Dr. Wallentine

Went to see Dr. Wallentine today.  I think my brain might be fried.  He had so much information for us (Megan went with).  I knew that I liked him before we met, when I looked him up he had a fellowship with Kansas University.  I even took him some mints that mom and dad gave us for Christmas that were wrapped in KU wrapping.  He got a kick out of them.

So we are waiting for the lab to verify some results.  On one part of the report it said that my cancer was estrogen fed and then down a little bit it said it was negative.  Regardless the treatment will be the same.  

Right now I am scheduled to begin treatment on April 30 at 11:30.   They said to allow 3 hours.  So the Chemo will be either every  two weeks (I can't remember how many, Megan?) or every three weeks.  It depends on which medications that they decide to use.

There was almost too much information to remember so if you have any questions, send them our way and we will try to answer them the best that we can.

Again Thank You all for everything that everyone has done for me and my family.  Thanks Mom and Dad for coming out here the week after my surgery.  Thanks Megan for going with me to the different appointments.  I know I try to do it all by myself and I don't want to admit when I need help, but it is all truly appreciated!

Follow Up Visit

Went to see the surgeon today (well I saw Christy)  everything looks good and is healing the way it should.  That said I walked away with the following appointments.

March 29- Medical Oncologist
April 1 - Radiation Oncologisst
April 10 - Surgeon
April 11 - Surgery to have port put in.  The port is so that they don't have to poke me with needles everytime for Chemo or blood draws.

Chemo could start as early as the 11th of April.  That is all that I know as of know.  I will know more after my appointment on the 29th.  (Happy Birthday to me!)
  

Church

Went to church today and was in a sea of pink.  Feels good to know that you have that much support behind you to help you get thru what no doubt will be a difficult time. 

I go see the surgeon tomorrow, so we will see what that bring!

1st day at work

Boy, I never realized playing takes so much out of you.  I went to work for a half day today and by the time I got home I was worn out.  Then had to do the running around associated with kids.  I think I will sleep good tonight.  I might even try sleeping in a bed vs. sleeping on the couch in a half sitting position.  I am gaining a little more energy each day and hope to be back to work for the full day starting on Monday. 

Pathology Is Back!

So it could have been a lot worse and only a little bit better.  The biopsy of the surrounding tissue and the lymph nodes were negative for cancer, Yea!  The mass itself had 1.8 cm of cancer which could have been a little bit better.  Basically they recommend Chemo for anything over 1.5 cm so I am right on the border.  At my follow up with the surgeon on Monday we will set an appointment with both the chemo and radiation oncologist.  We will see what they recommend and go from there.

In the meantime we are grateful for good news.

Quick update

So I came home on saturday and pretty much slept the day away.  Same for Sunday.  Did move from my couch to my brothers couch for a few hours.  Sat and Sun nights were okay with the incisions ice packed.  Monday slept most of the day and then ran some errands and by the time 8:00 rolled aroound I was ready for bed.

Today, JT sprained his ankle so we went and picked him up and took him to the Dr. and then stopped at WalMart and I have been asleep til now.  Going to try to go and get some things for the kids when mom and dad get back from my Nephew's track meet.

I am going to try and work tomorrow afternoon.  It's only for 2 1/2 hours so I hope I can make it.

I want to thank everybody for all the meals that have been brought to us, it has helped tremendously.  I will try to get dishes back soon. 

I should get the final biopsy results tomorrow and will update as soon as I do.

I'm Home!!  A little tender but not a lot of pain, good sign.  Just going to lay on my couch until my mom and dad get here with my kids.  They should be here between 7-8 tonight.

Dr. Cook has been in and I am all ready to go home!  Just waiting on paperwork but she said she would try to have it by 10:45.  So, if everything goes as planned (which it has all weekend) I should be home by 12:00.  Yea!

Glad I stayed the night!

I am so glad that I stayed the night!  I know I could have gone home, but it would have been rough.  I think I was up every two hours to use the bathroom and because of the air compression on my legs I had to buzz the nurse each time and get unhooked.  I think I about have the dye out of my system.   Now to decide what I want for breakfast!  Then hopefully home by noon.  We do have a home phone number so if you want to call check the Pilgrims Landed page (if you live in the neighborhood) or message me and I will get it to you!

Again thank you for all of the love and support this last week and this up coming week.  I really appreciate it as I know my family does as well!  

We will continue to update this as my upcoming treatment approches.  I will let you all know if I am going to have to do Chemo as soon as I find out. 

More Pink Pictures!

Helen Gardner got a bunch of the girls from the neighborhood together for this picture. #heartshapedhands

 

 

Some of my co-workers, including our CEO (second from right) heard about Cathy's surgery and busted out the pink today:

Yipee!  I got upgraded to real food!

Just waiting for my kids to come see me!  Feel pretty good.  Just really want some real food!  Clear diet pretty much sucks!  Maybe in a little bit.

Good News!

Dr. Cook just came out and let us know Cathy is out of surgery.  He said the mass was not attached to any skin or tissues, which is very good news.  He felt like he was able to get completely around the mass without disturbing it all.   They also took a look at the lymph nodes.  There was only one sentinel node (which is also good.)  They take a look at any lymph nodes which react too the radioactive dye.  During surgery they sent the lymph node off to be examined.  Preliminary reports show that the cancer has not spread.  They also removed another lymph node that was enlarged.  They also sent it off, but it came back clear as well.  Overall, Dr Cook is very happy.  The mass was approximately 2- 2 1/2 cm which he said is not huge, but not small.  If he had to make a guess, he believes that Cathy will need both Chemotherapy and Radiation because of the size of the mass.  This will be determined at a later date by the Oncologist.

Going Pink for Cathy in Alabama!

All Checked In

This is Megan (Cathy's sister).  I am going to be updating the blog today from the hospital.  I picked Cathy up this morning and we headed into Utah Valley Regional Medical Center.  Things have been smooth so far.  Cathy is all checked in.  After check in, we waited for about half an hour and then she was just taken back to nuclear medicine, where she will be injected with dye.  They like the dye to be in the system for about 1 to 1 1/2 hours before surgery.  She is on the schedule for 12:15  p.m. today.  We will know a little bit later in the morning if the surgeon is running on time.  Cathy has a great nurse. 

While Cathy is doing good, the reality of the situation is setting in with her kids.  In particular, JT had a difficult morning.  We are hopeful that once he knows mom is out of surgery and he can visibly see that she is OK, he will settle in for a fun weekend with cousins.  I will update once she is out of surgery.  Thank you for all of the support that is being shown to Cathy and her family.  We know the Lord is mindful of her, her kids and extended family. 

Going Pink For Cathy!

Found out that I don't have to be to the hospital until 9:30.  So we can have somewhat of a normal morning.  I am truly blessed to have such great friends and family.  I appreciate everything that everyone has and is so willing to do for us. 

Update On Surgery

Per Cathy's Facebook page:

Latest news....I have to be at the hospital at 9:30 for a procedure that they will do around 11. They will inject me with dye and then after the dye has had a chance to go to where it needs to go, they will do surgery. It should start between 12:30 and 1:00, but you know how surgeries go, don't put it in ink cuz it probably will change.

This is my friend Lynn Merrell and her MIL Irene.  Lynnie has finished her chemo treatment and today is having more surgery.  She will be in the hospital for 2-3 days.  My son, JT, is named after Irenes' late husband, John Thomas Merrell.  My heart goes out to her family today and I will be praying and thinking about her all day today.  Hang tough Lynnie (and LeRoy also!) 

As for me, I am headed to work today, I actually feel like I have some energy.  And the I will head to the hospital about 10:30 to have some labs done and then back to work.

Tonight we are also having a wrap party at Nikki Hall's houses, if anyone is interested in wrapping before I head to the hospital tomorrow.  I am just a few distributors away from Emerald.  Still shooting for that bonus in March......

Surgery

Cathy registered for surgery earlier today in order to have the mass removed.  She'll check in to the hospital at 6:45 am when most of us will be rolling out of bed.  Be sure to remember her in your morning prayers! I plan on wearing pink on Friday as a reminder to keep her in my thoughts and prayers.  I'd ask you to do the same.  Feel free to send me your pictures so we can put together a collage to put on the blog (email info below).  If you post them on Facebook be sure and tag her so she can see your smiling faces!

We've got her set up as a contributor to this blog so you can all expect to hear from her soon.  She posts little tidbits of information on Facebook, but there are people who don’t use it so a blog is probably the most efficient way of communicating information to everyone.  We’ll post more information when we have it.  Thank you for your prayers and support! Remember to wear pink on Friday!

Send pics to:

Diagnosed

Last Friday Cathy was diagnosed with Invasive Ductal Carcinoma.  On Monday she met with a surgeon and it was determined that she will have the mass removed this coming Friday.  She'll be at the hospital overnight after which she'll have 3-4 weeks before any more measures are taken.  We'd like to say THANK YOU to everyone who has reached out and helped her during the past couple of days, both friends and family.  We expect to know more following the surgery and in the coming weeks and we ask for your prayers on Cathy, JT and Macady's behalf.