A Week After Surgery

I had a lumpectomy and lymph node biopsy a week ago, 20 April 2012.  The surgeon removed the cancer mass and 4 lymph nodes from underneath my arm. The surgeon was pretty sure that he removed enough margins around the cancer to be safe.  They still have to biopsy to be sure they removed enough skin around the cancer. We should know the results in about 10 days, basically "don't call us, we will call you." I have a post-op meeting on Wednesday, May 2nd. Praying for Good News!!

The first two days after the surgery I was in a lot of pain.  It felt like someone had stuck a hot poker into my breast and underarm area, OW!!  They gave me some really good narcotics for the pain and medicine for upset stomach.  The meds took away the pain but gave me an awful headache.  Thankfully I am down to taking Motrin for the pain. For those that don't know, the cancer was is in the right breast and I am right handed.  This has been really challenging having to navigate with my left arm and hand.  Eric and I are super grateful for having Grammy and Grandma(his mom and my mom) here to help out.  As you could imagine, after Eric being gone to Iraq for almost a year and then returning home with this stressful situation on our hands has also been very challenging.

Thank you to everyone that has made meals, sent cards, gifts of love, called and stopped bye to check on us. We are very blessed to have such loving family and friends.  Big Hugs and Kisses to you all!!!! xoxo

Thank you Grammy J and Nan

So grateful to have our moms here to watch the boys while Eric and I were able to go off on our own.  We had a wonderful time.  I did not really think much about the procedure that is ahead of me on Friday.  This entire situation still feels surreal.  Now time for some deep breathing exercises.

Thank you Grammy J and Nan for being her for me, Eric, and the 3 C's.

Random 13 April 2012

I have many random thoughts regarding this whole situation.  I feel good about the surgeon and his feeling towards my choice of treatment.  I feel like I am getting ready to give birth and I am in a nesting phase.  I have a long list of things I want to get done before they perform this procedure and I am out of commission for a bit. I feel it will be like coming home with a new born but I have to just take care of myself while family and friends help Eric with the 3 C's. As my Breast Cancer Counselor said,  "Cancer is an inconvenience." Thank goodness for modern medicine. Going with a positive side that there will be no cancer in the lymph nodes it will take about 6 months out of my life.

Eric's mom will be arriving tomorrow to help us out as well. Sweet!! Mom's ROCK!

I have a long "Honey Do" list:  Charlie's field trip(ck), Garage Sale, Baseball Games, Hanging out with our friends, Charlie's Birthday, pre-op appt, two day alone time with my hubby(yippee), Haiti Dinner(sweet no cooking), Choir and then Surgery(long rest). As my girlfriend Laura (Breast Cancer Survivor) said, "When you have young children to take care of they don't really understand when you are not feeling well, they just need taking care of."  I don't have time for this "C business."

Surgical Consult - 12 April 2012

Today I had my surgical consult at David Grant Medical Center with Dr. Jones.  This would be the third time I had my diagnosis explained to me.  I think it is good that they repeat it over and over because truthfully the first time that it was explained to me I was still in what I call "shock processing mode." Then I took all the information that they gave to me home and began reading up on the subject. Here are the two types of Cancer they diagnosed me with:

Invasive (or infiltrating) ductal carcinoma

This is the most common type of breast cancer. Invasive (or infiltrating) ductal carcinoma (IDC) starts in a milk passage (duct) of the breast, breaks through the wall of the duct, and grows into the fatty tissue of the breast. At this point, it may be able to spread (metastasize) to other parts of the body through the lymphatic system and bloodstream. About 8 of 10 invasive breast cancers are infiltrating ductal carcinomas.

Ductal carcinoma in situ

Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS; also known as intraductal carcinoma) is the most common type of non-invasive breast cancer. DCIS means that the cancer cells are inside the ducts but have not spread through the walls of the ducts into the surrounding breast tissue.

About 1 in 5 new breast cancer cases will be DCIS. Nearly all women diagnosed at this early stage of breast cancer can be cured. A mammogram is often the best way to find DCIS early.I

When DCIS is diagnosed, the pathologist (a doctor specializing in diagnosing disease from tissue samples) will look for areas of dead or dying cancer cells, called tumor necrosis, within the tissue sample. If necrosis is present, the tumor is likely to be more aggressive. The term comedocarcinoma is often used to describe DCIS with necrosis.

Dr. Jones began by telling me my options:

1) I could choose to do nothing and there is an 85% chance the cancer would spread and could lead to death.

2) Conservative course of treatment which is a lumpectomy and lymph node biopsy.  They will remove the lump and take out at least 3 nodes under my armpit to biopsy them.  This will be followed with 6 weeks of daily radiation treatment and possible chemo depending on what is discovered with the lymph node biopsy.

3) I could choose to have a mastectomy followed by chemotherapy. 

Option number 1 was not an option for me.  Dr. Jones recommended option number 2.  Eric and I had already discussed what we thought I should do and we agreed with Dr. Jones that conservative treatment  would be the course of action best at this time.  I have a lumpectomy and lymph node biopsy scheduled for Friday, 20 April 2012.

Happy Easter ~ April 8, 2012

This has been an awesome Easter.  My husband, mom, brother and sister in-law here celebrating the holiday with us is so nice.  I am still feeling over overwhelmed with the show of love and concern for me and my family.  I have been so happy that I almost forgot the reason my family dropped everything to fly out here to be with me.  That dang C word~Cancer.

The upcoming week I have an appointment with Kristen my breast cancer consultant and a surgical appointment.  I keep telling myself that it is the waiting and the unknown that is scarier than actually knowing what is going on.  I have been told by several people that the waiting is the worst part.  I received a care package from a dear friend the other day.  She also sent me a book:

The forward to this book is written by Sheryl Crow.  Reading her forward made me feel normal.  This book is filled with stories from women who have battled cancer.  I look forward to reading the entire book.

MRI - 3 April 2012

MRI Machine...Technology is amazing.

I am pretty sure now that after having the MRI it was the anticipation of the unknown that caused me to feel anxious.  The doctor issued me some Ativan to calm my nerves since I was feeling a bit claustraphobic.  Funny thing is they told me to take the pill after I check into the MRI clinic.  I thought to myself at the time, hmmm 10 minutes is that really enough time to work?  Next thing ya know here comes the MRI tech telling me I am up.  Well no time to be concerned about ativan working I just wanted to get it over with, so here we go.

The tech takes me back to get gowned up and then gives me an IV because during the MRI they will inject a contrast dye. They give you ear plugs because the machine is very loud.  Yeah for ear plugs because it was pretty loud with the ear plugs in.  They had me lie face down with my head on a pillow and my arm out so they can inject the contrast for the second part of the test.  I closed my eyes and then they moved me into the tube.  I decided to take a peek and since I could see light outside the tunnel that made me feel better.  The tech told me not to move at all during the scan because it will mess up the pictures.  So half way through the test my nose starts to itch, lol.  It is amazing what mind over matter can do.  I had to will myself not to move to itch my nose and the itch faded.  The entire scan took about 45 minutes.   I will not know the results until I have the surgical consult next week. So now we wait some more but at least I have Eric and Fred and Nicole here to wait with me.  Oh boy I am so happy they are here with me.  And each day I am overwhelmed with friends and family sending love and prayers.  I am very blessed.

Daddy comes home!!!

2 April 2012 ~ Can't wait until Eric gets home.  Feels like the longest day ever.  He finally makes it at 6:45 pm at Sac Int'l Airport.  Our friends Janna, Katie and Johanna come to the airport to take pictures of his return.  Nothing like capturing true love on camera:)  

1 April 2012 Palm Sunday

1 April 2012 - Palm Sunday was awesome.  The DUMC Choir sang beautifully.  Again I am overwhelmed with prayers and concern from everyone.  We are Blessed! Eagerly awaiting the return of my husband and best friend.