so now what?

I know that many of you have been wondering that, and we feel like we can tell you with a lot of certainty now what is going to be happening in the next few weeks and months.

We met yesterday with the second oncologist to get an idea of whether we wanted to continue with the original oncologist that we spoke to, or if we wanted to make a change.  We wanted to make sure we were comfortable with the decision since, as the original oncologist told us...."we'll grow old together."

We have decided to continue with the original oncologist.  It was the best fit for us.  So the course of treatment will be this:

1. CHEMOTHERAPY

I'll be getting 6 rounds of chemo, with each round being 3 weeks apart.  However, one of the drugs that I'll be getting is Herceptin, which targets the Her2Neu that I was positive for, and that one will be given every week during the 18 weeks or so of chemo.

So every 3 weeks I will get 3 different drugs on the chemo day.  Those days will be 4-5 hours long.  Each week in-between I will only get the Herceptin, so those days will only be about an hour or so.

This will start next Wednesday, June 29th and will run into early October.

There are many possible side effects with the chemo, the most obvious being the hair loss.  We're told I should not even think I'm feeling nauseated so we're thankful for that!  Fatigue and muscle aches I guess are the next prominent ones.  I guess we'll see what actually happens!


2.  RADIATION

About 3 weeks after the chemo rounds end, radiation will begin.  I have not met with the radiation oncologist yet, so I do not know as much about this.  I do know that it will be for about 6 weeks, Monday - Friday.

I hear differing reports about the side effects of this.  Some people have told me it was totally exhausting.  Others said they felt completely normal.  Again, we'll see :)

I will continue getting the Herceptin during the radiation treatment, but the frequency will go down to every 3 weeks instead of every week.


3.  HERCEPTIN

The Herceptin will continue for a full year, so my best guess is that I will be done with that early July of 2012.


4.  TAMOXIFEN

From what I understand, after radiation ends I will begin taking the Tamoxifen pill and will continue with that for 5 years. 


So, in a nutshell, you know just about all that we do :)  As the chemo start date gets closer I'm getting a bit more anxious about being hooked up to an IV bag for 4-5 hours, about not knowing how my body will respond, about not knowing how the boys will handle everything.  But it doesn't consume me one bit.  God has blessed us with an awesome group of friends and family that we know we can call day or night (and have!) whether it's for help or just for venting or just to hear someone's reassuring voice.  Thank you for being on this journey with us!!!!