Radiation Over

My 33 Radiation Treatments ended November 28 with tears of joy! Overall, I am still tired and experiencing bone pain in my hips. My physical therapy continues as do have a pocket of swelling they are trying to keep under control. My follow-up appointments with my Oncologists, (Radiation and Medical) are scheduled for January 9. Ideally, I would like to have orders for a PET scan to ease my mind that all the cancer is gone. After 9 months of treatments, I would like the comfort knowing I am cancer free so I can move forward and finally put this behind me.

Blessings to all for a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Radiation

October 20: Today, I will have my 9th Radiation treatment. So far, so good. Every day I come home from treatment, I check off one more day closer to being finished.

Overall, I am very tired. I believe this has been the results of the cumulative chemo, not the Radiation, yet. I was also "knocked down" with an upper respiratory infection. The doctor cautioned me that it may take some time to shake given my immune system.

Walk for the Cure - Sunday, October 23

It's not to late to register for the Susan G. Komen, Walk For The Cure. The money raised really supports a great cause and the majority of the funds for this race remain in Maryland. It will be great walking weather. Please join Team MC and let's continue the fight the disease and find a cure!

Radiation Underway

October 12: So far, 2 Radiation treatments can be checked off with 31 to go. After my treatment today, I followup Dr. Young for my weekly checkup. I started physical therapy again yesterday and the good news is that the measurements on both arms are the same. This means there are currently no signs of lymphedemia. Tomorrow is a crazy day with 5 appointments between 7a - 11:45a.

The Komen 5K is October 23. Sign up under Team MC and let's make a difference to fight Breast Cancer!!!

Radiation Therapy Plan

September 23: Today, Pat and I met with the Radiation Oncologist - Dr. Young. It was a comprehensive consultation regarding the last phase of my treatment. Radiation Therapy will begin October 10, Monday - Friday for 33 days. Next week, I will have a CT scan which will provide a clean map before Radiation begins. I will receive 4 permanent tattoos which will accurately provide the areas to be radiated. It is imperative that with each appointment, I am matched up with the beams which ultimately is aligned with the CT map.

I also learned today that the risk of developing lymphedema during radiation is very high. Therefore, I will be back in physical therapy. I did not plan on this, but I certainly want to respect the risk.

I have a decision to make based on new medical findings. Option 1 is to have Radiation to only the affected areas. Option 2 is comprehensive Radiation which includes the affected areas and surrounding lymph nodes. The advantage is that there is a 5 percent change that the cancer will not return. The disadvantage is that the risk of lymphedema increases between 30-40 percent. Needless to say, I have more reading to do and questions to ask.

Upcoming...

This past week was a wash. Fever, bone pain and nausea were present all week and I lost 7 pounds.

Next week I will have a CT Scan and Surgery to have the Port removed. In the meantime, I am counting on feeling better soon. I am done with the chemo side effects!

Please remember to sign up for 'Team MC' for the Susan Komen Race for the cure on October 23.

All Great News and Last Chemo...History!

September 17: I received the biopsy and blood results from two weeks ago. Both tests were negative for fungal infection. Once again, I stumped the doctors with this bizarre rash. The Dermatologist feels it may be dermatitis yet the Oncologist feels that it could be a chemo reaction. Although, the Oncologist did not initially feel this was drug related he agrees that these chemo drugs have presented very unique rashes for me. I am very relieved that the fungal infection did not return. Dr. Garg was able to write my final chemo orders. He pulled a few strings with the Infusion Center and my last treatment was Friday, September 16. :0)

The next steps...

My consultation with the Radiation Oncologist will be Friday, September 23. I already know treatment will be Monday - Friday. I just need to know for how many weeks. Dr. Garg told me that it is typically 5-6 weeks long. The good news is that the side effects should mainly be fatigue. This is still not great, but it has to be better than the chemo side effects.

My surgery to have the port removed will be in 2 weeks. It is risky to do this too soon because of the lower white counts from chemo. I want to be sure I am healthy and strong enough for the surgery; I do not need any setbacks.

Looking Ahead...

October 23: Susan Komen Race For The Cure, www.komenmd.org. Join Team MC!! Thanks for all the love, support, and prayers. Now, let's find a cure!!! Hope to see you there!!!

Last Chemo On Hold

September 2: It's been 3 weeks since I discovered a bright red/purple rash on my thigh. Initially, I thought I had a bad sunburn which I did not cover with sunscreen. My skin is super sensitive and I honestly thought I was not careful. Then, last week I had an appointment with Dr. Garg. The morning of my appointment, another site similar in appearance yet smaller appeared on my knee. I quickly determined that these two sites were related and that it was not sunburn. Dr. Garg's initial reaction was that it had the characteristics of a fungal infection. He asked that I followup with the dermatologist. The first appointment I could get was August 31. In the meantime, a third site appeared. The dermatologist biopsied the area and told me she believes it is a fungal infection, too. She prescribed a topical cream to use, twice daily.

Dr. Garg requested that I return to his office on September 1. He postponed my last chemo until the biopsy comes back. Dr. Garg was deeply concerned with my past history of Valley Fever. He knows that the spores are dormant and can be triggered at any time. My immune system is very compromised now and he expressed great caution. He also ordered the Valley Fever titer test which will take about 2-3 weeks. My Difflucan dose was increased from 200mg to 400mg. Dr. Garg is not able to write my last chemo order because the increase in the Difflucan and the Taxotere (chemo drug) would cause serious damage to my liver.

Another bump in the road... I do understand and agree that answers are needed before I can proceed. I pray that this latest issue is not related to Valley Fever. If so, Dateline NBC will be hearing from me! If I knew then what I know now...

Chemo 7 - Done

August 19: My lab work came back favorable, so my chemo orders were written and treatment 7 was finished on Aug. 19. I am dealing with fatigue, fever, and a lot of bone pain. Sleep has been an issue: I am very tired but the steroids given during treatment have me wired and getting comfortable with the bone pain has been a challenge.

I am scheduled for my next study drug injection and physical this week with Dr. Garg.

I have 1 more treatment to go and will be celebrating the end of chemo, soon. Barring no problems, my last treatment will be September 9.

Chemo Delayed

August 13: I went to the hospital on Thursday for my routine appointments prior to chemo. My blood work showed that my liver functions were elevated. Dr. Garg wants me off the anti-fungal medication for a week to see if there is a change before my next blood draw next week. Dr. Garg also indicated that Taxotere can elevate kidney functions. He is very conservative and given my past history is not willing to take any unnecessary chances. If all looks good next week, chemo treatment 7 will be August 19. He also told me that the Taxotere hit me hard and instead of chemo every 2 weeks, it will be every 3 weeks. If everything goes as planned, September 9 will be my last treatment.

I was a little worried about Treatment 7 going as scheduled August 12. I believe I only had 2 days out of 14 that I did not feel like I was crushed by a Mack truck. It was definitely a very different set of side effects with Treatment 6.

I am almost done....AMEN!!

Staying Strong

Last week was a pretty good "feel good" week for me. My rash was better and my energy levels were up. Chemo went well last Friday, just two more to go.

I was told that this new round of chemo medicine would not be as bad. I am struggling with it. I was back in the Emergency Room on Wednesday night with fever, higher than the Oncologist preferred. Fortunately, my white blood counts were normal. It appears as though I am dealing with more side effects of the chemo or that I picked up a bug I cannot shake. My last real meal was 5 days ago and I am very run down. Reality set in when I looked in the mirror and could not see me. I know these side effects are cumulative, but I sure hope the last few weeks pass quickly.

Please continue to keep me (and my family) in your prayers. It is definitely a journey you only want to do once, if you have too. At 46, I honestly can say I had not idea what to expect. It's not easy!

Dealing With A Bump In The Road

I experienced a side effect from the Taxatere which I was prepared for, skin rash, but it will not go away. By day 8 my rash was out of control. I spoke to Dr. Garg on Saturday and he urged me to go to the ER. He was concerned the rash developed into Steven Johnson syndrome. The Bloodwork all came back normal. I followed up with the Dermatologist on Monday and my arm was biopsied in 2 places. They are checking for Vasculitis. In the meantime, I was given 2 prescriptions which have helped greatly. Stitches will be removed in 2 weeks.

I follow up with Dr. Garg on Thursday and he will assess how he wants to proceed with the remaining Chemo treatments.

Treatment 5, Downhill from here

July 15: Treatment 5 over and making my way down. It feels great to know I only have 3 more to go! Yippee!!

I was on pins and needles going into treatment 5 because the Infusion Nurses had trouble drawing my blood from the port. She had difficulty getting the blood return. After 1 hour and many various contortions of my body, success! After all that, she told me she suspects my port is infected and that I should have it checked by Dr. Garg. He was my next appointment.

Dr. Garg reviewed my bloodwork and he said it was perfect. With no other signs of infection, ie: fever, feeling over the top lousy, he did not suspect the port was infected. However, he decided he wanted a second opinion from my Vascular Surgeon. So my chemo was put on hold. After spending 2 1/2 hours at the hospital I returned home and waited for the call. Within the hour, I was back in the car to the Vascular Surgeon's office. I saw another doctor in the
practice because mine was on vacation. Dr. John told me I am experiencing a rare, allergic skin reaction to the port. Why me? I keep breaking out in a bumpy, itchy rash that is very "angry" looking. He said this is not very common and with 4 treatments to go, "suck it up". Considering the condition of my veins in my right arm, I have no choice. He cleared me for Chemo.

Fortuntately, the Infusion Center was able to get me back on the schedule for Friday. I did not want a delay. My nurse told me that in 15 years, she has never seen a skin allergy to a port. I wish the black cloud over my head would go away!

My infusion took 5 hours and went well. They added prescription strength benedryl to my cocktail and it knocked me out. I was asleep within 20 minutes. The only side effect I need to watch for with this course is Neuropathy which is nerve pain in the hands and feet. This would be a very good time for that black cloud to disperse!

Every considered, I feel okay. I am very anxious to get my life back! I see the light at the end of the tunnel and it gets brighter every day!

Treatment 4 Tomorrow, Halfway There

June 30: Today I met with Dr. Garg about my experiences with the side effects from treatment 3 and to discuss the last 4 treatments.

No doubt, I was knocked down hard after treatment 3, not only from the chemo but the port surgery. My port is in and the site is still very red and I have a rash which has not resolved from last week. I just fininshed a 1 week round of antibiotics and was prescribed another 2 weeks of antiobiotics. It is not clear to Dr. Garg if this is a side effect from the chemo or an irritation from something foreign going into the body, the port. The good news is that they will be able to use the port tomorrow. The phlebitis is still present in my arm.

Tomorrow is my last cycle of the Red Devil and Cytoxin. The next 4 cycles will be Taxol and will be given every 2 weeks. If I figured this out correctly, August 26 will be my last treatment. That's what I'm talking about! I will have my port removed the first week of September followed by Radiation. I am seeing the light at the end of the tunnel, no pun intended.

Happy 4th everyone and be safe!

Trying To Stay Strong

It has been a rough few weeks...

Very low blood pressure, heart racing, and burning up inside all comes down to not feeling well at all. My next chemo treatment is Friday, July 1. This is the last of the first chemo cycle. My second chemo cycle will be defined June 30.

Just want to get it all behind me!

Run Down

June 6: This week started ok, but it quickly declined. The outside high temperatures and the side effects from the steroids, makes me feel as though I am burning up inside. All the energy I had has been pulled out of me. My Oncologolist advised that I should remain indoors and stay hydrated. This became a challenge yesterday, when our AC shut off and the house quickly turned to a sauna. I called for service and an angel was looking out for me. The repairman stopped by and fixed the problem. Thank God! By the time he left the downstairs was 83 and the upstairs was at least 10 degrees warmer.

After my followup with the Ongologist, we discussed the port. My veins are taking a beating and I've developed phelbitis in my arm. My arm has also become irritated by the Red Devil medicine and I need to watch for further changes in my skin and report it immediately. I was refereed to a Vascular Surgeon and met with him Friday morning.

My surgery for the port is June 16 in the morning and my Infusion will be June 17.

It has been very frustrating for me to do the "simple things" this week. I only hope that I gain some energy before I have my next treatment. It's not a good feeling... I am used to doing so much more and I don't like that I am knocked down.

Treatment 2

June 3: It was a long day and thankful it is now behind me. I started at the lab where they drew 7 tubes of blood. After leaving, I was not feeling too well. I ate a small breakfast and was working hard on my hydration to boost the veins for the infusion, but it was not enough. After the physical, Pat and I had a some time to slip out for a salad before my chemo. My physical and blood results all came back favorable. All steps in the right direction. It was a little easier going in for this infusion after having one behind me...but still, not right.

The Infusion Nurse had problems with her first attempt with the IV, and my vein collapsed. It took her several minutes for her to locate another good vein. Once the IV was in, it was ok. However, as the medications were going in, I experienced stinging in my arm for the duration of the infusion. With 6 more treatments to go, it is time to have the discussion with Dr. Garg about a port. I don't think I can do this 6 more times knowing these drugs are very hard on the veins and they can only use my right arm. My follow up with him is June 9.

My infusion took longer than my first one, 3 3/4 hours, as expected. My side effects are the same as the first, but not as bad. I think this is the result of slowing it down.  Right now, the hardest side effect is fighting the fatigue.

June 5: I returned to the hospital in the morning for my Neulasta shot. I am already experiencing bone pain in my chest, a normal side effect.   Tolerable. 

This week: Physical Therapy appointments, Blood Work, and Dr. Garg.  If possible, I would like to schedule the appointment with the Doctor who will perform the Port Surgery and get this scheduled before my next Chemo Treatment, June 17.

I continue to appreciate all the emails, texts, cards, and calls.  Thank you all!

XOXO

Getting Ready For Treatment 2

May 31: I was scheduled to have my bone scan last week, but that did not happen. When I arrived at AA Diagnostics, they were ready to inject the radioactive dye when they determined there was no time slot available for the bone study. Needless go say, this was rescheduled for today. The results came back favorable which will allow me to participate in the Study Drug.

June 1: I had another physical therapy which was quite uncomfortable. There is still deep cording which needs to be broken and stretched. I have definitely made progress and my range of motion is much better. Hopefully, once all the cords are released my visits to physical therapy will decrease.

I received a call from the Study Drug Nurse and before the drug is administered, I need to have a mammogram, physical, and more bloodwork before Friday. I am baffled why they want to proceed with the mammogram. My last surgery was only 5 weeks ago. Besides, the mammogram did not pick up my cancer, it was the ultrasound. I was told ultrasounds and MRIs are too expensive. OMG...I am getting very irritated by the ignorance!

June 2: I had blood drawn which is necessary before Chemo - they need the baseline before treatment 2. Then, the mammogram. The technician had me positioned, compressed the machine on me and said, "oh wait a minute, I forgot to reset the computer from the last image.". My response..."hurry up". Ouch!

June 3: It will be a busy day at the hospital. I have to have the study drug bloodwork drawn in the morning, followed by my physical, then the study drug injection. My last stop will be at the Infusion Center for Chemo Treatment 2. It will be a long day 10am - 5pm. I have to follow up for the Neulasta shot on June 5.

It was a very busy and overwhelming week...not as I planned.

By the way, I decided to take control of what I can control. I shaved my head, one less stress. Bald is beautiful, so I have been told.

Have a great weekend everyone!! :0)

Follow-up from Treatment 1

May 25: I experienced the normal side effects from chemo: nausea, loss of appetite, fatigue, and low energy. Dr Garg appeared concerned over the painful headaches I experienced several days after treatment 1. At this time, the cause is unclear. His orders were noted to slow the drip next time. He is also considering this could have also been a rare side effect from the Neulasta shot. Time will tell, my next treatment is June 3.

Pat and I were confused about the frequency of my treatments. Our notes from Dr. Garg reflected 6 treatments, every 3 weeks for 18 weeks. The Infusion Nurses had a different schedule. When we brought this to Dr. Garg's attention he confirmed the following: 8 treatments with for the first 4 every 2 weeks and the last 4 every 3 weeks. Of course, I was not pleased. I believe the change occurred after knowing I am at high risk for recurrence and that my immune system was already compromised before the breast cancer diagnosis. So, they are hitting me strong! The change was not known to us - I do not like surprises! What can you do...start recounting, 1 down 7 to go!

Following this appointment, I had routine Bloodwork. Then, home. I was exhausted and took a long nap. I am trying very hard to walk every day. This is a very important piece when dealing with Chemo. Fight fatigue with exercise!

This week: Physical therapy, bone scan, and treatment 2.

Have a Happy and Safe Holiday Weeekend!!

1st Chemo Treatment

May 20: Today is my first chemo treatment and I am feeling calm. I started my day with yogurt and berries and the TV to keep my mind occupied. Before we left, I ate chicken salad with veggies and fruit. Chased it all down with lots of water to pump up my veins.

By the time we reached the Infusion Office, I started feeling uneasy. Oddly enough, my blood pressure was very low. I had my family support - Pat, Michelle, and Patrick. Pat was the only one allowed back at first until the nurse finished with my prep. At this moment, it all became real and I could no longer fight my tears. The "patient" chair was mine, the "drug bin" of meds were mine, my picture I'd with bar code was mine and there would be no turning back. After a few moments, I pulled myself together so I could get this behind me. Pat was ready to bring the kids back. Fortunately, it was a quiet afternoon in the Infusion area so they could all be with me. Otherwise, they would be taking turns from the waiting room.

I was first given 3 pills of Dexamethasone. Then, the saline drip was started. I was then given medicine through the IV to prevent nausea (3 day long lasting), followed by Adriamycin, ending with Cytoxen. Start to finish was about 3 hours and 15 minutes. 1 down 5 to go!

May 22;  In the last 48 hours, I've experienced side effects.  Painful headaches, nausea, and heart racing - all normal.  I do not have an appetite, but and managing to push the 64 ounces of water necessary to get all the chemo drugs out of my system.  I was scheduled to have my Neulasta shot yesterday, but it had not been 24 hours since my first treatment ended, so I had this today.  This shot is given to boost my white blood counts.  The side effect from this is pain in the bones.  If this happens, I can only take 200mg of Ibuprophen - once a day.

Upcoming:  More physical therapy appointments and my follow-up with Dr. Garg on May 25.

Many, many thanks for all the prayers, texts, emails, and cards.  This lifts my spririts more than you know!

"Thankful" for a busy week

May 16| 3 appointments today. I was fitted for a gauntlet and sleeve which will be necessary to wear on my arm before chemo starts. This is another prevention measure to reduce the risk of lymphodemia. From there, I had physical therapy. Today was not as bad as last week. The pain I experienced was from axillary cording. Cording is the scarring of the lymphatic system after lymph nodes have been removed. The cords run from my underarm down to my wrist. The cords have also extended from my underarm to my chest wall and back. In order to regain range of motion, the cords need to be stretched and snapped. It is extremely painful and the burning sensation is quite intense. I am stretching daily because these cords tighten back up, easily. From there, I had my teeth cleaned at the dentist. I will not be able to have this done during chemo due to the high risk of developing an infection.

May 17| I have my meeting with the Genetics Counselor. I have many questions which will hopefully reveal a lot of answers, in time. I picked up all my new prescriptions which were ordered by my Oncologist- these are needed after my first treatment. After reading one of the drug profiles, I will need to call and question one of the drugs. This particular drug is in the steroid family. Those who have tested positive for Valley Fever cannot take steroids because the disease disseminates. Since my Valley Fever spores are dormant, we already know they can be triggered when my immune system is low, I want to ensure this medicine will not activate them. This would be a nightmare!

May 18: I will need to pick up the compression sleeve which was not in stock and take it to my physical therapy appointment. The therapist will have the final say on the fit. If all goes well after therapy I am done, otherwise, I will return to be refitted.

May 19: Bloodwork necessary before first treatment.

May 20: 1st Chemo Treatment, 3 hours.

May 21: Return to the hospital for neulasta shot to boost my white blood counts.

Physical Therapy

May 12: Something happened to blogger and my post earlier this week was published, then lost. I believe this happened to many and they are trying to restore the problem. When I logged on today, the message read "it's a girl"...I don't think so.

I have one word to describe my PT experience...excruciating! On a scale of 1 to 10, I went off the chart. Last night was a bad night and I have been uncomfortable most of today. I will provide in more detail my upcoming week, later. I will be at the hospital every day next week for appointments and tests.

Happy Friday to all!

Moving Right Along

May 5: Today was my post op. All went well and my next appointment will be in 6 months. I was given a script to start physical therapy and I started 2 hours after my post op. Now, I call that efficiency! My anxiety has been high so I decided to take a drive to the Wellness House. This is a non-profit center for cancer patients and their families. I could feel the weight on my shoulders dropping as soon as the white gates opened to the property. The area is beautiful and I decided I would try Reiki today. I was definitely relaxed after leaving.

My day long Annapolis trip ended with a brief visit with my friends at Force 3. This was a nice dose of Medicine, not to mention the angel food cake and fresh strawberries they had when I arrived. The support and love from this visit made my day!

I had a nice Mother's Day. I was not up for going out, so Pat and the kids made a delicious dinner. Then, I focused on helping Patrick get ready for his trip to Quebec/Montreal. This was a great mind diversion.

May 12: Pat and I had our Chemo Teaching and Tour today. I had a lump in my throat all morning and fought the emotions. We were slammed with a ton of information do's and don'ts I have a stack of reading to absorb all this information.

In addition, I signed consent papers to be a participant in a study to help prevent the cancer from recurring and settling in the bones. This is a 5 year study...just want to help the future since I met all the criteria. I thought it would be best to participate.

I have physical therapy this afternoon. They already warned me, it may be painful.

Next week...Genetic Counselor Appointment, Physical Therapy, Bloodwork, Chemo, Nelasta injection. I think I am at the hospital 4 days next week.

Thank you everyone for your support. I cannot do this alone and I am blessed to have so many family and friends around me. What more could I ask?

Upcoming

May 2: I received the call I was waiting to hear; "the margins are clear.". Now, things are moving along, again.

May 3: My post-op is Thursday; now, I should be ready to start physical therapy. Due to the axillary node dissection, there is a greater risk of developing lymphedema. Physical therapy is vital to prevent this occurrence. I will have that schedule after my Thursday appointment.

I meet with the Genetics Counselor on May 17 which will be followed up with more testing.

My chemo start date changed to Friday, May 20. This date should not change now that the results are back and I will have had several PT sessions behind me.

I was asked to participate in a study through AA Medical Center. This study is for women who meet certain criteria --early breast cancer with high risk of recurrence. I am educating myself on this study as well as utilizing the Internet for help. I will need to sign a consent within 10 days. It appears to be a good study, just trying to make the right decision.

My spirits are good, yet still have the dark chemo cloud over my head. It's not going away, just need to make the best of it.

Breathe, smile, one day at a time...

Chemo To Start

April 29: Just received my call...First chemo treatment is Friday, May 13.

Surgery, April 28

April 28: Surgery is over and I am home now. I am sore; I am praying that the pathology report comes back clear so I can keep moving forward. The next phase of treatment is chemo and I am very uneasy about this necessary step. I guess it will be easier to think of this as 6 chemo treatments vs. 4 1/2 months long.

Time to rest!

Week of April 25

April 25: My drain was removed today and I was so relieved to get this out. After 11 days, it was getting a bit uncomfortable. Michelle did a great job taking care of this for me! I think she has a calling in the medical field.

I was reassured that I will not have another drain after Thursday's surgery. Overall, I am feeling ok. I am still tired and this is due to the meds I am taking.

April 27: Today was my appointment with Dr. Garg, Oncologist. My "what to expect
with chemo" appointment is May 12 and my first chemo treatment will be around May 19. This date may change depending on the outcome of my surgery April 28. Chemo treatments will last
4 1/2 months, oh joy.

April 28: Surgery to clear the margins at 9:15am.

April 29: Recovering...watching the Royal Wedding, lol.

New Date

April 22: My surgery date was changed again. It is now April 28.

Post-Op

April 21:  Today was my post-op at the Breast Center.  The last 30 hours or so it felt like I had a softball being pushed hard into my armpit area and it was quite uncomfortable.  After the nurse examined me, she determined that the drain needs to remain in for the next few days.  She also said there was a lot of swelling so I was moved to the ultrsound room.  The cause of the swelling was a buildup of fluid in the breast and Dr. Liang drained 50cc's.  Ah, relief! 

I was given a copy of the pathology report today and 9 lymph nodes were removed, 3 had cancer and 1 of the margins were not clear.  I am scheduled for more surgery on May 4. 

This visit to the Breast Center was exhausting.  I came home and slept for 2 1/2 hours. 

And The Roller Coaster Ride Starts Again

April 18: The last few days have been ok. Overall feeling good, just tired. Pat's away this week in training and the kids are taking good care of me. Hopefully I've been a good patient -- eat and sleep.

April 19: The home nurse was over again to change my bandages and drain. All looks good! I received a call from my Nurse Navigator with my pathology results. The cancer was in 3 lymph nodes and 1 of the margins is too close. This means another trip back AA Medical Center to have this removed. The surgery scheduler will be calling me today with the date.

At Home

April 15:  I was released from the hospital around 3:45pm.  Dr. Liang stopped in to assure me that surgery went very well.  She removed the lump in the breast and the affected lymph node.  She believes there was only 1 lymph node with cancer. She told me again how fortunate I was to catch this early.   Further test results should be back Tuesday or Wednesday.  My stay at the hospital was very comfortable and the nursing staff was fantastic.  I am home now and my "new" nursing staff has taken over and they are doing a super job!!  Thank you Pat, Michelle, & Patrick!

April 16:  I had an good night sleep last night, 6 straight hours!  This is 2 nights in a row.  I cannot remember the last time I slept so well.  When I woke up, I was uncomfortable.  It felt as though an elephant was doing jumping jacks on my chest.  Overall, I am feeling much better than I expected.  A Hopkins home nurse came over this morning to check my drain (from the lymph node which was removed) and check vitals, etc.  All was ok.  She will be back again on Tuesday.  My post-op is Thursday and I meet again with Dr. Garg (Oncologist) on Friday.  Now, it's time to heal.  I will need rest to regain stregnth before the next phase, chemo.

Surgery ... Check

April 14: Surgery was at 7:30am. Although I do not remember responding to Dr. Liang from the recovery room, she told Pat surgery was successful. I should have further results on Tuesday. I was moved from recovery to my own hospital room around 1:15pm. My family and mom and dad were here and left around 3:30pm. After a 4:10am wakeup, everyone is tired. The medical team has been very attentive and compassionate.

I am able to keep in touch, from my hospital room, with my iPad from Force 3. This will help be stay connected with all of you.

Thank you Pat, Michelle, and Patrick for supporting and loving me, always!

As I have said before, we are very blessed to have the strong support of family and friends. Thank you all!

Keeping Busy

April 13: The last 5 days have been "normal" days...no appointments!  Today I am working 1/2 day.  Surgery is tomorrow.  Trying to take the advice of so many (breathe, one step at time, etc.), but finding it is easier said than done.  It is 3:30am and I'm tired, but my mind is too active...frustrating.

Thanks for all the cards and emails!  I truly appreciate the support from everyone!!

All Things Considered...Good News!

March 29:  My Pet Scan was today.  Very different...  I was taken into a spacious room and was reclined in a comfy chair.  I was trying to relax when I read the big warning sign on the door "Caution:  Radioactive Zone".  Uneasy was more like it!  The radioactive material was injected in my arm, I was wrapped with two warm blankets, and the lights in the room dimmed as the nurse locked the door behind her.  There was a secuity camera on me, just in case!  Really,  I could not get out if I tried.  The scan was painless and it took about 20 minutes.  The radioactive scan will detect the active cancer cells. 

March 30:  Pat and I met with Dr. Garg.  Lisa conferenced on the call, as well.  Great news! The two spots found on the lung and liver from the CAT Scan are not cancer.  Huge sigh of relief!  These scars are likely the "signatures" from having Valley Fever.  My treatment plan is in motion.  Surgery, April 14 followed by chemo, then radiation.  I am scheduled for a Muga scan on Friday, April 1 in the Nuclear Medicine Department.  The Muga scan will give a pre-surgery view of my heart so I can be properly monitored during my treatment.

More Appointments and Test Results

March 28:  I met with the Plastic Surgeon today.  He was very supportive and  reassured me that a Lumpectomy with Radiation and Chemo provide the same long term results as a Mastecomy. This echoed what I heard from Dr. Garg, Dr. Liang, and Dr. Lange (the Hopkins Doctor).   He does not  believe that plastic surgery will be necessary because, in time, the tissues and fluids around the breast will fill in.  However, if I'm not satisfied, I can always schedule a follow-up.

As I was getting in the car to my next appointment, I received a call from Dr. Garg.  He received the results of the CT Scan.  Two spots were discovered; 1 on my left lung and 1 on my liver - approximately 1 cm each.  He ordered another test, a Pet Scan.   It is possible these spots are related to Valley Fever.  I am confident the spot on my lung is related to Valley Fever because I have x-rays from 2002 which show the scarring from the disease.  The liver was a surprise!  Tomorrow I will receive a low dose of radioactive glucose before the scan.  I should have these results in time for my follow-up with Dr. Garg on Wednesday, 3/30.

I attended my first support group meeting tooday.  I found it very helpful and was surprised at the amount of resources available.  I plan on taking advantage of these amazing counselors during the year.  I was also educated on Lymphodemia.  This is swelling which sometimes occurs after an auxilary node disection.  Measurements were taken on both of my arms and I was provided with warnings/symptoms. 

Before I left the Breast Center, I was given my surgery date:  April 14.  

It will be another busy week of appointments.

More Appointments

March 23:  Pat and I met with the Oncologist, Dr. Garg.  I am very anxious and it shows, my blood pressure is high and is normally very low.   Before I continue with today's appointment, I need to rewind 9 years.  In 2002, I was diagnosed with a disseminated case of Coccidiomycosis (Valley Fever).  Pat and my mom asked me within a day of each other if this could be linked to Valley Fever.  I was ready to dismiss this, but realized that there was no family history (mother or sisters) with known breast cancer, I should ask.  I consulted with a Hopkins doctor (friend of my parents) and learned last weekend that there is a connection between having Valley Fever and developing breast cancer.   It was my hope that Dr. Garg would understand Valley Fever and consider the impact with my treatment.  Fortunately, Dr. Garg was a wealth of information.  Because chemo surpresses your immune system and my system is already compromised, Dr. Garg is recommending anti-fungal medication which will start when Chemo Starts.  We do not want these dormant spores triggered. Now the question...surgery first or chemo?  Dr. Garg will consult with Dr. Liang and get back to me before we meet next Wednesday.

I received good news from this appointment.  The receptor hormones are good which means that I should respond favorably to chemo.  Additionally, the MRI shows the cancer had not spread beyond the left breast and lymph nodes.

Dr. Garg has ordered bloodwork and a CT scan.

March 24:  Today is my second appointment at Hopkins.  The rainy drive was a miserable 1 hour and 15 minutes.  My appointment was at 9am and it took 1 hour for check-in.  Between the processing of my insurance and who knows what else, the Administrator found it appropriate to eat her breakfast and take personal calls while helping me.  I can feel my blood pressure rising...  Which is the next stop.  I am taken back to have my blood pressure checked and the nurse was having problems with the machine.  She very diligently worked on trying to connect the pieces.  After 10 minutes, I finally said, "this is a hospital, don't you have another one?"  Her response, "on yeah".  OMG!  Blood pressure taken and it is high, go figure!

After the surgeon examined me, she reviewed the pathology reports, biopsies, and images (Mammogram, Ultrasound, and MRI).  I did not offer any information from my past consultations.  I really wanted her assessment.  It was in line with the doctors at Anne Arundel Medical Center.  I am very relieved and feel that my case will be handled brilliantly by my team of doctors.

March 25:  Bloodwork  and CT Scan completed....this was a piece of cake compared to the MRI.   I received a call from Dr. Liang.  She consulted with Dr. Garg and they both feel the safest option for my case is to perform surgery first.  The next step is to meet with the Nurse Navigator to review surgery instructions (including the date).  I hope to know this by next week.  

Reality is setting in...ready or not!  Let's just get moving.  I have a lot of inner strength and pray I am not let down.  I registered for the St. Petersburg marathon in January.  It looks like I will have own marathon.   Let's do it!

Biopsy Results- March 10

March 10:  After 2 Mammograms, 1 Ultrasound, and several biopsies, the test results were delivered.  I heard the words no one wants to hear, 'you have breast cancer'.   I had to wait 5 long days after these words for my consultation at the Breast Center with Surgeon, Dr. Liang.  Dr. Liang was very surprised that I found the lump myself.  Word to the wise...a self exam may save your life.  After 15 years of regular mammograms, this was not, I repeat NOT detected by the mammogram!  The ultrasound picked up the 2" mass and the enlarged lymph nodes.  The biopsy of the mass and lymph nodes confirmed that I have breast cancer, stage 2.

March 18:   Pat and I broke the news to Michelle and Patrick.  This was painfully difficult; it was, without a doubt, the hardest conversation we ever had.  We are truly blessed with a supportive network of family and friends.  We will all get through this, together!

March 21:  For those who didn't already know, I am claustrophobic.  My MRI is today.  Now, I've had MRIs in the past and have been 'ok'.  This one, however, was not as I expected.  Besides, the IV which was in my arm, I had lay face down on the MRI table with my head in the face cradle and was moved backwards into the scanner.  The last time I put my head in a face cradle I was relaxed...getting a massage.  Well, there was nothing relaxing about this.  My face was about 2" from the table and my heart was racing.  I could not relax and felt the as though there was a lack of air moving.  The nurse told me not to move or ring the bell she handed me unless it was absolutely necessary.  Otherwise, the test would stop and could not be restarted.  I survived the 30 minute scan even though I never found my "happy place" to relax;   I was so glad it was over.  By the way, the masseuse was at work the following day and I did get my massage.   

March 23:  Today Pat and I will meet with the Oncologist.  Hopefully, my MRI results will be discussed and my treatment plan will be defined.  More importantly, when will treatment begin.

Thanks to all my family and friends for the prayers and support!  I appreciate all your calls, emails, cards and insprirational texts.  Additionally, on Wednesday's my friends at Force 3 will wear pink to show their support for me.  I invite everyone to do the same!