Sweet Sixteen!!! Finished with Chemo!!!



Sweet Sixteen- Final Chemo treatment!





Today was my last day of chemo. I was so happy!!  This last 6 months have been dragging and I could not wait for them to be over.  I have had some joint pain and heart issues, but I know they will be over soon.  There was a volunteer there while I was getting my treatment.  She said Chemo makes us sick and tired, Radiation only makes us tired.  God I hope that is the way it works,....I can handle tired. LOL!  I was blessed with a wonderful group of nurses at TX Oncology in Round Rock. One of my favorite nurses, Sabrina, was my nurse today.  When I finished with my chemo, they celebrated by throwing confetti on me.  They didn't have me down as finishing today so I didn't get my certificate..I am supposed to get it when I go for radiation. It's okay - all I care about is that I finished!  You also may have noticed I am getting my hair back. It is coming in white and black..neither of my natural colors, and it is sticking straight up on top. LOL!  Oh well, at least I am getting my hair back.



2 of my Favorite nurses - Sabrina & Amy



Sabrina removing my final Chemo IV!



My blurry confetti celebration!

















On a sad note, my friend Teresa "Terbay" Santiago's grandson, Drake, is battling Leukemia.  He was in remission, but has recently taken a turn for the worse and the family has been told he has a 10% chance of making it.  Please add him and the family to your prayers. Please pray God will perform a miracle and allow Drake to grow up to do special things.  Thank you! 

Have a wonderful Christmas and a safe and Happy New Year! Celebrate the Miracle of Jesus!

Hugs and smiling REALLY BIG!!



Yolanda











Almost done with Chemo- yay!

Had my Quinceanera (15th) killing party yesterday.  I have one more to go. I can't believe this part is almost over.  These last couple of weeks have been a little harder on me.  I am definitely more tired, my heart has been doing some really weird stuff (but everything checked out okay with that). I have a follow up appt with the Cardiologist on Monday.  The nurse practitioner, Robin (whom I love!!) said everything I am going through right now is all related to the effects of the chemo.  She said my body is just tired of dealing with it after almost 6 months.  Overall, I think I have done okay, there have been some definite changes to my body from the steroids and the chemo,  My fingernails are turning brown..which is really gross looking!  I read that my eyebrows and eyelashes might fall out AFTER I finish chemo. What the Hell!!!  I was just getting used to getting some hair back. At least I am alive, and my chances are good.  I am going to beat this - so I say to you cancer - IS THAT ALL YOU GOT??  Cause me, God and my praying family are gonna kick your ass!  Looking forward to my Sweet Sixteen!

Abel went for his follow-up's at MD Anderson this week.  Everything came back fine.  He has a couple of little lymph nodes that are a little swollen but there has been no change from the last visit, so the doc feels like they are benign.  He is going to continue to watch them.   Thank you God!! I know He doesn't give us more than we can handle, and I don't think I could have handled anything else.

Devan is home from school, man I sure do miss her!  She did well and Matt was also very excited for her to be home.  Devan got A's & a B and Matt even got an award for Science and he is on the A/B honor roll again.  We are so proud of both of them and how they have adjusted to all the changes that have been going on the last 6 months.

****My nephew, Mark, and his band Oh No! The Radio will be playing at The Jingle Ball at the Parish tomorrow in downtown Austin for the Toy's for Tots fundraiser. They play at 3:45, hope you guys can make it.  They are going to play some great music!! 12 bands for $10-great deal! Please go out and support them. AND if you haven't already joined their Facebook Fan page, please do - Oh No! The Radio ,


I received some wonderful news from The Studio Kitchen this week.  My friend DORI WHEELESS nominated us for a 5 day meal deal and we won. On Wednesday, The Studio Kitchen delivered a big box of meals. Thank you so much Dori, for thinking about us and thank you to the Studio Kitchen for doing such a wonderful thing for families dealing with cancer.

Have a fantastic weekend!!
Hugs & Smiles
Yolanda

It's been a while........

Hello friends,
It's been a while since I have put anything on my blog. Partly due to computer issues (it's really hard to type on a little screen like the one on my phone) and partly because I have just been too tired. The longer I go through my course of treatment, the more things bother me. The more tired I am, the more I hurt.   I know it's because of my low immune system. It will be fine.

I can't believe I have only 3 more chemo treatments left. 3 MORE!! I am excited about that. I think I have mentioned before that I am allergic to the current chemo medicine I am on, the Taxol. It makes my joints hurt really bad. I am okay for couple of days after the treatment, the steroids kind of keep the pain at bay, but once they wear off...I have to take pain pills to help. I know that everything will be okay, I am almost done with this and with God's loving support - I KNOW I will get through it.

I am going to see the Radio-Oncologist Thursday to determine how much Radiation I will have to have. My oncologist thinks it will probably be 6-7 weeks. I will have to go everyday. He also said I will have to wait about 3 weeks once I finish my chemo before I start the radiation. The radiation will bring a whole new group of possible side effects, but I say...BRING IT ON!! I want to get this over with.

We started decorating our house for CHRISTmas..not too much...mostly it's just the CHRISTmas tree and a few other little things. I am just to tired to put the other stuff up. So unless someone else is going to do it...I am on CHRISTmas strike! LOL! The most important thing is that we are together on CHRISTmas. The decorations won't make a difference one way or the other. If I have learned nothing else from this experience, it has been that there are more important things in life than decorations, and all the other commercial aspects of CHRISTmas....MY FAMILY AND FRIENDS. Life is to short to worry about all the little things. The extra time I spend with someone I love is the most important gift I can give myself.

Have a great week family and friends!

Hugs,
Yolanda

WOW!

I can't believe how quickly time flies when your having fun!  I had my chemo on Thursday of last week so I am down to 7 more.  Tomorrow I go for another one. This last week was a little rough.  I found out that the reason my joints hurt so bad is because I am allergic to the Taxol.  The Taxol they are giving me to kill the cancer..of course..every other weird thing that can go wrong or happen has happened to me during this journey, so why not be allergic to the stuff that is trying to help me kill this crap.  LOL!!   I also found out that I have a hernia on my belly button, most likely from all the crap I went through when I first had my mastectomy.  I had a CT scan this morning to see how big it is.  I should find out tomorrow when/if I am going to have to have surgery.  Went to my Cardiologist today too.  Had a Sonogram, Ultrasound and stress test today.  Everything came back great!  Thank God, sure didn't need anything else going on :-)

Matt met with the advocate from Wonders & Worries.  His name is Ali. The program helps kids who have a parent going through some sort of catastrophic illness.   Matt really liked it and said he wished he could go longer than 6 weeks!!  Hard to believe Matt wants to do anything like that, let alone for more than 6 weeks.  Definitely makes me feel better about our decision to let him participate.

Devan is coming home this weekend!! Can't wait.

Overall, having a good week..family is all good, no one else is sick.  Thank you Jesus!!  I will update sooner next time :-)

Still Smiling!!
Yolanda

Killing party today - 8 left!!

I had my 4th Taxol/chemo treatment today.  It went well.  I am getting more tired as time goes by.  I actually slept during my treatment today, which never happens. I have been experiencing a lot of tingling and pain in my feet and hands.  It is a common side effect of the Taxol. My joints have been hurting, but I think that is part of the Levaquin (antibiotic) that I have had to take twice already during my chemo.

I have been a little weepy all day, I don't know why.  I think it was because of all the questions I had to answer when the met with the guy from Wonders & Worries who is going to meet with Matt at his school and a couple of other kids to help him deal with me/us having cancer. I had been referred before but we decided it wouldn't be a good idea since he would have to go to a different place and it would be with total strangers.  At least if he goes to the one at Ridgeview, the place is familiar and he will more than likely know the other kids in the group or at least have seen them before.  Talking about how Matt and Devan have had to deal with this was hard and it makes me very angry that they have to go through this again.

Devan posted a comment on her facebook a couple of weeks ago -

Cancer. Don't avoid the word. Embrace it and fight it!'

My baby is so smart. I thought about her statement and decided that she is just like me.  I think we did a great job with her and she has learned what is important. This has been the attitude that Abel and I have taken in fighting our cancer. Some people think I share to much information - but I don't care.

When we talk about cancer and the signs, no matter how hard it is - there is a possibility that ONE PERSON might be saved. MIGHT find it early. For that ONE PERSON, I will continue to talk about it.

Thank you God for giving me the strength to do this.

On a lighter note,  thank you for the birthday wishes last week. Thanks to my family for cooking dinner for me last week and for the gifts!  Thank you to Mona Sarate and Pat Dryden for the beautiful blankets they made for me.  Mona crocheted a pink blanket for me and Pat made a flannel blanket with pink ribbons.  They will come in handy when I go for my chemo treatments..it is really cold in there! It makes my heart happy to have such wondeful people in my life, who took the time to make the something like this for me.  I love you!  

I will try to post pictures of the blankets later. 

Stil Smiling!!! :-D

Yolanda

 

 

I ♥ Boobies bracelets-just venting!

On my soapbox!

So I know the craze for kids right now are the I ♥ Boobies bracelets.

  My own personal opinion - Let the kids wear them and stop being so uptight about them.  They are supporting a great cause - Breast Cancer. Click here to visit their website.  I am not offended that my nephews are wearing these bracelets!  They are wearing them for me and all the other women who have or have had breast cancer.  Sure, I'm not naive, I know that some kids are wearing them only because they say 'boobies' on it.  But, I don't care...they are still getting the word out, they are still supporting the cause.  Kids know what boobs are for goodness sakes!!  (insert your own choice words here)  I have read several articles and seen a few interviews online about kids having these bracelets taken away, getting in trouble for having them, having to wear them inside out so the bad word 'boobie' doesn't show.  There was one kid who could continue to wear the bracelet but not around 2 specific teachers -one who had had breast cancer and the other who had lost someone to breast cancer, because they were offended by them.  Offended!!  Can you believe that...don't you get what is going on!  Wake up people - it's time to talk about it! Stop hiding under a damn rock! They aren't wearing the barcelet to offend you, they are wearing it to support you.

Okay, off my soapbox now...thanks.

Feeling a little crappy today, have been since Sunday night. I'll be okay.

Still smiling,
Yolanda

Interview on News 8 Austin

 Had my 2nd round of Taxol Thursday, it went really well.  It only took me 4 hours this time instead of 9!! LOL! The sides effects to this chemo are nothing compared to the A/C that I was on to begin with.  I am tired pretty much all the time and my joints hurt some but overall, not bad.  I have 10 rounds of chemo to go then I will find out when I will do the radiation.

The last time I was at chemo, there was a gentleman there who was in extreme pain.  He kept calling to God to help him with the pain and I kept thinking to myself - what have I got to complain about, I'm not hurting like he is! God please ease his pain!  His wife was sitting in front of him and he sat forward.  They were sitting with their foreheads touching and praying quietly, I could see the tears streaming down her face and it broke my heart and made me happy at the same time.  It broke my heart - because I know she was hurting for him and the pain he is going through.  I remember feeling the exact same thing when Abel was getting his  IVAC sponges changed during his ordeal with cancer and I he was in so much pain.  It made me happy - to know that he wasn't alone. I am so thankful that I have Abel, my family and friends to help me through this.  God please be with all those that have no one.

I had mentioned a while back that I had been asked to interview with Crestina Chavez of News  8 Austin for her Breast Cancer Series.  Well, it came on Friday night.  Click here to watch.  I remember be so nervous about the interview, I don't know why.  I guess because I wanted to make my words count for something.  Does that make sense?   Crestina did a great job with the series, although - I didn't know the camera was still on when I said - "Look at me talking about my boobs." in front of the camera guy.  I just meant that as long as one woman is able to find her cancer because she knows you cancer is not only about 'the lump' - then its worth talking about.

On a lighter note - my cousins came into town to see me this weekend-Sylvia, Sandra, Leti and her daughter Eiliza.  It was great to spend time with them.  We laughed so much!!  Then mom and I went to see 'You Again'.  It was a funny movie.  Abel and Matt are finally home from Lubbock and Devan had a great weekend too! Great ending to an awesome weekend!

Still Smiling!
Yolanda

Quick update on today's Killing Party #5

Friends,

Started my new Chemo/Taxol today.  My nurse today, Noel, has been a cancer nurse for 24 years. She said in her 24 years she has only had one patient have an allergic reaction to the Taxol.  SOOOOOOO OF COURSE! I couldn't let that be a record, so I had a reaction too!!!!  I felt like I was going to pass out, my heart starting beating really slow, I felt a lot of pressure in my chest and I got really HOT!  They stopped the Taxol, started IV Fluids and gave me another does of Benedryl and Steroids.  After about an hour they started the Taxol again at a slower drip and I was fine.  I was tired for a while, but overall I feel pretty good.  My stomach hurt a little at first, but I took some medicine and I felt much better.  I hope it continues to be this way.  So ready to feel better.

Special thank you to UTHOPE, Yang and Amanda came out and cleaned my house for me this weekend.  They are students at UT and gave up a few hours of their Saturday morning to come do something nice for us.  Words can not express the gratitude we have for them.  God is watching what you do Yang and Amanda and he will give you rewards for the kindness you show to those in need. Thank you!! And thanks to Breast Cancer Resource Center, especially Phyllis for getting us together!!  Also, thanks to Crestina Chavez, News 8 Austin, for coming out and interviewing them while they worked.  What a great way to get the word out about UTHOPE!  For those of you who are interested, the interviews will be on Time Warner Cable (News 8) on October 12 (UTHOPE) and for the interviews about Breast Cancer and Breast Cancer in Hispanic women- October 14th, and October 15th.  You can also view them on News 8 Austin. 


Hugs!!!
Yolanda

Interview for a special series

It's been a crazy week!  Monday I had a lab appt at Tx Oncology and went to my surgeons office instead.  My surgeon, Dr. Walzel saw me anyway, but I never remembered that I had an appt at Tx Oncology.  I had to reschedule my appt at Tx Oncology for today. 

I went to the appointment and when the lab tech started drawing blood - it quit coming out!!  What the heck! Seriously, it just stopped!  He moved the needle around, slightly pulled it out and put it back in and the blood still wouldn't come out!  He had to stick me again and use a syringe to draw blood.  It was super slow...who knows what the heck was going on.   Then I found out that my favorite medical assistant is being transferred to Cedar Park Office!  BOOOOOOO!!  I am really gonna miss Anabel, she is awesome.  Good luck to her.  My labs were fine considering I just finished my 4th round of chemo.  Robin, the nurse practitioner suggested I get the flu shot next week.  They are giving them at work on the 5th.  YUK! I am really starting to hate needles!

I was interviewed by Crestina Chavez, News 8 Austin, today.  She is doing a series on Hispanic women with cancer and also on UT Hope, a volunteer group of students from UT that came to help me out last weekend.  They were a great group of students and very kind to give up their Saturday morning just to come help me out.  Words cannot express how grateful I am.  Anyway, the interview will air on October 14th and October 15th on Time Warner cable or you can watch it on www.news8austin.com.  I'm excited about it!

Devan might be coming home this weekend??? or we will be making a trip to A&M!  I miss my baby.  Good look on your tests this week honey!

Have a great rest of the week friends and family.  My next round of chemo will start on the October 7th.  This is for the Taxol.  They say it will be easier on me....I am hoping it is.

Hugs,
Yolanda

Devan's Birthday!!

Well, I finished my last of the A/C chemo treatment last Tuesday.  I start the weekly chemo on October 7th.  I have felt soooooooo tired and to top that off, I think I caught a cold or something that has not turned into a sinus infection!  I feel like crap!  Can't breath, can't sleep, not sure what to eat!  ARGH!!! Oh well, half way done with this mess, so I will keep on smiling!  Hope I feel better tomorrow, I have to go to work.  I have training at a different location for the next 3 days.  What a mess!

Cleaning for a Reason and UT Hope came to help me out at home.  Cleaning for a Reason volunteers come clean your house once a month for 4 months during chemo.  UT Hope is a group of students who volunteer their time to help Breast Cancer Resource Center cancer patients.  They were awesome!  It's heart warming to know they would want to volunteer their Saturday to helping other people like that.  Thank you! 

On a lighter note - Devan came home for the weekend.  We had a little birthday dinner for her on Friday.  I can't believe she is 20 yrs old now!!  I am super proud of her, she has grown up to be such a strong, beautiful, caring young woman.  That's my baby!!  We would have been so lost without her.  Matt really misses her when she isn't here, even if he will only admit it to me :D  We got her a big Birthday cookie from Great All American  Cookie.  YUM!!  Great time with family.

AND.....My nephew and his bandmates - Oh No! The Radio..won battle of the bands.  They are headed to the finals!! (no dates on that yet)  So proud of them.. they have worked their butts off!  Congrats guys!

Hugs!
Yolanda

Wish us luck!

Had a good weekend.  Got to see Devan, even though it was only for a couple of days, it was great to spend time with her again.  Matt was really excited to see her too!  Imagine that!  He didn't want her to stay at school on Sunday.  LOL! 

I have been feeling good this last week.  I have my 4th round of Chemo next week. I can't wait to finish the last cycle of A/C.  Then I will wait for 3 weeks and start the 12 weeks of Taxol chemo, once a week.  That one is supposed to make me really tired, but I am not supposed to get as sick as I did with this.

I try not to question why I got cancer after Abel had it last year.  I know that God had a reason for this to happen to us again.  I don't know why yet, but I know there is a reason.  I know that I will be okay and we will get through this.  It will make us stronger as a family and we will appreciate each other and what we have even more.  But, some days, I GET SO FRUSTRATED WITH THIS CRAP!  I get tired of-- feeling tired, being bald, being bloated, feet swelling, getting phantom pains, getting weird hives, aching all over, joints hurting, stomach hurting.....................just crappy feeling.  But Lord, I am so thankful that it is me and not one of my children, or anyone's children.   When I start feeling sorry for myself, I think about the people who have terminal cancer or the kids that are having to go through chemo!  It breaks my heart.  So thank you God, thank you for letting it be me instead of someone else I care about. Thank for not letting it be someone else's child. 

Next week will be a long week - I have chemo on Tuesday, Devan's birthday is on Wednesday, Abel has his follow up appointments at MD Anderson next Wednesday and Thursday. Wish us luck!

Hugs!
Yolanda

3rd Round of Chemo today..13 to go!

I had my 3rd round of A/C chemo today. I have one more of this one, then I will start the once a week chemo -Taxol for 12 weeks.  I will more than likely have Radiation after that.  I have to meet with the RadioOncologist.  I feel okay, tired and my stomach feels really bloated from the steroids.  ARGH!  so frustrating!!!  Other than that...good so far.  Wish me luck!

Today was the first day of school for Round Rock ISD.  Matt started 7th grade at Ridgeview!  I can't believe he is so grown up already!  13 yrs old!!!  He had a great day.  When he got out, he went with Abel to take Devan back to A&M.

She was so excited to get back to school.  It has been a rough summer for her with everything going on, we wanted to her to get back to NORMAL life.  They have a lot of activities going on this week, she starts actual classes on August 30th.  (Lucky her-that's what the kids keep saying...LOL!!) Thank you baby for taking care of me while you were here.  I am gonna miss you but I am so excited for what lies ahead for you at school.  Good luck!!

To my other nephews who started school yesterday (Jay & Jordan) and Nieces (Emi and Aubri) and today - Mark/Freshman-Cedar Ridge High School!!!, Ethan-8th grade, Nathan-6th grade at Ridgeview Middle School, Christian-4th grade and Cayson-3rd grade Forest Creek Elementary - - - - I HOPE YOU HAD A WONDERFUL FIRST DAY!!!

Thank you everyone for your continued prayers and well wishes.  For those of you who have brought meals....Melissa Freidrich, Sunila Levi, Mona Sarate (gift card)...you don't know how much I appreciate your thoughtfulness.  I am blessed with such wonderful friends and family.

Hugs,
Yolanda

Oh No! the Radio Facebook page

P.S. OH NO! the Radio is selling tickets for Battle of the Bands.  Tickets are only $8 in advance. Please support my nephew, Mark and his Bandmates on Sept. 12 @ 1pm @ MOMO's 618 W 6th Street.  LET ME KNOW HOW MANY TICKETS YOU NEED!

UPDATE AFTER 2ND ROUND OF CHEMO

Sorry it has been a while since I posted, I just hadn't been feeling well.  Had my 2nd round of Chemo a little over 2 weeks ago.  It was rough.  I was tired, that part is not unusual, but this time the chemo and steroids ate up the lining on my stomach.  I was hurting and very uncomfortable.  I ended up missing an extra week of work before the new medicine doctor gave me started working.  Then I got a kidney infection, with no obvious signs other than a severe back ache and pain under my left ribcage.  I am now on antibiotics.  The thing with all these medications is that there are so many do's and don'ts ..I can't eat or drink anything with calcium within an hour of one, can't eat anything with dairy 1 hour before or 6 hours after another one and another medication requires that I take it on an empty stomach. ARGH!!  Anyway, feeling a lot better now, thank GOD!  My next treatment is next Tuesday, August 24th. Same day Matt goes back to school. 

Devan goes back to A&M this weekend.  She will be coming back for a dentist appt on Tuesday and then we will take her back to school again.  Matt is excited about going back to school...says he is bored...we'll see how bored he is after he goes back..LOL!

Our niece Cathy and nephew Cayson are all moved in and enjoying their new life in the Austin area.  So excited for the new beginnings :-D
My sister-in-law Margaret (Cathy's mom) spent a couple of weeks with us. I was so happy to be able to spend time with her and the timing was great because it was when I was feeling my worst and she helped us so much. (even though she uses a walker) It was good to have her here.  Thanks Margaret!

We also got to spend time with Margaret's other kids - Melissa and her Family (HAPPY BIRTHDAY EMI!!) and her son James. We don't get to see them too often so it was nice that they were able to come down.  Two more of my sister-in-laws, Liza and Frances, came down this weekend.  Frances made Chicken and rice for us - it was AWESOME!!  It was great to spend time with them.

 I went back to work on Monday, missed Tuesday for a CT Scan.  I was planning on going back to work but I had an allergic reaction to the dye again (even though I took pre-medication).  They gave me so many drugs to counter act the reaction, I couldn't stay awake to go back to work.  Today was a good day at work though. Hopefully there will be no more problems before my chemo next Tuesday.  I need to work as much as I can. They have been vey supportive while I go through all this.  Another blessing from God.

Hugs friends!!
Yolanda

P.S. My nephew, Mark and his bandmates - Oh NO! the Radio will be performing tomorrow/Thursday @ 9:00pm:

AT RedEyedFly 720 RED RIVER STREET Austin Tx.it will be awesome!!!5$ Adults 8$ Minors All ages.

CHEMO TOMORROW

2nd round of Chemo tomorrow.  Not as stressed as I was last time.  I did pretty good with the chemo considering all the horror stories I had heard. I know I will be okay.

Worked all last week, I was exhausted by Friday!  It was good though, I felt 'normal'.  I worked today, and it was a long day. Got a lot done too :-D

My hair started falling out Thursday.  A little at first but by Saturday, it was driving me crazy!  You know how it is when you get a haircut and you have hair all over your shirt and neck...that's how I felt.  My hair was hurting, I know it sounds weird, but it did.  Saturday night, I got in the shower and shaved it off - completely!  So now I am bald.  I'm okay with it.  It looks really different.  Hopefully, when my hair comes back in, it will be blond and curly!!! LOL! 

Abel's sister, Margaret, came down this weekend along with our nieces, Melissa (and her husband, Jereme and their girls Aubri & Emi) and Cathy (she moved to Round Rock from Lubbock) and Nephew, James.  It was great to spend time with them this weekend.  Margaret is staying for the week with us.  So glad she did, it will be great to visit with her this week.  On Sunday we enjoyed BBQ and a mini concert by OH NO THE RADIO! at my brothers' house.  They were awesome!!!  I felt really good this weekend.

Hope you all have  great week!!

Hugs,
Yolanda

Happy Birthday Matt!!!!

Matt's Birthday was yesterday.  He is 13 now!  I can't believe how quickly time has gone by.  I love you little man. :-D  It was a fun weekend.  We went to my brothers (both of them) and had BBQ & cake.  My friend Margaret came over and Cathy (our neice) came in late from Lubbock but was still able to join us.  Mark sang us a few songs - he was great!!  He and his bandmates have a gig at EMO's, sometime in September, which apparently is a really big thing for their type of music- so congrats to the group,  Oh No the Radio!!  Here is a list of their upcoming gigs in case anyone can make it out to support them -

Oh-No-The-Radio on Facebook

RED7 August 17th 9:30 FREE show any ages. 611 East 7th Street

REDEYEDFLY August 19th 9:00 5$ for adults 8$ for minors. ALL AGES. 715 Red River Street

Went to work today.  I felt pretty good, a little tired, but pretty good.  I had to leave a little early to see my surgeon.  Still retaining fluid in the right surgery sight, so I am having to go in and get it drained.  Next appointment for that is Thursday!  ARGH!  The plus side, I love my doctor--if you ever need surgery go to Dr. Jack Walzel!  He is awesome! 

I am hoping I will feel well enough to work the whole week, since my next round of chemo is next Tuesday.  I did fairly well with the chemo except that I was tired, pretty much the entire cycle.  I never throw up, just felt like a few times.  I took the meds the Dr gave me so that helped a lot. The worst I felt was the first weekend after the chemo..I had major heartburn.  It was awful, worse than when I was pregnant with the kids. I went by the doctors office and got some good meds for that too.  I go tomorrow to get my labs done so they can see where my white blood count is.  Last week it was just a little low, so the Nurse practitioner said it would be lower this week.  I don't know what they do if it is too low??

Have a great week!
Hugs,
Yolanda

P.S. Good luck to my lil sis - Yvonne - Hope you did well on your exam!

Not feeling well...again!!!! and Thanks!

^#*%$(%)  The chemo had made me pretty tired, a little nauseous.  I had major heartburn this weekend...according to my Oncologist- it was his fault :-D  He said the steroids he gave me to help offset the chemo were what did that to me.  Then I started feeling nauseous tonight, can't sleep.  ARGH!!!  I was going to try to go to work tomorrow, now, I don't know what is going to happen.  Dammit!  I am so sick of this crap!  Took some of my million meds, hopefully that will help.

Okay, enough of the pity party!!  I shaved my head this weekend, rather my little brother shaved my head this weekend.  I was sad, I cried, I think we all did in our own way.  I look weird (I think I do), guess it's mostly because I am not used to seeing myself without any hair. Mom kept telling me not to cut my hair, to wait and see if it would fall out, but the doctor had already told me it would be happening, I didn't think I could handle seeing my hair falling out.  I don't think Matt would be able to handle it either.  Anyway, NOW...my head is cold!! LOL!!! 

Big thank you to my wonderful friend Janet Calhoun and her friend, Sandra Bennight for bringing food for us tonight and for tomorrow.  What a blessing to have such wonderful friends.

While I am sending out my thank you's...please visit and contribute if you can to my friend Barb Edwards, as she walks to raise money to fight breast cancer. Barb's Komen 3Day blog

And, last but not least...I thank my family.....
Abel, honey thank you for taking such good care of me every night especially, when I complain about the sheets not being straight or that it's too hot, and rubbing my back. I love you!

Devan-for being the second mama in the house. Taking care of your brother, handling appointments, making sure his chores are done and for taking care of the house stuff.  I would be lost without you baby. I love you!

Matt-for getting me fresh water everytime you come around me and checking up on me and being nice to your sister. I love you sweetie :-D

Mom-for being mom.  For taking care of me, trying to make me feel better and telling me everything will be okay. I love you.

Cathy-(our niece) for making sure I take the right meds, making me breakfast, taking me to dr's appointments and helping your uncle and your cousins...I love you!

Vic-for doing something that I am sure was very hard for you to do, but you did anyway.  Shaving me.  I love you baby. 

Noni-for talking when I just need to talk and vent.  I love you!

Sorry it was so long tonight....it was this our give in to the temptation to throw up....   :-D

P.S. Congrats to my friend Michelle Vanderwalle- She is pregnant!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hugs,
Yolanda

Sleep-ramblings for the day

I feel like all I have done is sleep.  I am so tired.  Today, I have been feeling a little nauseous today.  I hadn't felt this bad all week.  YUK!!!  Going to get my head shaved today...I'll be damned if the cancer is going to take my hair too! That's going on my terms!! My little brother is going to come help me and Abel.  I imagine that it will be really hard, but I don't know that I can handle the alternative. I don't think I could handle seeing my hair on my pillow or in the shower and I don't know how my kids would re-act to it either.

Nothing tastes good today.  I am sort of hungry, but scared to eat.  I don't have a taste for anything in particular...I want something cold, maybe a popsicle?

I wanted to go back to work tomorrow..I don't know if that is going to happen.  I feel so tired all the time, I don't know how much I will be able to accomplish at work.  I hope I don't feel nauseous tomorrow too.  ARGH!  This is so frustrating!  Oh yeah, and I have been a big ball baby all weekend.  Anything  can set me off, the f'n commercial, Matt smiling at me in his silly way, Devan laughing.. What the hell is wrong with me???????? I have heartburn from hell...who knows what I was able to eat that caused that!

Obviously, today was not a good day to post, so I hope you all have a better day.  I love my family and my friends and I thank you all for the wonderful thoughts and prayers.  Special thanks to Barb Edwards for the wonderful meal Thursday.  It was delicious!!

Hugs,
Yolanda

Not to bad....

Considering all the horror stories I had heard.  My first two days of chemo were relatively light.  I slept pretty much all day yesterday and take some extensive naps today too.  I did feel a little nauseous tonight, but I took some medicine so hopefully that will help.  I got an email from Runi/BCRC she says to take it easy because Friday through Monday could be rough....what does that mean???!!!  Now I am panic mode reading through all my papers to see what I should expect!  OH well, nothing I can do about it right...so I'll just go on.  I was so stressed about the Chemo, I forgot the Camera so I could take pictures of my first day.  I was nut case anyway, so I can imagine what they would have looked like :D

One of my BFF's Mona, brought over a cake for me.  It is sooooooooooooooo goooooooooood!!!!  I don't know what it is called but I will try to describe it.  It is yellow cake and the center and frosting or made out of coolwhip, ?mandarin oranges and pinable chunks.  I don't really know but it is the best cake.  Cool and refreshing.  Lately it seems I want cool and refreshing.  So thank you Mona for bring over the delicious cake!!  Couple of other friends brought food over - Ida Saaverda and Debra Kromer.  Thank you so much, it was very thoughtful and really helped us out a lot. 

I tried to find a scarf or a cap or something today so that I can wear after I shave my head and had little luck.  I am not really sure what I am looking for what, but it wasn't what I found.  Oh well, I'll figure it out when I get to the point. 

Matt's been coughing a lot lately. He is going to have to go to the Dr.  I am afraid that they will tell me I have to stay away from him.  Do some people just not understand how hard it is to keep away from your kids???????  My friend Alma, had to be quarantined form her kids when she went through Chemo, I can only imagine how hard that was. ARGH!!

HUGS,
Yolanda

Chemo tomorrow.......mood-nervous

Sorry it has been a while since I posted anything on here.  I had my port put in on the 9th for the Chemo, tried going to work and couldn't do it. Worked for part of the day on Monday and came home early. Then I was out Tuesday, Wednesday and finally went back on Thursday.  I had a lot of fluid build up on the right side where the cancer was and the lymph nodes were removed, so I had to get that drained.  The left side has healed pretty well and the port side is doing better.  On Friday, I woke up with fever, a massive headache and my face hurt like HELL!  I called the Oncologist and he called in a Big Gun Antibiotic called Levaquin for my Sinus infection.  I don't know if he is going to let me start my chemo tomorrow or not since I had the fever.  I suspect he gave me the Levaquin instead of Zpack so I could start tomorrow, but I don't know.  My fever finally broke last night and I tried to go to work today, but just didn't feel well.  I had Abel come pick me up early from work.  I called my surgeon office.  I went in and had over 300cc's of fluid removed from the right side.  I had so much fluid in there I looked like I had a deformed breast on the right again.  Gross...I know.   I feel a little better now, but I have a lot of swelling on the right side and it is really hard.  I don't know if that is normal.  I am going to call them again tomorrow.

My first round of chemo tomorrow. Honestly, I am pretty nervous about it.  You can't imagine all the wonderful 'tips' I have received!!  Some were good, others were....well, let's just say - I will just have to take the poison as it comes-cause there is NO WAY I AM DOING THAT!!! LOL! My friend Rene gave me a blanket that she was given when she started her chemo...she said it was handed down to her with love so she was now handing it down to me the same way.  She also gave me a book for after I am done with my treatment.  I am so thankful for her. 

I have been blessed with so many wonderful people in my life and they say--you know who your true friends are when you go through a real crisis.  I am thankful, that most of the people I call friend....have been true friends.  Many of you have told me to ask for help especially while I go through my treatment, so I am going to ask.  If you can help I will appreciate it, if you can't I love you anyway...

What I would appreciate - 

Meals- ( nothing with sour-cream please) Here is the link - 
HELPER LOGON
===================================
The HELPER logon is used by family and friends
that would like to sign-up to help a loved one.

To access Yolanda Vasquez 's personal CareCalendar site,
visit http://www.carecalendar.org/logon/42328 and enter the following
information in the appropriate spaces:

    CALENDAR ID      :   42328
    SECURITY CODE :   2366




Scarves/cool hats - you can never have too many of them right???....they don't have to be new...your old favorite one would be awesome, or a fun, crazy, wild one.  Which reminds me- CRAP....I never went to get any and next week is when I shave my head - yikes!! better get my butt in gear.

Prayers- please continue to pray for me...that I will have the strength to fight this and know that God is with me.

Hugs to you all -
Yolanda

Port is in..

Had my port put in today. It wasn't too bad. It is feeling a little bit sore and I am a little bit tired, but otherwise I am pretty good. I came home and slept for about 5 hours after I got home. I'm not excited about the chemo, but I just want to get it over with. I know it doesn't make sense..but, I am so ready to get back to some normalcy and not think about this stupid cancer anymore. Some days I just want to scream! I am so done with this crap already! Today marks the 3 month anniversary of when I found the dimple. It has been a long 3 months and I am only about a quarter of the way. ARGH! Enough of that.......

Went to work 2 days this week. Wow, I didn't realize how exhausting it would be. It isn't like it is hard manual labor!! LOL! Being gone 2 weeks was hard. I felt like I forgot everything! Had my Quarterly evaluation, pretty good even though I had been out for 2 wks. Good sign :D

Today was my nephew Mark's birthday. He is 14! I can't believe it! I remember the day he was born :-D Happy Birthday Marky! Love you bunches. He and his band, Oh No! The Radio, played at RED EYE FLY Wednesday. They did really well. So well, they got paid! And...they were invited back AND there was a band there that wants them to open for them when they play near Austin!!! So excited for them. Congrats Marky!

Hugs!
Yolanda

Long day!

Went back to work today. It was a long day at work. My right arm was hurting pretty bad, I could hardly use it. I had to switch my mouse to the left side. Thankfully, I didn't have to write to much. Everyone was very helpful at work, helping me carry my stuff and coming by to check on me. I love my co-workers and my job!

My friend, Rene B, came by and give me a blanket to use while I am having chemo and a book to help with this process. She has been such a wonderful friend. Thanks to my friend Terria for introducing her to me. LOVE HER!

Getting my port put in for the Chemo on Friday. I am a little nervous..not crazy about having another surgery (even if it is just a minor surgery) so soon after the other one.

Going to bed, have a great night!
Hugs,
Yolanda

YAY!

Quick note- Got the other 2 tubes removed today! YAY!! Mean's I will hopefully be able to sleep. My surgery to have the port for the chemo put in will be on Friday. I will be going back to work on Wednesday. Really tired, think I need a nap.

Hugs,
Yolanda

P.S. Thanks to my friend, Catherine Perkins. Just figured out the chicken spaghetti was in the freezer...yes!! Thanks Catherine :D

Fun Night!

Had a great time tonight with the family! My brothers and their families came over and we watched a movie and ate banana splits. The boys had a great time chasing each other. Missed my nephew Mark...but he was practicing for his first real gig on Wednesday night...so if you aren't busy...go check out his band- Oh No! The Radio! They will be at Redeyefly on Wednesday night June 30th at 9 P.M. They are good, so I hope you enjoy the show.

I am starting to feel a lot better. If I can just get these stupid tubes out, I will feel even better. I have to call and schedule my surgery to have the port put in for the Chemo. Probably for next week some time.

I got a hair cut yesterday. Kind of short..it will make it easier to shave off once I start Chemo.

Abel is going back to work tomorrow. He has been home taking care of me for 2 weeks. So thankful he was able to do that. He is probably ready to go back to work after all the hell he has been through in the last couple of weeks. LOL!! Love you baby.

Also wanted to thank my friend, Jane for bring food and magic cookies...it was awesome! and for our friends..the Kromers for sending us BBQ plates - Delicious!

We are so blessed to have such wonderful people in our lives! Thank you!!

Special thanks to my baby girl, Devan. You have been so strong for me, thank you for taking such good care of us baby girl! Love you. Matt has been doing better with everything. We talked for about 30 minutes about what is going on, he asked about the Chemo, my surgery..does it hurt. How many more surgeries, when am I getting better.......etc. It was good, I think it helped him to finally talk to me about everything.

Hugs,
Yolanda

Chemo

Went to the Oncologist yesterday..My Chemo will start 7/13. I have to call my surgeon to schedule my appt to have the port for the chemo put in. I will have 6 months of Chemo. A drug called AC one time every 3 weeks for 4 cycles. A drug called Taxol weekly for 12 weeks. After I am done with the Chemo, I will have to see the Radiation Oncologist to see if he wants to do radiation. Since my Chemo will be starting soon, I will be getting a haircut this weekend, as I have been told I will be losing my hair within the 1st couple of weeks. I will be shaving my head, yeah shaving it, pretty soon after that. I am not going to let cancer take my hair. I will do it myself.

I went to the surgeon today. He pulled one JP tube out. Still have 2 more, one on each side. ARGH!! I wish he would have been able to take them all out today. He is going to call me on Saturday to see if he can do it then. They were still draining to much for them to come out today.

I am supposed to go back to work next Wednesday, the 30th. The time has gone by so fast. I hope I feel well enough to go back to work then. Thankfully, my friend Sanaa is going to be driving me to work, so I don't have to worry about falling asleep on the way home. By 2pm, I am exhausted! Part of the reason is because I am so uncomfortable at night I have a hard time sleeping (that's why I am up blogging at this time of night/morning :-) )

Had a great visit from friends from work today. Thanks for the flowers and the card...they made me smile!
~
Asta manana Amigos!
Yolanda

I'm back...sort of

First let me thank everyone for the continued prayers and support. For all my friends and family that came to visit (especially the ones I don't remember seeing, but was told came by :-) ) and for all those wonderful people who brought food to help my family with dinner when I was in the hospital and when I got out....Barb Edwards, Tina Guerrero, Tia Dolores, Tia Lucy, Melissa Smith, Mona Sarate and Janet Calhoun. To our nieces Melissa Ragsdale and Cathy Garcia..thank you for coming down for the weekend and helping out. It was great seeing you. For my mom, Teresa, what would I do without you. Thank God you are here to help Abel and the kids.

You are all a blessing to me and my family. Words cannot express my gratitude.

It has been a rough week and 1/2. The surgery itself went well, double mastectomy with the right lymph nodes all removed. 2 of the 19 had cancer. I had 4 JP drain tubes inserted, two on each side. One of them started coming out on Saturday, so had to go get that taken care of. I still have the other 3. I did okay for a few days, but then my blood pressure went up and I had a horrible headache..they couldn't get it to come down, so I had to stay a few extra days. I won't go into the gross detail, but let me just say...if you are ever going to have surgery...take a stool softener. It is the worst thing if you don't. I think that and everything that comes with it has been worse than the surgery itself.

I am starting to feel better though. I am having trouble sleeping at night because of the tubes but hopefully those will come out tomorrow. I have an appointment with the Oncologist today at 4:00. I will find out what my treatment plan is. My surgeon suspects I will have to have Chemo for sure since the cancer was in the lymph nodes, not sure about Radiation. I won't think about it to much till I get to the appointment.

I know I have a long road ahead of me and I know that I am very lucky to have the support of my family and friends and most importantly..I know that I am on this road that God chose for me. There is a reason this is happening to us again and I know that He is with me.

Hugs,
Yolanda

P.S. Happy Birthday baby brother, Vic...you are the best! Love you bunches!

Surgery update

Hey everyone!! This is Devan, yolandas daughter - my mom is doing great. She has to stay another day in the hospital because she has problems with her high blood pressure. The doctor said she can hopefully go home tomorrow if all is well. Thanks for the well wishes and prayers!

A new beginning...

Hey everyone!!! This is Devan, yolanda's daughter, just wanted to say thank you for all the prayers and well wishes from everyone. She is doing much better and might be able to go home tomorrow. Again thanks for everything and talk to you all soon...

Yolandas Update on her Surgery!

Hello everyone, This is Abel, Yolandas husband. I just wanted to update you on Yolandas surgery.
Yolanda had a 3 hour long Double Mastectamy today June 14, 2010. Her surgery went well and she is
recovering fine at Round Rock hospital. She wanted to express her gratitude with everyone that has prayed for her and wished
her a fast recovery from this surgical procedure. Please continue your prayers for us and especially her fast recovery.
Thanks
Abel Vasquez

Count Down to Surgery...

My brothers and their families came over tonight, and my sister in law, Chris, came in from Houston. We had a nice dinner, Tortilla soup, thanks to Barb Edwards. It was delicious!!

About to get to bed. Surgery is in the morning at 10:30am. I am nervous about my reaction after the surgery, but, I will trust in God to help me get through it. One step closer to getting this cancer beat!

Thanks everyone for the prayers and those of you who have signed up to bring meals, I really appreciate it.

Devan will be updating my blog for me after my surgery and she will have my phone if you need to call.

Hugs!
Yolanda

Long day

My friend, Rene, brought me a gift today. It is a Legacy gift. The idea behind it is when you receive the gift you keep it as long as you need it. When you no longer need it, you give it to someone else that is in need. I think it is an awesome idea. It's beautiful! The note attached said- It's like life, beautiful, yet fragile.

It was a long day at work today. I did not feel very well this afternoon and it got worse as the day progressed. Just really tired and I have a headache. Think I will get to bed early today.

Hugs,
Yolanda

Getting Nervous :-(

I have been having trouble sleeping..Mom says it's because I am thinking and stressing to much about next week. I don't know, but not even Tylenol PM is helping. I wake up about 2:30 or 3:00am and then it takes me forever to fall asleep again. Then I get up at 5:45am to get to work by 7am. ARGH!!!

I am getting a little nervous.. I'm not worried about the surgery, just what comes after. Lot's of people have told me that the surgery won't be too bad, but the depression will be! I can't imagine it being worse than thinking about this stupid cancer in my body now!!

I was invited to join the Pink Cowgirls (Thanks Rene) . The administrator of the group, Runi, sent me a message that she would bring me a camisole or pockets to hold my drains post surgery....WHAT!!??? I hadn't even thought about that. I guess it is kind of like the drain that Abel had last year after his cancer surgery that was to 'suck' the fluid out of the pocket left by the tissue they remove. So thanks Runi!

Some of you had email me offering to bring meals by after my surgery (THANK YOU FOR THAT), so my friend Barb Edwards asked me to let everyone know, if you wanted to bring meals by you can follow the information below to sign up. Thank you :D

===================================
The HELPER logon is used by family and friends
that would like to sign-up to help a loved one.

To access Yolanda Vasquez 's personal CareCalendar site,
visit http://www.carecalendar.org/logon/42328 and enter the following
information in the appropriate spaces:

CALENDAR ID : 42328
SECURITY CODE : 2366

===================================

Hugs,
Yolanda

You're really that sick????

I think it finally hit Matt that I am having surgery because of the cancer. He asked me today if that was what I was having surgery for. I explained the whole thing to him again and he said he didn't realize that I was that sick??? Guess it hadn't really affected him because he hadn't really 'listened' to me the first time I told him what was going on. He told me he would take care of me :D Hopefully, he will remember he told me that next week..LOL!!

I have been working on getting information together for my work so they can figure out if I will be able to get some time from the sick leave pool. I haven't been working long enough to have accumulated enough hours to cover my surgery and then whatever treatments I end up having after. My reconstruction surgery won't be for a few more months, so I'm hoping I will get enough hours to cover that time off too.

Some of you have asked to help us out by bringing meals after my surgery and during my treatments..one of my friends, Barbara Edwards, has graciously offered to handle arranging this for us.....her email is - gbaypack@sbcglobal.net if you would like to do this.

Feeling really tired today...hope tomorrow is a better day.

Hugs -
Yolanda

Surgery scheduled

I went to the Plastic Surgeon today. I don't know why I was more nervous going to see him than when I went to see the surgeon and the oncologist????? We discussed my options and I decided to have a Diep Tram Flap (take my own skin and make new breast) instead of Breast implants. I just feel more comfortable having my own skin up there than a foreign object. I know, I know...it's crazy..but that's how I feel. Abel is feeling a little sad..he says he is going to miss 'the twins' LOL!! Really, he has been very supportive and said he just wants me to be okay- with or without 'the twins'. The only bad thing about having this type of surgery is that I will be flat chested for a few months. I'll be honest..that freaks me out a little. I mean, I haven't been flat chested since I was 11!!

I then went to my Surgeons office/Dr. Walzel. My surgery has been scheduled for June 14th @10:30. I will have a Bilateral Mastectomy. Dr. Walzel will also check my lymphnodes that day to see if the cancer had spread into the nodes too. I did get some good news today...my BRCA test (blood test to see if I have the genetic marker for certain cancers) came back...I am NOT genetically predisposed to breast cancer. If it had come back positive there would be no way of getting out of the Chemo. Thankfully, it came back negative so I don't have to worry about Devan and Matt having the gene too.

So now, it is a waiting game. I read that Christina Applegate had taken some pictures of her breast before she had her Double Mastectomy....it's funny..I thought of maybe doing that too. Of course I would never... you never know where pictures would end up, but I wonder how different I will look when this is all over. Abel says, he doesn't care..... Twins or no twins he still loves me. And that is why I married him :-D

Here we go again..

I tried using a different blog, but I couldn't log in anymore - so here we go again..hope this one works :-D

On Sunday, May 2nd, I noticed an indention/dimple on my right breast. I saw my OBGYN doctor, Dr. Paul Murphree the next day. He sent me to have a mammogram. The mammorgram was clear so the radiologist did an ultrasound. It didn't show a mass either, but because there was obviously something causing the dimple in my breast she recommended a Core Biopsy. I had that done on May 20th. On May 24th, I received a call from Dr. Murphree. It was cancer. He then referred me to Dr. Jack Walzel, a surgeon. He schedule me for an MRI so see how big the cancer truly was and also schedule a visit with the Oncologist/Dr. Kocs on May 28th. He took blood for the BRCA test to see if I have THE genetic marker for cancer. He also schedule a CT Scan for June 3rd. Results were clear no cancer anywhere else. I have an appointment with Dr. Staebel/plastic surgery for reconstructive surgery. I will be having a double mastectomy. I had a mammogram 11/2009 - it was 'clear'. My mammogram on May 4th didn't show anything, neither did the ultrasound. The biopsy was performed only because the radiologist was still suspicious of the indention..she knew something was causing it and she suggested the biopsy.

I hate that my kids are having to go through this again...My husband was diagnosed with cancer last year in January - DFSP (Dermatofibrosarcoma Protuberans). He is now cancer free. He finished his radiation therapy a few days before Devan graduated from High School.

I set this blog up so my family and friends can - Laugh with me, cry with me, share your thoughts and advice with me. I love my family. I love my friends. I love to do things for others and make them happy - for a little while, I'll need someone else to do this for me. Thanks for supporting me through this journey.

Today I am Scared, Frustrated, Angry, Thankful.
Scared about the future. Frustrated that there is nothing I can do to speed this up. Angry that my kids are having to go through this again, after just having dealt with their dad's cancer last year and thankful that it is me - not the kids or someone else in my family that was diagnosed with cancer.

Yolanda