Woo hoo!

Today was my last day of chemo...for this round at least. I'll explain more in a bit!

Labs were fine, only 3 radiation after today! The next three radiation are what they call boost radiation. For the first 25 I have had the area with lymph nodes and mass treated. Now they will focus more on just the mass. I will have about 3 weeks off and then a PET scan to see the progress. They have to wait that long because the treatments will make the whole area "hot" and will light up. After a few weeks the area will have "cooled off" and only the cancer cells will light up. That test will be on 4/15. I will then meet with Dr Kosuri that day as well for a follow up. She will give me the results and let me know if the plan changes at all.

Jamie P took me to chemo today. Thanks girl! It was short (I slept) and sweet (I'm done!).  While we waited an hour for a chair though! They were busy today. It's really eye opening to see how many others are going through this is some way or another. During my treatment I called the surgeon. We put a date down for the 19th of April! That's A month away! Ahh! Crazy! So far the plan is still 7-10 days in the hospital and 2 months off. I'm so nervous already. That's a whole month almost of unpaid time. Yikes.

Please say a quick prayer for my BFF Jamie today too. Though they say the results are fine, the final pathology hasn't come back from a test last week. I know she is nervous and is telling everyone "Reva and I have done a lot together! I do NOT want to do cancer together too!" Haha! Me either sister, me either! ❤️

Nothing exciting this week to report...my labs are down but not crazy. I did have a hard time eating this weekend at work and am having to be more careful about what I choose. I have told a few people already...take food away from a big girl and there will be a mourning. I'm sure I will get over it...but it's a definite relationship change with food. Ok, pity party over.

My high school chum Sarah came with me this week. I was able to fight off the Benadryl and we chatted and caught up. Thanks for coming!!

I still have not heard from the surgeon so no scheduled date yet. I'm hoping they will call soon!

Only one more chemo and 8 more radiation! Everyone enjoy this beautiful weather today!

Dr. Patterson

Mom and I met with the surgeon today. He's a pretty no fuss kind of guy. That's ok...I need you to do one thing sir. He drew a diagram of where my proposed incisions would be, one below my left clavicle and one in the middle of my upper abdomen. Then mom, thank goodness, reminded him of my mesh from the hernia repair a few years ago. He asked what type of mesh it is. 😳 Uh...there are different kinds?!? That may change his approach, he has some research to do. They will place my PEG tube then as well. I won't eat for 6-7 days after and then they will perform a dye test to make sure there are no leaks in the reattachment. I will be at Barnes for 7-8 days if everything goes well.

So...finish treatment in the next two weeks.
PET scan 3-4 weeks after last treatment.
Surgery, no date set yet.

I am so happy to be moving through this all without a problem so far! Let's hope it continues that way!💜

Sorry for the late posting! Monday was busy and I didn't feel the best yesterday.

Chemo #4
Radiation #15

More than half way done...with this round at least!

Ok, so first of all I have to say thank you to everyone that has brought food, given gift cards, send cards, messages, etc...I am so grateful! You sometimes forget, as a mom and nurse, what it feels like to be taken care of by others because you're always so busy taking care of other people. My mom has been amazing as well and I don't tell her enough how much I appreciate her. Love you all!!

Alright on to business. Labs. Radiation. Meeting with Dr. Craft...I had to tell him that now I know what it felt like for food to get stuck. At work Sunday I was eating a sandwich and definitely could tell a bite did NOT want to go down. He says, again, just to expect more of the same and the pain I had before was probably just esophageal spasms. I do not have any red markings yet from the radiation so he was pleased. Keep on keeping on.


My labs were all fine again this week so Dr. Kosuri said no meeting next week, we can meet the day of my last treatment! Seems crazy that my last chemo is only 2 weeks away! I thought this 6 weeks would drag on forever but it hasn't so for that I am pleased. She said she was surprised I was even able to EAT a sandwich still when I told her about the food sticking! I must be a rare case! I am still not losing any hair, not puking, just some nausea...I do not have the stamina I used to. I get tired easily but ok...if that and nausea is all I can complain about right now I'll be quiet!

We did discuss surgery though!! Big Step! She says I will have surgery 4-5 weeks after my last treatment. This is a little sooner than I was expecting but I'm all for just getting it over with! She said I could meet with the Mercy guys but she also suggested trying to meet with the WashU guys. It makes sense and mom and I had already discussed it actually. They have volume and more experience there. They have practiced, if you will, on more patients than the guys at Mercy. Just like how women come to Mercy to have a baby because we are the baby factory, I want to go to the cancer factory. I had already started researching the WashU docs and found one that specializes in esophageal cancer. That happened to be one of the 2 names she gave me. She suggested I try and get in to see him before my last treatment so I called yesterday. They wouldn't even make an appointment until they received my records, so I hope to hear from them today. Kosuri thinks the hospital stay won't be too lengthy, but my home recovery will be about 2 months and difficult. She estimates I will have the PEG (feeding tube) for a month and then learning to eat differently will take a while as well.

I guess that's about it! Mike got to go watch me sleep this week during treatment and Sarah will be watching me next week! Mom and I have started shopping for the Horse race awards and such...it sounds like it's going to be so much fun! I am amazed by all the basket ideas and donations! I have a pretty awesome group of family and friends!

**Please note change of date...last week I mentioned that there was an upcoming event on May 14. It has been moved up to May 7th. Here is the FB link to the rest of the information. Thank you mom, Jamie, and Michelle!

https://www.facebook.com/events/1066548776741464/


Chemo Day #3!

Michelle and I had a much smoother go of it today...I think I finally got the routine down. NOT a routine I wish I ever had to learn, but if you arrive 45 minutes EARLY you actually get everywhere on time! Radiation was to start at 915 so I arrived at 830 to get registered and have my labs drawn. It was perfect timing. Chemo was quick today...for me at least...but I sleep through half of it! Dang Benadryl!

I met with Dr Craft today and told him that I guess I have been some trouble with food sticking but wasn't aware that was the problem. I hadn't figured in the time that it actually takes for the food to get to that spot in my esophagus. Smaller bites, lots of fluid, etc...ok ok I get it.

No meeting with Dr. Kosuri today. I will meet with her again next Monday. The RN did tell me before she started the chemo infusion that my labs all looked good still.

So that's it...half way through chemo and 10 radiation down, 18 to go! Dr. Craft said we are in the "thick of it now"...great...

A little update on the rest of the household!
Jack recently had his Blue and Gold Banquet for Boy Scouts! I have to get his belt so that we can put all the slides on it still but he has had a lot of fun! He has a camping trip May 14th if anyone knows how to camp! :) The Birk's are not campers, yet. Maybe Jack will help us change our views on icky bugs and sweating while you sleep. ??

Audrey has started her dance competition season! They did an amazing job at the first comp, getting all PLATINUM and even 1st overall for one number! We are at a crossroads in her dance career of her loving her studio and me not being able/willing to make the hour long round trip to get her there! Please pray we make the right decision and that we both have comfort in the decision made.

Shelby is over halfway through her freshman year! It's impossible to believe she will be getting her permit in a few months! She is excited to try out for another year of Flag Corp. I know I am just as excited because it means we have finally found something she likes!!

The kids are not really acting any different right now, I think just because I don't LOOK sick yet. I'm not getting thinner or losing my hair...just sleeping more than normal. They are being more helpful when asked though which is wonderful.

Mikey has been wonderfully supportive. I told him this was a lot to take on...3 kids and cancer! He just won't go! :) He is having to take on a second job since I am not able to work as much and since he is selling the pest control business. I'm going to have to take it easy on his chore list at home I guess! LOL!

Shirts are being ordered today, please make sure you send me your check if you have not already!

Love to you all!
Reva

My BFF Jamie had a shirt made! :)

 

Chemo Day #2

 

Today was still a waiting game, but not nearly as crazy as last week! I arrived a few minutes late and ran up to get my labs drawn. This was my first time doing it by myself so I was unaware that I needed to Register down stairs first. Back downstairs we trek and waited to get registered. Jamie and I waited for at least 15 or 20 minutes I think before I finally got called. We headed back upstairs to the lab and checked in. Another 20 minutes before they called me back to access my port and draw the labs. By this point I had already missed my radiation appointment AND my radiology Dr. appointment. I really don't like how they chunk all the appointments so tightly together!

 

I met with Dr. Kosouri, my oncologist, and she seemed pleased with my treatment so far. I told her last week wasn't so bad...I was tired but not too nauseated. She asked if my hair had started falling out yet, which I said no it had not. She and Dr. Craft keep asking if I was having trouble swallowing yet...YET? Ugh. I am NOT ready to start having things get stuck and choke...My labs looked good enough to not have to meet with her next Monday. I was only down a few pounds from last week and she was pleased with that as well. She wants me to stay "surgery ready" so that I heal well.

 

Off to Chemo next...I was in a different area this time and they asked if I would be ok with the bed today. Since the Benadryl knocks me out I figured I might as well be comfy! Good thing Jamie and I talked quite a bit prior to starting the infusion because I slept through almost all of it! Twice now I have taken a bag of stuff to do and haven't taken anything out but the snacks! Ha! I did  not have the same sweaty reaction I had last week, which was nice!

 

Last was radiation...I tried to skip it all together but was told no. LOL. I did have to meet with Dr. Craft afterwards, who said to start to expect the effects of the chemo and radiation to get worse. Yay. Otherwise, nothing new.

 

So far, this evening has been good. I hope it's a sign this will be a good week!

 

Tshirt orders are due this Wednesday. I will post on FB the orders I have placed and if I have received payment. Please let me know if anything is incorrect.

 

Mark your calendars for May 14th! More info to come, but ladies get your Derby hat ready!

 

Love you all! Thank you for all the positive thoughts and prayers!

And it begins...

    Today was the first day of radiation and chemotherapy. Radiation was early...820 AM! They had explained to me last week what would happen so I felt pretty prepared and calm. They talked me through everything and even let me pick the Pandora station I wanted to listen to! I chose 80's today which I then regretted...one doesn't simply listen to 80's...one rocks out to 80's...except when you are told to lay completely still. Ha! So there I am laying with my eyes closed (gown down so they can see the marked area for the lasers) just listening to the tunes, when I am shocked to hear one of my doctors talking right next to me! I almost jumped off the table! LOL! The rest of the treatment was fast and uneventful, thank goodness!

    Mom and I went to grab breakfast since we had 45 min to kill. We then headed up to my Chemo Education with the NP. She was very nice and offered lots of help and information. She walked us to the lab where they accessed my port for the first time. THANK YOU DARLENE! She loaned me her numbing cream and I am so thankful! They drew labs, which they will do before every chemo treatment. She then walked us into the infusion room. There we hit a wall...it seems no one had had my chemo run through my insurance and received authorization. Great. We waited for almost 3 hours while they tried to call the insurance company, only to find out that they were closed for President's Day. They then called their manager and got the go ahead. OMG. They have had more than a week to get this taken care of, right?

   Michelle was a savior and brought us lunch! We took snacks, but the 3 hour delay really didn't help! Darlene came up and talked to us after her radiation treatment and brought a gift from Marla...so sweet! Thank you! The real MVP of the day was Jamie P. She picked up Jack and Audrey (Shelby didn't want to leave her cave), took them to lunch, and took Audrey to dance for me! MWAH!

   They started my pre chemo meds which included anti-nausea meds and Benadryl. They also gave a dose of Decadron. All of a sudden I started to feel dizzy. We realized it was the Benadryl and let it go. They started the Taxol and within minutes I was hot and sweating. I closed my eyes and drifted off, waking to my mom fanning me with a magazine. So hot! They weren't too concerned and continued to run the meds. The RN said I tolerated it well...ok...and then ran the second one which is Carboplastin. We were able to leave about 415. Next Monday won't be as long since I "tolerated" the Taxol and they will be able to run it faster than today. Mom and I laughed about a suggestion the NP had given. She suggested I have them give me a dose of Ativan IV with my pre chemo meds. Given my response to the Benadryl, I think mom would have been carrying me out if I had had the Ativan too! LOL!

   I came home to yummy chili from Jamie P (THANK YOU) and freezer meals from Amy G (THANKS!!!). My behind landed on the couch and well...that was it! It was an exhausting day but I felt good that I was actually taking action against this disease.

                                         Time to Show Cancer Who's Boss! This Girl!

The rest of the week is just radiation so unless something big happens I may not update until next week when I meet with the doctor. Love you all!