I almost forgot to post pics of the cancer Damnit Doll my mom got me! I love it. It’s like my elf on the shelf as my mom moves it in random places. She did it once or twice to be silly but made me smile and laugh so much she has kept up with it. I never know where I will find her and poor mom is gonna start running out of spots. I wanted a name for her & came up with “Pinky”. Not too original I know. I couldn’t think of anything more unique.

Ok this pic isn’t cancer related but had to post a pic of my silly kitty. I love him dearly & he is such a great companion & good mental therapy for me during this so I couldn’t leave him out. 

I have not posted in a while. Chemo is still working and my scans are staying stable so that is all positive. 

My nails are in much better shape then they were in the earlier pics. That has resolved. My hair is still continuing to grow but not as fast as I’d like. I am sure that is because of still being on chemo & meds. It grew in super curly & I straightened it chemically. 

I still have issues with my nose running and frequent bloody noses though they are not nearly as severe as when I was on the Taxotere, though they are about daily. Today it was bloody about all day long! The reason is because my blood platelet count is low. I read folic acid can help boost the platelet count so I just started taking that. If needed, I will likely try vitamin K as well.  I am hoping I see some improvement in the next few weeks & after the next chemo. I sure hope it works! 

My lower legs are still sore often. That & the nose issues are about the 2 chemo side effects that have remained constant and I have not been able to remedy, just try to treat & deal with. 

Recently had my breast tumor marker checked again. Last time it had gone up from the time before. This time it went back down & was even 2 points lower than 2 times ago so that is good as well. 

I recently started taking Turmeric again since my scans showed being stable instead of improving. Being stable is great & beats getting worse but I am just doing my own little experiment for my next scan. I had been taking Turmeric when the first scans showed improvement but that is likely due to the initial chemo getting the tumors under control but I figure it wouldn’t hurt to try. 

I recently read some positive info about Turkey Tail mushrooms and might try that in the future as well. I am all for research and trying things on my own in addition to traditional treatment. 

So that is about all for now. Just getting ready for my 2nd Thanksgiving & Christmas since being diagnosed (first were right after). I was hoping my hair would be longer for Christmas but doesn’t seem it will be. Maybe next Christmas! Happy holidays everyone!

This is the ribbon for metastatic breast cancer, cancer that has spread beyond the breast. The ribbon for non-metastasized breast cancer is pink. 

My boyfriend got me this cake for my 1 year “cancerversary”. I celebrated still being here a yr after my diagnosis & hope to he many more. I hope to make it an annual celebration!

My hair is growing back but is still super short & seems to be taking forever but I assume that is because I am still on chemo. (Pic to follow)

After the 2 rounds of Taxotere, my nails developed ridges in them. The nails are weak in that area and 1 broke off less than half way down. Another seems to be on the way to breaking off. I heard this can happen with chemo but had been fortunate until the Taxotere and had been keeping my nails short for that reason. Hopefully they will be back to normal after they grow out & hopefully the ridges too. (Pic to follow)

Had my 13th chemo last Thursday. Can’t believe it has been 8 months already but that is nothing compared to what I have to go yet - for life. But, as long as it keeps me alive, I can’t complain. My mediport doesn’t usually bother me but has some pain here & there from being accessed last Thursday & looks like maybe I have some broken blood vessels near it. (Pic to follow)

Still taking things day by day. Want to look into the possibility of seeing a liver specialist about the progressing atrophy to the left lobe of my liver. However, I don’t know if there are any local or if they accept my insurance. 

Last heart muga scan was still borderline normal at 50% but dropped 12 points from the last test. Onc said if it drops more next scan that she would send me for an echocardiogram. I am hoping that will not be needed. 

Other than that, not much else new. I’m still dealing with living my “new normal”. Will update when there is more to report.