After the dust settles....

It's been a crazy couple weeks, which is why I've been slow blogging since the surgery. Jenny was quite right, although I was not looking forward to this surgery, it wasn't bad. Not too much pain, since I'd been worked on there before. I took the first week pretty easy and got very re-acquainted with my Lazy Boy chair. Last week was a very different story. Lots of doctor's appointments. Started off with the surgeon and a post-op visit. She had the pathology report to share. Good news, not so good news. There was another tumor behind the reconstruction, and so it really did need to come off, no second guessing there. Not so good news - they didn't get a clean margin at one point, meaning the cancer had progressed right up to where they cut. It was microscopic at that point, so the surgeon doesn't know when she's cutting to cut a little deeper, and she said if she had cut any deeper in that region shw would have had to cut into my pec muscle. She also got me set with my first "padded bra" so I can stop stuffing that side with a sock (only kidding about the sock!) Next day I go see the Radiation oncologist. While still optimistic, she was a bit more guarded than the surgeon - course she's the one expected to successful in the next phase, so I get that. She marks me up and says lets get on with radiation next week. Next up is the medical oncologist (aka chemo doctor, who I still see because I take a hormoe drug every 3 weeks). She was "very concerned" about the pathology report. That did not leaving me feeling very good, as she is normally the most optimistic of the team. She said a lot of things but what stuck with me is that even after radiation and the hormone drug, they won't know if they got everything - it will be a wait and see game for the rest of my life. After a "pick me up" lunch with my good friend Nancy, I got a phone call from the oncologist. Once she had a chance to study the 7 page pathology report in more detail, she was more optimistic that the chemo hit the one tumor the way it was supposed to, the other tumor is of a different type and not expected to respond to chemo, but the good news is the type of cancer that was right up to that boundary is one that SHOULD react to radiation and the hormone therapy they will start me on after radiation. That left me feeling a little more upbeat, but still bummed that they can't say they got it all, and I'm just hoping that "wait and see game" is one I play for a real long time.

So its on to the next phase - radiation starts tomorrow. 5 days a week, at least 5 weeks but the radiation doctor wants to give some extra shots to the margin area, if my skin isn't burned to a crisp by then. So I guess even with all the rain we're getting, I'm starting on my "sun tan" tomorrow!

I can't say thanks enough for all the meals - people have really been generous and we've been eating much better than usual (all those brownies and chocolate chip cookies are making it hard to keep loosing weight though!). I really appreciate the time away from work, as I'm still finding a need a nap every day, and as always, really appreciate everyone's prayers and good wishes - I'm sure that contributed to making this surgery better than what I dreaded!

Love to all,
Teri

Almost a week after surgery...

Mom is doing a lot better than I think any of us expected. Still in some pain, which the medication is helping, but mentally, she's as tough as rocks. She says that her pec muscle is a little tight/sore, so hopefully that pain will diminish in the next few weeks and she will be back to normal...well as normal as anyone with only half a rack! Anyway, we would like to thank everyone that has been so supportive through meals, prayers, rides, everything. This process has been made a lot easier for us through our caring family friends. So thank you so much again, and we'll update when something new occurs!

Surgery Update

From Dad,

"Our of surgery and in recovery. Dr. said all went well and found no visible cancer. Said tissue was very healthy and she should have an excellent recovery."

The King of Pop and a surgery update

Mom's in surgery at the moment. Estimated to be about 2 hours. Dad's with her and said quote "She loved the Michael Jackson meds they gave her".

Food planning

For those of you who so helpfully offering to bring meals and such to the house, someone recommended a great site, and was kind enough to set it up for us, so we can do this 21st century style (Thanks, Mrs. Elsass!). This web page shows when people have already scheduled to bring something. Please feel free to use it to find an open time to do a dinner, if you were planning on doing so, which is so very much appreciated.

http://www.foodtidings.com/SignUp.aspx?ScheduleGuid=90eb267b-bfc0-4739-8460-b2298f0dd17a

If you were looking to do that and don't want to deal with the site, go ahead and email me at jadean12@aol.com.

And if you brought a dinner 7 years ago for the last time we did this and never got your dish back, guess now's a good time to go ahead and ask!

And finally, in celebration of almost the last teeny bit of cancer leaving mom tomorrow (though the radiation will get any bits left behind) here's a little tune.

Coming up

Mom's surgery is Thursday. If I may give an emotional status update, Mom... she is doing so amazingly better than I think is humanly possible. Not to say that she is not worried/scared/uncertain. But she is handling all of those emotions with such strength. She's been so busy I think much of the feelings toward the surgery hasn't sunk in, but she's facing it with stunning bravery and resolution. I'm sure she'd love to hear from people leading up to and following the surgery as she gets used to it all and gets through those first days of uncomfortableness. We will of course keep you updated on the developments after surgery and how she is doing, so though there hasn't been much news since the end of chemo, stay tuned since things will be picking up again, unfortunately.

Prayers appreciated as always!

On to the Next Stage of Treatment

Well, the doctors finally agreed to a plan, and I am scheduled for more surgery on March 31. It's basically a repeat mastectomy, the surgeon will remove the reconstruction they did 7 years ago this month!. They will wait after radiation several months before they reconstruct the reconstruction. Not looking forward to the whole ordeal, but the doctors said this should control the cancer locally and eliminate any microscopic cancer that they can't see, so this is their best weapon for a cure. (Of course, in the back of my head I'm thinking they also told me that 7 years ago) Logically I'm ready for this, but I gotta admit when they called me with an actual surgery date, it did depress me a bit to have to go through this all again.