Chemo 13 & 14 / Thank you Party for Pottebaum

Update on my mom
My mom has been doing very well since her surgery on September 7th.  She got her drains taken out last week which allowed her to take a shower!  She said she was so excited she takes a long one everyday now.  =)  She still has stitches so she can't raise her arms very high, lift heavy objects or drive.  We are hoping the stitches will come out in 2-3 weeks.  She had her second fill for her ta ta's this week.  When this is all said and done we will have two sets of twins in the family for the new year!  My mom and I will both have B cups.  I am excited because I will have bigger ta ta's and my mom is excited because she will have smaller ta ta's!  It is a win win for both us!

She met with Dr. Thome this week and she will not need chemotherapy or radiation but is having an ultrasound on her ovaries.  Because she has a mutation and given her age the chances of getting ovarian cancer are extremely high, 87%!  So the next step for my mom is to have her ovaries removed in the next couple of months.

As for me I have 2 more chemo treatments to go!  Yay!

Last week's treatment (#13) a friend of mine that I met in college took me to my chemo treatment.  Laura Morrow and I enjoyed a couple of spring breaks together in Cancun and Myrtle Beach.  We spent a lot of time together in college and still get together to hang out and catch up.  Ironically, Laura is an accountant and had some very helpful suggestions on getting my Auntie Em's Angels charity launched. 

Me and Laura

Thank you for taking me to chemo, your advice and for the Eileen's cookies!  They were delicious!

My friend Lyndsey stopped out as well and we all had a brainstorming session for Auntie Em's Angels. We narrowed our focus to just helping cancer patients and different ways Auntie Em's Angels could make an impact in their life.  Thank you for your suggestions and input! =) 

I met with a long time friend of mine Alex Wolf who is an attorney at Koley Jessen.  He pointed me in the right direction to help set up Auntie Em's Angels as a non-profit.  I am still brainstorming and hope to have a clear mission statement in the next couple of weeks.  I am praying to have a few corporate sponsors as I have narrowed it down to educating the public on proper nutrition and exercise to prevent cancer, for cancer patients going through treatment and staying healthy after treatment.  My goal is to have everything planned, non-profit paper work complete, sponsers, fundraising events planned and Angels signed up to host birthday parties by the New Year! 

Chemo #14 -- September 29 - Steve my husband took me to my treatment.  It was his birthday so we had a mini celebration with all the nurses and cancer patients that were also getting their chemo treatments.  My friend Lyndsey asked her mother-in-law to bake a cake and was it was delicious!  Cinnamon swirl...YUMMY!  Thank you Karen for making it and thank you Lyndsey for delivering, cutting and serving!  If you need a baker I will post Karen's information if you need a cake for your next birthday party.

The nurses gave Steve this stylish hat and sang
happy birthday to him. Thank you to the nurses
of Midwest Cancer Center for making his birthday
so special.

I think we put a dent in it! 

Thank you to my husband Steve who has been there every step of the way.  He has been so supportive and has taken such good care of me and Olivia.  I could not get through this without him. 
I love you more then words can say...

My side effects from chemo are minimal.  I am tired more then usual and now the knuckles on my hands are red and cracked.  Dr. Thome said this will go away once I stop chemo as it is a common side effect.  Thank goodness I only have two more treatments I can't stand to look at them for much longer!  I have ONE eye lash on my left eye and no eyelashes on my right eye.  I am holding on to the one eyelash as long as I can and hoping my other lashes can catch up to it once I am finished with chemo.  My hair is starting to grow back and I am happy to report it is the same dark brown that I had before. I have one more fill for my ta ta's before I start radiation and I LOVE them so far!  I officially for the first time in my life have ta ta's you can physically see!  Radiation should start around November 1st and treatments are everyday for 5 weeks.  Once that is complete I wait a month and have my final surgery in January.  This will be to take out the expanders in my chest and have them replaced with implants.

There is a light at the end of the tunnel and I am running towards it!  Thank you again to all our family and friends for all your love and support!

More pics from Party for Pottebaum!   Thank you for coming out to support us!

Lori Armiger, Laura Morrow and their friend.
Lori started a fun event in Linclon called
Giving Spirits.  Become their friend on Facebook!




Jody and Nate Tate

 

Shannon Schiltz  and Sara Thompson
I have known Sara since kindergarten...ironically she is
now a kindergarten teacher.  She brought her friend
Shannon to the event.  Thank you!

Sherri Harnisch, Leah Buller, Emily Wilson
Leah is my cousin and she went to high school with Sherri
and was in the same sorority as Emily. 

Sherri Harnish, Leah Buller, Kirstin Ricketts, Tammy Braasch
Emily Wilson, Me, Nelly Sagehorn
I also met these lovely ladies through my cousin Leah.
Congrats to Leah, Kirstin and Nelly!  They are all
expecting babies this year!

Brent Sagehorn, Chad Buller, Adam Braasch

Pat Ricketts and Chad Buller

Megan Dannelly and Kendra Hayne
I went to high school with Kendra and met her friend Megan.
I also found out we all live in the same neighborhood!
Hopefully we can get together soon! =)

Nicki and Neal McMahon
Nicki and I met in high school and she recently moved back
to the Omaha area.  She owns Big Frog T-Shirts located
next to the HyVee on 180th and Q.  They were one of the
sponsors for the event!  Thank you so much!

Erica and Patrick Sullivan
Erica and I were on dance team together.  She was so kind to
drive in from Lincoln for the event!  Thank you! =)

Thanks again for all your love and support! xoxo

Chemo #5 Good News / Bad News

Today I feel good! I had my 5th cycle of chemo yesterday and I am told I will have minimal side effects. Good thing I had a driver because to administer the new chemo (toxil) they had to give me 50 ml of Benedryl. This made me nauseous and really tired the entire time.

My former boss and his wife Bob and Teresa Bednar were going to take me but Steve arrived in Omaha and wanted to take me. My friend Lyndsey Foster came and and sat with me. She is a nurse so she was really good to have with me. I kept feeling like I was going to blow chunks and pass out. She asked if I was craving anything to eat so I could get something in my stomach. The last time I ate was at 10:30 a.m. and it was now 1:30 p.m. So I definately needed something. The first thing that popped in my head was a Snickers bar. Lyndsey ran down to the vending machine and served it to me on a plate. Now that is service! After 2 bites I immediately started to feel better. I just needed some sugar in my system. As Steve pointed out "Snickers really satisfies!".

I recieved good news from Dr. Thome' I am NOT HER2+!!! What this means is I will not have to do chemo for another year!!! THANK YOU JESUS!!!! I did learn I was off a week and my last chemo session will be October 13th. I go in weekly so only 11 more treatments. Two weeks after my last chemo session I will have Five weeks of radiation everyday (Monday-Friday). They did say radiation will make me tired.

If you haven't heard my side of the family went in for genetic testing after they found out I had a mutation. My sister and dad tested negative while my mom tested positive. This required her to get a mammogram, MRI and a lumpectomy after they found two masses in her left breast. Those masses tested positive for cancer. Please keep my mother in your prayers as she will have a double mastectomy next month. They will know after they get the pathology reports and surgery her stage of cancer and any other steps to get rid of it completely. If you know my mom she has a good sense of humor and said she has always wanted a breast reduction. As I have said before....BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR!  She is getting a second opinion today from Dr. Reilly and I will update her status on this blog and caringbridge.

Because my mom generously offered to watch the kids during my treatments, she will not be able to watch them now. So my sister is looking for a nanny (paid) Monday-Fridays, 7:15 am - 5:30 pm until the end of the year. If you or you know someone interested send them my way!  emily.pottebaum@yahoo.com or 402-213-7669.

CHEMO ROUND 2 - Cheerleaders welcome!

Everyone has been asking what is going in my body to kill my cancer cells.  These first four rounds are the "bad chemo" which means it will make me more sick, nauseous, fatigued and my white blood cells drop really low meaning if I get sick or an infection my body will not be able to fight it off on its own.  Let me try to explain so you are not confused.

Weeks 1-3-5-7  Doxorubicion (Generic Name - Adriamycin)

and Cytoxin (Generic Name - Cyclophosphamide)

are administered together.  You may click on the links to find out more information on the side effects these can cause.  I have only experienced fatigued, nausea and hair loss up to this point...so I am doing good! 

Weeks 9-20 is still being determined.  We are waiting to hear back on m HER2 receptor....I will explain this at a later date.=)

The day after all  my chemo treatments I go back to the oncologist for a Pegfigrastim shot.  This helps bring up my white cells which helps fight against infections.  Normally my white cell count is 3200, last Thursday (One week after chemo) they were down to 200 (which is really low) two weeks later my white cell counts were back up in the 3000's.  I just have to be sure to wash my hands more then  normal and stay away from a lot of people at one time.  So if you invite me to a party during the next few weeks I will probably decline.  I can not get sick.  This shot makes my bones ache in my lower back for about three days.  This is a good sign the shot is working...so I can't complain.

Thursday, June 2, 2011 - Chemo round 2:   (Week 3) I get weighed and my blood pressure is taken by my nurse Tammy.  This time I weighed 100 lbs even which is up from last week of 97 lbs.  YIKES!  Believe it or not I have weighed anywhere from 105 - 110 since high school so I am doing pretty good in the weight department.  Plus, you have to remember I have no hair and I am guessing that weighed at least 5 lbs!  J/K =)  My hair was REALLY thick!  So it had to take off at least a pound.

I met with Dr.Thome' and he said my white cell count was back up from the previous week so we were good to go!  He also said he was giving a speech at a cancer survivor celebration over the weekend and wasn't sure what he was going to talk about.  He asked my advice what he should talk about so I gave him more then a few ideas.  Obviously, he could talk about a cancer survivor and how they over came such a great obstacle.  However, while speaking to him I remembered one of the main reasons I have been so positive about my experience.  All the support I have received from family and friends has been the main reason.  I asked him what it was like to see a cancer patient who is not as fortunate as me to have such a strong support system.  He said they lose their will to fight, lose their strength and most important they lose that sparkle in their eye.  When they lose the sparkle...well...you know where I am going with this one.

I can't imagine going home to an empty house, no cards waiting in the mail, no phone calls or emails to return.  No help with meals, cleaning or laundry.  I can't imagine my life without seeing my husband Steve, Olivia or my family and friends.  I would lose my will too!

I kept thinking about Dr. Thome's speech over the weekend and over these past couple of days and how I or someone else could make a difference in a cancer patients' life.

My very good friend Lyndsey took me to my 2nd chemo treatment. 

Me and Lyndsey

Lyndsey is a nurse so she is always calling to check upon me to see how I am feeling and always asks if I am taking all my medications.  This was right up her alley because she was talking "nurse talk" with Ethel (my nurse) the entire time.  I kept turning my head back and forth like a tennis match listening and not comprehending anything they were saying.

Ethel and Me

I can't remember how I met Lyndsey but we have been friends since 2nd grade so for about 25 plus years I have known Lyndsey!  I remember we always had sleep overs and would find ourselves in marshmallow fights in her basement.  I am sure her mom Kelly LOVED us after those!  We got separated by schools for a few years but became instant friends again in high school.  I think I went over to her house everyday after school and you could find me in the back yard jumping on her trampoline.  Soon we found ourselves on dance team together our junior year and our senior year we were both named captains. We took our job so seriously we would end up butting heads in practice.  We made it through, graduated from high school and ended up on the same dorm room floor our freshman year in college.  We soon graduated from college and were on our way to our weddings and the births of our children.  At this point I would consider Lyndsey a part of my family.  She knows me better then most and still accepts me with open arms.

While Lyndsey and I were chatting away at my chemo session we were brainstorming different ideas to help with cancer patients or research.  Most of our lives Lyndsey and I have been cheerleaders.  Whether it is for sports or in life.  Now I  know what it is like to have my own cheerleaders to help me get through cancer treatment and I couldn't do it without the wonderful family and friends God has surrounded me with.   My goal, is to find another cancer patient who needs a cheerleader.  Someone to come visit, help with meals, call and check up on them.  I am not sure how to go about this but I will find a way even if it is one person. If everyone could find one cancer patient and be their cheerleader could you imagine how cancer treatment would change?  All I know is if I was alone I am not sure I could find the strength or anything positive about this experience. 

So from the bottom of my heart, THANK YOU to all my family and friends for being my cheerleader!

My Team of Doctors

MY SURGERY IS FRIDAY, APRIL 15, 2011 8 A.M.

MIDLANDS HOSPITAL, PAPILLION, NE

20 WEEKS of CHEMOTHERAPY STARTS
THURSDAY, MAY 19TH AT 2 P.M.

Chemotherapy Schedule
Weeks 1-7 are every other week so (week 1, 3, 5, 7)
I lose my hair after week 3 =(
Weeks 9-20 are every week

Followed by:

5- 6 Weeks of Radiation (Will know for sure after surgery)

YAY!  I WILL STILL HAVE HAIR FOR MY BIRTHDAY! =)

Dr. Janet Grange, MD

General Surgeon

(She is taking my (non existent -A size) Ta Ta's Off!

 I wish her luck trying to find them =))

Everyone wants to know how we chose our doctors.  To be honest, I went with facts and my instincts.  Dr. Grange specializes in ONLY breast cancer.  Instead of inserting the port for chemo in a separate surgery under my collar bone (which will leave a visible scar) she will put it under my arm.  She does this surgery while I am under during my reconstruction.  Instead of being awake for the sentinel lymph node biopsy  which sounds extremely painful, Dr. Grange has the radiologist to do this while I am under for the double mastectomy.

Dr. Marie Montag, MD, Plastic Surgeon

Aesthetic Surgical Images

(She is going to give me new Ta Ta's! =)

I chose Dr. Montag because she was referred to me by Dr. Grange and we just hit it off!  She is giving me my B cup....that is if my skin can stretch that much! =)  YAY!

Stephan D. Thome', M.D. Ph.D. (hem), F.A.C.P.

Medical Oncology/Hematology

Nebraska Cancer Specialists

(He is taking my hair!)

I chose Dr. Thome' because he knows his stuff! Good Lord! This is probably the smartest person I have ever met. He also gave me a lot of facts to help choose my general surgeon. He answered ALL my questions and gave it to me straight - no dancing around topics. When I left his office I felt like a huge weight had been lifted off my shoulders.

I AM IN GOOD HANDS!  =)

All I can ask for you is to pray the surgery is successful in removing the cancer and the chemotherapy and radiation will get rid of it FOREVER...........

AND...pray that my skin stretches so I get my B cup! =)