Today I had the final surgery of my breast reconstruction. Mike and I left for UCLA at 5 am this morning and got home at 5 pm. Not bad, a twelve-hour turnaround. The surgery was for the nipples. I know that sounds weird, but it's part of the process. It only took 3-1/2 years. I'm wrapped in an ace bandage for two days (pew!), and then I can take them off and just have to have light duty for a few weeks. No heavy lifting.
Thank the Lord for getting me through the rough patches of that time and that I'm well enough now. And I have been feeling very well. It's WONDERFUL! Even my pain has decreased to almost nothing, which I don't know where that comes from. Maybe physical therapy actually kicked in. I'm thinking of postponing the pain injections.
We're back to L.A. on Sunday for a gymnastics meet with Hanna and a combined celebration of her 12th birthday. She's growing up so fast.
Take care! Thanks for checking in.
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Procedures and Gymnastics
On August 24, I will receive my first thoracic epidural injection to block to area's I'm having pain. I will have up to two more after that. They are scheduled two weeks apart from each other. If the pain is subsided enough, it's possible I will only need one. It sounds a little scary, but I know it worked really well for my father-in-law. If he can do it, so can I!
On August 26, I am scheduled for the final surgery in my breast reconstruction. This has been 3-1/2 years in the coming. Mike and I will make the trip to UCLA early in the morning. I will have nipple reconstruction which is a fairly quick procedure, and hopefully I'll be checked out and back on the road to home by noon or one o'clock.
After healing, I'll have to go back to have the areola tattooed. Doesn't that sound weird? Then this "bionic" woman will be complete and I can start saving lives.
Hanna will turn 12 years old on August 28 and has a gymnastics meet in Van Nuys that same day. She's so excited to be competing on her birthday, and it will be the first time she's competing at level 5. She's been working very hard the last several weeks and will continue to for the next couple of weeks to prepare as she's still trying to perfect a few skills on the uneven bars, beam, and vault. She's a hard worker and I know she will do it. This Fall is filled with sanctioned meets in an effort to make it to sectionals, and state. What a crazy time it's going to be.
On August 26, I am scheduled for the final surgery in my breast reconstruction. This has been 3-1/2 years in the coming. Mike and I will make the trip to UCLA early in the morning. I will have nipple reconstruction which is a fairly quick procedure, and hopefully I'll be checked out and back on the road to home by noon or one o'clock.
After healing, I'll have to go back to have the areola tattooed. Doesn't that sound weird? Then this "bionic" woman will be complete and I can start saving lives.
Hanna will turn 12 years old on August 28 and has a gymnastics meet in Van Nuys that same day. She's so excited to be competing on her birthday, and it will be the first time she's competing at level 5. She's been working very hard the last several weeks and will continue to for the next couple of weeks to prepare as she's still trying to perfect a few skills on the uneven bars, beam, and vault. She's a hard worker and I know she will do it. This Fall is filled with sanctioned meets in an effort to make it to sectionals, and state. What a crazy time it's going to be.
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Pain and Patience
The pain in my side and back is pretty much constant and intense enough that I'm taking pain medication several times a day. I really don't like taking drugs this strong, but at this point I don't have a choice. They make me sick, but for the most part I'm keeping that controlled. During the day I have to tolerate my pain so that I can do my running around. I'm trying to go with the flow of this challenge until a better resolution can be reached.
I met my pain management doctor last week and loved him. He was so easy to talk to. Plus, Dr. DiCarlo conveyed my problem and history to him so well that I didn't have to work hard to convince him that my pain is real and very uncomfortable. When the authorization comes from the insurance I will have an epidural & steroidal nerve block. I may have to have up to three separate injections, but hopefully one will be sufficient and the effectiveness will last up to six months.
Mike is more frustrated with all of this than I am because he's so happy that my cancer is stable he can't stand that I'm having to deal with such pain. Always my hero. I try to keep him encouraged that this too shall pass.
I met my pain management doctor last week and loved him. He was so easy to talk to. Plus, Dr. DiCarlo conveyed my problem and history to him so well that I didn't have to work hard to convince him that my pain is real and very uncomfortable. When the authorization comes from the insurance I will have an epidural & steroidal nerve block. I may have to have up to three separate injections, but hopefully one will be sufficient and the effectiveness will last up to six months.
Mike is more frustrated with all of this than I am because he's so happy that my cancer is stable he can't stand that I'm having to deal with such pain. Always my hero. I try to keep him encouraged that this too shall pass.
Sunday, August 08, 2010
Grace ~ a memoir by Melinda Marchiano
This week I met a young cancer survivor. Her name is Melinda Marchiano and she's 16 years old. She was diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma when she was 13. At the cancer center's breast cancer survivors support group meeting this week, Melinda spoke about her story. What an amazing young lady. Very funny, and very inspiring. We were all given a copy of her book, Grace ~ a child's intimate journey through cancer and recovery. I've only just begun reading it, but after hearing her speak and reading just the beginning of the book, I can't wait to read more about her battle with and recovery from cancer.
If you know a young person who has battled or is going through cancer right now, it's a good book from a young persons perspective. I know there will be heart strings pulled, but she's also very funny and, like me has been able to find a lot of ways to laugh through the tough battle.
Visit her website to find out how to get her book and read more about her. She's also a terrific speaker and has done several speaking engagements to adult and child cancer survivors and she keeps you on the edge of your seat listening to her experiences. I was impressed, proud and inspired by her.
More on Melinda Marchiano at http://site.happyquail.net/
If you know a young person who has battled or is going through cancer right now, it's a good book from a young persons perspective. I know there will be heart strings pulled, but she's also very funny and, like me has been able to find a lot of ways to laugh through the tough battle.
Visit her website to find out how to get her book and read more about her. She's also a terrific speaker and has done several speaking engagements to adult and child cancer survivors and she keeps you on the edge of your seat listening to her experiences. I was impressed, proud and inspired by her.
More on Melinda Marchiano at http://site.happyquail.net/
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Finally an Update!
Well, I completed my third round of chemotherapy in March. It was a pretty tough round, but as usual, once it was over I bounced back pretty quickly. I am doing very well. My last few scans have been clear which is a nice change. I still receive Herceptin treatments every three weeks, which is a drug that helps to block that crazy gene that likes to make my cancer go crazy. I also take an oral medication called Tykerb that serves the same purpose but crosses into the brain to block the same gene.
For some time I have been dealing with chronic pain in my right ribs and back on the right side. We know that it is not caused by disease. It is in the nerves / muscle tissue and is most likely long term side effects of radiation treatment. I'll be seeing a pain management doctor soon and will hopefully be able to get injection to block the pain. That's my desire anyway so I don't have to take pain killers all the time.
Even with that, I'm keeping active and the summer has been especially busy with all kinds of things. Hanna's busy with gymnastics, Andy had a pig in the fair which sold for a good price at auction, and I was the Honorary Chairperson at our local American Cancer Society Relay for Life. Mike is busy following us all around, and enjoys a round of golf whenever he can.
For some time I have been dealing with chronic pain in my right ribs and back on the right side. We know that it is not caused by disease. It is in the nerves / muscle tissue and is most likely long term side effects of radiation treatment. I'll be seeing a pain management doctor soon and will hopefully be able to get injection to block the pain. That's my desire anyway so I don't have to take pain killers all the time.
Even with that, I'm keeping active and the summer has been especially busy with all kinds of things. Hanna's busy with gymnastics, Andy had a pig in the fair which sold for a good price at auction, and I was the Honorary Chairperson at our local American Cancer Society Relay for Life. Mike is busy following us all around, and enjoys a round of golf whenever he can.
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| April 2010 |
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| Hanna competing in Thousand Oaks |
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| Andy & Herbert the Swine at the fair |
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| After giving my speech at Relay for Life |
Adventures in Writing
I have just completed writing a book about my journey with cancer. What an amazing trip. A friend of mine challenged me to write my story, and being an experienced editor and published author, she has mentored me through the process over the past nine months. My hope is that anyone who reads my story, whether a cancer survivor, caregiver, or someone who has experienced anything really hard will be encouraged and find hope in their own journey.
Publishing is pending acceptance, and I will give an update on that as soon as I can. If the publisher does not wish to take on my story, then I will take the steps to self publish it with the help of my editor. However the publishing is done, I'm hoping it will open more doors to helping other survivors see the light of HOPE always flickering before them.
Publishing is pending acceptance, and I will give an update on that as soon as I can. If the publisher does not wish to take on my story, then I will take the steps to self publish it with the help of my editor. However the publishing is done, I'm hoping it will open more doors to helping other survivors see the light of HOPE always flickering before them.
Words of Hope
God is working in my life all the time. Although having cancer isn't exactly a path I would choose, I can say I wouldn't change it if I could. I've grown so much in my faith and know that although I don't believe God caused this to happen, He will use it as a tool for me to grow in my life, and for me to be of service to others because of my experiences.
I recently came across the following scripture which is really encouraging to me. Sometimes it's really hard to understand the Word of God, and other times it just makes sense, and the Lord reveals just what I need when I need it.
I recently came across the following scripture which is really encouraging to me. Sometimes it's really hard to understand the Word of God, and other times it just makes sense, and the Lord reveals just what I need when I need it.
"For all things are for your sakes, that grace, having spread through the many, may cause thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God. Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal (2 Cor. 4:15-18 NKJV)."
“For in hope we have been saved, but hope that is seen is not hope; for who hopes for what he already sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, with perseverance we wait eagerly for it. In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words; and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God (Romans 8:14-27 NASB)."
Diagnosis
I have stage IV breast cancer. There have been many battles between being diagnosed in May of 2005 and now, and the list is very long. I will always have to fight to hold this disease back, but life is good and I am not defeated.