Great News…I’m in Menopause
Haha! Who ever thought I would say that! But it appears that chemo has put me into menopause. I spoke with my OB this morning and while she sees no need to rush into surgery, she did say that the cancer I have often spreads to the ovaries and it might be a good preventative move to remove them. We’ll see what the oncologist recommends. I’m waiting to hear back from him to see if he agrees with my new menopausal status and decision to hold off on surgery.
UPDATE: The oncologist is concerned that the ovaries might wake up and the menopause might not be permanent. So we have the choice to just sit back and test my hormone level every six weeks and hope for the best, or just take them out and not worry about it. If they wake up, there is also a chance of pregnancy, so the surgery would obviously take care of that as well. At the end of my long conversation with him, I asked him if it was his wife in this situation what he would recommend, and he said surgery. I think we will probably lean towards that, just to have one less thing to worry about. We’ll sleep on it, pray about it, and talk some more, but that’s where we are at right now.
Back at the Infusion Center and Breast Center
Yesterday I spent a few hours at Valley Medical Center. It was actually a nice visit there, for once. 🙂 No pain and actually a little pampering.
I started off with an appointment with a oncology licensed oncology certified aesthetician who was amazing. Christina operates out of the Breast Center at Valley and not only sees regular customers, but works with patients going through cancer treatments. She shaped my eyebrows which are growing back wherever they want and tinted them so small amount of hair that is there, looks darker. Christina has an amazing heart and passion for helping women going through cancer. As a business owner, she chooses to donate sessions to patients going through cancer treatment. It was a nice surprise to not have a bill at the end of my session with her. She is so sweet and caring and such a joy to be around. It was so nice to be in the Breast Center for something positive instead of negative! So if you are up in that area and need a facial, relaxing massage, etc, make sure to look her up. She’s wonderful!
Oncology Appointment
Tom, Mom and I met with my oncologist today. He is recommending radiation to my sternum, lymphnodes and possibly to the breast area. We will be meeting with the radiation oncologist next Tuesday to talk more about that. It’s unsure at this time as to whether radiation or reconstruction will come first. We need to find out from the plastic surgeon how long his plan is for reconstruction. If it’s longer than 6 months, we’ll have to do radiation first (unless the radiation oncologist feels differently).
On Wednesday when I go in to have my port flushed, he is going to test my hormone levels. If chemo put me into menopause, and my ovaries are not producing estrogen, then my ovaries can stay put. If not, out they come. Yay! Another surgery!! The Dr. thinks it’s unlikely that I am in menopause, but we’ll find out for sure later this week or early next week. Wouldn’t that be great if I was in menopause? (And I might be one of the only women to ever say that – lol!)
Change of Plans
It’s really hard to plan things any time in advance right now. I feel like our lives have been up in the air since my diagnosis in September. I’m such a planner. This is really hard for me! Any little get-a-way we’ve done since then, has been last minute. Thursday and Friday were no exception.
Friday, I was scheduled to have an appointment to meet with the oncologist to find out what the next steps are in this journey I’m on with cancer. We had planned to take the kids out of school on Thursday since Mom is here and I’m feeling good, and head over to Leavenworth, Cashmere and Wenatchee and do a marathon day there.
Pathology Report After Surgery
We met with the surgeon this morning. We got some good and not so good news. The tumor in the breast shrunk down to 2.5 cm (originally over 7) and the surgeon was able to get clear margins (the tumor and enough around it). That’s the good news.
The not so good news is that 2 out of the 3 lymph nodes that were removed during surgery had cancer cells. The surgeon is waiting to talk to the Oncologist (hopefully today) to discuss either surgery or just radiation for other lymph nodes that are nearby the ones taken out.
Depression After Surgery
I was not prepared for Thursday afternoon. I can’t pin point it to anything, but all of a sudden I went into this deep depression. All I wanted to do was cry and curl up into a ball on my bed away from everyone. Hoever, it’s uncomfortable to lay in that position and I had 2 very concerned family members in the house that didn’t think I should do that. They wanted me to get out of the house. I knew that I should, but I really, realy, really didn’t want to. Like I said, I just wanted to be left alone to cry for a long time.
Nothing is horribly wrong. Yes I have cancer, but it’s not something new. I just had surgery a week ago and I’m feeling good, far better than I ever did on chemo. And I don’t look as physically horrible as I thought I would after surgery. I am sporting this lovely necklace right now… read more…
Goodbye Drain #2
6 days after mastectomy – I met with the plastic surgeon today. He was able to remove one drain. Having a drain pulled out from your body isn’t the most comfortable thing and under my arm is now really sore. But I’m still glad it’s out. That means I’m one step closer to being able to take a shower. The second drain is still producing about 60ml a day and it needs to be below 30ml before it can be removed. As soon as it drops to that point, I can call the office and go in. I managed to hide the drains enough to go out in public yesterday and today. But the drain is annoying, especially because of this crazy warm weather we are having. I was all prepared to hide it underneath sweatshirts and it’s way to hot for that. 🙁
I’m done with the Percocet and am just taking Tylenol for pain. This means I’ll be taking Tylenol PM tonight before bed and hopefully be able to sleep. Plus, it’s a little cooler tonight which should help.
Surviving a Mastectomy
I am on some very strong pain meds as I write this. Please forgive any typos!
Before I give an update on surgery I have some very exciting news! Tom trimmed my hair this morning! Woohoo! The back of my neck needed to be cleaned up so he got out his trimmer and did it. With everything I’m going through right now, it’s the little things I’m excited about! Yay for hair trimming!
Let me give a quick update on how I’m doing and then if you want to keep reading all the details about my day of surgery and procedures you can. I wrote as much down about it all as I could in hopes that it would help someone else in the future (and also for my memory which is not very good right now).
It’s Saturday, 2 days after surgery. I’m taking Percocet and a muscle relaxer for pain. I’m tired, but yet can’t sleep, mostly because it’s too uncomfortable to lay down on our bed and I don’t sleep very soundly propped up with pillows. Eventually I will be tired enough to sleep, right? 🙂
I’m really sore, especially under my arm pit, but if I’m just sitting on the bed or couch, the pain is minimal. I can eat and type with the computer on my lap, without pain. But that’s about it. Everything else hurts to do. Thanks to Tom and Mom, I don’t have to do anything. (And thanks to chemo, I don’t even have to worry about styling my hair.)
Overall, we are all surprised I’m doing as good as I am. I ate breakfast at the table this morning and sat on the sofa and played mindless games on my phone while laughing at I Love Lucy episodes with Mom. I also sat outside in the sun with Tom as he worked for a bit in the yard. read more…
The Night Before Surgery
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Before we talk about surgery . . .
I still have all my fingernails and toenails after my manicure and pedicure yesterday. I’m sure you were all losing sleep worrying about that, so I just wanted to let you know that first thing. 🙂 Now that my fingers and toes are pretty, I’m ready for surgery.
Last night I celebrated with friends! We celebrated chemo being over, my good PET scan results and just getting as far as I have in this fight. We had dinner, chatted, prayed and just enjoyed being together. I am so thankful for these ladies (and many others) who have helped in so many ways the past 6 months! read more…
What Else Can Be Cut Off, Fall Out or Fall Off?
What else can be cut off, fall out or fall off?????
Well, let’s see . . . my hair fell out and is now very, very short. Most of my eye lashes and eye brows are gone. One of my large toe nails is about to fall off, just in time for spring/summer when I want to wear sandals. And I’m about to have a prominent body part cut entirely off on Thursday. Oh and my ovaries are going to be cut out as well – but at least those are not visible (although the sweat from the hot flashes probably will be).. Anything else want to fall off or fall out? What if my ear falls off in a few months?????? You never know.
I’m not sure whether to laugh or cry. Right now, typing all that, I’m laughing because it just sounds so absurd to me! Yesterday in a store as I walked past a beautiful piece of lingerie, I cried. What can I do? I know who I am is not based on what I look like, but I’m one of those people who always goes out of the house with my hair done and makeup on. I would be lying if I said all this was easy.
read more…
Meet Jennifer
Breast Cancer Patient, Chef Wife and Mom
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