Chemo 2 Jeanne 2

"Second quarter and Ruiz is coming off bench rested and ready... she's got a look in her eyes that is making her opponents down court quell with fear".
(This quote came from a very special person at my school who is a HUGE basketball fan, a blog follower and a great friend).
Chemo came out hard to start quarter #2 but Team Jeanne was better prepared this time. She was well hydrated and rested and her IV went to work right after the inbounds pass. Team Jeanne has more defensive options (man-to-man, 2-3 zone, 2-2-1full-court press, not to mention a bunch of cool meds). She is ready!!

Many, many thanks for Team Jeanne's medical personnel: Dr. Janis and his staff of oncology nurses are nothing short of amazing and Team Jeanne is so blessed to have them. Carol(with her own chair) was my chemo partner today and we had a great time visiting and going out to lunch and shopping after. It's a miracle we didn't wash away in the rainstorm getting from Dr. Janis' office to the restaurant.

I am feeling good now. Hoping to work tomorrow and Thursday; taking Friday and next Monday off to chillax and reload so I can finish the rest of this quarter strong.

Received the most WONDERFUL, AMAZING, BEAUTIFUL letter from one of my Confirmation students (now a high school sophomore) and he provided me with a verse for quarter 2:
Acts 20:24 "However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me-the task of testifying to the Gospel of God's Grace."
But by the Grace of God will I finish this race, continuing with quarter 2 today.

Thank you all, again, for your support, love, caring, compassion and acts of love (cards, emails, meals).

Lots of Love,

Jeanne

Chemo 3 Team Jeanne 1:End of First Quarter...

Well, the buzzer has sounded, signaling the end of the first quarter. Team Jeanne (renamed because there is NOTHING about this that I am doing by myself) finished extremely strong and clearly took the quarter from Chemo. Team Jeanne struggled at the beginning of the quarter, due to Chemo's MANY weapons that just kept coming off the bench: headaches, nausea, vomiting, nausea, achy bones, insomnia, nausea, night sweats and did I mention nausea? Team Jeanne struggled a bit but kept fighting through the pressure defense and was able to get the upper hand by the end of the quarter.

The only Chemo weapon that I had no defense for was hair loss and it is GONE...we finally buzzed it Saturday night. Clearly when your hair comes out in handfuls every time you touch your head it is time to do something proactive about it. Matt put the clippers to work on a level 4 first, and when Austin said "is there anyway you could make it look a little more even?" , we knew it was time to go to a level 1. I have multiple bald spots even with the level 1 now so I know it is only a matter of time...Oh well, I have a plethora of scarves and a couple of hairpieces so we'll see how it goes. I am almost to the point where I forget about it, as I am out and about around town with my hairless head wrapped in a scarf. I have gotten some wonderful, spontaneous, kind comments from complete strangers. An umbrella isn't so important these days to keep my hair from 'frizzing out'. It is SO much easier to get ready in the mornings...no smoothing hair cream, no root booster, no hair dryer, no big round brush, no mousse wax and no hairspray. Not sure what I'll do when the eyebrows and eyelashes go...
God is good all the time!!! He is the Coach of this team and He has provided the Team with so much compassion, grace, love and reassurance. I cling to that every hour of every day and I thank you all for being a part of this Team.

Lots of Love from the bottom of my heart,

Jeanne

Cancer Score: Chemo 3 Jeanne 1

I thought that I would treat this chemo protocol like 4 quarters of a basketball game and although we all know what the final score will be come March 2nd, I thought this would be a fun way to share my chemo thoughts and experiences. Since each quarter lasts approximately 20 days I'll update periodically with both team and individual stats and highlights (hopefully no lowlights).
The scouting report on Chemo had it looking very powerful, strong and potent. Well, it did not disappoint as it took two nurses and 10 minutes to get the IV needle inserted into my vein...Chemo was armed with MANY drugs, too many for me to remember. I responded well to Chemo's potency by showing that I was not allergic to any of its weapons and I think I tolerated Chemo's power well during the treatment. I am continuing to play stellar defense against Chemo. I have stopped its attacks of nausea for the most part. However, I am showing signs of fatigue and wish I could call for a sub right about now; oh well.
First quarter updates to continue at a later date...

My sister Phyllis was my Chemo partner for today and it was so great to have her with me. We rocked the Infusion room with our fashion and gossip magazines and constant chatter and witty banter. I don't think many of the patients appreciated all that we had to offer but most of them finished before I did. I did realize that there are people far more sicker than I am and I prayed especially hard for a man who was there for a very long time today, getting many chemo drugs. He looked very sick...
Tomorrow I go back to Dr. Janis' office to receive my two shots: one for nausea and one to boost my white blood cell count.
Ordered hats, scarves and hair-pieces tonight. That was an experience...
Both Lancer teams (JV and Varsity) are playing for tournament championships tomorrow. I am hoping to attend both games...
Chloe will be coming home with us from Matt's game in Ventura...I miss that girl!!

Thanks for the comments on the blog today...I've read them all...more than once.
This journey has begun with so much optimism, caring and compassion. Your prayers and good wishes have been the driving force. Thank you from the bottom of my heart...
With continued love and thanks,

Jeanne

Post Christmas Posting...

Can't sleep...up extra early for church, waiting for coffee to finish...no newspaper yet...thought I'd update. Christmas was wonderful for the Ruiz family...lots of time with family and friends...many, many extra long hugs and much love...God is good all the time!!
Chemo will start on December 29th...four cycles all together with the last one scheduled for March 2nd. According to Dr. Janis, my oncologist, the risk of "residual, microscopic, metastatic cancer cells" was significant enough for me that chemo isn't really an 'option', it just is...so we begin on Tuesday. I think I have done all of my reading homework, dropped off my prescriptions, have my chemo buddy(my sister Phyllis)and am ready to begin this leg of my journey.
I spent some time looking at wigs/hair-pieces...I like the bangs that velcro into a hat, or long, straight "Cher hair" that velcros into a hat...I may opt for black so don't be surprised if I start singing, "they say we're young, and we don't know, we won't find out until we grow..." I hope to have fun with the whole 'fake hair' thing. I just don't want to frighten my special-ed students.
Once chemo is finished, after they give my body a few weeks to compose itself, we'll begin 6 to 7 weeks of radiation therapy. That ought to be a snap, so I've heard. I'm hoping to work as much as I can, taking time off as I need to rest and 'chillax' as Austin says.
Coolest thing I've seen this vacation...fellow high-school bball coaches and Matt's players wearing pink wrist bands...pink in gymnasiums is a good thing...also heard that I get special mentioning in the Lancer's pregame prayers (Thanks Lucas). I feel all of your prayers and am so blessed by your caring and compassion. Here is a great verse from Colossians that a fellow breast cancer survivor sent to me in a card: "We pray that you will have the strength to stick it out over the long haul-not the grim strength of gritting your teeth but the glory-strength God gives. It is strength that endures the unendurable and spills over into joy, thanking the Father who makes us strong enough to take part in everything bright and beautiful that He has for us.
With thanks and love,

Jeanne

Radiation+Chemo=My Second Cancer Cure

Well, the results of my Oncotype DX test are in and as much as I have always strived for high test scores this is one time when a high score was not necessarily in my favor...my high recurrent score sealed the deal for Chemotherapy as the first part of my treatment protocol. I begin my first of four treatments on December 29th and will take my last treatment on March 2nd. Cytoxan and Taxotere are Dr. Janis' drugs of choice for me, amongst NUMEROUS other concoctions to combat the host of side effects that are expected...already got two presciptions today; one for Compazine and the other for a Cranial Prosthesis (can you believe that terminology??) I guess insurance will pay for a wig if we use the proper vocabulary.
When the Chemo is completed we will explore hormone therapy options and get going with my radiation therapy. Maybe I'll be finished by sometime in June, we'll see.
I have a ginormous folder to read/study all about my new journey. I'll share more of the fascinating information in subsequent posts. I am relieved to know the next step and confident that I will make it through this, definitely better for having gone through this experience. So blessed to be able to wait until after Christmas to begin.
As I was pulling into the garage, listening to the Christmas Music radio station, I heard this verse of Amazing Grace; once again (just like the rainbow last week) God's timing was perfect. After all, it is all about His Timing, not mine...

The Lord has promised good to me,
His Word my hope secures;
He will my Shield and Portion be,
as long as life endures.

We did get our Christmas tree up and decorated...funniest thing heard around the Ruiz Christmas Tree this evening...(see if you can guess who said it), while holding an ornament of the Baby Jesus that read The Greatest Gift, "Oh, guess that's referring to me because I am the greatest gift given to you guys, this ornament must have been from my first Christmas". We all said, "Oh Brother!"...
With much love and thanks for all of your prayers, love and support,

Jeanne

ROR'd

I was ROR'd (check Law and Order [or ask Austin] for explanation) and worked Tuesday through Friday. I love my students and here are some snippets of the best language heard in the speech office at McGaugh, "This flower is for you, my mommy buyed it at the flower store", "Is that a big pink flower?" (clearly it was...rhetorical questions abound with my students), "I like that big pink flower" and "hope you feel better, Mrs. Ruiz." Staying home was hard...lots of time to think about cancer...as I was driving to pick-up Chloe from school on Monday, stopped at a red light at Carson and Clark and having a particularly teary moment I looked up and saw the MOST beautiful rainbow...God is Good All the Time!!! A list is coming soon...The Blessings Involved with my Cancer Diagnosis-there are many.

Saw the Radiation Oncologist yesterday(OK I could be his mom). We have a plan (36+) radiation treatments with External Beam Radiation (EBR), but the start date is still undetermined as we will review the results of the Oncotype DX study with my 'regular' Oncologist, Dr. Janis (he could be my dad) on Tuesday afternoon. So many men (doctors) so little time... If Chemotherapy is indicated then radiation therapy will have to wait until chemo is completed. We should have a plan in place after Tuesday's appt.

304 College Park Drive is starting to look a lot like Christmas...the It's A Wonderful Life Village and Lionel Train are up. Christmas carols are blaring from the IPod...Life is Good! I played BOTH my handbells in rehearsal today and it was the BEST feeling since my diagnosis (11/12/09-exactly one month ago). I can't wait for tomorrow's Christmas Concerts...
My favorite quote of the Season..."I Believe...the best Gift I ever received came wrapped in swaddling clothes"
I Believe...
Will Post after Tuesday's appointment.
Thanks for your continued Love, Prayers and Support,

Jeanne

Under House Arrest

Saw two doctors today. Dr. Link, breast cancer Oncologist encouraged us to explore a new type of Radiation Therapy that involves pinpoint radiation (5 consecutive days/twice a day). He also wants to wait on the Onco DX study before he (we) make a final decision regarding chemotherapy. I have an appointment with a radiation Oncologist at LB Memorial next Tuesday. I will also see the radiation Oncologist, Dr. Kwon at Los Alamitos Hospital next week to discuss traditional radiation therapy (33 treatments). Dr. Link did not like the looks of my lumpectomy incision/area "that's a huge hematoma you've got there, bet that is tender, maybe you could get in to see Dr. Rayhanabad (surgeon) sooner rather than later." So, on our way home from lunch we stopped in to see Dr. Lowe, my primary care doctor...we discussed oncologist opinions/recommendations and when he looked at my lumpectomy incision he immediately put me on "house arrest" for the weekend. "You've been doing way too much...did you hit it or injure it?, You've broken off some scar tissue and caused a lot of blood to fill up the cavity where they removed the tumor." So, I am house bound this weekend...will supervise the hanging of outdoor lights (I usually do anyway) and watch the Lakewood semi-final CIF football game on my plasma screen instead of from the stadium sidelines.
Other cancer news: Jeanne's genes are negative (which is a positive thing for her ovaries) and for Chloe.
Jeanne's jeans still fit, even though she hasn't been able to run since November
7th, still hoping to do the Huntington Beach Super Bowl Half-Marathon on February 7th...
Thanks for your continued prayers and good wishes.
Love,
Jeanne