It is Monday and I just got the call from the doctor with the results of the tests that they were performing during the weekend. He said there is good news and bad news. Good news is that the sentinal node is still benign and lymph nodes are free of cancer. That is fantastic. The bad news is that the margins around the tumor are still cancerous and so I have to go back in for another surgery to remove the remaining cancer that was left there. I have attached what I found.
After lumpectomy, all the tissue removed from the breast is examined carefully to see if cancer cells are present in the margins — the normal tissue surrounding the tumor. If cancer cells are found in the margins extending out to the edge of the breast tissue that was removed, your surgeon will perform additional surgery (called re-excision) to remove the remaining cancer.
Re-excision lumpectomy, or simply re-excision, means surgically re-opening the lumpectomy site to try to remove a larger margin of cancer-free tissue. When cancer cells are found close to the edge of the lumpectomy margin, re-excision is necessary to ensure that all the cancer is gone. You may hear your surgeon refer to re-excision as "clearing the margins."
He says that reopening the same incision is the best but it will not heal as nicely because it has been done twice. He is also speaking to the radiologist to see if they should do another ultrasound to see how much more they need to remove. I will keep you posted when the next surgery will be but he wants it soon. I have to say that I am not thrilled about this but I feel confident that my doctor is excellent and will do what is needed to get this all taken care of.
Monday, August 31, 2009
Saturday, August 29, 2009
Saturday August 29, 2009
Two days after surgery now and I am feeling a lot better. Last night Mark and I went for a 1/2 mile walk after dinner. It was nice to get out and have some fresh air. I have had lots of friends come by with flowers and love. I got flowers brought to the hospital from my work and my son, Justin 18, sent me a beautiful bouquet. I am so touched by all of your thoughtfulness. I feel blessed to have friends and family who care. Thank you.
Mark described to me a client who buys books from garage sales and then resells them on E-bay and makes a huge profit. He brings in about $100 a day and $2000/ mo. That is awesome. So for our entertainment this morning we went to garage sales with the sole purpose to purchase stuff that we would think would resell on E-bay for a profit and we will put that profit money into a vacation fund. We had a great time. Though we started out in the hole buying items for our own use. LOL!! Mark found brand new dress shirts still in pins and couldn't pass them up for a dollar a piece. I found a nice pottery handmade decanter that would look great in my living room for a dollar. After that we started shopping for E-Bay.
After about 3 or 4 hours of this I was pooped and without ice swollen to double the size. So, we came home and iced up and watched a movie. Lynne, who works in the office with me, stopped by and brought fresh halibut, and veges from her garden (green beans, cucumbers, tomatoes and raspberries) and a bottle of white wine. I made dinner (delicious recipe posted below) while Mark was so kind to fix my back windows in my Durango that I had previously bought parts for. He is so dang handy!!
Well, there is the update of how things are going. Still sore, swelling is still there, very bruised, but time cures all. I am thrilled to have Mark here with me and he has been a HUGE help, though I have been reprimanded quite a few times for being stubborn and getting things myself and not allowing him to do it for me. It is that independent side that I have. Ooops.
Love to you all,
Shawnae
Mark described to me a client who buys books from garage sales and then resells them on E-bay and makes a huge profit. He brings in about $100 a day and $2000/ mo. That is awesome. So for our entertainment this morning we went to garage sales with the sole purpose to purchase stuff that we would think would resell on E-bay for a profit and we will put that profit money into a vacation fund. We had a great time. Though we started out in the hole buying items for our own use. LOL!! Mark found brand new dress shirts still in pins and couldn't pass them up for a dollar a piece. I found a nice pottery handmade decanter that would look great in my living room for a dollar. After that we started shopping for E-Bay.
After about 3 or 4 hours of this I was pooped and without ice swollen to double the size. So, we came home and iced up and watched a movie. Lynne, who works in the office with me, stopped by and brought fresh halibut, and veges from her garden (green beans, cucumbers, tomatoes and raspberries) and a bottle of white wine. I made dinner (delicious recipe posted below) while Mark was so kind to fix my back windows in my Durango that I had previously bought parts for. He is so dang handy!!
Well, there is the update of how things are going. Still sore, swelling is still there, very bruised, but time cures all. I am thrilled to have Mark here with me and he has been a HUGE help, though I have been reprimanded quite a few times for being stubborn and getting things myself and not allowing him to do it for me. It is that independent side that I have. Ooops.
Love to you all,
Shawnae
What's for Dinner...
Seafood Dinner for Two
INGREDIENTS (Nutrition)
2 (4 ounce) halibut fillets
6 scallops
6 peeled and deveined jumbo shrimp, tail still attached
1/3 cup dry white wine
2 tablespoons melted butter
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon seafood seasoning, such as Old Bay™
1 teaspoon minced garlic
Salt and pepper to taste
1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C).
Arrange the halibut, scallops, and shrimp in an oven-safe, glass baking dish. Drizzle with wine, butter, and lemon juice. Sprinkle with the seasoning and garlic. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
Bake in preheated oven until the halibut has turned white, and is flaky, 10 to 12 minutes. Sprinkle with parsley just before serving.
INGREDIENTS (Nutrition)
2 (4 ounce) halibut fillets
6 scallops
6 peeled and deveined jumbo shrimp, tail still attached
1/3 cup dry white wine
2 tablespoons melted butter
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon seafood seasoning, such as Old Bay™
1 teaspoon minced garlic
Salt and pepper to taste
1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C).
Arrange the halibut, scallops, and shrimp in an oven-safe, glass baking dish. Drizzle with wine, butter, and lemon juice. Sprinkle with the seasoning and garlic. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
Bake in preheated oven until the halibut has turned white, and is flaky, 10 to 12 minutes. Sprinkle with parsley just before serving.
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Surgery Done!
Shawnae had her surgery today, and by all accounts, was quite successful. The sentinel node removal and test was benign (preliminary results), so that is very very good news.
The lumpectomy was also successful and the surgeon felt confident that he got the whole tumor and good "margins" around it. They are sending that off for testing too - we should know more early next week.
Right now, Nae is at home and snoozing (good/strong pain medication) but asked me to update this briefly for her. She is experiencing quite a bit of discomfort tonight - - - in other words, it hurts pretty bad tonight.
I'm sure she'll write more tommorow, but for now . . . so far, so good.
~markb
The lumpectomy was also successful and the surgeon felt confident that he got the whole tumor and good "margins" around it. They are sending that off for testing too - we should know more early next week.
Right now, Nae is at home and snoozing (good/strong pain medication) but asked me to update this briefly for her. She is experiencing quite a bit of discomfort tonight - - - in other words, it hurts pretty bad tonight.
I'm sure she'll write more tommorow, but for now . . . so far, so good.
~markb
Monday, August 24, 2009
second opinion comfirms the first.
I called the surgeon's nurse today and she let me know that the Dr. from OK confirmed that the first biopsy is cancerous. Sucks... but at least I feel better about the finding and the answer. So, surgery is set then for this Thursday at the Bozeman Deaconess Hospital. I will go in at about 6am and be released at about 3pm. Mark will be taking me and is going to stay the entire time and then take me home. I told him he didn't have to stay during the time I was out. That is just silly. But he wouldn't hear of it.
On a lighter note. Alex, my 13 yo, and I went fishing tonight up at Hyalite Reservior. It is only about 15 miles from town and absolutely sensational. Here are some scenery pictures that I wanted to share of beautiful Bozeman.
On a lighter note. Alex, my 13 yo, and I went fishing tonight up at Hyalite Reservior. It is only about 15 miles from town and absolutely sensational. Here are some scenery pictures that I wanted to share of beautiful Bozeman.
Thursday, August 20, 2009
It is drawing near....
I got a call today from someone on the hospital staff to do a preliminary check for surgery. They do the rundown on my medical history. Much I do not know. Lori was with me when I saw the surgeon and I learned a lot about my families history....which I will probably forget in a month. I don't even remember my own medical history. She asked if I had any surgeries that required anesthesia. Yes I did, but I couldn't recall what they were. I ought to be doing something about my memory loss not breast cancer. Awkward grin!! After talking with her for 15 minutes I finally remembered both occasions. Brother!
I was told of the do's and don'ts before surgery. I ought to starve to death before they even put me under. Hmmm! I can't even have a morning cup of coffee. (or wear make-up for that matter) Wow, that's a bad day in my world. I better have a good hair day to make up for it.
So, I guess that things are underway now. Hopefully the 2nd opinion will be back before Thurs.
I would hate to go through another week of waiting. Just want to get it all rolling now.
Ciao,
Shawnae
I was told of the do's and don'ts before surgery. I ought to starve to death before they even put me under. Hmmm! I can't even have a morning cup of coffee. (or wear make-up for that matter) Wow, that's a bad day in my world. I better have a good hair day to make up for it.
So, I guess that things are underway now. Hopefully the 2nd opinion will be back before Thurs.
I would hate to go through another week of waiting. Just want to get it all rolling now.
Ciao,
Shawnae
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Hmmmm...
Well, it is the waiting game. A girl could get lost in her own thoughts and never be found. Mark commented this last weekend, how wierd it was that here I am, the girl that he is dating, full of life, spirit, and spunk. I am the same person in and out. I still love to do the same things, I act the same way, and look the same. Though here I am now 3 weeks later and everything has changed.
I think to myself, no big deal. We will just go in and remove this sucker, treatment and then move on. But every now and then I just get caught in this whirlwind of emotion that rips me apart. It is all so sureal. This can't be happening to me. I pray that God gives me peace of mind. I would rather just go through the motions without thinking.
Love to you all,
Shawnae
I think to myself, no big deal. We will just go in and remove this sucker, treatment and then move on. But every now and then I just get caught in this whirlwind of emotion that rips me apart. It is all so sureal. This can't be happening to me. I pray that God gives me peace of mind. I would rather just go through the motions without thinking.
Love to you all,
Shawnae
Monday, August 17, 2009
Surgery date is scheduled
On my way home from Mark's today I spent my time on the phone with the surgeons nurse and got everything squared away. Hopefully! My biopsy went out for a 2nd opinion on Friday. It will take 10 days to 2 weeks for the results. We have scheduled surgery tentatively for August 27th which is a Thurs. I can get in my work week and Mark can get in most of his and then work from my house. He is coming down Wed. night so that he can drive me to the hospital and home and help me out post surgery. I welcome the help and know he is a huge blessing. I am a very lucky girl to have him in my life. Hea has been tremendous through all of this. Though, he may change his mind if I am not a good patient. Grin!! I will have to stay on my best behavior so I don't run him off.
Until then I think it will be 2 weeks of no more tests and just waiting for results and surgery.
It will be a long 2 weeks I am sure. Thank you for all of the warm wishes and prayers. They mean a lot.
Love to you all,
Shawnae
Until then I think it will be 2 weeks of no more tests and just waiting for results and surgery.
It will be a long 2 weeks I am sure. Thank you for all of the warm wishes and prayers. They mean a lot.
Love to you all,
Shawnae
Saturday, August 15, 2009
Pee eew!!! This isn't Flower.
Tonight after making homemade salsa from vegetable bought from a corner stand and Mark made frozen raspberry and cherry jam, He yells to me "Shawnae come here, hurry, there is a skunk on the porch. Oh cute. Well, Mark then tells me about the problem that he had a while back with about 13 of them living under the garage. Took a while and smell to get rid of them. He filled up the space under the garage after that with concrete to avoid that problem again. So, Mark scares this one off and it goes running into a small space under the garage. Oh no!!
The skunk ends up coming back out so Mark goes and gets his 22 and kills it. It spray, but it's dead. Then we see another one stick its' nose out from under the garage. Uh oh, problem is back.
The skunk ends up coming back out so Mark goes and gets his 22 and kills it. It spray, but it's dead. Then we see another one stick its' nose out from under the garage. Uh oh, problem is back.
Friday, August 14, 2009
August 14, 2009
I had my visit to the Medical Oncologist (MO) today. Just two weeks ago I couldn't tell you what this profession was. However, today I could tell you that he is the doctor that decides what my treatment will be following the surgery. He let me know that the hormone receptor status test results were back. They test the sample of the first biopsy to find out how the tumor will react to the hormones therapy. Mine tested well. Meaning if I need that treatment after radiation I may be able to avoid having chemotherapy.
I also decided today, after much discussion with my sisters and the MO that I am going to send my first biopsy out to a doctor in Tulsa, OK to have a second opinion. The results will be back in 7-10 days. In the mean time I will try to schedule surgery for 2 weeks from Monday.
On a brighter side, I am at Mark's now. I got here at about 3:30 and started dinner. I made three cheese manicotti w italian sausage, a green salad w green leaf lettuce picked fresh from Mark's garden, garlic bread, and a glass of Cabarnet Sauvignon. Delicious. It is 52 degrees outside so se sat in front of the fire after dinner, Mark on his back snoring by me reading email. Grin. Fat and happy.
We are canning green beans now that we both picked out of his
I also decided today, after much discussion with my sisters and the MO that I am going to send my first biopsy out to a doctor in Tulsa, OK to have a second opinion. The results will be back in 7-10 days. In the mean time I will try to schedule surgery for 2 weeks from Monday.
On a brighter side, I am at Mark's now. I got here at about 3:30 and started dinner. I made three cheese manicotti w italian sausage, a green salad w green leaf lettuce picked fresh from Mark's garden, garlic bread, and a glass of Cabarnet Sauvignon. Delicious. It is 52 degrees outside so se sat in front of the fire after dinner, Mark on his back snoring by me reading email. Grin. Fat and happy.
We are canning green beans now that we both picked out of his
garden this evening. we are doing 10 jars in his pressure cooker
which I hear it steaming and rocking behind me. Jerry, It sounds l
ike a train coming through the kitchen if I close my eyes.
Here is a picture of the beans. I hope that you all have a great weekend. We will!!
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Great News!!
First I want to thank eveyone for their prayers. They have paid off. The biopsy surgery results got called to me a few minutes ago and both are benign (non cancerous). YIPEE!!!
A letter from a friend who just went through all of this last year!!
Shawnae,
Damn, girl. I’m so glad you went in for a mammogram. People our age think we’re too young to worry about, but look at us. I can totally relate and understand everything you wrote about and what you’re going thru. My cancer was DCIS, ductal carcinoma in situ, which means non-invasive cancer. It stayed w/in the ducts, so I had no lymph nodes to remove or worry about. That breast MRI was kind of weird for me. My face got tingly numb partial thru. They told me it was probably my reaction to the dye. I will have one of those every other year now, w/mammograms each year. The biopsy where I had to lie on a table w/my boob hanging thru a hole for 45 minutes was the worst test I had. That dye stings, especially in such a sensitive area.
Having surgery on both sides sucks. For me, the worst part was a huge bandage, about a 9” square, they put on after surgery. Every time I moved it was really uncomfortable. That came off in 3 days and I felt better after that. I had to sleep propped up because the blood flow to my breast laying down was painful. So is rolling over. Of course having a 2nd surgery for me a week later didn’t help. They give you an ice pack. Use it! That helped tremendously. They told me to put it on for 15 minutes every hour or two for the first few days. I did all of that and more. The percoset worked better than the Lortab, but it made me more tired, so I only used that for the first few days when the pain was the worst. Is Mark coming to help you? You’ll need help, Shawnae. I’m pretty darn independent, but it’s nice to have someone there to help fill up the ice pack, get you something to eat, and just keep an eye on you. I didn’t nap a lot, but dozed in and out.
Radiaton: This wasn’t too bad. I was lucky that a Canadian study came out just before I started radiation that showed a 3 week stint of a higher dose of radiation was just as effective as the 6 weeks they’re used for years. This study confirmed results from some earlier ones. Ask your doctor or your radiation oncologist (when you get one) about it or look it up yourself. It probably came out in Sept. or Oct. last year. Radiation becomes a part of your routine and doesn’t take long. You’ll probably have a CT scan to “map” your treatment and you’ll get tattooed, literally, to mark where the beams go. They did a “dry run” on the radiation machine before my 16 sessions started. I didn’t really notice being too tired. You get quite tan in the area, mine being a big square. I kept aloe on it everyday (after your session) and didn’t really notice any dryness. It wasn’t until I was almost done that I noticed kind of a burning feeling on my skin, mostly rolling over in bed or w/my arm resting on my side. It’s because the radiation builds up over time. Since you are so fair, you’re more prone to skin problems. The burning lasted about a week after treatment, but really wasn’t a problem. I didn’t wear a bra for months. Forget the underwire or push ‘em up too. I had one of those and it left an indent, literally, in my boob since the tissue is so soft and healing.
Please let me know how your next test results go. The waiting is awful. For us, so many tests and surgeries were done on a Friday. That sure made for a long weekend. I know you’ll do great, though. Please, please, call me anytime. Nobody understands the emotional thing, either, unless you’ve been there. I get emotional now writing to you about it. I’d love to talk w/you.
Love Sheila
Damn, girl. I’m so glad you went in for a mammogram. People our age think we’re too young to worry about, but look at us. I can totally relate and understand everything you wrote about and what you’re going thru. My cancer was DCIS, ductal carcinoma in situ, which means non-invasive cancer. It stayed w/in the ducts, so I had no lymph nodes to remove or worry about. That breast MRI was kind of weird for me. My face got tingly numb partial thru. They told me it was probably my reaction to the dye. I will have one of those every other year now, w/mammograms each year. The biopsy where I had to lie on a table w/my boob hanging thru a hole for 45 minutes was the worst test I had. That dye stings, especially in such a sensitive area.
Having surgery on both sides sucks. For me, the worst part was a huge bandage, about a 9” square, they put on after surgery. Every time I moved it was really uncomfortable. That came off in 3 days and I felt better after that. I had to sleep propped up because the blood flow to my breast laying down was painful. So is rolling over. Of course having a 2nd surgery for me a week later didn’t help. They give you an ice pack. Use it! That helped tremendously. They told me to put it on for 15 minutes every hour or two for the first few days. I did all of that and more. The percoset worked better than the Lortab, but it made me more tired, so I only used that for the first few days when the pain was the worst. Is Mark coming to help you? You’ll need help, Shawnae. I’m pretty darn independent, but it’s nice to have someone there to help fill up the ice pack, get you something to eat, and just keep an eye on you. I didn’t nap a lot, but dozed in and out.
Radiaton: This wasn’t too bad. I was lucky that a Canadian study came out just before I started radiation that showed a 3 week stint of a higher dose of radiation was just as effective as the 6 weeks they’re used for years. This study confirmed results from some earlier ones. Ask your doctor or your radiation oncologist (when you get one) about it or look it up yourself. It probably came out in Sept. or Oct. last year. Radiation becomes a part of your routine and doesn’t take long. You’ll probably have a CT scan to “map” your treatment and you’ll get tattooed, literally, to mark where the beams go. They did a “dry run” on the radiation machine before my 16 sessions started. I didn’t really notice being too tired. You get quite tan in the area, mine being a big square. I kept aloe on it everyday (after your session) and didn’t really notice any dryness. It wasn’t until I was almost done that I noticed kind of a burning feeling on my skin, mostly rolling over in bed or w/my arm resting on my side. It’s because the radiation builds up over time. Since you are so fair, you’re more prone to skin problems. The burning lasted about a week after treatment, but really wasn’t a problem. I didn’t wear a bra for months. Forget the underwire or push ‘em up too. I had one of those and it left an indent, literally, in my boob since the tissue is so soft and healing.
Please let me know how your next test results go. The waiting is awful. For us, so many tests and surgeries were done on a Friday. That sure made for a long weekend. I know you’ll do great, though. Please, please, call me anytime. Nobody understands the emotional thing, either, unless you’ve been there. I get emotional now writing to you about it. I’d love to talk w/you.
Love Sheila
At your request for more photos...
I was just asked by my aunt to post some more pictures of my boys and Mark. I am new to all of this but it seems like it is working.
The first is Alex, 13, red head, on the West Gallatin River near Belgrade, MT.
Next is Justin, 18, camping 2 weekends ago near Harlowtown, MT.
The 3rd is Mark and I just this last weekend up at Grotto Falls, Hyalite Reservoir near Bozeman, MT
A book for friends and family
While doing some research on breast cancer, I came across this book. I am horrible when it comes to sicknesses and death. I don't know what to say or how to deal with it. I think I may even read this book to help me along socially. Having been diagnosed with breast cancer now, friends and people I just meet have cancer too. What do I say to them? A great book to check out at the library. http://www.lorihope.com/
Help Me Live: 20 Things People with Cancer Want You to Know.
by: Lori Hope
-->
What People with Cancer Want You to Know
Five of the "20 things people with cancer want you to know"
• "It's okay to say or do the 'wrong' thing."
• "I like to hear success stories, not horror stories."
• "I need to forget and laugh." (Mark is super at this)
• "I need to feel hope."
• "Telling me to think positively can make me feel worse."
Time to go to work...
Well, my first biopsy 2 weeks ago wasn't very painful and I pretty much bounced right back. I figured after this one, "no problem I will go back to work the next day and not lose any hours".
Wow, was I fooling myself. I woke up in SO much pain. Especially the left breast. I have to wear my bra to bed. They instructed me to wear it for 24 hours after the surgery. Which is fine because it holds the ice packs in place. I woke up this morning though and the ice packs were warm, understandably, and the Tylenol had worn off. ZOWIE!! I had to sleep in my shirt that I wore yesterday to the surgery because I couldn't lift my arms to get it off. I suppose I will wear it today too. LOL! Good thing I am not going out. I am sure that my hair is wild too. Grin!!
So, I have now taken some Tylenol and put in the ice pack and climbed back into bed. Lying down is painful so going back to sleep right now is not an option. So here I am blogging to all of you. My roommate was so kind as to bring me a cup of coffee.
Well, hope you all have a great day.
I will be going to my Medical Oncologist appointment on Friday at 8, with my SUV packed and then heading out to Kalispell. Plans are to take the big boat out to Wild Horse Island on Flathead Lake. Do some hiking and fishing and my favorite, suntanning in my bikini on the front of the boat. Then this weekend we will also pick the green beans out of his garden and can those. I have never canned and am looking forward to learning. Mark, I am sure, will be a great teacher. Being blonde as I am though, he might have to splain it twice. Ha!!
Have a great day and I will send a picture of the island when I get back.
Wow, was I fooling myself. I woke up in SO much pain. Especially the left breast. I have to wear my bra to bed. They instructed me to wear it for 24 hours after the surgery. Which is fine because it holds the ice packs in place. I woke up this morning though and the ice packs were warm, understandably, and the Tylenol had worn off. ZOWIE!! I had to sleep in my shirt that I wore yesterday to the surgery because I couldn't lift my arms to get it off. I suppose I will wear it today too. LOL! Good thing I am not going out. I am sure that my hair is wild too. Grin!!
So, I have now taken some Tylenol and put in the ice pack and climbed back into bed. Lying down is painful so going back to sleep right now is not an option. So here I am blogging to all of you. My roommate was so kind as to bring me a cup of coffee.
Well, hope you all have a great day.
I will be going to my Medical Oncologist appointment on Friday at 8, with my SUV packed and then heading out to Kalispell. Plans are to take the big boat out to Wild Horse Island on Flathead Lake. Do some hiking and fishing and my favorite, suntanning in my bikini on the front of the boat. Then this weekend we will also pick the green beans out of his garden and can those. I have never canned and am looking forward to learning. Mark, I am sure, will be a great teacher. Being blonde as I am though, he might have to splain it twice. Ha!!
Have a great day and I will send a picture of the island when I get back.
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Aug. 12, 2009
Hello,
I am sitting at my dining room table after coming home from the hospital dying to just get back to normal routine. So, I pull out
fresh asparagus
olive oil
fresh diced garlic
diced onion
throw it in a pan to sautee. If you haven't tried asparagus this way you should. Delicious and crisp. (throw in white wine for better taste) cook on med. for about 6 min.
then I had some cubed turkey, diced italian tomatoes, red wine and rice and put that all together and simmered. Mmmmm. Dinner. Normal.
okay, ultrasound guided biopsy.
Lee and I arrived at 12:30. Went in and Susan started the ultrasoud in the areas that were detected on the MRI. Left is at about 3:30 position and the rt. is under the nipple.
If they didn't find the areas we would not be able to biopsy today and we would have to reschedule for the MRI biopsy. I told her joking (but not) that was not an option.
She found both areas. Left was easy to locate. The right she found the area but it looked like fatty cells. They biopsied it anyway to rule it out. Leave no stone unturned.
The left breast was numbed. He used all of the solution and I still felt him doing it. Ouch!!
It was a long needle that he turned in a corkscrew type of motion up and in getting about 5-8 samples each. The right breast was numbed enough that I didn't feel it. Just a lot of pressure.
Then they placed a titanium clip on both areas so when they do mammograms, or MRI's they will be able to see those areas and watch them. They are never removed.
They offer a 15 minute comlimentary massage which I accepted gratefully. We were finally all done and out the door at 4 pm. Poor Lee having to wait that whole time. Though she was able to sit through the initial ultrasound. I was glad she came along for support.
I will not know the results until friday when I see the Medical oncologist for the meet and greet.
I will update you with those results when I get them. I will try not to make you wait through the weekend. The waiting is the worst part.
Love ya,
Shawnae
I am sitting at my dining room table after coming home from the hospital dying to just get back to normal routine. So, I pull out
fresh asparagus
olive oil
fresh diced garlic
diced onion
throw it in a pan to sautee. If you haven't tried asparagus this way you should. Delicious and crisp. (throw in white wine for better taste) cook on med. for about 6 min.
then I had some cubed turkey, diced italian tomatoes, red wine and rice and put that all together and simmered. Mmmmm. Dinner. Normal.
okay, ultrasound guided biopsy.
Lee and I arrived at 12:30. Went in and Susan started the ultrasoud in the areas that were detected on the MRI. Left is at about 3:30 position and the rt. is under the nipple.
If they didn't find the areas we would not be able to biopsy today and we would have to reschedule for the MRI biopsy. I told her joking (but not) that was not an option.
She found both areas. Left was easy to locate. The right she found the area but it looked like fatty cells. They biopsied it anyway to rule it out. Leave no stone unturned.
The left breast was numbed. He used all of the solution and I still felt him doing it. Ouch!!
It was a long needle that he turned in a corkscrew type of motion up and in getting about 5-8 samples each. The right breast was numbed enough that I didn't feel it. Just a lot of pressure.
Then they placed a titanium clip on both areas so when they do mammograms, or MRI's they will be able to see those areas and watch them. They are never removed.
They offer a 15 minute comlimentary massage which I accepted gratefully. We were finally all done and out the door at 4 pm. Poor Lee having to wait that whole time. Though she was able to sit through the initial ultrasound. I was glad she came along for support.
I will not know the results until friday when I see the Medical oncologist for the meet and greet.
I will update you with those results when I get them. I will try not to make you wait through the weekend. The waiting is the worst part.
Love ya,
Shawnae
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Aug. 10, 2009
Today I received a phone call from my doctor for the findings of my MRI.
They have found 2 new lumps. One in the left just centimeters from the first found and one in the right.
He would like me to come in again and have another ultrasound guided biopsy to determine if they too are cancerous.
Appointment time for that is Wed. Aug 12
Please pray they are benign.
They have found 2 new lumps. One in the left just centimeters from the first found and one in the right.
He would like me to come in again and have another ultrasound guided biopsy to determine if they too are cancerous.
Appointment time for that is Wed. Aug 12
Please pray they are benign.
Aug. 7, 2009
Today I had my MRI. It was a little much on the nerves. First I am in this Hospital that immediately feels intimidating. But, they walk you into this room with a huge vault door. Everything in the room is wood and steel with magnetic signs all over. I hope I really did remove all of my jewelry and didn't miss anything.
I am place on a machine bed face down with my brests in two holes and an IV connected to my inner arm. I am told a blue die (contrast), that lights up on the findings, will be shot into my IV during the last 7 minutes. I am pushed into a round tube and the loud banging begins. The noise is heard loudly over the top volume country music I have chosen to drown out the noise.
One hour later I am finished and sent on my way.
They will know the results after the weekend.
The waiting game begins again.
I am place on a machine bed face down with my brests in two holes and an IV connected to my inner arm. I am told a blue die (contrast), that lights up on the findings, will be shot into my IV during the last 7 minutes. I am pushed into a round tube and the loud banging begins. The noise is heard loudly over the top volume country music I have chosen to drown out the noise.
One hour later I am finished and sent on my way.
They will know the results after the weekend.
The waiting game begins again.
July 27, 2009
Hello all,
I am writing to kind of give you an overview of what is going on with the findings. I had a lump that was found on the ultrasound after the mammogram. They biopsied it and found that it is cancerous.
I went in and met with the surgeon yesterday. He gave me an exam and basically checked out under my armpits where the lymphnodes are to see if everything there was alright. It was.
We then discussed my options for removal. It is 8x10x14 mm in size. The largest part of it is the width of your thumbnail. They are rated 1-3 with 3 being the worst, mine is a 1. The good parts are I am young, they found it early, it is small, and there is no evidence that it has spread to the lymphnodes at this stage. The cancer I have is called invasive ductoral cancer. It is harder to treat because it can spread to the lymph nodes.
What I will most likely have done for removal and treatment:
1. MRI- tomorrow to view both breast to see if there are any more lumps. if so find out if they are cancerous.
2. Surgery- a Sentinal node biopsy. It is centrally located in the lympnodes in the armpit. while they send that out to be tested.....
3. a Lumpectomy- cut a small incision and remove the lump and a small layer of tissue surrounding that in case it has spread. Then get the findings from the sent. node biopsy. If it is negative he is done. If positive he has to remove the lymhnodes.
4. After the surgery- I will be at home for 2 weeks recovering, no work.
5. 2 weeks after that I have to have 6 weeks radiation, 5 days a week, M-F for half hour sessions. These, I am told, have no real side effects at first but as time goes on it makes you very tired, sluggish, can't do as much in a day. I will also get like a sunburn at the radiation target area.
Hopefully at that point it will be done and there will be no more steps. Otherwise there is Chemo. Well there it is. If you have anymore questions about it let me know. I am a roller coaster of emotions right now as I amsure that you are. I am sorry to throw this at you but I thought you should know. I am exhausted from my day so headed to bed. A very early day tomorrow and then the MRI.
Love you, Shawnae
I am writing to kind of give you an overview of what is going on with the findings. I had a lump that was found on the ultrasound after the mammogram. They biopsied it and found that it is cancerous.
I went in and met with the surgeon yesterday. He gave me an exam and basically checked out under my armpits where the lymphnodes are to see if everything there was alright. It was.
We then discussed my options for removal. It is 8x10x14 mm in size. The largest part of it is the width of your thumbnail. They are rated 1-3 with 3 being the worst, mine is a 1. The good parts are I am young, they found it early, it is small, and there is no evidence that it has spread to the lymphnodes at this stage. The cancer I have is called invasive ductoral cancer. It is harder to treat because it can spread to the lymph nodes.
What I will most likely have done for removal and treatment:
1. MRI- tomorrow to view both breast to see if there are any more lumps. if so find out if they are cancerous.
2. Surgery- a Sentinal node biopsy. It is centrally located in the lympnodes in the armpit. while they send that out to be tested.....
3. a Lumpectomy- cut a small incision and remove the lump and a small layer of tissue surrounding that in case it has spread. Then get the findings from the sent. node biopsy. If it is negative he is done. If positive he has to remove the lymhnodes.
4. After the surgery- I will be at home for 2 weeks recovering, no work.
5. 2 weeks after that I have to have 6 weeks radiation, 5 days a week, M-F for half hour sessions. These, I am told, have no real side effects at first but as time goes on it makes you very tired, sluggish, can't do as much in a day. I will also get like a sunburn at the radiation target area.
Hopefully at that point it will be done and there will be no more steps. Otherwise there is Chemo. Well there it is. If you have anymore questions about it let me know. I am a roller coaster of emotions right now as I amsure that you are. I am sorry to throw this at you but I thought you should know. I am exhausted from my day so headed to bed. A very early day tomorrow and then the MRI.
Love you, Shawnae
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