April 8, 2009

  • Busy Tomorrow

    I visited the oncologist today and I have a battery of scans to be done starting early in the morning tomorrow.  I'll be at the hospital from 7:30 - noon, at least.  Then, I have a chemo class to answer questions and tell us what to expect.

    The oncologist wants the stuff around my spine to be shrunk quickly.  I asked for the most aggressive treatment and she asked if I was sure.  I am.  They will do chemo every other week (2 weeks) and take MRI's to see how things are responding to the drug.  I'm prepared to fight hard and will do it with God's help.

    JoAnn will be here for the first 3 rounds of chemo (since they are so close together) and that's a blessing.  I think I will elect to have a double mastectomy instead of the lumpectomy because it will negate breast cancer in the future.

    I will also get a free wig from my insurance company.  Get this . . .the call it a "hair prosthesis"!!!!

    My April 17th surgery has been canceled, and they will put a port in my chest April 15th and chemo will start April 16th.  Talk about Switch-o Change-o!

    The "plan" changed 3 times today and my phone has been ringing off the wall.  So many things to handle and thoughts to process.  ANYWAY, I've asked them to get rid of the cancer as quickly and tough as they could attack it and the oncologist has said if she thinks I'm suffering too much from a chemo drug, she will stop it and try something else.  She doesn't want me to be brave and suffer needlessly when other drugs could be used.  She thinks my attitude and spiritual strength will make this all successful.  Life span is optimistic based on others with the same problem.

    So, please continue to pray.  I am and many other are.  I have done well with all of this company here.  There were 14 the other day and tomorrow, there will be the same 14 back AND my oldest daughter and granddaughter will be here to see the family.  If I have to, I will close myself up in my room to be sure I stay calm and get the rest I need before next Wednesday and Thursday.  I don't need to feel stressed going into these procedures.  That would be stupid.

    I discussed some dietary things to strengthen myself (specific foods and drinking Ensure) and the doctor said those were excellent ideas.  She also said they would start giving me something to increase my bone strength (like the Boniva Sally Field advertises on TV). 

    Gosh I can't think of anything else.  I just know I won't have time to write tomorrow.  I love Friday after 5pm - all of the businesses and offices close for the weekend!!!  I told the surgeon's nurse I was almost at the point of having "her people call my people"!!!!!!!!!!!  She promised the roller coaster ride would slow down!

    (I sure miss taking and posting pictures!)

    Be Blessed  ~

Comments (16)

  • Praying with you Cherylyn. Blessings for your Easter weekend. He lives!

  • Continuing to send prayers and love your way!  Blessings dear friend.

  • Bless you. Hope you stay rested and at peace.

  • ((((((HUGS))))))

    OK, so you're going to tell me what you need and when you need it, right? Tell me when you're going to need dinners, too. If you think you'll need dinners from the other ladies in the congregation, just let me know and we'll get it set up. I just need to know what days you think you'll need them. Remember, I'm only a mile away!

  • I wish you a very peaceful & relaxing Easter!

  • ((((HUGS)))) 

  • Praying with you for healing.
    So glad you have someone like Joann to be with the girls and to run the house during this time.
    Love you,
    Tina

  • So much I want to say and no words. I wish I could just connect a port between my brain and yours and send thoughts back and forth.

    Love you, sweet girl!
    Lori

  • Great post by Lori - how many times I wish that were true!!  Even with a house full, it's easy to feel alone at times, I know.  I think blogging (or call if journaling if you will), will help you a lot through this and we all get to support you and hopefully uplift you.  If I were closer, I'd send a casserole!  But from here, I'll send lots of prayers, good wishes, and even a joke... Why did the Easter egg hide?  Because he was a little chicken.  Goofy, I know, but oh well!!

  • Praying for you.

  • @Immax3 - 

    Unless you want to use the port they are "installing" next week from your thoughts to mine - don't mention the word "port" to me, please! I stopped by the surgeon's today and got the details of what a port is all about and I'm feeling a little green around the gills! Lots of tubes in places I don't understand (right breast, up over shoulder, and around my neck to the back - I know, I don't get it either!).

    I know you Lori and I "feel the love" - trust me!

    I'm here long enough to grab a half of a sandwich and must leave in 8 minutes for my "all you ever wanted to know about chemo" class (rolling eyes)!

  • I have a port, and I am so thankful that I do. Chemo ruins your veins and you don't want them having to poke and poke and poke, trying to get a vein. With a port, one stick, for everything!!!! I was told to make sure I told them I wanted a Power Port (purple triangle thingy with 3 knobbys on it). They can do MRI's, blood draws, EVERYTHING with a Power Port. I've had mine since 11-06, and my chemo onc wants me to keep it in for at least 5 years, so I'll have it for at least another 2 1/2 years.
    Know I'm praying, and if you have any chemo questions that we haven't already talked about, please don't hesitate to message me. If you like, let me know, and I'll give you my phone number and we can talk that way! :)
    Love you!!
    {{{hugs}}}

  • Hi Cherylyn,

    Alyssia (Resolved2Worship)asked me to swing in and say, hi. I've known her for a long time -- her father was our pastor for many years until they moved back east.

    I had breast cancer 5 years ago. I'm coming up in 11 days on what I call my anniversary of remission. The doctors count your anniversary from the date you were diagnosed, but I count it from when I was done with my chemo and my mastectomies - that date is April 20th.

    I too chose to have a double mastectomy. I had a tumor which they tried to do two different lumpectomies on, both which returned without clean margins. So they told me I had to have a mastectomy - I chose to do both because, well, who would want to go through this again? Ya know?! I ended up having two different cancers - a tumor and ductal cancer as well. Mine, however, did not metastasize.

    I blog about my cancer on the anniversary it was discovered every year - you can read my story by going to this link:
    http://justpassingthruhere.xanga.com/684326724/happy-anniversary/

    This was the first year I really spent time writing down all my details.

    If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to ask. my email is bartoschs@gmail.com
    Praying for much peace for you.
    ~Diane

  • It's late -- you're probably sleeping (I hope), but I've been thinking of you and praying for you. I also pray the fires aren't anywhere close to you.

  • {{HUGS}}} Cherylyn... I checked in all the time on xanga to see if you have done another update yet.
    I have been thinking of you and praying as you get ready for all this.
    I start to panic when I don't hear anything for awhile.
    Do you have free texting on your cell phone? I would call but don't know if it is a good time for you.
    Can you tell us again what day is your birthday? I am putting together a love/care package for you.
    With love,
    Tina

  • @InnerJoy - 

    Please don't panic, Tina. Each time I think I'm done with appointments, they send me/us somewhere new. I'm VERY sleepy from all the rushing around. My birthday is Sunday. I think I'm going to post tonight AND add pictures.

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