No relieve in sight.

One week after i got done with radiation and i'm still very much in pain and fighting the worst kind of burning rash.Today ,after not sleeping all night , went to see the radiation oncologist who then referred me to the dermatologist, who prescribed another cream(fourth one for me)  Six hours later...still no relief. I am running out of patience.

Last Radiation therapy

, The last two weeks of radiation therapy was nothing like i expected. It was so strong  that it burned me so badly that i have 2nd degree burn. This , by far, has been the worst. They assure me that it is normal to sometime get this reaction, and that it will take at least another two weeks to  heel.

               However , December 9 was my last, and now i wont have the daily trip to deal with .
                Yesterday after being done, having said good bye to the staff and on my way out , i see a bunch if of people with balloons coming toward me,only to realize it's my familly

celebrating at Panera's

Danielle and the boys who drove 3 hours to come from Baltimore to after drive another three to go back. Marcello who took time from school, Jerolyn who picked up  Sophia and Joseph early from school to come and surprise me and celebrate. Needless to say, I totally lost it!!!!!!!!

Thanksgiving

                                             Thanksgiving Prayer
         
                                    Thank you God for all that grows
                                     Thank you for the sky's rainbows,
                                     Thank you for the stars that shine,
                           Thank you for these friends and family of mine'
                                    Thank you for the moon and sun,
                                    Thank you God for all you've done.                                      

This is the prayer my grandchildren  say at Thanksgiving before dinner.
After that, we go around the table a share what each of us is thankful for. Everyone of us, undoubtedly
amongst other things,we say we are thankful for our health.
                              This year, however,i found myself appreciating what that means.
Having been battling cancer since last February, having gone through the brutality of chemo therapy,
going through the daily, gruesome schedule of radiation,has made me realize, never, to take  good health for granted.
                                So , This year, I am grateful for my body cooperating to these treatments.
I am grateful for the wonderful medical team at Memorial Sloan Kettering,that has  helped
me thru this trying and scary time. They have been my lifeline.
I am thankful for my family, whose support and love has carried me and finally I am grateful for my grandchildren,who put a smile on my face every time i See them.  I continue to pray to God   to keep me positive.
           
                                                     
                                                      
                            
                              
   

Fall

 I never liked the fall season. I think of fall,as endless  leaves falling on my lawn,  causing a mess and a lot of extra work. This year, Raffaele and I, have had a change of heart on the subject.
.         Radiation for me is every day and it takes place at Sloan Kettering in Basking Ridge. It is a 40 minute ride on route 80 and  route 287.                                                     On our daily ride we have witnessed the most ammazing foliage .Every day we admire  it's everchanging colors .                                                                                 It's  made the daily routine tolerable  and made us apreciate our changing seasons.             12 rounds of radiation done, 21 more to go. Hope the weather continues to be great.                                        

First week of radiation

First 5 radiation therape done.So far no side effects. I feel perfectly fine.

October 24,2011 First radiation therape

Today i starded radiation therape. As a "first"of anything that one does, I was a little nervous and apprehensive. I was, however, really impressed of the radiation oncologists.They   take such care in being so precise in tattoing and marking the right target.  They made a mold to my body so that  I stay precisely in the same position everyday, which is very important.First day done , 6 more weeks to go.

October 21

Tattooed and ready for radiation , starting monday

3 weeks after chimo

I feel wonderful! I never thought that I would get my energy back but 3 weeks after  i finished chimo I just feel wonderful!  I have used this time to catch up on lost time.
I have met friends, clients and cousins for lunch, have visited others and hosted company at my house.I feel ready for the next challenge, On the 21st ,i will start radiation therape that will last 6 weeks.That also shall pass!!!!!!

Last Chemo!!

Wednesday, September 21 was final chemo treatment.  The doctor in charge of this stage of treatment and all the staff have been awesome.  We have been very lucky.  Below is my last treatment picture and our wonderful Dr. Gorsky.  Sophia and Joseph made a project for her.  She was touched by this and the card my kids/kids in law all wrote for her. 

We went for radiation consult and really like that doctor too.  Radiation starts on October 24 and lasts until December 9.  It is every day Monday-Friday.  We are glad this all ends before a new year starts so we can look forward to good times and good health in 2012.

Keep your thoughts and prayers coming... they mean the world.  Thank you

7th cycle of chimo therape.

Day before chim, as per tradition, Jerolyn, Tita, Jennifer and Sabrina went to see a silly  the movie," Our Idiot Brother.  Chin therape went well. The nurses enjoyed the Italian pastries i brought them. ( they are going to miss thes treats when i'm done)
Dr Georsky is very pleased with my progress.As usual, for 4 days after, i feel fatigued and out of sorts. Slowly i start getting more energy. Anyway,with only one chimo to go , I'll be patient.My love to everyone tha's been reaching out to me.

Between 6th chim and 7th

I would like to share the good news. I only had four bad days after chimo.After that i started feeling wonderful. Feeling wonderful is awsome. Feeeling awsome is extrawrdinary. I will never take for granted feeling good.

6th chimo therape is done

I am trying to be patient with the side effects, knowing that i am approaching the last two.  So looking forward to it.I am so grateful for the constant support of my family and friends.  Because of them i am able to keep a .positive attitude. thank you, from the bottom of my heart

5th chimo therape

My 5th session of chimo started the first of four of the drug TOXIL I had flu like symptoms for a couple of days followed by fatigue. With only 3 chimo left, i cannot think of complaning but only look forward to the end.

On some of my good days i always have visitors.  The girls from my shop,Women of style, came for lunch. Leslie made me a beautiful scrapbook with pictures of all my clients that i will always cherish.  Some of them have stopped by to visit along the journey!



It was also  nice to visit with my niece Nina  who was here from Californa,and with  April and Barbara.  My children and families who are forever making apperances. I am trully blessed!

Half Way There!!!

Tuesday, July 26

Keeping to pre-treatment movie outing, went to see Horrible Bosses with Laura and Jerolyn.  Very funny.  Was good for a laugh. (other movies seen are Bridemaids, Midnight in Paris and Larry Crowne)

Wednesday, July 27

Yeah - everything was OK to continue treatment.  So relieved we are able to get the last A/C treatment.  Dr. is very pleased how well things have been.  The toothe ache was just a bump in the road we had to overcome.  So far side effects have been manageable.  The medications they give these day are incredible.

We had the Queen Chemo Suite (large private room) so Jerolyn and I were able to eat lunch, and Jerolyn worked while I rested.

Start the 2nd regimen in a couple weeks.  It is not supposed to be as bad as this one but everyone is different, so we will have to wait and see... but we are excited to be at this 1/2 point milestone and and optomistic about what's to come. 

Your thoughts and prayers are appreciated!  Keep them coming!

4th chimotherape canceled

Today i was very disappointed not to have been able to get my 4th chimo.After 9 days of antibiotic, i still have a toothache and the infection would not go away.Tthe oncologist desided extraction of the offending tooth is best

between chimo 3 and 4

C himo has been brutal. So many side effects. This week i lost a crown so i have had a tooth ache for 4 days.The dentist cannot remove the broken root untill the infection is gone and speaks to my oncologist. So i'm praying the antibiotic works soon!

nn

Made it through 3!!

July 6 brought chemo treatment #3.  So happy we are able to stay on schedule!  Spoke to Dr. about some of the side effects since last treatment and we are working on a plan to alleviate!  Hoping next couple of weeks are closer to the first 2 than the last 2.  Please keep thoughts and prayers coming!  Thanks for all of your support.

2 down; 6 to go (and lot's of good things to cherish in between!!)

Wow - so much has gone on since the 1st treatment on June 8.  Side effects were well controlled... we will sign up for this if this is extent of what we experience!!

First 3-4 days after chemo treatment are rough, but after that, energy level picks up and things are OK. 

Went to lunch with Silvana and Jerolyn on Wednesday.  Nice place on the Ramapo River.  Ate a lot of brown rice!!

Danielle and boys came to town for Father's Day weekend. We had such a nice time.  Nick, Alison and Cole joined us on Sunday.  It was so nice hving 3 kids and 6 Grandkids together.  Some photos of all the things we did are included (planted flowers in symbol of breast cancer ribbon, went to pool, played with cousins, sent balloons to Nonna Jenny)!

The girls and kids decided to have some fun with my wigs.  I think I am going to have to fight to keep them for myself!!  YES - the 3rd photo is William and Joseph!!

 jerolyn & danielle

 Sophia the superstar

William & Jospeh

On Tuesday, 4 of my wonderful friends that I have been doing their hair for year came to the house to vist and enjoy lunch!  What a nice day!

We decided Tuesday before chemo is girls movie night, so Tita, Jerolyn & I went to see Midnight in Paris.  Good movie!!  Want to visit Paris again!

June 22 - 5:30 AM... Decided to avoid the inevitable and cut my hair!  Kids loved it (Joseph said I was beautiful and Sophia thought I was a fashionista!!)... watch out Halle Berry!!

6/22 - 11:00 AM-3:00 PM... Nick took me to Sloan Kettering today. Doctor patiently addressed all my questions!  Marcello joined us for the infusion in the afternoon.  All went well... ready to take on what the next few days bring.  1/4 of the way there... and feeling and looking good on the journey thus far!

Stay tuned for more of this life changing journey...

It's almost time for the second /chimo, I have lots of questions fo r my uncologist.

June 13 6:30AM

Had a great night. Up early with increasing energy.Good morning World!!!!!!

Day 4, post chimo

two days of total exaution Nausea under control with these adadorable pink pills, love them. They even;let me know
;when it's time for for the next round.
It is 3pm . i am in my sun room feeling much better.

Chemo: 1 down, 7 to go

June 4, 2011... Sophia and 6 of her school friends ran a lemonade stand in a local park and raised $138.80 for the Triple Breast Cancer Foundation!!  Way to go, girls!!

June 8, 2011... the big day arrived and off we went for our first pre-treatment consultation and chemo administration.  It was a warm, sunny spring day, so the drive to the Sloan Kettering Basking Ridge facility was uneventful. 

In true Italian fashion, we arrived with baked goods to share with the nurses and doctors who will be an important part of our family for the next 6 months (and beyond as we continue with routine post-treatment check ups)!  We met with our primary doctor first, Dr. Mila Gorsky, and she answered all the crazy questions we had compiled since we met with her on May 20!  She was very patient with us!!  She is also very positive and optimistic (as are we!) about the outcome of the treatment plan we decided on together.  Since the nodes and margins were clear of any cancer cells, we are poised to BEAT THIS!!

At ~3:00 PM, the actual treatments began.  Our main nurse Tara was AWESOME... so organized and thorough.  Everything was done via IV.  Pina's veins were GREAT!!  There was a series of drug pushes (of the A drug) for about an hour (they have to push it in the vein and then pull back on the syringe to check the blood flow).  Then there was about 30 minutes of IV of the C drug. All the while, Pina was receiving fluids via IV for hydration. Hydration is so important during treatment.  It all went as smoothly as it could have.  Pina was the perfect patient!  She was smiling ear to ear when she talked to the Bressner Boys on the phone! 

About 2 hours later, when all was done, we had a little excitement when Pina went to the restroom. She unknowingly pressed the "Help" button and set off all sorts of alarms.  Nurses came out of the woodwork to help the patient in distress!  Once they realized it was an accident, things settled down.  What a way to make a first impression:)

The first night was not so bad.  Nausea here and there, but they have provided a lot of medications to keep it under control.  Appetite is not normal, but Pina is eating little bits here and there to keep her body nourished!

The follow up shot was yesterday (6/9).  Since it was after school hours, Sophia went with Nonna and Nonno for the ride!  We know Nonna Jenny was with us on her special day!

June 10... a lot of sleeping today, but that is to be expected.  Nausea medication is a God send... so far so good.  Hands are shaky and mind if a little fuzzy, but hey... we'll take it!  Nick is keeping her mind off of it all by having a date night where they are watching a silly movie.

"The capacity for hope is the most significant fact of life. It provides human beings with a sense of destination and the energy to get started."

Background

We created a blog so we can keep all of our family and friends updated on how things are going on our journey. We are so appreciative of all of your love and support. It has helped us to stay positive and focused on that task at hand... which is to get better. It really matters and makes a difference! Keep the messages and prayers coming!

As we move into treatment mode, we thought this would be a good way to keep everyone informed.  Believe there is always, always, always a way.  Believe you are far bigger than anything that can happen to you.  Believe that the best is yet to be. WE BELIEVE!

March 2011

• Mammogram
• Confirmation of cancer

April

• Consultation at Sloan Kettering in NY
• Surgery (lumpectomy on April 25)

May

• Diagnosis of triple negative breast cancer
• To read more about this type of cancer, visit www.tnbcfoundation.org
• Decision to proceed with doctor recommendation of 16 week aggressive chemo regimen of what they call ACT: 4 sessions 2x/month of Adriamycin & Cytoxan (A/C); 4 sessions 2x/month of Taxol (T)
• Each treatment is followed by a shot of Procrit administered the day after treatment
• Alison & Pina went wig shopping, which was "fun" for 2 hair stylists!!