Oh Femara you are bad

So my onc put me on Femara last November after halting on the Adriamycin and Cytoxin for a couple of reasons. From Femara.com for those of us who need info on what this is: "Femara is approved for the treatment of postmenopausal women with estrogen receptor-positive or estrogen receptor-unknown breast cancer that has spread to another part of the body (metastatic cancer). Femara is also indicated for the treatment of advanced breast cancer in postmenopausal women with disease progression following antiestrogen therapy".

Well the critter causes serious joint complications for which I am a victim and of course has worsened because of my pleasantly plump physique:) : The most common side effects seen with Femara include hot flashes, joint pain, night sweats, weight gain, nausea, tiredness, other heart-related events, and bone fractures. Other less commonly reported side effects include vaginal bleeding, blood clots, other cancers, osteoporosis, stroke, heart attack, and endometrial cancer. I have stopped taking it for about a week now.

The symptoms in italics above are what I have experienced. The joint problems have taken me to the emergency room and the docs there mostly gave me "hands in your face" approach: "take this back to your oncologist" after they ruled out any thrombus event - clots. So my oncologist has ordered an MRI of the knee when I have my routine CT scan of my chest and pelvis next week [June 4]. I see him on June 7 BEFORE I GO OFF TO TOBAGO with my family: YEA!!!.

So there goes my anxiety on thinking that I can actually return to work. I can hardly sit, stand, or walk for long periods of time. For my plane travel in June: I will load up on motrin and Benadryl to keep my ass asleep! I will definitely try to see a Rheumatologist in the next couple of months and will determine if I can restart weight bearing exercises that I know can strengthen my leg muscles esp my hamstrings and quads. I am not giving up this fight. The dieting - I gained it over a long period of time so will take my time to take it off cause I love to eat.:):):).

I actually went back to breastcancer.org - this is a community support blog site [they allowed me back on after casting me out for a few days] and found a thread epecially for Femara: a lot of women with the same problem! Weight is not a factor at all - but as a clinician I know better. Most of the women on the drug experience the same side effects and some have given tips on overcoming it. Of course, I have been doing "all of the above":

1. OTC Ibuprofen 800 mg up to two times daily: I take this with caution since of the reported risk of kidney decline with excess.
2. Calcium 1000 mg daily
3. Vitamin D 1000 IU daily
4. OMEGA 3-6-9 1200 mg twice daily
5. CoQ10 400 mg daily
6. LAST BUT NOT AT ALL LEAST: Glucosamine [1500 mg] Chondroitin [1350 mg] MSM [1250 mg] - all daily.
also: heat wraps

I believe in number [6.] since the symptoms in the other areas of my skeletal system mostly disappeared after I started taking it again: lower spine, elbows, ankles, left knee, wrists. I feel so "bleh" sometimes especially when I want to do activity chores or errands that require constant movement of my legs. I went to church this morning and could not - absolutely could not kneel and found it difficult to do the sitting, standing thing throughout the service. I walked to church though! Took me 15 minutes for a normally 5 minute walk. I still refuse to use 'addictive' modalities like crutches, canes, or wheelchairs. That is not me and again - I will continue this fight!

To my family and friends: I love you all and I will ask for help if I need it.......... :)

Another Day in My Life

Today I consider to be another eventful day in my journey. I have decided to live on my own once again. I am now stronger mentally and have no fears about problems with my cancer. Fear is what made me decide to move in with family after my diagnosis of the cancer recurrence last year. Since then I have prayed and meditated and with friend and family support, I realize that maintaining my inner strength and spirituality is part of my journey.

I moving into an apartment in Laurel, Maryland and plan to start furnishing all over again. I have sold and given away all of my furnishings from my last residence and feel great about that. I hope that this does not sound too crazy :)!

I still have issues with insurance and disability coverage but I have Faith that this too shall pass. I will continue to be positive and will always wear that smile that so many people like to see me wear :)!

I should be seeing my oncologist after having a CT Scan in the next couple of weeks but with no insurance coverage and no State access - who knows but again I have Faith and will keep praying.

Sunday May 9, 2010

Well, this house is quiet once again. Quiet and lonely, at least for me. I grew up in a large family so there was always noise and activity. When I am alone now, I feel very very sad and lonely. So noise helps.

Today, me and my cousins planned a Mother's Day lunch for our family. It was GREAT! I always feel good seeing family and friends but most of all, I like being around noise. Isn't that insane? My daughter Joanne, her husband Bill, and my granddaughter Gabby were all there and they had lots of fun too. Other family kids were there so Gabby was in all her glory [she is two]!

Well, it is almost 9pm EST and I am very tired and in my bed. Tomorrow is a big day for me but I cannot write much about it until maybe later. It is not a sad thing and should have a great outcome.

Goodnight everyone and as I say on FB - "ttyl" or talk to you later!

My sister Margaret

Happy Mother's Day to my younger sister Margaret de Mille who left this earth to join our Father in Heaven on November 8, 2008 after complications resulting from bilateral Breast Cancer. May God rest her soul. Her two young sons, Dale and Derrick together with husband Trevor are remembering her especially today.

Happy Mothers Day

What a life

I am not going to post this on FB today cause I feel that this is more like a 'journal' today.

Well, I cried a bucket of tears this morning after I was told by my insurance company - and ex-employer [Kaiser Permanente] that my COBRA induction does not guarantee continuous coverage. After fighting with them for most of March and April, my COBRA statement eventually became available online about 2 weeks ago, I made the payment through my bank the next day and it took COBRA and Kaiser through yesterday morning for the payment to be acknowledged. Kaiser now informed me that this was for April and they only activate the policy on a month to month basis since this is how COBRA bills.

Now I am ready to post my May payment to COBRA, but wait: if this takes a couple of weeks, I will not have insurance until towards the end of May! Kaiser is profiting from me [!!] since they will not see me as a patient at all if I am inactive!

WHAT THE FUCK IS THIS!!! Lawyer - here I come...... I really have no other options, do I? There is no law prohibiting them from doing this but they did break some kind of ethical code by misdiagnosis in the first damn place, didn't they?

Look Good Feel Better

So I went to a class today sponsored by the American Cancer Society at Holy Cross Hospital. Called 'Look Good Feel Better' aka LGFB and as the name implies you walk in as 'Before' and walk out as 'After' - it is amazing.

I had a great time! I walked away with a goody bagful of great stuff from Mac Cosmetics, Bobbie Brown, Clinique etc. I was also given a bag for my sis Janet. I feel so good........

Prosthesis - Yea?

Yes - I am not sure if to jump for joy. This is a another step and another day in my Breast Cancer journey. I pray every day and I am positive about my outcome. Life throws me so many challenges and I mean to keep on fighting.

My trip today: To Nordstroms in Bethesda, Maryland for an official fitting for prostheses and bra from the insurance company.

Okay - I will say it: Woo Hoo!

Back to Maryland

After a long day of LBBC sessions, food, more food, cab, Amtrak - I am finally back in Maryland. This will be a busy week for me as I get ready once again to make another change to my life. I will keep you posted.

Philadelphia - Living Beyond Breast Cancer

This has been a great weekend for me. Started off poorly and I was a little depressed but improved as I arrived at the Marriott to attend a conference on Metastatic Breast Cancer. I met the most wonderful human beings who did not hesitate to discuss our disease and where it is taking us.

I learned a lot especially starting my own blog page where I can now use as my journal and to share with friends and family on my journey. Thank you Daria Maluta!!