The GOOD, the BAD, and the UGLY

THE GOOD

Yesterday was blood work day, one week after my first round of chemo.  This is the mid-point between my dose dense treatments when we look to see how the drugs have affected my white blood cell (WBC) counts (immune system fighting power).  Numbers were in the pits!!!  I went from a pre-chemo WBC of 5.4 (normal range is 4.0-10.9) to a post-chemo WBC of 0.8.  My ANC (absolute neutrophil - the active part of the system) was pre-chemo 3.3 (normal range is 1.4-7.8) to post-chemo 0.1 - WOW!!!

So... I'm highly susceptible to infection right now and have been put on a serious antibiotic - more meds, FUN!!!  I've already been taking precautions and have used more hand sanitizer in the past week than I have my whole life ;-)  It should kick in after today, so I should WILL be fine!

Well, late yesterday evening I began experiencing SEVERE back pain (9 or 10 on a 1-10 scale), crawled up the stairs to lay down, tried to brace myself against the pain, and had my precious daughter - who is only home for the night before galavanting off to AL to visit a good friend - call the after hours Nurse Line for me (no way could I even pick up my phone!).  My oncologist actually called back within 2 minutes (Have I shared what an AWESOME care team I have???) and said for me to take a Claritin and a pain pill...  Let me explain why:

The day after each of my chemo treatments I go back in for a shot of Neulasta, a drug formulated to enhance bone marrow production of WBCs and help patients rebound to be ready for subsequent treatments - yes, it's a true gift!  The well known side effects of this med include severe bone pain and muscle aches.  Anecdotal evidence indicates taking Claritin can reduce or eliminate this pain, and the recommended plan is taking it 1-2 days prior to chemo through 3-4 days afterward (I DID this!!!).  So why the pain NOW???  Darned if I know!  BUT, after doing some late-night-on-pain-meds-still-can't-sleep research, I found that the Neulasta acts in an individualized way (hey, I'm ALL about 
that ;-) and tends to kick in at the nadir, or low point of the ANC!

Where's the good news in this?  

My WBC/ANC is likely bouncing back!!!!!!!!!!!!  Yahoo :e

I SO don't want to get off track with my chemo treatment regimen - stay the course and kick this BC's A$$!

MORE good news - 

Precious daughter is here for me to hug her neck for a little while :)

She's SO funny, and shared with me a VERY silly iPad app (yes, a juvenile one) in which you can create a character and take your picture with it :r  

So we tried it with Cooper:

THE BAD

While I was having my blood drawn for labs yesterday, my oncologist stopped by and asked me to see him before leaving (I wasn't scheduled for an actual appt, just blood work).  So hubby and I went back, and I got some pretty crappy news.  My BRCA test results came back, and I'm positive for a BRCA2 genetic mutation which puts me at high risk for a secondary BC in my other breast AND ovarian cancer - even with this chemo :(  Worse yet, my precious daughter, awesome son, and dear brother each have a 50:50 chance of having this mutation/high risk as well - think Angelina Jolie???  We'll pursue testing and go from there...

PLEASE!!!  If you have BC in your first degree relatives, or BC in a second degree relative and another cancer in a first degree relative on the same side, consider having the BRCA test run - it could save your life <3
Here's a link for more info: BRAC Analysis Brochure

AND

THE UGLY

So, following chemo, we discuss plans for a prophylactic mastectomy of the the other "sister" and removal of my ovaries or hysterectomy :@  Will this NEVER end???

Yesterday was a true pity-party day, BUT, today's a NEW DAY!!!

Bone pain is still pretty awful, but I'll just take another nice pain pill, and spend the day resting and trying to prep for fall classes :)