ME AND MY AMAZING SONS~

Update on my TREV OF EDGE~

Mostly good news at Trevor's CF appointment. His PFT's started a bit low, but after a few puffs of albuterol, he broke a record! He was negative for CF related diabetes! So now for the not so good news...He was down almost a pound in weight, but gained a cm in height. The sonogram of his belly showed sludge in his gallbladder which could cause complications down the road, so he is adding a new med to his list. They are also adding a Flovent inhaler because Trev's allergen level is too high and they thought it helped improve his PFT's at his last clinic visit,  but overall I am very thankful for the good news and hoping his cultures are clear!

NO BRAC genes~

I received a call from the Breast Cancer Survivorship Center at KU Cancer Center today and they said that they genetically tested me for 65% of the BRAC genes and I was negative! This is good because it means I am at a lot less risk of developing ovarian cancer!

I also had my echo cardio gram at Mid-America Cardiology in Liberty. It is like a sonogram of your heart. No results yet... the cardiologist has to review it and then they will send it to the doctor who ordered it from KU. I am pretty sure my heart is okay though, but then again...I was pretty sure I didn't have cancer either. LOL

I can't wait to get this surgery out of the way on December 9th. I want to start out the new year (2012) CANCER FREE!

Spent another day at KU~

Jason and I drove to KU cancer center again yesterday. We met with the breast surgeon, Dr. Mcginness. She explained the procedure and what will happen during the surgery which is scheduled for December 9th. So....a bilateral mastectomy, but they are going to try to save skin and nipples if possible. If there is no cancer found in my lymph nodes then I will not have to have chemotherapy. I do not have to have radiation because I am having a mastectomy. After our meeting with Dr. Mcginness, the nurse gave me a bunch of information about how to take care of myself after surgery. Then we went for pre-op questions and blood tests at the main hospital. They asked a lot of questions about everything especially anesthesia. They did an EKG which showed some slight irregularity and the doc said she heard a slight heart murmur. Needless to say I have to go back to the doctor today for an echo cardio gram. Did I tell you that I am sick of appointments?!!?!? I don't think it is anything serious. They just want to be safe as I will be under anesthesia for approximately 5-6 hours for the surgery. Still scared and nervous, but moving forward and looking forward to getting rid of this cancer once and for all.

North Platte Invitational 2011 7th Grade Champions~

Tristan is holding the award

The little things in life that make it all worth it~

Two very special cards from two very special boys....my youngest son Trey and his good friend Clay. Thank you boys...you made my day and I love you guys too!

The final biopsy results~

I found out Thursday that my last biopsy results were NOT cancer. So there is no cancer in the left breast. Two spots of cancer were found in the right breast... My next appointment is Tuesday  with the breast surgeon, Dr. McGinness. Then  I will have some anesthesia testing done. I should also get a surgery date at that appointment. I am shooting for the week after Thanksgiving.

Conquered the MRI biopsy~

Well, I must say that I am pretty proud of myself for conquering my fears and getting through the MRI biopsy. I am sure the 10 mg of Valium helped. LOL Nonetheless I still feel good about getting it done. It is the last biopsy I will have to have before surgery. I should know the results in a couple of days....at least by Friday. Jason and I have talked about a possible surgery date. We think at this point it would be wise to try to do it right after Thanksgiving. Hopefully we can get it scheduled for the last week in November or first week in December. That way I should be feeling half way decent for Christmas. We are going to try to get all of our Christmas decorations up on Thanksgiving weekend! I can't believe I worried so much about that last biopsy... my blood pressure was like 175/96, but at least it is over and I am very happy about that. My next appointment is on November 15th with the breast surgeon, Dr. Mcginness and then I will have some anesthesia testing done that day as well. 

Feeling GOOD!

Sleepless Nights~

I haven't slept well this weekend... I know it is probably silly and maybe most normal people would get through all of this without a glitch, but not me.... I feel so strong sometimes....like I can handle just about anything, but this weekend has been especially tough for me for whatever reason. Last week, the nurse from my surgeon's office told me that I am very brave. LOL Not feeling very brave at the moment, but I know some how, some way I have to get through this.  I am worried about the upcoming MRI biopsy on Tuesday. They are going to give me Valium for my nerves, but I am afraid it won't be enough and I will freak out... I wish I was not so claustrophobic and I hate the idea of going back in that machine. I have also had anxiety from thoughts of the ominous and fast approaching surgery....even though as of today.....I still don't have a date for it. It is all there......going through my mind like race cars driving around a track at max speed. It is always there.....even during the day....my mind is racing. So, for the record....I am pretty exhausted mentally and physically and just want to get through these next couple of months. The waiting is excruciating. Please keep all the positive thoughts and prayers coming as I am going to need all the help and support I can get!

Restless

MRI Biopsy rescheduled, consult with the plastic surgeon and testing for the BRCA genes

Well, Jason and I spent a good portion of our day at KU hospital/cancer center again yesterday. We met with the plastic surgeon, Dr. Punnuru. I really liked him. Made me feel very comfortable and did not rush us.. Let us ask lots of questions. Very nice man with 3 girls of his own. We decided on the expander reconstruction because it is a shorter surgery and much less time in the hospital. The draw back is that it is a long process....about a year of followups and a second surgery for the permanent implants.
Meanwhile, we received the results from the biopsy done on Tuesday. This biopsy was on the same breast (right breast) 4 cm away from the first spot they diagnosed with DCIS cancer, but much deaper, closer to the chest wall. Guess that is why it hurt so much! The new biopsy also showed DCIS cancer. This means it would be virtually impossible to do a lumpectomy because of the amount they would have to remove to make sure they get all the cancer. Also, a lumpectomy would require radiation and the mastectomy does not. The doctor also said that the recurrence rate with a lumpectomy is much higher.
The MRI guided biopsy on the left breast which was originally scheduled last Tuesday has been rescheduled for the 8th of November. Hoping it is the last biopsy I have to go through.
After we met with the plastic surgeon, we met with a genetics doctor who took a sample of my DNA via a throat swab and it is being sent to the only lab in the U.S.  that does this type of genetic testing, to see if I carry any of the BRCA genes. This is important to know because if I do have this gene...I would also be at a much higher risk for ovarian cancer and it would also put my sister and my brother's and sister's daughters at a greater risk of getting breast cancer some day. Hopefully the test will be negative.

HANGING IN THERE :)

November 2011

FRUSTRATION~ CANCER SUCKS!

Jason drove me back to KU Cancer Center yesterday for two biopsies. A stereotactic biopsy on the right breast (which they have already done a biopsy on and found cancer) because of some more microcalcifcations that they found when they did the MRI and an MRI guided biopsy on the left breast because of a mass they saw when they did the MRI.  I asked the doctor who was going to perform the biopsy if he thought these microcalcifications on the right breast  were cancer and his reply was yes. He did not think the mass on the left breast was cancer though  :(     Why then, do I have to go through these procedures if you already know it is cancer or not???  Well, they did the first procedure and supposedly gave me 4 times the normal amount of lidocaine . I thought everything seemed to be going as smooth as the first biopsy done several weeks ago....then all of the sudden I felt something that felt similar to what I assume a nail gun would feel like when it penetrates your skin. It hurt so bad I cried. The doctor asked me what I would rate my pain on a scale of 0 to 10.... I am thinking 25!  It scared me ...but I did make it through this biopsy.....They took me then, to wrap it up and on to the MRI guided biopsy. I laid down on the bed to do it and the right breast proceeded to bleed.... The doctor came in and I told him I needed a Valium to get through this procedure. He said that he thought I had already been through enough that day and we should just reschedule. With the right breast hurting terribly I just agreed....but I remain frustrated with the doctors and myself.....because I need to get all of this pre-surgery stuff done.... I worry that the longer we wait....the more time this cancer has to spread. The first biopsy should not have hurt so bad! God I am sick of this ......I HATE CANCER! There are mornings when Jason has gone to work and the kids have gone to school when I just cry it out... I am glad I have this time alone.....that way I can try to be so brave in front of the kids.

Thanks for everyone's continued support and keep the prayers coming... GOD GIVE ME STRENGTH!