Last chemo treatments

by Wednesday, February 12th, 2014Breast Cancer30 comments

It feels good to know that I have completed my last chemo treatments. We are now moving forward to me having my double mastectomy in a month. For the most part, I still have been feeling pretty good. The only side effect that has been getting a little worse is the tingling in my fingertips. I have noticed in the past week or so that my nails are getting a little discolored and feel very sensitive, kind of like when you slam your fingers in a door. I have had some troubles with buttoning clothing and have noticed that the strength in my hands may not be as strong as it was in the past.

One other side effect that has bothered me is the loss of my eyebrows and eyelashes. This has been more troublesome than losing the hair on my head. When I look in the mirror first thing in the morning, it’s hard to look at myself without seeing that I am sick. Now that the chemo is done, I can look forward to all of my hair returning.  So in no time, I will have all of my eyebrows and lashes back along with the hair on my head.

I feel so fortunate that I was able to keep my neutrophils up enough to not have an interruption in my treatments. Who knows? Maybe the various foods I ate for the past couple of weeks, along with all the rest I was getting, helped out. I got mad at Mark the other day when he gave me a hard time about attending one of my Livestrong sessions at the YMCA. I know he is only trying to protect me, and there are so many illnesses going around, but I also need to keep active.

It will feel weird not going on our little weekly dates up to Milwaukee. I am really going to miss all of the wonderful people at Froedtert that helped me along the way.



30 Comments
  1. Sue Christensen

    You have come a long way Amy, and you will beat this evil Cancer!!

    Reply
    • Amy Czerniec

      Thanks Sue, It has really been a journey. I do feel like I am giving this a good fight and that I will prevail.

      Reply
  2. Yvette

    Congrats!!! We will keep the prayers coming. Love ya.

    Reply
    • Amy Czerniec

      Thanks for the prayers Yvette, it’s nice hearing from you.

      Reply
  3. Betty Jo Dibble

    Awesome Amy!!! Love you and thinking of you!!

    Reply
    • Amy Czerniec

      Betty I always feel like I am channeling you when I wear my beautiful long blond wig. It makes me feel happy. :)

      Reply
  4. Sarah Poikonen

    Amy, I am so happy for you, this was a big hurdle and you jumped it with flying colors or should I say flying wigs? :)

    Radiation will be a breeze.

    Enjoy this rest time, you have earned it.

    Reply
    • Amy Czerniec

      Sarah as you well know it is a big hurdle to jump. Thanks for your encouragement and support along the way. :)

      Reply
  5. Theresa Greuel

    So good that you are done with that stage. Now rest up for the next. Stay warm!

    Reply
    • Amy Czerniec

      Thanks for checking in Theresa, it’s nice hearing from you. Wouldn’t this all be better if it took place in Hawaii? :)

      Reply
  6. Maria

    Happy Valentines Day!! Happy February 10th!! Happy end of chemo!
    Really enjoyed this video. You and Mark have a gift when it comes to telling your story. The birds / music was pretty cool. You really are surrounded with some pretty great folks, too – it’s nice to see that.

    Reply
    • Amy Czerniec

      Happy Happy Happy Maria! You and Wayne are two more of those great folks in our circle. Just that you two aren’t able to be in our videos, we might have to change that!

      Reply
  7. Linda Surratt

    Happy news, except for the eyelashes…stay strong!

    Reply
    • Amy Czerniec

      Thanks for checking in Linda. I thank god for eyeliner and eyebrow pencils it really makes a difference.

      Reply
  8. Linda Serpe

    I understand what you mean when you say you will miss the weekly visits. Hey you will get over it, and have lots of memories. I’m sure because you were eating healthy that you better for it.
    God Bless you and the Dr. that will be performing your surgery.
    You have lots of memories, and you will still see Dr. Cheng at least every 6 months for awhile.

    Reply
    • Amy Czerniec

      Thank you Linda for your support and wisdom. I feel so grateful to have you in my circle of hope. :)

      Reply
  9. Marianne Germinaro

    Amy, my wonderful, brave sister, you look amazing with or without eyelashes and eyebrows. So glad to hear that you are done with your treatments. You are so lucky to have Mark in your life, he takes such good care of you. Love you both. Your sister Marianne.

    Reply
    • Amy Czerniec

      Marianne – I feel so blessed to have you for my sister. Thank you for all of your love and support through this. Having my family and Mark’s by our side has brought me so much strength. I love all of you.

      Reply
  10. Gregory Berg

    Enjoyed every bit of this …. but especially “The Ride of the Valkyries!” Best wishes, Amy and Mark.

    Reply
    • Amy Czerniec

      Ha I thought of you Greg when Mark was picking out the music. I knew you would like it. :)

      Thanks for the well wishes.

      Reply
  11. Bridgett

    Congrats Amy ;-) You Definetly will be a Survivor- never had any doubt in that ! Love you So much- Hope to see you soon :-)

    Reply
    • Amy Czerniec

      Bridgett Thanks so much. I Love you too. Your love and support along with all of my other friends and family has surely helped me along the way.

      Reply
      • Amy Evans

        Hey Amy,

        So happy you are done with that part of it. You did so great! I’m so proud of you! Happy belated valentine’s day.

        XOXO
        Amy

        Reply
        • Amy Evans

          P.S. justified is my favorite show!

          Reply
          • Amy Czerniec

            OMG Don’t you just love Raylan, Boyd and all those other great characters on Justified? We have watched it from the 1st episode. Mags was one of my favorites before she was killed off!

  12. Amy Evans

    Yes!! He is the best. I’m always telling people to watch it. No one listens. I just love all the smart, witty, banter. I think Dewey Crowe looks like Juan Pablo, the new bachelor. Yuck. Haha. Love you. Wish we could watch it together! I also LOVE House of Cards too. If you don’t watch it you should!!

    Love you, thanks for my birthday card!
    Amy

    Reply
  13. lynn erickson

    You did it Amy! Got through the chemo and I absolutely know that the fact that you take such good care of yourself helped you tremendously. I’m so proud to have you as my friend.

    Reply
    • Amy Czerniec

      Oh Lynn you are so sweet. I feel so good being done with chemo and having that behind me.

      I don’t know about how healthy I am. Right now I feel like I have been so bad that little voice in my head is like “oh you deserve whatever it is cause you just finished chemo”. Well I need to stop that stupid talk, cause I keep looking at the scale and it’s creeping up. “Yikes”!!!

      Thanks again my friend for your love and support. :)

      Reply
  14. Kelly A. dyer

    You are still amazing to me my friend. I wish you God’s grace upon you tomorrow on your next step to wellness. I love you and Mark very much. XOXO

    Reply
    • Amy Czerniec

      Kelly thanks for stopping by the other day we had such a nice visit with you and Fiona.

      I love you two so much, you are both amazing women.

      Reply

Please add your thoughts: