One Month To Go

I met with Dr Brian yesterday and we are on for the 18th of September. She will do a Right Modified Radical Mastectomy, a Left Simple Mastectomy and port removal. They said she would probably take 1 1/2 hours and then Dr Heistein will do his part which will take longer than that so I will be out a good while. I won't go into all that Dr Heistein is going to do again, if you missed it check the post from August 8th. It will be at Harris Methodist Southlake and the dr said I will love the hospital. All the rooms are private and they said are very spacious. I think they are tyring to make it sound like a hotel. Anyway, they are a specialist in breast cancer treatment which is what really matters. I have to be there at 8am and surgery will start around 10am. I will have appointments on the 17th for pre-op. I go to Dr Brian's office at 11:00 and Dr Heisteins office at 3:30. We are going to stay the night in Southlake since I have to be there so early. They said I will only be in the hospital two days so I should go home on Sunday. I think that is about it for surgery.

I will have a CAT scan on Sept 3rd and meet with Dr Crim again on Sept 8th. He just wanted a repeat CAT scan after chemo and radiation were over and before I had surgery.

That is all for now. I am off until the 3rd. I can't believe I have so much free time. I am most excited about going to the coast.

Only two more!!!

Only two more treatments. I will be done tomorrow!!! I forgot to mention that my hair is growing back. It is so soft and has turned dark. I am finally able to grab it with a pinch. I mentioned earlier that I had a delayed eyelash falling out. Well, they came back real quick. They are not long yet but they are there and thick. I also ended up having my eyebrows thin. I looked very strange, as they were falling out new ones were coming in. Have you ever seen anyone with a 5 o'clock shadow on their eyebrows? Very odd. Well they all finally fell out, but I was never without any because the new ones are growing fast. They are not long yet but are getting thick. I think I may have to go get my eyebrows waxed. They definitely are lacking shape.

I saw Dr Freeman yesterday. He said that everything is great. He will see me again in three or four months to look at the skin. I don't know why because there is really no change whatsoever, but that is fine.

Lets see, I meet with Dr Brian on Monday and that is it for August. My next appt will be Sept 3rd when Dr Crim will do another CAT scan. I will see him again on Sept 8th to get the results.

37 days until surgery. I guess that is it for now.

Surgery Scheduled!!!

I just love this. I think I should have it printed on a shirt or something.


I only have 4 more days left of radiation!! I am so excited that will be over. Everything is looking great there. No real obvious changes to the skin.

I hope this is not too much info, but you know me. Brian said everyone might not want the gory details ,if that is so, only read the next sentence and then move on to the next paragraph. I met with the plastic surgeon (Dr Heistein) yesterday and it looks like I will have surgery on September the 18th. It will be more than I thought. I thought, take the old ones off and put new ones on. Well, because I had radiation there is more to it. Evidently radiation makes the muscle scar and it looses its elasticity. So he is going to have to put in a new muscle from my lower back. Even though the muscle is fine on the other side he is going to put a back muscle there too. Because they are different muscles it would make the boobs appear different. Since I am going to all this trouble I sure want them to be the same. Then he will put in expander's to stretch the muscles. I will go back every week for him to put fluid in the expander's until they are the size I want. Once they are the right size he won't do anything for two months to let the muscles stretch and shape. At that time I will have another surgery to take the expander's out and put my new permanent boobs in. Because I am having the mastectomy and surgery done at the same time they are able to save 90% of my skin. So that is really good. I will however loose my nipples because that is where the milk ducts go through so I will have to have new ones added after I have my permanent boobs. They are also going to take out the port. What a day that will be. The surgery will be at Harris Methodist Southlake and I will be in the hospital for two days. I will see him on Sept 17th for pre op to get marked up for surgery.

I see Dr Brian, my other surgeon, on August 17th. Then I am of until September 3rd. Unless something changes. On September 3rd I will have another CAT scan. I will meet with Dr Crim on September 8th. The kids dentist is September 14th and I will be back for pre op on the 17th. Wow, that is why we are having a vacation the last week of August. We are taking the kids to Port Aransas. They just love the beach and we need a vacation.

I guess that is it for now.

Radiation going great

Hello, I still don't have anything to tell. The dr said my skin looks great. I am not having a reaction to radiation. I guess some people blister and burn. Only 10 more treatments left. The drives to Ft Worth seem to be getting shorter. I know they should be getting longer but it seems like I am there and back in a hurry.

We have a new addition to the family. Benji & Crystal have a new baby girl, Carsynn Grace Nabors. She was born on Monday and weighed 7 lbs 8 oz and was 19 in long. Whitney & Josh are having a boy and he is set to arrive the end of September. Probably about the time I have surgery. Lindsi saw Carsynn at the hospital and staked a claim to her. She said Logan could have the next one. She was so upset when we couldn't take her home with us. I am sure when the next one is born she will claim it too, poor Logan.

Festival week is nearly here. Maci is going to be in the Little Miss so I will have to hurry back from Ft Worth for that. Maybe the weather will be nice. I guess that is it for now.

Survivor

This picture was taken right after my last chemo in June @ the kids 3 year photo shoot.

I found this the other day and thought I would share.

Survivor

You are an inspiration to those who know you... a wonderful example of courage and perseverance... walking in faith... seeking God's strength.

"For I know the plans I have for you", Says the Lord Jeremiah 29:11

Tomorrow is Hump Day!!!!

Hello all, everything is going wonderful! Tomorrow will be day 14. Only 14 more to go!!!!! I really don't have anything to tell. The trips are going good. My skin is fine so nothing really to tell from the Dr. I am having a delayed eyelash falling out but oh well. I don't know why they waited until a month after chemo to start but that is just me. I can't do anything normal.

I have attached a link I hope everyone will check out. It is the Breast Cancer Performance from So You Think You Can Dance that was on last night. It is kind of long but take time to listen to the judges especially Mia, so touching.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5_TCK5OCgss

I will still have the appointments every Tuesday with Dr Freeman. My next appointment not related to radiation is August 7th with the plastic surgeon.

I hope everyone is enjoying the cooler weather and little bit of rain. We need more but we can't complain.

Radiation (6 Down)

6 days down and 22 more to go. I met with the dr today and all is well. Radiation really is no big deal. I only have about a minute and a half of radiation total in four spots. Everyday but dr day from the time I pull into the parking lot until I am pulling out is between 12 and 17 minutes. Most days it is just me so I go straight there and back. Brian and the kids go at least once a week and we spend a little more time in Ft Worth.

I saw the medical oncologist yesterday. He wanted to check my blood and see how things were going. He said my blood levels looked good. He will run another CAT scan after radiation.

I have several appointment's in August and the first of September. I will tell you what and when later. I don't have them in front of me right now. The rest of July I only have radiation. I guess that is it for now until next Tuesday.

Have a great Hot week!!