Feeling Better

Well - today was a good day. I'm feeling better from Friday's surgery. Sunday and Monday I was still feeling pretty sore and out-of-it, but today I'm feeling much better. I got a good night sleep (since it was not so windy last night). I haven't left the house since Friday. So, those who know me, know that something must be off, because I'm not usually a home-body :-) . We are going out for dinner tomorrow night (New Year's Eve) and will just come back home to ring in the New Year. I know energy-wise, I'm not up for more than that.
I spent time on the phone renewing all of my referrals for the new year (thanks to my HMO) today. But, also thanks to my HMO, I will not have as much to pay out with copays and such with my upcoming treatment.
My Mom came by to visit today. Unfortunately, she is feeling even worse than she did last week. She is having a hard time breathing and everything she does results in so much pain for her. As you read this, please keep my Mom in your prayers as well.

Sore All Over

Soreness... that seems to best describe things since my surgeries. The surgery yesterday was successful. They were able to do it laprascopically. I'm pretty sore. Going from sitting to standing is a challenge. Between my chest muscles and my stomach muscles being cut and and moved and body parts removed, I'm pretty sore. Luckily the pain again is not much. The worse part seems to be coming out of the anesthesia. I don't seem to do well with that. It takes me a long time to "wake up" from it and it does a number to my stomach. Even yesterday they gave me lots of anti-nausea medicine, but that didn't seem to help. I got sick a few times. Towards the end of the night, my I.V. got pulled out and I was spewing blood from my hand. I was exhausted and tired. They discharged me at 11:30pm last night. I could have stayed the night, but decided I would best off at home. Thanks to my sisters for watching the girls yesterday and to my in-laws for keeping them over-night and all day today so Al and I could get some rest. My in-laws are great people and the girls love having them back in Michigan. They are on their way home with dinner for us (home-made southern fried chicken :-)).
It's amazing how life can change in two months. Two months ago I was turning 40, having fun, getting braces. Now, I'm having surgeries and awaiting chemo. But, I know this is something I will get through and it will make me a better person. I will learn some good lessons from this and hopefully put those lessons to good use.

Merry Christmas Eve

Merry Christmas Eve to all. I am looking forward to this evening. My family will be coming over tonight and we will have a celebration. Al's parents are coming as well. It will be nice to have everyone over. It has become a tradition for my daughters to have everyone here Christmas Eve. Of course with everything going on we thought we would go to one of my sister's houses tonight, but decided it would be best here. Alan's cleaned the house :-) And the girls and I have been straightening and putting toys away.
My Mom has been under the weather lately. As most of you know, she was diagnosed with Lung Cancer last November. I was diagnosed almost a year to the day she was. Her cancer is in-operable. She went through both radiation and chemo this year. It has taken it's toll on her and she has been weak from sickness and treatments. I'm hoping she will feel well tonight and we can celebrate our family all being together. We can thank God for another Christmas that we are able to celebrate together. My girls have been great with me and I get extra love and kisses and hugs lately.
Thanks again to my family and friends for the messages and prayers. I appreciate the e-mails and the Posted Comments. Love to all!

More Surgery

I got a call from the OB/GYN and they will be able to do my surgery this Friday, the 26th. We are so grateful to the doctor for fitting me into his schedule. They did not have any surgical openings until the end of January. The surgery is an Oopherectomy and I will be in the hospital for 1 maybe 2 nights. I'm in awe yet again for someone going beyond what they needed to do, the doctor by coming in the day after Christmas to do the surgery, knowing how urgent it is for me to have it soon. I have to wait 28 days to start chemo from the surgery. So, the sooner we could get it done the better. I'll be grounded from the car again for 10 to 14 days. By then, I will go for outpatient surgery on January 5 for a Medi-Port insertion. This will be how they administer chemo. My left arm will be busy in all of this. From now on, I can no longer have blood drawn or even a blood pressure cuff on my right arm. Due to the lymph node surgery, my right arm is limited. Thanks to a good friend for all the info on the OB/GYN doctors.
The last couple of days have been so busy, making many phone calls and talking with schedulers and doctors and nurses. Thanks to Al yet again, for making so many phone calls and finding ways to get things done and done quickly. He's been great, fantastic. Already taking off so much time to take me to appointments, tests and surgeries.

Family and Friends

My family and friends have been amazing. The out reach from everyone is astounding and overwhelming. I am so lucky to have such amazing people in my life. My family has been with me every step of the way. My friends have treated me to prayers, thoughts, visits, calls, messages (text messages), e-mails, dinners and treats and desserts and cards and flowers and cookies and fruit and more food. My heart appreciates everything that everyone has done. Even the most simple and thoughtful comment brings a smile to my face, knowing that so many people are behind me, helping me fight this. Thank you!

Emotions

So, the emotional side of all this. It sucks. I've cried a few times which is good. A couple times after finding out. The morning of my mastectomy surgery while Al drove me to the hospital. The Sunday following surgery when I looked at myself in the mirror for the first time. The two Medical Oncologist's appointments when I think about the treatment that is ahead of me. Otherwise, I've tried to be rational and pro-active and positive. I go to bed at night and I can sleep. Because, I know that this is in God's hands and that until the morning, I can leave it with God. In the morning, we start the fight again and schedule appointments and tests and get referrals and figure this out.

Facts

So, the facts until now are this:

10/14/2008 - Tuesday - Discovered a lump in my right breast.
10/15/2008 - Wednesday - Appt with my Doctor's office - They sent me for a Mamm/Ultrasound
10/17/2008 - Friday - Mamm and Ultrasound done
10/21/2008 - Tuesday - Results from Mamm/Ultrasound - nothing significant with the lump (lump did not show up on either test)
10/22/2008 - Wednesday - Made appt with family doctor
10/26-10/31/08 - Out-of-Town
11/04/2008 - Tuesday - Appt with family doctor - He recommends a specialist
11/07/2008 - Friday - Appt with Surgical Oncologist - 4 options; nothing/MRI/needle biopsy/excision biopsy
11/14/2008 - Friday - Excision Biopsy of Lump in the Right Breast
11/18/2008 - Tuesday - Biopsy results shows smattering of Cancer cells within the lump that was removed - DX is Infiltrating/Invasive Lobular Carcinoma -
What is Invasive Lobular
Carcinoma (ILC)?
Invasive Lobular Carcinoma, also known as Infiltrating Lobular Carcinoma, is a type of breast cancer that starts in a lobule and spreads to surrounding breast tissue. If not treated at an early stage, ILC also can move into other parts of the body, such as the uterus or ovaries. ILC is the second most common type of invasive breast cancer, accounting for 10 to 15 percent of all breast cancer cases.
Who is most likely to have ILC?
Women between the ages of 45 and 56 are most likely to have ILC. About 20 percent of women with breast cancer have a family history of the disease.
What characterizes ILC?
ILC is characterized by a general thickening of an area of the breast, usually the section above the nipple and toward the arm. You may not be able to feel a breast lump or hard mass. Instead, an area of breast tissue may only feel differently than the rest of your breast. ILC also is less likely to appear on a mammogram. When it does appear, it may show as a mass with fine spikes radiating from the edges or appear as an asymmetry compared to the other breast.

11/20/2008 - Thursday - Appt with Surgical Oncologist to discuss diagnosis and treatment. Options include an additional lumpectomy in the same area to remove additional tissue, a single mastectomy or a double mastectomy; with any of the three a lymph node test and surgery would be performed. Medical treatment would include some or all of Chemotherapy; Radiation; & Hormone Therapy. Reconstructive options include immediate or delayed, and then saline, gel, or other. MRI and PET CT tests were ordered. Genetic testing for the BRCA1 and the BRCA2 were done.
11/21/2008 - Friday - Appt with plastic surgeon to discuss options.
11/24/2008 - Monday - MRI at St. John Moross
11/24/2008 - Monday - PET CT at St. John Macomb
11/25/2008 - Tuesday - Results - MRI ok; residual cells in right breast, left ok. PET CT showed indeterminate results in Left Neck and 4 skeletal areas
12/01/2008 - Monday - Appt with Medical Oncologist - Wants surgery first, then treatment; ordered Bone Scan to check on the indeterminate results of PET CT. Blood drawn.
12/02/2008 - Tuesday - Confirmed surgery for Friday, December 5 - Bilateral Mastectomy with cyst in neck removed as well
12/03/2008 - Wednesday - Bone Scan at St. John Moross
12/05/2008 - Friday - Surgery - Right Total Mastectomy; Left Prophylactic Mastectomy; Removal of Sebaceous Cyst Left neck; Sentinel Lymph Node Surgery on Right Side (ended up Auxiliary Lymph Node Surgery).
While I was in surgery, the Medical Oncologist called Al and told him that my Bone Scan came back clean, and the blood tests came back good. Great news.
12/06/2008 - Saturday - Discharged
12/10/2008 - Wednesday - Results from surgery - Left neck ok; left breast ok; right side residual cells. Lymph nodes - 41 of 41 positive with cancer (I like to score high :-)). DX - Advance Lobular Carcinoma - Stage 3.
Genetic testing came back positive for BRCA2 (Deleterious) mutation. This means that at some point in the near future I will need an Oophorectomy (Ovaries removed) and that the decision to have the bilateral mastectomy was a good decision.
12/12/2008 - Friday - Appt to have drain tubes removed. Kelly and Kim did their genetic testing.
12/18/2008 - Thursday - Picked up Prostheses and Lymphedema Sleeve.
12/19/2008 - Friday - Appt with Medical Oncologist - wants ovaries out first before treatment. The Gynecologic Oncologist is out of the office for two weeks.
Said I qualified for a Clinical Trial that gives the same Chemotherapy, but adds an additional drug with the Chemo drugs that has been proven in Colectoral Cancer.
There was the big snow fall this day. We spent a long time at the doctor's. Then we went to the OB/GYN office to sign a transfer of medical records. We decided to check with them for an Appt for the ovary removal. They had a Monday appt.
12/22/2008 - Monday - Appt with OB/GYN - Should be able to fit me into his surgery schedule ASAP.

My First Post of Surviving Cancer

November 18, 2008 was the day my life changed forever. The results from my excision biopsy were positive, the lump was cancer. Breast cancer. I will survive this. My angel, my mentor, my surviving role model is my Grandmother. She will help me get through this. My husband who is the most remarkable man I have ever known and my 3 precious daughters, will help me get through this. My beautiful mother and amazing sisters and their families will help me get through this. My extended family and my wonderful friends will help me get through this. I am forever changed.