What a week....

Well I haven't updated in a little bit so here goes. I finished another round of chemo #8 and thought we were doing pretty good. I was wrong I pretty much spent 10 days in bed after that chemo. I felt so tired and had absolutely no energy. I did go to the xmas tree farm with the kids and made cookies with my sister but it took everything I had.

On Thursday Dec 11 I went to see my oncologist I was pale and had a fever. We decided I would be staying at the hospital to figure out what was wrong. So I got admitted to the oncology wing. It turns out I was neutropenic and my hemoglobin was 74. So we did a blood transfusion. I started to feel a bit better on Saturday they let me out to go to Marcel's xmas party at Rowena's it was beautiful.

I stayed in the hospital Sunday and Monday my fever was gone and my blood counts were slowly coming back up. We decided that we are not going to do any more chemo until the new year. In the new year we are going to try chemo pills. So Monday afternoon I got to go home. Its a good thing too my sister had my nephew on Tuesday Dec 16 at 6:17am 7lbs 10oz 55.5cm Tristan Alexander. I am so happy for them, I spent this afternoon at the hospital visiting with them.

I shall rest and get myself organized for xmas the rest of this week. It is our 5 year anniversary on Friday.

Take care and Merry Christmas.

November Ladies Night

What a fantastic night last night. We had our fall ladies night fashion show what a great night. We raised over $3000.00 for breast cancer research. The night was amazing, I told my story in front of 150 women. We did a fashion show that I got to model in with my baby sister Tiffany. I got to hear Glenda Standeven speak. To top off the night we did a spice girls skit at the end, I was ginger spice.

I am worn out today, so I will rest. I have chemo again this Friday I am feeling much better thank goodness. I will find out Thursday what the game plan for Friday is if we do 2 drugs or just one.

I am so thankful for all that I have.

Take care
Liane

Happy Halloween - Pink breast cancer warrior fairy

Happy Halloween chemo #5 is complete, we only did the Cisplatin this time it seemed to be a bit better on my stomach but I am still having tummy pains. Not as bad as they were and more sporadic thank goodness.

My friend Andrea brought me to chemo #5, she picked me up and we went for lunch at the Cactus Club in Abbotsford before I had to go for blood work and chemo. Blood work was scheduled at 1:30 and of course we accessed my part and we couldn't draw blood so they put a medication in to break up and clots I had to sit there for an hour. They ended up taking blood from my arm instead all good. Then my port worked just in time for us to head over to chemo. All the chemo nurses were dressed up like bugs I fit right in as the pink fairy :)

After chemo Marcel came and picked me up so my friend could get home to her boys for Halloween night. We headed home and unfortunately I got sick that evening not sure why. Luckily it was only once. I headed to bed early so much for an exciting Halloween.

Yesterday Marcel and I went to my parents and he layed laminate flooring for them in their basement. We stayed for dinner and then came home. Today I am heading back to my parents for my sister Darcie's baby shower this afternoon. Tomorrow I am going to relax :)

Have a great week I have chemo again on Friday Nov 7th my Dad is gonna take me and then hopefully are plan is to go to Enderby on Saturday to see Richard and Tammy and the kids.

Cheers

4 down ...0r lets call it 3.5

Went for chemo number 4 yesterday. Things did not go so smoothly. I started out by having a terrible stomach ache all week last week that lasted from chemo to chemo. Nothing like I have ever had before.

My sister Tiffany picked me up and we went to the H for blood work which hasn't been an issue to this point my port has been really good. Well not yesterday they had to try 3 times to access it and then they couldn't draw blood so I had to move around and cough and finally it worked.

Went upstairs for chemo and still had my tummy ache, the nurses asked me how I had been and I explained about my tummy pain and how it felt like it was wear my radiation had been in August. They didn't seem to concerned and we started chemo. I finished the first drug Gemcitabine and they started the second drug Cisplatin. Halfway through the Cisplatin I started getting terrible stomach pains in the radiation area again. We stopped chemo and they called my oncologist down. I explained to her what was happening and right away she said "ohh no, I think you are having radiation recall." Apparently the Gemcitabine is reacting with wear I had radiation so no more chemo until my stomach recovers and then we will just try Cisplatin. She is going to wait to reintroduce Gemcitabine.

Really why me nothing is ever simple I tell you.

I have the next 2 weeks to recover and hopefully get my tummy back to normal for chemo on Oct 24.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Can't sleep....

You have got to be kidding me..I have been awake since 3:30 am. I tried a bath, reading, some breakfast wide awake. Arghhhh I need to sleep I have a super busy couple days. Well I guess my day is gonna start real early.

I saw my oncologist yesterday everything is good so far. She is going to get a head scan as I have been feeling light headed and dizzy lately. We have never really done one so she feels it would be good to do. I have blood work and chemo today, my sister Darcie is going to take me. Then Marcel will pick me up and it is wedding organization and preperation mode for the rest of the night.

Have a great weekend!

Liane

Super busy week ahead...

Hey everyone, hope you all had a great weekend. Round 2 went well no major issues. I think I have figured this out for this time. But don't quote me on that lol. I go for chemo treatments on Fridays usually. I feel pretty good for the Friday, Saturday and Sunday thank goodness. Then usually the Monday I start to get fatigued and the Tuesday, and Wednesday land me in bed. The nice thing is so far it's just bed and not the H.

Busy week coming up, I have a bunch of running around today. Tomorrow I am getting my hair done and watching my grandson for a bit. Wed housework and brunch with my friend Betty. Thursday I see the Oncologist and Friday getting ready for Jenn and Dorey's wedding and chemo. Friday night rehearsal dinner, Saturday wedding and Sunday run for the cure.

Have a great week!!

Round 2 tomorrow

I have had a pretty busy week, and have been super tired. The positive note is no fever!!! WOOHOO. Monday I went to Langley for dinner with my family for my sisters bday. I felt pretty good Monday no real issues. On Tuesday I became really sore in my upper back and tired I was in bed at 7:30pm and slept most of the day and all day Wednesday.

Wednesday night I got up at 3pm cut Marcel's hair and we went to Langley to meet my parents and my aunt and uncle for dinner. I was pretty tired so we didn't stay long. Today I am feeling like I have more energy which is good as I start chemo #2 tomorrow afternoon.

We have a breast cancer fundraiser Friday night and then a relaxing weekend for me.


Take care,
Liane

1 down 11 more to go...

San Francisco was amazing, Marcel and I had a great time. Sorry I haven't updated in awhile was enojoying my week of doing nothing :)

Back to reality, so on Tuesday I went to the hospital to get my bone strengthener IV all was good and went smoothly. That night however I stated to get very sore up in my T3 area so I went to bed early. I ended up taking tylenol 3's all night I was in alot of pain. Then at around 11am I checked my temperature 39.5 c not good. I called my oncologist she got back to me later in the day and told me to try some advil to bring down the fever and let her know if it didn't change. At about 8pm my fever started to go down thank goodness.

I was a little bummed out when I got home from San Francisco I was hoping to have a date and time for chemo but they didn't have me scheduled. It ended up they called me Thursday afternoon and I was scheduled last minute Friday for 1:30pm. I am taking 2 drugs for chemo Cisplatin and Gemcitabine. The treatments run for about 2 hours in total. I felt really good so far after my first treatment but today day 3 my taste buds are starting to change I am a bit nauseous and a little worn out.

We had a great weekend though after chemo we headed out camping at Gill it was beautiful weather and all the kids made it out at one time or another over the weekend. Jenn, Dorey and Jaxtyn came out and Jaxtyn had his first overnight camping adventure. He is one month old today.

Have a great week! Next chemo Friday Sept 19.

Cheers
Liane

Got me a new FOOB

It's hard to believe it has been 2 years since I went and was fitted for my 1st FOOB. Now it's 2 years later and I just went and got myself FOOB number 2. Apparently this model is upgraded, so now I have a spare FOOB. For those of you who don't know FOOB is my fake boob.

So with my new FOOB I am super excited to wear it as we head off to San Francisco for the weekend. I have always wanted to go to San Francisco and this year I am just gonna do it. So Marcel and I are heading there tomorrow for the weekend. It will be so nice to get away before I start my treatments.

I am supposed to start chemo next week ughhh. But for now I am going to enjoy everything I can be thankful for.

Luv ya!!!

Feeling like a little vacation

We had a great weekend down in Mt. Vernon with my friend and her family. Marcel and I bought a couple cruiser bikes at Fred Meyer. We are looking forward to using them at the rotary trail and around town. The weekend was pretty good, on Saturday afternoon I didn't feel so great but had a nap and felt a little better.

Looking forward to the next week and a bit, today I am going for a pedicure. It will be my last one for a while as I am not aloud to have them during treatments. Then on Thursday Darcie and I are going to Whistler for an overnight sisters trip Spa included :). We will be home Friday night.

Then next Thursday Marcel and I are taking off to San Francisco for his birthday. I can't wait I have always wanted to go to San Francisco. We will be home on Sunday night then I start chemo the week of Sept 8th.

Enjoy your long weekend coming up.

Liane

6 down, now time for a little R&R

I finished my last radiation treatment yesterday. Everything went well, afterwards I met with a pain and symptoms specialist to discuss how I was feeling. He prescribed me some medication to deal with the trouble I am having with my left arm. (As I type my left fingers have pins and needles)

I am officially having some R&R for the next couple weeks. Tomorrow morning Marcel and I are taking our trailer down to Mt. Vernon to stay with my friend Andrea and Andrew for the weekend. Then we come back and on Thursday my sister Darcie and I are heading to Whistler to go to the spa and an overnight trip. We are planning to go to the PNE on August 30th. Marcel and I are also taking a trip to San Francisco from Sept 4 -7 for his birthday weekend and before I start chemo.

Chemo is going to start the week of Sept 8th. Not really looking forward to it, not that anyone does. But it is even harder when you have been through it once already. These trips are going to be a great way for me to keep my mind off of it for a bit.

Cheers,
Liane

One more...

Well I thought I was finished radiation today....nope one more tomorrow. That's ok 6 is my lucky number so 6 radiation treatments it is :)

It's been a busy week already I had radiation on Monday and today one more to go tomorrow and then I am done with that for awhile. I saw my oncologist today she says I will start chemo the week of Sept 8th. We are hoping these treatments knock this cancer on its ass. Sorry for the language :) I get to see my grandson tonight they are coming over for dinner and to meet his great Oma and Opa.

Tomorrow I have my last radiation at 8:30am then I meet with a pain and symptom specialist at 9:00am then I am off to Whiterock for 11:30 for a celebration of life for my Great Aunt Grace. Then dinner with my sister and Melissa. Looking forward to seeing everyone then a relaxing weekend away in Mt. Vernon with my hubby and my BFF and her family.

Take care be a Warrior not a Worrier!

So many things to be thankful for

I am thankful this week is over and I get to enjoy the weekend with family and friends. I completed my IV bone therapy on Wednesday and wait straight downstairs for radiation which went well. Until I went to leave and they asked me who was driving me home. "Umm I am why?" then they proceed to tell me that they radiate a portion of my stomach when radiating my back and that could cause nausea. Awesome, so they send me on my way with a little puke bucket just in case. Lucky for me no nausea on the way home which ended up being a detour to my sisters then home. However 4am rolled around and the nausea hit me...yuck. I got up and took a gravol and went back to sleep.

When I got up on Thursday morning I was still feeling very sick I ate some yogurt and Breanna came over so we could go to the H together. We got about 2 min from my house and I had to pull over and get sick. We made it to the hospital and went to see Jennifer up on the maternity ward she was in early labour. We hung out for a bit and then Breanna and I went to chemo teach and then to radiation. B got to see and learn about everything I am going to go through. I was feeling very ill all day after radiation I saw a nurse and got a nausea medication. B drove me home from the H and I went to bed pretty much for the rest of the day.

On Thursday Aug 14th at 7:28pm our grandson Jaxtyn was born 7lbs 14oz 55cm long. We didn't go and see him that evening as I was pretty tired and not feeling well. On Friday morning the medicine had kicked in finally. I met Marcel at the hospital and went for radiation, Marcel came in and saw how they set me up for my treatments. After my treatment we went upstairs to meet our grandson. We visited for a bit then Marcel left to go to work and I stayed a little bit longer. I was lucky to get to watch the nurse give him his first bath.

I am feeling better today the medicine is working we are going to the Giggle Dam with my family tonight for my brother in law to be's birthday. Then tomorrow we are going to the Mierau bbq. Enjoy your weekend.

Luv ya!

More tattoos....

Super busy day yesterday. I started off going to Chilliwack hospital for some blood work (pregnancy test lol.) Of course they didn't have the requisition. So I left a message with the radiation dept. They called me back and I told them I would go to Abbotsford to have it done instead on my way through to Ft. Langley. Got to Abbotsford lab and guess what...yep no requisition. So I went down to the Radiation dept and got it myself and then had the blood work done. Guess what I'm not pregnant lol.

So I headed to Ft. Langley to meet Dr. Parmar at the Integrated Cancer clinic. We talked about my cancer and what else we can do. Long story short I need to cut out all sugar and flour from my diet and we are going to look at doing some treatments in conjunction with chemotherapy. Just trying to figure out what we are doing exactly. I am also going to take a few supplements like Melatonin and Vitamin D.

After Dr. Parmar my sister and I went for lunch at Wendels books in Ft.Langley then I headed back to Abbotsford for my tattoos. Unfortunately the tattoos I get are not very decorative. We have added 4 more little black dots to my body. I have one on each upper thigh below my hips, one above my belly button and one on my right pelvis/hip area. I am officially all ready for radiation tomorrow afternoon.

Tomorrow I have IV therapy for bone strengthener at 1:00 and radiation at 3:00pm. On Thursday I have chemo teach at 10:00am and radiation at 11:48. Then Friday I have radiation at 10:36.

I am looking forward to going to the Giggle Dam on Saturday night with my family. On Sunday we have the Mierau bbq. It should be a great weekend.

Enjoy your week!

And so it begins again...

Busy week coming up on Monday I have to go for blood work to confirm I am not pregnant to do radiation. Are you kidding me I have been on hormone therapy for 2 years and am pre menopausal. Pretty sure I am not pregnant lol. Anyway So blood work Monday then off to Fort Langley for 10:30 to meet with the Integrated Cancer Clinic to talk about alternative approaches and naturopathic help. Then to Abbotsford at 2:30pm for radiation markings for my lower back and right hip.

On Wednesday I have to go for IV therapy in Abbotsford at 1:00pm then at 3:00pm I get my first of 5 radiation therapy. On Thursday I have chemo teach at 10:00am and I will have my 2nd radiation therapy and on Friday I will have 3 of 5.

Then we will relax on the weekend and back at it next week. I will keep you posted on how things go this week.

Have a great Sunday!

Ahhh Shooot!!!

I went and met with the Radiation Oncologist today. He had my PET scan results and unfortunately the results were not fantastic. He told me the cancer is in 5 major spots and is also in some of my lymph nodes in my torso. Shoooot!!! not what I was thinking at all.

He informed us that it is in my lower back the L3 which we knew already. Then he said it is also in 2 places in my right hip one of the tumours in my hip is 3.5cm. It is in my upper back in my T3 and is also back in my left armpit where it originally started.

So the plan is to treat my lower back the L3 as that is where it has been sore and is sore and we are also going to treat my right hip with radiation. The radiation treatments should start in the next week or so just waiting for a call with dates. we are going to do 5 treatments one a day for 5 days. Then we will attack the rest with Chemo.

The oncologist said that in his experience the people who are positive through it all fair the best. Its a good thing I am stubborn and positive :)

Have a great weekend enjoy time with your families.

Love ya
Liane

PET scan complete :)

I went to have my PET scan yesterday at the Cancer agency in Vancouver. The experience itself is much like going for a CT scan. The take you into a room first and hook you up to an IV then they inject a radioactive glucose dye. Once they inject it then you have to stay in the room for 45 minutes and relax. No reading or looking at your cell phone etc....but they do let you listen to a cd of your choice. I chose Luke Bryan, time goes so slow.

I asked what the difference was between a PET Scan and CT. Basically the difference is the glucose dye they inject for the PET scan goes in your body and the cancer loves sugar so it attracts it to the different places the cancer may be in your body. Then they do the scan and the idea is that the spots all show up on the scan. The CT scan is more for your organs etc.

So the scan is done and hopefully tomorrow I will find out the results of the scan when I meet with my Radiation Oncologist to find out the plan.

Thanks Dad for coming with me to Vancouver and being my co-pilot or HOV partner :)

Cheers
Liane

Letting it all out....

Hmmm where do I start? I am going to let you know how I am feeling because I think it is important for people to really know. I am not looking for sympathy or anything, I get asked every single day "how are you?" So I am going to tell you... (because I will always tell you I am good even if that isn't the case)

I am doing ok, it has taken me a while to process my new diagnosis. I try to be a super strong and positive person but I am like everyone else. I have my why me moments, my scared moments, my pissed off moments and my how am I going to get through this moments. But deep down I am still Liane and that doesn't change.

I think the biggest difference between this diagnosis and back in January of 2012 when I was diagnosed is that you now know what to expect this time and I think that is harder. When I went through this the first time I knew I would fight it and be a survivor it was just a matter of getting through the treatments. No matter how hard it was or how crappy I felt you just did it.

This time its a whole different ball game. When you are told that it has metastized and that it is in your bone, and then you ask what that means exactly and what I hear is "well we are just going to keep treating it." It just doesn't give you the same feeling you fell a bit defeated. I think the hardest part is that I know what to expect, and I told myself I would never go through this again. Here I am 1.5 years later going through radiation and chemo. I will not lie I am not looking forward to chemo at all, it sucks!!! With that said, I am going to do everything I can to be here for as long as I can.

I am going to do everything it takes to continue to live a healthy and enjoyable life.I am going to change my diet because that is one of the biggest things you can do. I am going to try alternative approaches and I am going to live my life for today. I am going to do this with the support from all of you. Thank you everyone for your kind words, thoughts, prayers, jokes and listening to me.

Enjoy the hot sunshine the rest of the week :)

Love ya!

Appointment update etc...

I went to Chilliwack Hospital on Tuesday to have my portocath reinstalled. I got there at 6:50 my surgery was scheduled for 8:50am. Well that didn't go according to plan (of course) my surgeon came over at 9:00 and told me we were being bumped as there was an emergency surgery. He said it would be a couple hours. Ohh no I was already starving a couple more hours...ok I can do this no big deal. Over 5 hours later they finally came and got me for the surgery thank goodness. I was very lucky they cancelled the surgeries after me for that day. My port is in and I am healing from it very nicely it is a bit sore but no big deal.

So appointments to come...I got a call yesterday I am going to go for a PET scan on August 5th at 1:00pm in Vancouver on West 10th. Then August 7th I meet with my Radiation Oncologist to find out the plan for treatments.

Things are moving along I went to the hairdresser yesterday and got a fun short cut.

Talk to you soon.

So it begins...

We had a fantastic week camping up at Glimpse Lake lots of great fishing and riding. We smoked 11 Rainbow trout yesterday yumm.

On another note I go for surgery tomorrow morning to have my power port installed. I have to be at Chilliwack hospital for 6:50am, my surgery is scheduled for 8:50am. The surgery should be a piece of cake. I am just not looking forward to everything that follows. The worst thing for me with all my treatments last time was when they had to hook up my port. I don't look forward to having them have to do it again. I am hoping it will be different this time. Guess I will find out soon enough.

August 7th I meet my radiation oncologist to find out what kind of treatments I will have for radiation.

Have a great week!

Liane

The appointments begin...

So today was the first time I had alone to really let this sink in ..... WTF is all I have to say. It was an emotional start to my day at 6:30am when Marcel left for work I got up like usual and headed out to the kitchen but this time it was different I had to stop and take my bone strengthener medication first before doing anything else. As I am not allowed to take it with food. Then I decided I should probably sit down and let everyone know what's going on. So I grabbed my laptop and signed on FB, hmmm what do you say and how do you tell people? Well I go with the no frills attached approach, within minutes positive comments and thoughts started to arrive. "Ok it's out there" I think to myself now time for me to do a little research.

I head over to my trusty website google and type in Breast Cancer to metastisize bone....I go to WEBMD and have a read. (Please do not believe everything you read on the internet is in the back of my head.) Yep idiot you shouldn't have started to read about it here come the tears. I pull myself back together and carry on with my day off to Costco and lets get my trailer packed I am going camping for a week to Glimpse Lake with Marcel and the Bears (my parents.) I get through most of the day pretty good with only a few teary eyed moments.

At 2:00pm I go to see my surgeon Dr. Wiggins for a consultation to get a portocath reinstalled. My appt for the day surgery is booked for July 22. Not sure what time yet I have to call the day before. I will have a follow up visit with him on July 31 to make sure all is good. Now I am just waiting for all the other appts to be booked.

Next is Radiation so I need to have a consultation with Dr. Lester to discuss the plan that appt should be soon. Then I need to have a PET scan in Vancouver some time and on to Chemo in Sept I am guessing. I shall keep you all posted.

Liane XXX

July 2014 not what I had in mind...

So I went to see my Oncologist yesterday and she was able to tell me the results from the CT scan and Bone scan. Unfortunatley, it was not the results I was hoping for. She told me that the scans showed that the cancer has metastisized to my bones. I really wasn't sure what to feel. Then she told me we would start radiation and chemo. Ughhh Chemo again, that means I have to go get my port installed again. That really sucks. I thought I was done with that stupid painful thing.

My lower back has been sore for months and of course we all just chalked it up to getting old lol. Well for me not so much apparently I have a tumour growing on my L3 vertabrae. So some radiation to shrink it so it isn't painful. Then some chemo to try and kill it and have it not be active.

So what's next... well first a little vacation with my parents and my husband up at Glimpse Lake. Then when I get back appts with the Radiation Oncologist, Dr. Wiggins to have my port put back in, a PET scan in Vancouver...then Chemo.

Have a great day it's gonna be a hot one.

Liane xxx

May 2014 ....not what I expected

I was so excited on May 8th, 2014 I was going for my DIEP reconstruction surgery. It was going to be the final chapter in my breast cancer fight. I was going to get a new boob and no more foob! Marcel and I headed to VGH for surgery everything was going according to plan. I went into the operating room and thought to myself I am going to wake up a whole new woman with a new boob and tummy tuck.

Well that wasn't exactly what happened. About 4 hours into my 9 hour micro DIEP surgery my plastic surgeon was getting ready to look for vessels to attach the breast when she found some swollen lymph nodes under my sternum (chest bone). Shoot!!! She consulted a few other surgeons removed what she found and sent it for testing. One of the lymphnodes was cancerous DAM IT!!! so she put me back together no new boob and no tummy tuck just some new scars and drain tubes for a week. The silver lining is that if we hadn't done the surgery who knows if we would have known it was in there.

When I woke up in recovery Esta my surgeon was right by my side she told me there was a complication so of course right away I looked down no new boob ok I can deal with it. Nope that wasn't all, she told me she had found a cancerous lymph node. I went back to sleep it must be a dream right?? When I woke up the second time Marcel and Esta were both there I looked at Marcel and knew right away it was true.

So what's next? I spent 2 days in VGH recovery from my surgery that I kinda had, then I came home with drain tubes and bandages for a week. I went back to see Esta the following week and thanked her for going above and beyond to find it and remove it. Drain tubes came out and I got taped up for another week so the scars would heal nicely.

On June 5th I went and saw Dr. Uhlman my Oncologist she said that my original tumour was 2 types the first was ER + the second was ER - the ER - is what has come back so the hormone therapy that I am on won't work for that. So she is sending me for a bone scan and CT scan to re stage me and figure out what is next. I went for the bone scan yesterday and I am waiting for a date for the CT scan.

I will keep you posted.

Love Liane