This weekend

This weekend after mom's first chemotherapy treatment has been going great! The day after injection, mom said that her hips were hurting a little (the shot builds bone marrow so this is a typical side effect) but she was able to take Tylenol and did not seem to have any significant problems. She was a little more tired than usual but was able to run errands Saturday and went to her brother Dick's retirement party for about two hours. She was able to spend a lot of time with Addison and the family outside, and this morning she went to work! Hopefully this week will continue to go well for her.

First Treatment

Today was mom's first chemotherapy treatment. Yesterday, mom and Kris went to the American Cancer Society to pick out a wig. Mom says the experience went well considering the task. Kris and mom were able to share laughs while trying some interesting wigs. Mom was able to find one as well as a few hats that she liked.

Today mom's chemo was scheduled to start at 10:15am. When she arrived, they were still waiting to get her echo results to enure they could give the dosage the doctor recommended. Mom said that she was very nervous before it started and I am sure that waiting for the results to come intensified the anxiety. Her heart tests came back great as did her iron levels in her blood. She was able to receive the recommended dosage of chemo. Once the treatment started, she felt much less nervous and she says she is very glad to have the treatment started. She says that all the nurses and doctors she has encountered so far have been very wonderful to her. As I type this, she is watching Addison play with toys and you would never know she just did her first chemo treatment. Tomorrow she will go back to the cancer center to get a shot that will increase white blood cells in her body. She will have this shot after every treatment. At this point her spirits are pretty good and she is very thankful that after only 13 days of diagnosis she has been able to get all her tests done and has been able to start treatment.

Diagnosis Day

On May 14, mom went into for a mammogram. During the tests, mom was told that she had inflammatory breast cancer. She was called back that day for a biopsy and was told that the tests were to confirm the cancer diagnosis. The biopsy came back positive for the suspected area as well as at least one lymph node. Since that time she has had a PET scan, an echocardiogram, and a MRI. Friday she had a port inserted that will allow her to receive chemotherapy and for blood to be taken for various tests without causing difficulties with her veins. Friday, mom was called and told that the tests indicated that cancer has not spread to any other areas. Mom will start chemotherapy this Thursday as the first step in her treatment process. So far she has been really positive. She knows that she has a long and hard fight ahead and is motivated to get better. She has asked to keep this blog so that all her friends and family could keep updated on what is going on, especially on days that she is not feeling well or is too tired call everyone. I will try to keep this updated at least once a week.