Plastic Surgeon Appt

WOW!!!   I had an appointment with my plastic surgeon today.  I thought we would be discussing my impending surgery and exactly how the reconstruction was going to happen.  I had my questions prepared for my recovery and felt content with my decision. 

Dr Kroniwitz then informed me that my surgical oncologist, Dr Hunt, has me scheduled for the mastectomy with delayed reconstruction not immediate reconstruction as we had thought and planned for.  I won't go into all the details of how upset I got and all of his explanations.  I will speak to Dr Hunt's PA tomorrow and figure out where the miscommunication happened.  

Dr Hunt feels that there is still a possibility that my lymph nodes may have some cancerous cells.  She does not want Dr Kronowitz to do reconstruction with that possibility.  If my lymph nodes come back with cancerous cells then radiation will be my next step or maybe another surgery to remove all the lymph nodes.  The radiation will have a negative effect on the reconstruction and it would basically need to be redone.  I would lose the ability to use the abdominal tissue - the DIEP procedure can only be performed once.

Soooo - it looks as though I might only be in the hospital one night with a much shorter recovery afterwards.  I should get the results from the lymph nodes in about a week after surgery unless they see something during surgery.  Next course of action could be radiation or the reconstruction.  Only time will tell!

I will know more after I talk to Dr Hunt's PA tomorrow.  I will try to post tomorrow before I head out to the relay.  I hope to see many of you out there!

Love you guys!

Terrie

Final Chemo...forever I hope!

My final day of chemo was this afternoon.  It was sort of a bitter sweet ending.  I almost broke into tears telling Dr. Popatia goodbye.  As I am leaving all the really sweet nurses and office staff, I should be bouncing off the walls with the thought of no more toxic drugs, but I will miss those guys, they are THAT sweet!

In the last few weeks I have been super-sensitive to smells.  All of sudden I catch of whiff of something and I get extremely nauseous.  Today during my treatment it happened - all because of the intense smell of alcohol.  Even writing about it now makes my mouth start watering with the thought of vomiting.  So needless to say, my treatment today was not that great.  I felt horrible the entire time.

I am VERY excited with the anticipation of never having to have chemotherapy again.  I am so ready for this to be over... there is light at the end of the tunnel.  Only a few more items to check off the list before I consider myself to be cancer free.

My last treatment went fairly well with the addition of the steroid.  I'm hoping this last one follows suit.  I have many Easter celebrations to attend so I don't have time to be sick.  

I was very pleased that my hair was starting to grow back - short lived pleasure.  A couple of days ago it began to fall out again.  My hair right now is about an inch long and when I wash it or towel dry it - it's coming out in clumps.  So I guess Jim will shave it one more time so I won't have hair all over the house.

What's next???  Well, I get a few weeks off and then surgery.  I check into the hospital on May 6th.  During those few weeks I will be finishing up all of the fundraising for my Relay for Life team.  We are selling raffle tickets right now - awesome prizes (marriot gift pack, spa, guided fishing trip, handmade wooden glider, Wii, John Deere riding lawn mower, teeth whitening).  Let me know if you want some!!!  Our Bunko fundraiser was a HUGE success - we raised $3,370 that night.  A special thank you goes out to Polly Andrews, Don & Lisa Barcak, Anne Barcak, Steve & Gail Wendtland, Walt & Karen Wendtland, Elizabeth Fairfield, Lauren Beheler, Jole Holachak, Liz Stain and countless more for all their hard work to make the night a success.  Oh yes and my husband for all the nights he took care of the kids while I worked on this.

Please join me and my Terrie's Top Guns team at the night of the Relay it will be a fun family activity (we will have a train ride for the kids and all sorts of goodies).  Visit the website listed on the right for information about the relay or email me!

Once again, I continue to be surrounded by awesome supporters - thanks for all the food, child care, rides, and mental support.  It's been a rough ride and it's starting to wear on me.

One special note, please keep Walt Wendtland in your prayers.  He is in the hospital with some intestinal issues.  He was ill the night of my Bunko and still tried to support me.  They took him to the emergency room the next morning.  He needs my support now.  Get well soon Walt!

I love you all!  Have a blessed Easter!

Terrie