th of this month. At that time, she will have a port inserted, as it is very difficult to get a good vein in her arms.

The chemo will be administered over 24 hours, so she will be in the hospital for that. At least she will have someone monitoring her at all times.

The medications that she will be given are Taxol - which I had and another one - which I wrote down, but now cannot find the piece of paper…. will look some more and update the info.

Sandi

Spoke with my daughter over the weekend. She has now gone back to work half-days. Said she was so bored sitting around the apartment, and the fact that she only works 5 minutes from her home means that if she gets too tired, she can just come home.

She will be taking the bus today to Minneapolis. She has a follow-up appt with the surgeon tomorrow, and he will most likely map out her chemo schedule. I’ll have more about that when I hear from her tomorrow.

She still has a little bit of infection in one or two of her stitches and is still on anti-biotics. I’m sure that the surgeon will look at that as well.

More later.

Sandi