My chemo doc (Dr. Kakani) told me today because I am HER2 + I have to have a year of a drug called Herceptin. HER2 + means that you have this antibody in your body that is bad. This drug Herceptin is started with my fifth round of chemo and continued for 12 rounds every three weeks. Herceptin can be taken at the same time that I have surgery. I have heard that your hair can grow back while on this drug.
We got Campbell's doll (Kimmie's Care Doll). She has already named it and took it to church on Sunday. Today she fought me for a bandanna. I gave in and let her wear it and I picked a new one.
Today I am feeling tired. But I can handle it.
Monday, August 31, 2009
Thursday, August 27, 2009
The Survey
Please participate in the survey. Campbell told me last night she thought my breasts would be purple. She may be right for a while they very will may be.
Meet My Surgeon!!! Information Overload
Todd and I meet with Dr. Patricia Kennedy a surgeon who specializes in breast oncology. We loved her and her staff. Dr. Kennedy sat down with us for an hour and explained so much about my type of cancer. Then her staff sat down with us for another half an hour. The following is what we learned:
1. I do not carry the BRCA genetic mutation. Which means that I get to keep my ovaries!!! I also now have some big decisions to make about my left breast. I can choose to keep my left breast or get it removed. I now have .5% chance of getting cancer in my left breast for every year I survive. Basically, I survive 10 years I have a 5% chance.
2. I will have surgery sometime at the end of January. Last chemo being January 4th with three weeks for healing before surgery (removal of right breast and lymph nodes for sure).
3. There is so much information out there for breast cancer survivors. The one they stressed for me to contact is the Young Survival Coalition: www.youngsurvival.org .
4. My lymph nodes are shrinking!!!! Praise GOD!!!!! This is huge deal. My surgeon could not feel my lymph nodes on Wednesday. When I had my original biopsy my lymph nodes were huge. Dr. Kennedy feels that this is a sign that the chemo drugs are working. Keep praying it stays that way.
5. There is a doll out there called Kimmie Cares ( http://www.kimmiecares.com/store/pc/home1.html )She is doll that you can take her long hair off, put a bandanna on, then put on short hair. Just like Mommy during her chemo treatments. It is so cute.
6. I have Brooke Warford's twin. The social worker at Dr. Kennedy's place is a spitting image of Brooke. It was unbelievable how much they look like.
1. I do not carry the BRCA genetic mutation. Which means that I get to keep my ovaries!!! I also now have some big decisions to make about my left breast. I can choose to keep my left breast or get it removed. I now have .5% chance of getting cancer in my left breast for every year I survive. Basically, I survive 10 years I have a 5% chance.
2. I will have surgery sometime at the end of January. Last chemo being January 4th with three weeks for healing before surgery (removal of right breast and lymph nodes for sure).
3. There is so much information out there for breast cancer survivors. The one they stressed for me to contact is the Young Survival Coalition: www.youngsurvival.org .
4. My lymph nodes are shrinking!!!! Praise GOD!!!!! This is huge deal. My surgeon could not feel my lymph nodes on Wednesday. When I had my original biopsy my lymph nodes were huge. Dr. Kennedy feels that this is a sign that the chemo drugs are working. Keep praying it stays that way.
5. There is a doll out there called Kimmie Cares ( http://www.kimmiecares.com/store/pc/home1.html )She is doll that you can take her long hair off, put a bandanna on, then put on short hair. Just like Mommy during her chemo treatments. It is so cute.
6. I have Brooke Warford's twin. The social worker at Dr. Kennedy's place is a spitting image of Brooke. It was unbelievable how much they look like.
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
A Biopsy, a prayer request and a something funny!
My biopsy: Last Friday turned into an adventure for me. The biopsy of my throat required that they put something down my nose. When they went to take it out, my nose would not stop bleeding, which meant I had to have my nose packed. Friday was an adventure trying to figure out how to breath through my mouth when I was sleeping. Needless to say I did not get a lot of sleep on Friday. Results will come back on Friday.
A prayer request: I am asking that you pray for Judi, she is getting ready to have surgery for colon cancer and is struggling right now.
Something Funny: Last night I was changing and Campbell said something about my breasts. I told her soon mommy won't have any that the doctors were going to remove them. She asked me if they would grow back. I told her that they may depending on what mommy may decided. She then asked if they would come back a different color. How do you answer that question?
A prayer request: I am asking that you pray for Judi, she is getting ready to have surgery for colon cancer and is struggling right now.
Something Funny: Last night I was changing and Campbell said something about my breasts. I told her soon mommy won't have any that the doctors were going to remove them. She asked me if they would grow back. I told her that they may depending on what mommy may decided. She then asked if they would come back a different color. How do you answer that question?
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
If Only...
I hope you will laugh as hard as I have over this story...
This morning I was looking in the mirror and I noticed a hair that was half in my nose and half out. So I thought to myself, oh no my eyebrows have finally decided to fall out. (Which is something I have been dreading.) I decided to get it off my face and wouldn't you know it the stupid thing is attached. (Just a really long nose hair.) The question of the day: Why is is that the hair on your body you would like to fall out won't?
This morning I was looking in the mirror and I noticed a hair that was half in my nose and half out. So I thought to myself, oh no my eyebrows have finally decided to fall out. (Which is something I have been dreading.) I decided to get it off my face and wouldn't you know it the stupid thing is attached. (Just a really long nose hair.) The question of the day: Why is is that the hair on your body you would like to fall out won't?
Monday, August 17, 2009
Weekly Update
I had my second chemo treatment on the 10th of August. Emotional I really struggled on Monday and Tuesday. Then I talked with my "sista" and realized that the doc's didn't tell me anything I don't already know. So, I felt much better. I worked every day during the week. I was exhausted by the time I got home but was able to do it. Which I must say is much better then sitting at home thinking.
This weekend was rough. On Saturday, it took all of my energy to just walk to the bathroom. But I made it to church on Sunday. Then just took it very easy the rest of the day. Thank goodness I am not nauseated.
I have a throat biopsy scheduled for Friday August 21st at 8 a.m. They are going to make sure these abnormal cells on my throat are not cancer. When the E.N.T. Doc looked at them in the office, he thought they were fine. For me that was not good enough, I am making them doing a biopsy for peace of mind. It will take a few weeks to get the results. I will post them.
My daughter is so cute!!! On Saturday she looked at me and said "Mommy I wish you did not have cancer!". I told her I wished I didn't have cancer too. And that was the end of the conversation. Over all, she is handling it well. It is hard for her to understand how medicine that heals you also can make you tired.
Please keep praying. In a few weeks, we will have another mammogram to make sure that the treatment is working.
This weekend was rough. On Saturday, it took all of my energy to just walk to the bathroom. But I made it to church on Sunday. Then just took it very easy the rest of the day. Thank goodness I am not nauseated.
I have a throat biopsy scheduled for Friday August 21st at 8 a.m. They are going to make sure these abnormal cells on my throat are not cancer. When the E.N.T. Doc looked at them in the office, he thought they were fine. For me that was not good enough, I am making them doing a biopsy for peace of mind. It will take a few weeks to get the results. I will post them.
My daughter is so cute!!! On Saturday she looked at me and said "Mommy I wish you did not have cancer!". I told her I wished I didn't have cancer too. And that was the end of the conversation. Over all, she is handling it well. It is hard for her to understand how medicine that heals you also can make you tired.
Please keep praying. In a few weeks, we will have another mammogram to make sure that the treatment is working.
Monday, August 10, 2009
Lint Roller
Last week at work a co-worker told me to use a lint roller on my head. She had heard on a soap opera that it works. On Sunday night, my hair was falling out like crazy. For those of you who have watched Breakfast Club...remember Ally Sheedy when she makes her dandruff look like snow. That is exactly what was happening to me today over the sink. Until....I made Todd use a lint roller on my head. The funny thing is it worked. I did get a little teary eyed when I looked in the mirror. My new shaven head is now a little patchy. And dang it not as pretty as Todd's anymore. But then I started to laugh when I realized I just let my husband use a lint roller on my head. Only in the Pekny Family!!!
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
The Story
I have been asked several times in the last few days about my story and how I figured out I had cancer. I figured I would just lay it out there for everyone.
Todd and I went on vacation on June 8th. I noticed then that my breast looked swollen and bruised. I just figured Chase had hit me there and it was bruised. It never got better just worse. So on July 8th, I went to my ob-gyn thinking I had a bruised breast. He order a mammogram that day. During this mammogram, the lady who did it insisted that I get a special mammogram ordered by the end of the week. She kept telling me it is very important. On July 9th, I called my doctor and told him that I needed this special testing. He ordered it and I was at the doc by 1:00 p.m. by 2:15 they told me I had cancer. The following week was a blur.
Here are the symptoms of Inflammatory Breast Cancer:
Symptoms of IBC may include redness, swelling, and warmth in the breast, often without a distinct lump in the breast. The redness and warmth are caused by cancer cells blocking the lymph vessels in the skin. The skin of the breast may also appear pink, reddish purple, or bruised. The skin may also have ridges or appear pitted, like the skin of an orange (called peau d'orange), which is caused by a buildup of fluid and edema (swelling) in the breast. Other symptoms include heaviness, burning, aching, increase in breast size, tenderness, or a nipple that is inverted (facing inward) (3). These symptoms usually develop quickly—over a period of weeks or months. Swollen lymph nodes may also be present under the arm, above the collarbone, or in both places. However, it is important to note that these symptoms may also be signs of other conditions such as infection, injury, or other types of cancer (1).
http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/sites-types/ibc
I was not aware that the symptoms I was having was cancer. I always thought that breast cancer was a lump.
Todd and I went on vacation on June 8th. I noticed then that my breast looked swollen and bruised. I just figured Chase had hit me there and it was bruised. It never got better just worse. So on July 8th, I went to my ob-gyn thinking I had a bruised breast. He order a mammogram that day. During this mammogram, the lady who did it insisted that I get a special mammogram ordered by the end of the week. She kept telling me it is very important. On July 9th, I called my doctor and told him that I needed this special testing. He ordered it and I was at the doc by 1:00 p.m. by 2:15 they told me I had cancer. The following week was a blur.
Here are the symptoms of Inflammatory Breast Cancer:
Symptoms of IBC may include redness, swelling, and warmth in the breast, often without a distinct lump in the breast. The redness and warmth are caused by cancer cells blocking the lymph vessels in the skin. The skin of the breast may also appear pink, reddish purple, or bruised. The skin may also have ridges or appear pitted, like the skin of an orange (called peau d'orange), which is caused by a buildup of fluid and edema (swelling) in the breast. Other symptoms include heaviness, burning, aching, increase in breast size, tenderness, or a nipple that is inverted (facing inward) (3). These symptoms usually develop quickly—over a period of weeks or months. Swollen lymph nodes may also be present under the arm, above the collarbone, or in both places. However, it is important to note that these symptoms may also be signs of other conditions such as infection, injury, or other types of cancer (1).
http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/sites-types/ibc
I was not aware that the symptoms I was having was cancer. I always thought that breast cancer was a lump.
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