My new do and other updates!

So there I am with my upcoming new do and one of my new favorite people, Pat. She owns Pat Painter's and is just an absolute hoot!  That is the only wig I tried on and just instantly knew it was the one.  It's not green like Kaia wanted but she still said, "I like your new hair mommy."  Pat Painter's specializes in chemo patients and there were three or so other "young ladies" in there picking out thier wigs.  One girl was in for her head shaving and was in full mohawk when we walked in!  I can't wait for that!  I plan on scheduling that after my second chemo treatment next week. 


So far chemo is treating me ok.  I get tired pretty easily and yesterday I was just zapped and had some bone pains from the shot I had Friday but today, I am back to normal.  Well, as normal as I ever have been anyway. 

Thursday afternoon, I go in for lab work to check my blood count and to meet with the doctor to check on progress.  They should be able to feel the lump getting smaller even this soon.  I'll let everyone know how those appointments go!

Thank you for your continuous support and prayers. 

Love to all!

First chemo cocktail has been served! Nothing like happy hour but I'll take what I can get.

See my very serious picture on the side? It went really well and we finished in about 4 hours which was quicker than the 6 they told us to prepare for. I have all kinds of fun drugs to help with the nausea. Since the chemo can be excreted from your bodily fluids (gross) for 48 hours after treatment, I have to do things like flush the toilet twice (that makes the hippie part of me very sad) and make sure I don’t throw up on anyone. And of course, I shouldn’t be around anyone who is sick or large crowds and have to wash my hands often to avoid the plaque that my kids no doubt carry constantly. My first four treatments will happen every two weeks and then we switch to weekly treatments for 12 weeks. I will also switch to a Wednesday treatment day which actually works out better.

Kevin and I both took our lap tops and did work and I read some too (Chelsea Handler is hilarious! Thank you Martha!). He brought me a fabulous spinach salad from Chez Zee for lunch. Next time, I plan on watching chick flicks (again, thank you Martha!) and napping! The whole process is a little odd in that it’s just a big room with about 40 chairs. Some people sleep, some read, some watch TV and I want to know ALL of their stories!! I had to refrain from talking to everyone I saw. :)  The staff is just incredible and I felt like I was being pampered more than I felt I was being treated for cancer. Inserting the IV in the port hurt like a SOB for a very brief time but they gave me some cream to put on it before I go in next time to numb it. I think they didn’t give me the cream before this treatment so I would know what it feels like. I just completely made that up. I really have no idea why I just got it.

Mom and Dad are coming in tonight. Tomorrow, Dad is taking me to get the shot I have to get after every treatment (to increase white blood cells to fight infection) while mom stays with the kiddos. At some point, either tomorrow afternoon or Saturday, we are going to go wig shopping! I really see myself as more of a head cover and hat kind of gal but I want a wig or two as well. You know, for those occasions when a head cover just won’t do! (Right now my cousin Ashley is wondering what possible events I could have where a head cover won’t work and is already planning an outfit for me. Sorry, Ash, nothing up coming!) My Aunt Sissy sent me some great catalogs and hair color samples so I can order some more wigs after I figure out how they work! I’ll probably end up shaving my head soon. Cancer has enough control of my life and I will choose when I go bald thank you very much!

We came home to some beautiful flowers with a brilliant card from my “Dombroski fans” (Thank you Whitney!) and some pasta with fabulous homemade marinara was sitting in our kitchen from our neighbors (Thank you Rebecca!). Which once again proves to me (everyday something or someone does) that we have such a wonderful group of family and friends and the breast support team anyone could ask for. Man, I’m spoiled!

Love to all.

It's About Time We Get Some Good News!

Bone scan and liver MRI came back all clear!  YEA!  That is absolutely fabulous news.  That means the cancer has not spread past my breast and lymph nodes!  Crystal 1, Cancer 0.  Suck it cancer!

We start chemo Thursday at 9. 

I'll keep my chin up and keep loving life.  I encourage all of you to do the same!

Love to all.

Adios Drain!

Dad took me to the doctor this morning and we said “adios” to the drain! I hated that darn thing. Now we can hopefully get this chemo party started! The doctor did say that she would classify this as a stage III cancer but wants me to talk to the oncologist for another opinion and more information. That was bummer news and I did let it get me down for a tad. Just a tad and then I realized that as far as I am concerned that just means we fight harder. And as my sister pointed out, “Hey, that’s better than stage IV!” Indeed it is. (That positive attitude runs in the family.) Speaking of positive, today was the first time in a week that I was able to hold the kids so we did a lot of that today! Though Kaia is over it already.  :)


While, dad took me to the doctor, Kevin took Caleb in for his 9 month check up. Yep, the kid is nine months old already. Hard to believe. Anyway, he has pink eye AGAIN and an ear infection…AGAIN. Poor dude. Hopefully he will be better soon. Mom stayed here with Kaia and I am sure she cleaned more. That woman cleaned my house this weekend better than I ever have. If was so nice being able to play with the kids and do some work without a dirty house surrounding me today. In fact, I was able to take Kaia and Caleb to the park and pond. Kaia had a blast throwing rocks in the water and making wishes on dandelions. Caleb just enjoys being outside no matter what he is doing.

Kevin and I can’t even express the gratitude we have for the help my sister and parents have given us. They just rock, plain and simple.

On another note, I want to thank everyone for their comments to my posts. I’m sorry I don’t respond to all of them but please know that I read and cherish each and every one. They mean everything to me and are very uplifting. They will be printed and put in my cancer scrapbook! (I have never done any sort of scrapbook before and I know some of you guys do so email any pointers to crystal.saffel@att.net!)

Love to all.

There's an upside to cancer?! Who knew...

Does cancer suck? Yes. Am I angry every day that my family and I have to deal with me having cancer? Yes. Have I had my fair share (if not more) of crying, screaming, and cussing this cancer? You bet I have. Do I wish that I didn’t have it? Of course. Am I going to sulk and let it get me down? HECK NO! I’m going to take advantage of all the positives of cancer. This is early in the game and I know the amount of suck will grow but that just means I’ll have to find more positives to combat the negatives as they come along. In the mean time, these are the positives I have discovered so far (in no particular order):


 Kevin is home more. Now don’t get confused, I am thrilled and thankful that Kevin has a job he is so passionate about and I push him to go to work when I don’t need him home but it is nice to see him more often now. Heatwave is our second family and we are grateful to share our lives with them. (Kevin will think that it too mushy but he can get over it.)

 People are so nice everywhere you go. I’ve met about 100 new people in the medical community since my diagnosis and each time, I am amazed at the sincerity of their kind words and not only their willingness but their desire to help me in any way possible.

 Your mom cleans your house top to bottom.

 You and your family are in the prayers of thousands of people nationwide. Your name is mentioned in prayer groups, prayer lists and who knows what else. There is something very humbling about that.

 Your parents come down and allow you to sleep late and take naps.

 You become more patient with those around you, especially your kids. So, this is a double plus: for me and my kids but since they don’t have a blog, I’ll use it.

People send you movies, books, religious items and buy themselves stuff that shows the public they support your fight against breast cancer. 

 You notice the blooms in the trees, the smell of the rain, and things around you are more colorful and bright.

 You hug a little tighter.

 You get to buy cute head covers for your upcoming bald head.

 You rekindle old friendships.

 “Kevin you change the poopy diaper, I have cancer.” Ok, so he didn’t fall for this one but I tried.

There are many more pluses but those are the ones that come to mind this morning. I’ll let everyone know if I get this drain out tomorrow.

Love to all.

Breast Support And Other News

I received a card from my friend, Whitney, a young , beautiful and strong breast cancer survivor. She signed it, "Your breast buddy." Too cute not to pass along (and steal) and I know she won't mind.


The surgeon called yesterday to check on me. 6 of the 9 lymph nodes removed had cancer. She said (as she told Kevin when I was in recovery) that because of the way the cancer is acting and because it is so aggressive she would recommend a bi-lateral mastectomy regardless of the BRAC Analysis results. We are totally on board with that. Prevent, prevent, prevent reoccurrence. The BRAC results did come back negative so I am not a carrier of the mutant cancer cell. (YEA!!) Hopefully, I can get this drain out Monday but we have to wait until less than 30ML is draining per day. Now I am getting 30 about two or three times a day but Monday is a long way off so keep your fingers crossed. This drain sucks! (Pun intended!)

I can't say enough how grateful I am for the breast support team!

Love to all!

Um, yeah, I don't remember yesterday's post so...

Must have had some powerful drugs yesterday. What I do remember from yesterday isn't very clear. :) I actually woke up a couple of times last night believing that the port gave me supersonic hearing powers! I was disappointed when I realized this morning it was just the drugs. No supersonic hearing, just a big hickey looking bruise on my neck and lots of pain. (Picture of hickey attached.)

I had chemo class this morning. It was good to see where we would actually be and to know what to expect. My chemo got pushed back to next week. They don't want to risk infection of the drain and want me to heal before I start. I get the drain out on Monday.  All though, I was anxious to get it started, I'm glad I will have another week to rest up. Past couple of days have been pretty exhausting. Since I can't lift the kids, Doodle is going to take over Wednesday morning and they are staying at her house until Kevin picks them up Thursday afternoon. Kaia will be so excited to "spend at Doodle's." I'll miss them but having them here when I can't help take care of them is harder than them being a way! Then my folks are coming up Thursday night and will be here for the weekend to help Kevin out. We are so thankful to have help!

Kaia has seen my ouchies and is pretty curious but doesn't really understand. Kevin and I tried to explain some to her yesterday (as much as you can to a two year old) and told her if she has any questions never be afraid to ask. She did have a question, "Sorry, mommy." How heartbreaking! She thinks the bulb on my drain looks like Caleb’s breathing treatments so she wasn’t freaked out. Kevin is doing a fabulous job taking care of her and Caleb and I know they are happy to have him around after he's worked so many long hours the past few months. Yet another plus of cancer. (Oh yeah, there are some pluses but I'll save that for another post!)

I had another MRI for the liver area and a bone scan today. Everyone I have met has been so fabulous and nice (one of those pluses I mentioned). I'm really sore from the biopsy and port placement yesterday and everyone was very cautious of that. Thank goodness for good medical staff!!!

Kevin and I went out this past Saturday for a last "normal" night out for a while before I start chemo. I'm so glad we did! It was great to hang out with friends. Then Sunday we took the kids to meet up with Doodle and Nolan at Kiddie Acres, a small amusement park. They had a blast! Even Caleb really enjoyed himself especially since Kaia shared her ice cream with him! :) Making memories.

Love to all!!