Thank you for caring about me and being concerned about my condition.
Cancer has been part of my life since 2007, though from 2008-2011, I was cancer-free. In July 2011, my medical team detected a small recurrence.
Cancer will always be part of my life and writing, so I may write about it when I am healthy or I may ignore it when I am sick. The main posts on my blog will likely reflect this ambivalence and will be an accurate accounting of the state of my soul.
But because so many people also want to know how I am doing physically, I decided to keep a more straight forward record of those details here. I will update this area when something changes, but please know that my condition may not change daily, weekly or even monthly. If you read here that things are fine or not fine physically, and there has been no update for 9 weeks, please assume that news is still the same.
And again, thank you. Knowing that you care means so much to me.
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Thursday, November 17, 2011
I am finished with radiation as of Nov. 7, and I've spent the past week trying to recover from the treatment. Thankfully, I am recovering quickly. I joined a gym and am doing some strength and aerobic training by taking a water aerobics class twice a week.
I have met with both oncologists, and they are hopeful that this cancer might be cured this time. However, it is still possible there will be another/more recurrences. For now, I am cancer-free, and there is no cancer to treat. So, I am trying to continue on with my life.
I do have one other follow-up appointment with a urologist later this month to try to determine what is causing the occasional cystitis I have had for the past three or so years. There is no indication that it is cancer. In fact, the current theory is that it may be a long-term side effect of previous radiation therapy. I won't go into the details of the test I may have to have, but let's just say I'm not looking forward to it.
On a good note: during my surgery back in August, the surgeon cut through and removed several adhesions (scar tissue) from previous surgeries. As a result, the intermittent discomfort and pain in my abdomen that I had experienced off and on for the past four years now seems gone. That is a huge answer to prayer.
Thank you for your continued prayer.
Monday, October 10, 2011
My CA125 test came back as a 9, down in the normal/negative range for cancer. As my medical team had hoped, it appears as if the surgery alone actually removed all of the active cancer. The radiation therapy will be precautionary to destroy any rogue cancer cells that remained behind.
Sunday, October 9, 2011
I feel mostly recovered from surgery, though I still have some mild pain in my abdomen.
The real news is that I started radiation on October 4, and had four treatments last week. I will have a total of 25-28 treatments. I go each weekday until they are complete.
I am already experiencing some fatigue and mild nausea, but just enough to be discouraging.
Thanks for your continued concern and prayer.
Friday, August 26, 2011
I received word from my surgeon's office today that the pathology on all of the samples removed during surgery came back completely as expected. The cancer was present in the one lymph node only, but there was no evidence of any other cancer anywhere else in my pelvic/abdominal cavity.
Monday, my gynecologic oncologist will take my case to "conference" with other gynecologic oncologists and radiation oncologists to continue to discuss "where now?". We are still expecting radiation, and after that meeting, I should actually have an appointment scheduled with my previous radiation oncologist to plan for the treatment.
I am improving daily, and in fact, starting to go a little stir crazy. I am no longer taking narcotics for pain and am not just taking Advil. It's working surprisingly well to take the edge off the remaining pain. Also, I have been trying to be on my feet more and sit up straight more in preparation for work. I went out for lunch today, walked around the yard, and wore pants with a zipper and button for the first time.
I am planning to work four hours on Monday, and then adjust the plan from there.
I am so thankful to Jesus that I am doing so well and recovering so quickly.
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
My surgery went as expected on August 18. The surgeon was able to remove the cancerous lymph node. He also found some adhesions on my intestines, small sticky areas of scar tissue that cause them to stick together and create pain as the digested food moves through. These are likely the cause of my off and on pain over the past couple of years. He cut those apart, and hopefully, I will experience some relief from that, too. I was in the hospital until Monday, August 22, waiting to regather some strength and to allow my digestive system to wake back up from the anesthetic. I also had to move from epidural or oral pain medications.
Now that I am home, I am getting around slowly, sleeping a lot, and experiencing a fair amount of pain. I am taking things one day at a time. I had hoped to go back to work next Monday, August 29, and I am still working toward that goal. I am being cared for by friends and family, eating lots of good meals and having just the right amount of company (when you sleep 12 hours a night, plus naps, like I've been doing, there's hardly time for company!).
The surgeon took samples of the abdominal fluid, the lymph node, and anything else he could find to send off for pathology tests as the final confirmation of the cancer. Should that all come back as expected, I will meet with the radiation oncologist sometime in the next three weeks to begin planning for radiation. I should get the staples removed from my incision some time next week.
Friday, August 12, 2011
I had surgery prescreening tests this past week and passed with flying colors. I am slowly getting things done at work, and now I am on the home stretch. A friend is organizing a little help for me while I am out of commission. If you'd like to help, let me know and I'll have her add you to the list. I appreciate your prayers. Could you please ask Jesus to help me wait patiently in these final few days?
Monday, August 1, 2011
I am finished with radiation as of Nov. 7, and I've spent the past week trying to recover from the treatment. Thankfully, I am recovering quickly. I joined a gym and am doing some strength and aerobic training by taking a water aerobics class twice a week.
I have met with both oncologists, and they are hopeful that this cancer might be cured this time. However, it is still possible there will be another/more recurrences. For now, I am cancer-free, and there is no cancer to treat. So, I am trying to continue on with my life.
I do have one other follow-up appointment with a urologist later this month to try to determine what is causing the occasional cystitis I have had for the past three or so years. There is no indication that it is cancer. In fact, the current theory is that it may be a long-term side effect of previous radiation therapy. I won't go into the details of the test I may have to have, but let's just say I'm not looking forward to it.
On a good note: during my surgery back in August, the surgeon cut through and removed several adhesions (scar tissue) from previous surgeries. As a result, the intermittent discomfort and pain in my abdomen that I had experienced off and on for the past four years now seems gone. That is a huge answer to prayer.
Thank you for your continued prayer.
::
Monday, October 10, 2011
My CA125 test came back as a 9, down in the normal/negative range for cancer. As my medical team had hoped, it appears as if the surgery alone actually removed all of the active cancer. The radiation therapy will be precautionary to destroy any rogue cancer cells that remained behind.
::
Sunday, October 9, 2011
I feel mostly recovered from surgery, though I still have some mild pain in my abdomen.
The real news is that I started radiation on October 4, and had four treatments last week. I will have a total of 25-28 treatments. I go each weekday until they are complete.
I am already experiencing some fatigue and mild nausea, but just enough to be discouraging.
Thanks for your continued concern and prayer.
::
Friday, August 26, 2011
I received word from my surgeon's office today that the pathology on all of the samples removed during surgery came back completely as expected. The cancer was present in the one lymph node only, but there was no evidence of any other cancer anywhere else in my pelvic/abdominal cavity.
Monday, my gynecologic oncologist will take my case to "conference" with other gynecologic oncologists and radiation oncologists to continue to discuss "where now?". We are still expecting radiation, and after that meeting, I should actually have an appointment scheduled with my previous radiation oncologist to plan for the treatment.
I am improving daily, and in fact, starting to go a little stir crazy. I am no longer taking narcotics for pain and am not just taking Advil. It's working surprisingly well to take the edge off the remaining pain. Also, I have been trying to be on my feet more and sit up straight more in preparation for work. I went out for lunch today, walked around the yard, and wore pants with a zipper and button for the first time.
I am planning to work four hours on Monday, and then adjust the plan from there.
I am so thankful to Jesus that I am doing so well and recovering so quickly.
::
My surgery went as expected on August 18. The surgeon was able to remove the cancerous lymph node. He also found some adhesions on my intestines, small sticky areas of scar tissue that cause them to stick together and create pain as the digested food moves through. These are likely the cause of my off and on pain over the past couple of years. He cut those apart, and hopefully, I will experience some relief from that, too. I was in the hospital until Monday, August 22, waiting to regather some strength and to allow my digestive system to wake back up from the anesthetic. I also had to move from epidural or oral pain medications.
Now that I am home, I am getting around slowly, sleeping a lot, and experiencing a fair amount of pain. I am taking things one day at a time. I had hoped to go back to work next Monday, August 29, and I am still working toward that goal. I am being cared for by friends and family, eating lots of good meals and having just the right amount of company (when you sleep 12 hours a night, plus naps, like I've been doing, there's hardly time for company!).
The surgeon took samples of the abdominal fluid, the lymph node, and anything else he could find to send off for pathology tests as the final confirmation of the cancer. Should that all come back as expected, I will meet with the radiation oncologist sometime in the next three weeks to begin planning for radiation. I should get the staples removed from my incision some time next week.
::
Friday, August 12, 2011
I had surgery prescreening tests this past week and passed with flying colors. I am slowly getting things done at work, and now I am on the home stretch. A friend is organizing a little help for me while I am out of commission. If you'd like to help, let me know and I'll have her add you to the list. I appreciate your prayers. Could you please ask Jesus to help me wait patiently in these final few days?
::
Monday, August 1, 2011
A little more information about my surgery: it will definitely be an open surgery - which means a slightly longer recovery, and it will be at 2:30 p.m. on Thursday, August 18. There are a hundred things to do between now and then, including arranging for a little help the first weekend I am home, preparing and freezing food, finding a place for Tilly to stay, finishing up a few projects at work. Please pray that I will trust the Lord in the big AND small details of what's next.
::
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
I found out today that my surgery will be on August 18. Based on my work and travel schedules, that is probably the absolute best possible day for it to fall on. I am praying that the Lord would help me staying mentally and spiritually strong as I wait for the treatment to begin. I also am trying to have hopeful yet realistic expectations for how quickly I might recover. I'm young, but I'm no Spring chicken!
::
Monday, July 25, 2011
I met with the surgeon today - a gynecologic oncologist - and he was very positive and hopeful about the treatment for this recurrence. He confirmed that surgery is the best next step, and that he would prefer to do open surgery rather than laporoscopy so that he can have the best possible look at what's happening inside me.
Also, he would prefer to do radiation therapy as a follow up - not chemotherapy. He will be consulting with the radiation oncologist this evening or in the morning to confirm this course of care, and tomorrow I should have a surgery date and a better sense of the timing. The surgery will likely be in the next 2-3 weeks; the radiation a little later.
Thankfully, the doctor did not seem to think it would put me at any risk to work the radiation therapy around two trips I have planned in late September. This was a huge answer to prayer, as I am very much looking forward to the trips and I have employers who are counting on me to make them.
Thanks again for your continued prayer. I should have more specifics tomorrow.
::
Saturday, July 23, 2011
A small, 2-cm tumor has been detected in one lymph node in my left external iliac chain (between my belly button and pelvic bone). I will meet with the surgeon to discuss options and scheduling on Monday, July 25. I will definitely have surgery sometime in the next two-three weeks. I will also have either chemotherapy or radiation. If this recurrence is far enough away from the area where I have previously had radiation, then most likely I will receive radiation again. However, if radiation of this area is not possible, then I will most likely receive some type of chemotherapy.
