Valerie’s Story

Site created on May 30, 2018

Welcome to our CaringBridge website. We are using it to keep family and friends updated in one place. We appreciate your support and words of hope and encouragement. Thank you for visiting.
I was encouraged by my family to join this site to allow everyone to follow my journey as I go through my battle with breast cancer.  I was diagnosed in March with invasive ductal carcinoma.  I'm negative to estrogen and progesterone receptor and positive to HER2/Neu. 
I was tested for all the genetics for breast cancer and all the test came back negative.
 I have competed two surgeries in April.  First surgery was a lumpectomy of the left breast and one lymph node was removed.  That lymph node was positive to cancer and the lumpectomy didn't have clean margins.  The second surgery  was successful to get the clean margins and two more lymph nodes where remove and they where negative.
My treatment had been set to start June 5th with two drugs being give every 2 weeks for 4 treatments, two new drugs will be give every week for 12 weeks, then 4 to 6 weeks for radiation Monday thru Friday,  at last one drug in give every three weeks to complete out a year.  Before, I can start any for the treatments I will be having a muc-a scan (some heart test to measure the heart).  The chemo drugs have side effects and the first drugs can effect the heart.  I will be having many different test as this journey continues.  The scan is schedule for June 1st and then I go for a chemo teach the same day.
Roger is planning on going with me on the first day.  They told me so far, the day would be long because they have to push the drugs slow and one at a time to see how my body will respond.  I do have to have a blood draw everyday before each treatment to check my blood count and see if they can give me the treatment.  The day after the treatment I have to return for a shot for nausea.  They tell me I may qualify for the patches, hope so, it will save me a 35 mile trip one way.  
My treatments will be give at the Karmanos center in Petoskey.  Thank you all for your calls, cards, visits, and kind words.

Newest Update

5 Treatment in past

Journal entry by Valerie Witt —

Roger took me to complete my 5th treatment today.  My blood count was in the safe zone to continue with treatment.  Long day left a 9 and go home at 6. They have to give me per-medication and Benadryl in the IV first then I have to wait a half hour.  Then the chemo drugs start, Herceptin and Paclitaxel.  Herceotin will the drug I have to have for a year.  They push it very slow for 90 minutes to see how I reacted.  When well, so they will speed up the push time and work it down to 30 minute over time.  But, the Benadrly put me to sleep. I had to sleep over two hours and it makes me to tired to drive home. Dr. just keep tell me this is one of the hardest regimen of chemo they give. 5 down with 11 major treatment to go, resting on the couch tonight.  Thanks for all your prayers and support.
Valerie
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