Wow, the only day this week without a doctors appointment of some sort! To celebrate I went to Walmart for some pet food and Great Clips to have my hair washed. The first time I've gone somewhere by myself this week. I feel good, but don't want to push it. I'd rather take it easy than experience a setback.
Yesterday I spent a couple of hours in the radiologist's office. Had a couple of CT scans and at least 3 xrays. I sorta lost count after a while. They were working on perfectly positioning the radiation delivery device. Now I have a tube sticking out the side of my right breast and LOTS of bandaging to hold it in place. A friend of mine asked, "you know what's wrong with this country don't you?" Answer---Too much boob tube!
Next week I have appointments at 7:40 and 1:50 every day. After the second treatment on Friday they will remove the balloon and tube and my radiation therapy will be finished! That will give me one week of pure healing and then off for California.
I'm so happy everything has gone so well for me. I'm almost to the point of feeling survivor guilt. I mean, if you've got to have cancer this is the way to go. I'm sure this was a wake up call and will change my life. I'm not quite sure how just yet, but I bet it will become apparent. Another friend of mine wrote to me today....If God brings you to it-He will bring you through it.... I like that. I think it can be applied to many aspects of our lives.
Friday, May 15, 2009
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Good News
Got the pathology report back today. Negative in the lymph node, negative in the surrounding tissue. Doesn't get much better than that.
My temporary device has been replaced with the real thing. A $2000 balloon. Tomorrow I see the radiologist for "simulation", I think that's to get all the settings right for the radiation and I will start treatment either Friday or Monday. Will be finished by next Friday!
Wow, what a trip this has been. Not over yet, but I can see the light at the end of the tunnel.
My temporary device has been replaced with the real thing. A $2000 balloon. Tomorrow I see the radiologist for "simulation", I think that's to get all the settings right for the radiation and I will start treatment either Friday or Monday. Will be finished by next Friday!
Wow, what a trip this has been. Not over yet, but I can see the light at the end of the tunnel.
THANK YOU
I want to express my appreciation for the prayers, thoughts, cards, emails and calls that I have received. The outpouring of care, concern and support for Brownie and myself has been overwhelming. Thank you for helping us during this difficult time.
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Surgery Day
Well, where do I begin?
First of all, the last time I had surgery was back in the early 70's to have my wisdom teeth removed. I had no idea what to expect yesterday. Or how I would react to the anesthesia. Especially given I'm a good deal older now.
What I should have known, given my recent experiences with the health care system was that I would sit around and wait. My surgery was scheduled for 1:30 and I had to be at the hospital at noon. In part because I was to receive an injection (more about that later) 30-60 minutes prior to the surgery. By 12:45 I had changed into a smock, someone had asked a few questions, banded me, and taken my vitals. This was a total of about 7 minutes worth of activity. So we sat and sat and sat. Finally, shortly after 1:00 the nurse came in to describe what would be happening. She was quite a trip. Real talkative and somewhat spacey. By now it was getting to be a quarter after one and people kept coming up asking her if I was ready, they wanted me in the operating room.
She finally got everything straight and off we go. Brownie trailing behind with my clothes. No escape for me! The orderly pushing me was real sweet. Once we reached the surgery doors he told Brownie to hug me before rolling me into the room.
Suddenly there was a flurry of activity. Dr. Tsuei was there and marked the spot where he was going to cut and talked with me a little. Someone placed some leg massagers on me to keep the blood moving. Seems like a bunch of other stuff was going on, but I can't remember it all.
Then I got THE injections close to the nipple. Some type of radioactive material with a blue dye. These were the injections that were supposed to happen 30 minutes before surgery. Well, I had been warned. What I didn't know was that there would be 4 of them and each one hurt worse. Now admittedly it was only for a few seconds at a time and deep breaths helped. But geez, by the time they got to the last one I was ready to be finished with that! It kinda felt like some had taken some needle nosed pliers and and pinched real hard. I suggested to Dr Tsuei and the woman administering the shots they should have them to see what it's like. She laughed, but I think Dr Tsuei is a bigger pain baby than me! He pretty much said he didn't plan on having any surgery.
Next the anesthesiologist and her side kick (Bob-his is about the only name I can remember) showed up again. While she asked me the same questions I'd already answered a few times that day he put the catheter in for the IV. He was so good I hardly felt it at all. I even complimented him.
I remember being wheeled into the OR. It was cold in there. I could see the clock and it was getting close to 2:00. Then I moved myself from the gurney to the operating table. Hmm, that's about the last thing I remember. They must have started my IV and I was out. No counting backward or anything.
When I woke up I was in the recovery room and the clock read 4:20. I indicated the pain level was about an 8 so I started getting medicated. Once we got it down to a 4 I just layed there in a daze for quite a while. I felt like I had overimbided, but in a somewhat pleasant way. No nausea I just kinda wasn't sure if I could get up and walk. After a while the nurse offered me some ice chips which I was glad to get. Two hours passed before I was moved to short stay where I could dress and leave. I was pretty sure by now Brownie was getting worried as we were way behind the schedule that had been laid out. But I was okay, just laying there. No one seemed in much of a hurry to get rid of me.
We were finally reunited around 6:30. I was glad to know the surgery part was over.
We stopped and got my pain meds on the way home. Later that night the pharmacist stopped by to check on his patient.
So I spent the evening pretty much vegging out. Tired, sleepy, but awake. Brownie's been great, trying to anticipate my needs and make sure I don't want for anything.
Today I go see Dr Manning (the radiologist) for the next step in seeing if I can have the Mammosite. He'll do a CT scan to see if the temporary device is filling the cavity completely and if it is far enough from the rib.
That brings me up to date here. Hope all is coherent as the Percocet while keeping the pain at bay has kept me slightly lightheaded.
Let's hope for more good news today.
First of all, the last time I had surgery was back in the early 70's to have my wisdom teeth removed. I had no idea what to expect yesterday. Or how I would react to the anesthesia. Especially given I'm a good deal older now.
What I should have known, given my recent experiences with the health care system was that I would sit around and wait. My surgery was scheduled for 1:30 and I had to be at the hospital at noon. In part because I was to receive an injection (more about that later) 30-60 minutes prior to the surgery. By 12:45 I had changed into a smock, someone had asked a few questions, banded me, and taken my vitals. This was a total of about 7 minutes worth of activity. So we sat and sat and sat. Finally, shortly after 1:00 the nurse came in to describe what would be happening. She was quite a trip. Real talkative and somewhat spacey. By now it was getting to be a quarter after one and people kept coming up asking her if I was ready, they wanted me in the operating room.
She finally got everything straight and off we go. Brownie trailing behind with my clothes. No escape for me! The orderly pushing me was real sweet. Once we reached the surgery doors he told Brownie to hug me before rolling me into the room.
Suddenly there was a flurry of activity. Dr. Tsuei was there and marked the spot where he was going to cut and talked with me a little. Someone placed some leg massagers on me to keep the blood moving. Seems like a bunch of other stuff was going on, but I can't remember it all.
Then I got THE injections close to the nipple. Some type of radioactive material with a blue dye. These were the injections that were supposed to happen 30 minutes before surgery. Well, I had been warned. What I didn't know was that there would be 4 of them and each one hurt worse. Now admittedly it was only for a few seconds at a time and deep breaths helped. But geez, by the time they got to the last one I was ready to be finished with that! It kinda felt like some had taken some needle nosed pliers and and pinched real hard. I suggested to Dr Tsuei and the woman administering the shots they should have them to see what it's like. She laughed, but I think Dr Tsuei is a bigger pain baby than me! He pretty much said he didn't plan on having any surgery.
Next the anesthesiologist and her side kick (Bob-his is about the only name I can remember) showed up again. While she asked me the same questions I'd already answered a few times that day he put the catheter in for the IV. He was so good I hardly felt it at all. I even complimented him.
I remember being wheeled into the OR. It was cold in there. I could see the clock and it was getting close to 2:00. Then I moved myself from the gurney to the operating table. Hmm, that's about the last thing I remember. They must have started my IV and I was out. No counting backward or anything.
When I woke up I was in the recovery room and the clock read 4:20. I indicated the pain level was about an 8 so I started getting medicated. Once we got it down to a 4 I just layed there in a daze for quite a while. I felt like I had overimbided, but in a somewhat pleasant way. No nausea I just kinda wasn't sure if I could get up and walk. After a while the nurse offered me some ice chips which I was glad to get. Two hours passed before I was moved to short stay where I could dress and leave. I was pretty sure by now Brownie was getting worried as we were way behind the schedule that had been laid out. But I was okay, just laying there. No one seemed in much of a hurry to get rid of me.
We were finally reunited around 6:30. I was glad to know the surgery part was over.
We stopped and got my pain meds on the way home. Later that night the pharmacist stopped by to check on his patient.
So I spent the evening pretty much vegging out. Tired, sleepy, but awake. Brownie's been great, trying to anticipate my needs and make sure I don't want for anything.
Today I go see Dr Manning (the radiologist) for the next step in seeing if I can have the Mammosite. He'll do a CT scan to see if the temporary device is filling the cavity completely and if it is far enough from the rib.
That brings me up to date here. Hope all is coherent as the Percocet while keeping the pain at bay has kept me slightly lightheaded.
Let's hope for more good news today.
Monday, May 11, 2009
Home
Surgery is over and I'm recuperating at home. Initial result shows no lymph node involvement. That is VERY good news. But won't know for sure until pathology report comes back in a day or two.
More tomorrow regarding today's experience.
Glad to have made it safely off the operating table!
More tomorrow regarding today's experience.
Glad to have made it safely off the operating table!
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Happy Mother's Day!
We finally made it to Asheville.
As we were on the way to the hospital for my preops the radiologist's office called to tell me they had scheduled a MRI for 5:45 that same day. So much for arriving in Asheville late afternoon.
Now the MRI was a real experience! The technician told me it would be noisy. There's an understatement. So I just took little adventures while lying there. Let's see, there were the tugboats in New York harbor, airboats in the Everglades, a speed boat on the lake and the foghorn at San Francisco Bay overlooking the Golden Gate Bridge. Finally at 7:25 we hit the road.
We had an enjoyable couple of days. Asheville is very dog friendly so we could take the boys with us almost everywhere. Parks, restaurants, bars and just walking around. Today the Biltmore Estate was having a special for Mother's Day and Mothers got in free. We've been wanting to see the gardens and walk some of the trails for a while and the dogs were welcome everywhere but inside the buildings. So it was
perfect for us. Getting onto the grounds was something else. It seems everybody and his mother decided to go today!
Once we got home Ben and Mary came over for a visit. Mary made me this great fruit bouquet. I liked it so much I decided to share a picture with everyone. Pretty good for her first time.
I will admit I've had some anxious moments this weekend. It never occurred to me that since I've not had surgery I don't know how my body will react to the anesthesia. That I could die on the operating table and would not have told my family how much I love them. Fortunately those feelings passed. I'll be around to annoy the snot out of people for years to come. I think it also helped that Dr Manning called today and said the MRI looked good, no additional problems.
This is my last day of having cancer! This time tomorrow the tumor will have been cut out and I will only have treatment remaining. That's certainly something to look forward to.
What I'm not looking forward to right now is no food or drink after midnight. Guess I'll survive.
Wish me luck and thanks for the prayers.
As we were on the way to the hospital for my preops the radiologist's office called to tell me they had scheduled a MRI for 5:45 that same day. So much for arriving in Asheville late afternoon.
Now the MRI was a real experience! The technician told me it would be noisy. There's an understatement. So I just took little adventures while lying there. Let's see, there were the tugboats in New York harbor, airboats in the Everglades, a speed boat on the lake and the foghorn at San Francisco Bay overlooking the Golden Gate Bridge. Finally at 7:25 we hit the road.
We had an enjoyable couple of days. Asheville is very dog friendly so we could take the boys with us almost everywhere. Parks, restaurants, bars and just walking around. Today the Biltmore Estate was having a special for Mother's Day and Mothers got in free. We've been wanting to see the gardens and walk some of the trails for a while and the dogs were welcome everywhere but inside the buildings. So it was
perfect for us. Getting onto the grounds was something else. It seems everybody and his mother decided to go today!Once we got home Ben and Mary came over for a visit. Mary made me this great fruit bouquet. I liked it so much I decided to share a picture with everyone. Pretty good for her first time.
I will admit I've had some anxious moments this weekend. It never occurred to me that since I've not had surgery I don't know how my body will react to the anesthesia. That I could die on the operating table and would not have told my family how much I love them. Fortunately those feelings passed. I'll be around to annoy the snot out of people for years to come. I think it also helped that Dr Manning called today and said the MRI looked good, no additional problems.
This is my last day of having cancer! This time tomorrow the tumor will have been cut out and I will only have treatment remaining. That's certainly something to look forward to.
What I'm not looking forward to right now is no food or drink after midnight. Guess I'll survive.
Wish me luck and thanks for the prayers.
Friday, May 8, 2009
Still on Track
The meeting with the radiologist (Dr. Manning) was quite informative. He gave me a name for the tumor, Invasive Ductal Carcinoma. Estrogen Receptor Positive, Herp..something 2. Clinical Stage I. Once I have surgery it will become a Surgery Stage something. So far, so good.
He gave me a timeline and the steps that will occur. I'm one of those people that wants to know what is going to happen when, so that was good information for me. The problem is, if things don't go as I have expected I tend to get a little upset. Yesterday was one of those days when it appeared the surgery wasn't going to happen on Monday. Fortunately they were able to work out all the schedules and I'm still on, just at a slightly later time in the day.
Today I have my preops and then we're off to Asheville for the weekend. We had to postpone our trip to Atlanta (actually Newnan) so this was our alternative. I think it will help to take my mind off what's ahead. No sense obsessing and I'm afraid I may be reaching that point. We're even taking the dogs with us, so that should be interesting.
Good weekend to all.
He gave me a timeline and the steps that will occur. I'm one of those people that wants to know what is going to happen when, so that was good information for me. The problem is, if things don't go as I have expected I tend to get a little upset. Yesterday was one of those days when it appeared the surgery wasn't going to happen on Monday. Fortunately they were able to work out all the schedules and I'm still on, just at a slightly later time in the day.
Today I have my preops and then we're off to Asheville for the weekend. We had to postpone our trip to Atlanta (actually Newnan) so this was our alternative. I think it will help to take my mind off what's ahead. No sense obsessing and I'm afraid I may be reaching that point. We're even taking the dogs with us, so that should be interesting.
Good weekend to all.
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