In yesterday's post I forgot to mention the drain tubes and staples. Yes, the drain tubes were removed yesterday at the doctor's office, and he removed about half the staples. Her wounds have no irritation, no infection, and only a small bit of inflammation near one of the tubes which decided to clog up over the course of the last few days. He said this was all normal and nothing to worry about as all drain tubes eventually clog up. Any further drainage will be minimal and reabsorbed by her body. The remaining staples will be removed at the next appointment which is next week.
Thanks for asking Joanne.
We have an appointment with a radiation oncologist tomorrow morning. Our doctor recommended we talk with radiation and chemotherapy oncologists. I'm thinking there may be some radiation administered toward those remaining lymph nodes in her armpit.
Thursday, June 29, 2006
Wednesday, June 28, 2006
So, A Little Chemo, huh?
The thing the doctor said today that I'll remember the longest was when he said to Lois, "You could be cured." But since there is no way to tell if there are more cells that weren't removed, chemotherapy, and possibly some radiation, will be used, just to be safe, to kill the little bastards that could be lurking around before they create any further havoc.
Our big question was since five lymph nodes with cancer cells were removed, are there more that weren't? And if so, why not remove them all? He said two years ago that would be the recommendation, but science has learned that whether the lymph nodes are removed, or not, doesn't matter. In other words, the number of successful therapies, out of the tens of thousands tracked, did not change, whether those lymph nodes were removed or not. Seems sorta odd, but I think I understand.
We are still nervous about whether we should have had him remove her other breast. We've heard of women who have had both removed, no questions asked. Some have both removed even when there is no cancer detected, but their mothers and sisters have, or had, the disease. But the doctor still doesn't recommend it, eventhough the likelihood of tumors arising there are 22%, as opposed to 14% for women without any cancer. She could have it removed at any time, or during the reconstruction in six months. Right now I'm thinking the sooner the better.
****
After the doctor's appointment today, we did a little grocery shopping, then visited our friend Kaye K., then went over to Brooke's to see the little ones. They were very busy riding bikes, chasing one another with swords, jumping on the neighbor's trampoline, and crying over who got the red plastic Star Wars laser beam.
Later, we went to a movie: "The Lake House." Keanu Reeves and Sondra Bullock starred in this mainly "chick flick." You have to suspend some disbelief as it's a love-story that happens across a time-warp of two years. It had a few "holes" but overall we enjoyed it.
When we got home, we watched the Mariners win again, tonight - they've been on fire this month and finally fun to watch again.
Yesterday was a real "downer," and it took a while to overcome the "heavy" news the doctor delivered. Today, however, was a much better day. We learned Lois will have chemo - but we knew that already - and we learned that she "could be cured." Now how can that be a bad thing to mope around about? We're taking the high road, and we're gonna do what we have to to ensure that that's the one we travel.
Thanks again for all your support; unless you've been through something like this, and we sincerely hope you haven't, you can't know how much it means, especially to Lois, and me.
*****
Our big question was since five lymph nodes with cancer cells were removed, are there more that weren't? And if so, why not remove them all? He said two years ago that would be the recommendation, but science has learned that whether the lymph nodes are removed, or not, doesn't matter. In other words, the number of successful therapies, out of the tens of thousands tracked, did not change, whether those lymph nodes were removed or not. Seems sorta odd, but I think I understand.
We are still nervous about whether we should have had him remove her other breast. We've heard of women who have had both removed, no questions asked. Some have both removed even when there is no cancer detected, but their mothers and sisters have, or had, the disease. But the doctor still doesn't recommend it, eventhough the likelihood of tumors arising there are 22%, as opposed to 14% for women without any cancer. She could have it removed at any time, or during the reconstruction in six months. Right now I'm thinking the sooner the better.
****
After the doctor's appointment today, we did a little grocery shopping, then visited our friend Kaye K., then went over to Brooke's to see the little ones. They were very busy riding bikes, chasing one another with swords, jumping on the neighbor's trampoline, and crying over who got the red plastic Star Wars laser beam.
Later, we went to a movie: "The Lake House." Keanu Reeves and Sondra Bullock starred in this mainly "chick flick." You have to suspend some disbelief as it's a love-story that happens across a time-warp of two years. It had a few "holes" but overall we enjoyed it.
When we got home, we watched the Mariners win again, tonight - they've been on fire this month and finally fun to watch again.
Yesterday was a real "downer," and it took a while to overcome the "heavy" news the doctor delivered. Today, however, was a much better day. We learned Lois will have chemo - but we knew that already - and we learned that she "could be cured." Now how can that be a bad thing to mope around about? We're taking the high road, and we're gonna do what we have to to ensure that that's the one we travel.
Thanks again for all your support; unless you've been through something like this, and we sincerely hope you haven't, you can't know how much it means, especially to Lois, and me.
*****
Tuesday, June 27, 2006
Lab Results
We talked with the doctor today. The lab reports that the two sentinel nodes removed during the mastectomy and three lymph nodes in the removed breast tissue contain cancer cells. Thank God, all these tissues were removed. The doctor said thirty years ago we would have been given a clean bill of health at this point because the cells are not detectable by light microscopes. Thanks to the advances in modern biochemistry, they are detectable now days; thus the over-the-weekend wait for the stains to work properly.
Next we meet with a chemotherapy oncologist to discuss what happens next.
Jim
Next we meet with a chemotherapy oncologist to discuss what happens next.
Jim
Monday, June 26, 2006
A Grandson's Question
This picture of our grandson, Izaiah James, was taken in March of last year; he's five years old this summer. Lois has this picture framed and in a place of prominence.
Not long after he started talking he labled me Papa, and Lois, Pama; thus "pamalois."
Today he amazed us. Brooke and her family came to use the pool this afternoon and the first thing Izaiah did when he got here, was go to Lois and say, "I want to ask you something in private." She took him to another room where the two of them were alone, and very quietly, he asked, "how are you feeling?"
Tomorrow is another day of waiting. Hopefully the news will be good, and it will come early.
Thanks for all your support.
Sunday, June 25, 2006
From Betty, a sorority sister in Sequim
June 25, 2006
Sunday: A lazy day today with the temperature hovering near 100 degrees. Lois' tubes were worked pretty hard yesterday, so today she decided to "let it be." She relaxed all day: slept, read, and lounged. We ate dinner, then sat outside for a while, now it's shower time and preparation for the evening hours.
Tomorrow it's supposed to hit just over 100 degrees. I love it you know; I like to go out and sit in my car with the windows rolled up. I called Brooke and the gang and told them to come on over and get in the pool; the water's 86 degrees, perfect for cooling down on a hot day. Oh, and by the way, just kidding about sitting in the car. I roll the windows down.
Lois has many dear friends in Sequim. The following is from a sorority sister of hers, Betty. It was originally sent as an email, and I thought it deserved more; so after getting Betty's permission, I'm posting here for you to read. It's a great testimony from a very brave woman, one we're all proud to know and cherish.
*******************
Lois,
I know how/hard waiting for results is. I checked your blog several times on Thursday awaiting news of the result. I had to wait seven days for my sentinel node results. My mastectomy was Aug 31 and the lab was closed for Labor day.
However, when we heard the cancer had not spread to the lymph nodes we were greatly relieved!! My surgeon installed a port on my right side during surgery because my Oncologist planned chemo treatment. Sleeping was very difficult at first because I am a side sleeper. My left side was tender from the surgery and the right had the port between by shoulder & collar bone. I was also very bruised from my waist to where my breast used to be. My surgeon says it is very common for slender people to bruise more. I know Rick was very relieved when my drain tube with collection bag was removed eight long days after surgery. Since I only had one bag I was able to attach it to my sweat pants that had a tie waist. I was told gravity helped the flow of the blood and the faster it flowed the sooner it would be removed!
Because the surgeon had clean margins and my lump was smaller than 2cm I did not have radiation. I did have four sessions of chemo every three weeks. My last chemo was right after Thanksgiving. I lost all my hair and spent four months BALD! Oct., November, December & January brrr.... My work was amazing and 25 people shaved their heads in support of me. WOW!! We even made front page of the Daily News. The gals at Copies Plus pitched in bought me a wig.
I had shoulder length red hair while I was bald. Many of my customers did not recognize me!! That was fun. I even got called "Miss" wow, I had not been called miss in years!! I guess with the gray gone I looked much younger. :-)
Now my hair is back and curly and back to gray. I am just grateful to HAVE hair!
I did have several weeks of physical therapy through the hospital and now have full range of motion back. I still have exercises to do daily. My therapist also guided me in other ways. Such as vitamin E is good to rub on your scars (once your Dr says it is okay) to help them fade. She also told me I could order my prosthesis through Jim's RX where they also had specialty bras it fits in. I decided to wait a year and let the scar heal before I even think about reconstruction. The scar is healing nicely and starting to fade. The port was removed in January and that scar is more noticeable.
On to more recent news. Tracey graduated from Sacramento State on May 19th with a degree in Child Psychology with honors!! We, Tracey, Claudio, Claudio's parents, his sister, her husband, their baby and Rick & I had planned a trip to Maui to celebrate her graduation. Once we arrived in Maui Tracey informed us they were getting married Thursday! We were ALL surprised and pleased. Claudio and Tracey have been together for over three years. He is very good for her and his family are very nice people. The wedding was held on Makena beach May 25th at 5:30 - barefoot! She was a beautiful bride! Afterwards the wedding dinner was at Seawatch restaurant. Which was delicious. Another interesting fact, Rick's friend Bobby is one of the head chefs there. This was unknown to Tracey until AFTER she had booked the dinner on line. She had a wedding coordinator to help her choose the pastor, photographer, flowers, location and cake. Everything went very smoothly. So, I am now a Mother-in-Law! I passed chocolate covered macadamia nuts and the wedding pictures at the last Beta meeting/dinner in June. :-)
Lois, would you please send me your phone number I cannot find it and I would like to call and talk to you. Since I have recently been through this we are Sisters in a new way. There has been so many blessings from having cancer, so much kindness and love from unexpected people you will constantly be surprised and overwhelmed. I wish you were closer and I would give you a huge HUG! Know you are constantly in my thoughts and prayers. I could not have made it without Ricks love and support. Jim, one book Rick found extremely helpful was Breast Cancer Husband by Marc Silver. The cover states how to help your wife and yourself through diagnosis, treatment and beyond.
All for now. It's a beautiful sunny day and I am going to work in the yard.
Take care dear sister.
Love, Betty
Sunday: A lazy day today with the temperature hovering near 100 degrees. Lois' tubes were worked pretty hard yesterday, so today she decided to "let it be." She relaxed all day: slept, read, and lounged. We ate dinner, then sat outside for a while, now it's shower time and preparation for the evening hours.
Tomorrow it's supposed to hit just over 100 degrees. I love it you know; I like to go out and sit in my car with the windows rolled up. I called Brooke and the gang and told them to come on over and get in the pool; the water's 86 degrees, perfect for cooling down on a hot day. Oh, and by the way, just kidding about sitting in the car. I roll the windows down.
Lois has many dear friends in Sequim. The following is from a sorority sister of hers, Betty. It was originally sent as an email, and I thought it deserved more; so after getting Betty's permission, I'm posting here for you to read. It's a great testimony from a very brave woman, one we're all proud to know and cherish.
*******************
Lois,
I know how/hard waiting for results is. I checked your blog several times on Thursday awaiting news of the result. I had to wait seven days for my sentinel node results. My mastectomy was Aug 31 and the lab was closed for Labor day.
However, when we heard the cancer had not spread to the lymph nodes we were greatly relieved!! My surgeon installed a port on my right side during surgery because my Oncologist planned chemo treatment. Sleeping was very difficult at first because I am a side sleeper. My left side was tender from the surgery and the right had the port between by shoulder & collar bone. I was also very bruised from my waist to where my breast used to be. My surgeon says it is very common for slender people to bruise more. I know Rick was very relieved when my drain tube with collection bag was removed eight long days after surgery. Since I only had one bag I was able to attach it to my sweat pants that had a tie waist. I was told gravity helped the flow of the blood and the faster it flowed the sooner it would be removed!
Because the surgeon had clean margins and my lump was smaller than 2cm I did not have radiation. I did have four sessions of chemo every three weeks. My last chemo was right after Thanksgiving. I lost all my hair and spent four months BALD! Oct., November, December & January brrr.... My work was amazing and 25 people shaved their heads in support of me. WOW!! We even made front page of the Daily News. The gals at Copies Plus pitched in bought me a wig.
I had shoulder length red hair while I was bald. Many of my customers did not recognize me!! That was fun. I even got called "Miss" wow, I had not been called miss in years!! I guess with the gray gone I looked much younger. :-)
Now my hair is back and curly and back to gray. I am just grateful to HAVE hair!
I did have several weeks of physical therapy through the hospital and now have full range of motion back. I still have exercises to do daily. My therapist also guided me in other ways. Such as vitamin E is good to rub on your scars (once your Dr says it is okay) to help them fade. She also told me I could order my prosthesis through Jim's RX where they also had specialty bras it fits in. I decided to wait a year and let the scar heal before I even think about reconstruction. The scar is healing nicely and starting to fade. The port was removed in January and that scar is more noticeable.
On to more recent news. Tracey graduated from Sacramento State on May 19th with a degree in Child Psychology with honors!! We, Tracey, Claudio, Claudio's parents, his sister, her husband, their baby and Rick & I had planned a trip to Maui to celebrate her graduation. Once we arrived in Maui Tracey informed us they were getting married Thursday! We were ALL surprised and pleased. Claudio and Tracey have been together for over three years. He is very good for her and his family are very nice people. The wedding was held on Makena beach May 25th at 5:30 - barefoot! She was a beautiful bride! Afterwards the wedding dinner was at Seawatch restaurant. Which was delicious. Another interesting fact, Rick's friend Bobby is one of the head chefs there. This was unknown to Tracey until AFTER she had booked the dinner on line. She had a wedding coordinator to help her choose the pastor, photographer, flowers, location and cake. Everything went very smoothly. So, I am now a Mother-in-Law! I passed chocolate covered macadamia nuts and the wedding pictures at the last Beta meeting/dinner in June. :-)
Lois, would you please send me your phone number I cannot find it and I would like to call and talk to you. Since I have recently been through this we are Sisters in a new way. There has been so many blessings from having cancer, so much kindness and love from unexpected people you will constantly be surprised and overwhelmed. I wish you were closer and I would give you a huge HUG! Know you are constantly in my thoughts and prayers. I could not have made it without Ricks love and support. Jim, one book Rick found extremely helpful was Breast Cancer Husband by Marc Silver. The cover states how to help your wife and yourself through diagnosis, treatment and beyond.
All for now. It's a beautiful sunny day and I am going to work in the yard.
Take care dear sister.
Love, Betty
Saturday, June 24, 2006
A Very Good Thing
Knowing today wouldn't be a "waiting" day, we got up this morning feeling good. The remainder of the day was beautiful and warm with the temperature in the high 80's; and not even a single cloud tried to blemish the deep blue sky.
Lots of company came by to wish Lois well today, her mother was here for a few hours, as was my mom, then Lois' Aunt Wanda and cousin Jani were here for a while too. Brooke and her three youngest came by; the two younger ones slept while Izaiah had the pool to himself. Later some dear old friends from high school days came to visit.
Lois just came upstairs with the cards she received today. She really enjoys hearing from all of you; and I do too because it lifts her up. She's printed out all the emails and blog comments; she's kept all the messages in the voice in-box (which will have to be emptied soon), and is creating a notebook with all this communication we have going with all of you.
Her condition from surgery continues to improve; the drain tubes have slowed down appreciably since first coming home, she still feels NO pain in the primary wound, and only a small amount where one of the tubes pierces her skin.
Lois and I had a very nice dinner for two this evening, then took a drive along the Columbia River in Columbia Park. This time of year, when the sun goes down behind Rattlesnake Mountain, the sky fills with those beautiful oranges and reds which then reflect off the river. I should have taken my camera.
Derik: As many of you know, our son has obsessive compulsive disorder. We were both very concerned about him knowing his mother had cancer. It is one of those "things" that could trigger an extremely heavy episode of ocd. I told him a few days ago simply that his mother had a growth removed and the doctor said everything looked good. Derik asked if it was anything that could be bad, and I responded that it could. He didn't say anything more about it. So yesterday, when I was in his apartment and his roommate was gone, I took the opportunity to give him the full story, keeping it upbeat and full of hopeful promise. He came home with me to see her and he did very well. We haven't heard anything from him today with the exception of his call earlier asking if we wanted to take him and his roomie out for "burgers." I guess we're all ok, for now.
Not much to report today, and that's a Very Good Thing, right Martha?
Lots of company came by to wish Lois well today, her mother was here for a few hours, as was my mom, then Lois' Aunt Wanda and cousin Jani were here for a while too. Brooke and her three youngest came by; the two younger ones slept while Izaiah had the pool to himself. Later some dear old friends from high school days came to visit.
Lois just came upstairs with the cards she received today. She really enjoys hearing from all of you; and I do too because it lifts her up. She's printed out all the emails and blog comments; she's kept all the messages in the voice in-box (which will have to be emptied soon), and is creating a notebook with all this communication we have going with all of you.
Her condition from surgery continues to improve; the drain tubes have slowed down appreciably since first coming home, she still feels NO pain in the primary wound, and only a small amount where one of the tubes pierces her skin.
Lois and I had a very nice dinner for two this evening, then took a drive along the Columbia River in Columbia Park. This time of year, when the sun goes down behind Rattlesnake Mountain, the sky fills with those beautiful oranges and reds which then reflect off the river. I should have taken my camera.
Derik: As many of you know, our son has obsessive compulsive disorder. We were both very concerned about him knowing his mother had cancer. It is one of those "things" that could trigger an extremely heavy episode of ocd. I told him a few days ago simply that his mother had a growth removed and the doctor said everything looked good. Derik asked if it was anything that could be bad, and I responded that it could. He didn't say anything more about it. So yesterday, when I was in his apartment and his roommate was gone, I took the opportunity to give him the full story, keeping it upbeat and full of hopeful promise. He came home with me to see her and he did very well. We haven't heard anything from him today with the exception of his call earlier asking if we wanted to take him and his roomie out for "burgers." I guess we're all ok, for now.
Not much to report today, and that's a Very Good Thing, right Martha?
Friday, June 23, 2006
Waiting
We have learned on the days when we are waiting for news from the doctor, the waiting is a heavy experience. It's sorta like a ton of gloom is over behind one hill, and a million sunny days behind another and you're holding your breath to see which way the wind will blow, but the clouds just sit still.The lady in this painting expresses our feelings quite well today.
However, the wait for today is over; the doctor's nurse called, she said he called her a few minutes ago - just as he was getting out of surgery. Turns out the results won't be ready for a few more days. He said they were running some special stains that would take longer; probably next TUESDAY! Sheesh, we've been on pins and needles all morning and he says . . . "Next TUESDAY."
The nurse did say not to worry anymore than we already are (easy for her to say). Waiting a few more days is not out of the ordinary and doesn't mean anything one way or the other.
Isn't this the way things always go? I swear every time we get in a grocery line, or other line in any other store, the cash register goes belly-up and the people at the back of the line we chose NOT to get into are in their cars on the way home. Hurry up and wait, hurry up and wait.
Well, at least it's a beautiful day. Lois has been resting in the shade out by the pool this morning, reading about Taylor Hicks in a People Magazine someone gave her, and taking phone calls. The first I heard her laugh all day was a few minutes ago while talking to her sister on the phone. That doesn't mean it's been all doom and gloom around here today; we did some shopping. Took a some bras back to Wal-Mart, bought some new flowers for our front door pots at Fred Myers and one of our local nurseries.
We're planning some grilled salmon, grilled potatoes, fried okra (it's a southern specialty I've learned how to cook - something I enjoyed when I was a Texan), a spring-mix salad (Costco) and a bottle or two of some stiff wine.
Come join us.
Thursday, June 22, 2006
Internet Woes
For those of you who are checking frequently, our internet provider was kaput most of the day. I'll have a posting in a few hours for you. Nothing to worry about today, lots of family. We should get the results of the lab analysis tomorrow.
Wednesday, June 21, 2006
Today: June 21st
Lois was tired today. She camped out most of the day in the family room, of course she had the phone nearby along with a People magazine her sister gave her with a picture of Taylor Hicks on the cover. She likes Taylor Hicks, I think because he reminds her of me - you know, all that gray hair.
My sister, Jo; Brooke, James and kids visited Lois today while I got the tree-man to finally remove the tree off the neighbor's deck, and the main pump to the pool replaced. It's been a costly day. I went to get a hair-cut and my son-in-law snuck in to visit Lois (with Brooke and kids) and he didn't mow the lawn while he was here. Doggone it, I mowed it before he got here, earlier in the day. Next time, James.
Lois took a shower a few minutes ago. The doctor told her she could get her wounds wet today in the shower. I 'm not sure but it seems to me when I was a kid and had three stitches in my eyebrow I couldn't get it wet for like two or three years. Makes me think, with all these changes/advancements in medical treatment that someday we'll get surgery and not even know it happened.
She got out of the shower and complained about not losing any weight. Before surgery I told her she would probably lose a good ten pounds . . . ahem.
We're going to settle down in the family room for some tv this evening and call it a day.
Once again, thanks so much for all the "cards and letters."
Jim
By the way, our list of people being notified of this blog is growing. Anyone reading this for the first time will need to know the most recent entries are on top, so if you're looking for chronology, you need to scroll to the first entry, then scroll up to read the rest.
My sister, Jo; Brooke, James and kids visited Lois today while I got the tree-man to finally remove the tree off the neighbor's deck, and the main pump to the pool replaced. It's been a costly day. I went to get a hair-cut and my son-in-law snuck in to visit Lois (with Brooke and kids) and he didn't mow the lawn while he was here. Doggone it, I mowed it before he got here, earlier in the day. Next time, James.
Lois took a shower a few minutes ago. The doctor told her she could get her wounds wet today in the shower. I 'm not sure but it seems to me when I was a kid and had three stitches in my eyebrow I couldn't get it wet for like two or three years. Makes me think, with all these changes/advancements in medical treatment that someday we'll get surgery and not even know it happened.
She got out of the shower and complained about not losing any weight. Before surgery I told her she would probably lose a good ten pounds . . . ahem.
We're going to settle down in the family room for some tv this evening and call it a day.
Once again, thanks so much for all the "cards and letters."
Jim
By the way, our list of people being notified of this blog is growing. Anyone reading this for the first time will need to know the most recent entries are on top, so if you're looking for chronology, you need to scroll to the first entry, then scroll up to read the rest.
Tuesday, June 20, 2006
The Rest of the Day
Since coming home today, things have gone well. She has two drain tubes emerging from where her boob used to be and each terminates in a plastic apparatus that looks like a hand-grenade (really), and I've been trained in the intracacies of expunging the red liquid they fill with over the course of 7 or 8 hours. We ran some tape around the tubes so we could safety pin them to her blouse. The "grenades" hang down and need to be supported since the other end is somewhere inside her chest . . . I told her, now she knows what it feels like to have testicles.
She's also sprung a leak. I made a phone call and found out though it's to be expected . . . duh. The reason we were a little alarmed is that she didn't leak in the hospital. Figures when I'm in charge she would start this nasty little habit.
Then there's the big wound. It's sorta like the Grand Canyon has been pulled together and stapled shut across the top. Thankfully there are no leaks there. The staples look just like those in the stapler on your desk. Lois asked if they were the type that closes on the other side, like the stapler on your desk does when you staple papers. The nurse laughed and said no, they just go straight in. I guess they don't have to use one of those staple pullers to get them out, but just use some tweezers or something. Anyway, this thing looks like it would hurt - all to hell! But she's numb; feels nothing. "That's a blessing from God," the assistant pastor who called today said. I'm wondering if someone cut a nerve?
We were talking about our luck today. In the last week, or so, my job at the community college came to an end (the grant ran out of money), a pine tree in our back yard blew down and is presently lying across the neighbor's deck and they can't get out the door leading to the deck, the main ciruculation pump went out on the pool so now the pool is fermenting under this heat, and then Lois. Still, we know God is being good to us because we're laughing about it all. Well, most of it.
She's also sprung a leak. I made a phone call and found out though it's to be expected . . . duh. The reason we were a little alarmed is that she didn't leak in the hospital. Figures when I'm in charge she would start this nasty little habit.
Then there's the big wound. It's sorta like the Grand Canyon has been pulled together and stapled shut across the top. Thankfully there are no leaks there. The staples look just like those in the stapler on your desk. Lois asked if they were the type that closes on the other side, like the stapler on your desk does when you staple papers. The nurse laughed and said no, they just go straight in. I guess they don't have to use one of those staple pullers to get them out, but just use some tweezers or something. Anyway, this thing looks like it would hurt - all to hell! But she's numb; feels nothing. "That's a blessing from God," the assistant pastor who called today said. I'm wondering if someone cut a nerve?
We were talking about our luck today. In the last week, or so, my job at the community college came to an end (the grant ran out of money), a pine tree in our back yard blew down and is presently lying across the neighbor's deck and they can't get out the door leading to the deck, the main ciruculation pump went out on the pool so now the pool is fermenting under this heat, and then Lois. Still, we know God is being good to us because we're laughing about it all. Well, most of it.
Home
I think I'll get out more often at 6 am. The air is clean and pure, the roads are empty, the sunlight was low and warm, and it just felt good.
The doctor came in, as scheduled, at 6:30 sharp this morning, gave her the "once over" and said, "if you can find a ride home, you can leave this morning." It's nice to know a man with such life-saving skills has a sense of humor. We feel especially blessed to have this man. Many people think they have to go to Seattle or Spokane to get top-notch medical attention. I'm sure there are others just as good, but I'm convinced there is no one better than our doctor B, right here in the Tri-Cities. A couple of days ago I asked him how many of these operations he had performed. He said, "I stopped counting when it got into the thousands . . . about twenty years ago." Not only does he have all this wisdom from this experience, he's simply a very nice guy. We love him.
We got home about 10:30, it would have been earlier; but you know Lois, we had to stop at Wal-Mart and Albertson's on the way home. They had some sales going on cotton bras at Wal-Mart, and some narcotics at Albertson's that she needs.
Once home, we put our new bra on and padded up the left side real good with gauze and nylon stockings, sized things up, straightened, uplifted and then said, "Awesome." She looks great!
Change the dressing once a day, take the pain meds once every three to four hours, bathe beginning tomorrow - let the water run across the wound, no soap.
It's amazing: remove one total breast, stay one night the in the hospital, and go home the next day, and go ahead and get it wet on the next day. Of course there are excercises needed to get that left arm back in shape, it's weak; maybe I won't need James to mow the lawn afterall....??
The nurse who checked her out was kind. She tossed in some extra tape, gauze, and safety pins. I figure the bill on those items will be close to $350.
We're good, Lois is good, thanks to you all for your wonderful words of support and love!
We'll keep the posts going.
The doctor came in, as scheduled, at 6:30 sharp this morning, gave her the "once over" and said, "if you can find a ride home, you can leave this morning." It's nice to know a man with such life-saving skills has a sense of humor. We feel especially blessed to have this man. Many people think they have to go to Seattle or Spokane to get top-notch medical attention. I'm sure there are others just as good, but I'm convinced there is no one better than our doctor B, right here in the Tri-Cities. A couple of days ago I asked him how many of these operations he had performed. He said, "I stopped counting when it got into the thousands . . . about twenty years ago." Not only does he have all this wisdom from this experience, he's simply a very nice guy. We love him.
We got home about 10:30, it would have been earlier; but you know Lois, we had to stop at Wal-Mart and Albertson's on the way home. They had some sales going on cotton bras at Wal-Mart, and some narcotics at Albertson's that she needs.
Once home, we put our new bra on and padded up the left side real good with gauze and nylon stockings, sized things up, straightened, uplifted and then said, "Awesome." She looks great!
Change the dressing once a day, take the pain meds once every three to four hours, bathe beginning tomorrow - let the water run across the wound, no soap.
It's amazing: remove one total breast, stay one night the in the hospital, and go home the next day, and go ahead and get it wet on the next day. Of course there are excercises needed to get that left arm back in shape, it's weak; maybe I won't need James to mow the lawn afterall....??
The nurse who checked her out was kind. She tossed in some extra tape, gauze, and safety pins. I figure the bill on those items will be close to $350.
We're good, Lois is good, thanks to you all for your wonderful words of support and love!
We'll keep the posts going.
Monday, June 19, 2006
Surgery
Hi everyone,
Lois checked into the hospital this morning at 7:30. The first procedure was to inject her breast with a radioactive dye which would find its way into the lymph nodes in her armpit. The procedure didn’t take very long and soon she was sitting in the waiting room with my sister and me: in a wheel chair; wearing her hospital garb; with the IV-tree and all its nasty looking plastic valves and tubes inserted into a vein, standing tall nearby.
The radioactive dye finds it way to the lymph nodes and concentrates itself in what are called sentinel nodes. The doctor told us some people have no sentinel nodes, some have 2 or 3. Lois had two. In the old days of breast surgery, the entire regiment of nodes in the arm pits was removed. They no longer do that. The sentinel node(s) stand as sentries to lymph draining from the breast. I don’t understand all there is to understand about how this works, but apparently by taking only the sentinels, they are able to determine the severity of the cancer, its degree of spread, and the type of therapy that will be prescribed (radiation, chemo, etc.). The two sentinel nodes he harvested from Lois were small - “a good sign,” the doctor said. He also told us they “felt good” when he inspected them manually.
The doctor said the lump in her breast had a “clear margin” around it. The “margin” is a standard by which surgeons measure the distance between the malignancy and the closest, clearly unaffected tissue surrounding it. The measure is 10 millimeters (roughly the length of a fingernail): her were all within this range. There is some evidence that there were other microscopic growths near the lump, but they appear to have all been contained within a “clearly defined margin.” This is preliminary news, but it is GREAT news.
Now we wait for the lab results. The doc said they would be in by late Thursday and that he would be calling us as soon as he has them.
Right now she is resting comfortably here beside me in a very nice, private room on the fourth floor of the hospital from which she can see off in the distance the Horse Heaven Hills and good ol’ Jump Off Joe (the highest of the hills for those of you living outside the area).
She has a button to push when she feels pain, for which so far there has been none (but then she’s been pushing the button about every ten minutes or so, until she fell asleep – the nurse said if she needs pain medication while she’s sleeping, she’ll wake up and push the button); she’s been for a short walk; she and I each had an outstanding cheeseburger from the kitchen (the food at Kadlec is good!); she’s in excellent spirits, and it’s good to see her resting peacefully with no pain.
The doctor said he didn’t see any reason why she wouldn’t be able to go home in the morning, Tuesday. I’m not looking forward to being the ONE responsible for her drain tubes (2), and her regularly scheduled pain medications over the next few days, but as long as my son-in-law knows where I keep my mower, I’ll be ok. James, did you read that?!
Thanks for all your responses here in the blog, and by email and phone calls. One thing we’ve learned is that it’s true, cancer patients don’t mind talking about their experiences, and the support from family and friends is so important.
More tomorrow.
Lois checked into the hospital this morning at 7:30. The first procedure was to inject her breast with a radioactive dye which would find its way into the lymph nodes in her armpit. The procedure didn’t take very long and soon she was sitting in the waiting room with my sister and me: in a wheel chair; wearing her hospital garb; with the IV-tree and all its nasty looking plastic valves and tubes inserted into a vein, standing tall nearby.
The radioactive dye finds it way to the lymph nodes and concentrates itself in what are called sentinel nodes. The doctor told us some people have no sentinel nodes, some have 2 or 3. Lois had two. In the old days of breast surgery, the entire regiment of nodes in the arm pits was removed. They no longer do that. The sentinel node(s) stand as sentries to lymph draining from the breast. I don’t understand all there is to understand about how this works, but apparently by taking only the sentinels, they are able to determine the severity of the cancer, its degree of spread, and the type of therapy that will be prescribed (radiation, chemo, etc.). The two sentinel nodes he harvested from Lois were small - “a good sign,” the doctor said. He also told us they “felt good” when he inspected them manually.
The doctor said the lump in her breast had a “clear margin” around it. The “margin” is a standard by which surgeons measure the distance between the malignancy and the closest, clearly unaffected tissue surrounding it. The measure is 10 millimeters (roughly the length of a fingernail): her were all within this range. There is some evidence that there were other microscopic growths near the lump, but they appear to have all been contained within a “clearly defined margin.” This is preliminary news, but it is GREAT news.
Now we wait for the lab results. The doc said they would be in by late Thursday and that he would be calling us as soon as he has them.
Right now she is resting comfortably here beside me in a very nice, private room on the fourth floor of the hospital from which she can see off in the distance the Horse Heaven Hills and good ol’ Jump Off Joe (the highest of the hills for those of you living outside the area).
She has a button to push when she feels pain, for which so far there has been none (but then she’s been pushing the button about every ten minutes or so, until she fell asleep – the nurse said if she needs pain medication while she’s sleeping, she’ll wake up and push the button); she’s been for a short walk; she and I each had an outstanding cheeseburger from the kitchen (the food at Kadlec is good!); she’s in excellent spirits, and it’s good to see her resting peacefully with no pain.
The doctor said he didn’t see any reason why she wouldn’t be able to go home in the morning, Tuesday. I’m not looking forward to being the ONE responsible for her drain tubes (2), and her regularly scheduled pain medications over the next few days, but as long as my son-in-law knows where I keep my mower, I’ll be ok. James, did you read that?!
Thanks for all your responses here in the blog, and by email and phone calls. One thing we’ve learned is that it’s true, cancer patients don’t mind talking about their experiences, and the support from family and friends is so important.
More tomorrow.
Sunday, June 18, 2006
Annual Physical to Tonight
About 10 days ago Lois went for her annual physical exam. Before the appointment she had a mammogram so the doctor could examine it as part of the exam. It was clear, yet when he examined her manually he discovered a lump in her left breast. Once she felt it she was amazed that she hadn't discovered it herself. Me too.
A couple days later a core-needle biopsy was conducted using an ultrasound device. Lois was most worried about the needles and any pain they may inflict. The doctor explained the procedure carefully telling her the first needle he would use would have a very small diameter that it wouldn't be the "shot" so much that might hurt as it would be the "three second" burn when the lidocaine was injected. She took it like a trooper, but when he went in with a larger needle to deaden a greater portion of her breast, she let out a squeal. (The lady who held the ultrasound device was the daughter of a couple of students of mine from the early years when I first started teaching. It's a small world.)
The biopsy came back positive: malignant. There are two types of breast cancer: ductal carcinoma, and lobular carcinoma. This one is the latter: lobular carcinoma.
The milk glands produce the milk which is then transported to the nipple through ducts. Ductal carcinoma is in the ducts, lobular carcinoma occurs in the milk glands. Ductal carcinoma is the most prevalent and the one reported most often in popular literature: Ladies Home Journal, Oprah, etc. Lobular is much less prevalent, but is the second most common type.
Why didn't it show in the mammogram? Lobular masses do not collect calcium like the ductal masses do. Calcium is what makes bones and teeth show up clearly in x-rays. Since lobular masses don't calcify well, they are more transparent, 15% of mammograms will not detect them. Because of this, there is no way to know whether there are more masses, possibly microscopic in size, that can't be found.
Ductal carcinomas generally occur in fairly clear view of the mammogram, and they are usually alone: only one. Because of this they are generally removed as a mass, leaving the breast in place: lumpectomy.
Lobular carcinomas are generally removed by removing the entire breast: mastectomy.
Tomorrow morning she reports to the hospital for the surgical procedure.
A couple days later a core-needle biopsy was conducted using an ultrasound device. Lois was most worried about the needles and any pain they may inflict. The doctor explained the procedure carefully telling her the first needle he would use would have a very small diameter that it wouldn't be the "shot" so much that might hurt as it would be the "three second" burn when the lidocaine was injected. She took it like a trooper, but when he went in with a larger needle to deaden a greater portion of her breast, she let out a squeal. (The lady who held the ultrasound device was the daughter of a couple of students of mine from the early years when I first started teaching. It's a small world.)
The biopsy came back positive: malignant. There are two types of breast cancer: ductal carcinoma, and lobular carcinoma. This one is the latter: lobular carcinoma.
The milk glands produce the milk which is then transported to the nipple through ducts. Ductal carcinoma is in the ducts, lobular carcinoma occurs in the milk glands. Ductal carcinoma is the most prevalent and the one reported most often in popular literature: Ladies Home Journal, Oprah, etc. Lobular is much less prevalent, but is the second most common type.
Why didn't it show in the mammogram? Lobular masses do not collect calcium like the ductal masses do. Calcium is what makes bones and teeth show up clearly in x-rays. Since lobular masses don't calcify well, they are more transparent, 15% of mammograms will not detect them. Because of this, there is no way to know whether there are more masses, possibly microscopic in size, that can't be found.
Ductal carcinomas generally occur in fairly clear view of the mammogram, and they are usually alone: only one. Because of this they are generally removed as a mass, leaving the breast in place: lumpectomy.
Lobular carcinomas are generally removed by removing the entire breast: mastectomy.
Tomorrow morning she reports to the hospital for the surgical procedure.
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