We had a doctor day week. The first appointment was Tues the 24th with an OBGYN, Dr. Cloward. She will be preforming a hysterectomy on the 6th of June.
We then went to Dr. Tittensor's (surgeon) to get my drains out. (You know, the drains they put in you after surgery. I had four, two under each arm. They took out two of them a week ago and I got the rest taken out on the 26th). She said I was doing really well. I would have to agree with her. ( I feel really good--just hurt a bit)
Our next stop was Dr. Clark's office (radiation oncologist). I found out that my last radiation in 2003 was a drop in the bucket compared to the radiation I will be having. I will have blisters and they are going to bring the radiation out to the skins surface. I have the high chance of getting lympodema, which causes swelling in the arms. This will last for 6 1/2 weeks. It is scheduled for the 8th to begin. I have to go get measured on the 1st of June to make sure the organs are kept save. (I must tell you....I am a bit nervous for the radiation to begin) YIKES!!
Our next stop later that afternoon was to Dr. Rich. (oncologist). He said I would start chemo on the Sunday after surgery. This will be a pill (low dose) chemo. He said the cancer is very aggressive and after surgery I will be post menopausal--- Terry says my head spins around-- I think his is just being rude!! I really don't think my hormones are that bad. I mean I know I am cranky but- if you had to do this I think you'd be cranky too! Anyway- I will start a new anti-estrogen pill to put the cancer in my liver at bay. Between getting my ovary out and the anti-estrogen pill we can hopeful put this cancer in remission! He is a very knowledgeable Dr. He tells you the worst and hopes for the best. I try not listen to the worst! I always HOPE for the best.
It has been a crazy week. Hopefully the next week will be better.
Thursday, May 26, 2011
Thursday, May 19, 2011
Thursday RESULTS
Went to Dr. Tittensor's to have two drains removed from my chest and get results about the surgery.
Long story ---Short---
13 lymph nodes removed on the left side... All cancerous
5 centimeter tumor removed on the left side- Cancerous
19 lymph nodes removed on the right side- 18 cancerous
18 centimeter mass removed on the right side- Cancerous
Tissue still has cancerous cells on the lower part of the right side and moving to the center of the chest.
Cancer still in the liver being fed by estrogen from my only ovary.
Pretty depressing! huh....
I know people are on my side --fighting for me!!
Good news-- MOST that cancer is now OUT and OFF my body. We are focusing on the skin by attacking it with radiation. The liver will be taken care of with anti-estregon pills and removal of the ovary. This coming Tuesday- OBGYN appointment .... surgery again.. sooner than later. Thursday- Dr. Tittensor appointment (surgeon). Dr. Clark appointment (radiation Dr.) Dr. Rich (oncologist).
The best news is that Dr. Tittensor let me know that they all meet along with radiolgists, other oncolgists and a strong medical team to discuss my case. It makes me feel wonderful that I have some many people on my side.
I am in good hands and I feel very positive going into this week. I appriecate the continuous prayers and love you all have given me. So thankful for a good medical team, family and friends who are on my side.
Long story ---Short---
13 lymph nodes removed on the left side... All cancerous
5 centimeter tumor removed on the left side- Cancerous
19 lymph nodes removed on the right side- 18 cancerous
18 centimeter mass removed on the right side- Cancerous
Tissue still has cancerous cells on the lower part of the right side and moving to the center of the chest.
Cancer still in the liver being fed by estrogen from my only ovary.
Pretty depressing! huh....
I know people are on my side --fighting for me!!
Good news-- MOST that cancer is now OUT and OFF my body. We are focusing on the skin by attacking it with radiation. The liver will be taken care of with anti-estregon pills and removal of the ovary. This coming Tuesday- OBGYN appointment .... surgery again.. sooner than later. Thursday- Dr. Tittensor appointment (surgeon). Dr. Clark appointment (radiation Dr.) Dr. Rich (oncologist).
The best news is that Dr. Tittensor let me know that they all meet along with radiolgists, other oncolgists and a strong medical team to discuss my case. It makes me feel wonderful that I have some many people on my side.
I am in good hands and I feel very positive going into this week. I appriecate the continuous prayers and love you all have given me. So thankful for a good medical team, family and friends who are on my side.
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Daughters are amazing!
I know how hard it was for Jenni to be in Hawaii and wanting to be here in Utah to take care of her mom. I was so happy that her and Jared had the opportunity to go to Hawaii and be with the Skelton's. I kept telling her that I was in good hands and that she could take care of me when she got home.
I had my daughter Janell with me since I returned from the hospital. Terry and Janell have taken care of me. Letting me sleep, helping me out of bed, helping me get food into my mouth and changing bandages. Janell and I had a moment when I took off my bandages and revealed my breastless body. We just sat and cried. I am glad they got the cancerous tissue off my body. I am so glad I have Janell, taking care of me. She does such a great job. She is so caring and loving. I am so grateful to her mother-in-law and sister-in-laws who helped with my cute grandkids-- so Janell could be here with me and Terry. I didn't realize how much I needed her until she was there helping me. What a strong child I have.
Sherry (my sister) and her daughter Erika came to see me on Wednesday. She stayed overnight. We had a super visit. I felt bad I wasn't strong enough to stay up and giggle, cry, and talk until the wee hours of the morning. But I was happy that my sister and her daughter came to see me. Sherry took tons of pictures of me and my many, many hats. We just had a great time and laughed a lot. There is healing in laughter.
I had my daughter Janell with me since I returned from the hospital. Terry and Janell have taken care of me. Letting me sleep, helping me out of bed, helping me get food into my mouth and changing bandages. Janell and I had a moment when I took off my bandages and revealed my breastless body. We just sat and cried. I am glad they got the cancerous tissue off my body. I am so glad I have Janell, taking care of me. She does such a great job. She is so caring and loving. I am so grateful to her mother-in-law and sister-in-laws who helped with my cute grandkids-- so Janell could be here with me and Terry. I didn't realize how much I needed her until she was there helping me. What a strong child I have.
Sherry (my sister) and her daughter Erika came to see me on Wednesday. She stayed overnight. We had a super visit. I felt bad I wasn't strong enough to stay up and giggle, cry, and talk until the wee hours of the morning. But I was happy that my sister and her daughter came to see me. Sherry took tons of pictures of me and my many, many hats. We just had a great time and laughed a lot. There is healing in laughter.
Friday, May 13, 2011
Surgery Day
Terry and I arrived at the hospital at 6:00 am and checked in. It was a 5 hour surgery and an hour in the recovery room. The nurse in the recovery room says that I am pretty funny! I guess when I was coming to I said some pretty funny stuff. I just remember a few. Yellow flowers were given to me by Erica (Sherry's daughter) and Andrew her finance. I told them I was glad they didn't get me pink for breast cancer awareness.... I was very aware I didn't have breasts. They all laughed...
I was in the hospital on Saturday and went home on Sunday afternoon. I went for my first walk two hours after surgery. The nurses and staff at the hospital were amazing!
On Saturday, Dr. Tittensor came in to check on me. She said I was doing great. I am so impressed with her. After she left, she came back within about ten minutes with her 6 year old daughter. Her daughter was concerned about my port. She needed to know I was OK.
So grateful for people who care about me and for my family. So thankful for a loving Heavenly Father who walks by my side.
I was in the hospital on Saturday and went home on Sunday afternoon. I went for my first walk two hours after surgery. The nurses and staff at the hospital were amazing!
On Saturday, Dr. Tittensor came in to check on me. She said I was doing great. I am so impressed with her. After she left, she came back within about ten minutes with her 6 year old daughter. Her daughter was concerned about my port. She needed to know I was OK.
So grateful for people who care about me and for my family. So thankful for a loving Heavenly Father who walks by my side.
Thursday, May 12, 2011
The 2nd Opinion
Terry and I left after work on Wednesday and stayed with Janell and Brandon for my second opinion with Dr. Hansen who's office is in Ogden. So, Terry, Janell, and I left for Ogden on Thursday Morning. We wanted to get there early because we had paperwork. When we got there, the nurse was talking to the receptionist telling her when I got there that Dr. Tittensor had already talked to Dr. Hansen. I thought to myself, "Wow, what a doctor! I'm so glad she's in my court!" I filled out all the paperwork that took about 45 min, then was called back into the office. The nurse had to take a blood sample from my finger. She squoze my finger, and the blood shot across the room. haha. I thought she hit an artery. We went into the office to wait for Dr. Hansen.
The phone rang, and it was Dr. Tittensor. She told me that the MRI results were back and that I did have cancer in the liver. She also said the Biopsy came back and there are cancer cells still in the breasts. She told me that after discussing with two oncologists, pathologist, and radiation doctor, that we should indeed go forward with surgery the next day. She would have a pathologist in the surgery with us. She thought she could get the cancer even if she had to take extra skin and then do skin graphs later. She also told me that she had already talked to Dr. Hansen about my case and thought I was in very good hands. We planned for surgery for 7:30am tomorrow. so I needed to be at the hospital at 6:00am the next morning.
Dr. Hansen:
He came in the office and told me that he had talked to Dr. Tittensor about my case, and was very impressed with her. He asked me what I knew about the PET Scan. I told him that I have cancer in my liver, and that I needed my breasts to be removed. He added, that there were spots in the lung as well, but he wasn't sure if it was cancer. He also told me that there are three ways to treat the liver.
1. surgery - which he did not reccomend.
2. radiation microblast
3. chemo
He suggested the chemo.
He also explained to me that cancer cells are very small and they might not show up on a PET Scan. His goal as well as anyone else who worked with me was to put the cancer in remission. He told me that I needed to be strong like my mom and have a positive attitude like my dad and I could probably get through everything. He said that Dr. Rich, my Utah Valley onchologist had done a very good job in treating me and that I should probably stay with him.
We left the office hopeful, knowing I had to prepare for surgery the next day.
The phone rang, and it was Dr. Tittensor. She told me that the MRI results were back and that I did have cancer in the liver. She also said the Biopsy came back and there are cancer cells still in the breasts. She told me that after discussing with two oncologists, pathologist, and radiation doctor, that we should indeed go forward with surgery the next day. She would have a pathologist in the surgery with us. She thought she could get the cancer even if she had to take extra skin and then do skin graphs later. She also told me that she had already talked to Dr. Hansen about my case and thought I was in very good hands. We planned for surgery for 7:30am tomorrow. so I needed to be at the hospital at 6:00am the next morning.
Dr. Hansen:
He came in the office and told me that he had talked to Dr. Tittensor about my case, and was very impressed with her. He asked me what I knew about the PET Scan. I told him that I have cancer in my liver, and that I needed my breasts to be removed. He added, that there were spots in the lung as well, but he wasn't sure if it was cancer. He also told me that there are three ways to treat the liver.
1. surgery - which he did not reccomend.
2. radiation microblast
3. chemo
He suggested the chemo.
He also explained to me that cancer cells are very small and they might not show up on a PET Scan. His goal as well as anyone else who worked with me was to put the cancer in remission. He told me that I needed to be strong like my mom and have a positive attitude like my dad and I could probably get through everything. He said that Dr. Rich, my Utah Valley onchologist had done a very good job in treating me and that I should probably stay with him.
We left the office hopeful, knowing I had to prepare for surgery the next day.
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
MRI Day
We met my Jenni so that she could stay and give me a ride back from the MRI becase Terry had a meeting he had to go to. We waited over an hour and a half to get into the MRI.
The MRI was to see if I had cancer in the Liver. So they strapped me down and put me in the machine. I kept my eyes shut because I'm extremely clostrophobic. (I didn't want them to know that). :) I also was getting over a cold, that Terry gave me the week before so I had a hard time breathing. That's all the MRI really is - is breathing. "Breathe in, hold your breath for 30 seconds. Breathe in, hold your breath for 40 seconds." After about 2 & 1/2 hours of eye shutting experience, I got finished with the MRI and then I had to wait for the results.
Cancer? or Blood Vessels that have pooled together?
The MRI was to see if I had cancer in the Liver. So they strapped me down and put me in the machine. I kept my eyes shut because I'm extremely clostrophobic. (I didn't want them to know that). :) I also was getting over a cold, that Terry gave me the week before so I had a hard time breathing. That's all the MRI really is - is breathing. "Breathe in, hold your breath for 30 seconds. Breathe in, hold your breath for 40 seconds." After about 2 & 1/2 hours of eye shutting experience, I got finished with the MRI and then I had to wait for the results.
Cancer? or Blood Vessels that have pooled together?
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
The Whirl Wind Week
Went to Dr. Tittensor's office for consultation on when to take off my breasts. Whoa Hoo! She talked with Terry and I about the options we needed to take. She said she wanted another core biopsy from my right breast to make sure the chemo had done it's job and killed the cancer throughout my breast. We agreed on surgery to be scheduled for Friday. We told the Dr. that I had a MRI the next day as well as another appointment with my mom's cancer Dr. in Ogden. She was completely supportive about getting another opinion and told us that she would contact us Wednesday afternoon to give us the results on both the MRI and the core biopsy. The Dr. also got us an appointment with a plastic surgeon to put on some new breasts during the surgery on Friday.
We left Dr. Tittensor's office and headed to Dr. Bishops and found out what was to be expected with the reconstruction. Can I just tell you --Poor Terry!! He got his education on breast reconstruction on this day. They showed us a book in detail of the process that we would be going through. From the surgery to the new breasts. Can I just tell you that Terry had an "ahh haa" moment. It was funny!
We left Dr. Tittensor's office and headed to Dr. Bishops and found out what was to be expected with the reconstruction. Can I just tell you --Poor Terry!! He got his education on breast reconstruction on this day. They showed us a book in detail of the process that we would be going through. From the surgery to the new breasts. Can I just tell you that Terry had an "ahh haa" moment. It was funny!
Sunday, May 1, 2011
PET scan and Results
Monday, May 25th I was up early and got a PET scan. If you're wondering what a PET scan is... Well-- it is a scan that is given to people who have cancer. Radio active solution is injected into the patient (me). After the injection I was placed in a dark room for 70 minutes. I was also given a diet 7-up with some other solution given to it. After the 70 minutes it was taken to the CT scan machine. The scan took another 45 minutes. BREATH IN -- BREATH OUT- HOLD YOUR BREATH....... 10 SECONDS LATER.... BREATH. In and out of the machine.
Half way through the scan the tech came in and injected me with contrast. This give you the feeling you just wet you pants. NOT COOL!!
Terry and I had to wait until Thursday to get the results of the PET scan. Meanwhile, Mom, Janell and Jenni all came to Utah for BYU Women's Conference. They all stayed with me. We had a great time together during the morning. We listened to some fantastic talks. We went to the Carl Bloch exhibit which was fantastic. I love spending time with family. After the exhibit Terry and I went to the Doctors office to get results.
Terry and I waited at the Dr. Office for about 45 minutes. Waiting.... waiting..... waiting. He came in a basically told Terry and I the the cancer had moved to the liver. Also, my (only ovary) was feeding the cancer. I would be have surgery for both breasts, lymph nodes and also have my ovary removed. No-mention of the breasts... What am I here for???? Breast Cancer!! I was overwhelmed. I didn't know the questions to ask the doctor at his point. I felt deflated.
The next morning after talking with with my family, I had a lot of questions. I wanted another radiologist to look at the PET scan. Heavens... I wanted my doctor to look at the PET scan. I also thought I needed another opinion. I want to make sure, and if I have to be the noisy girl wanting answers.... I guess that is what I need to be.... the noisy girl. The doctor called and Terry and I gave him all of our requests.
Come to find out..... The doctor called me on Monday morning. He said that the the mass that was on my liver could in fact be blood vessels that had pooled on my liver. A little different then CANCER!! I need to still have an MRI to make this concrete evidence.
So long story---short. I have three appointments next week. Tuesday. Dr. Titensor. Surgeon. Wednesday. MRI Thursday, Dr. Hansen (moms cancer Dr. in Ogden) for a second opinion. I am feeling much more hopeful!!
Half way through the scan the tech came in and injected me with contrast. This give you the feeling you just wet you pants. NOT COOL!!
Terry and I had to wait until Thursday to get the results of the PET scan. Meanwhile, Mom, Janell and Jenni all came to Utah for BYU Women's Conference. They all stayed with me. We had a great time together during the morning. We listened to some fantastic talks. We went to the Carl Bloch exhibit which was fantastic. I love spending time with family. After the exhibit Terry and I went to the Doctors office to get results.
Terry and I waited at the Dr. Office for about 45 minutes. Waiting.... waiting..... waiting. He came in a basically told Terry and I the the cancer had moved to the liver. Also, my (only ovary) was feeding the cancer. I would be have surgery for both breasts, lymph nodes and also have my ovary removed. No-mention of the breasts... What am I here for???? Breast Cancer!! I was overwhelmed. I didn't know the questions to ask the doctor at his point. I felt deflated.
The next morning after talking with with my family, I had a lot of questions. I wanted another radiologist to look at the PET scan. Heavens... I wanted my doctor to look at the PET scan. I also thought I needed another opinion. I want to make sure, and if I have to be the noisy girl wanting answers.... I guess that is what I need to be.... the noisy girl. The doctor called and Terry and I gave him all of our requests.
Come to find out..... The doctor called me on Monday morning. He said that the the mass that was on my liver could in fact be blood vessels that had pooled on my liver. A little different then CANCER!! I need to still have an MRI to make this concrete evidence.
So long story---short. I have three appointments next week. Tuesday. Dr. Titensor. Surgeon. Wednesday. MRI Thursday, Dr. Hansen (moms cancer Dr. in Ogden) for a second opinion. I am feeling much more hopeful!!
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