RESULTS FROM CHEMO

Well I haven't been able to write anything because I have been very sick the last several days. I have been nauseous, had serious heartburn, abdominal cramps, diarrhea, and stiff neck. I kept thinking this would last only a couple of days and here we are on the fifth day. Well I have hope for tomorrow.

I had my first chemo treatment today. Everything went fine. I was there for about five hours but it shouldn't take that long the next times. I had a bad moment in my head for just a few minutes because I think it hit me that I really do have cancer because I am sitting in a room with 12 other people having chemotherapy. But the moment passed and I was fine. There were people there from young to old. At least there wasn't any children. I don't know if I could handle that. So I guess I wait and see how the side effects happen.

Mom's first chemo treatment is tomorrow, Friday at 1:00. She is so brave and doesn't seem to be nervous at all. The chemo room has tons of stuff to do like movies, video games, books, games, etc. She'll be there for about 4 hours, so I think we've decided to watch Avatar. Everyone pray that there are as few side effects as possible and that it KILLS that stupid cancer quick!!!

Love,

Tara

Today I saw a one of our ER doctor's in the hallway that I have become friends with and he asked me why I was at work. I asked him what he thought I should be doing and he asked me if I ever saw the movie The Bucket List. I looked at him and said I wasn't going to die. He basically told me I was. It was a little disconcerting. So when I met with the surgeon today I asked him if I was going to die.Basically he told me that I wasn't going to die anytime soon but my chances of making it much past five to ten years was slim. I am still processing that. From the time this all started I never thought I was going to die and I still don't think I will. I keep telling everyone I am a tough old broad so I guess it is time to prove it. I meet with my oncologist on Wednesday and then I should start Chemo on Thursday or Friday.

STAGE FOUR CANCER

Today the doctors office called and said my biopsy from my back is positive which means it has for sure metasticized. I am now in stage four cancer. The good news is I don't have to have any more tests for a while. I should probably start chemo next week. All your prayers are really appreciated. I can really use them.

NOT A GREAT DAY

So I got a call from Dr. Grays office today. They called to give me results of a couple of tests. First of all they confirmed that the lymph nodes are indeed cancerous which I already knew anyway. Then they said that the other mass in my breast is most likely cancer which just means that I don't have the option of a lumpectomy. She also said that there are some legions on my sternum that are much bigger then they were a month ago so that is a concern. I didn't even know I had legions on my sternum. It just keeps getting better and better.
After that I headed to Mayo for my bone biopsy. That was not a fun experience. My last bone biopsy was no big deal but this was a whole different experience. The doctor decided he just wanted to do this by local sedation so everytime he moved the needle deeper it would hurt so then he would give me more local sedation. This went on and on. I tried very hard to be strong but I have to admit that the tears did escape once in a while. It took a very long time and the doctor said it was the hardest one he had ever done but he did say he got an awesome sample so woohoo for that. Anyway tomorrow is another day.

So we just got back from our little mini vacation. It was great except I kept getting really tired. This is going to be a busy week. l am having a MRI at Mayo Clinic tomorrow to see if there is another tumor in my breast and then on Thursday I am going to Mayo again for another Bone biopsy. The radiologists there think there is a possibility so here we go again. I wish I could just start treatment and get on with it.