lumpectomy......
OK, girls, it isn’t that bad. Actually other than the first part before surgery, the procedure was just nothing to be anxious about. The mammogram and insertion of the guide wire ( to guide the surgeon to the tumor with exactness ) was a bit painful due to the deadening shots but we are adults and should be able to handle those by now. It was an outpatient procedure with the day beginning  at 7am and ending when we left the hospital at 3:30. I was a little sleepy but hungry ( nothing to eat since dinner the night before ) and Kenn took me to the Galaxy Diner for scrambled eggs. I went home to sleep off the pain pill and was up good as new Saturday morning.

No more pain pills were needed the next morning ( actually didn’t need the one I had after the surgery ) and I felt so normal that we went to a cookout with the church folks Saturday afternoon. Sunday I went to church, out to lunch and then to a neighborhood pool to sit on the side cooling my feet and visiting with friends. Monday we worked cleaning one house and took my Mom and Dad to lunch up in Marietta. So, you can see that the surgery was not something to stop life from happening as usual. This is an amazing time we live in!

I am happy to report that my lymph nodes were clear and some radiation treatment will complete my breast cancer management. I am so happy with the breast surgeon. He’s a great guy–cute too– and did excellent work. It was a surprise that there were no stitches, not even a bandage––glue was used! It waterproofed the incisions so that I could take a shower just 24 hours after surgery.

I’ll be seeing Dr. D next Wednesday to hear more about the radiation for the breast cancer and get some news on the management of the rib tumors. I have the name of the chief of thoracic surgery at Northside Hospital who Dr. D is referring me to. This will be interesting .......

The down side to it all has been dealing with the insurance company. I’ve learned that they are investigating my medical claims. They are holding payment on anything until they are convinced that my conditions are not preexisting. Their questions are understandable since my policy has only been in effect since March 1 this year––but none of my records will show anything existing pre-May 18th nor will any of my physicians indicate any condition existed before that time either. So when this investigation concludes, Humana will pay. Sorry guys––you are just out of luck.
What a hassle!

summary of June ......

So much has been packed into a four-week span that I must reflect and see what I have learned. I believe that we are here on this earth to learn eternal lessons as well as earthly ones. I’ll take a moment to share a little of June’s curriculum:

  1-  don’t miss your mammogram––it can save a life! men, insist on your gal going!

  2-  have medical insurance and savings!

  3-  at least one of you must have a "real" job,  self-employment doesn't pay sick leave.

  4-  ladies, if you are going to have a lot of medical tests, have a large wardrobe of blouses that
       button up the front


  5-  if the nurse says a test will take an hour, plan on being at the hospital all day!

  6-  if you sit at the hospital all day, don’t be fooled into thinking you are going to get rest––you
       will be exhausted by the end of the day!

  7-  news is not truth

  8-  74 year old doctors communicate with their patients by iphone

  9-  when facing death, every morning in prayer is as necessary as oxygen ( now I see even 
       when not facing death it is still necessary )

10-  memorized promises from God will get you through needle biopsies

11-  being sick is a full-time job for two people! even when you, the sick one, has never felt better in
       your life

12-  prayer makes all the difference!

I’ve only traveled a little way on this journey but I’m hoping that the drama will lighten. By now, the fact that I have breast cancer has lost some of the sting. Compared to the prognosis that I was facing just a week ago at a 14% survival rate, now I think my prognosis is somewhere between a 82% to 92% five year survival. Great improvement but I'd bet on 100%!

meeting the new doc ......

on wednesday, we met with the breast surgeon at his offices in alpharetta––because we were willing to go all the way there, we were able to take someone’s  cancelled appointment and get in immediately.

dr. garcha is a fine, young and very capable surgeon. his demeanor was pleasant and he was quite affable and attentive. we covered all the angles and he patiently answered our numerous questions without hesitation. the information was forthcoming and gave us a great deal of confidence in his expertise––after all, dr. d. highly recommended him. [ we were pleasantly surprised to meet one of his associates who, as it turns out, is a graduate of WHS––class of 1998––that's a little after our class ... ]

dr. g. ordered an MRI so he could get a clear picture of where the lump is located and just how much material he will have to remove to insure nothing is left behind. we were able to book the appointment while in his office ... this friday at 8:45am.

friday
this morning we rose at 5:45––another early morning in our journey––and made our way to northside hospital arriving just after 7am ... we had a little time so we found the cafeteria and had a nice breakfast together ... they even served oatmeal, granola and had a plethora of fruit and toppings to enjoy!

the MRI took a couple of hours and once completed, it was suggested by admissions that marilyn go ahead and do the prep for her upcoming operation. this would save us another trip to the hospital. so, we went to the prep area and she had blood work done along with an EKG. we were finished around noon so it was another five hour stay. so now it’s on with the surgery, july 6!

surgery scheduled......
Today we saw the breast surgeon. The doctors get younger and younger–––but we really liked him because he answered all our questions and gave us all the time we needed.

An MRI is ordered for Friday this week and the results next Tuesday will confirm that a lumpectomy is the best course. This out-patient surgery will be scheduled for Friday, July 6th. Recovery should take only a couple of days. Radiation for 5 days a week for the duration of 6 weeks should follow soon after surgery. I’m not sure yet about hormonal therapies being used in treatment as well. All in all, I’m getting off extremely easy. Surely not what I was facing if the bone tumors had been cancer. The breast cancer is no longer this threatening insurmountable thing and it all feels like I have just a summer cold to cure by comparison.

My doc is presenting my hemangioma tumors to a thoracic conference and may be seeking outside opinions to determine how to proceed with the rib tumors.

This has been quite a month and we are emotionally exhausted. One minute I’m drawing up my will and getting ready for the worst and now I’m to go back to regular life schedules and problems. In between life moving on I’m still scheduling tests and procedures, taking care of numerous insurance issues and paperwork and trying to work as much as possible. All is good but really hard on the body and mind. Kenn and I have drawn closer through this so that is a wonderful blessing. Humor has been a big part of getting through this and keeping our spirits up but God’s word and promises have been the strength that has sustained us. The many and constant prayers lifted up for me and for Kenn have been felt all along and I thank you all for them. Please continue to lift us up while we seek his direction, his provision and his continued peace.

rewards of waiting .......
The second best thing that happened today was that I didn’t have to drink the barium drink, citrus flavor. This morning Dr. D called me just prior to the time for me to drink it as he had canceled today’s scheduled PETscan.

The best thing that happened today ....... Dr. D told me that my bone tumors are not cancerous!!!!!!! confirmed by the second biopsy. They are Cavernous Hemangiomas, vascular tumors that are benign and very rare. You can’t imagine what spectacular news this is! The fact that my breast cancer has not metastasized to my bone is nothing short of a gift of life. As it stands, the breast cancer and the bone tumors are totally separate conditions and the fact that I have these tumors in the bone precipitated my discovering the breast cancer. Praise to my heavenly Father!

I already have an appointment with the breast surgeon tomorrow at 2:00 to determine what kind of surgery is recommended and maybe I’ll have an idea of when that will take place. After the surgery it will be back to the oncologist, Dr, D. for treatment prescribed, most likely radiation and hormone therapies.

We didn’t discuss what we’ll do about the bone tumors. They are on the back burner for now while we take care of the breast cancer. What I’ve read is that surgery to remove the tumors is usually prescribed but what do I know at this point?

Kenn and I tried to absorb the news and went to clean two houses. It is so strange to carry on with regular work and allow all this to sink in––what a roller coaster ride it has been! We are on the top flying high today but at the same time I am doing what I am usually doing, cleaning toilets and dusting other people’s houses.

And now .... I think I will try and get some rest ...

more waiting and tests.....

My emotional state has been one of exuberance since the news that my "bad news" was incorrect. I'm happy that my first bone biopsy did not show cancer, but curiously I'm not as joyous. I miss that zone of being so close to God's care and love that joy just flows through my whole being. I wonder if we have to be at the depths of our fear, anguish, sorrow, or need to experience the closeness that comes with drawing near to Him every moment of the day. We don't normally allow ourselves to be so possessed by seeking his face ever before us. I've missed that closeness these last two days. Are we destined to be spiritual adulterers most of our lives? If so then I welcome the darkest days. Only then do I see the brightest light from his face. That is a most unfortunate state of being human. 

 

Tomorrow we may hear the results of the second bone biopsy, praying that it too will not be cancer. I have a PET scan scheduled. In the morning I'm to drink a horrible looking thick mixture of barium, citrus flavored. Then later at 2:00 I'll lie in a scanning chamber for 2 to 3 hours. I'm to wear something loose, warm and containing no metal–––sounds like my flannel drawstring pants will be just right. I think this test is to examine the rest of my body and organs to see if there is any cancer ( the breast cancer ) anywhere else. After ruling out bone or other cancer sites then we will be able to determine the best treatment for the breast cancer.

 

All these many tests/procedures on this one person's body has already amounted to $24,000. in one month. And that is before any surgery or treatments! It just blows my mind! God is providing the ability to move forward with all these tests but continued prayer is needed. I've heard that my new insurance policy's company ( start date March 1, 2012 ) is doing their thing and investigating my case for pre-existing conditions. I'm sure that is quite normal practice but is still a bit unsettling. Now who would be so stupid to have a policy for two years like I did, know that I had a medical condition, and then drop companies and switch, endangering their coverage? Not me!!!

very promising...... 

Wow, do I have an update today!!!  In my last post I mentioned that we had learned the results of my bone tumor biopsy from the oncologist's nurse. We were in his office Thursday to drop off insurance paperwork for the doctor to sign and I was determined to stay until someone would tell me the results of my then 8 day old test. I should have had results in 3 to 5 days and I was tired of waiting!! After sitting in the waiting area for half an hour the nurse took us to a private room and sat us down. She said that my biopsy showed that I had bone disease and that it was cancer. I asked her if the pathology was the same as the breast cancer. She answered yes. The nurse said that the office was giving us an earlier doc appointment for Friday 8:30 am. and the doc would go over it with us... OK.

It was really strange for both of us after this news. We were unaffected, almost no emotion and really calm. I stayed happy all day and was just prepared for what was coming next. Chemo, surgery, radiation, the whole nine yards. I'm in your hand Lord––still hanging onto Proverbs 3:5-6. ( this scripture has been my rock )


This morning we went to my appointment with the anticipation of learning what a possible treatment plan would be. The doc led us into his office ( very punctual ) and laid out his findings thus far. He mentioned that "we have the breast cancer over here and the inconclusive or non cancer results over here for the bone biopsy". WHAT WHAT!!!! Our mouths dropped open. We quickly told him that was NOT what we had heard yesterday from his nurse. "She had said bla, bla, bla". and his expression said WHAT WHAT! I'll go talk to her right now––maybe she knows something I don't!!! We looked at each other as he left the room with hope.... When he came back he said "Forget everything she told you, she misunderstood me completely. We were amazed and delighted.


Now the doc toned us down a little saying that the test had not shown any cancer but further tests were needed. So later today I had another bone biopsy on the front tumor. Another full day at Northside Hospital––goody––not! Tuesday I'll have a PET scan with another full day at the hospital. But the doc says that we have to totally rule out cancer of the bone tumor and find out what is going on with those. But this is looking good. We are going from what we thought yesterday–––breast cancer stage IV ( the beast )––to breast cancer stage one maybe with as little as a lumpectomy and rads with the bone tumor maybe being totally unrelated. He could not emphasize enough how much difference this would be ( very positive ) and he admitted that it is the outcome he may be favoring with all the other findings of my testing- blood work came out perfect––full body bone scan was clean other than the two known tumors.


God has given us such encouragement today and hope that the road ahead is not as difficult as all were expecting. We could be surprised again and learn of unexpected outcomes but we will wait on the Lord to reveal all in his timing. Thank you all again for your thoughts and prayers. We feel them all coming our way and making all the difference.