Well, getting it isn’t as bad as I expected. The Barcolounger Lounge is really set up very compassionately. They are in small cozy rectangles of 6 or 7 loungers each that encourage interaction among the patients and their companions. Each Lounger is equipped with a small TV with all the cable stations, there are really good snacks and drinks available, and the new people each got a lap quilt made by volunteers plus a fleece lap robe from a drug company. Those were needed. They keep it cold in those rooms. Lots of personnel around from the social service ladies to the nurses and aides. It was well staffed and we got more handouts and info than we really cared to know.
All ages. A young man of 22 was the youngest in our group. He has to come every week for Hodgkins disease but was sent home yesterday because his white blood cells were low. His father was very talkative about the adjustment the family was enduring. The oldest was in her eighties (if not nineties) who had her son and granddaughter with her but was too busy playing crosswords to give them or anyone else much mind. One lady had a feather headband that was just too crazy but it went with the rest of her outfit. “E-Bay Head to Toe,” she announced. Another who kept a bit aloof from the rest of us with designer shoes and purse and gold climbing up her arms...I think she was still in shock about being there.
Aunt Jan watched Gavin while we were six hours at the Cancer Center. We came home to cheerful flowers that perked us up. So much has come in from friends and family. Tess keeps her files of cards close at hand and reads and rereads them. They are so appreciated.
Tess was fine yesterday. Appetite good even with the metallic taste and went for a short walk. Today she has been down almost all day with flu-like symptoms. Very sleepy and poor appetite. She has been diligent about the fluids and food and we’ll walk tonight. All in all, pretty much what they told us to expect but tough on the kids who went from hale and hearty to boring and uncomfortable and unfun plain old sick.
Gavin and I went to the park and got our workout. Jamie got the yard watered and did a real workout. Quiet day.
Saturday, June 30, 2007
Friday, June 29, 2007
Airport Stressors
Here is the site for Regina Brett's article about Tess's experience at the Tampa Airport.
http://www.cleveland.com/brett/index.ssf?/base/opinion-0/1183105988269070.xml&coll=2
http://www.cleveland.com/brett/index.ssf?/base/opinion-0/1183105988269070.xml&coll=2
Barcolounger Bar
Well we are getting ready for the Barcolounger Bar as if we were headed on an expedition. IPods are loaded. MP3 players are checked for fresh batteries. Books, pillows, snacks are stuffed into totes worthy of a 2-week boat soujourn.
Mary at Dr. Barnett’s office called to ask Tess how she was doing and Tess replied that she had been acting like an annoyed ticked-off teenager all week.
“Really? A teenager?” asked Mary.
“Oh Yes. My eyeball sockets hurt from rolling my eyes so much.”
Mary laughed and said “You are a jewel. I still laugh about your warning about your rancid pits. Most of our patients do not have your attitude and humor.”
Speaking of which, you should hear Tess on the Airport Strip Search. In fact if you read this early enough and can catch NPR at 9:00 they are doing a show on Airport Stressors and Tess’s story will be one of the Stressors mentioned. The girl has connections.
Til later...we off to see the Wizard down the Yellow Brick Road.
Mary at Dr. Barnett’s office called to ask Tess how she was doing and Tess replied that she had been acting like an annoyed ticked-off teenager all week.
“Really? A teenager?” asked Mary.
“Oh Yes. My eyeball sockets hurt from rolling my eyes so much.”
Mary laughed and said “You are a jewel. I still laugh about your warning about your rancid pits. Most of our patients do not have your attitude and humor.”
Speaking of which, you should hear Tess on the Airport Strip Search. In fact if you read this early enough and can catch NPR at 9:00 they are doing a show on Airport Stressors and Tess’s story will be one of the Stressors mentioned. The girl has connections.
Til later...we off to see the Wizard down the Yellow Brick Road.
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
Plastic Surgeon, Etc.
It’s time to post another update and a lot has happened.
Plastic Surgeon
We met with this guy on Tuesday. I had a hard time getting past his shinning teeth and $500 shoes. Plastic surgeons are the celebrities of the doctor world. They look good and so does their staff. It is all charm and PR. And of course, since it is the Cleveland Clinic, they are good at it. We had an iffy meeting. We left feeling that our questions were not answered, we didn’t see photos of finished work, and we didn’t get a good handle on what we really could do. But these people are no dummies. The next day they were calling and addressing these same issues without our even having to bring them up. Tess was good. She was very articulate explaining yes, we did feel that way and we were interested in meeting with them again but we were also going to get some other opinions. Which she has already been inquiring about from her oncologist, primary surgeon, and friends.
Bottom line is, the surgery I was able to get in Brazil 16 years ago....granted the Big PX in the Sky of plastic surgery... is still better than one can get in the United States. I have no idea why. But it must be caught up in politics, insurance companies and lawsuits. Doctors have told me for years that my surgery is amazing and I am only now realizing how true that is. It doesn’t look that amazing to me, but then nothing can beat Mother Nature. Nonetheless, I am pleased and I’m sure we can find someone who can please Tess.
A lot depends upon the genetic testing results, but even so she knows what she wants and we should be able to get better answers.
Strip Searched!
As if mastectomy, a chemo port and a prosthesis aren’t enough to deal with, do you know that these things can set off the airport security systems? And yes, they WILL get you down to the nitty gritty before they back off and start apologizing????
TJ!!
You know if it rains, it pours, right? Well, Diane left TJ last week. It was carefully planned to his misfortune. And it is hitting him unexpectedly and heavily in the pocketbook. This is Tess’s Journey so we won’t dwell upon it here, but if you think of a prayer for him and the rest of his little family, it would not go amiss.
The Summer of 2007 will not be forgotten!!!
Plastic Surgeon
We met with this guy on Tuesday. I had a hard time getting past his shinning teeth and $500 shoes. Plastic surgeons are the celebrities of the doctor world. They look good and so does their staff. It is all charm and PR. And of course, since it is the Cleveland Clinic, they are good at it. We had an iffy meeting. We left feeling that our questions were not answered, we didn’t see photos of finished work, and we didn’t get a good handle on what we really could do. But these people are no dummies. The next day they were calling and addressing these same issues without our even having to bring them up. Tess was good. She was very articulate explaining yes, we did feel that way and we were interested in meeting with them again but we were also going to get some other opinions. Which she has already been inquiring about from her oncologist, primary surgeon, and friends.
Bottom line is, the surgery I was able to get in Brazil 16 years ago....granted the Big PX in the Sky of plastic surgery... is still better than one can get in the United States. I have no idea why. But it must be caught up in politics, insurance companies and lawsuits. Doctors have told me for years that my surgery is amazing and I am only now realizing how true that is. It doesn’t look that amazing to me, but then nothing can beat Mother Nature. Nonetheless, I am pleased and I’m sure we can find someone who can please Tess.
A lot depends upon the genetic testing results, but even so she knows what she wants and we should be able to get better answers.
Strip Searched!
As if mastectomy, a chemo port and a prosthesis aren’t enough to deal with, do you know that these things can set off the airport security systems? And yes, they WILL get you down to the nitty gritty before they back off and start apologizing????
TJ!!
You know if it rains, it pours, right? Well, Diane left TJ last week. It was carefully planned to his misfortune. And it is hitting him unexpectedly and heavily in the pocketbook. This is Tess’s Journey so we won’t dwell upon it here, but if you think of a prayer for him and the rest of his little family, it would not go amiss.
The Summer of 2007 will not be forgotten!!!
Sunday, June 17, 2007
Genetic Testing
All of you know Tess is our little Brazilian. We got her when she was 12 days old and all we know of her genetic background is that she is Brazilian and German. The German part being pure German because that crowd did not intermarry and generations after arriving were still speaking German and running German schools in all the neighborhoods. The Brazilian part is mostly Portuguese and Italian with who knows what else mixed in here and there as happens in the New World.
Because of her age, type of cancer, and I suppose a few more factors, Dr. Spiro wanted her to participate in a study being done at the Cleveland Clinic trying to identify genetic factors in cancer cells. So she went Friday for the first testing and profiling. It took quite a lot of time and blood but was very interesting and will be very informative. I don’t know many of the details yet, but am so glad she is going to be tracked by the genetic scientists. Tess was enthused about the quality of the people and the program. The short term results of whether or not she has one of the genetic genes they are studying will have an affect on her treatment, so it is important for that reason also. That result will be back in four to six weeks.
She is now getting herself geared up for Chemo. She looks adorable and that hair could not be more beautiful. I want her to get it cut and make a fall out of it before it starts coming out on her pillow and will be lost. I know she will look darling with a short haircut. The only time she has ever had short hair was when I cut it all off when she had lice (age 2) and I could not get those little nits off the hair strands. Even at age 2 she wailed and cried and was furious with me for ages for doing that. In fact, she cried every time I cut her hair, even if it was half an inch. So she probably is not going to give it up unless and until she has to. The chemo combo she gets might not kill the hair follicles and God help me if I urge her to get it cut and then she kept her hair anyway. I’d never hear the end of it.
There is a growing collection of cute hats and scarves and pajamas!! Everyone is sending her pajamas! They must know she doesn’t get dressed until noon if she doesn’t have to.
Jamie and Tess have an opportunity for a few days in Florida at a nice place in St. Petersburg with his company. Gavin is going to stay with Jamie’s parents and I know they can’t wait to get their hands on him. Chemo starts a few days after they get back.
I’m trusting that all your prayers and positive thoughts will make Tess one of the lucky ones who gets through the chemo easily. She’s young and healthy and has bounced back from the down feelings of the other day. As Karen said, “Wait a minute. You got on the wrong page back there. Let’s get your attitude back where it belongs!” And it is.
Because of her age, type of cancer, and I suppose a few more factors, Dr. Spiro wanted her to participate in a study being done at the Cleveland Clinic trying to identify genetic factors in cancer cells. So she went Friday for the first testing and profiling. It took quite a lot of time and blood but was very interesting and will be very informative. I don’t know many of the details yet, but am so glad she is going to be tracked by the genetic scientists. Tess was enthused about the quality of the people and the program. The short term results of whether or not she has one of the genetic genes they are studying will have an affect on her treatment, so it is important for that reason also. That result will be back in four to six weeks.
She is now getting herself geared up for Chemo. She looks adorable and that hair could not be more beautiful. I want her to get it cut and make a fall out of it before it starts coming out on her pillow and will be lost. I know she will look darling with a short haircut. The only time she has ever had short hair was when I cut it all off when she had lice (age 2) and I could not get those little nits off the hair strands. Even at age 2 she wailed and cried and was furious with me for ages for doing that. In fact, she cried every time I cut her hair, even if it was half an inch. So she probably is not going to give it up unless and until she has to. The chemo combo she gets might not kill the hair follicles and God help me if I urge her to get it cut and then she kept her hair anyway. I’d never hear the end of it.
There is a growing collection of cute hats and scarves and pajamas!! Everyone is sending her pajamas! They must know she doesn’t get dressed until noon if she doesn’t have to.
Jamie and Tess have an opportunity for a few days in Florida at a nice place in St. Petersburg with his company. Gavin is going to stay with Jamie’s parents and I know they can’t wait to get their hands on him. Chemo starts a few days after they get back.
I’m trusting that all your prayers and positive thoughts will make Tess one of the lucky ones who gets through the chemo easily. She’s young and healthy and has bounced back from the down feelings of the other day. As Karen said, “Wait a minute. You got on the wrong page back there. Let’s get your attitude back where it belongs!” And it is.
Tuesday, June 12, 2007
A Reality Check
The door slammed and she threw down the sack of “goodies” and slumped in the chair.
Then in her best social services voice, she began to pull the freebees out of the sack.
“Tess.......This is your extra soft toothbrush for when your teeth are hurting and your gums are bleeding.
“Tess.......This is your special toothpaste you use with your soft toothbrush when your have the mouth sores.
“Tess......This is the rinse for your mouth and throat sores.
“Tess..... Here’s the digital thermometer. If you have 105 temperature, you must call us right away. It could be fatal.
“Tess.....Here’s your information on constipation
...............on bone pain..............on diarrhea management...........on skin rashes........on burning bladders.......Oh that can be very dangerous. You must manage your liquid intake and drink lots of fluids. When you have to pee, do so right away because it could be burning your bladder. You may bleed. Drink fluids.
“Tess.......(as she is now crying and holding her stomach about to vomit before even seeing a barcolounger)........don’t bottle things up. Let your emotions out.
“Tess......Here is the treatment room (And she does view a room full of recliners with mostly greyheads doing crossword puzzles and knitting and one lone younger woman with yellow bags under her eyes, no eyelashes, brows or hair and looking wan and miserable.) “Oh, and honey. You will lose your hair.”
As I’m listening to her and laughing at her performance and crying for her courage, I’m thinking we’re going to need Dave Thompson to get her in that treatment room. Dave was the one who got her on the airplane when we moved to Brazil to live and she was 15 and determined not to go.
Fortunately, a friend of Julie’s who has just completed two years of intensive chemo and radiation, bucked her up. “Just remember. You act like you’re sick, you are sick. You act healthy, you are healthy. You’re strong and healthy just taking a chemo bath to kill cancer cells. So maybe it leaves a little hangover. You’ll be fine.
Then in her best social services voice, she began to pull the freebees out of the sack.
“Tess.......This is your extra soft toothbrush for when your teeth are hurting and your gums are bleeding.
“Tess.......This is your special toothpaste you use with your soft toothbrush when your have the mouth sores.
“Tess......This is the rinse for your mouth and throat sores.
“Tess..... Here’s the digital thermometer. If you have 105 temperature, you must call us right away. It could be fatal.
“Tess.....Here’s your information on constipation
...............on bone pain..............on diarrhea management...........on skin rashes........on burning bladders.......Oh that can be very dangerous. You must manage your liquid intake and drink lots of fluids. When you have to pee, do so right away because it could be burning your bladder. You may bleed. Drink fluids.
“Tess.......(as she is now crying and holding her stomach about to vomit before even seeing a barcolounger)........don’t bottle things up. Let your emotions out.
“Tess......Here is the treatment room (And she does view a room full of recliners with mostly greyheads doing crossword puzzles and knitting and one lone younger woman with yellow bags under her eyes, no eyelashes, brows or hair and looking wan and miserable.) “Oh, and honey. You will lose your hair.”
As I’m listening to her and laughing at her performance and crying for her courage, I’m thinking we’re going to need Dave Thompson to get her in that treatment room. Dave was the one who got her on the airplane when we moved to Brazil to live and she was 15 and determined not to go.
Fortunately, a friend of Julie’s who has just completed two years of intensive chemo and radiation, bucked her up. “Just remember. You act like you’re sick, you are sick. You act healthy, you are healthy. You’re strong and healthy just taking a chemo bath to kill cancer cells. So maybe it leaves a little hangover. You’ll be fine.
Oncology, oncology
This is about last Friday’s meeting which I told you about but promised more details. I’ve noticed that oncologists love patients who have good prognosis. I always got hugs and smiles and Tess got that on Friday. We help elevate the level of cheer and hope in the place.
Dr. Spiro was full of smiles and calling her “Tess.” He was much more relaxed and easy than at the Black Thursday meeting. All of this I count as a good sign. Our results were making his day! Hooray for us!
Frankly I can’t remember all the details. Her chemo will be Docetaxel (Taxotere) combined with Cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan) which recent studies have shown work better and safer than the doxorubicins (Adriamycin) for her type of cancer. Since the symptoms vary from person to person and so much of it is in your mind (30% of the men in a British study who thought they were on a chemo protocol causing hair loss but were actually on the placebos, LOST their hair!!) So I figure don’t worry about the side effects. Dr. Spiro said she might NOT lose her hair and these drugs are not the ones causing heart problems (20 years later) or leukemia (also 20 years later). And Dr. Spiro thinks 4 times with 3 week intervals is the best protocol, which is also wonderful because her body can handle that better. And finally, he okayed 5 weeks from surgery so her healing from that will be far enough along to take on the chemo. That puts the first chemo on Friday, June 29th. So with the prayers and positive thoughts coming in, she will be strong and vital through this part.
Next good news was her trip to Florida. Since he okayed five weeks to chemo start, Tess asked about the trip and if it was dangerous to fly on a plane with risk of infections flying around. “Only if you sit next to a lawyer with TB,” he replied! “Go and have fun.”
And finally she fits the profile of a study being done at Cleveland Clinic for genetic testing for young women with an aggressive breast cancer. That good news means she will be monitored closely and if her cancer is genetically tied, the information gained will definitely help herself and future women in a similar situation.
Today is her Chemo Intro 101 meeting. Tom and I are watching Gavin while she learns what to fill her Chemo Tote with, how to eat before and afterwards, and, I suppose, general Barcolounger Etiquette
Dr. Spiro was full of smiles and calling her “Tess.” He was much more relaxed and easy than at the Black Thursday meeting. All of this I count as a good sign. Our results were making his day! Hooray for us!
Frankly I can’t remember all the details. Her chemo will be Docetaxel (Taxotere) combined with Cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan) which recent studies have shown work better and safer than the doxorubicins (Adriamycin) for her type of cancer. Since the symptoms vary from person to person and so much of it is in your mind (30% of the men in a British study who thought they were on a chemo protocol causing hair loss but were actually on the placebos, LOST their hair!!) So I figure don’t worry about the side effects. Dr. Spiro said she might NOT lose her hair and these drugs are not the ones causing heart problems (20 years later) or leukemia (also 20 years later). And Dr. Spiro thinks 4 times with 3 week intervals is the best protocol, which is also wonderful because her body can handle that better. And finally, he okayed 5 weeks from surgery so her healing from that will be far enough along to take on the chemo. That puts the first chemo on Friday, June 29th. So with the prayers and positive thoughts coming in, she will be strong and vital through this part.
Next good news was her trip to Florida. Since he okayed five weeks to chemo start, Tess asked about the trip and if it was dangerous to fly on a plane with risk of infections flying around. “Only if you sit next to a lawyer with TB,” he replied! “Go and have fun.”
And finally she fits the profile of a study being done at Cleveland Clinic for genetic testing for young women with an aggressive breast cancer. That good news means she will be monitored closely and if her cancer is genetically tied, the information gained will definitely help herself and future women in a similar situation.
Today is her Chemo Intro 101 meeting. Tom and I are watching Gavin while she learns what to fill her Chemo Tote with, how to eat before and afterwards, and, I suppose, general Barcolounger Etiquette
Monday, June 11, 2007
Incredible Jamie
I do have to write about my wonderful son-in-law. His 32nd birthday was the 7th of this month and he spent it anticipating a visit to the oncologist’s office the next morning. His life and future plans which seemed so perfect just a few short months ago have been thrown to the winds. Heavy worries and cruel uncertainty has become the norm. Change is not just a little breeze passing through his life but a whirlwind that has picked him up and he has no idea where, when and how he will land except that it will be on his feet. New job, new house, new neighborhood, new friends, new co-workers, and then this lovely little “c” word invades his territory along with its attendant demands.
With what grace he handles everything. Patience, kindness, understanding. There are not enough words to praise his character and actions.
And how good he is with me. I’m not the easiest person in the world and frankly, dealing with cancer does NOT get easier each time. It gets harder. It is not just a matter of walking Tess through the journey, but also dealing with and avoiding all my ghosts of the past. Sometimes I am supportive and sometimes I need the support. Jamie is always there with a hug or a kind word or a thank you.
So all you readers of this blog, say a special prayer for Jamie and send him lots of love.
With what grace he handles everything. Patience, kindness, understanding. There are not enough words to praise his character and actions.
And how good he is with me. I’m not the easiest person in the world and frankly, dealing with cancer does NOT get easier each time. It gets harder. It is not just a matter of walking Tess through the journey, but also dealing with and avoiding all my ghosts of the past. Sometimes I am supportive and sometimes I need the support. Jamie is always there with a hug or a kind word or a thank you.
So all you readers of this blog, say a special prayer for Jamie and send him lots of love.
Friday, June 8, 2007
Cancer Cheerleaders Strike Out Again
Once more the Cheerleaders were not so cheerful. Everyone is stressing out around Gavin and he knows it so he is being fretful and clingy. Jan is late getting here and the sisters are glaring at each other with Gavin throwing them Good Grief Glances and looking to his mother for support who is just trying to get everyone into a car and get us to the Clinic. She is wondering why does she have a support group who continually falls apart and thinking she needs to find some good Brazilian feel-good pills or something. This just will not do. Jamie and I get a lecture on the way in.....no tears, no holding your heads, for goodness sake, suck it up!
We are late and so there is a very long wait for Dr. Spiro who probably does not even know it but has been rerouted by the clever nurses who have put us in a different time slot.
He comes in smiling and once again it is Tess who holds court and has all the questions like little ducks in a row. And the news is awesome.
For now I’ll just say the chemo has been reduced to 4x 3wks apart and it is a new chemical combination that has better side effects. No radiation (clear margines, node negative) and no tamaxofen because her cancer is not hormone fed so it wouldn’t do any good anyway. She can go to Florida on their trip first and chemo starts June 29th. So much testing and info to get before then, but 5 year cure rate is 87% so we are pleased.
More details later. These sessions are exhausting! Thanks, Jan for babysitting and thanks cheerleaders abroad. Those prayers are working........keep them up!!
And now we are understanding why Dr. Spiro's patients love him. :)
We are late and so there is a very long wait for Dr. Spiro who probably does not even know it but has been rerouted by the clever nurses who have put us in a different time slot.
He comes in smiling and once again it is Tess who holds court and has all the questions like little ducks in a row. And the news is awesome.
For now I’ll just say the chemo has been reduced to 4x 3wks apart and it is a new chemical combination that has better side effects. No radiation (clear margines, node negative) and no tamaxofen because her cancer is not hormone fed so it wouldn’t do any good anyway. She can go to Florida on their trip first and chemo starts June 29th. So much testing and info to get before then, but 5 year cure rate is 87% so we are pleased.
More details later. These sessions are exhausting! Thanks, Jan for babysitting and thanks cheerleaders abroad. Those prayers are working........keep them up!!
And now we are understanding why Dr. Spiro's patients love him. :)
Morning with Spiro
The morning of our Spiro appointment. No one slept last night including the cats. Tess was reviewing our last meeting at the breakfast table.
Tess being Spiro:
Big Smile. “So. This is the worst cancer possible.”
Big Smile. “And in addition.....”
Big Smile. “I don’t sugar coat.” “It’s hard to get in to me.”
Big Smile. “I’m not good with emotions.”
Big Smile. “That’s why I have Sally and Michelle.”
Big Smile.
And Tess’s favorite Sally comment following Tess’s statement, “And by the way, I came out of that office feeling like crap.”
Sally: “Define crap.”
Then Tess went off on an entire skit defining “crap” followed by Sally’s social science trained dialog........”define embarrasment,” “define anger,” “define the f-word.” She had me in stitches.
But we have heard his patients wind up loving him and I have the highest regard for Sally who I think is a genius and Tess loves Michelle.
Tess being Spiro:
Big Smile. “So. This is the worst cancer possible.”
Big Smile. “And in addition.....”
Big Smile. “I don’t sugar coat.” “It’s hard to get in to me.”
Big Smile. “I’m not good with emotions.”
Big Smile. “That’s why I have Sally and Michelle.”
Big Smile.
And Tess’s favorite Sally comment following Tess’s statement, “And by the way, I came out of that office feeling like crap.”
Sally: “Define crap.”
Then Tess went off on an entire skit defining “crap” followed by Sally’s social science trained dialog........”define embarrasment,” “define anger,” “define the f-word.” She had me in stitches.
But we have heard his patients wind up loving him and I have the highest regard for Sally who I think is a genius and Tess loves Michelle.
Tuesday, June 5, 2007
It's a sleepless night before our next visit with the oncologist. The last visit wasn't so pleasant. Here are some excerpts from Tess's email about about that visit to her highschool girlfriends:
“Hello my M-town homies,
We had the visit to the Oncologist on Thurs (that was May 17th, an unbelieveable 3 weeks ago) and I must say he sure did not have a pretty picture to paint. With more indepth testing they were able to determine that my cancer was not estrogen-driven, which is a harder cancer to treat and the implications lead more towards a genetically passed on case. Also, they were able to determine that based on the make up of the tumor and my age that we are dealing with a very aggressive cancer so the fear of spread was instilled. He also confirmed what my surgeon said..no kids..many tears over this subject but I certaintly know that I would make one kickass adoptive mother so that is a tabled chapter for Jamie and I down the road. While his bedside manner is truly for the birds, I will take it b/c he is the best and his staff of nurses are wonderful so I will just bitch to them. Thursday night..no sleep for Tess and feeling very pissed off. Friday was a turnaround for us. I had a cat scan and a p.e.t. scan in the morning to determine if the cancer had spread. At two o'clock, i got the results. THE CANCER IS ONLY IN MY LEFT BREAST AND ONE LYMPH NODE! Happy Feet, Part 2, I never thought I would be jumping up and down about having cancer in one lymph node! This will not alter the treatment much as far as an aggressive approach and they have scheduled my surgery to remove my lymph nodes and my left breast to this Tues., May 22nd. I am expected to start Chemo in about 3-4 weeks after this surgery with reconstruction surgery being the last piece. This timeline certaintly will cover 2007 for us and potentially part of '08.
Ladies, I can't tell you how much all your calls, your emails, your cards, your thoughts, your prayers, THE FANTASTIC FREEZER, and all your other special gifts mean to me and my family. I feel so supported and loved by you guys and am sooooo grateful for this childhood clan. I plan to fight and I will survive this. I will update with more, once I know more.
Enjoy your weekends!
Much love,
Tess "
As you all know, after surgery we learned that the PET scan showed a false positive and there was no cancer in the lymph nodes. So we are hoping for a much better meeting tomorrow and a not so aggressive protocol.
“Hello my M-town homies,
We had the visit to the Oncologist on Thurs (that was May 17th, an unbelieveable 3 weeks ago) and I must say he sure did not have a pretty picture to paint. With more indepth testing they were able to determine that my cancer was not estrogen-driven, which is a harder cancer to treat and the implications lead more towards a genetically passed on case. Also, they were able to determine that based on the make up of the tumor and my age that we are dealing with a very aggressive cancer so the fear of spread was instilled. He also confirmed what my surgeon said..no kids..many tears over this subject but I certaintly know that I would make one kickass adoptive mother so that is a tabled chapter for Jamie and I down the road. While his bedside manner is truly for the birds, I will take it b/c he is the best and his staff of nurses are wonderful so I will just bitch to them. Thursday night..no sleep for Tess and feeling very pissed off. Friday was a turnaround for us. I had a cat scan and a p.e.t. scan in the morning to determine if the cancer had spread. At two o'clock, i got the results. THE CANCER IS ONLY IN MY LEFT BREAST AND ONE LYMPH NODE! Happy Feet, Part 2, I never thought I would be jumping up and down about having cancer in one lymph node! This will not alter the treatment much as far as an aggressive approach and they have scheduled my surgery to remove my lymph nodes and my left breast to this Tues., May 22nd. I am expected to start Chemo in about 3-4 weeks after this surgery with reconstruction surgery being the last piece. This timeline certaintly will cover 2007 for us and potentially part of '08.
Ladies, I can't tell you how much all your calls, your emails, your cards, your thoughts, your prayers, THE FANTASTIC FREEZER, and all your other special gifts mean to me and my family. I feel so supported and loved by you guys and am sooooo grateful for this childhood clan. I plan to fight and I will survive this. I will update with more, once I know more.
Enjoy your weekends!
Much love,
Tess "
As you all know, after surgery we learned that the PET scan showed a false positive and there was no cancer in the lymph nodes. So we are hoping for a much better meeting tomorrow and a not so aggressive protocol.
Monday, June 4, 2007
Back Home
Friday, June 1...Another crazy day. Gavin was up early and he and his Grammy did our morning routine of breakfast, sand table, walk and playroom around rain and parents. Tess actually got a list done of her thank you notes. No actual thank yous yet, but a list. Some progress. She had an appointment for a feel-good pedicure in the afternoon, but you remember our car excitement from the day before. She went out to check and uh-huh, dead as a doornail.
Tess has already made some good friends in Oberlin. They have brought food and run errands and are part of a playgroup for the little ones, so she called her friend Margaret. "Hooray, somewhere I can help" cried Margaret and they arranged for her to take Tess.
Mind you, the girl is only a week and a half out of major surgery and wiped half the day but ......... hey! Shopping, Pedicures, ........ the Will provides the Way.
Meantime, the girls have left and I take Gavin up for a diaper change when I hear all this racket and pounding against the house. No workmen that I know of are supposed to be around, but something seems radically wrong downstairs. So I quickly finish Gavin and we go down. Shadow, the cat, is out on the patio, now trapped under a screen door and on top of a rose bush and obviously in a rather panicked state of mind. It is raining and there has been a clap of thunder. This is an inside cat and don't ask me how she got shut outside. I open the patio door, lift the mangled screen door and she shoots for inside. What a mess. Upset patio pot, rose bush and demolished screen door. This cat has no front claws and weighs about five pounds.. How did she cause so much damage with so little resources?
Big Tom (who is getting littler as I type) came to pick me up Friday at suppertime. I was so anxious to see him and get back to my own home that I was wheeling Gavin down the road to meet Grandpa fifteen minutes before he was due. I figured if Tess could do a pedicure, she could do supper. "You're a much better cook than I am," I said.
"I have cancer!" she shrieked.
But I was already out the door. And she did. She made a lovely supper of baked fish, grilled aspargus and a wild rice mixture. Yummy. She really is a good cook.
I came home and did several pet sits on Saturday and watched movies betweentimes with Tom. Tess has had friends with her for the last several days and will be flying solo on Tuesday. Friday I'll go back up for the oncologist's meeting and we're hoping for a less aggressive protocol in view of the great pathology reports that have come back.
So things are looking great.........other than the fact that we have chemo to get through and another major operation. Thank you one and all for your prayers and continued support. I think that has made all the difference in the world. We are in such a much better place than we might have been, Thank the Lord!!!!
Tess has already made some good friends in Oberlin. They have brought food and run errands and are part of a playgroup for the little ones, so she called her friend Margaret. "Hooray, somewhere I can help" cried Margaret and they arranged for her to take Tess.
Mind you, the girl is only a week and a half out of major surgery and wiped half the day but ......... hey! Shopping, Pedicures, ........ the Will provides the Way.
Meantime, the girls have left and I take Gavin up for a diaper change when I hear all this racket and pounding against the house. No workmen that I know of are supposed to be around, but something seems radically wrong downstairs. So I quickly finish Gavin and we go down. Shadow, the cat, is out on the patio, now trapped under a screen door and on top of a rose bush and obviously in a rather panicked state of mind. It is raining and there has been a clap of thunder. This is an inside cat and don't ask me how she got shut outside. I open the patio door, lift the mangled screen door and she shoots for inside. What a mess. Upset patio pot, rose bush and demolished screen door. This cat has no front claws and weighs about five pounds.. How did she cause so much damage with so little resources?
Big Tom (who is getting littler as I type) came to pick me up Friday at suppertime. I was so anxious to see him and get back to my own home that I was wheeling Gavin down the road to meet Grandpa fifteen minutes before he was due. I figured if Tess could do a pedicure, she could do supper. "You're a much better cook than I am," I said.
"I have cancer!" she shrieked.
But I was already out the door. And she did. She made a lovely supper of baked fish, grilled aspargus and a wild rice mixture. Yummy. She really is a good cook.
I came home and did several pet sits on Saturday and watched movies betweentimes with Tom. Tess has had friends with her for the last several days and will be flying solo on Tuesday. Friday I'll go back up for the oncologist's meeting and we're hoping for a less aggressive protocol in view of the great pathology reports that have come back.
So things are looking great.........other than the fact that we have chemo to get through and another major operation. Thank you one and all for your prayers and continued support. I think that has made all the difference in the world. We are in such a much better place than we might have been, Thank the Lord!!!!
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