Well now, I've neglected this blog for over 6 months! Anyone just stopping by for the first time, make sure you check out the tab at the top labeled "My Journey". That will give you an overview of my 2 cancers and treatments, and also give you links to take you to the beginning of each cancer diagnosis.
I recently had several tests done and met with my oncologist for my 6 month check up. I've had CT scans of my chest, abdomen, and pelvis, a brain MRI, lots of labs, a mammogram, and .....I think that's it, although I feel like I'm missing something. Bottom line---everything looks good!! And yes, I DO have a brain! ;)
I won't have to have any more CT scans, because I've reached my 5 year anniversary for the colon cancer, which means NO MORE colon cancer! I will still have a chest MRI for the breast cancer, and see my onc. every 6 months.
My brain MRI was because of some unusual headaches I've been having. Still don't know what's causing them, but it's not brain cancer (THANK YOU LORD!!!!!). That is the only test that has really scared me. I REALLY was afraid that they might find a tumor up there. I can handle tumors almost anywhere else--just NOT MY BRAIN.
The other thing I've been having issues with is the neuropathy in my feet. I talked to my primary physician, and she put me on Neurontin (gabepentin). I only stayed on it 9 days because it made me so groggy. I was supposed to double the dose on day 14, but there was no way I was going to do that. My onc. wants me to try acupuncture, which surprised me because he's sort of a skeptic about things, but we've both heard many people say they've had improvement with it. I haven't done it yet...I keep forgetting to call my insurance to see if they cover it. If that doesn't work, Cymbalta might help. My neuropathy isn't too bad, but the burning feeling on the bottoms of my feet has been getting worse. It's never terribly painful, just annoying. It hurts worse when I've been on my feet a lot, or with any extreme temperature. Too hot or too cold--they both cause that burning feeling.
Stomach/digestive issues are still there, but probably always will be due to the type of colon resection surgery I had (Low Anterior Resection). Things are better, but I find the side effects from cancer treatment to be very annoying some days. I get tired of it and it gets me down sometimes. I realized a while ago that I am almost always in some kind of pain/discomfort--no wonder I feel blue sometimes! But don't worry, overall I feel happy and blessed! Because, hey, I'm alive and cancer free, right?? :)
Well, that's my little update for now. March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness month, so if you are over 50, and haven't had your colonoscopy, GO GET IT DONE ASAP. Colorectal cancer can be PREVENTED by getting your screenings done! If you are younger and have any bowel changes, bleeding, etc. INSIST on getting a colonoscopy. More and more young people are getting colon and rectal cancer now. The best way to fight this disease is to catch it early!
Blessings!!
Tina
Showing posts with label MRI. Show all posts
Showing posts with label MRI. Show all posts
Friday, March 7, 2014
Monday, August 26, 2013
Past...Present...Future
I recently got an e-mail notification that someone left a comment on my last blog entry...which was in March! I couldn't believe it had been that long...surely I updated in May or June? Nope. So, I'm pretty sure no one will read this, but I thought it was time to do a little update!
Since my last update I've had a DEXA (bone density) scan, MRI, CT scans, labs, and port flushes. All is well! My bones show some "pre" osteoporosis, so I need to take calcium (which I keep forgetting to take!). I'm still eating mostly low-residue, but have the occasional wheat bread, salad, fruits, and veggies. The trick is to spread them out throughout the week, and not overdo it. I mostly avoid carrots, cucumbers, and spaghetti sauce, but might have a small amount now and then.
I see my oncologist in 2 days, but not sure what we will talk about since I already have all the results of the tests I did last week! I'm sure he'll ask about Rich, my grandchildren, and especially my adopted grandson, Charlie. This time I'll have some more family news to share! (More on that later...) I am most interested to find out if I can start going 1 year between scans, and do I really need those labs every 3 months? I am 4.5 years out from the colon cancer dx, and 3.5 years from the breast cancer dx. I know my onc. was worried about me, with all that cancer, but I'm doing well now. And as our insurance covers less and less, we have to pay more and more of the costs of all the tests!
My worst complaint has been fatigue. I planned to work on that this summer, and talk to my primary care physician (PCP) if things didn't improve. I think the fatigue has improved a bit. Last summer, even though I don't work in the summer, I was still tired a lot. Many days, by mid-afternoon, I was just as tired as if I had worked. Not good. Then of course during the school year I felt awful. I worked 4.25 hours, and then came home and could barely function most days. I was VERY frustrated! I do know my job is draining, and does sap a lot of my energy (I don't know how anyone lasts for 6.5 hours, much less the teachers who work WAY beyond that!), but I shouldn't feel that bad! So, this summer, I have been eating a bit better--cutting down on chemicals and processed foods--and exercising more (which I will do when I'm done writing this). I am eating less, and have lost just a few pounds, but at least I've made the scale go down instead of up for the first time since chemo! I'm learning what my body can do with and without (my body does NOT like to be hungry). I started using the 'myfitnesspal' website, which counts calories for you, and helps you figure out how many calories you need each day to lose the amount you want to lose. It's been helpful for portion control. So, overall, I feel better.
I start back to work a week from tomorrow! I REALLY, REALLY hope I feel better this year! I get done with work at 1:30, which should leave me plenty of time to do other stuff. Praying I have the energy I need! As much as I would love to not have to work at all, I do think getting back into a routine is good for me. I make better use of my time when there is routine. And I really do like working with the kids!
I see my oncologist in 2 days, but not sure what we will talk about since I already have all the results of the tests I did last week! I'm sure he'll ask about Rich, my grandchildren, and especially my adopted grandson, Charlie. This time I'll have some more family news to share! (More on that later...) I am most interested to find out if I can start going 1 year between scans, and do I really need those labs every 3 months? I am 4.5 years out from the colon cancer dx, and 3.5 years from the breast cancer dx. I know my onc. was worried about me, with all that cancer, but I'm doing well now. And as our insurance covers less and less, we have to pay more and more of the costs of all the tests!
My worst complaint has been fatigue. I planned to work on that this summer, and talk to my primary care physician (PCP) if things didn't improve. I think the fatigue has improved a bit. Last summer, even though I don't work in the summer, I was still tired a lot. Many days, by mid-afternoon, I was just as tired as if I had worked. Not good. Then of course during the school year I felt awful. I worked 4.25 hours, and then came home and could barely function most days. I was VERY frustrated! I do know my job is draining, and does sap a lot of my energy (I don't know how anyone lasts for 6.5 hours, much less the teachers who work WAY beyond that!), but I shouldn't feel that bad! So, this summer, I have been eating a bit better--cutting down on chemicals and processed foods--and exercising more (which I will do when I'm done writing this). I am eating less, and have lost just a few pounds, but at least I've made the scale go down instead of up for the first time since chemo! I'm learning what my body can do with and without (my body does NOT like to be hungry). I started using the 'myfitnesspal' website, which counts calories for you, and helps you figure out how many calories you need each day to lose the amount you want to lose. It's been helpful for portion control. So, overall, I feel better.
I start back to work a week from tomorrow! I REALLY, REALLY hope I feel better this year! I get done with work at 1:30, which should leave me plenty of time to do other stuff. Praying I have the energy I need! As much as I would love to not have to work at all, I do think getting back into a routine is good for me. I make better use of my time when there is routine. And I really do like working with the kids!
A little family update: Rich is doing well at his new job--he's been there about a year and a half. Pay and benefits are good, and it's just 'normal' work stress, not the stress and low morale of his previous job. SO BLESSED to be out of that place! His drive is too long (26 miles one way), and sometimes we worry about lay-offs, but over all it's good.
Rachel and her husband are doing foster care now, and are in the process of adopting another child! This is a child placed with them soon after they got their license. He's 2 and has down syndrome also. He is active, and smart, and lets you know what he thinks about things! :) They also have a very sweet little baby girl that we would all love to keep in the family, but it looks like the baby's mom will be able to take her to live with her soon. Praying God will do what's best for baby, and if she has to go, I hope we'll still be able to see her once in awhile! Rachel's older 2 boys are doing very well, even with other kids coming and going! Charlie just turned 6 and will be in kindergarten this year! He is our super-hero! Brennan will be 4 soon. He is as smart as ever, and there is no end to the amusing things he says! Love those boys!
Alyssa, hubby, and baby girl are doing GREAT. Selah is 10 months old. She is really picking up things fast--she always amazes us! She'll be walking soon, I think. She is soooo adorable! We get to watch her often, and she is a smiley, happy little girl!
Our youngest, Shonna, is starting her 2nd year at the U, and she is majoring in journalism. She has a lot of talent as a writer. She is a junior now, and has 3 semesters left. She may get a minor also (but I forgot in what! Oops!). She moved out of my sister's house into an apartment closer to school. I don't always see her as often as I would like, but we did get to spend some time shopping and antiquing recently, and I enjoyed that!
Our youngest, Shonna, is starting her 2nd year at the U, and she is majoring in journalism. She has a lot of talent as a writer. She is a junior now, and has 3 semesters left. She may get a minor also (but I forgot in what! Oops!). She moved out of my sister's house into an apartment closer to school. I don't always see her as often as I would like, but we did get to spend some time shopping and antiquing recently, and I enjoyed that!
We all managed to get to Duluth for a few days this summer. Alyssa, hubby, baby, and Shonna were with us at the beginning, then Shonna's boyfriend joined us, then Alyssa and fam had to leave, and Rachel and her 4 kids joined us the last day! So we got to spend time with everyone (except Rachel's husband), just not at the same time! Next year I'm thinking about staying at a resort/lodge/cabin type of place a little farther up, right on Lake Superior. I think it would be better for the kids if we can find a place that has a nice play area and beach. I'm still thinking about getting away with just my hubby for a night or two up north this fall. We'll see~we might be too busy building a deck!
When I stop to think about where I was this time 4 years ago, I am amazed that I am here, cancer-free, and so blessed. 4 years ago I had just finished radiation, was weak and tired, was being treated for C-diff and giving myself shots for a blood clot, and had endured a very painful summer. I was healing and gaining my strength back to do 8 more rounds of FOLFOX. Little did I know the next summer I would be doing another difficult chemo regimen for breast cancer! That is all behind me now. These last scans I didn't even have any "scanxiety", except for that brief moment when I saw my oncologist's phone number on my cell phone. His nurse was calling me to tell me all my tests were good!
I make a point of remembering what I've been through every now and then, because it helps me to be grateful for every moment I am blessed with. It reminds me of the wonderful ways God showed up for me and helped me through those difficult times.
My future? It looks fabulous. Retirement someday with the man I love, doing the things we love and enjoy, being a grandma, and spending time with my children, grandchildren, and foster "grandchildren". Yep, looks pretty good from here!
Love and blessings!
Love and blessings!
Tina
PS Rich and I also went on our first 'real' vacation together in June--we went to Las Vegas! But that is another story for another day... ;)
Tuesday, August 14, 2012
Scans and Such
Well, I've had just about every part of my body scanned recently! I hope that's done for a while!
Last Friday I had to repeat the ultrasound I had back in June to look at my fistula. When I went to see my surgeon about it on Tues., she didn't have the results! She finally talked to a dr. (the "head honcho", as she called him) who read the scan to her over the phone. He only had 4 pictures and they weren't very good. He wanted to repeat the ultrasound, and do it himself. After talking with my surgeon he knew my background and exactly what she was looking for. I was very polite, and agreed, but I was SO BUMMED! I cried a little when I got out to the car, was mad at God, and used all 8 cylinders in the truck on my way home (nobody got in my way that day!). The ultrasound is a difficult test for me, causes pain and discomfort, and I really just hate it. I can't fully explain why, because that is just TMI. But I hope I never have to have that again! When I called my surgeon's clinic to schedule another appt. with her after having the repeat scan done, they wanted to schedule me 4-6 weeks out. Umm, no. They were able to get me in this Thurs., less than a week after the scan. ;)
Monday I had my MRI, to check for breast cancer, and today (Tues.) I had my ct scans and lab work. Most of my labs are done already, and I can check them online. So far, they all look good! My oncology nurse had a difficult time get blood from my port, so I had to let some "cath-flo" (draino like stuff) sit in there for about half an hour, then it worked fine. Sometimes little flaps develop in the port line and they let stuff in (like saline) but the flap closes when drawing blood out. The cath-flo eats that away and clears the line. It sure was nice having the port the past few days though. It was used for my MRI, labs, and CT scan. No big ugly bruises on my arm, and relatively little pain!
The bad part about the CT scan is that the yucky, horrible contrast I have to drink really messes up my stomach for the rest of the day. Lots of gurgling and discomfort. Oh well, by tomorrow I should be fine.
Now I wait for results. Thurs. I'll find out what we can do about the fistula, and next Tues. I'll see my onc and get the results of my scans. They'll be all clear, I'm sure!
Even with all the strife and discomfort of the last week or so, I've been very happy. I've been getting out for walks, now that the weather is cooler, and loving the exercise and the beautiful world God created for us. I've felt very connected to my Lord lately, growing in my trust and faith. I rarely worry about a recurrence, although I have been saddened that others I know have progressed to stage 4. I do wonder sometimes if it will happen to me, but most of the time (75%?) I feel as though I've been healed and will never have cancer again (which would be a miracle, given my "young" age for both cancers). No matter what happens though, I will continue to trust in God!
The rest of the fam is doing well--mom and Shonna are headed up north with my sister, and Alyssa and her husband. Rich and I will have the house to ourselves woo-hoo! :) We had a great time recently in Duluth with our kids and grandkids. I love having everyone together like that!
Life is good people--get out and enjoy it while you can!!
Love and blessings!
Tina
Last Friday I had to repeat the ultrasound I had back in June to look at my fistula. When I went to see my surgeon about it on Tues., she didn't have the results! She finally talked to a dr. (the "head honcho", as she called him) who read the scan to her over the phone. He only had 4 pictures and they weren't very good. He wanted to repeat the ultrasound, and do it himself. After talking with my surgeon he knew my background and exactly what she was looking for. I was very polite, and agreed, but I was SO BUMMED! I cried a little when I got out to the car, was mad at God, and used all 8 cylinders in the truck on my way home (nobody got in my way that day!). The ultrasound is a difficult test for me, causes pain and discomfort, and I really just hate it. I can't fully explain why, because that is just TMI. But I hope I never have to have that again! When I called my surgeon's clinic to schedule another appt. with her after having the repeat scan done, they wanted to schedule me 4-6 weeks out. Umm, no. They were able to get me in this Thurs., less than a week after the scan. ;)
Monday I had my MRI, to check for breast cancer, and today (Tues.) I had my ct scans and lab work. Most of my labs are done already, and I can check them online. So far, they all look good! My oncology nurse had a difficult time get blood from my port, so I had to let some "cath-flo" (draino like stuff) sit in there for about half an hour, then it worked fine. Sometimes little flaps develop in the port line and they let stuff in (like saline) but the flap closes when drawing blood out. The cath-flo eats that away and clears the line. It sure was nice having the port the past few days though. It was used for my MRI, labs, and CT scan. No big ugly bruises on my arm, and relatively little pain!
The bad part about the CT scan is that the yucky, horrible contrast I have to drink really messes up my stomach for the rest of the day. Lots of gurgling and discomfort. Oh well, by tomorrow I should be fine.
Now I wait for results. Thurs. I'll find out what we can do about the fistula, and next Tues. I'll see my onc and get the results of my scans. They'll be all clear, I'm sure!
Even with all the strife and discomfort of the last week or so, I've been very happy. I've been getting out for walks, now that the weather is cooler, and loving the exercise and the beautiful world God created for us. I've felt very connected to my Lord lately, growing in my trust and faith. I rarely worry about a recurrence, although I have been saddened that others I know have progressed to stage 4. I do wonder sometimes if it will happen to me, but most of the time (75%?) I feel as though I've been healed and will never have cancer again (which would be a miracle, given my "young" age for both cancers). No matter what happens though, I will continue to trust in God!
The rest of the fam is doing well--mom and Shonna are headed up north with my sister, and Alyssa and her husband. Rich and I will have the house to ourselves woo-hoo! :) We had a great time recently in Duluth with our kids and grandkids. I love having everyone together like that!
Life is good people--get out and enjoy it while you can!!
Love and blessings!
Tina
Sunday, April 17, 2011
My New Grandson
Charles Gabriel Andreev ( those are his 2 middle names) is home with his mommy and daddy, finally! Rachel, Shonna and Charlie got home late Thurs. night, after a very long day of travel. We met Charlie Sat. morning, and then went back after naps in the afternoon and brought my mom with too. He is just a little sweetie! He LOVES his momma! Brennan has been really good with him right from the start--I'm so amazed! I've been praying for a long time that God would prepare his heart for his new brother, and to give him a compassionate heart like his mother has. When we were over Sat., Charlie was playing with a ball; he would grab it and drop it on the floor, over and over. Eventually Brennan started picking it up and giving it back to Charlie each time. What a helpful little brother!! Today Rachel got them both ready and brought them to church! Lots of people wanted to meet him.
Someone asked me if this is the same boy that is on the picture on my blog ("Joshua"), and the answer is yes. Joshua is the name given to him by the ministry (Reece's Rainbow) that helps these kids get adopted. They can't use the child's real name, so they give them each a different name. Rachel considered keeping the name Joshua, but she and her husband finally decided on Charlie.
Charlie has a long road ahead of him. He sees a cardiologist on Monday, and they'll go from there. He also needs to see an ENT, an opthamologist, and a nutritionist. He'll need heart surgery, and after that physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, and whatever else to get him moving and growing!! He is so tiny. He's 3.5 years old, but only as long as Brennan (and B is short for 18 months). And he's 10 pounds lighter than Brennan!
Shonna left after lunch today to go back to school in KC. It was hard for her to leave because she will miss her nephews so much. I assured her the next 4 weeks will go by fast, then she'll be done with school, and be able to come home for awhile. I loved having all 3 of my girls (and 2 grandsons!) in church today. My mom went with us too, so that was really nice!
Speaking of my girls, someone at church commented on what nice daughters we have and what a lovely family we are. I've gotten that comment before, and every time I say it's all God. My family is truly a miracle. I don't think people fully believe me when I say that, but I really mean it. Rich and I have always loved our girls, but there were times when our family nearly broke apart, and just some really bad times. Through it all, I just kept praying for my family and my girls, and asked God to protect them from the mess we were in. God has been faithful and answered my prayers for a great marriage, and children that believe in Him and follow His ways. We certainly went through the fire to get here, but that's what makes it such a miracle! God's Word says believers will go through trials, but He will be with us through it all, and great will our reward be. "Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him." James 1:12 Well, I could write a lot about trials, and post a lot of Bible verses, because I've had my shares of problems. For some more good verses, click on the "Bible Verses" tab at the top.
Oh--I wanted to mention that I had my MRI and mammogram on Thursday. I haven't heard anything, other than the radiologist looked at my mammo before I left and didn't see anything that needed extra attention at that time. If there was something on the MRI, I probably would have been called already to come in for more pictures, so no news should be good news. The MRI was for the breast cancer. I had a CT in Feb. for the colon cancer and that was clear, so I should be able to say I'm NED (No Evidence of Disease) soon!
I hope and pray that all my readers have a blessed Easter, and rejoice in the salvation we can now have through Christ's death and resurrection!
Love,
Tina
Someone asked me if this is the same boy that is on the picture on my blog ("Joshua"), and the answer is yes. Joshua is the name given to him by the ministry (Reece's Rainbow) that helps these kids get adopted. They can't use the child's real name, so they give them each a different name. Rachel considered keeping the name Joshua, but she and her husband finally decided on Charlie.
Charlie has a long road ahead of him. He sees a cardiologist on Monday, and they'll go from there. He also needs to see an ENT, an opthamologist, and a nutritionist. He'll need heart surgery, and after that physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, and whatever else to get him moving and growing!! He is so tiny. He's 3.5 years old, but only as long as Brennan (and B is short for 18 months). And he's 10 pounds lighter than Brennan!
Shonna left after lunch today to go back to school in KC. It was hard for her to leave because she will miss her nephews so much. I assured her the next 4 weeks will go by fast, then she'll be done with school, and be able to come home for awhile. I loved having all 3 of my girls (and 2 grandsons!) in church today. My mom went with us too, so that was really nice!
Speaking of my girls, someone at church commented on what nice daughters we have and what a lovely family we are. I've gotten that comment before, and every time I say it's all God. My family is truly a miracle. I don't think people fully believe me when I say that, but I really mean it. Rich and I have always loved our girls, but there were times when our family nearly broke apart, and just some really bad times. Through it all, I just kept praying for my family and my girls, and asked God to protect them from the mess we were in. God has been faithful and answered my prayers for a great marriage, and children that believe in Him and follow His ways. We certainly went through the fire to get here, but that's what makes it such a miracle! God's Word says believers will go through trials, but He will be with us through it all, and great will our reward be. "Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him." James 1:12 Well, I could write a lot about trials, and post a lot of Bible verses, because I've had my shares of problems. For some more good verses, click on the "Bible Verses" tab at the top.
Oh--I wanted to mention that I had my MRI and mammogram on Thursday. I haven't heard anything, other than the radiologist looked at my mammo before I left and didn't see anything that needed extra attention at that time. If there was something on the MRI, I probably would have been called already to come in for more pictures, so no news should be good news. The MRI was for the breast cancer. I had a CT in Feb. for the colon cancer and that was clear, so I should be able to say I'm NED (No Evidence of Disease) soon!
I hope and pray that all my readers have a blessed Easter, and rejoice in the salvation we can now have through Christ's death and resurrection!
Love,
Tina
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Herceptin #13 Update
Wow, it's been 2 weeks since I posted last! I think about it a lot, I just don't like taking the time to do it!
Last week I had another MUGA scan (for heart function). My heart function was 65% before I started treatment (which is very good), and after starting Herceptin it went down to 51. Then my onc. put me on Enalapril (a blood pressure med), and my heart function has increased to 56! And I haven't had any side effects from the med. I was worried about my bp dropping too low, but I am on a very low dose and am tolerating it well.
Other good news--my hemoglobin finally made it up to 12, which is the bottom of the normal range. It hasn't been normal since last April.
We scheduled some upcoming tests--a CT scan and another MUGA on Feb. 21st (6 weeks), and an MRI and mammogram sometime in April. The CT scan is for the colon cancer--to watch for a recurrence. My onc. wants me to have them every 6 months for awhile. He said because I'm so young, he wants to make sure if anything does show up again we catch it early. He did say, though, that he thinks we did a pretty good job of fighting it so it shouldn't come back!
I do not need another colonoscopy for 2 years (3 years from my last one), and after this mammo and mri I won't need another one for a year.
Some side effects I still have are neuropathy (numbness) in my fingers and feet, and just tired and out of shape! I am starting to work on building my strength and stamina. I have a lot of damage from the colon cancer radiation, and also issues that have to do with missing 18" of my colon! These are annoyances that I will have to live with, although they may get better with time. I am also praying that God will take these problems away and restore to me what cancer has taken. I can be very persistent! I also need to continue to stretch my left arm and shoulder, or it quickly stiffens up. When I had my MUGA last week I had to have my left arm above my head for 10 minutes and that really hurt! Stretching helps a lot, I guess I just have to keep doing it!
I am very pleased with how well my skin did with radiation. I was expecting much worse! The scar area peeled, but it didn't hurt. The whole area, including by the clavicle, is tan looking, and will probably always be that way. I will need to protect it with sunscreen anytime it's exposed (like with tank tops and scoop neck tops) for the rest of my life.
Family update: Shonna is still here on break. She goes back to KC this weekend. Alyssa and Jaren will be leaving on a mission trip next weekend (the 22nd). Rachel and Ken are almost ready to submit all their paperwork to the country they are adopting from. Hopefully they will get to go over sometime in March or April. They have to wait for the country to contact them with the date.
Life is good! God is better!!
Love and blessings!
Tina
Last week I had another MUGA scan (for heart function). My heart function was 65% before I started treatment (which is very good), and after starting Herceptin it went down to 51. Then my onc. put me on Enalapril (a blood pressure med), and my heart function has increased to 56! And I haven't had any side effects from the med. I was worried about my bp dropping too low, but I am on a very low dose and am tolerating it well.
Other good news--my hemoglobin finally made it up to 12, which is the bottom of the normal range. It hasn't been normal since last April.
We scheduled some upcoming tests--a CT scan and another MUGA on Feb. 21st (6 weeks), and an MRI and mammogram sometime in April. The CT scan is for the colon cancer--to watch for a recurrence. My onc. wants me to have them every 6 months for awhile. He said because I'm so young, he wants to make sure if anything does show up again we catch it early. He did say, though, that he thinks we did a pretty good job of fighting it so it shouldn't come back!
I do not need another colonoscopy for 2 years (3 years from my last one), and after this mammo and mri I won't need another one for a year.
Some side effects I still have are neuropathy (numbness) in my fingers and feet, and just tired and out of shape! I am starting to work on building my strength and stamina. I have a lot of damage from the colon cancer radiation, and also issues that have to do with missing 18" of my colon! These are annoyances that I will have to live with, although they may get better with time. I am also praying that God will take these problems away and restore to me what cancer has taken. I can be very persistent! I also need to continue to stretch my left arm and shoulder, or it quickly stiffens up. When I had my MUGA last week I had to have my left arm above my head for 10 minutes and that really hurt! Stretching helps a lot, I guess I just have to keep doing it!
I am very pleased with how well my skin did with radiation. I was expecting much worse! The scar area peeled, but it didn't hurt. The whole area, including by the clavicle, is tan looking, and will probably always be that way. I will need to protect it with sunscreen anytime it's exposed (like with tank tops and scoop neck tops) for the rest of my life.
Family update: Shonna is still here on break. She goes back to KC this weekend. Alyssa and Jaren will be leaving on a mission trip next weekend (the 22nd). Rachel and Ken are almost ready to submit all their paperwork to the country they are adopting from. Hopefully they will get to go over sometime in March or April. They have to wait for the country to contact them with the date.
Life is good! God is better!!
Love and blessings!
Tina
Thursday, April 15, 2010
MRI Results and Genetic Counseling
Yesterday (while on the playground supervising recess!) I got a call from my oncologist. I was surprised because it was supposed to be my surgeons office. Dr. J said he saw that my MRI results were in and he couldn't help but look! He is an awesome doc. He said they didn't find anymore cancer, and nothing at all in my right breast. I wasn't even sure they MRIed (?) that side. So, that's good news! I asked him if it still looked like a lumpectomy would be ok, and he said he thinks so. I still haven't heard from the surgeons office--maybe they know Dr. J already talked to me?
Today I met with the genetic counselor. She said she was sorry to see me again! I am going to be tested for the 2 breast cancer genes. Its not 100% accurate, but close. I had to have a tube of blood drawn and it will be sent to a lab in Salt Lake City. Apparently, its the only lab in the US that does this test because they patented the gene. I didn't realize it was a blood test, I thought they'd test the tissue from the biopsy. The test results won't be back before I have the lumpectomy, but I don't think I would change anything anyway. I think I'd still want to have a lumpectomy, and have more frequent mammograms and MRIs. Then if the cancer comes back, I can decide if I want to do something more drastic then. I'm really not ready to give up "the girls" yet! But I definitely will if I need to.
I think because of what I've already been through, cancer doesn't scare me so much anymore. If this was my first cancer, I'd probably be freaking out. But because this was caught early it's not really life threatening, like the colon cancer. Some people would just want the cancer out as quickly as possible and would do whatever it takes to make sure they don't ever get it back. I totally understand that viewpoint, but that's not where I'm at right now. As long as I'm getting all my tests done when I'm supposed to, I'm ok with waiting to see if it comes back. I do have to say that this is where I'm at at this moment--that could always change! I haven't talked all this over with my onc. or surgeon yet either.
Now, the colon cancer is a different story! It was stage 3, and I'll probably always worry about it coming back. I have my CT scan scheduled for Friday, May 7th, and my onc. appt. the following Wed. I'm already nervous! It seems like I've been off chemo for too long, and if there were any cancer cells left, they've had too much time to grow!
ok...I think that's all I needed to say for now. Rachel, Brennan, Alyssa, Jaren, Shonna, and Rich are all here in the living room, so its been hard to keep my focus on the blog!
Take care everyone!
Love,
Tina
Today I met with the genetic counselor. She said she was sorry to see me again! I am going to be tested for the 2 breast cancer genes. Its not 100% accurate, but close. I had to have a tube of blood drawn and it will be sent to a lab in Salt Lake City. Apparently, its the only lab in the US that does this test because they patented the gene. I didn't realize it was a blood test, I thought they'd test the tissue from the biopsy. The test results won't be back before I have the lumpectomy, but I don't think I would change anything anyway. I think I'd still want to have a lumpectomy, and have more frequent mammograms and MRIs. Then if the cancer comes back, I can decide if I want to do something more drastic then. I'm really not ready to give up "the girls" yet! But I definitely will if I need to.
I think because of what I've already been through, cancer doesn't scare me so much anymore. If this was my first cancer, I'd probably be freaking out. But because this was caught early it's not really life threatening, like the colon cancer. Some people would just want the cancer out as quickly as possible and would do whatever it takes to make sure they don't ever get it back. I totally understand that viewpoint, but that's not where I'm at right now. As long as I'm getting all my tests done when I'm supposed to, I'm ok with waiting to see if it comes back. I do have to say that this is where I'm at at this moment--that could always change! I haven't talked all this over with my onc. or surgeon yet either.
Now, the colon cancer is a different story! It was stage 3, and I'll probably always worry about it coming back. I have my CT scan scheduled for Friday, May 7th, and my onc. appt. the following Wed. I'm already nervous! It seems like I've been off chemo for too long, and if there were any cancer cells left, they've had too much time to grow!
ok...I think that's all I needed to say for now. Rachel, Brennan, Alyssa, Jaren, Shonna, and Rich are all here in the living room, so its been hard to keep my focus on the blog!
Take care everyone!
Love,
Tina
Thursday, April 8, 2010
Met With the Surgeon
Ok, before I get started with details, I want to mention that I started getting sick this morning. My neck started to ache, which worked its way down my back and up into my head, then I discovered I had a fever too. Took Tylenol and ibuprofen, and felt ok most of the day. I mention this because I'm really tired and a little achy right now, so I'm not too concerned with grammar and making sense! :)
I met with my surgeon, Dr. Todd Morris, about 2 today. I really liked him. He's kind, and has a good sense of humor. He took his time explaining everything, and answering all my questions. He said I could have a lumpectomy with radiation, or a mastectomy. I probably won't need chemo, but might need hormone therapy. We went ahead and scheduled the lumpectomy for April 26th, and in the meantime, I'll have an MRI (next Tuesday) and meet with the genetic counselor (next Thursday). If more calcifications (or worse) show up on the MRI, I would probably have to have a mastectomy. If the geneticist finds out I have the "breast cancer gene" I could possibly end up having a bilateral (double) mastectomy. But for now, we are going with the lumpectomy. I could have chosen to have the surgery sooner, and do a mastectomy in the future, if needed, but I would rather have all the facts and then have just one surgery.
When I have surgery, the surgeon will also take the sentinel lymph nodes. He finds them by injecting dye into my breast, then watching which nodes it goes to, then those are the ones he removes. Its just a precaution; he doesn't expect to find anything in the nodes.
Dr. Morris said I am lucky to have caught the cancer at an early stage, and my prognosis is very good. We will find out after surgery if I need hormone therapy. The biopsy I already had was too small to tell whether there was estrogen or progesterone receptors. That basically means one of those hormones might cause the cancer to grow, and I would take drugs to block that hormone.
This morning I started to get very nervous about all of this. I REALLY don't want to have another surgery, and go through all this again. I mentioned on facebook that I was more nervous than I expected, and several people gave me encouragement and prayed for me. I spent some time with God, and felt more at peace (although I started feeling sick!). I don't know why I have to go through this, and I don't like it, but I pray that God's will, not mine, be done in my life. Then sometimes I wonder if I'm really that thick-headed, that I have to go through all this to learn the lesson God wants to teach me! :P
I want to thank one of my wonderful aunts for sending me money to buy treats for the cancer center. We stopped at Target on the way and bought a bunch of snacks. As usual, they were VERY grateful. My mom had crocheted some hats, and I brought them too. The nurses set them out, then anyone who wants one can take one.
Speaking of the nurses, I had a different one today (I had my port flushed before my appt. with the surgeon), and I told her about my new diagnoses. She didn't say much about it, just kept being all chipper and nice. When I was in the waiting room at the breast health center (across the hall), she popped in and told me how sorry she was that she misunderstood me. She was entering my info into the computer and somehow saw something about the breast cancer, and the other nurses looked at it too (the others knew me better and new that I had colon cancer before, not breast cancer). She had thought I was saying that I had started chemo for breast cancer a year ago. Anyways, she was very apologetic and said they all were sorry to hear about this, and would be thinking about me and praying for me. Those nurses are THE BEST!
So, that's my story. Oh--when I got home this afternoon, Brennan was here and I got to take care of him for a little while. He has a cold, but was still pretty smiley. He was more snuggly too!
I'll keep you updated!
Take care,
Tina
I met with my surgeon, Dr. Todd Morris, about 2 today. I really liked him. He's kind, and has a good sense of humor. He took his time explaining everything, and answering all my questions. He said I could have a lumpectomy with radiation, or a mastectomy. I probably won't need chemo, but might need hormone therapy. We went ahead and scheduled the lumpectomy for April 26th, and in the meantime, I'll have an MRI (next Tuesday) and meet with the genetic counselor (next Thursday). If more calcifications (or worse) show up on the MRI, I would probably have to have a mastectomy. If the geneticist finds out I have the "breast cancer gene" I could possibly end up having a bilateral (double) mastectomy. But for now, we are going with the lumpectomy. I could have chosen to have the surgery sooner, and do a mastectomy in the future, if needed, but I would rather have all the facts and then have just one surgery.
When I have surgery, the surgeon will also take the sentinel lymph nodes. He finds them by injecting dye into my breast, then watching which nodes it goes to, then those are the ones he removes. Its just a precaution; he doesn't expect to find anything in the nodes.
Dr. Morris said I am lucky to have caught the cancer at an early stage, and my prognosis is very good. We will find out after surgery if I need hormone therapy. The biopsy I already had was too small to tell whether there was estrogen or progesterone receptors. That basically means one of those hormones might cause the cancer to grow, and I would take drugs to block that hormone.
This morning I started to get very nervous about all of this. I REALLY don't want to have another surgery, and go through all this again. I mentioned on facebook that I was more nervous than I expected, and several people gave me encouragement and prayed for me. I spent some time with God, and felt more at peace (although I started feeling sick!). I don't know why I have to go through this, and I don't like it, but I pray that God's will, not mine, be done in my life. Then sometimes I wonder if I'm really that thick-headed, that I have to go through all this to learn the lesson God wants to teach me! :P
I want to thank one of my wonderful aunts for sending me money to buy treats for the cancer center. We stopped at Target on the way and bought a bunch of snacks. As usual, they were VERY grateful. My mom had crocheted some hats, and I brought them too. The nurses set them out, then anyone who wants one can take one.
Speaking of the nurses, I had a different one today (I had my port flushed before my appt. with the surgeon), and I told her about my new diagnoses. She didn't say much about it, just kept being all chipper and nice. When I was in the waiting room at the breast health center (across the hall), she popped in and told me how sorry she was that she misunderstood me. She was entering my info into the computer and somehow saw something about the breast cancer, and the other nurses looked at it too (the others knew me better and new that I had colon cancer before, not breast cancer). She had thought I was saying that I had started chemo for breast cancer a year ago. Anyways, she was very apologetic and said they all were sorry to hear about this, and would be thinking about me and praying for me. Those nurses are THE BEST!
So, that's my story. Oh--when I got home this afternoon, Brennan was here and I got to take care of him for a little while. He has a cold, but was still pretty smiley. He was more snuggly too!
I'll keep you updated!
Take care,
Tina
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