31 Days: Is it the Letrozole ?

This is Day 24 of my 31 days of breast cancer awareness. 

 

I am on day 3 of Letrozole and am wondering if all the fatigue is from the drug, or am I catching something.

This morning I slept in until 10:00 AM. I have been sleeping longer since radiation began and finished, but never this late. And now it is only 9 pm and I've been yawning and very tired for the last couple of hours. I guess the next few days will be tell tale.

Be sure to check back tomorrow. I have been asked to be a guest blogger for Save The Ta-Tas. And you can win one of their Tees. Just check out tomorrows post and follow the instructions there.

Hugs,

Debbie... aka the cancer warrior ... AND SURVIVOR!!!

LIVESTRONG: 

I AM STRONG. I AM LOVED. I AM HEALTHY. WE WILL WIN!

31 Days: Femara/Letrozole & The Cancer Journey, A Day of Healing

This is Day 23 of my 31 days of breast cancer awareness. 

And yes, I missed yesterday and one other day so far this month. It can be a challenge to have something to post each and every day of 31 straight days. But I feel good about where I am on this challenge I set for myself.

 

So today I am focusing back on me. Partly because my radiation ended late September and I've been feeling really good since a week or so after that. But mostly because I have some new stuff going on about me to share with you.

Back on September 26th, in my post First Party of the Year, I talked about some fears with the upcoming 5-year prescription for Femara, a hormone therapy/chemo since some of my cancer is estrogen positive. There were lots of scary side effects about this drug, as well as the Tamoxifen that is the other option. Of course, I'm trying not to concentrate on the negative, instead on the positive fact that I am not Triple Negative after all. Whew! Dr. Anderson also helped to quell my fears when I met with him last and scheduled a bone density plan to help with that worry. So I had the bone density scan, results are back, and my bones are good and strong. So the worry of the bone fractures that can happen with Femara is behind me now. That feels very good. Next week I will meet with my Oncologist, Dr. Anderson to review the results and get a follow up with him.

Meanwhile, it was time to get the Femara prescription filled. My hope was to get this on a three month mail prescription plan. I mean, five years of going to the pharmacy every month, come on. But Express Scripts did not list a generic for Femara, my copay would have been nearly $50, and then I would still owe the balance to nearly $500 total, PER MONTH!!! So I immediately drove down to my friendly Rite Aid and checked for a generic version of Femara. And of course, now I remember, it is called Letrozole. So prescription in hand, I returned home and scanned the side effects. One of the not so frightening ones is drowsiness, so I've decided this will be a night time med and I started it that very night. I have taken it for two nights so far, and so far so good. Other than some achey hips the first morning (arthritis-like symptoms can occur), I survived.  :-) And may be sore hips are from my weekly Hula classes. Yes, I'm getting out and doing some fun stuff finally, and one of those is Hula for Fun with Betty Ann at Hula Mai. And I'm loving it.

And now I will call back to see if Letrozole is on my Formularly with mail prescription and get a new written script next time I see my oncologist. 

While on the phone scheduling the followup with Dr. Anderson, I also scheduled my annual bi-lateral mammogram for mid-November and then a followup to the mammo with my Surgeon, Dr. Elboim. Both of those are a bit queasy to think about. I mean, the wonder will always probably be there of, "Has the cancer returned?", "Will the Mammogram be clear?". But we must put one foot in front of the other, take it day by day, and move on. So that is what I will do.

Dr. Elboim's Breast Care Coordinator is also going to look into me being seen by Dr. Amy Shaw, who is now in the Redwood Regional Medical Group, and specializes in cancer/breast cancer survivorship. I'm excited by the prospect to meet with her and see how I might best be living my life to continue to be cancer free. And hopefully I can take part in this wonderful program she will be speaking out soon: The Cancer Journey, a Day of Healing.

On a final note this lovely Fall morning, please keep my brother Eddie in your thoughts and prayers. He recently was struck with an acute diagnosis of Congestive Heart Failure and Cardiomyopathy, and the young age of 48. After about 2 weeks in the hospital, he may be discharged soon. He has a very long road to go, and lifelong meds are probably a must for his heart and lungs to work as optimly as possibly. Even more sever procedures are still on the table, should that be the case. So my 6 siblings and I have gone into high gear to visit him at California Pacific Medical Center, support him as best we can, and make a plan for his discharge for him to stay in the North Bay rather than return to Crescent City. We are trying to make it possible for his daughter, Charlotte, to make a visit. I know that would really brighten his spirits and give him a more positive outlook. 

Get well sweet brother. We are all pulling for you!

Hugs,

Debbie... aka the cancer warrior ... AND SURVIVOR!!!

LIVESTRONG: 

I AM STRONG. I AM LOVED. I AM HEALTHY. WE WILL WIN!

First Party of the Year

Its hard to believe that we have not hosted one family party all year long. And consequentially, I've really missed everyone alot.

Yes, I've not been up to it with all the fatigue, doctor appointments, treatment, etc. Neither has Mark. Then there were all those months when it was risky for me to be around anyone who might be sick so I missed out being with my nieces and nephews, which was also very difficult. But I'm feeling really good now, and have so much to celebrate and be thankful for.

Most important is my family and friends and end to treatment. Well, does it ever end? At least an end to the major treatment where I am going in daily or weekly, having surgery, feeling yucky, looking yucky... There will be followup appointments, I am sure, and the daily hormone therapy will most likely start soon. But I'm feeling really good now (did I already say that), and will do my best to get back to some sort of normal life now.

The appointment with my oncologist last week went well. He reassured me with all my questions about Femara and Aromatase Inhibitors. What is happening next is that he will schedule a bone density test for me to see how strong my bones are, since this is one of the major risks of Aromatase Inhibitors. If my bones and good and strong, we will begin the Femara. If not, I'll start on Tamoxifen along with a bone strengthener drug for a couple of years. Once the bones are strong enough, I'll be switched to Femara for another couple of years. Two of my biggest concerns over the Femara was the bone fracture incidence in some and heart risk. My grandmother was plagued with Osteoporosis in later years and experience lots of fractures. Then there are some heart issues on my side of the family. So the bone density test sounds like a good idea to me. And the heart risk is greater on Tamoxifen so Femara is a better choice for me for now. At least these were the two biggest concerns for me. 

The other concern with Femara is some of the awful other side effects I've read about. Of course those experiencing difficulty are the ones to tell about their woes. Those feeling good often don't comment at all. My oncologist confirmed that only about 20% of those using the drug experience significant issues, such as what I described above and arthritis type symptoms. And if I am one of that 20%, then we will stop the drug, or try another one to see if I do better on it. So I think I am comfortable with this plan of attack for now.

So now...

LET'S PARTY!

After all, that is how I started this post. :-)

The newest member of the family, 6 week old Nicolas Barsun, aka Nico (our first grandchild), had his first sleep over here at Brookfarm this weekend to celebrate his welcome to the family, his mom and dad's recent birthdays this past week, and my end to radiation. We hosted 20 family members and close friends to celebrate. Little Mr. Nico was the hit of the party, being passed around to all the Aunties and getting his cheeks pinched by his cousins. It was a lovely Fall day and I soaked in every moment of it. Cousin Terry jumped up to help get all the food ready at the last moment, as Mark was running the barbecue, and I was enveloping Nico in my arms with a grand smile glued to my face. Below is the moment capturing me and Nico in our glory, and here is a link to more photos of the day.

In my glory with Nico at 6 weeks old

Hugs,

Debbie... aka the cancer warrior ... AND SURVIVOR!!!

LIVESTRONG: 

I AM STRONG. I AM LOVED. I AM HEALTHY. WE WILL WIN!