Well, crud. Had the PET yesterday, still waiting on the report to come in, hopefully by Friday. Met with both surgeons, they described the procedures quite effectively. Two eight inch incisions, one from the front middle section of my thorax and one along my right side. Surgery is about eight hours and I am confined to quarters in the hospital for about 10 days getting nutrition through a feeding tube in my side.
In the meantime, the oncologist I met with today has outlined the following:
Next Thursday I have a power port implanted - I will put milkshakes in it!
Next Thursday I go in to learn about my chemo treatments
Next Friday, I begin a 9 week bout of chemo therapy, including Epirubicin, Cisplitan and a constant 24 hour dosing of 5-FU that runs into the power port (I have already thought of three jokes about the 5-FU)
My hair will fall out in about the next three weeks along with many other unpleasant side effects
After 9 weeks I get scanned again, I get about 6-12 weeks to recover from the chemo and then we schedule the surgery.
After I recovered from that, it will be another 9 weeks of chemo again.
Here is my gameplan:
I will cut my hair next week in the shortest and cutest style ever and maybe even dye the tips a cool color
I will have a head shaving party when the time comes and I will let Claire shave my head
I have come up with the following list of the positive things about chemo:
1. Shorter showers, no conditioner and no blow drying
2. Lower grocery bill due to nausea
3. Energy conservation NOT growing any hair
4. No shaving!
5. Weight loss
6. Knowing where all the best bathrooms are
7. Lots of cool hats
8. Long naps
9. Loads of downtime for hobbies and movie watching
10. Drawing different expressive eyebrows everyday
11. Temporary scalp tattoos
12. Husband won't roll over on my hair at night
13. No tangles
14. Medical marijuana! Well, if I lived in a state where it was legal :D
15. Possibility of Hulk-like abilities
Ok, done for now, brain is fried and I gotta watch something funny to get back in balance.
Love to all~
Just a little over four hours till your birthday!
ReplyDeleteLove you..... Linda (& Jack)
Sorry, I published my original comment twice, and then deleted the second, and now it looks weird. Steph, I know you'll understand.
ReplyDeleteLove you, Linda
Steph, only you, my love, could make us all smile with your 15 "good" points about chemotherapy! If you'd like company, when the time comes, Daddy and I will shave our heads too - just say the word, and we are in! I am soooo looking forward to doing our laundry the french way Monday evening - it will be a blast. Happy Birthday to the most wonderful daughter in the whole wide world; I love you with all my heart and soul. xoxoxo Mom
ReplyDeleteSorry to be so late in joining along. Our thoughts and prayers have been with you ever since I got that dreadful call from Dave. You know were only five minutes away if there's anything you guys need. Claire's smile is the best medicine anyone could wish for. Every time you mention Jeffery I picture you taking a couple whacks at the Toys R Us giraffe shouting "GET SOME!!!" Love always, The Gervais' P.S. Did Someone mention hat shopping? P.P.S. #16 Finally one upping the "all about me" guy your married to.
ReplyDeleteHA! Number 16 is the bomb, love you guys so much.
DeleteHappy Birthday!
ReplyDeleteIt's your birthday?
DeleteOh sorry. My birthday. Duh.
DeleteSteph,
ReplyDeleteWe hope you and your mother have a wonderful dinner and a safe trip. You guys are really living high!
Dad and I leave on our cruise in the morning so we'll be out of contact with you all until Feb 7th - don't know how to do computer or phone stuff from afar.
We'll be thinking of you every day and I'm so glad I have your schedule, Steph, so I know what you'll be up to every day.
I feel so blessed to have you all in our lives.
Just remember Stephanie and David and Claire that we love you so very much.
Love, Mom & Dad
Steph,
ReplyDeleteThanks for letting me know, I am so here for you. I sent you all my contact info on Facebook. I don't have much info on the chemo, but the surgery and hospital stay, I've got you covered. This isn't fair, you're getting beat up like one of Diana gabeldon's characters.
I love you!
Jennifer K.
Where's the next post? Did I miss it? I must have missed it. (looks for next post)
ReplyDeleteIt's the possibility of Hulk-like abilities that could blow this thing wide open!
ReplyDelete