An update

So it has been 10 days since Bonnie's first chemo treatment last Tuesday. The first couple of days were a breeze and all was going very well until Thursday night when Bonnie began experiencing significant joint pain. She described it as shooting, electrical pain in her elbows, wrists, knees and ankles. Friday was a hard day for her with a lot of pain and difficulty sleeping and just getting comfortable. Saturday started off pretty tough but by the afternoon she was beginning to feel better and we headed down to the beach for a short walk and a little fresh air. Bonnie called the doctor finally on Saturday (I had been away Thursday to Saturday finishing up moving) after a little pressure from me and the recommendation was to take Advil and Tylenol. It was hard to get ahead of the pain but by Saturday night she was feeling a little better. Sunday we went back to the beach and this time walked in the water which was very helpful for her knee and foot pain so we did that again on Monday and Tuesday.

A trip to Mercy for the weekly blood draw was Tuesday's event and she got a thumb's up on the blood work. Her white blood cells are a little low (3.5 down from 5.2) but they said not to worry unless it goes below 3. Dr. Inhorn also said they will give her something more for pain after the next chemo treatment to avoid that much discomfort.

Yesterday we went to Sanford to the Cancer Center for Bonnie's consultation with the radiation doctor, Celine Godin. She was very nice and gave Bonnie lots of information about radiation and the process involved with that part of the treatment which will occur in early February.

So now Bonnie is feeling pretty well, not 100% but good enough to be working and keeping everything running well in the store. This is the time when her white blood cells will be the lowest so she is keeping her distance from many people and is being extra cautious about washing her hands etc. So please ask her about hugging right now because she is very sensitive to all the germs out there and definitely does not want to get sick now.

Bonnie is waiting for her hair to fall out! Dr Inhorn and nurse Caroline have a bet going between 2 weeks and 3 weeks from her first chemo treatment. I'll let you know how it goes!!

Helen

First Chemo Appointment

As we sit here in the infusion area of the new Mercy hospital there is a young woman who has just completed her 6th and final chemotherapy treatment for breast cancer. We cheered her success and she encouraged Bonnie as she headed out.

Today is the first of Bonnie's 6 chemotherapy treatments and she is very successfully making it through. She has been busy with her blackberry sending emails and making phone calls so that everything keeps flowing at the store! The TV here also helps and she has had a few walks, pushing the IV pole around the halls. They did give her some Benedryl for prevention of allergy reaction and that has made her a little drowsy. We have a few more hours left so hopefully she will get in a little nap!

Last week Bonnie had a bone scan, a CAT scan from her neck to her pelvis and she also had an echo cardiogram. There is no other cancer in her body except in her breast and lymph node so that is the good news. In the bone scan the doctor said he saw something in Bonnie's knee and she showed him the scars from a prior surgery, next he said there was something in her left hip and she then explained how she had fallen off her bike last winter and suffered an injury as a result. Wow it was amazing that the scan was able to pick up Bonnie's history as it relates to her bones! Next we were able to see all the little slices from the CAT scan which was so neat and interesting to see her from the inside out. Dr. Inhorn wasn't sure about one little spot he saw and so he dialed up the phone and we were able to listen to the dictation from the radiologist. The little spot on the liver is a simple cyst that is a very common occurrence. Technology is a wonderful thing and seeing the scan and hearing the dictation only an hour after the test was done! Bonnie was very relieved that the tests were all clear and felt ready to move on to taking care of the breast cancer.

It was a busy weekend and the highlight was meeting Carly Simon in the store on Saturday night!!

Bonnie has also signed up to be part of a clinical trial where they are using the drug Ixabepilone (Ixempra), Carboplatin and Herceptin for her chemotherapy. The Ixabepilone is currently used for women with metastatic cancer with great success so they are trying it now for someone with locally advanced breast cancer which Bonnie has. The side affects seem to be less than other chemotherapy so Bonnie is even more confident about all of the treatment. The trial is being done all over the country and will include 60 participants, Bonnie is the first one in this trial here at Mercy and she loves that she is helping others through her treatment.

Working on her tan....

This morning Bonnie and I headed up to Mercy Hospital in Portland so she could get her Mediport put in. The nurse, Colette, was wonderful and all the prep work was done effortlessly. When it was time for Bonnie to go in for the surgery they showed me the way to the waiting room (I love medical stuff and would have gone in to watch if they let me!!) and a little over an hour they came and got me and Bonnie was back in her space sitting up and feeling great. They brought her some breakfast which she ate and then we were able to leave shortly after that.
The instructions were to take it easy, keep the incision from getting wet and of course keep an eye out for anything weird happening.
So Bonnie is being the good patient and sitting out on the back deck working on her tan!










Since she has a fabulous team of staff that have all stepped up to the plate it is easy for Bonnie to relax and take care of herself. She is so appreciative of all the kindness and offers of help from her friends and family.

Helen

The beginning.....

As many of you already know Bonnie was diagnosed last week with breast cancer. She had a lump on her breast which prompted the visit to the Breast Center in Scarborough and after an ultrasound and a biopsy the diagnosis was made. Bonnie has had many cysts and fibroid so her thinking was that this was just another one and not really a big deal but still something to get checked.

There are so many loving and caring folks in this community that want Bonnie to know they are thinking of her and honestly it is exhausting talking to everyone about the situation over and over all day. We decided to start this blog as a way to keep those interested in her progress informed without Bonnie having to "tell the story" all day long. Please feel free to leave comments and she will get them for sure and do not hesitate to wish her well when you see her!

So what is the story?

After the diagnosis and the follow up meeting with the doctor Bonnie decided it was important to get a second opinion on the course of treatment. She met with a breast surgeon at Maine Med's Breast Center and then met with another breast surgeon at Mercy Hospital. Bonnie decided she would be treated at Mercy Hospital with Dr Melinda Molin, surgeon and Dr Roger Inhorn, oncologist. The treatment will all happen at the brand new Mercy facility in Portland which is quite lovely and has wonderful views of the water.

Today Bonnie met with Dr Inhorn and it was determined that she will receive 6 courses of chemotherapy every 3 weeks beginning next Tuesday, August 18th. Tomorrow she is going to get the Mediport put in, this is a device that is implanted under the skin so that medications may be delivered directly into the blood system. Then on Friday she will be having all the appropriate scans which are required before beginning chemo.

Bonnie is in good spirits and of course is much happier now that she knows "the plan"! She sees this as part of her journey and plans on getting through this while maintaining her normal life activities as much as possible.

Keep posted for more updates and information.

Helen