Busy week

   Tomorrow I go back to the hospital for a minor surgical procedure.  I will be having a permanent port placed. Also called a port-a-cath.  If you don't know what that is I will explain.  It is a device that will be implanted under the skin and it is used to administer all of my chemo and herceptin treatments. It is inserted into a large vein.  This will prevent me from having to have an IV and it will make it easier to have blood work/labs done.

(Here is a picture of a port-a-cath)

   I am scheduled Thursday to receive my first dose of chemo.  I'm not really sure what to expect as some people have almost no side effects and some people have debilitating side effects.  (Prayer for little to no side effects would be great!)  

   On another note I wanted to post a song that I just love.  No matter what I go through in life this song is so relevant. 

Desert Song

This is my prayer in the desert

When all that's within me feels dry

This is my prayer in my hunger and need

My God is a God who provides

And this is my prayer in the fire

In weakness or trial or pain

There is a faith proved

Of more worth than gold

So refine me Lord through the flames

And I will bring praise

I will bring praise

No weapon formed against me shall remain

I will rejoice

I will declare

God is my victory and He is here

And this is my prayer in the battle

When triumph is still on it's way

I am a conqueror and co-heir with Christ

So firm on His promise I'll stand

All of my life

In every season

You are still God

I have a reason to sing

I have a reason to worship

This is my prayer in the harvest

When favor and providence flow

I know I'm filled to be emptied again

The seed I've recieved I will sow

The Plan

   Surgery went well and now we are hopeful for a speedy recovery.  After I have healed my surgeon will give us the green light to begin treatment for the invasive cancer.

   As I said in my last post we went to see an oncologist.  I have been sitting on this information waiting for it to sink in. Here it goes.  The tumor came back as HER 2 +, which is a very fast growing, aggressive type of cancer.  In the past the prognosis was for this diagnosis was not very good.  Luckily for us there is a new drug specifically for HER 2 + cancer.  This drug is called Herceptin and it has only been available for 6 years. Because of this drug the prognosis is very good.

   The treatment plan also includes two different types of chemo.  Every three weeks I will go and have an infusion of chemo/herceptin.  I will need 6 doses of chemo, but a whole year of herceptin.  I don't know what to expect and am worried about being sick.  The doctor has explained that the chemo will wipe me out and I shouldn't expect to do much for a week after infusion.  Nausea is to be expected.  And yes I will lose my hair.  I recently cut it, I want to have control over the amount of hair I lose and I will probably just shave it off when it starts to fall out.  Those clippers I bought at Costco last year are going to come in handy.  We are estimating that this will all begin the first or second week of May.

Two steps back

   This Friday I am scheduled for another surgery.  One of the incisions is not healing properly.  My surgeon had been hopeful that it would resolve on it's own, but after close monitoring there is not enough improvement.  I was starting to feel better and now I have to take a couple steps back.  
   Today I see the medical oncologist and hopefully we will get some answers.  Specifically what kind of treatment we can anticipate.  As far as I understand radiation is off the table but chemo is still a possibility as well as more targeted therapy depending on the type of tumor we are dealing with.
  

 Thank You for all of your continued prayers.

Solidarity

Solidarity- willingness to give psychological and or material support when another person is in a difficult position. 

     While going to a doctors appointment I was witness to an act of solidarity.  It was so moving and I have not been able to stop thinking about it.  A man walked out of the elevator and I noticed he was wearing hot pink sneakers and behind him walked his wife...bald with a pink ribbon scarf.  He was standing with his wife because not only was it her fight but it was their fight.  Evidently this woman and I have something in common, we both have (or had?) breast cancer and we both have husbands who exhibit solidarity.

     This week has been overwhelming both physically and emotionally, but I have been shown true solidarity by so many.  We have been fed, prayed for and helped in multiple ways.

     I want to share the results of my pathology.  As many of you know I opted for a double mastectomy.  My right breast is was cancer free.  The lymph nodes right and left came back negative for cancer (great news).  My left breast had a type of non-invasive cancer called DCIS.  Over  40% of my left breast was cancerous.  The hard part is that there was an area of invasive cancer found.  What does this mean?  We really don't know, the treatment will depend on the type of tumor that was found.  Hopefully we will see an oncologist soon and have more answers.  

     Thank you for the continued support of my family and for supporting me.

Let your hope make you glad.  Be patient in time of trouble and never stop praying.

Romans 12:12