No News Was Not So Good News

Well, between the time I wrote the last post and then posted it, Mary got a call from her Doctor that the Pathology Report came back showing more of the lymph nodes were cancerous which means that there is a high probability there are more nodes still in her that are cancerous as well.  So, what that means for Mary is she has two choices.  She can take her chances that Radiation would kill whatever is left, or she goes back in for more surgery to have the rest of the lymph nodes taken out.  After talking with her Doctor, she is going the surgery route.  There are just too many "chances" with the other choice.  Needless to say, it's not the news she wanted, but she will get it done, and continue on.  Just get the damn cancer out!  
Surgery will either be today or Monday.  Will update again next week.

Fear the Fuzz!

Well, the last post left everyone hanging the night of her surgery.  She had a good night.  Very thankful they kept her in the hospital though.
As was expected, she has been very sore.  Her Doctor warned us that under her arms would probably be the most sore, but told us she still needed to be up walking and raising her arms a bit as well.  (of course, no lifting)  She is extremely bruised!  When she went back in on Monday to her Plastic Surgeon for that follow up visit, I think even her Doctor was a little surprised as to how bruised she was.  She got her drain pulled out without any problem, and as of today, Wednesday, no calls from her Oncologist Surgeon regarding any pathology reports.  I'm thinking no news is good news!

She is still hurting pretty bad, and she is thinking she should be feeling better by now.  We have to keep reminding her that it hasn't even been a week since her surgery, and it was not just one but a few major procedures that she had.  She will go back to her doctor for her post-op checkup on Friday, so hoping for all good news.

I'm so glad for the opportunity to be out here to help her. I'm heading back home tonight so I am hoping she will start to feel a little better for her second week.  She can't be lifting anything for 6 weeks and by then she will be starting her Radiation.  She has had a few good friends who have helped out so sweetly.  I know it's hard for people to know how to help and believe me, it's hard for Mary to know what to tell anyone when they ask.   It's not over for her yet, so I would like to give a few ideas for any of you who would say "if there is anything I can do....."
Dinners -Remember there are only two of them. Don't ask them for ideas, give them an idea and ask them if they would like it.
Gift cards to restaurants-Subway, Chick-Fil-et, Oreganos, etc.
House Cleaner or Pool Cleaner
Handwritten Card or Note-Yes, she has a cell phone that texts, emails, and facebooks, but there is nothing like the old fashioned snail mail
Happy Hour-IF Mary is having a good day and feels good, for anyone who knows her, you know there is not much she likes better than enjoying a good Happy Hour!

Oh yeah.  The title of this post.  Mary's hair is growing back!!!  Just a little bit at this point, but if you look really close, in just the right light, you can see it.  Very good news!

Chapter 2

Wow, I can't believe it's been 1 1/2 months since we last posted anything.  As you probably have guessed, Mary really hasn't felt like writing anything, so that is why she hasn't posted anything.  As far as why I haven't, I guess I just haven't been sure what to post.  Anyone who wanted to know what was going on with her either called or emailed her, so I figured I didn't need to post.  However, I've been thinking that one of the main reasons we started doing this blog was so Mary could look back and remember how far she came from the beginning and when she thought she would never make it through some days.  So, I will give a short update on the last three Chemo treatments for her to look back on, and for anyone who is still checking in on this blog.

There were good days and bad days through the last three treatments.  Mostly they weren't great though.  She had major bone pain and just felt like s?!*.  She still has bad neuropathy in her hands and feet that the Docs are saying should go away eventually.  Most days were spent going from the chair to the couch to the bed and back again.  All very slowly.  We were very excited the day of her last treatment.  The nurses at the Treatment Center threw confetti and rang a bell in celebration.  It was a good day!

Fast forward to today.  3 1/2 weeks later and Surgery Day.  Mary was so ready for this day.  Couldn't even sleep last night she was so excited.  Oh yeah, maybe it was the hot flashes that kept waking her up. ;)  The day started with an 8:30am check in at the hospital to get a radioactive dye shot in to mark the cancerous cells.  Then the next appointment was to put a wire in to mark where the tumor was.  Last it was the check in at the surgery center at 11:00, but we were a bit early at 10:30.   We got her all signed in and then waited some more.  Her good friend Shauna Souza came to hang out with me and Rick and to see Mary through the day.  We all had some good laughs with Mary while we were waiting in the pre-op room.  I bet all those other patients were a bit jealous that we weren't sitting with them!  They probably didn't know what to do with all that quiet when they finally took her in and we had to go out to the Waiting Room.  Her surgery was scheduled for 1:30pm but I think they finally took her back around 1:50pm.  At about 4:15pm her surgeon came out with good news.  Only two of the lymph nodes were cancerous.  There was the one they already suspected with a lot, and there was another with a little.  They took 6 total to send to pathology. Her surgeon feels if there is any cancer left in the lymph nodes, it is such a small amount that when she has radiation, it will kill it.  She had to go pretty deep to get the lymph nodes, though, so Mary has a drain in and will probably be extra sore in that area.  As for the tumor, she took a lump about the size of a half dollar coin to get clear margins.  The great news was that she felt the tumor itself had shrunk about 90% from the size it was before Chemo.  The lump will also be sent to pathology.  The Plastic Surgeon came out around 5:00pm and said her part went well too.  All looks good.
We waited and waited in the Waiting Room.  Rick, me, and Mary's wonderful friend Shauna.  They were supposed to come out and get us when she woke up in Recovery.  Rick finally got a phone call from a nurse inside the recovery room a little before 7:00pm.  They said they were having trouble controlling her pain, and she was having a bit of an allergic reaction to one of the pain meds.  Itching horribly.  They decided to keep her overnight instead of letting her go home.  Finally got her moved up in to a room around 7:45pm.  Her blood pressure spiked a bit as well after they moved her.  (probably just because of being up)  We were very happy they decided to keep her overnight.  Better to be safe.   
It's just after 9:00 now, and they have her all settled in.  She is finally sleeping.  I will get some sleep now too, and try to post another update in the next few days.
Thank you to everyone for your prayers!