Dad's update and the shave! - March 27th 08

My BEAUTIFUL Mom!

A Note from our Dad:

Hi Family and Friends --

Rebecca is now 25% of the way through chemotherapy! She had her second treatment on Tuesday this week. It was the same regimen -- red gravy and clear gravy. It took a little longer this time, though I'm not sure why. They did some blood tests just prior to the chemo to make sure her white blood counts and blood chemistry were good -- and they were very good. Rebecca seems to be very strong and handling this very well. Wednesday she went back for the Neulasta shot (the one we enjoy calling liquid gold -- enough said?). Some of you have wondered why they just automatically give this shot. Here's my layman's understanding. The chemotherapy not only kills cancer cells, but virtually all fast-growing cells (hair, mucous membranes, and certain blood cells). The actual chemo chemicals are flushed out of the body in a day or two. But the effects of the chemo take some time (for example, killing white blood cells takes several days). It takes white blood cells about 10 days to 2 weeks to replenish themselves. So, it used to be that breast cancer chemo was done on a 3-week cycle to allow time for the white blood cells to die (which is inevitable), and then to regenerate. However, studies apparently showed that more frequent application of chemotherapy was more effective in killing cancer. But patient's bodies did not have time to regenerate enough white blood cells in 2 weeks to enable them to be strong enough to tolerate more frequent chemo. Therefore Neulasta is given the day after chemo (24 hours later, most, in not all the chemo is passed out of the body) to stimulate production of white blood cells in 10-14 days -- just in time to start another chemo round 2 weeks later. It does no good to test the white blood count right before the Neulasta shot, because 24 hours isn't enough time for the count to fall yet, but they inject the Neulasta so it can begin the regen process quickly. Instead, they do test the patient's blood right before the next chemo treatment, but not to determine whether the white blood count has fallen or not. The chemo has most assuredly already done that -- that's just what chemo does. They test to see if the Neulasta has stimulated enough white cell production to allow the patient to endure another treatment, and a hour or so later, they start the chemo.

It's too early to tell how effective the chemo is in shrinking this tumor yet. The doctor indicated that we probably won't detect any change until at least after the 3rd A-C (adriamycin-cytoxin) treatment. So much for the medical lesson . . . Rebecca is doing remarkably well. She is naturally tired, and has nausea for a few days after treatment. She actually worked a half day at home yesterday, and again at work today. I've had to tell to go bed. She has a good appetite well.
However, her hair started falling out in large tufts on Tuesday -- the day we were due for the 2nd chemo. Even though her hair was still fairly full this morning, it was falling out much more quickly. So Shelby and Casey came over this morning at 7am, and gave Rebecca a "trim". Actually, Shelby kept cutting until we got the Sinead O'conner look, or the Demi Moore look in GI Jane. Along the way, we stopped to take pictures of Rebecca -- The Samuri Warrior. She could easily have been in one of the those Chinese calligraphy movies or hidden tiger, slouching dragon things. . . . if only we could have found a sword or some daggers (that reference is for Mikey's benefit). Anyway, as you can tell, she's keeping a great sense of humor, and a good outlook. This is only temporary, so she's trying to have fun with it. We have been so well taken care of by great friends and neighbors. Rebecca is blessed to work with an amazing group of people who offer her amazing support on the bad days. Her work associates and our church family have been alternating each first week of chemo in the cycle by bringing us meals. The food has been absolutely fantastic. Jenn Harris has helped Rebecca get her "gang colors". . . I mean exquisite scarves for her head and set her up with some good itunes to immerse herself in during treatments and times she's not resting well. She actually looks quite beautiful with or without the scarves. We have another dear neighbor, Carolyn, who came down to our house on her own accord, and decorated our front door with Rebecca's spring ensemble, and then came back and planted a few spring flowers in the front garden. The Zundels and Ockeys help with rides and activities for Alyssa. Still other friends and family have offered to take Rebecca for treatments and shots to allow me to get to work. Alyssa is doing very well, too, as many have asked. She is doing well in school, and she laughs. We try to keep as normal a routine as possible. Work, school, church, and activities are very much the same. We take time to slow down, too, to have some fun. We had a great Easter dinner with Sterling, Deanna, Shelby, Casey, and Michelle and her daughter Emma (Lizard's Beading Buddies). We can't begin to thank you for all of your prayers, thoughts, and well wishes. We really do feel them, and are richly blessed with real faith that we'll make it through this with the help of our Lord, family, and friends. Love, Mark

The first "BUZZ" piece

Mom has had such a great attitude about everything!
Alyssa is trimming mom's hair in this picture so there wouldn't be as much "pull"
The spike look looks good on mom!

Casey making the finsihing touches.

No matter what cut she gets, she looks good no matter what!

She looks good in her "do-rags", Jenn!