DoctorVisits Tuesday

I saw my oncologist first this morning and we went over all of the test results:

• bone scan:  arthritis--degenerative joints in both knees, ankles, shoulders; collarbone; spine
• CT-Scan:  everything looked good excepts for two tiny spots on my liver so will schedule an MRI to determine what those spots are that are too small to biopsy; MRI will be next week sometime.
• surgical pathology report:  lots of pre-cancerous stuff in left breast.  Three tumors in my right.  Same cancer I had before.  I am a "conundrum"--this should not have happened with everything I did for treatment the last time.
• next steps:  MRI; he'll call all his head-of-oncology specialists throughout the country for suggestions.  There is no data-driven approach to my situation.  Most likely I'm looking at a minimum of 4 chemotherapy treatments with different drugs than I took before and some other long-term drug therapy.  Will know more when I meet him again on the 25th.

Then I saw my breast surgeon and the nurse:

• removed half of the staples that close my incision; put a few steri-strips on a couple of places
• removed the drains, even though they hadn't reached the level she wanted--too much redness around the drain sites
• will need to monitor the drain sites as I will probably fill up with fluid that will need to be aspirated
• will definitely have the rest of the staples removed before the MRI
• imagine I will see them again later this week or the first of next week
• will also reconnect with the lymphedema center once more of the swelling has gone down to reassess my arms and work on exercises to stretch out under my arms in particular

After my appointments, Andrew and Jamie and I went out to Fort Williams Park and Portland Head Light.  I made some phone calls and worked in my journal at a picnic table in the shade while they walked the shoreline and took pictures.  Then we went out to Two Lights and had lunch at the Lobster Shack.  What a perfect day there!  Finished off our time together with ice cream at Red's before going to the airport.  They flew out at 5:30 to LA with a change and brief stop in Cleveland.  They expect to be in LA at 11PM their time, 2 AM ours.  And Andrew has to work tomorrow but not until after 10 so he'll get some sleep. It was great to have a much time with them as I did.

A MAM-mento

Would you ever guess that I made this pin from my bras?!!!

A friend called this my MAM-mento.

The weekend that I got my diagnosis and knew my cancer was back and that I was facing a double mastectomy, I cut almost all of my bras in half. (I kept two to wear up until the surgery.)  Because the cancer was in my right breast both times, I cut the lacy fabric from each right cup.  I ironed it onto pieces of HeatNBond and then ran those through my Cuttlebug with the Tim Holtz Tattered Florals die.  Once those were cut out, I ironed them to pieces of black and white tiny floral fabric.  I cut around the edges of each flower and began stacking them up, larger to smaller.  I used the sheep button in the center to sew all of the layers together with a heavy needle and doubled thread.  I then took two pieces of bra strap that had a nice lacy edge, gathered those, and sewed them to the bottom flowers for a ruffled edge on the brooch.  On the back of this I added one more large flower to cover up my stitching.  

I wore this pin to all of my appointments up to and including my surgery.  And I will continue to pin it onto jackets and vests whenever I have a medical visit scheduled.

Saturday Update: Thank Goodness for Home Health Care

I have two great nurses from Androscoggin Home Health Care.  Trisha has been here twice to re-do the bandages, once on Thursday and again yesterday.  Irene came yesterday noon and supervised my first shower.  Hot water felt fantastic!  I washed my hair and scrubbed off the rest of the betadine.  I'm doing my stretching and other exercises every day.  Sleeping well at night in spite of the fact that I have to sleep on my back almost sitting up though I'd rather be curled up on my side.  Olive

 my cat is being very attentive and careful; she somehow knows she can't climb up the front of me to snuggle this week.   Irene will be back on Monday so I can shower once more with supervision and then I'll be on my own. Trisha will check my "wounds" and I'm hoping the bandages can stay off at that point.  I've already picked out clothes to wear to dinner and the Schooner Fare concert on Monday that will disguise the drains so it shouldn't be obvious to anyone but me.

My sister Barb is here this morning.  She brought the groceries on our list and washed Mom's hair.  She brought me a colander full of fresh fruit.  And there's another gift I can't wait to show my stamping group!

Having a fairly quiet day today--it's kind of hot and muggy so I'm doing things slowly.  Think I might sew quilt squares this afternoon by the open window to catch some of the breeze off the pond.

Guess that's it for now!

Home Again Update

Here's a copy of an e-mail I sent out this morning:

Just a quick note to you with an update.

About two weeks ago I was diagnosed with breast cancer again, a new tumor of the same kind I had before, in the same breast.  I opted for a double mastectomy to get rid of the cancer.

On Tuesday morning, Andrew (my son) and Jamie (his girlfriend) drove me to Portland to Mercy Hospital Fore River for my surgery.  They came in on Sunday evening from CA and we had all day Monday to visit and do some fun stuff.  They were able to stay with me in the prep area right up until the time they wheeled me down the hall to the OR.

 So they got to meet my surgeon and the anesthesiologist and the nurses who were caring for me and got the same information I did about the procedures in a double mastectomy.  I chose not to have the "happy juice" before surgery--I was quite relaxed and not at all fearful or anxious, my blood pressure was normal etc.  So I was awake as they wheeled me down the corridor and into the OR.  What we all appreciated so much was the calmness throughout the whole experience and everyone's positive words and approach.  I wasn't in the OR before too long when I went right to sleep as the nurse was reading the first of my affirmations. This was around 12:45.  The next thing I knew it was after 3 and I was in the Recovery area.  Shortly after I was moved to a private room on the third floor.  This evidently was part of the Mercy Hospital Birthplace--three new babies way down the hall that I never heard as well as one very pregnant woman.  One other woman had also had a mastectomy and she and I shared a nurse for the time we were there.  I'll post pictures on the blog.

view of the Fore River from my bed

would have loved a soak in this tub

best rocking chair ever, flat screen TV, sofa/bed for company

adjustable hospital bed by the window

corner sink in entryway to room

bathroom with roll-in shower

photograph of flowery path in my room

When I ordered my dinner, the person on the other end answered "Room service.  May I take your order?" I referred several times to my room as if I were staying in a first class hotel--flat screen TV, airconditioning, giant tub and shower I was not allowed to use unfortunately, and a lovely view of the Fore River out my overly large windows.  I decided not to use any narcotics after so requested that an order be put in for tylenol and that and Ibuprofen are all that I have taken.  My doctor filled out the discharge papers on Tuesday so I was free to leave the hospital on Wednesday the 4th after breakfast (room service again) and my discharge teaching procedures and rebandaging with the morning nurse.  Andrew and Jamie picked me up at 10.  We went up to the 4th floor to see some art quilts one of the nurses had told me about before leaving the hospital--a very kind nurse took me all over the 4th floor in a wheelchair looking for these quilts.  A couple of quick stops to pick up sandwiches for lunch and fruit at the grocery store and I was home by noon.

Andrew and Jamie stayed for lunch, went for a walk in the woods and over to the log cabin, we took a bunch of photos


and they left around 2:3o to go north to visit his father at Chemo Pond for a few days.  I had Andrew take my car so I wouldn't be tempted to drive, though my doctor says I should be able to drive easily by Monday.

I expect Andrew and Jamie to come back on Sunday night or Monday morning.  We have tickets to Schooner Fare at the Brunswick Summer Theatre for Monday evening and I'm looking forward to that.  Tuesday morning they'll go with me to my post-op visits with my surgeon and then with my oncologist so Andrew will know what if any follow-up treatments are planned.  Then we'll go out to the Lobster Shack at Two Lights and get ice cream at Red's before they have to fly out at 5:30.  I should be fine to drive myself home.  I'm hoping to have the drains removed that day so I'll have even more mobility.

I expect that I'll have a 6-8 week recovery time, mostly to get the use of my arms back and slowly build up lifting ability.  Right now I'm not to lift anything that weighs more than one pound.

I'm feeling great.  I slept really well last night.  My appetite is good.  And the cancer is gone!

Thanks to all of you for your positive thoughts, for reading my affirmations on the blog at http://notesfromthewoodshed.blogspot.com and for everything else you do for me.  I love you!

Anne

I'm home!

I'm home.
I'm feeling fine, just taking tylenol for pain.
I do need a nap shortly.
I'll write more later tonight or tomorrow.
Thank you for all your good thoughts sent my way!

words for surgery

Below are the words I have asked to be read to me during my surgery tomorrow.  I am to be at the hospital (Mercy Fore River, Portland) at 11 AM for a procedure that begins at 12:15.  The surgery should last about 2 hours.  I'll then go to recovery and eventually to a room for an overnight.  I should be sent home on Wednesday, July 4th and the cancer will have been removed.  Hooray!

If you feel so inclined, you might also read the statements aloud to me between 12:15 and 2:30.  Thanks!

I believe that the words spoken to me while I am unconscious have a powerful impact on my healing.  I believe in the benefits of positive statements spoken during surgery.  Thank you for reading the following statements during today's procedure.

Before surgery, please read this aloud to me 5 times:

Your operation will go very well.  Following this operation, you will feel comfortable and you will heal very well.

As surgery is about to begin, please read this aloud to me 5 times:

You will feel safe with this wonderful medical staff to take care of you.  Your body will relax which will help the operation go smoothly.

During surgery, please read this aloud to me 5 times:

Your operation is going very well.

Please feel free to talk to me and offer other words of encouragement and support.

After surgery, please read this aloud to me 5 times:

Your operation has gone very well.  You will wake up hungry and thirsty and you will be able to urinate easily.

You will be able to take slow, deep breaths that will help your body start the healing process.

Your body will comfortably adjust to the changes and heal nicely.  The drains will work efficiently and effectively.

You will feel your strength returning as you do the daily exercises, and your body will heal smoothly because of this.

You will have a healthy appetite every day and sleep well at night.

Almost ready...

for Andrew and Jamie, that is!  They will be arriving this evening.  I pick them up at the airport around 7 if all goes well.  But they are coming through Newark, so anything can happen!  We're hoping for seafood at the Lobster Shack tonight.

Just a few more boxes to stack up and the kitchen sink to clean and I'm pretty ready!