My first treatment was about 4 1/2 hours today. Bryan came with me for support (and discovered they have great snacks, so I am confident that he will return!) I am tired, but I can't blame it all on the treatment.
I went to the UL football game last night, determined to see Hunter Cantwell, my daughter Emily's boyfriend and the backup quarterback play, and I was not disappointed. I thought it would be a fun thing to do and it would take my mind off the chemo. It distracted me, but I think it wore me out, too!
The good news is that I am not allergic to Taxotere, as some are, so my treatments can be completed in full. They run this bag at 2 hours the first time to watch for allergic reaction. From now on, that bag will run in 1 hour, which will make the day shorter.
The news I did not want to hear is that I will need a port, due to lack of great veins. This is probably good news, because it will shorten treatments and lessen stress in looking for those veins each time. I will have outpatient surgery on Wednesday Sept. 19 to "install the port" at BHE.
I am told the hair will go in 10 - 14 days, so I have scheduled my "head shaving" with the girl who does my hair on September 11. She will help me learn how to wear my wig. If I get brave, I will have someone take a picture. If not, I will just cry a little and move on to the next step!
Your calls, cards, meals, gifts, prayers are overwhelming - I can't thank you enough or tell you how loved I feel right now.
Jan
Friday, August 31, 2007
Thursday, August 30, 2007
My Doctor's Visit Today
I went for a pre-chemo visit with my oncologist, Dr. Janelle Seeger. We are ready to go at 9:00 a.m. tomorrow, August 31st. The treatment will take about 4 hours. The good news I received today was that my PET scan (which looks for cancer anywhere in the body), my CT scan of the abdominal area (checking especially for liver involvement) and my bone scan were each clear! We are just working now to wipe out any microscopic "bad guys" that can't be picked up on scans.
I am asking for prayer that my side effects will be minimal, and that I will stay on schedule with these and get to finish before Christmas.
My family has been wonderful, and so many friends have brought meals or meal cards, visited with me and prayed with me and for me. Cards still arrive in the mail daily, and I love to read and re-read them. It has been a blessing to see how kind people are when someone is in need.
Of my own strength, I cannot do this, but I am trusting God to give me what I need to complete my treatments.
Thanks to all for your many kindnesses since my diagnosis.
Jan
I am asking for prayer that my side effects will be minimal, and that I will stay on schedule with these and get to finish before Christmas.
My family has been wonderful, and so many friends have brought meals or meal cards, visited with me and prayed with me and for me. Cards still arrive in the mail daily, and I love to read and re-read them. It has been a blessing to see how kind people are when someone is in need.
Of my own strength, I cannot do this, but I am trusting God to give me what I need to complete my treatments.
Thanks to all for your many kindnesses since my diagnosis.
Jan
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
First Date - Rescheduled!
Mom will have her first chemotherapy treatment on Friday, August 31th. It has been moved back a day so that Dad can be with her for the four hours of treatment. God has not given us a spirit of fear but of power! Please pray that He continues to preserve and strengthen this quality in us!
Please ask for a smooth chemo experience for Mom, as we are all hoping she will avoid (or have minimal) sickness and fatigue! Thank you for your continued prayers!
Please ask for a smooth chemo experience for Mom, as we are all hoping she will avoid (or have minimal) sickness and fatigue! Thank you for your continued prayers!
Thursday, August 9, 2007
Chemo Prep
Another big week for Mom! She learned from her oncologist last Wednesday that she will begin chemo in about three weeks. She will have six treatments of chemo, each three weeks apart. When she's finished with that, she will have four to six weeks of daily radiation. After radiation she will continue to take an oral for five years called Tamoxifen and for five years after that she will take another oral called Femara.
Last Saturday, to prepare for the on-going treatments, Mom and I went accessory shopping. She got the most beautiful blonde wig (which looks just like her natural hair except more blonde!) and we sent away to have a silver bracelet engraved with the "no needle, no blood pressure" warning for her right arm (the one they took the lymph nodes from). I am happy to say that Mom has not lost any of her abilities to shop!
Yesterday Mom had a minor outpatient procedure to repair the site where her incision was not healing as well as it should. She only had local anesthetic but she didn't feel a thing during the procedure and was in no pain last night!
Unfortunately, she did not get rid of her remaining drains yesterday (as she had hoped) but will most likely have them removed tomorrow. Just one more day!
Mom will continue with a series of tests and body scans for the oncologist today. She already had one on Monday and will have two more today. Please pray for good results on these tests! We will all be relieved to hear the results.
She is also asking prayer for courage for herself as she begins chemotherapy. I am also asking prayer for our whole family. I have had a kidney infection this week and my sister Emily is also very sick right now. Please pray for ALL of us to remain healthy and strong so that we can be there for our Mom!
Thanks again for the prayers, meals, visits, and the general waves of love that continuously roll in our direction!
-Sarah
Last Saturday, to prepare for the on-going treatments, Mom and I went accessory shopping. She got the most beautiful blonde wig (which looks just like her natural hair except more blonde!) and we sent away to have a silver bracelet engraved with the "no needle, no blood pressure" warning for her right arm (the one they took the lymph nodes from). I am happy to say that Mom has not lost any of her abilities to shop!
Yesterday Mom had a minor outpatient procedure to repair the site where her incision was not healing as well as it should. She only had local anesthetic but she didn't feel a thing during the procedure and was in no pain last night!
Unfortunately, she did not get rid of her remaining drains yesterday (as she had hoped) but will most likely have them removed tomorrow. Just one more day!
Mom will continue with a series of tests and body scans for the oncologist today. She already had one on Monday and will have two more today. Please pray for good results on these tests! We will all be relieved to hear the results.
She is also asking prayer for courage for herself as she begins chemotherapy. I am also asking prayer for our whole family. I have had a kidney infection this week and my sister Emily is also very sick right now. Please pray for ALL of us to remain healthy and strong so that we can be there for our Mom!
Thanks again for the prayers, meals, visits, and the general waves of love that continuously roll in our direction!
-Sarah
Monday, July 30, 2007
Small Comforts and Daily Milestones
Every little achievement is a great big joy for us. Mom passed several milestones in the last week, including her one week out from surgery and her ten days out from surgery (which is a notoriously tough milestone). She also got permission to return to a couple of personal comforts (such as shaving her legs and wearing deodorant). We celebrated each of these moments with smiles, jokes, and congratulations!
One of Mom’s goals is to have some “normal” time before she must begin her chemotherapy treatments. Every step along the way will bring her closer to feeling like herself. Please pray that she will recover quickly so that she can have some wonderful, 'regular old days' before the chemo!
Mom will have her first oncologist appointment this Wednesday at 1:40pm with Dr. Janell Seeger. This is another item to keep in your prayers. At that time Mom will find out about her chemotherapy regime and what it will entail. Let’s hope and pray that this Wednesday’s appointment will be encouraging and uplifting to Mom, even though the subject of chemo is scary.
Another topic that needs prayer is some bruising that has shown up around one of Mom’s incisions. Her plastic surgeon will be watching it and, if it doesn’t improve, she may have to have another procedure to repair that spot. Please pray that it will heal up just fine on its own!
I’d like to finish with a gigantic THANKS to everyone who has been behind our family in this last week. The prayers, visits, meals, songs, e-mails, comments, hugs, cards, flowers, and scriptures have flowed continuously from you! I hope that you will be blessed double what you have supplied us (because that will absolutely knock you over)!
-Sarah
One of Mom’s goals is to have some “normal” time before she must begin her chemotherapy treatments. Every step along the way will bring her closer to feeling like herself. Please pray that she will recover quickly so that she can have some wonderful, 'regular old days' before the chemo!
Mom will have her first oncologist appointment this Wednesday at 1:40pm with Dr. Janell Seeger. This is another item to keep in your prayers. At that time Mom will find out about her chemotherapy regime and what it will entail. Let’s hope and pray that this Wednesday’s appointment will be encouraging and uplifting to Mom, even though the subject of chemo is scary.
Another topic that needs prayer is some bruising that has shown up around one of Mom’s incisions. Her plastic surgeon will be watching it and, if it doesn’t improve, she may have to have another procedure to repair that spot. Please pray that it will heal up just fine on its own!
I’d like to finish with a gigantic THANKS to everyone who has been behind our family in this last week. The prayers, visits, meals, songs, e-mails, comments, hugs, cards, flowers, and scriptures have flowed continuously from you! I hope that you will be blessed double what you have supplied us (because that will absolutely knock you over)!
-Sarah
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
Home Again
Mom came home yesterday! Her room is covered in posters of scripture and pink balloons. She is so much more comfortable now and her positive outlook has returned (thanks for your prayers yesterday!). The weekend brought news that several of her lymph nodes were involved and chemotherapy will be necessary. This information was discouraging to us, but hasn't kept us down! After all, our God is bigger than a diagnosis and we know that He continues to be at His work. The Healer is healing and restoring! Amen. Continue to pray that Mom's cancer is gone!
With an eight week recovery ahead, we are looking for ways to continuously encourage Mom and to "drench her" in prayer and the promises of scripture. To those of you who have generously been seeking opportunities to help out, now is the time! There are two calendars for volunteer services: one for prayer visits and one for meal deliveries. Food will be wonderful and a huge help, but the prayer visits will be our true sustaining power! To volunteer a date for either of these two services, please see the sidebar to the right. Just pick a date and e-mail or call to let me know when you can come by.
Please continue to bathe Mom and our family in your prayers! Ask the Lord to fulfill His promises to her and to restore her health! We are so grateful for your non-stop, loving support.
-Sarah
With an eight week recovery ahead, we are looking for ways to continuously encourage Mom and to "drench her" in prayer and the promises of scripture. To those of you who have generously been seeking opportunities to help out, now is the time! There are two calendars for volunteer services: one for prayer visits and one for meal deliveries. Food will be wonderful and a huge help, but the prayer visits will be our true sustaining power! To volunteer a date for either of these two services, please see the sidebar to the right. Just pick a date and e-mail or call to let me know when you can come by.
Please continue to bathe Mom and our family in your prayers! Ask the Lord to fulfill His promises to her and to restore her health! We are so grateful for your non-stop, loving support.
-Sarah
Friday, July 20, 2007
Surgery a Success
Mom came through her seven hour surgery yesterday at Baptist East and is doing great! Reports from both surgeons were very positive. She had a two and a half hour recovery but was admitted to her own room by about 6:30pm.
During the surgery, the doctors were checking for any evidence of cancer cells in Mom’s lymph nodes. Three pathologists had to examine her sentinel lymph node (the node that the cells would have reached first), but the reports were inconclusive regarding the presence of any cancer cells. This is really great! If the pathologists couldn’t find any, then there are few to none! Just to be careful, the surgeons took about ten other lymph nodes to examine for the presence of cancer cells. Please pray that those nodes are completely cancer free!
Mom felt no pain last night and was crystal clear in conversation, telling stories and asking all kinds of questions. Her spirits are high. She is so relieved to be cancer free!
As we expected, she has already made friends all over the hospital. She is instantly personable with everyone and they love her. Mom even met a recovery nurse who quilts and they exchanged phone numbers so that Mom can go to the nurse’s house later to see her quilts!
Mom is being so brave. We know it is your prayers that are carrying her right through. Thanks to everyone who has been praying for her protection, comfort, and healing! It means so much to Mom and to our family. Keep it up!
Mom will probably be staying at the hospital through Monday or Tuesday, but may get to come home as early as Sunday. She is not to have visitors while at the hospital, but she can feel your continuing prayers! Cards and flowers can be directed to our home at 6605 El Toro Court, Louisville, KY, 40291.
-Sarah
During the surgery, the doctors were checking for any evidence of cancer cells in Mom’s lymph nodes. Three pathologists had to examine her sentinel lymph node (the node that the cells would have reached first), but the reports were inconclusive regarding the presence of any cancer cells. This is really great! If the pathologists couldn’t find any, then there are few to none! Just to be careful, the surgeons took about ten other lymph nodes to examine for the presence of cancer cells. Please pray that those nodes are completely cancer free!
Mom felt no pain last night and was crystal clear in conversation, telling stories and asking all kinds of questions. Her spirits are high. She is so relieved to be cancer free!
As we expected, she has already made friends all over the hospital. She is instantly personable with everyone and they love her. Mom even met a recovery nurse who quilts and they exchanged phone numbers so that Mom can go to the nurse’s house later to see her quilts!
Mom is being so brave. We know it is your prayers that are carrying her right through. Thanks to everyone who has been praying for her protection, comfort, and healing! It means so much to Mom and to our family. Keep it up!
Mom will probably be staying at the hospital through Monday or Tuesday, but may get to come home as early as Sunday. She is not to have visitors while at the hospital, but she can feel your continuing prayers! Cards and flowers can be directed to our home at 6605 El Toro Court, Louisville, KY, 40291.
-Sarah
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