October 11

So just an update that October 11 is the next big day we are all waiting for!  Mom will go in for her PT scan and then meet with the doctors to go over her next options.  She said the big news will be if the cancer has spread into her lungs at all, which  would not be good.  We will find out if the cancer has spread anymore, if the treatments this time around have been working and if she will need to continue them or move on and try something else.  She is excited and nervous for this visit! I will post as soon as I hear anything.

Two more to go!

So after a couple weeks off of treatments, Mom went in yesterday for another one.  Her infection has healed and she is feeling much better these days.  The doctors were not totally sure why she got so sick the last time, but she hasn't gotten as sick since then so here is to hoping that that doesn't happen again!  She has two more treatments to go, one next week and then the last one the week after.  Then she will go have another PT scan up at Stanford and then meet with the doctors on the very same day.  We are all a little nervous for this day to find out if the chemo worked this time and what the doctors have to say. 

Infection

So the chemo has started.  She had her first treatment not this past Thursday but the Thursday before.  It went well for a few days and then she got very sick.  She had a high fever, headaches and felt terrible!  After a few days of that, it subsided and she went in for her next treatment a week later.  However at the site of one of her incisions from her previous surgery they found she had a pretty bad infection going on and were not able to treat her with chemo.  While that is always initially a relief, we really want to just get on with things and get this cancer!  So it is frustrating to have to wait some more.  She is on antibiotics and will drive back up to Stanford on Tuesday to meet with her surgeon to find out more about the infection and how much longer she has to wait to start the chemo up again.  Also she will ask about the causes of her getting so sick, if it has anything to do with the infection (let's hope!) or if that is just what will happen each time she has a treatment.  I talked to her a bit yesterday and she had the computer out doing some online shopping so I know she is feeling a lot better right now.  We'll see what the doctor says tomorrow. 

Chemo again, will it ever end!

Ok, so I've already had a few requests to hurry up and post something on here as everyone is waiting to hear back and see what the doctors had to say today.  Mom had a PT scan on Tuesday and wasn't really given a lot of information at that visit, but had to go back up today to get the results.  As my Dad put it today, it's not the news we were hoping for, but it could be a lot worse.  They found cancer in four lymph nodes in four different areas of her body.  There was some around her lungs, her liver, near her windpipe and I think some near her arm.  It has not entered these organs yet, but as it is an aggressive type of cancer it very well could if not taken care of soon.  So she starts chemotherapy again next week.  She will be given a new type once a week for three weeks, then take a week off to recover.  Then she will do another three weeks with a week of recovery.  After this they will do another PT scan to see if there is still cancer in her body.  So we have to wait another eight weeks and pray that it works this time around.  I talked to her for a while tonight and she seemed in really good spirits and in a good mood.  This whole experience has just been so unreal!  We had so much fun visiting in California and while I wished I lived closer, it was fun to be home for a little bit.  Even though she has been very tired, she still managed to make the girls happy everyday.  She bought a little antique mail box with a key, and every morning Audrey would wake up and walk outside to the mailbox and open it up to little prizes and candies.  It was all very exciting for a five year old!!!  It was good to be there. 

Results...

So we finally heard back this afternoon with the results from Mom's surgery last week.  We were all hoping and praying for good news, and while the news was not good, we are still trying to be optimistic about where things will go from here.  Of the 13 lymph nodes they removed during surgery, 11 were cancerous and alive.  This means the cancer has more than likely spread and her body can't take a whole lot more chemo and she cannot have anymore radiation.  Her doctors (the tumor board at Stanford) will be meeting soon to go over options and possibilities for the future.  There are hoping she can do some trial clinicals that could be helpful.  Her and Dad will be meeting with them on Tuesday and will be getting more information on everything.  I think Mom was a little in shock today when she spoke to her doctor and so didn't ask a lot of questions and still feels a little overwhelmed and unsure of things.  I think we will get a better idea of where things will go from here next week.  She is still recovering from surgery well, and although she has been pretty tired, is up and doing things.  I will post next week after they meet with doctors to let you know what is next.

Recovery

So yesterday Mom underwent her almost eight hour surgery.  It was a pretty big deal and I am glad to say she is recovering well and the surgery went well!  Dad was pretty much a nervous wreck, forgetting things and a little on edge while Mom seemed to cope a little better, but still a little nervous.  There were two parts to this surgery.  The first was to go in, remove the breast, and figure out what was going on with the cancer.  We were all hoping and praying that they would find the cancer gone and she would be on the way to recovery and overcoming all this.  Unfortunately this was not the case.  They found  more cancer in additional lymph nodes that showed positive for cancer.  Those will be sent off somewhere to determine whether they are alive or dead cells.  Either way she will need to continue with chemotherapy.  I do not want to be the one to tell her this as she has already been through quite a lot, and while she has barely complained through it all, this is not good news.  We are hoping that the cancer will be dead and she will do a few more sessions of chemo and then be done.  If alive, there will be different options and things they will try, but for obvious reasons we don't talk a lot about this option because it is too emotional for all of us to deal with right now.  They say it will take about a week to get the results back.  

The second part of the surgery was the reconstruction part.  They took tissue and other materials from her stomach and were planning on rebuilding the breast with this.  So she got a free tummy tuck in the process.  The only problem was that they took out so much material during the first surgery that they did not have enough from her stomach to totally rebuild, so they did the best they could but she will probably have to have another surgery if she desires in the future to make everything look "normal".  

I have not had a chance to speak with her yet as she has spent much of her time resting, but I have talked to Dad a few times.  He has been so wonderful and stayed by her side and really taken good care of her.  Anyone would be lucky to have someone like that love them so much and put everything aside for this.  He has really appreciated and looked forward to the calls he has received as he has spent much of his time waiting around and not doing much while Mom went through surgery and is now resting. He says it makes the time go by faster. Thank you so much for all of your prayers.  I can honestly say that we have all felt them and have been comforted through all of this.  I will continue to update as I am informed of information. 

July 30th

Well it has been a nice few weeks with no chemo or radiation and being able to stay home.  Mom says she has been feeling more energetic and has been wanting to start up some new projects again.  It seems like every time I call home (which is pretty much ever day) she is busy cleaning some part of the house.  I am glad she has been feeling good and getting things done.  We are fast approaching the big surgery day and while she is not feeling super nervous about it, the rest of us have been praying that all will go well and the doctors will only have good news to report!  She says she just wants to get it done and move on.  The big day will be next Monday, July 30th so please keep her in your prayers!  Her mom will be able to stay a little bit to help out and then I am so excited because the girls and I will be flying down shortly after that.  yay!!