Onward to the Next Challenge!!!

Well...we found out at my post-surgery checkup that there was a tiny bit of cancer (0.5mm) in one of the lymph nodes removed during surgery (so tiny they probably wouldn't have found it with a biopsy). So Dr Wagner presented my case to the "tuma" board to determine whether to take me back to surgery to get more lymph nodes or just treat it with radiation. They determined radiation is the best track. I have to have radiation anyway because the pathology showed the original size of the one mass was 6.4 x 2.9 x 1.2 cm (way bigger than originally thought). However....my response to the chemo was exceptional, especially considering it is hormone responsive cancer (which oftentimes doesn't react as well). The residual cancer (what was left) was only 5% of the original big mass and 0% of the smaller one. She said that is excellent. The margins were also really good, so they got everything in the breast.

The plastic surgeon said everything looked great. I go back next Friday to get the dressings off and start the rapid expansion prior to radiation (they expand it and then deflate it prior to radiation - I can't remember why and probably wouldn't be able to explain it if I did!). I only know that radiation destroys reconstruction, so it can't happen until after. I think they like to wait 6-8 weeks after surgery before they begin radiation, so they will expand as much as they can in that time. We have the consultation with the radiologist on July 18^th, so will find out more then.

Not exactly the news we wanted to hear, but there was some really good news and it could be way worse. We will get through this as well and know God still has me firmly in His hands!

On a happy little side note, I got my first haircut this week! 😊 I went to see my dear friend, Jeri, to pick up some shampoo and get some advice on how to manage my hair as it grows out. While I was there she trimmed the back and around my ears! Whoop-whoop! She is such a sweetheart!

My mom, sister, and fun great-nephew, Jace, came to visit on Thursday. They helped me get my fourth of July decorations out and Jody and her green thumb pruned my flower pots and helped me re-pot some others (Mom helped too, of course). I love my family and love you all too!

Have a fun and safe holiday weekend!

I Got This!

I have a couple of co-workers who created their own bitmoji (an emoji created to look like you) and they send me funny memes occasionally. I finally decided to create my own. When you create it, it walks you through each feature to get it as close to your image as possible. It’s kind of hard to do on your own, so I had to enlist Scott to help me with some features. I decided this first meme was appropriate considering this surgery has been much easier than I ever thought it would be. I just wish it could have been Wonder Woman! When I first created the bitmoji, I had a turban-type hat on it like I have been wearing these days, but then decided I was going to give it my short salt-n-pepper hair (or “glittered” as some of my friends have advised me). I’ve decided I am done with hats and my wig. It is too stinkin’ hot and although there are a couple of thin spots on top which require a hat in the sun, it is much more comfortable. The G.I. Jana look isn’t all that horrible either. So you are getting a preview of what to expect the next time you see me. I will likely want my red hair back someday, but for now this works!

This was my oxygen indicator.
It was the bane of my existence.
It was more annoying than my
surgery sites. I tried putting it
under my blankets, so it
wouldn't be so bright at night.
It still looked like E.T.!

Surgery last Tuesday went very well. The surgeon took two lymph nodes and the pathology performed during surgery looked clean. Praise God! She also got good margins and feels very good about the outcome. Of course, all is still dependent on the final pathology, but so far so good! The plastic surgeon inserted an expander and filled it with air, so it is not like I have lost everything. It’s just a little smaller and perkier than what I had before. It is also completely wrapped in what looks like plastic wrap with a large strip of duct tape covering the incision! The tape strip is actually impregnated with silver, which is supposed to be a superior anti-bacterial, anti-whatever can cause major issues with surgical incisions. Dr. Wagner, my surgeon, said one of the other KU surgeons was using it and she kept telling him is was voo-doo until she had a very high risk patient and she decided to give it a try. She has decided the “voo-doo” works and now uses it regularly and so does Dr. Chandler, my plastic surgeon. I have had hardly any pain with the mastectomy site and I’m wondering if it is because there are no sutures. The little pain I have had is in my arm pit which is where she took the lymph node (I think) and where the drain is inserted. There is one suture there. It is so crazy to me to have this major surgery and very little stitches (or pain, for that matter). The worst part has been the constipation (sorry if this is TMI again) due to the pain meds I did take. Fortunately, I am down to taking Tylenol, so that should be past me.

Chris brought these awesome
socks for me! I loved them!

My surgery was almost three hours and I was the first one on the schedule. The anesthesia took hold while I was still in the prep room and I really don’t remember much of anything until I was back in my room. The hospital staff at the KU Indian Creek hospital were amazing! I do remember one of them asking me if I was cold after surgery (it was probably in the recovery room) and they covered my little bald head with a warm, heated blanket. My nurse aid, Abe, thought I looked like a nun and kept jokingly calling me “sister”.

"Sister!"

By the time Scott got in my room I was wide awake and feeling good. My dear friend, Chris, came to visit which was so nice. My lovely daughters-in-law, loaded up the grandbabies Tuesday night and stayed at my brother, Jay’s, so they could get to the hospital first thing in the morning on Wednesday to visit. My doctors had all been by to check on me by the time they got there, so I was technically ready to be released by about 9:00 Wednesday morning, but we stayed and enjoyed their visit before we took off. It was awesome to see them all and as you know, they are the best medicine for this grammy. Unfortunately, we failed to get a picture of them all! They stopped at Legends and took the kids to the T-Rex restaurant. We would have loved to join them, but neither of us slept much Tuesday night and we were ready to get home. Scott managed to get us home (with multiple stops to allow me to get out and walk to prevent blood clots) with about an hour of sleep the night before; God bless him!

My folks came to Hays to visit on Thursday (Mom had to make sure I was really ok!) and my sister, Barb, spent the day with me on Friday, since Scott had to work. I loved having them here. This weekend we plan to take it easy. We head back to KC on Sunday for post-surgery checkups with both surgeons and an appointment with the lymphedema specialist on Monday. They should have the pathology report back and have a pretty good idea of whether I will need to do radiation or any more chemo.

The weather is supposed to be in the 70s and we were really tempted to hit the Royals game on Sunday, but we’ve decided I probably shouldn’t push it (darn it)! I will still be cheering them on though!

I need to give a big shout out and gigantic thank you to my superhero hubby. He has been so amazing through this entire journey. He has taken exceptional care of me (like he always has) and been there for me through all the ups and downs. I can’t even begin to tell you all the things he has done for me that would make most people cringe or even upchuck. I have not had to worry about or focus on anything but my health since the beginning. He is my rock and I am incredibly blessed to have had him in my life these last 40 years. I hope we are blessed with another 40! Love you, Scott, and love you all too!

Next Checkbox, Please!

It's hard to see him, but
Bubba is hanging on Pop's back!

I have been terribly delinquent this week updating my blog. I actually worked all week in the office, which is the first since I started my treatments!

Scott and I met with the plastic surgeon last Friday and we really liked him. He is doing some new techniques which reduce the pain with the expansion portion or reconstruction, which is awesome! He confirmed that I am a candidate for DIEP surgery for my reconstruction. It involves a tummy tuck and he will use my own tissue to reconstruct the breast. Bonus!!! It involves microvascular surgery, so it will require more nights in the hospital than my mastectomy! He said I will probably feel pretty good, but they will want me there to make sure everything is working properly.

So…my mastectomy is scheduled for Tuesday, June 20, and the plastic surgeon will insert an expander at that time. We have to wait until we find out the full pathology on the removed tissue and lymph nodes to determine next steps. That will determine if I must do radiation or even the last four chemo treatments. Radiation destroys reconstruction, so that has to come first if it’s needed. The pathology can take up to six days to get and we meet with the surgeon the Monday following surgery, but we don’t meet with my oncologist until July 6^th. I’m hoping we can get some indication of next steps from the surgeon, but we might have to wait until the July appointment. Patience, right?!? It will all happen in God’s time.

The mastectomy is only a one night stay at the hospital, so we will be back home sometime on Wednesday. I’m sure I will be anxious to get home to my own bed. There are restrictions for the first two weeks, so I will be taking it easy at home and let work go. Total recovery is typically 4-6 weeks.

We stopped in Abilene on our way home last Friday and spent the weekend with the kids. What a great time we had! We spent time at the swimming pool and a splash park in Salina, went to Old Town Abilene, rode the carousel, played at a few parks, babysat the grandbabies while the parents had a date night and had an awesome barbecue. I wanted one last weekend before my surgery, since I will be restricted and probably won’t get to see much of the kiddos for a little while. It was great!

All prayers are welcome and greatly appreciated for a successful surgery and recovery. You all have been so wonderful and encouraging. You are the wind beneath my wings (cue Bette Midler)! Love you all!!!

Let's Celebrate!

Chemo Day #12 – Round 2.8 was last Thursday and I am done (hopefully)!!! My oncologist did say that there is a possibility (depending on the final post-surgery pathology) that I might have to have the final four treatments, but I am hoping and praying for a great outcome!

We celebrated with my brothers and their lovely wives this weekend in Kansas City. We spent Friday evening at Holyfield Winery listening to some great music, drinking a little wine and enjoying the beautiful sunset over the vineyards. We hit the Royals game on Saturday afternoon. What a beautiful day and an awesome game! Soooo much fun! Sunday we stopped in Abilene and spent time with the kids and grandkids. Couldn’t ask for a better weekend! I’m squeezing in as much time as I can get with those grandbabies, because I’m going to have some limitations for a while after surgery.

We meet with the plastic surgeon on Friday. We are anxious to hear all our options and finally decide which way to go. Surgery is scheduled for June 20^th, barring no unforeseen issues.

Remember I told you my hair was growing back??? Well it is getting longer, but is still a little sparse on top. It started out pure white and peach fuzzy. Now there is a little color coming in and it looks a little salt and peppery. It is very straight! When Emma saw it last weekend she was very excited and had to touch it. Bubba wasn’t having any of that! Haha! My eyebrows and eyelashes are coming back, although they are white too (that’s the redhead in me)! It is good to see things returning to “normal”. Life is good and God is good...all the time!

Love you all!