Update

Friday December 17th I go back in for another PET scan.

The last PET scan I had showed some "numbers" around the surgery sites and my oncologist suspected it was from inflammation from radiation and was still healing. I have to admit, I have been anxious about the results of the upcoming scan. I won't know those results until after Christmas. I am ready to be declared free from this disease!

However, I keep reminding myself that God is in control. It was not a fun experience to go through, but I would not take it back. I developed a closer relationship with Him through it all and for that it was worth it. Not that I want to do it again mind you, but I know that if I had to, He would be there right beside me all the way.

On another note, some of you have asked me about my hair, how long it is, etc. See below for a picture that I took while at my office. It's getting long. And it's still curly, so it's super easy to take care of. The downside to this "do" is that I look like Albert Einstein when I wake up in the morning!!

It has been a year in October since my last chemo treatment and my hair began coming back in again about 6-8 weeks after that treatment So this is just about a years worth of growth....from scratch! My oncologist says it takes about 2 years before it goes back to it's "normal" state. That is the way it was before treatments. I haven't been to a hair dresser in over a year and a half. Think of all the money I've saved!! ha! I am open to suggestions for when that time comes!

Fears

I had a check up with my Oncologist last Monday Oct. 11th and before I left we set up my next PET scan for December 17th at Hillcrest Hospital. The last PET scan in June had low result numbers which my doctor attributed to inflammation from radiation. It had only been five months from the time of my last radiation treatment until that PET scan. (No numbers is the goal). I wasn't happy about seeing numbers but tried to rest in the fact that the doctor thought it was from radiation still.

I have been experiencing discomfort on my right side for quite some time now. Under my right arm is tender to the point of feeling sore, often. The doctor said as nerves heal they can sometimes cause pain. I have to admit, I have allowed myself to entertain the thought that there might be more cancer, and at those times I fear. It doesn’t even matter what I fear, just the fact that I fear means I’ve gotten my eyes off of God and on my circumstances. Cancer or no cancer, I have to take God at His word. I either believe Him or I don’t. I choose to believe Him.

Father God, you know my innermost thoughts. You know all my doubts and fears. I lay my burden of fear at your feet and entrust my future to your care. You have promised to watch over me now and forever. Psalms 121: 7-8 says “The Lord will protect you and keep you safe from all dangers. The Lord will protect you now and always wherever you go.” (CEV). Help me to rest in You, Lord. To trust in Your power and Your promises.

Jeremiah 29:11 once again speaks to me when it says “I will bless you with a future filled with hope – a future of success, not of suffering.” (CEV) . Father you tell us that all things work together for good for those who love You and are called according to Your purposes. We may not understand why we are going through these trials as we travel them, but I will trust that You are using these times to produce good fruit in my life and the lives of those walking this path with me. I am thankful that I can rest secure in the fact that You are faithful.

I thank You for Your healing and for giving me the peace that passes all human understanding. That peace will guard my heart and mind from the attacks of the one who tries to destroy me. I praise you for blessing me and my family with your overflowing goodness. Amen.

PET Scan results

I met with Dr. Coffman Thursday June 19th for a routine follow up exam and to gather results from my PET scan. My PET scan test came back with some activity around my clips and lymph nodes where they removed the other nodes (Clips were used in place of sutures at the surgery site). Dr. Coffman says he is not alarmed by my numbers. He said cancer numbers would throw up 8.X to 15.X and my numbers were 2.5. He believed these figures could just be inflammation still from radiation.

With that said, we will follow up with another PET scan in 6 months (Dec time frame). I see Dr. Coffman again in 4 months (Oct) for a routine follow up and at that time we will schedule the next test.

I apologize for the short update, but I'm still trying to wrap my head around having any numbers at all. I truly expected to hear.."Everything looks great!" after having a clean mammogram. I know I shouldn't be concerned, I know God is still in control.

I believe Lord, help my unbelief.

Test Day

I just wanted to update ya'll that Wednesday June 2nd is test day. I start out the day at Hillcrest Hospital with an injection of radioactive material and about 45 minutes later will be scanned to see if there is any cancer. I am praying the PET scan will be clean.

Then at 2:45 I travel to Beachwood Breast Center for my first mammogram since surgery last May. To say I'm not looking forward to this is an understatement.

Then at 3:45 I have a follow-up appointment with Dr. Levy, the surgeon who removed my cancer.

Certainly a busy day.

I'll post results once I have them. I appreciate your prayers, not only for good results, but to calm my nerves.

Please click on the link below to give a free mammogram. It's free to you, just a click of your mouse.
http://www.thebreastcancersite.com/clickToGive/home.faces?siteId=2

Radiation Consult

Although a bit early, we were scheduled to meet with my radiation oncologist Dr. "C" this past week in Independence ,right behind where I'll be having my chemo.

Radiation is a highly targeted, and effective way to destroy cancer cells in the breast that may stick around after surgery. Radiation can reduce the risk of breast cancer recurrence by about 70%. Although I had surgery, that alone cannot guarantee that every last cancer cell has been removed from my breast area. Radiation therapy uses a high-energy beam to damage cancer cells and normal cells as well. However, cancer cells cannot repair themselves, whereas, normal cells are better able to repair themselves and survive the treatment.

Radiation treatments will not begin until about a month after chemo finishes, but when I do start, I will have 33 treatments of radiation. 25 of those will be directed to my entire upper right chest from just below my breast, over to my sternum, up to just about my collar bone and all underneath my arm to include the lymph nodes. The last 8 treatments will be a "boost" to just my scar site areas (by then they will be a scars). These 33 treatments will take 6 1/2 weeks to complete, going in daily Mon-Friday for about 10-15 minutes each treatment. Once a week I will meet with the Dr. and once a week I have a consult with the oncology nurse to cover skin care, side affects and other issues that might arise. Sunburn and fatigue are the most common side affects to these treatments. Although the doctor did say that some people experience nausea, he didn't expect that to happen. Some damage to the remaining lymph nodes may occur which will increase the risk of lymphodema. The most serious risk I face is scarring on the tip of my lung. That scarring will remain a "monitoring" issue for the rest of my life.

Dave seemed to be comfortable with the nurse and doctor. Maybe I was just having an off day, but I didn't get warm fuzzies with this group. So far, everyone we've met at the Cleveland Clinics have been warm and compassionate and experts in their field. It's not that Dr. C and his nurse, weren't, but .....I don't know, I just didn't have the peace I've had with the others. I may continue to search for a radiation oncologist. I have time.

In the mean time, I have a PET scan this Wednesday (June 17th) at Hillcrest Hospital (a Cleveland Clinic branch). I am praying that there are no surprises. A PET scan is a Positron Emission Tomography nuclear test. A radioactive solution (tracer) will be injected into my veins and then I get to "rest" for about 45 minutes while it travels throughout my body. When they scan me, the dye puts off energy so they can see all my organs and tissue. If there is any cancer present it will light up like Christmas tree lights. I'm hoping my technician doesn't dream of sugar plums while watching my scan.

I will update again once we get results back from the test. Hopefully we know something before I go into the MUGA scan. More on that later.

Thanks for all your prayers as we continue on this journey.