The Night Before Surgery (Again)

It’s another “Night Before….” post.  It’s so strange to think I’m having surgery tomorrow.

Today was very ordinary.  I went to the gym after I got the kids off to school, ran a few errands, took our 6th grader and a friend to the local taco truck for lunch, had 3 extra kids in our house to hang out and play and enjoyed an eggnog latte while chatting with a neighbor.  Now the girls are watching TV and I am doing a little Thanksgiving prep.  It was just a regular day here.

But that all stops at midnight when I will all of a sudden become starving and dying of thirst, because I know I can’t have anything.  Haha!  Hopefully I will be asleep at midnight. 🙂

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My Very Exciting Bone Density Scan

Don’t you love it when you go to a Dr. appointment that you thought was going to be long and have it be really short?

That was my appointment today. read more…

Upcoming Surgery, Exhaustion and the Craziness of Life

I have no idea what I was thinking when I agreed to have a Halloween Party and a 12 year old birthday party in the same week.  Between that, volunteering at the kids’ schools, Bible Study, the gym and taking care of everything around the house, I’m exhausted…AND THANKFUL!

I did all that!  Well, the birthday party is still coming, but still…I did it!  A year ago, I was having my 2nd chemo treatment and now I’m feeling good enough to do all that.  Thank you God for a body strong enough to pull all that off!

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Another Infusion Done

I’m hanging out at the infusion center again today, getting my bone strengthening infusion. My port was sluggish again, so I’ve been sitting here with TPA in it, waiting for it to dissolve the blockage. It’s been an hour, so hopefully, things will get moving here soon. (Update – it’s unclogged! Hooray!)

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Medication Update

I spoke with my oncologist yesterday and we are taking a break from the hormone blocking pill, hopefully to get my body out of this depression.  I also started Effexor yesterday to help with the hot flashes, mood swings and depression.  Unfortunately it usually takes 2-3 weeks to fully get in my system and start working.  It also made me nauseous. Not sure why, but we’ll see if that continues…

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Still figuring out this little pill

I woke up this morning with my whole body hurting. It got a little bit better as I moved around the house and got ready for church.

I was feeling kind of down but just pushed through as I wanted to go to church as a family.

By the second worship song I was crying and wanted to lay down in bed and hide under the covers.

So I asked him to bring me home. I decided to take lorazepam to help with the depression today, so I can get through the day with my husband and kids home and hopefully not be an emotional mess the whole day.

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Why October is Hard for Breast Cancer Patients

Pink!

EVERYTHING IS PINK OR HAS A PINK RIBBON IT.

Don’t get me wrong.  I’m thankful for Breast Cancer research.  I am.  (Although the term “Breast Cancer Awareness” stumps me a bit.  Is there actually an adult in the US who isn’t aware of Breast Cancer that we still need to reach????)

When I started this blog last year, one of the reasons I decided to do it, was to educate others who have never walked this path themselves or with someone else.  There are things I’ve experienced, emotions I’ve had, thoughts I’ve had, that surprised me.

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Where We Go From Here…

Before I get into the Dr. appointment I had with the Oncologist today, let me say a little bit more about Friday night and the PET Scan results.

I had asked the Dr. before if he would give me the PET Scan results over the phone, but he said he prefers to do that in person.  On Friday, I sent Tom a text saying I was nervous about the results and wish we didn’t have to wait through the weekend.  He suggested I just call and ask again.  It was 4:30 pm, but I called and left a message, telling myself I wouldn’t read anything into it if he didn’t call (which I expected he wouldn’t based on our last conversation.)

Then, Friday evening, as I was sitting and watching our oldest in her dance class, my phone rang.  It was a number from Renton.  I knew it was him.  He asked if it was a good time to talk and I said yes.  He said he had some good news to start off my weekend.  Woohoo!!  He said the scan was totally clear.  On the last scan (after chemo but before surgery and radiation) there was still a light haze over where the cancer had been.  This scan, there was no haze and he said if I hadn’t had surgery, you would never have known I had cancer from looking at the scan.

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PET SCAN RESULTS ARE CLEAR!

I am typing from my phone at a dance studio but can’t wait to get this news out. My Dr. called and said the PET scan was clear. Even the haziness that was there last time where the cancer used to be is gone!  Praise God for this great news!

Thoughts on Being Radioactive

My PET scan is done and was uneventful.  🙂

Here was my view as I was being injected with the radioactive isotope that will light up on the scan if there are any clusters of cancer cells.  read more…

Meet Jennifer

Breast Cancer Patient, Chef Wife and Mom

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Resources:

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What to Expect:

Breast Biopsy
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PET Scan
port surgery
chemotherapy
Mastectomy
Reconstruction
oophorectomy
Radiation
neuropathy after chemo