Radiation Soon

Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.

Romans 12:12 

Tomorrow (April 30th) will be exactly 6 weeks since I had my surgery.  Everyday I am making progress which feels wonderful to report!  I am working on some arm exercises and getting closer and closer to being able to raise them straight up.  That is a big deal!  There was a window of time where I wondered if it would happen again.  I am still a little sore and not completely healed.  That could still take weeks or even months.

Last week on Monday (April 21st) I had a consultation appointment with the radiation oncologist.  I don't have a definite date that I will start radiation but I will get the process started next week on Tuesday, May 6th.  They will begin by doing a CT scan, set 'markers' for the radiation, and then do a 'dry run' to see if they are satisfied with where the markers are set. (From what I understand, this does not all happen on the same day)  After all of that I will be ready to begin with the radiation treatments.  I will have 33 treatments which should take 6 1/2 weeks going Monday through Friday except for any holidays.  I anticipate that this will take until the end of June but I do not know for sure yet.

I am continuing to get stronger everyday.  I have been trying to exercise and take long walks (my dog Max loves the long walks!).  My arms are still somewhat limited but hopefully that will not be for much longer!  I haven't had much success losing weight but I am trying to be patient with that.  My eyebrows and eyelashes continue to grow and the hair on my head is slowly growing (about 1/2 inch).   There is a big difference with how my fingernails look now.  Before my diagnosis, I would get fake nails because my real nails were very thin and curved under when they grew.  During chemo, my nails were very brittle and my fingertips looked almost claw-like which can be a normal side effect.  Now though, my nails are growing straight and they are very strong!! I am liking that very much!!  I am not yet to the point of calling them pretty nails, but they are most definitely prettier than in the past!!

Since surgery, I have had a few times where my emotions have gotten the best of me.  I know that it could be a lingering effect of the chemo and I also think that some of it is from finally being able to "exhale" after these last 7+ months. It usually doesn't last long, but wow, there are times that I cry so easily.  Usually I can link it to being tired but let this serve as a warning! Haha!  If you see me or are with me and I start crying, just keep acting normal and I will get it under control!!  You might have to tell me a joke first, but I WILL stop :)

I have been able to get out more and see people which has been wonderful!  I have been able to go to church and I have also been able to go back to my school for some partial days which has been great!  I have missed the students and my coworkers so much!  They have given me so much strength throughout everything I have been through.  They have also been there for each other.  This has been a tough year for my school not only with my diagnosis, but some of my coworkers have also faced some serious health issues.  Today another coworker became seriously ill.  I will not share details but I will ask that you pray for him as you have so diligently prayed for me!  Thank you!

May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy, giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.

Colossians 1:11-12 

God is SO Good!  All the Time!

Progress Update :)

"So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."

~Isaiah 41:10

Well it has been two and a half weeks since I had my surgery (March 19th).  It has been a lonnnngggggggg two and a half weeks.  I had to have the drainage tubes in for the full 2 weeks after surgery.  I got them out on Tuesday, April 1st.  One word - HALLELUJAH!!

Immediately after surgery I was feeling pretty good.  I was sore but not in a lot of pain.  It was this way for about 3 days and then I started feeling more and more pain and soreness.  That is when I finally started taking my pain medication which did help to take the edge off of the pain.  If I had to describe the pain, it would be like a burning, painful tingling feeling.  I think this is because of affected nerve endings.  Extremely sensitive to even the slightest touch.  A lot of this pain has been in the armpit area.  It has felt very tight and I have had limited arm movement.  My left arm has been far worse because this was the side where lymph nodes were removed.  Since the tubes have been out I have felt some improvement but I am still needing to take the pain medication and still have limited movement with my arms...mostly the left side.  (By the way, I am left handed....)  I have been told that it could take up to 2 months or more to get full mobility back in my arms.  I have some 'exercises' that I have been doing to try to help with this progress.

Despite all of this, I finally got out of the house! Riding in the car isn't fully comfortable but I was really ready to get out and about and have a sense of "normal"!  Last night Mike and I went out to eat and to the movies to see "God's Not Dead" which I HIGHLY recommend!  What a great movie!  I will probably go see it again sometime!   Tonight I am going to see Mandisa in concert!!!  I am so excited about this!  Her song 'Overcomer' has been a huge source of strength and comfort for me!!  Tomorrow I will be going to church!  I am also very excited about this!  In the last 6 months I have been watching the services through live streaming with the exception of 2 times that I got to actually go to the church for services.  I am so looking forward to being back!

Coming up next...
I will be starting radiation soon.  I am not sure of exact dates yet but it will probably be in around 2-3 weeks.  I will be doing that locally and I am pretty sure it will be in Mt. Vernon.  I do not know yet how long I will have to have radiation treatments.

The doctors were very pleased with the results of my pathology from the surgery.  The surgeon removed a 'pocket' of lymph nodes which ended up being 13 altogether.  Out of the 13 lymph nodes that were removed, 4 of them had been affected by the cancer.  Of these 4, they did find scattered microscopic unhealthy cancer cells.  That is not the ideal finding but they were encouraged by the fact that the cells were scattered (not clustered) and that they were unhealthy (the chemo had zapped them pretty good!).  But overall, these unhealthy scattered cells were removed during the surgery!!! THREE times my surgeon said that I was CANCER FREE!!  (I had her repeat it for me...I just wanted to hear it over and over!!)

After the radiation my doctors will continue to monitor me every couple months.  I am not eligible for a maintenance pill that some patients take for 5 years.  This is because of my triple negative diagnosis.  I can't really tell you what the triple negative means other than the cancer was not estrogen fed or hormone fed.  There is more to it but it is so over my head even though I tried to learn as much as I could.

My doctor does think I am a candidate for a study that is waiting to be approved by the FDA.  It will be up to me if I want to be a participant but that is several months in the future.  I will pray about it but I am not going to spend a lot of time thinking about it right now.

Doctors orders:  try to get things back to normal!  Of course it will be a new normal for me but it will be great to be back out in the real world again!  Other than the after effects of surgery I am feeling great!  I have taken several walks and feel like my legs have their strength back!  I need to get exercise from being so inactive for 6 months...the weight has changed more than I would like to admit.

My hair is starting (very slowly) to grow back.  I can see a few eyelashes on the top so there is progress being made!  It will take a while for all of this but that is okay!!  Hearing my surgeon say cancer free seems to make all of that other stuff very minimal!!

We are still very thankful for so much support!  For the 2 weeks after surgery we had meals delivered every single day from friends at church.  This was incredible and so kind!  Our Immanuel family knows how to live love and they have loved us so much!!

God is Good!!  All the Time!!