September 4. 2009 by Lindy.

Today is Dusty’s 35th birthday!  HAPPY BIRTHDAY DUSTY! 

This last round of chemo was a tough one.  Starting last Friday I started feeling like I was beat up or in a bad car accident.  Everything hurts; even my teeth.  Today is a little better.  Other than that I’m fine. 

Dusty and I met with Dr. Gootjes this week.  She has been talking to Dr. Hoberman and Dr. VanderWoude about the genetic testing.  I was under the impression that since my genetic testing came back negative that we wouldn’t have to remove my ovaries.  They’re considering removing them because of my survival rate and the triple negative status of my cancer.  They ordered a CA125 blood test to check for abnormalities in my ovaries.  If it comes back that there are abnormalties then we’re removing the ovaries at the same time as my mastectomy.  Either way, I’m having a hysterectomy and a mastectomy at the same time.  I feel like I’m going to be gutted like a fish! 

This is very overwhelming.  Sometimes I feel like I can’t wrap my mind around what’s happening.  I feel like I’m living someone else’s sucky life.   Within the next month or two I’m going to finish chemo, start growing my hair back (yeah!), have a mastectomy, hysterectomy (with possible ovary removal) and begin radiation.  The recovery for the surgeries is 3-6 weeks with no lifting for 6 weeks.  I have two babies.  This is very hard for me to accept.  I can’t lift my kids for six weeks!  My mom, Jill and Kathy tell me not to worry about that because they are giving excellent care to my kids.  I agree that they are - the kids are so happy, but as a mom it’s a really difficult thought. 

I know this sounds crazy, but I can’t wait for my last round of chemo.  I just want the chemo part over with.  Jill says she’s going to bake a “last chemo” cake and we’re going to have a party in the chemo room.  Sounds fun doesn’t it? 

Brooklyn started Kindergarten this week.  It was so strange packing her a lunch and having her gone all day!  She had a great time and seems to be enjoying it.   

Max has finally given up his army crawl and is crawling “normal”.  Samantha is still cruising and crawling.  They’re doing great.  They like to go on walks and sometimes they fall asleep. 

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August 7. 2009 by Dustin Ver Beek.

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July 28. 2009 by Lindy.

I saw Dr. VanderWoude this morning and the tumor continues to shrink!  She is happy with my response to the chemo.  If she’s happy, I’m happy.  We talked about starting Taxol tomorrow.  Nothing has changed with the original plan.  We’re still doing a dose dense version and there are possible side effects.  She did say that since I had such a terrible time with nausea on A/C that she can’t rule it out with Taxol.  :(  

Some bad news I found out at the doctor’s visit is that I gained five more pounds!  This is not good.  I would like to say it’s because of the steroids.  It’s not.  It’s due to the fabulous cooks who are bringing us food (particularly dessert).  I have a huge sweet tooth and no willpower.  Please do not take my weight gain drama as ungratitude for the food.  We’re very thankful for it.  I just need to show some restraint.  :) 

It feels good to be half way through chemo.  I’m not at the half way point on the cancer road yet, but a very tough part is done.  I’m thankful for that. 

As far as tests are concerned, I still have the genetic testing to do.  This will see if I test positive or negative for a particular gene that makes me more susceptible to breast and ovarian cancer.  I don’t need another MUGA scan for my heart because I tested HER2 negative. 

Tomorrow is chemo and meet my new surgeon day.  It takes about four hours to get the new chemo.  Jill is my chemo buddy (that’s what she calls herself).  She’s going to take me to chemo where we’ll hang out, play some cards, eat lunch, I’ll get some chemo, she’ll get some relaxation and then we’ll go home. 

I also meet with my new surgeon tomorrow - Dr. Liberty-Hoberman.  I look forward to meeting and talking with her about the surgery.

Brooklyn, Max and Samantha had a great time last night at the church picnic.  Brooke came home with some really cool tattoos.  Since when do kids get tattoos at a CRC church picnic?  That would never have happened when I was a kid.  My how times have changed…..now I sound old. 

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July 21. 2009 by Lindy.

I made it down the other side of Mount A/C!  I conquered it.  It was quite a trek and I never want to do it again, but I’m glad it’s done.  I hope none of you ever have to experience it.   For those of you who’ve gone through it, we now belong to a sisterhood of strong women! 

Now….on to Taxol.  We’re doing a dose dense round of Taxol.  This means every two weeks, just like A/C.  I keep making the nurses, techs and cancer survivors promise me that Taxol isn’t as bad as A/C.  I’m clinging to hope that I won’t have to deal with nausea anymore.  I just can’t do it again.  They tell me it’s not a cake walk, but I won’t have to deal with nausea.  They say I’ll have pain in my muscles and bones.  Tingling and numbness in my hands and feet.  I don’t look forward to that.  Somtimes people can’t tolerate the dose dense version because tingling and numbness in the hands and feet become progressively worse and never go away.  Let’s hope that doesn’t happen to me.  Maybe God will work a miracle and grant me four pain and problem free chemo treatments.  He can ya know. 

I’ve decided to switch surgeons to Dr. Liberty-Hoberman for the mastectomy.  Thanks to everyone for your referrals.  No offense to Dr. Housekamp, I just prefer a lady doctor.  Dr. Housekamp is a wonderful person and I feel bad for switching, but I gotta do what I gotta do.   

Oh and my Jeremiah verse still pops up time to time in various greeting cards and emails.  I love it. 

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July 15. 2009 by Lindy.

I am leaving in ten minutes for my last round of “nasty” chemo.  After today just four more rounds to go.  Then surgery.  Then radiation.  My hope is that the last four rounds are more tolerable than the first four. 

People ask me how long it takes before I feel better and what chemo is like.  I’ll go in today for about three hours while they give me A/C (Adriamycin and Cytoxin), anti-nausea and now potassium (my levels are low on that).  Tonight it will feel like the beginning of the flu.  I won’t feel good.  I feel like it’s getting worse.  Tomorrow is bad.  Friday is awful.  Saturday is horrible.  Sunday is unbearable and also when I reach my peak.  Monday is horrible.  Tuesday is awful.  Wednesday is bad/okay.  It’s kind of like climbing a mountain.  Then I usually have a week of okay days.  The nausea is usually tolerable.  It’s just pain and aches everywhere - even in my bones.  That’s what going through A/C is like for me. 

I hope to find out today that my tumor has shrunk even more, when I can start the last four rounds and when surgery will happen.  I’ll let you know what I find out. 

Thank you for your communication and prayers.  God has been doing great and awesome things for our family.  He provides in every way. 

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