Blanket of Love and Support: September 2011

"The heart of autumn must have broken here, and poured its treasures out upon the leaves." - Charlote Flake Bates

Welcome

Thank you for stopping by to show your love and support. You are a part of this amazing and unexpected journey I am on and I'm so glad to have you here. The outpouring of love and care has been truely amazing and I thank you all.

It has been overwhelming to process all this new information and keep everyone informed with the latest news. To help facilitate that, my dear sister Janis has set up this blog so you can check in at your convenience for updates or sign up for an email alert when I've posted a new entry. You are welcome and encouraged to leave feedback and replies and I will do my best to keep up with them.

I am employing the power of positive thinking, humor in all its delights and visualization of the chemotherapy as piranhas eating up the cancer cells. I welcome any and all positive thoughts, prayers, encouragement, humor or witicism you have to offer. All belief systems are welcome- no gods or godessess will be turned away.

My mantra is "I am healthy. I am strong. My life is abundant and whatever I need will be there for me when I need it." Only good is coming from this and indeed it's already here in the love and care you are sending to me. Thank you!

Timeline

January 14, 2009 - One year anniversary of the end of treatment!
October 22, 2008 - Anniversary of surgery.
June 14, 2008 - A year ago today the lump was found.
May 22, 2008 - The monthly shots of Zoladex are no longer working to keep estrogen levels low enough for menopause which is what the adjuvent cancer drug therapy requires. Options are weighed.
May 11, 2008 - Jan RUNS the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure!
May 9, 2008 - Six month post-surgery check up at the Mayo. Mamogram, CT scan and MRI are done. A spot under the left arm is found during the breast MRI and further tests, an ultrasound and fine needle aspiration, are done. It's confirmed to be scar tissue from the surgery.
March 11, 2008 - Karen's first hair cut! It's really more of a trim over the ears but hair is cut nonetheless. It's still thick as it was before but the color has changed to a shimmery fawn from strawberry blonde. The hair on the head is very much attached and staying in place but the eyebrows keep coming in and then falling out. What the heck?
February 2, 2008 - My dear friends Wendy and Chuck hosted a wonderful 'End of Treatment Celebration'! Their home was packed with freinds and family. It was a really beautiful celebration of and testament to the power of love.
February 1, 2008 - After a day of tests we meet with Dr. P to discuss the findings for the ovarian cyst. Here's to getting a second opinion: there is no cyst. Instead, it's benign unterine fibroids. And the spot on the lung and the liver remain unchanged: it's a clean bill of health!
January 31, 2008 - It's three months post surgery. Follow up appointments are scheduled at the Mayo.
January 14, 2008 - FDA approval is procured: radiation is complete!
December 17, 2007 - The aromatase inhibitor Arimidex is added to the daily pill line-up. Though already in menopause, which means the ovaries are no longer producing estrogen, the Arimidex will stop the second source of estrogen produced by the adrenal glands. Taking this drug for the next five-plus years will remove the final significant source of fuel for this estrogen-positive cancer.
December 14, 2007 - Week three of radiation is completed. The halfway point is just around the corner!
December 7, 2007 - Janis and Karen meet again today to discuss with the radiologist what was found with the MRI. These images, too, are inconclusive so they will all- the CT, ultrasound and MRI- be sent down to her doctors at the Mayo. Once Karen has completed the radiation treatment, she'll meet with her doctors there to discuss the next step for the cyst.
December 6, 2007 - Janis attends the meeting with the radiologist to discuss the findings of the ultrasound on the ovarian cyst, one of the unexpected spots found in the CT scan. It is inconclusive. Karen is sent for an MRI to get a better look.
December 1, 2007 - In the first snow storm of the season Karen heads out to get her first tatoos. Four new brown dots are added to the landscape. The tatoo artists asks if she'd like anything more than the dots and after a little consideration Karen selects a big heart for her shoulder that reads 'Pistol Packin' Mama', or at least that's what she tells her mother...
November 29, 2007 - The results from the CT scan come back with a few unexpected spots. The radiologist believes that at this point they are so small that they are nothing to worry about but will just continued to be montiored. Karen also finds out today that she falls into the 'high risk for recurrance' category. This news coupled with the scan results makes for a difficult day.
November 26, 2007 - Mom and Dad drive down just to be there for the first day of radiation. They also promise to be there for the last treatment which will be in early January. Janis joins to help Karen embark on the next part of this unexpected journey. Family is a beautiful thing!
November 22, 2007 - Thanksgiving is spent with dear freinds who have gathered for the last eight years to share the day together. Such good food and good company! The rest of the weekend is spent sleeping as the week and a half back at work have been exhasuting.
November 19, 2007 - A good portion of the day is spent at the radiologists where Karen is marked up for her treatments which begin the Monday after Thanksgiving. In the appointment last week she asked Dr. N a question no one had ever asked before: What are the color choices for the tattoos? The answers, black or blue, don't appeal to Karen's asthetics so she'll investigate bringing in her own brown ink. A body scan is done at this appointment as well.
November 14, 2007 - The day is spent down at the Mayo meeting with the lymphadema specialist and our oncologist. Blood tests are done to confirm that Karen is in menopause (who knew there were tests for that?). The test results aren't all available that day so Dr. P talks through the two possible drug therapy treatments. Once the test results are all back she'll know which route will be the best for Karen.
November 13, 2007 - We meet with our new radiologist and set a course to begin radiation treatment. This is done daily Monday through Friday here in the Cities. The appointment goes well and a new member is added to 'the team'. The Kelley's celebrate an early Thanksgiving at Janis' house.
November 12, 2007 - It's back in the saddle as Karen returns to work. Her only question: when's my nap?
November 5, 2007 - This week is marked by much kindness from friends as Karen cannot yet drive. Friends who have been offering to help since the start are enlisted in the transport of the gal with one good arm. A heartfelt thank you to all who continue to bring dinners, do laundry and drive!!
November 2, 2007 - Karen says a fond farewell to the hospitality and warmth at Casa del Ott and heads home. Janis stays over to help her get settled back into her own space. Wendy has sent along body pillows and along with the pillow 'chair' and neck support Mom and Dad got for her she's able to make a nest for herself in her bed. She still sleeps sitting up as the arm and shoulder and very sensitive.
October 30, 2007 - Surgery follow-up visit to check on progress and remove drainage tube. Following removal of the tube, Karen will be able to move her arm more, but not above shoulder height nor carry more than ten pounds. She will begin doing more exercises to discourage lymphadema (swelling) in her arm.
October 27, 2007 - Karen is going on short walks around the neighborhood several times during the day and visiting with a few friends who come by. The underarm fluid drain is collecting very little each day ensuring its removal during the follow-up visit. Pain management is improving with more time between dosing passing and intensity decreasing.
October 26, 2007 - Wendy and Chuck do an amazing job of taking care of Karen, monitoring her pain meds, providing emotional support and laughter.
October 25, 2007 - The recliner at the Econolodge worked beautifully as a make-shift hospital bed and Mom fashioned a neck-supporting pillow out of rolled towels. Karen slept well and long. We left for St. Paul around 2:30. At Karen's request, we made a stop at Little Oscars outside of Cannon Falls for pie. We got Karen settled in at Wendy and Chuck Ott's around 5:30 p.m.
October 24, 2007 - Karen had two 4-hour blocks of uninterrupted sleep at night and another 2.5 hours in the morning. She was up and walking and looking significantly improved from the previous days. She is given the option to stay another night or be discharged. Karen realizes she will not have the wonderful care provided by the nursing staff once home and so she feels it best to be near the hospital in case they are needed, but to try going it on our own that night at the hotel.
October 23, 2007 - Uncontrolled pain, muscle cramping and insufficient sleep require Karen be admitted for another night. Late afternoon meeting with the doctors, nursing staff and family results in a proper plan to provide Karen with better pain management and an opportunity to get uninterrupted sleep.
October 22, 2007 - Surgery scheduled at Methodist Hospital with Dr. Boughey. Pre-op begins at 6:45 a.m., surgery at 11:30 a.m., brought out of recovery at 5:30 p.m. Tumor and axillary lymph nodes are removed. Kept overnight for observation.
October 11, 2007 - After examination, Dr. Peethambraham decides that the Karen's level of neuropathy (tingling in hands and feet) is nearly at a level three and she is uncomfortable going ahead with Taxol today. She provides three possible courses of action from this point for Karen to consider with respect to delaying chemo administration and surgery.
October 8, 2007 - Scheduled for Third round of Taxol. Appointment is rescheduled for Thursday, October, 11th due to Dr. P's popularity and full schedule.
September 24, 2007 - Second round of Taxol chemo. Kyle is able to come to Rochester as well. In a change of routine, Dr. Peethambraham determines the Neulasta injection the following day is not necessary because Karen's blood counts have consistently been good.
September 11, 2007 - Karen wakes up in the morning from a full night's sleep in a bed and without the multiple trips to the bathroom (no steroid pounding for anti-nausea with Taxol). We meet with Dr. Gamble at the Mayo's Lymphedema Clinic to get more information on this possible side effect of removing the lymph nodes under the arm pit (axillary nodes). She provided us with a lot of helpful information and brought in a physical therapist to show Karen some stretching exercise she can begin doing before the surgery.
September 10, 2007 - Halfway through the chemo! YEAH! Begin the final four bi-weekly chemo treatments of a new drug - Taxol. The drug has different side effects that the first combination and these area typically milder. Delivery of the chemo, however, takes 3 1/2 hours compared to the previous 45-60 minutes.
August 30, 2007 - The fatigue is starting to nip at Karen's heals and, at times, trip her all together. She learns to package all activities into small, manageable packages and run on short bursts of energy instead.
August 27, 2007 - Karen's friends Lori and Sara accompany her for her last Adreomyacin and Cytoxan chemo treatment. EVER! They celebrate by having a wonderful meal at a tapas restaurant.
August 18, 2007 - Karen's 40th Birthday!
August 13, 2007 - Third chemotherapy treatment and requested appointment with Dr. Boughey to discuss surgery options further.
August 3, 2007 - Mark and Shirley give a gift of headwraps and caps. Perfect timing as Karen sports chemo hair.
August 1, 2007 - Karen's hair is coming out in clumps: break out the vintage hats! Some nausea and reflux has developed.
July 31, 2007 Class on "Nutrition During and After Cancer Treatment" and receive Neulasta injection. Look at wigs.
July 30, 2007 - Hair begins to fall out en route to Mayo for second chemotherapy treatment. Bloodwork is in normal range. During exam, Oncologist Dr. P says "Where is it?" She feels it is more of a thickening now than a lump!!!
July 26, 2007 - Karen says that she finally feels "back to myself" She has tolerated the side effects incredibly well; only minor mouth sores, uneasy stomach.
July 17, 2007 - Return 24 hours later for injection of Neulasta to help boost the white blood cell count. Attend educational classes on 'What to Expect During Chemotherapy' and try-on wigs.
July 16, 2007 - First chemotherapy treatment. Karen receives two drugs intravenously - Adreomyacin and Cytoxan. Anti-nausea steroids are prescribed every day for four days. These make falling asleep and staying asleep difficult it is found, but are worth the trouble.
July 11, 2007 - Dr. Williams calls and reports that the lymph nodes show presence of breast cancer cells within them.
July 10, 2007 - Second opinion at Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN at 6:45 a.m. Meet with Dr. Connie Williams. Additional bloodwork, ultrasound, fine needle aspiration of the lymph nodes and marker placement ordered. Dr. Williams recommends a staff surgeon, Dr. Judy Boughey, over the chief resident surgeon, and schedules appointment for later that day. Also meet with Dr. Prema Peethabraham, Oncology who gives Karen the option to begin chemo today, but Karen opts to wait the weekend. Surgical options are discussed with Dr. Judy Boughie who reports the Mayo ultrasound confirms the tumor at just under 4cm.
July 6, 2007 - Breast-specific MRI is performed in St. Paul. Dr. Ogren reports on Monday, 7/9, that the estimated tumor size is 5cm.
July 3, 2007 - Initial consultation with surgeon, Dr. Diane Ogren at St. Paul Surgery in Maplewood who recommended surgery followed by chemotherapy and radiation (adjuvent therapies).
July 2, 2007 - At the urging of her dear freind Tom, an appointment is scheduled at the Mayo Clinic for a second opinion.
June 28, 2006 - Biopsy pathology report from biopsy confirms tumor is an Infilitrating Ductal Carcinoma (IDC), and is estrogen and progestrone negative. Biopsy sample is sent to Mayo for HER/2-neu testing.
June 26, 2007 - Mammogram and breast ultrasound at St. Paul Radiology. Radiologist, Dr. Leach, suspects cancer and a biopsy is performed on-site.
June 18, 2007 - Primary physician Dr. Amy Gilbert examines lump and suggests mammogram, ultrasound and biopsy
June 14, 2007 - Found lump in left breast this morning
May 9, 2007 - Very thorough breast exam at annual exam

Blanket of Love and Support

Friday, September 30, 2011

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