Chemo Prep, Per Me:

Things to know about port implants, per Me:

I was scheduled for my medi-port implant on 9/17/24, and I had chemo starting on the 25th. After having 2 lymph nodes removed at mastectomy, my left arm will forever off limits for vein access or blood pressure cuffs. And since the veins in my right arm dodge needles like my toddler tries to dodge a diaper change, the medi port seemed like an amazing option. I hope the following is helpful for those considering getting a medi port prior to treatment:

1) Try to avoid an afternoon procedure. All the previous ones throughout the day will probably not run on schedule and the fasting requirement will feel like an eternity.

2) You can choose which side your port goes on, but it's probably a good idea to avoid the side the cancer was on.

3) Try to avoid an afternoon procedure. Yep, I said it again. Who knew that post-op X-Rays are required before discharge!? An X-Ray tech will eventually show up, take images, and then a radiologist will need to read the images to make sure everything is okay. I'm certain this would be a much smoother process if the radiology team hadn't all left for the day (I was stuck waiting for someone to read it remotely. My husband even asked if it'd be considered AMA if we left and they called us with the "OK")...I'm also still trying to figure out why this wasn't done intraoperatively?

4) Pack something nutritious to eat while you're in the X-Ray phase. There's a good chance that frustration, anesthesia, and an empty stomach will induce nausea, and there will be no amount of water or hospital pretzels to stop it.

5) Brace yourself for some major neck discomfort. It'll eventually dissipate, but the soreness and tightness linger for awhile. I think this was payback for all the throat punches I've threatened over the years.

6) If the incision itches like HELL and seems like it wants to open, there's a good chance the body is pushing out the internal sutures instead of absorbing them as planned. The sooner this is recognized and handled, the sooner the healing can begin. Don't let the surgeon tell you it's "normal" and/or "looks good" via pictures you provide in MyChart. There is absolutely no reason to be dismissed by any doctor for something so easily rectifiable. My plastic surgeon ended up saving the day on this one.

7) Toddlers will accidentally find your port with their heads.

8) Lidocaine cream was unnecessary for me. It never hurt during access.

9) I understand that not all treatment protocols have enough quantifiable infusions for port approval, but I promise there will be more pokes than you're lead to expect. I also know a girl who had her chemo leak from her peripheral IV into her arm--Permanent tissue damage. I'll take the port, please!

Inheriting a knew health concept, per Me:

After going down the podcast rabbit hole of supporting my body through cancer treatment, I found myself seeking a local functional medicine doctor. I had never even considered what a functional medicine doctor did in my past life.

Maybe they sold essential oils or something!? And I already had a resource for that. For over a decade prior to my diagnosis, we had eliminated household cleaning chemicals, transitioned to health and beauty products without parabens, phthalates, etc., and took our daily supplements from a scientifically-backed source...all through an online wellness company. I somehow still had blinders on to the big picture of wellness. So here I was...facing toxic treatments that would possibly "be the ticket to a long, cancer-free life", and I had never felt more vulnerable to the magical voodoo of functional medicine.

It's crazy how the universe works. As it turns out, another member of my gym is a Functional Medicine Doctor. If you've been following along, I'm certain that you're not shocked that I have another gym connection to share. I had been coaching classes and working out alongside this amazing woman for years without knowing what she did. One day, a Facebook post lead me to her on a professional note.

She gave me a quick synopsis of what she did and I was all in! She squeezed me in for a consultation on September 21st, just 4 days prior to my first chemo infusion. I was so glad to get a baseline with her before starting chemo. I wasn't sure what to expect other than "muscle testing", and I chose not to research what that meant prior to going. To say that my eyes were opened in a whole new way is an understatement. I highly recommend that others approach their first appointment with an open mind. Not to mention the fact that they care very much about their patients' quality of life. This job is done out of a passion for helping people feel more vital. The magical voodoo is everything it's hyped up to be! Bloodwork and other tests are optional for even further clarification.

I love to spread awareness on how helpful a functional med workup can be during medical treatments. Guys, this chemo stuff is nasty. The word Chemotherapy means, "treatment of disease by chemical substance", and there are hundreds of them. There aren't enough Mr. Yuck stickers in the world to warn us of its potency. Yet, most of us with cancer are presented with statistics and clinical trials on why we will most likely benefit from chemo. In the process of attacking the cancer, it will also attack our healthy cells. The side effects are so broad, and sometimes debilitating, that the risks require a patient sign-off. Our immune systems become completely wiped out. More drugs are then given to combat that issue. It's a never-ending cycle. I know that this all sounds dramatic. That's on purpose. Because I want people to know that even if you go into chemo as a fit, energetic 37 year old, it will still tremendously alter your life either temporarily or permanently. On the contrary, it can also be so empowering and motivating to push through it while fueling your body with WHAT IT NEEDS! This is where I give all the cred to my very own Doctor of Natural Health, Dr. Kim.

Armoring up for chemo, per Me:

With 4 days to prepare for chemo, I learned a lot about what my body DIDN'T want through the Nutrition Response Testing (NRT). These things included corn, dairy products, gluten, sugar, and soy. We looked at what heavy metals and chemicals were impacting my system. We determined what organs needed the most support. Lastly, Dr. Kim recommended dietary options and supplements that would support my microbiome and immune system without inhibiting the efficacy of the chemo.

I learned about other tests, like the Dutch Test, a HUMAP test, a GI Map, a Beta Glucuronidase Test, Organic Acids Test + COMT, etc. All of these were on pause until after chemo at this point, but I was happy to have the next 5 months to research them and ask more questions. These were options that could eventually provide more insight into root cause issues. I was intrigued!

I started looking at water filter systems for drinking water (yes, I thought tap water was safe in my past life)...and water filters for our tub/shower. I also started looking at air filters for our home. I prioritized them by importance since I hadn't necessarily been saving up for a bajillion dollars worth of filtering equipment. I had to remind myself that it was okay to ease into these things. Awareness was step #1 (for those of you reading this, take this as a sign).

I made some pretty radical dietary adjustments; keeping in mind that this was most likely going to change over time. Our bodies are constantly adapting, so I would every 12 weeks for NRT, and we continued to make necessary adjustments. I knew gluten, dairy, and sugar were going to be the hardest to avoid, but I immediately started stocking our pantry with healthy salad toppers and snacks. I bought a new backpack for chemo days--one that would hold my silverware, food books, laptop...

Miscellaneous Prep, per Me:

I opted to cut my hair off prior to chemo. I was expecting it to start falling out within the first 2 weeks and I wasn't about to be the girl crying in the shower with gobs of long hair in her fingers. Much like my boobs, I was actually ok to let it go, but I knew it would be a reminder of yet another "loss" due to cancer. A dear friend used to volunteer her time cutting patients' hair at the cancer center before the space was eliminated. She was kind enough to cut mine at her own shop. I decided to donate my hair--an act that I never saw myself doing in my past life. My hair was thin and never grew super fast, so having 10-12" to spare was never going to happen. This was an amazing opportunity to make light of loss, and my God, was it the most liberating thing in the world! I was also pretty excited for a good excuse to wear a wig.

I also applied for my Medical Marijuana card and I'm so glad I did. In case I forget to later explain how this was beneficial, I found that it helped with sleep, appetite, anxiety, and nausea/discomfort...in that order.

A friend of mine had previously suggested eyebrow microblading in the instance that I might need chemo. This was before my oncotype score came back and we were still waiting to see if I would benefit from chemo. She said that losing the hair on her head was one thing, but losing her eyebrows is what really made her look "sick". I had jumped on the excuse to get it done regardless, and discovered after the fact that there are many foundations that will cover the cost of microblading. One of the most helpful organizations I was referred to was sharseret.org. You don't have to be of Jewish descent to apply for their help, but it does need to be before the microblading is done.

Pick your care team wisely, per Me:

I really don't want to be that person who bashes a system that I continue to rely on and return to, but I need to vent a little here, too. This is coming from my rear view mirror. When I was in the moment and navigating these new roads, I was a new driver. I hope that I can be someone else's lane assist that I wish I had.

As you know, I had already experienced major push back from my local oncologist regarding my choice to start chemo with cancer in my lymph node. It wasn't the confrontation alone that stood out to me. It was the unwillingness to see it any other way or to hear my thoughts. This was amplified by the mockery of the other members of my care team whose opinions didn't align with his. As an optimist, I told myself that it was just a little bump in the road and I was happy we'd made it past that issue with a plan I was comfortable with.

Within a week, I experienced another moment of push back. I had made him very aware that I was seeking the support of alternative medicine. It was very important to me that I was partnering with a doctor who was willing to consider how alternative medicine could benefit me beyond the standard of care. Not only did I want help making sure things wouldn't interact with or reduce the efficacy of the chemo, I wanted him to be willing to order tests-when applicable-that could help me navigate the best alternatives. I was hopeful for this kind of support considering alternative medicine is otherwise an out-of-pocket expense. He claimed to be happy to work through these things with me. After I met with Dr. Kim and presented the protocol addendum to him, it was as though I showed up from a different planet. I was met with a smirk, proceeded by dismissal.

This felt more like hitting a pothole than a bump...Being 3 months out from surgery with confirmation that there was still cancer in another lymph node, I had no time to fix the damage. I realized before starting chemo that I was going to be on my own when it came to navigating alternative medicine, and it was a non-negotiable for me. God hadn't opened my eyes to it without reason.